Archive through March 27, 2002

The ClubHouse: Archives: CATS!: Archive through March 27, 2002

Jbean

Monday, March 18, 2002 - 04:44 pm Click here to edit this post
china sounds so much like my kitty. she is shaped like a tabby, too. and rowdy! she's nuts!

Sia

Monday, March 18, 2002 - 10:10 pm Click here to edit this post
My cat Liz will be seventeen years old in April, and is in really good health. She's active and happy and just beautiful. Does anyone else here have "elderly" cats? Just wondering.

Cliotheleo

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 02:36 pm Click here to edit this post
Sia, I adopted my cats as adults so I don't know how old they are, but I'm pretty sure they aren't too old. That's wonderful that you've been blessed to have Liz so long. Do you have any tips on how you've kept her so healthy?

Moondance

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 03:32 pm Click here to edit this post
My oldest is 14 followed by 12 then 10... I don't feed them anything with by-products in it... I don't know how I got so lucky in finding my babies... well they found me.

Webkitty

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 03:50 pm Click here to edit this post
Wow! Sia, 17 years old! What do you feed Liz?
Does she go outside at all? Have you ever had any other cats or has she always been an "only child"?

My two cats that I had before this were 13 and 14 and they seemed ANCIENT by the time they went to kitty heaven, not running around and frisky like yours.

Moon, my babies like Hills Science Diet kibbles. They won't eat anything else. I've tried giving them plain chicken, shrimp, ect., they turn their noses up at it! They love to chrunch, chrunch, chrunch.
I've tried feeding them the cheaper kibbles that you can get at the grocery store but they barf that up, little rats! I think it might have something to do with the food colorings in the cheaper stuff. HSD doesn't have any added dyes.
But I really don't know for sure.



Look what I learned how to do today!!!

Kady

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 07:26 pm Click here to edit this post
We bought a camper and now we are going alot of places on the weekends. I hate to leave my kitty at home and want to take him with me. Anyone have any advice about travelling with kitty's. I see lots of people in the parks with dogs but no cats. Right now we are visiting alot of state parks that are within 3 hours driving time. I can't believe I actually conned my hubby into bringing my baby!! Today I bought a nice zipper carrier and a smaller version of his litter box for the camper. He is strictly an indoor kitty and has never been outside. Do they make kitty leashes?? Any advice will be welcomed!!

Juju2bigdog

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 11:17 pm Click here to edit this post
They do make kitty leashes, but they usually hate them. Sort of like a little harness thing, so he can't slip out of it. But, if he is an indoor cat, just let him stay in the camper. He shouldn't need to be out on a leash.

I've never known a cat who liked to ride in a car, but you can only try it and see how well he does.

Good luck. Let us know.

Weinermr

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 11:33 pm Click here to edit this post
Sia, our cat will be 16 in August.

Mags

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 05:02 am Click here to edit this post
Sia, my 2 furry kids (Cricket and Tigger) are 16.

Cliotheleo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 06:21 am Click here to edit this post
Kady, I have used a harness on all three of the cats I have/had and they took to them very easily. But I adopted them as adults and they were indoor/outdoor cats (until I got them) so I think that helped them a lot. I don't know how it would work on a cat that had always been indoors.

As for travelling. I think it's just a matter of getting him/her accustomed to it. Could you try making some little road trips around the block a few times just to get him/her used to the sounds etc.? I've driven with my cats only as a neccessity and let's just say things got a little, er um, messy. :-)

Webkitty

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 06:53 am Click here to edit this post
Hi Kady! We bring our babies up to the cabin with us and one piece of advice I can give is never let a cat roam free in a moving vehicle. There are too many things that can happen.

We bought an oversized plastic dog crate that fills the entire back seat. They have plenty of room to get up and move around and we don't have to worry that they will escape when we stop and open the doors of the car.

Cats will tend to "hold it" when their stressed, (there are exceptions) so planned stops to let him/her out to use the cat box (bring the regular one, cats don't like change) and get a drink of water should do the trick, just make sure the doors of the camper are closed and your baby is safe and sound back in his/her crate before you open them!

Clio, your lucky your babies took to the leash, I've never had a positive experience with them. My cats jumped around like mexican jumping beans and one of them actually wiggled out of his, I wouldn't risk it, I'm just saying.......

Anyway, have a good time and just err on the side of caution and I'm sure everything will be OK.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 07:52 am Click here to edit this post
Hi

Here's a Frosty & Pocahontas update...

Really nothing too groundbreaking. Poc still tends to chase Frosty, but he (Frosty) is coming downstairs more all the time. And there have been short spans of time when they will both be pretty close to each other with no growling. I heard somewhere to give it 6 months. (So far it's been almost 2.)

My son loves it when he sees Frosty, he finds his white tail irresistable and he too, chases poor Frosty. My son really loves it when the two kitties get into a loud fight. Hopefully time will help this....

