Please tell me about Kittens

[CheshireVal]

Keep in mind that declawing is actually illegal in most civilized countries. I can't believe that the US still allows it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Keep in mind that declawing is actually illegal in most civilized countries. I can't believe that the US still allows it.

I still don't understand this as a point of argument--several things are illegal in other countries (or legal) and the opposite is true here.

I see it used against declawing all the time. It is silly.



as far as what happens---we had our two oldest done when they were babies. I didn't like it one bit when they came home. No booties--nothing special. Poor kittens with bloody paws. Nothing for pain releif--b/c kitties really can't have stuff at home.

Cats are VERY resilient to pain. I do not say this to say that the declawing healing doesn't hurt them. very contrary. My oldest female blew out all the ligaments in both knees. there was nothing that could be done in terms of pain control and the only reason that was done was b/c she needed something to reduce swelling and then that would reduce pain. Any pain killers would have had to been administered at the vet and been monitored something about a kitty beign able to OD easily.

To put it in perspective--my cat could not walk b/c the pain was so bad. Teh vet said--cats will not meow in pain unless something is really bothering them. In other words they naturally tough it out. ON a good note they are NATURAL healers----the whole knee ligament ordeal with my cat. They just let her heal that way and allowed the bones to fuse together. It took her a long time to learn to walk and it was a combination of swelling reduction and her tolerance of the pain to learn. But she did learn. A dog could never do that.

And yes certainly--while declawing isn't a walk in the park--I can assure that though painful--cats do heal within a few days. They do not lose their natural tendancy to scratch---so they will still "paw" at furniture. But they will not damage it. And my cats recovery was nothing like her knees.

My BIL does swear by soft paws if it is not your cup of tea to do declawing and it works. But they do need to be reapplied--and if you don't have a patient cat--that could be a once a month pain in the tush.


And again--ask your vet about FELIWAY--they do identify on the literature that it will help calm your cat--and will basically discourage their desire to scratch furniture.

But the whole inhumane/illegal in most civilized countries thing is getting old. There are many many more laws on the books that are different between countries. Hit with the facts on why it is inhumane--not propoganda speak.

 

[helenabear]

I won't get into declawing vs whatever, most of the cats don't need it if they have a scratching post. As I don't think this is the place to argue about it.

I would also urge your friend to keep the kittens around their mom till they are at least 12-16 weeks old. I know that seems like a long, long time but it's really better for the kittens that way.

but I will disagree with this above. Do NOT wait that long! The personalities of cats do form between 8-16 weeks and it is better to have them in your home so you can "mold" them. In the first year a cat reached about 18-22 years old in maturity... it slows down drastically after that.

So waiting until they are 4 months old is not good... as you won't have near the influence on your cat as youw ould like. Do wait until 8 weeks though... minimum of 7 so the cat can bet fully weaned. Weaning too early will lead to stomach trouble.

We had our last two cats declawed and I do not plan on doing it again. The vet recommended it since no one could clip her nails (vet included) and they would split, bleed and could've gotten infected.

I believe the cost for fixing her and declawing her was about $150-200. That was for both and an over night stay. I could ask my sister how much the fixing alone was.
You can do it at 12 weeks, but my vet always suggests doing it at about 5 months.

Cats do learn how to not use their claws. Actually my cat we wound up doing (due to the bleeding claws) didn't use them that much at all. So you can "train" them to not use them if they do get them out too much.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

So mutilating your cats' feet isn't inhumane to you?

It's brutal and cruel. I can link you to pictures if you REALLY want to know exactly what goes on when they do a de-claw surgery.

But beware..it's not for the weak of stomach, nor the faint of heart.

TOV

 

[helenabear]

TOV, not sure if you were talking to me or not since my cats are declawed... yes I do think it is MOSTLY unnecessary, but sometimes that is the only way. Would you want my cats claws to become infected because no one could clip them and even scratching on a post wasn't working enough to dull them? Sorry, it was better for her to get it doen than to risk being injured the other way.

It is not the best option, no, but if it means a cat will live rather than being put down, then so be it.

There are also better ways now where they do not do near as cruel things as they used to.

They also have better medications than they used to for cats in general.

Mine came home without any stitches and yes, I can see the difference with my other cat's toes (wasn't my choice to get her declawed since I was a minor) There was no blood at all and she didn't seem to be touchy with her paws after it was done... only her stomach for being fixed. I didn't like doing it, but honestly, she recovered from that far quicker than the fixing... which is also removing things.

So I think you need to drop it. The OP asked for advice on CATS not declawing.

If you want to debate with someone on that, bring it to PM before you drag this thread down.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Yes, I was speaking to you.

And there would truly have to be NO other alternative,helenabear. There are always alternatives. You could've taken the cat to the vet a couple times a month (or whatever), lightly sedated and had the claws clipped that way. That's what my MIL did until she also decided to declaw her two.

TOV

 

[Laura]

Thank you for all that.

I don't even know the sex of the kitten, all I know is that it is a tan color. Hopefully I will find out the sex of the kitten tonight. Is one sex better than the other?

I haven't found one sex to be better. I've had friendly, loving cats of both sexes. Both of my cats happen to be female, and they're both different in their personalities. You should really pick the kitten(s) who seem to like you. And I do agree with getting two kittens from the same litter. They will play with each other and will be less likely to pester your dog, I think. Just a thought.

Declawing isn't something I've found necessary to be done to my cats. I do trim their claws. There are ways to keep a cat from clawing the wrong things, and it may not be necessary for you to do it. Spaying/neutering is of course essential.

