View Full Version : Way off topic Cat owners,please tell me everything
becki x
29-04-08, 07:38 AM
I have never had a cat and am seriously contemplating it,a friend has some unwanted kittens,and like you do i fell in love.
However no one in our family has ever owned cats and i have no idea how to care for them,hence the contemplation lol
You guys are my first point of call,apparantly apart from worming this will solely be my responsibility (he'll regret that when he see's the pink diamante collar i like lol)
So talk to me like a kid :D and tell me everything i need to know,good bad and ugly
Many thanks geeky peeps,have a nice day ! :hug:
Well becki, Ive had cats all my life and have 4 at the moment, they pretty much look after themself unlike dogs who need walking everyday.
They need treatment for worming & ringworm (quite easy with one tablet) they can have booster jabs just like dogs but mine have never had any jabs as they are more like house cats and only go out for the loo them straight back in.
You can get a treatment called programme from the vets and its a liquid drop for the neck that kills flees and keeps them at bay.
You cant go wrong with a kitten, you will have hours of fun playing with him/her and hours of laughter watching them explore and be mischeivous as they grow.
Be prepaired to give up your bed, fave spot on the sofa and if ever lost in the house look in the ironing pile as cats love fresh washing lol
worthit
29-04-08, 08:10 AM
Hya,
I too have had cats all my life really and at the moment have 2 2 is quite enough :) they are very spoilt and to quote the last thread, they hog the bed, got their own settee but still like the one we sit on, they don't like the rain much or wind. They keep you calm when you most need and are very spiritual creatures and seem to know your needs and they love being stroked and loved.
My advice would be when they are kittens this is the best time to have them as they grow up with your ways and your rules (that doesn't last long as they make their own):lol: try and touch them as much as possible as human contact is best when they are little as left they will become like a wild cat and not like touch atall.
If they are boy and girl get them neautured as soon as possible (usually 6 months) as they do not understand the powers of nature and yes will breed like rabbits and very quickly too unlike us they can catch quickly so before you know it you have another 2 sets of kittens this has happened to me:eek:
The wonderful thing about cats is they are very independant and only sometimes want you to feed them that's not to say they are going to eat what you give them mine are sooo spoilt that they have all the best food and you know when people say Oh leave it down they will eat it THEY WON'T they know what they like and they rule where the food is concerned!!!
They give you hours of pleasure and make great friends as you can tell I am a proper cat person and I am never without them I love having them around they help me in the garden, they keep me company in bed I don't move not to disturb them (how sad am I) :) and kittens just want you to play with them 24/7 watch your settee especially if cotton they love scratching that get them a scratch post early on so they know that's to scratch, no good buying them a bed that's just wasting money believe me I've tried they know where is warm usually your bed that's their favourite.
I think I better shut up now about cats I sound like a right saddo but I do love them
Hope this has helped you if you want any more help just PM me
P.S you will need a litter tray to to train them and as they get a bit older put it nearer the door every time so they will eventually go outside:)
Kate x
michelle g
29-04-08, 08:14 AM
Cats are wonderful pets and as pips said apart from worming and
controlling fleas they pretty much take care of themselves.
well you have to feed them of course lol. it tells you on the cat food
how much they need per day and if you ring whiskers
they send you out a kitten pack with info and sample of food.
you will need a litter tray to start with and all you do is put the kitten
in and get there front paws and scrap the litter with them a couple of
times (iykwim) then they are aware of where it is, you only need to do
this once. cats are really clean animals. I would definately get a scratch
post for the kitten and when it's older buy it some catnip! they are so funny
to watch when they have catnip.
I would go for it had cats all my life and my mum has 9 :eek: they are great
pets.
becki x
29-04-08, 08:28 AM
Thanks all,that's great,i eally do need to know EVERYTHING i don't want to commit until i know exactly what i'm doing.
Male or female ?
I have 2 of each but they have all been neutered and spayed...no making babies...no having babies lol
Female in my opinion stay on the smaller side and are more loving where as toms tend to roam and are alot larger, get in to fights and can smell your house out untill they get their coconuts chopped off lol (toms have this thing for spraying to mark their teritory, not all do but i had one that did)
becki x
29-04-08, 09:13 AM
I have spoken to the vet,i also wondered,my son suffers with mild asthma,would wthis be an issue ?
Online pet store recomendations.collars harness etc .
I have signed up with wiskas kitten club,any advise at all would be much appreciated .thanks x
cabinkel
29-04-08, 09:16 AM
my son has asthma, and he is fine with the cat as long as he keeps his face away from him. He can stroke the cat without problem, (although all asthma sufferes differant) but cannot put his face near him. Cats are lovely pets, and very easy to look after! I have a boy cat at mo, but previously, have always had girls. hth:hug:
I'll agree with everything regarding the care, flea treatments, worming etc but the one area I differ in is that having had cats as kittens and one cat of mine who did have kittens, I now go for adult cats. I had to re-home all my cats when we went to Norway as at the time we couldn't afford to take them over and the costs that entails. Whilst there we bought two cats, both adults. One sadly died but the other is now back in the UK and we have since bought another adult cat. I have loved all my cats but just found adult cats so much easier. They don't have the kitten scratching and curtain climbing phase either. You can go and meet the cat and have an idea of personality. Some of our kittens, despite all being raised the same were not particularly friendly. Not nasty at all, just not lap cats. I also have found over the years that you can get a pedigree cat for a lot less money when breeders re-home their breeding cats or cats returned to them (Becca was returned to her breeder, as per her contract, when the family moved and couldn't take her with them, Belly came to us when her breeder downsized her numbers).
