My Cat Dilemma - Updated.

[pigby]

Hi

We went to London for a week recently - got back three weeks ago. We left our cat in the cattery but came home with two! There was a young female cat who had been left there by the RSPCA (lack of room at the RSPCA) and had been there since April. She is very cute - the cattery owners said she had been mistreated - she is very lovable though. Trouble is our existing cat (also female) hates her - used to being spoiled and the only one - hope she'll grow to like her - but she hisses and growls when the new one goes near.

Anyway we are taking to have her neutered next week - currently there is a special deal on for only £5 as there is a big problem with unwanted cats in our area at the moment - and we don't qualify for any vouchers as such - so it's worthwhile asking.

 

[Snowy-girls]

Great decision .I bet 'Sooty' wil be VERY happy with you all.x.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Ginger?

White?

 

[~Piglet~]

Guess what colour she is?

Ermm..... give me a clue

I would definitely arrange for her to be neutered as soon as possible, one of our kittens got caught straight away, before she was due to be spayed and had to have a bigger, riskier operation thankfully she was ok but at the time it was a worry.

 

[Deedee]

Just caught up with this thread. i think you have done the right thing if she was happy where she was she wouldn't have come back to you. I love my 2 cats to bits so much so i am currently sitting on the lounge floor as i have Maddy the one end of the sofa and Akai the other end Maddy always sits next to me but Akai walks across the coffee table looks at me with his big baby eyes and i end up moving on the floor for him I took Maddy to the vets on tuesday and nearly came home with a stray kitten unfortunately she doesn't get on with other cats so that blew that

 

[joolz1910]

Hi all. I'm waiting to see if the Cat's Protection League will give me a voucher towards neutering. I doubt it as we don't claim benefits but a friend suggested that we ask just in case. I am going to book into the vets for the vaccinations and to get her chipped next week.

It looks like Sooty has fleas. We got a treatment from a pet shop but another friend has said that the vets is the best place to get it from as their stuff is more effective. We have given her a worming tablet.

What else do I need to do? Anything I should start thinking about?

 

[Danauk]

11 years ago a 10 week old kitten adopted me, we later found were he was from but we kept him. Once we realised we were keeping him we got him nutered, flee treated and put him on 6 monthly flea injections, we also got his yearly injections started and we got him micro chipped. My 2 cats (the other, Figaro I got from a child in my class whose cat had had kittens!!) have never been into toys so I don't get them any more. They also don't like scratching posts (that is what the fence is for!!). All in all they are really easy to look after. We have a cat flap into our conservatory and garage (the back garage door goes into the conservatory) so they can come and go during the day. Some days they stay in when we are at work, but mostly they go out (but are in the garden or conservatory when we get home at feeding time!) They eat in the garage as I don't want the food smell in my house and they usually sleep upstairs with us (one on the bedroom windowsil, the other on the landing over the hot water pipes). They are very homely and don't go far at all. Oh and if they are hungry, want fuss and attention they let us know!!

Welcome to the world of cat ownership! Oh and the saying that dogs have owners, cats have staff is definately true!!

 

[bazzanoid]

Hi all. I'm waiting to see if the Cat's Protection League will give me a voucher towards neutering. I doubt it as we don't claim benefits but a friend suggested that we ask just in case. I am going to book into the vets for the vaccinations and to get her chipped next week.

It looks like Sooty has fleas. We got a treatment from a pet shop but another friend has said that the vets is the best place to get it from as their stuff is more effective. We have given her a worming tablet.

What else do I need to do? Anything I should start thinking about?

That's pretty much it - cats are sooo easy to look after. Just lots of love and attention and they're happy.

Our two aren't allowed out so we have to have scratching posts indoors to save the furniture... but as she's an out and about cat as Dana said you won't need one, she most likely won't use it.

If she starts to regularly sleep (as in for more than a couple of weeks) in one particular spot and it's a cold place, maybe just get a small open cat bed for her to sleep on, just makes sure that she doesn't end up getting arthritis from the cold floor before she gets older!

