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Archive through June 09, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2006 Jun. ~ 2006 Dec.: Hairball Haven (ARCHIVES): Cats (ARCHIVES): Archive through June 09, 2006 users admin

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Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 7:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Watching2 a private message Print Post    
Very funny Hukd!!! Yeah, I was squeezing her to see if she was real and would squeek! Uh huh!!!! It didn't take much to hold her at that size!

Baby - It had been 16 yrs since I had a "baby" in the house when I got Misha and I had forgotten quite a bit of what it was like. We did get her a new litter box with shorter sides because she could hardly jump into that one. Sometimes we'd laugh since she'd take a running start to get in and end up bumping her little nose on the other side! A soft brush will probably be good for while he's a baby and you'll probably need something a with a bit more "oomph" when he gets bigger. Kitten hair is much different than grown-up hair so basically when he's little it will be getting him used to being groomed.

The one thing I worried about was stepping on her, so I know you'll be extra careful with your chair when he comes home. Not really knowing what your place looks like, etc., all I can say is be a bit more wary about a little one who moves fast. I know you want a bell collar for him. It might be hard to fit him while he's so tiny but I'm sure some re-adjusting will be possible.

When I got Misha they were feeding her canned food mixed with some of that Wiskas "cat milk" and I'd add tiny bits of hard food in for her to get used to it. I'm a Nutro addict about feeding my animals so I did switch her from the Friskies she was getting to Nutro. The better she got at eating, the less canned food she got and I gradually switched her over to water from the "cat milk." She was only 5 wks so I would feed her probably 4 times/day in small amounts. No matter what the lady is feeding him, you can gradually switch to another brand slowly. You just start out with more of what they were getting and add a small amount of the new stuff and keep adjusting the amounts until they are at eating all of the new stuff. It helps them from getting an upset tummy from switching too fast. Even if it's not something new, I'd get her some kind of little blanket and we gave Misha all kinds of little things to play with. The main thing is, they need smaller toys than a full-grown cat unless they played with small things. As he grows, I'm sure he can play with Baby's toys. Just keep in mind, not all cats are interested in the same toys. I'm sure all will be well. They're pretty adaptable!

Alwayz - I hope little Angus is fine. Maybe he's doing it from some kind of anxiety, esp. if he spent time at the vet. Let us know what the vet says.

Saxy - My cats live on dry food and water only. As soon as they could chew the food well enough, I stopped with the moist. Since you have a female and mine were/are females, there shouldn't be any problems. Males often get into problems because they're prone to urinary tract infections and need to eat dry foods w/low ash content as well as get some moist food. I think dry food keeps their teeth much healthier. I did start with kitten food and switched to adult food with Misha, earlier than a year that's recommended because she was getting hefty! :-)

TATER - I got this note from my friend in MS who runs the developmental center. "I posted and put info in all my 30 professional staff mailboxes asking for help or suggestions. Maybe something will come up." Please let me know if you're seeing any of this info. :-)

Racsan
Member

04-09-2004

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 7:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Racsan a private message Print Post    
Are there people here who have cats who live on dry food only? I hear that isn't healthy for them, but I don't know!

My vet told me NOT to feed my kittens and adult cat wet food, even though I told her I was only feeding a tablespoon a couple times a week to each as a treat. She says dry food only.

Baby I got a type of brush at KMart a few years back. It's oval shaped, soft rubber, and has a band around the back to slip my hand in. My cat and kittens prefer that to any other brush I've tried. It was about $3.00. As far as the litter box I got my 2 little ones when they were only 4 weeks old{[momma was killed by a car} and I thought they were too little for my big cat's box so I bought a bitty one. Wrong move, within two days I got another big one and they loved it. The little one they kicked all the litter out.

Gina8642
Member

06-01-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 1:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gina8642 a private message Print Post    
My kitty Cutie is petrified of my new ceiling fans. She's been hiding in the back of the pantry since they were installed yesterday. She won't come out, even to eat or use her litter box.

Any one have any idea how long this will last?

She's never reacted to anything like this before. She acts like they are a giant bird in the sky trying to kill her.

Gina8642
Member

06-01-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 1:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gina8642 a private message Print Post    
Racsan - my kitties live on dry food only. Iams and Science Diet used to advertise that kitties could and should live on dry food only - until they developed and started selling their own wet products. Now they say your kitty "needs" wet products. I think that is marketing, not need.

I think dry food only is just fine. Just feed them a premium food - not the cheapo stuff.

Ultimately, you should ask a vet - maybe several (to get a consensus).

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 6:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Here are my suggestions Baby.