The two I have now, Becca came back from Norway, is definitely my cat and is as I type laying to the right of my laptop. Belly we have had for 7 months or so now and her name suits her. She loves to be carried and cajoled and lays like a baby in your arms. Pick her up and you can feel her trying to lean back so she can have her Belly rubbed. Sadly I need to re-home her because Stuart has had asthma since she arrived.
So adult cats all the way for me now.
A scratch post and toys are a must, mine use their scratch post so well we are needing to replace it :lol:
my son has asthma, and he is fine with the cat as long as he keeps his face away from him. He can stroke the cat without problem, (although all asthma sufferes differant) but cannot put his face near him.
Stuart had always had a mild allergy to cats but the longer they were with us the less the allergy showed up. Since buying Bella though he has suffered. He's put up with it hoping it would ease but its not happening sadly. If anything he is getting worse. :(
I can honestly say ive never had a problem with kittens scratching.
All my cats have been from kittens (rescue) and they have had a scratch post in every room along with toys so always had something to scratch on instead of using my furnature.
It dont have to cost the earth either, forget pets @ home go to argos and they do a good enough post there for around £5. Again toys can be bought cheaper of the markets and small family run pet stores.
My lads have asthma and so has my grandson (just found out & hes on an inhaler now) but the cats dont seem to agrivate it in any way. They suffered more from been outside running around but different things trigger it off depending on the severity of asthma the person has.
I would deffo get a collar and id disc as soon as old enough to wear one. All mine have a collar and engraved disc detailing their name, my postcode and my home number just incase they should go for a long walk and get lost. (I sound like an over protective mother lol BUT they are my babies and they are treat like kings & queens)
They get fed morning, 1 foil tray each then dinner to early tea they have munchies then later on at night they have fresh chicken, fish or tuna.
becki x
29-04-08, 09:30 AM
Thnak guys are know i need to know everything i just donj't want to make a mistake,i want to go into it eyes wide open and responsible so my pet is for life
Understandable becki chick.
The eldest cat i have at the moment is 10 years old then brother and sister at 7 years then 4 years.
Also dont forget to concider...if you go abroad often there will be cattery fees unless you have a neighbour, friend or relative that can go 2/3 times a day to feed, play and check on moggie.
Nicks83
29-04-08, 09:44 AM
Hi Becki,
I would highly recommend anyone to get a cat! I have two and i love them to bits.
Sex wise - it depends what you want - there isn't a huge difference - i have had females and males and they were both very affectionate. Males do tend to be bigger, and could possible "spray urine" to mark his territory as he gets older but if you get him neutered at around 6mths old this can usually be prevented (it would be best to discuss this with your vet as to what they recommend) and i would highly recommend that you get your cat wheter male or female neutered. With females it reduces the risk of them becoming pregnant if they get outside. There are other health benefits also which again i would recommend you talk to your vet about.
The main considerations are wheter you want your kitten to be kept indoors all the time? or are they going to get outside? This is personal prefrence and obviously will depend on wheter the kitten shows an interest in going outside! I personally let my cats out - but had one go missing for 7mths luckily i got her back as she has an identichip - but it is heartbreaking; also my 2 year old male got knocked down and killed on the roads. But on the other had Molly has been fine all these years! and she goes out too!
I would highly recommend getting your kitten vaccinated wheter it would be kept indoors or not there are different types of vacciantion avaliable so it would be worth talking to your vet again to see what they would recommend!
And would be able to advise you on cost - it could be around £35-45 approx?
Then i would HIGHLY revommend getting your kitten identichiped - this is a wee implant that goes into the "scruff" on the back of the neck - its is about the size of a grain of rice and has a 15 digit code unique to your kitten - it is registered on a national database so that if he does go missing and is found he can be scanned and traced back to you.
Another thing i would strongly revommend is insurance for your kitten - again costs can vary for this - you want to make sure that you get a covered for life policy rather than a 12 month policy (the difference being 12 month policies tend to exclude you from treatments you have claimed for at the renewal - again you vet should be able to assist you more on this respect)
The other things include feeding; worming and flea treatments. Flea and worm treatments can be purchased from your vet who will advise you on the best products avaliable for you.
Sorry to waffle on - i used to work as a veterinary nurse so once i start its hard to stop! :rolleyes: if you need any more advice feel free to pm me
Oh and if you phone any local vet they are usually happy to help with these things over the phone and give you prices for vaccination courses; neutering and identichips etc!
