Archive through July 07, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: archive: 2003 June - July: Cats (ARCHIVE): Archive through July 07, 2003

Sia

Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 10:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Conejo, bring the babies into the house!!! I am so happy that some of them have returned. Hope the rest come back, too. I love kitties!!
kittens

Tappy

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 07:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
My three year old cat does not like our new kitten. (lots of hissing and scratching).

The kitten is only 6 weeks old and I have to keep her in the laundry room because I am afraid the older cat will go after it.

My attempts at getting them together end up with the older cat going after the small one (hissing).

How to get them together with out the small one getting hurt ????

Gemma120in2002

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 07:55 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I found this website. It seems to have some good information. Introducing new cats can be really tough.

http://www.thecatsite.com/behavior/intro.html

Good luck.

Ginger1218

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 08:11 am EditMoveDeleteIP
This is very common, my cat Mitzi (who is gone now) hated other cats. She loved people and hated cats. I had tried to bring in other cats and she was not having it. When I moved into a larger apartment, I made up my mind to get another cat. Eventually I got a 5 month old cat and brought him home. She hated him LOL, she only wanted to play with her. I made sure that I brought him home at a time when I would not be away from the house for a few days. I also kept them in separate rooms for about 3 days, so they would smell each other, but not come in contact. Mitzi did hiss and smack Spanky, but it got less and less. I would wait a couple of days, and don't try to force it.
The article above is very good advice.

Tappy

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 09:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks - so much, that is a great site and they have some great ideas....

If you know anyother good sites let me know.

Also looking for a plan to build one of those kitty condos, my son in law is handy and I think he can build one for me.

Moderator

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 10:37 am EditMoveDeleteIP
The four posts above were relocated here for continued discussion from a thread in the General Discussion area.

Mod (22)

Karuuna

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 10:58 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tappy, the most important thing is to take things as slowly as you need to! It could take weeks or even months. Continue keeping them in separate rooms, and letting each out in the house at different times so they get used to each other's scent.

I successfully used two baby gates (one stacked on the other) between two rooms so they could see each other but not touch (or hurt) each other, when I got my second cat. I also did this successfully with a cat and wolf-hybrid who became the best of friends.

Just don't think it will take a few days. I'm going thru this right now adding two new kittens to my house, and I know it can be frustrating, but just be patient.

Hopeuflly, our resident cat expert and owner of many peacefully coexisting kitty, Ms. Moondance, will be along to help us both out! :)

Moondance

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh Congrats Kar!!!! I LOVE kittens ... older kitties may not though ... at first. Everyone here is on the right track!

I have 9 cats that live together in a kitty happy place:) But it does take work at first.

When I bring a new one in I keep them in the bathroom. Cats - especially kittens like closed in spaces. They feel more secure. So I make it as comfortable as possible. The resident cats will keep guard out side the door and get used to their scent. I slowly introduce them, remind the older ones that they were once in their situation and they must be nice. I know it's hard because they are cute but when introducing them I give the older ones LOTS of attention and let the kittens do their thing.

Top cat must be establish and they do this on their terms ... the likelihood that they will hurt the kitty is nil but you still need to be there most of the time at first.

Positive reinforcement with the older ones and lots of love and patience. It works I promise!

Congrats to the new kitties...sounds like they found a great home and caring parents!

This has been a rough kitten season. I have helped rescue so many kittens and cats this year. Thank you all here for adopting the kitties you found!

xoxoxox

Gina8642

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm very sorry for your loss Jeep. I know what you mean about vets. I often feel these days they are pushing procedures or medicenes where they didn't in the past. I feel like now they have some greater treatment options, but they havn't perfected any of them. It is so hard to know what the right thing to do is. My sister was talked into getting her kitty's thyroid removed a few years ago. Her kitty died within a year of the surgery anyway. I don't think it helped anything and caused much stress.

My own kitty is quite sick right now. I'm just not sure what to do for him. Should I keep presueing treatment? Or let him go in peace? I just don't know. He is sooo sweet right now, after treatment. Very affectionate. I know if I hadn't interfered a few weeks ago he'd already be gone and I wouldn't have this time with him. It is just such a tough call.

My kitty went into the closet and refused all food and drink for 24+ hours. He yowled if I touched him. The vet gave him some steriods. He now is much perkier and likes to drink and eat. He's back to sitting on me at every opportunity and purring. However, we don't know what will happen when the steroids wear off. It is very difficult.

