Cats!!!

[itspebbl]

Great stories

 

[Bean789]

I have 2 indoor cats, brother and sister, they are 4 years old now. We got them at 5 weeks old, they were from a litter of 12-14, 2 had passed away, and mom was killed by the neighbor's German Shepard that got loose. We brought 3 home to "foster," rehomed one within a week to 2 weeks because a lady had a litter of kittens pass from seizures, mom tested negative, and was overloaded with milk to the point of pain, we gave her Shadow. Shadow was solid black with white tips on random spots of fur, it is hard to explain but she was beautiful. We kept "the twins" because the smallest one was having a hard time eating, and the larger one was keeping her company. Looking back I probably should have gave the little one to the lactating mom, but I was scared she wouldn't make it. So now the littlest one, Trixie, is 13 pounds, declawed and strictly indoors, she is not very social except towards us, she goes to bed with my oldest son when he calls, and kills all the poof balls and baby socks she can find in a night then cries to let us know until we wake up and tell her good job. The larger kitten(Tracie) is now Trace, and 17 pounds. He is the definition of a halo, he protects his sister from everything, and loves to be cuddled, and tends to sleep on my head. He does sleep in the baby's crib some nights, but lands at the baby's feet and never wakes him up, normally he waits until the baby is in bed with us before he dives in the crib. I had them litter trained within 2 weeks of getting them, the only time they have had a big fight was when they got back from the vet. I will not get anymore cats after these two, according to my vet friends they are more like dogs then cats because of when we got them and the bottle feeding, they sit too, and I just can't imagine adding another cat to the dynamic duo. When a storm hits I open the back door so they can really enjoy it, keeping the screen door shut as well. Only time they have ever been outside was the day we got them, I let them play in the grass as the car was being washed, and when Trace fell out the window(first story) the screen didn't hold up to his weight as he stood up on it. He went crying to the sliding glass door immediately wanting back in, and has never shown an interest in going back out again. We used to get a couple of stray dogs that came through here, they never stay more than the night, but we found out that the are dog aggressive due to never being exposed to them on a daily basis. So getting a puppy should be interesting, luckily the dog we are getting is small and used to cats so it shouldn't be as bad, and I stay home everyday so I can watch them interact. As of right now the cats can't get the idea of jumping over the baby gate, which is more for the kids then them. The dog won't happen until we get a bigger place, this apartment is too small for 4 people and 2 big cats. Hoping to maybe add in a walk out area for the cats to our next place, something like a screen room with lots of under window shelves, they love to watch the birds on the flowers out front and the leaves blowing by out the back door.

I have always found that if the cats are there before the puppy, and most times it must be a puppy, that they will adjust and the puppy will survive the initiation period.

 

[Raech]

I have always found that if the cats are there before the puppy, and most times it must be a puppy, that they will adjust and the puppy will survive the initiation period.

I'm really not too worried about getting a dog, I know the biggest hurdle will be Trace, because every time his sister poofs up he attacks whatever made her do it. I plan on doing a very LONG walk for the puppy/dog, then containing it in the kitchen/dining room area with the gate in a kennel. If I had my way we won't pick the dog up until afternoon when Hubby gets off work, and the cats can be moody on their side of the gate in the majority of the house, and inspect at night when the dog is sleeping through the kennel. When I think it is safe after enough time has passed, I will get the extend-a-leash out and then open the gate and let the dog into another room in the house and start off introducing him to the whole house that way. I have been doing a lot of reading on introducing a dog to dog aggressive cats, and I already know what I am looking for, energy wise, in the dog. I know the cats will get over a dog being in the house, I just need to make sure they have plenty of room and can get used to the dog without the dog chasing at any point. Hubby will kill the dog(rehoming is not an option in his head) if one of them gets hurt. He is a very black and white guy, their is no gray area, I had to literally lock the cats in the bathroom when they got one of the kids in the face on accident, that is why Trixie is now declawed and Trace is so protective of his sister. It was either get her declawed or she was gone. I chose the lesser of the two evils, so my son could have his cat and Trace could have his sister.

 

[Americano Blue]

how do you introduce cats? i have a female cat that we've had for years and last night we found a female cat in our backyard. she has no ID and we are currently looking for her owners. If we can't i would like to keep her so how do i introduce them.

 

[Bean789]

how do you introduce cats? i have a female cat that we've had for years and last night we found a female cat in our backyard. she has no ID and we are currently looking for her owners. If we can't i would like to keep her so how do i introduce them.

I have always 'sequestered' the 'new' kitty in an area where the other cat cannot get to them directly but can smell their presence. Be sure to provide litter boxes, food, water etc. for both cats. This way the 'new' cat will get the scent of the home cat and vice versa. They will hiss and spit at each other, not only the first day but for a few days to a week before they will tolerate each other. After that and if they are relatively the same size, then let them sort matters out for themselves. Keep a watchful eye out when they encounter each other so no one gets too hurt. I would keep separate little boxes next to each other for at least another month. Then once they are all settled in, only one box will be necessary.

Note that there are some instances where a home cat will never adjust to a newbie in the house. Use your judgement and keep an eye on them.

 

[Americano Blue]

I have always 'sequestered' the 'new' kitty in an area where the other cat cannot get to them directly but can smell their presence. Be sure to provide litter boxes, food, water etc. for both cats. This way the 'new' cat will get the scent of the home cat and vice versa. They will hiss and spit at each other, not only the first day but for a few days to a week before they will tolerate each other. After that and if they are relatively the same size, then let them sort matters out for themselves. Keep a watchful eye out when they encounter each other so no one gets too hurt. I would keep separate little boxes next to each other for at least another month. Then once they are all settled in, only one box will be necessary.

Note that there are some instances where a home cat will never adjust to a newbie in the house. Use your judgement and keep an eye on them.

THANK YOU! wish me luck

 

[chiklee]

Check this out my cat Colby thinks he will eat deer tonight he sat and stocked this deer for a hr. or so while the deer was eating apples . So funny. The deer would look up him and he would get closer and closer to her .


at

 

[troy4]

i got 3 cats!cupcake Dewey and a new kitten Boots!

 

[Americano Blue]

Check this out my cat Colby thinks he will eat deer tonight he sat and stocked this deer for a hr. or so while the deer was eating apples . So funny. The deer would look up him and he would get closer and closer to her .


at

funny

 

[chiklee]

Today at work There was A cat and her two babies sitting by a sewer grate and I walked over to see what it was about and one of her kittens fell down in the drain so I went back up to work and the supervisor called the fire dept. and they came and took the grate off and recued the kitten It was about 6 weeks old so cute. Gray with a white tail
He put it near the woods where the family was and mommy did come out to get it . I did not get any pictures but this was a wonderful ending for the mom and baby Thought I would share that story to all cat the lovers.