HTH Good luck what ever you decide; and it will be worth it if you do get one! Lol
becki x
29-04-08, 09:47 AM
He he thanks hun,phoned the vet so i have all the prices for vacinations and micro chip etc,waiting to speak to the nurse about the asthma issue,i just need to know how to train and play and encourage etc xx
He he thanks hun,phoned the vet so i have all the prices for vacinations and micro chip etc,waiting to speak to the nurse about the asthma issue,i just need to know how to train and play and encourage etc xx
That will all come naturaly chick, just by rolling a small ball along the floor and allowing the kitten to run after it will encourage it to follow.
(my tom cat is trained to fetch the ball back) lol
Training is also easy, place the little tray where the kitten can easily access it (only a small amount of cat litter as they scuttle it out on to the floor) Place the kitten on it and let it get a feel & smell (there is something in the litter that attracts them to it) If kitten is found to be weeing on the floor, pick up and place on the tray, even if they do a small poo, place it in the tray and then place the kitten so they get a smell and know where to go to next time.
All mine took to the tray and after a few days went on their own accord.
louiser
29-04-08, 09:56 AM
Cats are great, I've grown up with them and I would love some of my own but I can't due to my other half having allergys.
One great bit of advice my Mum gave me was when they're growing up if they start to scratch as your stroking them not to keep whipping your hand away, they will see it as a game and grow up scratching you. If you just leave your hand in place you get a weird little look from them like 'oh right your not moving then?'!
They all have their own personalities, some love fuss some not so much,
Louise xx
This is a good site to read up on, it has loads of info from kitten to adult, treatments & insurance etc
PDSA - Kittens & Cats (http://www.pdsa.org.uk/kittensandcats.html)
Someone else mentioned cattery fees if you go away, another one is that Belly needs special food due to a sensitive stomach. Its not a major extra expense but depending on where you live its not as handy as a box/tin of food from the corner shop if you run out. We have to drive to the nearest petshop or vet as its not carried by Sainsbury's.
Not the norm but it does go to show that on the face of it the costs seem quite good but its the hidden and unexpected costs that make it mount up.
I'd also recommend pet insurance, a small monthly payment really helped us when one of our cats needed major treatment years ago, we didn't have it in Norway and Kelly's vets fees ran to almost £800 by the time she died weeks later. The financial impact was huge as we were already struggling.
Well what can I say.........I have 2 cats one white (imagine Arthur from cat food add) and one black & white (imagine felix from cat food add) they are called Won Ton & Dim Sum (I like chinese food) dont ask me what my son is called :lol: so anyway, I woke up this morning to the most disgusting smell and thought my baby boy who was laying beside me had messed the bed,,,,,,I whipped him out and ran to his changing mat only to nearly step in a big mound of runny poo on my brand new real wool £300 rug!!!!!!!!!!! now this isnt the first time this has happened, it happened 3 days ago aswell and I had to have it steam cleaned...............I am going to have to throw it out now,, as the smell from 3 days ago never really left the rug and while sitting on the sofa (the leather £3000 sofa which they have claw marked to ribbons and ruined) ,,,,,,,kept getting a pungent smell drifting up,,,,,,,:cry: My cats are in the dog house , so to speak...................Apart from that,,,,,,,,they rule the house, take all the comfy chairs, think our bed belongs to them, cant move them from the computer chair without a fight, just anywhere that you would like to sit or lay down they get their first.......you cant stay out over night as you need to get home to feed and let them in or out, you cant just do things on impulse anymore,,,you have to treat them like children,,,,big responsibility,,,oh and they gave my baby boy flee bites at 3 months old..........Im not a big fan today.........sorry....still dont know which one is responsible for ruining my rug. They were such cute and adorable looking kittens to. But Im sure you will get some great stories from others...good luck
We have a cat, his name is Ronnie, we got him from the RSPCA. They microchipped him there and gave him his first vaccinations!
He pretty much looks after himself, when we got him we got a litter tray, when we got him home first we wiped his paw in the litter and then he wee'd and pooed in there, no accidents! He doesnt use this anymore, he goes outside!
We had him neutered, other than that its yearly vaccinations that we take him to the vet for, we give him the worming tablets once a month and give him a spray with flea spray, saying that touch wood he has never had fleas!
He doesnt wear a collar, hes quite a lively cat and he got caught on a tap when he was little and almost hung himself.
We feed him 2 meals a day, morning and night, in the morning he has a mix of wet and dry food, usually Whiskas and the James Well Beloved (from Pets World) dry food, then just dry at night. He also has water! As a treat he likes those fishy bits and fresh cod/haddock! lol!!
We bought a brush for him aswell, its metal and it massages the cat at the same time, he loves it.
We dont have a cat flap, he just got used to jumping up on the window sill to let us know when he wants to come in and going to the door and miaowing when he wants to go out!
He also has little balls that he plays with and a mouse with cat nip in, loves that aswell! Other than that hes a lazy little blighter, sleeps all day, goes out for a poo, then hes back in sleeping on the sofa!
We have a litter tray which is cleaned daily,,,,,which they use,,,,mostly,,,,,,,,but sometimes they just feel like doing it on the floor.