 

[joolz1910]

OK. I know I'm making a meal of this, but I want to get it right. I'm going to the vets next week (Tues) to get her fleas sorted out. Because we've used a treatment on her already, they can't give us anything for a week. I should know by then whether we are eligible for any help from PDSA or Cats' Protection. Either way, I'm going to book her in to be spayed, neutered and chipped. The vet suggested treating our house for fleas. Any advice regarding this please!

We have got her a basket with a pillow covered with a fleece blanket. I think I will invest in a proper cat bed once the shock of the vet's bill has subsided. Maybe a Christmas present for her?

Hopefully, once this is all sorted out, I should just relax and enjoy her.

 

[Claire L]

The best flea treatment we use is just on the cats and it is called Advokate, the older one Program is not so good as the fleas are getting resistant to it.

Claire

 

[joolz1910]

The Vet sells Frontline(?) and it is about £17 for 6 applications. What should I buy for the house? I know I need to toughen up but it makes my skin crawl.

 

[Claire L]

Sorry it was Frontline that the fleas are becoming resistant too, Advokate is much better as is newer. We find that the cat application of flea stuff is fine and that we don't need to do the house as well.

Claire

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

Joolz I'm jealous, I'd love another cat but I'm back living with my parents since my Gran moved in after her stroke and they needed help caring for her and it wouldn't be right to have a cat in this environment. I had a beautiful blue point siamese, Saffron, who was the best cat ever but she died during my first year at uni when she was only six and it broke all the family's hearts. Anyway, we spoiled her rotten, bought her beautiful cat beds, the best of food, toys etc ... she refused to sleep in the cat bed, preferring OUR beds, or a baby blanket, or our favourite jumpers etc, her favourite food (apart from Sheba) was anything she could steal especially fresh fried fish (which she wouldn't eat if you put it in her bowl, she only wanted it if she had stolen it straight from the pan ) and McDonald's French Fries and Walkers Crisps (all stolen)... and her favourite toy was a shoe lace which she used to drag around the house and hide in my bed, then wake me up at 5am to play with it . Cats are weird. Don't spend too much money on things like beds etc as you are liable to find she will turn her nose up at it. Save it for pet insurance and the essentials like food. Sometimes if you go to local Cat Shows they have displays and if you and your family split up, you will probably end up with enough free food and cat litter samples to feed her for a month if not a year . Definitely vaccinate and spay and if she is an outdoor cat please have her tested/vaccinated against FelV. Saffron was an indoor cat but we used to let her play in the garage where a local tomcat used hide and he must have had FelV because thats why we had to put her to sleep and it was heartbreaking seeing her suffering.
A scratching post is an essential and some nail clippers (ordinary human ones will do) unless you want your furniture ruined! We got Saffron chipped on a day when they RSPCA were offering it at a discount and definitely follow up on any help that you could get from animal organisations. Insurance is a must, it would have been a struggle to pay those high bills when Saffron got sick if we hadn't had insurance. As she was a pedigree, they even gave us back what we paid for her in case we wanted to buy another. We have kept money aside in the bank for another when the time is right. I just hope the man of my dreams isn't allergic to cats !

 

[joolz1910]

Sorry it was Frontline that the fleas are becoming resistant too, Advokate is much better as is newer. We find that the cat application of flea stuff is fine and that we don't need to do the house as well.

Claire

Would I get that from the pet shop? Is it applied to the skin? I bought the cheap stuff before as I assumed that it all did the same job. How wrong I was...

Choosing a vet is quite tricky too. I've gone for the one that is non-profit making for preventative treatments/procedures.

Do you have to clip their claws? I had no idea. I think I'd better buy a cat-care book.

 

[Claire L]

Advokate is prescription only from the vet. It is applied directly to the cat at the scruff of the neck, less chance of them washing there and licking it.

As for beds agree they choose where to sleep!

Claire

 

[Snowy-girls]

Do you have to clip their claws? I had no idea.