Buy good quality food. My understanding is that a combination of wet and dry is best (in separate bowls of course). That way your cat can nibble all day if he wants. Wet food is good for them as well. Don't buy food with a lot of corn in it.

Kittens are like kids. He will get into everything and play with everything (including things he shouldn't, like electrical cords!). Until he gets used to you, be very careful not to accidentally roll over him – they constantly get underfoot!

A brush is okay but I would get a couple of nice steel combs. One comb with wider teeth, which you will comb with first and then, another with narrower teeth, which you will comb with once you are through with the wide one. I use both combs for each little grooming session. Only groom for as long as he wants it. Frequent and shorter sessions are better at first. He will come to love it and look forward to it.

If you are keeping your old litter box, you might want to wash it out with Javex as well as the areas around the litter box.

Your kitten is going to wear you out – but it will be fun!

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 7:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Gina, LOL, isn't it awful how minor changes upset our babies!! Hopefully it will only take a couple of days for her to accept the fans. When I have made major changes I found that my kitties were coming out at night (when they thought it was safer) and doing their business. So she is probably just fine.

Alwayzmovin
Member

11-06-2003

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 7:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alwayzmovin a private message Print Post    
Back from the vets office and alas little Angus has ringworm...so will be taking him in every week for the next 8 weeks for a treatment. He looks pretty pathetic, I must say. It's a good thing Spanky hates his little guts, so there's a chance he might not get infected with it. Have to try to get all the cat hair sucked up around here because the vet said this fungus can stay on the hairs on furniture and rugs up to a year! oh geeeeeeeeeez!

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 8:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Watching2 a private message Print Post    
Oh, so sorry to hear that Alwayz! When my DD was working for our cat vet, her cats that live at the clinic got ringworm. Misha started getting this bald patches on her heals and Sarah was worried she brought some ringworm home on her scrubs, but she didn't. Before the vet saw her and said it wasn't that, DD was putting cream on her bald spots. What kind of treatment do you have to take him in for weekly? I'm curious. I know the vets cats had to be isolated from running around the clinic so they wouldn't spread it, but I can't even remember how long it was for. As long as Spanky doesn't frequent the same places to sleep,etc., maybe he'll be OK, I hope. Good luck with all the cleaning. Ugggh!

Gina - Did Cutie come out yet?!!! Awwwww! Poor, silly baby!!

Saxywildcat
Member

05-30-2005

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 8:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Saxywildcat a private message Print Post    
To answer Retired's question, I haven't seen the stray kitty in a few days. The little neighbor girl asked if he was on my porch the other day and I was like, no, he's not. If I could get the same answer of whether he belongs to the neighbors or is just a stray the little girl adopted, I'd be happy. And I'd feel better about doing something for the poor thing. I have been looking around for him. Seems I haven't seen tons of him since we got Leia. Kind of odd? I kind of hope maybe the humane society found him or someone else not so close to these neighbors took him in.

Leia is getting her first set of shots this afternoon. The dogs go in at 2:30 for their kennel cough booster and then I drive home, drop them off, and pick up leia for her visit at 3:00. I know I can't handle both dogs and a cat to take them all at once! LOL

Alwayzmovin
Member

11-06-2003

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alwayzmovin a private message Print Post    
Watching...He gets some pill shoved down his throat along with some high fat brown stuff in a tube so it goes to his system faster. The pill is based on his body weight.
Spanky stays pretty much out of his sight. If the a/c is off he's up in a window standing guard over his palace, because we all know he owns this place. So 7 more weekly visits and hopefully he'll be better.

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Aw, sorry to all the poor kitties and doggies who've had to go to the vet.

Retired
Member

07-11-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Retired a private message Print Post    
Saxy, thanks for the update. Hopefully the stray is OK. Congrats on Leia. She's a cutie.

Saxywildcat
Member

05-30-2005

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 12:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Saxywildcat a private message Print Post    
Retired: Just saw the mangy cat this afternoon when I was on my way to the vet. He was trying to stay in the shade.

Leia is looking very good. healthy as a horse my vet says. She has earmnites, but that is an easy fix. She weighs 3.2 lbs and is probably about 8 wks old. She got called a Muted Torti today. More and more color is coming out as we have her longer. I'll have to see if I can get some pictures that show that.

Slinkydog
Member

11-30-2005

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 2:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Slinkydog a private message Print Post    
In case some of you don't read the "In Memoriam" thread, Taterheadtwo posted there. Looks like all is okay.

Gina8642
Member

06-01-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 5:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gina8642 a private message Print Post    
She came out a few feet after 24 hours. She's eaten a bit and used the litter box. She got brave enough to wander the kitchen a bit, then she peered out at the living room - saw the fan (which is off) and she scuttled back into the pantry. She hasn't come out since.