We have a litter tray which is cleaned daily,,,,,which they use,,,,mostly,,,,,,,,but sometimes they just feel like doing it on the floor.
This happens to us from time to time, except they pee on anything on the floor. Not carpets, never that, but if a coat or holdall, gym bag is left flat. We are not sure who it is, all we know is that when we tried putting them to a cattery one at a time for a week alternately it stopped, both were clean. We tried two litter boxes but they both insist on using the same one. Go figure. Whilst Belly adores Becca, Becca will have nothing what ever to do with Belly if she can help it so I think it is Becca being a prima donna and marking anything comfy on the floor. Once Belly has a happy new home Becca will be a solo cat, she gave me the message loud and clear!
As an aside, if anyone doesn't have one, a steam cleaner is the dogs danglies for nasty nifs and getting things clean with out chemicals. It will also clean your fridge brilliantly, clean plug holes, loos and shower cubicles plus much more. Best thing we ever bought!
We have a cat, his name is Ronnie, we got him from the RSPCA. They microchipped him there and gave him his first vaccinations!
He pretty much looks after himself, when we got him we got a litter tray, when we got him home first we wiped his paw in the litter and then he wee'd and pooed in there, no accidents! He doesnt use this anymore, he goes outside!
We had him neutered, other than that its yearly vaccinations that we take him to the vet for, we give him the worming tablets once a month and give him a spray with flea spray, saying that touch wood he has never had fleas!
He doesnt wear a collar, hes quite a lively cat and he got caught on a tap when he was little and almost hung himself.
We feed him 2 meals a day, morning and night, in the morning he has a mix of wet and dry food, usually Whiskas and the James Well Beloved (from Pets World) dry food, then just dry at night. He also has water! As a treat he likes those fishy bits and fresh cod/haddock! lol!!
We bought a brush for him aswell, its metal and it massages the cat at the same time, he loves it.
We dont have a cat flap, he just got used to jumping up on the window sill to let us know when he wants to come in and going to the door and miaowing when he wants to go out!
He also has little balls that he plays with and a mouse with cat nip in, loves that aswell! Other than that hes a lazy little blighter, sleeps all day, goes out for a poo, then hes back in sleeping on the sofa!
I want to be a cat in my next life....23 hours sleep a day out of 24 is good going dont you think lol
Like you we have never had a catflap, infact in the summer they jump through the windows or onto the fence then the extension then through the bedroom window. (told them to stop showing the burglars how its done but they wont listen)
Also they sit at the door and cry to go out.
You have loads of advice here becki and i know what you are going to decide, you wont be making a mistake chick, they truely are loving animals and your best companion when in on your own :hug:
Ragdoll >^..^<
29-04-08, 11:21 AM
Be aware though, dogs have owners ~ cats have slaves :lol:
I have a fridge magnet that says
"you are nothing in this house untill you have been sat on by a cat"
How true :lol:
karentriff
29-04-08, 12:37 PM
I have four cats. Three female, one male They are all adorable and bring us immense pleasure. I have two older cats ( 6 & 5 yrs) and two fairly young kittens. One of my kittens has just had diarrohea on the kitchen floor and walked through it through the rest of the house. I only bought him home yesterday and we are still settling him onto new food. My six month old kitten keeps me awake all night long. She likes to sleep wrapped around my neck or on my face. She gives me little nips (kisses) on the face all night long. The sleep deprivation is worse than when my children were babies. When I got my first two cats, they trashed every curtain in my house. Even though I have screens on all windows, occasionally a fly would sneak in and the cats chase them up the curtains. They were ripped to shreds. I waited for the cats to mature to get new curtains and then my husband gave me a kitten for christmas last year and you guessed it, the curtains again. There is nothing left of the arms on my lounge suite that I saved for years for. They have torn it to shreds in spite of having a scratching post. Every day we are cleaning up puddles. They sometimes forget where their litter tray is. Kids school bags are a place they like to pee, slippers, newspaper, under beds, the list goes on. My cats all hate the sight of each other and are continually fighting. We have many vet bills for abscess treatment. Needless to say I love all my cats, inspite of all their bad habits. But ask yourself if you are willling to put up with their carnage. If unsure then don't get a kitten. Go for a mature cat. and if you intend to eventually have more than one cat, get them both at the same time. No territorial problems then. hth
Karen
Amethyst_Angel
29-04-08, 01:09 PM
I love cats! My family had cats ever since I was little.
About the asthma issue - some people are allergic to all cats, some people are allergic to some cats. I'm one of the latter. I'm allergic to one of my gorgeous moggies. It's not a problem providing she doesn't sit on my face... which is generally discouraged anyway! :green:
At the moment I have a boy and a girl but they don't play well together. I have to separate them when they start fighting - it's like having kids!!!
I've got both of my moggies microchipped. They're fed on premium cat food that you can only get at the vet. This is because my little one has tummy problems and can't eat regular cat food. They're happy tho as they love it.
I've been a horrible mum and haven't given them all their boosters. I'm intending to get them started on that again this year! However, provided that you keep an eye on your darling little moggy and take him/her to the vet if he/she looks out of sorts then they'll usually be fine. They're quite resilient creatures.