You have been geting some good advice on here but PLEASE DON'T clip your cat's claws .
A cat's claws should only be clipped if they are having trouble retracting them-normally due to arthiritis,which means they cannot retract there claws properly anymore+are out all the time,so get caught on carpets bedding etc..and can also grow+curl under into there pads,and then only a vet should really do this.

Cat's claws,especially if they are an outdoor cat should NEVER be clipped,they are used for grasping onto fences etc..when climbing,jumping etc..and to stop them from falling off of said places.
There main use is for self defence-fighting off other cat's etc..
Cat's claws are naturally kept trim by walking outdoors on pavements etc..by all means keep a cat scratcher indoors it will help them to not use the furniture-if she does'nt seem interested in it show how how to use it by gently holding her 2 front legs and pawing her feet on it-hope that makes sense??.Also if need be buy a catnip spray they love the smell of this+it will train her to use it.x.

 

[joolz1910]

Advokate is prescription only from the vet. It is applied directly to the cat at the scruff of the neck, less chance of them washing there and licking it.

As for beds agree they choose where to sleep!

Claire

The vet did mention that the more expensive treatment (£17) was prescription only - I assumed it was Frontline too, but perhaps it isn't. I will ask about Advokate. I won't bother buying a bed.

You have been geting some good advice on here but PLEASE DON'T clip your cat's claws .
A cat's claws should only be clipped if they are having trouble retracting them-normally due to arthiritis,which means they cannot retract there claws properly anymore+are out all the time,so get caught on carpets bedding etc..and can also grow+curl under into there pads,and then only a vet should really do this.

Cat's claws,especially if they are an outdoor cat should NEVER be clipped,they are used for grasping onto fences etc..when climbing,jumping etc..and to stop them from falling off of said places.
There main use is for self defence-fighting off other cat's etc..
Cat's claws are naturally kept trim by walking outdoors on pavements etc..by all means keep a cat scratcher indoors it will help them to not use the furniture-if she does'nt seem interested in it show how how to use it by gently holding her 2 front legs and pawing her feet on it-hope that makes sense??.Also if need be buy a catnip spray they love the smell of this+it will train her to use it.x.

OK, I will stay away from her claws. Catnip? What on earth is catnip?

 

[Snowy-girls]

Catnip? What on earth is catnip?

Catnip is a flowering tree,inside the furry pods of the tree are dried parts which is used to put inside 99%of cat toys,to attract the cat to them.Catnip spray is used to attract a cat to something you want them to do or somewhere you want them to go.Have you never seen a cat go ballistic over a certain toy? 99% of the time it will no doubt have catnip inside it,they love the smell of it .x.

 

[Claire L]

Catnip? What on earth is catnip?

It is the 'cannabis' of the cat world. If you ever see the Fatboy Slim video with the kittens you will see how it is regarded!

Claire

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

You have been geting some good advice on here but PLEASE DON'T clip your cat's claws .
A cat's claws should only be clipped if they are having trouble retracting them-normally due to arthiritis,which means they cannot retract there claws properly anymore+are out all the time,so get caught on carpets bedding etc..and can also grow+curl under into there pads,and then only a vet should really do this.

Cat's claws,especially if they are an outdoor cat should NEVER be clipped,they are used for grasping onto fences etc..when climbing,jumping etc..and to stop them from falling off of said places.
There main use is for self defence-fighting off other cat's etc..
Cat's claws are naturally kept trim by walking outdoors on pavements etc..by all means keep a cat scratcher indoors it will help them to not use the furniture-if she does'nt seem interested in it show how how to use it by gently holding her 2 front legs and pawing her feet on it-hope that makes sense??.Also if need be buy a catnip spray they love the smell of this+it will train her to use it.x.

Sorry, I gave the wrong advice . I was just always told that you should trim your cats claws but it makes sense now after reading what you said as Saffron was an indoor cat with very long claws if you didn't trim them they would curl under and she did get her claws caught in the duvet once as she jumped down and accidentally ripped one out at the quick and really hurt herself (there was blood and yowling!). I was actually told off for being an irresponsible owner for NOT trimming her claws lol! I can totally see how an outdoor cat should have long claws though.