I'm thinking I may not be so allergic to Frosty. He does make me itch a bit, but nothing I can't handle.

Webkitty

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 08:22 am Click here to edit this post
Hi Julie! Glad to hear Frosty is coming around.

I had a similar problem a few years back. I thought the new cat would never stop hissing at the old cat. Finally, we put them in a bedroom together with the door closed and gave them each a little pile of catnip.

We already knew the old cat loved it and what his reaction would be, but the new cat loved it just as much and for the first time he didn't hiss.
They both rolled around in it and had a great time and the new cat let the old cat go up to him and touch noses!
It was the breakthru we were looking for.

After that the new cat still had his moments where he would have a little hissy fit but it was toned down alot. We made sure they got their catnip together at least once at week from then on.

It COULD have the opposite reaction on your two, so, take it with a grain of salt, but it might be worth a try.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 08:30 am Click here to edit this post
Thanks! I will try it. It is so funny how the two cats really have different interests. Like Pocahontas really only likes the little furry mice toys. But Frosty likes things like pipe cleaners and rubberbands.

Can you recommend a good brand of catnip? I heard not all catnip is the "good" stuff. Same with catnip toys.

Webkitty

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 08:56 am Click here to edit this post
I just use the Hartz catnip in the bright pink box, but if anyone knows of a better brand, let me know, too!

Julie, the two cats I have now are the same way! P loves his little toy mice, I find them all over the house.
And China likes the plastic rings off milk containers and rubberbands.

P also loves to lick PLASTIC! of any kind.
I caught him just in the nick of time the other day as he was trying to scarf down some plastic Easter "grass" And forget bubble wrap! His eyes get all bulgy and he just licks and licks and licks, its weird. He loves to smell lipstick, too.
Very strange.

Juju2bigdog

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:25 am Click here to edit this post
Webkitty, excellent advice on NEVER letting a cat be loose in the car. Yes, NEVER do that. Before you know it, they will somehow end up down around the brake or accelerator or wrapped around your head with claws dug in. Always transport a cat in a carrier.

Moondance

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:57 am Click here to edit this post
Cosmic Catnip is the best

Kady
Harmony Cat Harness

And yes to the cat carrier for the car!

Fanny

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:02 pm Click here to edit this post
I just discovered this thread...

I now have 3 kitties but they live in two separate households because I have to keep Tootsie separated from Peepers & Buckie.

Back a few years ago, I had Peeps & Buck and my beautiful/gorgeous/perfect beloved Birman, Fanny. They were all about the same age. Peeps is a longhair part himalayan female and Buck is a male (duh) brown & black tabby. Shortly after Fanny turned 10, she was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (heart disease) and I had to put her to sleep. About killed me.

A couple months later, my grandmother passed away, leaving her 16-year old long hair black & white Tootsie. No one else in my family could take The Toots, so I drugged her up, loaded her on the plane and took her from Montana to Colorado. She'd never lived with other cats before; rather, she thought they were creatures to be beat to sh*t.

So I keep them separate. Never thought I'd grow to love The Toots like I have! Still miss my Fanny, though. Toots is now 19 and still as feisty and loveable as ever, thanks to her thyroid medication that's rubbed into the inside of her ear, and Peeps & Buck are 13. Toots adjusted amazingly well (except for the household separation deal) for a kitty who had an elderly lady owner for all her life.

The end.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:05 pm Click here to edit this post
So how do you keep them separated? Are they all in the same house?

Kady

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:11 pm Click here to edit this post
Thanks for the advice everyone. The only place my kitty has gone is to the vet and he meowed very loudly the whole time. I was hoping maybe on he longer trip he would calm down after awhile. The carrier I bought is cloth and unzips in the top so I can easily reach in and pet him. Moon, I don't have time to get that harness in but if we do okay on this trip, I will order one for sure. If he drives Daddy crazy this may be his only trip.

Fanny

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:15 pm Click here to edit this post
I keep Toots in my bedroom during the day with Buck & Peeps having the run of the house. When I get home from work, I swap them out. It's kind of like musical chairs, trying to give them all their "special attentions". I got Toots a heated pad covered with sheepskin which she sticks to like Velcro during the day. At night, she sleeps with her head on my pillow next to me and the rest of her under the blankets. She's the best snugglebunny I've ever had!

Webkitty

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:16 pm Click here to edit this post
Great story Franny, but, do you have two houses or do you keep Toots in a seperate room?

I know what you mean about having Fanny put to sleep, I've had to do it three times in my life and it shortened my life just a wee bit every time, I swear it.

Moondance

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:17 pm Click here to edit this post
Very cute names Fanny!

Webkitty

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:17 pm Click here to edit this post
oops, took me too long to post!

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:19 pm Click here to edit this post
W-kitty, I hate when that happens! Especially when your post is really long so when you post it, the time reads like 10 minutes later, so it looks like you don't make sense. (Am I? making sense, that is!)