Send us lots of piccies if you get your furry baby! :green:
:hug:
Becki,,,,,, Im over the poo incident this morning, it kinda poohed on my morning,,,,,but this afternoon is bright and beautiful. As my partner always tells everyone the cats dont live with us, we live with the cats and are enslaved to their every desire....honestly we cant stretch our legs out at night as we have one at each side of the end of the bed and wake up with cramp :irked: Thanks Min 11 for the steam clean tip,,,,,,I will try that before I replace my BELOVED mat,,, is it true you can clean ceramic tiles with them to? Cats are beautiful, mystical, funny, demanding yet independant, low maintenance gifts of nature. Your comments have had me LOL
I had a 'moggie' for 18 years and now i have a pedigree cat who is 18 months old. Both are very different in terms of caring for them and temperament.
Kittens really do need lots of attention and play time, they are not going to get tired and sleep most of the day, like older cats. My 18 month old cat still wants to play all the time.
Being a pedigree he has a sensitive stomach, so i have to buy special food which i can only get via the internet. Also i have pet insurance now, as he ate something in the garden last year and must have poisoned himself, and that cost me £300. It would have been a lot more if they had to give him blood tests, x-rays etc. He also got stung by a wasp, but we didnt need to take him to the vet in the end.
Always have a scratching post which is taller than the cat, as they like to stretch out when scratching. They wont tend to use a small post if they are taller than it.
Beware of leaving things on tables/worktops etc as no matter how much you try to stop them, they still like to climb on them! Then you have to keep cleaning the surfaces too. Luckily both my cats have never tried to get on the worktops or climb the curtains, rip wallpaper etc so we have been lucky.
They will unfortunately use their claws when trying to climb on sofas etc when they are small. We had a black leather sofa and the scratches are minimal, as now he is big enough to jump up without using his claws to pull himself up.
They will need to be kept up to date with vaccinations, more importantly if you ever expect to put them in a cattery - as most catteries will not take them if they have not been vaccinated. I just paid £44 for 6 days in the cattery so it all adds up!
Hope that helps!
Apologies if I repeat anything anyone else has said already. I have two cats, girls at the moment but have had boys in the past. Definitely get them neutered as the calling from girls (when they are in season) is annoying and you must make sure they can't get out otherwise the chance of them getting pregnant is very high. Boys tend to get into more fights than girls but neutering helps this somewhat.
Both my boys (in the past) and girls are prolific hunters so be prepared for lots of little pressies if yours are the same.
They are wonderful animals, proud, elegant, independant and very loving when they want to be.
I would recommend a regular flea treatment such as Frontline, don't forget to worm regularly (especially if they hunt). As regards feeding use a good quality cat food and feed dry food as well as wet as this helps to keep their teeth clean.
Re allergies, I have asthma and have found that as long as I have had the cat from a kitten then I desensitise and don't have any problems. I was told that this was because kitten fur is hypoallergenic and its the adult fur that causes problems, don't know how true this is tho.
Good luck and don't forget piccies of your new arrival.
I have spoken to the vet,i also wondered,my son suffers with mild asthma,would wthis be an issue ?
Online pet store recomendations.collars harness etc .
I have signed up with wiskas kitten club,any advise at all would be much appreciated .thanks x
I have 2 cats and a kitten and i have asthma.
I look after the kitten mainly,
I have a harness for him because I don't want him going out, I make sure he has plenty of toys to amuse him and scratching posts. I have a grooming brush too because he is long haired
I have got him all his boosters, he was neutered and microchipped at the same time, plus I have him insured for £6 a month (saved me £80 in vets fees so far! and he isn't 1 year old yet)
I am also subscribed to whiskas newsletters and they do help alot
worthit
29-04-08, 10:15 PM
I have 2 of each but they have all been neutered and spayed...no making babies...no having babies lol
Female in my opinion stay on the smaller side and are more loving where as toms tend to roam and are alot larger, get in to fights and can smell your house out untill they get their coconuts chopped off lol (toms have this thing for spraying to mark their teritory, not all do but i had one that did)
I disagree with thsi as i have always had toms aswell as females and I think of the 2 toms are much more loving mine is anyway he's a beast of a cat I love him he's sooo big and masterful:) how sad am I!!
Kate xx
The Guild
30-04-08, 11:41 AM
Like many others here I have always had a cat, and currently have a male and female. The temperament can vary as much by breed as by sex. My tom is a Burmese, a breed well-known for their child like qualities. They are very loving and affectionate to the point of being utterly spoilt, but also love to follow you round and help with the housework (Truffle sits on the ironing board, sorts out washing, inspects newly cleaned floors, sits at the table while we have dinner...). I have just been away on holiday for a week and since I got back I have been unable to stop him linging to me! It's more like having a baby!
A cat will tell you everything you need to know about them. It will tell you when it's ill, what food it likes, how it wants to be treated, etc. They are very much in charge. When you choose a cat, don't just pick the cutest, go and handle them, and see how they react to you.