Moondance

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/4902/happyhealthy.html

http://www.avma.org/care4pets/

Here is one for building a cat tree
http://www.furr-angels.com/build_a_cat_tree.htm

Moondance

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:40 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am so sorry Gina

Texasdeb

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 03:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am the proud "mother" of 3 neutered tom cats. All were adopted as babies. Felix & Chester are 7 and Calvin is 3. These guys are full time house cats. If I had it to do over, I would have had their front claws taken out when they were small & went to the vet to be neutered. They've done some furniture damage & it's my own fault. I have a spray that I bought for this purpose that is called "Hartz Help! Stay off Training Aid". It helps. I bought them a kitty condo too and have placed "cheap" area rugs around to help with their instinct to sharpen those claws.

Moondance

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 03:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Here we go again!

Please read this before anyone even considers declawing a cat... thanks :)

http://www.pawproject.com/HTML/

Moondance

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 03:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
FYI:)

For those starting out with kittens ... start them early! Clip their nails ... mine let me now that they are older because I started them early. Also put a sisal scratching post close to their eating area and litter box... they tend to need to scratch at those times:)

Karuuna

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 04:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I concur with Moonie on this one, seems terribly cruel to me to cut them off at the knuckles. I'm trying those soft paw nail covers with the kittens, since kittens are just nightmarish with their climbing. As long as you provide lots of safe places to scratch, they do fine, but for a cat that simply won't train, I would recommend the nail covers. They're kind of a pain till you get used to putting them on, tho, and I don't plan to use them forever. :)

Texasdeb

Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 05:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
As a life long cat lover, I will admit I did not know the horror of the declaw story. I have never had this done to a cat & WON'T have it done to any future cats. My daughter adopted the most adorable male neutered declawed full grown cat several yrs ago & the lack of claw hassles she experienced made me come to my uneducated decission to declaw any new kittys. Thanks Moon, you've educated me!

Ophiliasgrandma

Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 02:39 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Jeep, I was checking the thread where everyone is from. You are in WV. I'm in Oregon now, but I was born in Page, WV. not far from Oak Hill, not far from Beckley.

Jeep

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 05:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OG, I'm in the Eastern Panhandle, about as far from Beckley as you can get! I'm closer to DC and Baltimore than I am any major city in WV. Sometimes it feels like we're the forgotten area by Charleston!

Thanks for the passage you gave me to read. It's so hard to lose a kitty and this is the first one I've lost while in the care of a vet, so I am a little put out this time. I still want to write that letter to express my disappointment in the care Bunkie received, but I haven't decided if it's appropriate or not. I'm sure the vet just thought it was another day at the office.

Ophiliasgrandma

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 08:50 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's a suggestion, Jeep, it's an old hint from 'Dear Abby'. Write the letter, put it away and just think about it for a while. In about a week reread it and make your decision at that time whether or not to send it.

Isn't it wonderful to know where your kitty really has gone!

Squaredsc

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 12:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
quick cat question. i have a male cat who feels it is necessary to mark wherever he pleases and the stench is such that i will probably never be able to sell my house unless i bulldoze it and start over. anyhoo my question is this, what can i use to get rid of the smell till i can get mr kitti fixed? is there a way to get rid of the smell? we've used nature's miracle for cats which seems to help for the sofa and carpet but he has done something somewhere in the bedroom closet i think and i need to get rid of that stench, hopefully without having to re-wash every piece of clothing i own. thanks in advance.

Moondance

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 01:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hi MsSquare!
Simple Solution is the BEST stuff around!!!

Moondance

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 01:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Getting him fixed would be the easiest way ... neutering is pretty inexpensive (spaying a bit more) If $ is the issue, there are rescue groups in your area that issue vouchers for spay & neutering:)

Sia

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 01:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Karuuna, where do you get the nail covers? Can you please provide a link? I have two new kittens who are getting too rowdy on my nice furniture! Last night they woke me up repeatedly with their antics, and I am afraid they'll shred all the lovely furniture I've bought over the last few years!! Thanks in advance. I've been trimming the tips of their claws occasionally, but they don't like to hold still.

Moondance

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 01:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Click here for kitten nail tips

Karuuna

Monday, July 07, 2003 - 01:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sia, if they don't like to hold still, you'll have trouble getting the nail covers on. I usually do them after the kittens have been up and playing for quite a while, and they just laid down for a nap - that seems to provide the least amount of wrestling. :)

You can get them direct from the inventor at softpaws.com, in 4 different colors. You may have to trim down the kitten size for very young kittens (mine are 3 and 4 months old, and I had to trim for both). The first time you put them on, you'll have to replace them a lot till you figure out just how much glue to use. And don't trim off too much of the nail, just the pointy tip before you put them on.

Hope that helps! I just love these things!