My Cat Dilemma - Updated.

[Snowy-girls]

It is the 'cannabis' of the cat world.

Claire

.x.

 

[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.

 

[Snowy-girls]

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.

That's ok ,your not the first person to have said this/thought this.
Like Saffron all 4 of my cat's were indoor cat's,but i never clipped there claws as they used a cat scratcher.But the 2 i have left,1 is fine+still uses the scratcher ,but my Sam has recently developed mild arthirits in his back legs which has caused the claws to stay out,so now can't retract,which is why he has to have them cut now.For the last 7yrs he has needed his front cut as when he fell 5 floors out of my window he dislocated his leg,twisted his ligaments+it was left disfigured which meant he could no longer use the scratcher for his front paws.
If needed you could clip your own cat's claws but i personally would'nt recommend it,like a dog if you cut there 'quick' they could bleed to death,it's rare but nonetheless could happen.x.

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

That's ok ,your not the first person to have said this/thought this.
Like Saffron all 4 of my cat's were indoor cat's,but i never clipped there claws as they used a cat scratcher.But the 2 i have left,1 is fine+still uses the scratcher ,but my Sam has recently developed mild arthirits in his back legs which has caused the claws to stay out,so now can't retract,which is why he has to have them cut now.For the last 7yrs he has needed his front cut as when he fell 5 floors out of my window he dislocated his leg,twisted his ligaments+it was left disfigured which meant he could no longer use the scratcher for his front paws.
If needed you could clip your own cat's claws but i personally would'nt recommend it,like a dog if you cut there 'quick' they could bleed to death,it's rare but nonetheless could happen.x.

Lol, the more I think about it the more I've decided she must have been some sort of freak-cat. She used cat scratchers, our door mats, our leather suite pretty much everything, when we left her at the boarding cattery she had nearly scratched herself out by the time we got back but her claws would grow so fast they'd curl under and she'd be trying to run during a mad half hour and you'd hear her yowling because she would have got caught on the carpet . A family friend's Abyssinian was similar (he'd get caught on people's trouser leg!) so I'm wondering if its something to do with the Oriental breeds. I can't remember my two moggies Carrie and Dinah ever having a similar problem, in fact, I can't recall ever clipping their claws. Yep, Saffron was definitely a freak-cat. I remember reading about how they could bleed to death if you cut the quick in my cat manual - I never went anywhere near it luckily!

Awww, really wanting a cat now...

 

[joolz1910]

I am developing a whole new vocabulary thanks to our new cat. So far this week I have learned of the existence of 'indoor cats' and 'catnip' to mention but a few. It's a whole new world.

 

[wifey]

You can buy Frontline for fleas and mites and Drontal for worming online you don't need to get them from a vets. We use Hyperdrug they are quick and very competitive with their prices they usually have the goods delivered in two day from purchase. Indoor cats only need their claws clipping once a month just back to the quick where the blood supply is no further. Use a soft bristle brush until the cat gets used to being groomed then introduce the flea comb and a slicker brush for removing any dead hair or excess undercoat.

Feliway is available to plug in to alleviate stress in the home it's an artificial hormone substitute formulated to smell like a mother cat who still has kittens. They also have a liquid spray to help too. Great in multi-cat households too.

Pet insurance doesn't have to cost a fortune we have ours with the RSPCA it's much cheaper than Sainsbury's were going to charge us. They were great when we got our quote from them.
We have lots of toys for our cat but he likes rolled up bits of paper and foil and his big scratching post and sleeping in the wardrobes and a session with a long rod with ribbons on the end, toys don't have to be expensive.
Make sure you get all the vaccinations updated regularly .

 

[joolz1910]

I didn't know you had to brush them. I will check out insurance with the RSPCA too. It seems to be coming out at between £4- 8, depending on the level offered. I think I might invest in a scratching post, although I'll hold off getting toys at the moment.

