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Date Posted: 06:58:46 12/13/10 Mon
Author: lynne
Author Host/IP: login.hoffmanenc.com / 12.158.208.2
Subject: We might be getting a cat tonight! I have questions....
(I say "might" but I'm pretty sure there ain't no way we'll come home without that sweet kitty...we're both suckers for animals)
I'm hoping our birthday girl and vet extraordinaire, Niki, will check in today.
I've never had a cat and don't know much about them. I didn't think we could have one cause hubs is allergic, but he's the one who fell in love with this cat when he was at Petco yesterday and seems to think it'll be ok. He's willing to get shots if necessary.
The cat is a brown-and white striped tabby named Teddy, 1-1/2 years old. He hasn't been declawed, but has had all his shots and is neutered. The cat lady says if you declaw an adult cat it stops using the litter box, but assures us that if we provide a scratching post it'll be fine. So, cat owners, I know there are differing opinions about declawing, but it's a moot point cause we won't be doing it. Do we need to worry about the furniture?
We have a lab and a mini-dachsund. Abby, the lab, will hardly notice there's another critter in the house; she'll be fine. Zoe, the wiener dog, will be obnoxious until the cat smacks her once, then she'll know her place and be fine, too. (I say this because Mark's friend brought his 3-month old kitty over last weekend for a visit and that's how it worked out.) Do we need to worry about the guinea pig? The cage latches - can a cat get that open?
Do I need to take all my Christmas tree ornaments down?
What else do I need to know about cats before this meeting? I'll read up, but I'd like to hear from actual cat owners. Especially about the claws.
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Oh fun! Re declawing & the Xmas tree... -- HF, 07:22:23 12/13/10 Mon [1] (mail.denverhisc.com/64.207.26.218)
Our cat is an indoor cat but not declawed (I could never do that to a poor kitty!). We trim her nails a minimum of twice a month -- it's pretty easy for us to do, though I imagine that depends on the temperament of your cat. Our kitteh is not a lap cat, but if one of us holds her, the other one can trim her nails without problem. That protects our furniture (and our fingers when she wants to play).
We do not put ornaments on our tree because she will take every single one off and put them in the dogs' water bowl. The most I do is ribbon, which she also takes off, but doesn't like to put it in the water dish. OTOH, I grew up with kitties who never had any interest in the Xmas tree at all...so again, I think it depends on your feline friend's personality. :)
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new furry pal!!!
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That's so funny about the ornaments! -- lynne, 08:12:37 12/13/10 Mon [1] (login.hoffmanenc.com/12.158.208.2)
Must be a big water dish. Wonder what the attraction is? I spit water when I read that.
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we used to have a cat that would "drown" her toys when she was done playing with them. -- lindalou, 08:30:49 12/13/10 Mon [1] (24-176-56-185.dhcp.klmz.mi.charter.com/24.176.56.185)
We only have one cat that gets into the tree now, but as long as I don't put ribbon on it, it's okay. When I was a kid, we would put bell ornaments on the tree so we could tell when she was under the tree. It worked until she found she loved just batting the bells!
Congratulations on your new addition!
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Did you see there's a new Simon's Cat called Santa Claws? -- suek, 13:07:28 12/13/10 Mon [1] (NoHost/12.174.118.19)
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How nice of you to get a cat for my birthday! -- niki, 07:50:48 12/13/10 Mon [1] (216-43-87-143.dsl.mcleodusa.net/216.43.87.143)
esp. one that doesn't have to live at my house!
Like previous HF said, most of it depends on the personality of the kitty involved. I currently have 4 and have had 10 in my lifetime. So far I have not had a tree climber, but I tend to adopt the old and decrepit. I would watch him and see if you need to change anything on your tree. We now make sure that no very breakable ormaments are at the bottom of the tree because the Flatcoat tails take them out. I also put a plant hook in the ceiling and use a thin guidewire to tie the tree to it, because I have had issues with trees falling over. (I think this is more due to my love for giant crooked trees then due to the pets.)
My cats have all loved to lie on the treeskirt and drink the water out of the tree stand, which is fine if there are no additives in the water (is your tree real?)
As far as claws, some cats are just naturally very respectful with them and others not so much. Mabel was 10 when I adopted her, she is stubborn and had never been taught anything (she would fight you for the food IN your mouth!) She wore nail caps for about a year while she learned what was acceptable scratching material. But she did eventually get it- my cats have their own couch which they can scratch to their hearts content, and they have learned not to scratch the rest of the furnature and woodwork.
Mabel is glad to no longer have to be held while we put on nailcaps, but I do miss her having cute pink nails.
Here is my handout on scratching that we give to new owners:
http://www.mycatcareclinic.com/scratching.html
Congratulations! What's his name? What color is he?
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Re: How nice of you to get a cat for my birthday! -- lynne, 08:21:54 12/13/10 Mon [1] (login.hoffmanenc.com/12.158.208.2)
He's a brown-and-white striped tabby named Teddy.