I have a friend who is a vet, and she informs me that a scratching post needs to be introduced to a kitten very early if it is to be of any use. Put it where they seem to want to scratch (patches of carpet, furniture), and try and guide them to use it whenever they start scratching. Unfortunately, a post is less effective for older cats, they will either ignore it, or like mine, use it as something to scratch the backs of their heads on.
I have to say, I would never be without a cat, they are fabulous companions, without a lot of the effort of dogs. They are all individual characters, and will quickly become a part of your family.
Don't forget to post a piccie of your new baby so that we can all coo over it lol.
becki x
30-04-08, 11:58 AM
Thanks all !
I will post a pic,they are ready in five wekks,and it's looking like we will be getting one,i'm so exited i want to buy things for it now :D
Marlise
30-04-08, 12:11 PM
Hi,
I haven't read all the posts, so apologies if I repeat things.
I have 3 cats and I love them more than anything :hug:
You need to get them liquid spray catnip. They love it !! You can give it as a treat or you spray it on places that you want them to go to like a scratching post or bed or something.
You need to have them sterilised, you need to deworm them ever three months (I find panacur or provinder spot on the best), you need to give them their de-fleaing treatment every month, I use Frontline.
You also need to get insurance. It doesn't cost much a month, but boy will you be glad that you have it in the event that something should ever go seriously wrong or your cat is diagnosed with a long term illness.
Finally, just remember:
You don't own a cat, they own you and you are just their human.
Cats were worshipped in Egypt and they have never forgotten this.
Dogs come when they are called, but cats will take a message and get back to you.
And finally ....
They will definately leave paw prints all over you heart :hug:
Marlise
ShellDR
30-04-08, 12:39 PM
I've got a big ginger tom cat. He was a rescue cat and still freaks out if you russle a carrier bag.
He is so loving, my hubby says I treat him like a baby.
If he wants a cuddle he comes for it, if he doesn't he sunbathes on the window sill (then stretches and falls off :) )
Not read all of the posts so I'm probably going to repeat someone but ...
When I got him he had his nuts done (supposed to stop toms spraying and makes them less aggressive), got him microchipped, got jabs and flea and worm stuff. Give your kitten a scratch post or it'll eye up the sofa. My cat prefers pulling up carpets but each to their own.
If you let your cat roam outside beware of "presents" left for you. Dead mice/ birds being dropped at your feet is a bit grim.
Also if you have any long cutains you need to watch out, I found Timmy clinging onto the curtain rail once. He jumped down coz he thought he was in trouble, ran out of the room straight into a glass door he thought was open:lol:
Having a cat is fab I would recommend you'll never have a dull moment
Have fun
Also if you have any long cutains you need to watch out, I found Timmy clinging onto the curtain rail once. He jumped down coz he thought he was in trouble, ran out of the room straight into a glass door he thought was open:lol:
Having a cat is fab I would recommend you'll never have a dull moment
Have fun
Haha I agree. Our kitten, Zuki sits on the back of the sofa and launches himself at the curtains and swings on them.... or he sits slap bang in the middle of the fake flowers in the window..... either that or tries to eat the fresh ones (remember NO LILLIES!! dangerous to cats!). CFA: Plants and Your Cat (http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html) <--- link about flowers.
We rub catnip into his scratching mat and post but he just looks like he is in love with it lmao! I was told by a vet if they dont use their scratching post you have to show them. I used to sit him on my knee and put his paws onto the post and show him and it worked for a while.
The Guild
30-04-08, 04:47 PM
Also if you have any long cutains you need to watch out, I found Timmy clinging onto the curtain rail once. He jumped down coz he thought he was in trouble, ran out of the room straight into a glass door he thought was open:lol:
Having a cat is fab I would recommend you'll never have a dull moment
Have fun
Venetian blinds are just as bad, Izzy likes to try and put her head through the slats when they are open.
It's widely agreed that cats are selfish, but they can be so rewarding. They can be very loving, and are pretty smart too.
becki x
30-04-08, 04:49 PM
~cats are sly and nasty
~you have ferral cats nearby,they'll kill it
~the asthma excema issue
~they are no good to have around new babies
~they will ruin your house
~it will take off
Anyone any answers for those,i am a bit miffed really,i am a married woman with a home ,son and starting up a buisness,not so far off 30 and yet people seem to treat me as a child :grr:
Any advise one the above please ? I think i am being responsible looking into it properly first,i have spken to the vet and a nurse,yet still peeps stick their oar in where its not wanted x
~cats are sly and nasty
Cats are not sly and nasty in the slightest, they are playful.. Yes you may get scratched or bitten but its not usually hard and usually if you are playing with them or annoying them (If they are annoyed they will wag their tails at like 500miles an hour lol and/or growl)
~you have ferral cats nearby,they'll kill it
I have had cat's for 23 years and not one of my cats have been killed, it's only Zuki who is an indoor cat and we aren't far from a main road and there is a field behind our house. There have been foxes around here too and never a cat been killed.
~the asthma excema issue
I have asthma and excema and I have no problem with the cats, just dont allow them to sleep on the sufferers pillows. I used to sleep with a cat curled up next to my pillow and had no problem. My mum has asthma and has been told she could be allergic to pet hair and had no problems.
