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Archive through August 08, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 Aug - Oct: Cats (ARCHIVES): Archive through August 08, 2004 users admin

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Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 4:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
(...because they can...)

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 5:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The pics are just adorable. Sometimes I just wish I could be a cat and sleep like they do! :-)

Babyruth, I've had two different Siamese cats over the last 18yrs. My first, my sweet departed Jade, was a sealpoint, who I had to have put down when she was dying of kidney failure. There was no hope left for her and I couldn't let her suffer, even if she wasn't going to last long. :-( I never cried so hard and for so long. I still miss her.

The Christmas before last I got a bluepoint kitten we named Misha. She was a tiny little ball of fur and she's a big monster now. LOL

The two cats have very different personalites in many ways, and very alike in others. Jade had 3 kids growing up with her and I have to say after having cats my entire life, she was the most gentle and patient cat I've ever had! The kids could do anything to her and she wouldn't even spit at them.

Misha is also very loving but a lot more spunky! (Jade did have another cat to play with in her early years so perhaps that's why I don't remember her playing so rough with us!) Misha will chase you around and she knows which one of us she can get to jump (she always knows she'll get a reaction out of DD2 since she is gone for a lot of the year and isn't used to her coming at her. It's pretty funny!) Misha loves to bite and kick when she plays with you, but she also has rolled around with the dog since she was little and Jade was rather indignent when we brought the dog home since she had been queen of the palace for many years!

They are both the same in that they have rather "dog-like" qualities in that they have to be in the middle of things and will follow you around the house and will be quite vocal when they want something. Some people don't like this quality about Siamese and think they're too demanding and that's why they will end up in rescue. (BTW, I was never able to find a Siamese with the online rescues after Jade died. They were all so far away and I didn't want to put a cat through shipping, esp. not knowing their temperment to begin with.)

One point I wanted to bring up that I didn't see mentioned before is, there are two types of Siamese, in addition to their color points. We have what are called "traditional" or "apple head" Siamese, which are the cats people remember seeing as they were growing up. The "standard" for Siamese has changed through the years and the "show cat" looks very different from the pet quality/traditional cat. They are much thinner and sleek and their heads are far more angled and their ears look really huge since their faces are more triangle-shaped. I never had papers for either of my cats since I wasn't into showing them and just wanted a pet. You'll pay a lot more for a kitten which is supposed to have "show quality."

Another tip, when I was thinking about getting my first Siamese, I called my vet's office for advice. They said a specific doctor there was the "Siamese expert" and she called me back and must have talked to me for a good half-hour giving me advice. Needless to say, she has been our cat vet since that time and my DD1 worked for her for 10 mo. until last week when she moved. She now has a practice for cats only. :-) I also read a lot of books about Siamese cats. I'm sure you can find some in your local library.

I'd love to have more, but DH says no more (for now...hahaha..you just never know!!) Good luck when the time comes and remember, be patient! Depending on where you live and the time of year, it can be slim pickings for a Siamese kitten or even an adult. I had to put money down on a kitten in a litter early because it was almost completely sold and I'd look and look everyday for new ads, since I lost my Jade at the beginning of Nov. and there wasn't a lot of litters at that time of year, plus they go quick when you see one listed. Also, if someone knows anyone who is a good breeder and have had good experience w/their cats, that's another good tip.
If a kitten acts too skittish, beware. It was kind of difficult when we picked Misha because they were hard to tell apart and very young. We'd forget which one we had just held!

KL - I hope your Punk will be OK. My DD had cats that came in all the time which were boarded and she just gave them meds and they were fine. I pray that's the case for your baby. :-)



Alwayzmovin
Member

11-06-2003

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 11:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Advice please....DH rescued a cute kitten yesterday, saved him from certain death on the highway. We have a year old neutered male cat, who's NOT used to having to share his home. We let them meet each other last night, mega "hissing" going on, no actual contact, for the simple fact I wouldn't let that happen. Any sure fire tricks to letting them become friends? I'd really like to have the 2 of them be *buddies*.

Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 11:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Have no fear Alwayz! They will become friends.

My rule of thumb is to just leave them be. There is also the line of thinking that keeping them seperated (but able to sniff each other, like under a door) is the way to go.

It's whatever works in your house, but it will work out ok!

Congrats on your new baby, and YAY to DH for the rescue!!


Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i have two cats, one is a tonkinese (ariel), the other a maine c00n (belle). ariel was in our home for a year (she started as a kitten), when we brought belle home (she was 12 weeks old). they have never gotten along, belle is skittish, and will run under the bed. ariel is queen of the house. she'll hiss and swipe at belle. there is an 8 lb difference between cats, ariel is the smaller one. but they do tolerate each other towards food. belle ALWAYS goes first. ariel just takes what is left.

i'm glad you saved a furbaby. good luck!


Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I found just introducing them gradually and also sort of combining their scents, i.e. let one cat lie on something and then give it to the other & vice versa and then maybe having a door or one in a pet carrier on the floor so they can smell each other better, etc. What we did with our new kitten and the dog was to hold the kitten and let the dog sniff her and gradually we'd let the dog touch her more until we were sure it was safe to let them be together. I've had cats who became good sleeping pals and then others who just tolerated each other. Sometimes even if they tolerate each other pretty well, you still may hear some growling or spitting of one wants the food over the other. Good luck! I'm happy you saved the baby, too! :-)

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's Misha & Kellie "playing" when she was tiny.


And another when she was bigger & they were in full wrestle mode. :-)


Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ha.. I figured I should post a pic of her that wasn't a "butt shot." LOL It's really hard to capture the blue eyes with a flash unless you have just the perfect angle.


Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 3:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Gina, great pics!!!
Watching..I love kitty/doggie pics!! Too cute

Puppylov3
Member

01-26-2004

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 4:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
what a GORGEOUS cat. I can't capture Casper's eyes either but that's because he normally closes them when I take his pic.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 5:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
She really is lovely; does she like to play the piano?

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 1:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, she is a pretty girl, when she's not being a naughty girl. LOL And she does like to play the piano, but she picks really bad times to do it, like when DH is asleep on a work night!

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 1:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I lost the picture with that last post that showed her blue eyes when she was a kitten. One of the few that I've been able to capture! So here goes again!


I really don't like showing her off or anything. haha LOL

Justalittlebean
Member

08-15-2003

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 7:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Watching, your little girl is so pretty.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
awwwww what adorable pictures!

Justalittlebean
Member

08-15-2003

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 7:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here is my 82 yr old Mothers cat. His name is Spanky. He is brought so much happiness to her life. Spanky will be 2 yrs old in October but I swear he acts like an old man. He's very vocal and is always talking. My Mom said he acts that way because he lives with a old lady. LOL

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, August 06, 2004 - 8:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
And that is possibly true, littlebean.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 12:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I know this is a funny sort of 'cat' but I just had to post it where the most people could see it.


Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 1:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Those pictures are GREAT!!! Thanks littlebean and Ophilias! How adorable!

Animals do wonderful things for people. I think it's great they bring them in nursing homes, etc. They say pet owners often live longer than those without since they bring joy to our lives. :-)

Cassie
Member

07-15-2000

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 12:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Watching, that last pic you posted of Misha reminds me so much of how my Siamese girl looked when she was a baby. I'm going to try and post some pics now and will include one of her as an adult.

Cassie
Member

07-15-2000

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 12:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OK Pamy and Watching, here's one of my first cat, a beautiful siamese girl I had for 17 years who was so special to me. She taught me how to love animals...

Mick in bed

Mirror

Cassie
Member

07-15-2000

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Whoops, that first one is way too big. sorry!

eta: it's amazing how dark she got as she got older but she started out almost all white.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 12:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cassie she is beautiful!!! I LOVE your room!!!!!!
amazing how cats can teach the true meaning of unconditional love!!

Do you have pics of your new babies?

Cassie
Member

07-15-2000

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 12:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
<amazing how cats can teach the true meaning of unconditional love!!>

absolutely! the most effective teacher I've ever had. She was something else that girl. I'm trying to post some of the new babe too. :-)


Nancy
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 6:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i think there's something drastically wrong with my cat..she hasn't been eating and drinking much the last 4 days or so--and then saturday night i noticed when she got up from laying down she cried like she was in pain(like an owie cry not a huge cry) and one of her hind legs seems not to be working for a bit--after about 4-5 steps it seemed ok--but she cried in pain again when she climbed up on the sofa--today she's mostly slept on my bed--but again when she does get up to move she obviously is in some discomfort--she is ten but i don't think its arthritis she's had no other symtoms of that--

i'll call my vet tomorrow but i'm nervous :-(