She's never been a fraidy cat about anything before.

The other kitty is like "what's her problem?" He could care less about the fans.

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 5:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rosie a private message Print Post    
Gina, have you picked her up and shown her the fan up close? When mine was younger, she liked to grab the fan chain and try to turn on the fan.

Of course, she still wants to be carried around all of the time.

Mamapors
Member

07-29-2004

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 5:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamapors a private message Print Post    
My kitty Phoebe loves to lay on the bed with the overhead fan on, especially when it is hot. If the fan is not on, she cries at me until I turn it on. They are all so different.

Saxywildcat
Member

05-30-2005

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 5:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Saxywildcat a private message Print Post    
Oh, Miss Leia also got her anal glands expressed today.. We figure that could be why she was dragging her butt.

Leia has no problem with our fans. She is actually a VERY calm cat. DH tries to get her to jump, no luck! lol

Biscottiii
Member

05-30-2004

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 6:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Does anyone have any ideas for me? At times, most often in the late afternoons & evenings, my Calico Kitty Louise (spayed years ago and STRICTLY indoor cat) starts yowling here upstairs. Like territorial & fierce!

Then in the evening the place stinks BIGTIME from Guy cats spraying outside downstairs & around the front yard, gonna show HER whose territory it is. Like most people up here in Seattle, I don't have A/C since we don't need it for much of the year. Perfectly safe for me to leave the upstairs side windows open (I live upstairs, very steep so nobody could gain access without some serious ladder). I'm across the street from a park, so constant police patrols since precinct is nearby, plus loads of dog walkers at all hours. It would be really obvious if someone were to try breaking in. (Note: I DON'T recommend people leave windows open ever, but the layout of this place makes it safer situation than the norm.)

So...the Guy cat scent just wafts in all night!

I've thought about buying some cheap black pepper at the Dollar Store to sprinkle down and around the yard. Might clog up their sinuses and sneeze their way to some new location. Clueless as to whether that would help. But does anyone have any better ideas?
- - -
BTW, years ago when Thelma & Louise got their microchips put in by their first owner, John, I made the comment that it didn't make sense. No problem, since John could spend his money anyway he wished, but since they were strictly indoor cats why was it even necessary? The Vet said being indoor cats, they needed the chip even MORE up here than other cats. Because if we have an earthquake or something happens where they might get out, Thelma & Louise haven't 'marked' their territory around our house. So, the neighbor cats who owned our turf would chase them further away, so less chances for them staying closer around the neighborhood to be found.

THAT's why I think these guys are urinating so much around my house. They're marking OUR house, dagnabbit! Bisc

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 7:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Watching2 a private message Print Post    
Slinky - thanks for the info on Tater. I'll go read that thread now.

Missy2
Member

07-31-2001

Friday, June 09, 2006 - 8:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Missy2 a private message Print Post    
Has anyone else seen this -
http://www.meowmixhouse.com - very funny and cute! It's a reality show for adoptable cats :-)

Rosie
Member

11-12-2003

Friday, June 09, 2006 - 8:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rosie a private message Print Post    
Missy2, that looks like a lot of fun. How about starting a separate thread?

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Friday, June 09, 2006 - 11:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Cat's hate the smell of vinegar which is a better smell than cat pee. I hate cat pee smell.

If you spray vinegar around the property, with a spray bottle, they should stay away. I think I'd contact your kitties vet and let him know what's up too, maybe a hormonal imbalance of somesort.

I know it rains a ton in seattle, my uncle lives there, so you may have to spray and respray every day.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Friday, June 09, 2006 - 6:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Happy 5th week birthday Larry, Darryl, and Darryl.

Enjoy your last night together. *sigh*





Biscottiii
Member

05-30-2004

Friday, June 09, 2006 - 7:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Oh my Gosh! Thanks Escapee! I never dreamed of THAT!

I already buy super cheap vinegar by the gallon to boil 2-3 tablespoons in a couple inches of water - after cooking fish, cabbage, anything stinky. (Once I even boiled it after cooking a surprise Birthday Cake for a boyfriend who walked in 10 minutes later; he never had a clue the cake was cooked.) Vinegar is scads cheaper than pepper & easy to put into motion - EFFECTIVE TOMORROW! I'm so pleased! TY!!

Actually, I don't have to worry about any hormonal imbalances, those Sprayin' Guys are strays from around the neighborhood and the park. Louise is sorely ticked because she can't go outside to tear them to shreds. She's not spraying herself, just yowling loud enough to make your fur stand on end! Bisc