~they are no good to have around new babies
As long as you don't let them sleep in the babies crib, you should be fine. If anything the cat will be scared of the baby at first lol, Zuki my kitten hides under the nesting tables if my sister's friend comes round with her one year old, as Riley likes to pull their tails lol.
~they will ruin your house
They will only ruin your house if you allow them. Our house is fine. As long as you train them right from wrong (using their litter, scratching post etc) whilst they are small you should have no major problems!
~it will take off
They don't take off as long as you dont let them out straight away, ours always come back, get it neutered first before letting it out though, it stops them straying. My cats don't go any further than the avenue where we live, sometimes not even out of our garden
Also you don't HAVE to let them out - Cats can be housecats! - Also you can get a cat microchipped and insured which helps if they do go missing anyway
I think someone is jealous that you're getting a kitten and they aren't :hug:
~cats are sly and nasty Rubbish cats are not sly or nasty, I have only ever encountered 1 nasty cat, and that cat was kicked and hit, you'd be nasty if you were kicked or hit
~you have ferral cats nearby,they'll kill it Again rubbish, there are stray cats round us and Ronnie has had a few fights with them all, but Im sure they wont kill it
~the asthma excema issue Not sure?
~they are no good to have around new babies My little girl was a baby and Ron was about, he paid no attention to her at all
~they will ruin your house He does his business outside, the only thing I find is he leaves his hair on our bed and sofa, but thats nothing a hoover cant fix! And If I ever left food out on the oven, he would be up there like a shot, so footprints all over the work top, but that is what anti bac spray is for
~it will take off Ronnie has gone missing twice before, the longest time was 10 days, he threw a strop when we got back from holiday, then again for 5 days, he got trapped in a neighbours shed
hth's xxx
The Guild
30-04-08, 05:09 PM
~cats are sly and nasty - cats, like anything else, have personalties, and they are all different. However, if you give them plenty of your time when they enter your home they soon settle. I have one fuss pot, and one who is less affectionate, however, her nasty side only comes out when you are doing something she doesn't like. If you get to know their personality, you get to know when they want leaving alone, cuddling, playing with.
~you have ferral cats nearby,they'll kill it - cats are pretty smart, they know what's dangerous. Any home has risks from busy roads, gangs of kids etc. Depending on where you get your cat, people like the RSPCA and Cats Protection League will come out and inspect your home before you adopt, to make sure it is suitable and safe for the cat you want.
~the asthma excema issue - best to consult your GP on this one.
~they are no good to have around new babies - I don't have children, so I wouldn't like to comment on this one.
~they will ruin your house - only if you fail to discipline them.
~it will take off - cats know what side their bread is buttered, they know that home is warm and safe with plenty of food. They might pay your neighbours a few visits for extras, but they are unlikely to pack their suitcase for good.
You really are being responsible by making sure you know what you are taking on. The positive thing is that cats of very independent and far less time consuming than a lot of other pets. If in doubt, people like the Cats Protection League are great for advice.
becki x
30-04-08, 07:15 PM
Thanks girls xx
Do you think most peeps are either cat or dog lovers so have a slight adversity to the other iykwim,and this is where the comments come from ?
well we had loads of cats when i was younger and they are lovely creatures , i am after another one actually , lol just gotta talk dave into it haha
Thanks girls xx
Do you think most peeps are either cat or dog lovers so have a slight adversity to the other iykwim,and this is where the comments come from ?
Yes, I think so. I have always had cats, and used to have a dog but most people like either cats OR dogs. I dont like dogs, I used to like MY dog, but hate any other dog and dont ever want another dog. But I know people who have dogs, and hate cats. Usually comments like what you recieved are due to jealousy or personal preference
becki x
01-05-08, 08:19 AM
Thanks ladies,i do feel like i am having to justify myself and give answers to these stupid comments ! xxx
Marlise
01-05-08, 09:04 AM
Thanks ladies,i do feel like i am having to justify myself and give answers to these stupid comments ! xxx
Becki,
Please don't take this the wrong way, but you are an adult right ? You have your own place right ? You might possibly be married with kids ?
It's your life !! If you want a cat and the people in your household are happy with it (hubby, kids etc), then why listen to other people ?
Cats are wonderful creatures, like I said, I've got 3 and have had them form almost 10 years now. They have never damaged my house and never will.
They use their litter tray or go outside to do their business. I can't imagine life without them.
They are very independent creatures, but won't run off unless they have a very good reason. For as much as they are independent, they also love company. And WHY exactly would they want to leave the comfort of a warm house and a regular supply of food and fuss ? :wink2:
You are doing the right thing asking questions about something that you don't know much about, but trust me, once you have your small bundle of fluffy joy, all your worries will dissapear :)
Just to add to what someone else said about lillies, poinsettia plants are also poisonous to cats. I've always known about lillies, but never about poinsettia until my vet told me two years ago :eek:
Have fun and when you get your little kitten, POST SOME PICS !!!