Our tree is artificial.
Thanks for the information; I really appreciate it! I printed the handout.
And you're welcome. Happy birthday! : D
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I have a question to go along with this...sort of -- Kathy, 09:01:26 12/13/10 Mon [1] (pool-70-104-111-193.chi.dsl-w.verizon.net/70.104.111.193)
Currently the litter box is in a big rabbit pen to keep the dogs from eating the kitty poop. Since the cat doesn't stay in the pen any more and it takes up a lot of space in the room, any suggestions on what to do with the litter box to make it cat accessible, but off limits to the dogs?
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What we did... -- suek, 13:01:10 12/13/10 Mon [1] (NoHost/12.174.118.19)
Was just put a folding chair across the doorway to the bathroom with the litterbox. Dog stays out, cats can walk in between the holes or jump over easily.
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Re: What we did... -- gg, 13:44:56 12/13/10 Mon [1] (NoHost/130.154.0.250)
Hubby took down the paneled door to a spare bedroom and replaced it with a hollow door and installed a kitty door. The dogs couldn't get in unless someone opened the door.
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Unfortunately, we are very limited in space -- Kathy, 14:25:54 12/13/10 Mon [1] (pool-70-104-111-193.chi.dsl-w.verizon.net/70.104.111.193)
We only have one bathroom. We don't have any spare bedrooms. There are no doors between rooms (except bedroom doors) so she can't have an exclusive room. None of the kids claim her so her litter box wouldn't be welcome in any of their bedrooms.
She has been going outside (I think she thinks she is a dog) so she hasn't been using the litter box that much. However, with winter coming on, I have noticed she is starting to use it again.
I am trying to figure out if there is some kind of box with high sides that the dogs couldn't get over, but that the cat wouldn't mind jumping over to get into it. May have to do some googling.
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They have the covered kind... -- suek, 16:34:33 12/13/10 Mon [1] (adsl-70-130-152-103.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net/70.130.152.103)
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I've seen those, but don't the dogs just reach their heads through the doorway? -- Kathy, 17:28:20 12/13/10 Mon [1] (pool-70-104-111-193.chi.dsl-w.verizon.net/70.104.111.193)
I think mine would. I know they eat the poop when they go outside, but I really don't want it to be readily available to them in the house. I have seen few litter boxes that look like big Rubbermaid containers with a hole cut in the top. I wonder if that would work.
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My sister has dfogs that do that too -- lindalou, 22:24:18 12/13/10 Mon [1] (24-176-56-185.dhcp.klmz.mi.charter.com/24.176.56.185)
She bought a plastic tote box and cut a hole in the top for her cat to get in. it works real well. And not a lot of litter tracking!
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Like this? -- lynne, 02:45:09 12/14/10 Tue [1] (c-75-72-210-21.hsd1.mn.comcast.net/75.72.210.21)
http://www.petco.com/product/14467/Clevercat-Top-Entry-Litterbox.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch
The lady at Petco who was helping us said she has and loves this one. Keeps dogs out and the treads on top clean off the kitty's paws.
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she made her own, but that's it! -- lindalou, 06:59:55 12/14/10 Tue [1] (24-176-56-185.dhcp.klmz.mi.charter.com/24.176.56.185)
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I made my own too cuz that price is nuts! -- Tapanga, 07:27:42 12/14/10 Tue [1] (CPE-70-94-62-20.kc.res.rr.com/70.94.62.20)
Abby used to shovel litter out the door of the regular covered kind. If I didn't clean it up fast enough, eventually someone would just go in the pile outside the door. The Rubbermaid tote is great. I'm on my second one, now. You can always go a little taller too. I think a dog could still easily reach into mine.
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We're in this line! -- HF, 08:36:30 12/14/10 Tue [1] (mail.denverhisc.com/64.207.26.218)
We made our own kitty litter box out of a giant plastic box. We keep ours in the basement where the doggies aren't allowed so that isn't our issue -- it's more litter control. The taller plastic storage bin keeps the litter in better. We also use the scoopable, flushable litter, which is easier for us to manage than those dusty kitty litters.
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Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. -- Kathy, 08:17:57 12/15/10 Wed [1] (pool-70-105-76-76.chi.dsl-w.verizon.net/70.105.76.76)
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A few ideas -- niki, 09:27:29 12/14/10 Tue [1] (216-43-87-143.dsl.mcleodusa.net/216.43.87.143)
There is a box called MeowSpace that only allows in a cat with a magnet on the collar.
A large foot chest with a hole cut in 1 end and a litterbox inside. Like this: http://www.designercatbox.com/?gclid=CMSOxcqh7KUCFYQUKgodiAqOng We made one years ago, but the price on these isn't terrible. I may have to look at those depending on what house we get...