 

[Danauk]

Firstly our 2 cats are 11 years old and we have had them both since they were 10 weeks old. If you have just learned the term 'indoor cat' just head over to the US CB, there is an interesting thread there about the difference between UK and USA outdoor cats!

As for my kitties, for fleas they have 6 monthly programme injections (we have them when we go to the vets for their 6 month check and worming tablets/yearly injections.) For insurance, we don't bother, we live in a very quiet area where injuries and accidents are rare. But having said that the yearly injections cost a lot (not covered by insurance as they are preventative) and illness can happen, although not common. We have a seperate bank account for pet related things, so 6 monthly vets bills are covered and if they need long term medication we have the money for that too. At the moment the cats have more saving that we do!!

Can nip? Well we bought a plant once from the garden centre. One of our cats at it all in 3 days. I have never seen him so active!! The other won't touch the stuff!!! We have dried and as a treat the cat that likes it gets some just as much as he gets some spare cream from the fridge (which is not often!!)

As for toys, we bought loads and how many do they play with? None!! We bought the cat radiator bed, neither used it! Cat toys, way too lazy to make an effort. Scratching post? That is what the fence is for!! My cats love lazing. They sleep in the garden, they sleep over the hot water pipes on the landing, they sleep on the windowsill, they sleep in the sink or bath. All in all they like their home comforts, they like there sleep and they like their food.

As for brushing, one of my cats is very, very large. He is very fluffy and needs grooming a lot. We tried brushing and the finer combs and still my house was covered in fur and fluff which is very hard to hoover up. This year we bought the best cats brush ever. It is called a Furminator which cost £50 (yeah I know a lot, but so worth it) and we got from the pet department at Harrods (not a store we usually shop it, we just happened to see it when we were desperate and sick of all the cat fluff!!) I have to say it was the best £50 we ever spent. My house is now fluff free and my large cat Cheeky who looked over weight for years now looks like a lean cat!!

Remember, dogs have masters, cats have staff and you (and I!!) are the staff!!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Zoom grooms are the best cat brush IMHO

RE cat nip, we kept buying cat nip plants for the garden, every am we would go out and there was a hole where it had beenpriceless.

I so so agree with claire, its the canabis of the cat world, I swear my burmese used to inhale it!

Mind if indoor cat ,it wont need injections.

Vets imho will push whatever takes there fancy,whatever is on offer from the drug reps they are all the same really, frontline is super safe.

I always thinks the claws are for child protection, or should I say cat protection from child.

What vet is non profit making?Didny know you got them except pdsa. I have refrained from puting a smilie here!lol

 

[wifey]

Just wanted to say our cat's insurance costs us £6 a month with the RSPCA for gold cover if it's any help.
We get Bill vaccinated every year .. IF you want to put your cat in a reputable cattery for a holiday some where they will ask for proof that your cat's vaccinations are up to date and insurance details. This is to prevent your cat picking up any of the awful bugs they can catch, don't worry they don't transfer to humans and to be able to treat your pet if needed. Lots of people have a neighbour or friend cat sit for them it's a way for the cat to stay at home in a well known environment that will not stress them out, it's personal choice really.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Just wanted to say our cat's insurance costs us £6 a month with the RSPCA for gold cover if it's any help.
We get Bill vaccinated every year .. IF you want to put your cat in a reputable cattery for a holiday some where they will ask for proof that your cat's vaccinations are up to date and insurance details. This is to prevent your cat picking up any of the awful bugs they can catch, don't worry they don't transfer to humans and to be able to treat your pet if needed. Lots of people have a neighbour or friend cat sit for them it's a way for the cat to stay at home in a well known environment that will not stress them out, it's personal choice really.

Good point I forgot the kennel thing and vacc.
The cattery my cat went into once had its own insurance.

Have an ace Holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[joolz1910]

Thanks everyone!

The vet I've chosen does not make a profit on certain treatments: worming, flea, neutering, vaccinations, chipping. Seemed good to me.

I've bought a litter tray today.
And some more (cheaper) kittenfood.

Sooty has made herself well and truly at home. I think I have become her slave.