Marlise
becki x
01-05-08, 10:12 AM
Marlise,i totally agree,yes i am a mother and wife,and yes i am furious that people think they can impose their veiws on me and expect me to do as i am told :grr:
I have rung the RSPCA who said,the ferral cats will leave it alone,it will be more than happy to not go outside,if disaplined from a kitten the house and toilett issues will not be a problem,the allergies will only become apparant after a day or so and the owners are willing to take it back within 24 hours if any health issues occur,the myth about cats smelling milk and causing sufforcation is an old wives tale,cats are intellegent and misunderstood and are not sly or dangerous,if a cat scrathces do not move away or it will think you are playing.
I do not have to justify myself,but i will,that'll shut em up :D
Marlise
01-05-08, 12:52 PM
[quote=becki x;759396]
I have rung the RSPCA who said,the ferral cats will leave it alone (Yes, was quite shocked to read that. WHO told you that :!::!:)
it will be more than happy to not go outside (There are a lot of house cats, but my personal view is, that if you have outside space and it's safe for your cat to go out, let them out. They love it so much !)
if disaplined from a kitten the house and toilett issues will not be a problem (Totally correct. Cats learn really quickly and it shouldn't be a problem)
the allergies will only become apparant after a day or so and the owners are willing to take it back within 24 hours if any health issues occur (some people are allergic to dog or cat hair. My partner is allergic to long cat hair, but short hair is fine :eek:. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do it about, except take antihistamine, but if you were allergic, you would know by now !)
the myth about cats smelling milk (???) and causing sufforcation is an old wives tale (Complete and utter rubbish. It really peeves me when I hear people say this. Complete nonsense. I wonder how my daughter and thousands of other babies with cats in the house survive ?? If anything, the cats try to avoid them LOL)
If a cat scrathces do not move away or it will think you are playing (It depends what you want the outcome to be :lol:. Kittens will want to play, that's how they learn to hunt etc. It's natural behaviour for them. You will find your kitten pouncing on you, chasing you, trying to bite you in a playful manner, going really low to the ground and wiggling it's bum and generally playing with you. THIS IS NORMAL and shouldn't be discouraged, unless they start climbing the curtains for fun :lol:. They never bite to hurt unless you've provoked them, it's normally just a gentle nip and if they are irritated with you, they might do the same. It's their way of letting you know enough is enough :lol:)
Just enjoy your new addition and tell us all about it :hug:
Marlise
ShellDR
01-05-08, 04:53 PM
[quote=becki x;759396]
If a cat scrathces do not move away or it will think you are playing (It depends what you want the outcome to be :lol:. Kittens will want to play, that's how they learn to hunt etc. It's natural behaviour for them. You will find your kitten pouncing on you, chasing you, trying to bite you in a playful manner, going really low to the ground and wiggling it's bum and generally playing with you. THIS IS NORMAL and shouldn't be discouraged, unless they start climbing the curtains for fun :lol:. They never bite to hurt unless you've provoked them, it's normally just a gentle nip and if they are irritated with you, they might do the same. It's their way of letting you know enough is enough :lol:)
Marlise
In all these years Timmy has never gone for me in anger. He's caught me with his claws when we've been playing but that's all. I kinda agree with the not moving your hand though coz that's how he got me. We were playing and he put his paw on me and I jumped back so what would have been a set of pin pricks turned into long red scratches. He nips my hubby when he gets ignored but it makes him jump rather than hurt, he's never broken the skin.
As far as being around kids Timmy runs a mile from my 3yr old niece. She just grabs at him and wants to love him and pet him (can't remember the characters name that says that but think it's looney toons).
Who cares what other people think anyway. It's you that has to live with it not them. If you want a kitten go for it xxx
number1kitty
02-05-08, 07:13 PM
I had never had cats until I bought my first house 8 years ago. I got two from a rescue centre (brothers) and they have been excellent. They were 1 when I got them and still playful but were not snipped like I had been told they had and yes when they mark their territory good luck ridding the house of the smell! I was new to it so didnt understand why they did it, until the vet mentioned they hadnt been done. They scratch my bottom step and one of them wees on things when I move house out of stress but they are very loving. They look after themselves and I go away for weekends and leave them alone. I just leave loads of food and water for them!
I have had a few kittens. the first was brill. He naturally knew how to be litter trained and apart from hogging the hot spots he was a good kitten until at 6 months old he got run over! Gutted!
The second kitten was female and she constantly attacked me and the cats. I had to get rid of her in the end!
So my 3rd I got a 2 year old cat! Shes female but I find my males more loving.
I would never get a kitten again. They are cute but vulnerable! And you never quite know if ots going to be pyshco kitty! I gave my white kitten to my mate and despite being snipped and now a year old shes still a mental case! Maybe that was just bad luck haha!
Whatever you decide, cats are loyal and loving and I would never hesitate again! Cat or Kitten enjoy them and learn as you go along. Like others have said they look after themselves, and as long as they have food and water and love they will be just fine!
One other thing to consider, if you are out a lot it may be fair to get 2 so they have company. They do like solitude as well but I always find mine cuddled up together on a cold night!