An accordian style baby gate (you can still find them at hardware stores) the cats fit underneath but the dogs do not.
If the dogs aren't real pushy, a covered box with the opening facing into a corner.
The boxes with the hole on top are nice for agile cats, but make sure it is big enough or she will be offended.
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Thanks. I will give some of these ideas a try and see what works. -- Kathy, 08:16:36 12/15/10 Wed [1] (pool-70-105-76-76.chi.dsl-w.verizon.net/70.105.76.76)
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Welome home Mr Teddy. -- chezmere, 09:55:59 12/13/10 Mon [1] (adsl-75-51-187-134.dsl.lsan03.sbcglobal.net/75.51.187.134)
I have had zillions of cats through the years - this is the first year in 4o years I haven't had at least one cat.
I would never, ever declaw a cat - ever - period. My cats had their certain things I let them claw on. They learn. The nail caps sound fantastic.
As far as your Christmas tree - I always had to tie my tree to my stairwell with speaker wire. My cats never climbed a tree, but if the ornaments were low enough - they would knock them off, I'd pick them up and just put them higher. I also stopped using any kind of glass ornaments in the case they fell & broke. Also, something I read a long time ago ... do not use tinsel - really bad for a kitty if they swallow it, I guess.
Enjoy your new family member -
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Congrats! My cats were always afraid of the tree. They were more interested in -- LAwoman, 11:30:22 12/13/10 Mon [1] (NoHost/204.102.215.101)
"unwrapping" the presents. Every gift I gave anyone always had holes in the paper in the shape of kitty teeth LOL! And I would never declaw. Ever. It's like if a kid kept making messes and you cut off their hands to solve the problem. There are MUCH better ways to cope with kitty behavior.
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Well.. -- suek, 13:05:49 12/13/10 Mon [1] (NoHost/12.174.118.19)
We have 2 declawed cats - I'm cat-crazy and dh refuses to have them w/claws. One came without, the other we did at 3 months old; both use the litter boxes just fine. And you may or may not have to worry about furniture - the two cats we had that had claws ripped things to shreds, and the ones we've had without still do the action but no damage.
I seriously doubt a cat can undo a latch.
We keep the nonbreakable ornaments at the bottom; even when Jet (2 in Sept) was teeny (2 years ago; we got him the weekend before Christmas), he was more interested in what was dangling at the bottom than up higher - make sure you go to www.simonscat.com and look at the newest entry today - will make you laugh, I hope!
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I swore I'd never be that -- Tapanga, 07:40:18 12/14/10 Tue [1] (CPE-70-94-62-20.kc.res.rr.com/70.94.62.20)
horrible person who declawed an adult cat. But, I did it. I still hate myself a little for it but thankfully, everything worked out. Six was the foster cat who stayed. After over a year, she was deemed "unadoptable." A little too feral. Trimming her nails for all those months as a foster involved inviting my friend the former vet tech over for assistance. She ripped open my hand once at a Petco adoption when she got freaked. She's eight years old now and she loses a tiny bit of the feral as each year passes but only a bit. Thankfully, she's alive, healthy and seems happy. It was a huge gamble and I hope I never have to make that call again.
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It's not horrible -- niki, 10:08:03 12/14/10 Tue [1] (216-43-87-143.dsl.mcleodusa.net/216.43.87.143)
to declaw if it is done well and necessary. For my Zara, getting her nails trimmed was a much bigger horror than her declaw at 5 months. My mom's cat we tried nailcaps as she was taken in at 6-7 years old, but my mom couldn't put them on due to her arthritis and she would work on pulling the nailcaps off as soon as I put them on her. We did lots of pain med and an extra day of hospitalization and she is just fine, doesn't even mind having her feet handled.
I try to discourage clients from declawing, but I don't think it is evil either.
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Oh Yeah....Don't forget to share pictures of the new family member -- Kathy, 14:43:13 12/13/10 Mon [1] (pool-70-104-111-193.chi.dsl-w.verizon.net/70.104.111.193)
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Congrats, Lynne! We have -- sami, 18:59:19 12/13/10 Mon [1] (24-179-147-98.dhcp.stpt.wi.charter.com/24.179.147.98)
3 cats, one is a younger kitten yet. He climbed our artificial tree when little, but is ok with it now. The best thing we've found is those cat scratching pads. They're made out of densely packed cardboard and you can buy them at Target or Walgreens. None of our cats scratch any furniture, and they all have claws.
They love those scratch pads. The pads lie flat on the ground (although you can mount them on the wall too. They come with a plastic holder, so you just buy refills after the first time. They're really cheap and come with a little bag of catnip which gets the cats interested in scratching there. I also bought one of those new arched ones (I'll find links and email them to you) but they don't like that as much as the cheapo cardboard ones.
If you have some little catnip mice (available anywhere) he'll play with those too.
Good luck with the dogs, my sister's cat rides around on her dog's back and drives him nuts. ;-)
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