One last thing: don't let a cat roam outdoors. You don't let the dog do it, and you shouldn't let your cat, either.

Here's a helpful website specifically about cats:
http://www.catchannel.com/cat/community/default.aspx

 

[helenabear]

Sorry, sedating a cat for any reason other than surgery (necessary) is not a risk I was willing to take. I've known friends/aquaintences who lost pets or had them deal with bad complications due to sedation for trimmings/clippings/cleanings. Sorry, won't convince me of that one

If you read my post, I don't like declawing cats, and I will NOT do it again. I had no intention of doing it until I had a conversation WITH MY VET! She had to convince me it was THE BEST SOLUTION in the long run.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

And there would truly have to be NO other alternative,helenabear. There are always alternatives. You could've taken the cat to the vet a couple times a month (or whatever), lightly sedated and had the claws clipped that way. That's what my MIL did until she also decided to declaw her two.

I honestly cannot believe that you of all people TOV have the GALL to lecture somebody about humane/inhumane cat care.

How many cats is it now that you've had put to sleep because you couldn't handle their innate behavioral issues such has territorial fighting? One or Two? I can't remember. The first one was named Precious.

Does "other option" lecturing only apply to those choose to declaw and keep their animals alive and happy?

 

[carolfoy]

Good luck with your kitten remember cats are AWESOME! they all have their own personalities, they are wonderful creatures.
Theres a reason why they have been worshipped as gods in many cultures!. feel privileged if your cat wants to stay with you, they definately have their own minds. Mines a very superior being (her opinion not mine) and I couldn't imagine life without her.

 

[icebrat001]

Thanks for all the advice, lets try not to dwell on the humane versus inhumane aspect of things.

What are your cats favorite toys?
Do you have a pet condo?
What brand and type of food does your cat enjoy?
Tell me about your litter boxes!

 

[helenabear]

Sorry I went on a tangent

As for cat toys, mine really like the fuzzy mice the best. They also like one specific catnip toy more than the ohter. It's a teeny sock filled with cat nip. They are a very light fabric (the sock that is) and that makes the nip come through more I guess.

They also love feathers on a string that you fly around the room and absolutely die for the laser pointer

Mine likes Iams cat food. I've tried switching, but they just don't like it much at all. Mostly get dry though because it's good for the teeth. My older cat gets a mix of dry and wet... seems to be good for her digestion.

As for kitty litter, we just use clumping that is clay. I like A&H brand the best (yep same as baking soda). There are better litters out there for the environment though.

I do NOT recommend the litter maid box though. I had it with my two cats and it kept jamming. Just regular clumping works best for us.

No kitty condo here yet... but I keep planning to make one since my babies love shoe boxes. I think I'd rather make it than buy one (they are $$$$$) but they can be made with spare wood, carpet remnants and twine rather easily (so my brother said when he told me about his )

Cats are seriously a joy. I have my two babies and I couldn't imagine life without them. I am sure you will love yours

 

[CheshireVal]

As far as toy preference, every cat is different. Those tiny little furry mice seem to be universally popular, though I once had a cat who was terrified of the little buggers.

For food: look at the ingredients, and try to only buy food that has real meat (or meat meal) as the #1 ingredient. If its' got corn meal or anything else first, then it's not great for the cat. Purina ONE is reasonably priced and the ingredients are okay. Even better is Eukaneuba (sp) or Science Diet or any of the premium brands.

We just have a regular covered litter box for our two cats. Always use clumping litter-- very easy to clean. We scoop ours our every day.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

My husband built one of those cat trees once. We went to a carpet place and they practically gave us a remnent big enough to cover it. It had a platform that was about 6 1/2 feet up. Our male cat would get up there and swat at our heads as we walked by.

Cats can be tricky. In some ways they are superior pets to dogs because they care for themselves in many ways. They take care of their own fur, mostly litter train themselves, you don't have to take them for walks twice a day to keep them exercised.

But in other ways cats are very intelligent and can be soooooo stubborn. For the most part, dogs live to please humans. Cats live to amuse themselves. If you get a guy that is insistent on a behavior that you find less than desirable, it can be a real battle of wills between the human and the cat.

We always just used the regular covered litter boxes for our cats. They do need to be changed and cleaned ALOT though or the whole house reeks.

 

[TurboKitty]

Being owned by a cat is the best! And, don't try to fool yourself into thinking it's the other way around...

We have a rope wrapped scratching post. The carpet covered ones can cause confusion, especially if you have stairs. We also use a small water pistol to discourage furniture clawing, screen and curtain climbing, and walking across the dining table.

My two girls are different. The older one LOVES plastic milk rings, those little things that secure the cap on the milk gallon in the store, and catnip filled furry toys. Our little clown, who's only about 10 months old, well, the world is her toy. She plays with her tail, the laser pointer, a pencil, the ball in a round track toy, plastic bags, 12 pack soda boxes, the other cat, bugs, her imagination, things moving on the tv screen, and people in the house. She just cleans the catnip filled stuffies.

They also both like feather and a "long strip of cloth on a stick" toys. No real ribbons though, as we can't afford the vet bill of removing that from a kitty tummy. We also avoid Easter grass this time of year, and silver icicles on our tree in Dec.

No milk for cats, they do sell a special milk you can give to cats if you want, but no cow's milk for them.

Be sure to get some of the food your kitten's been eating. And, either get the same kind, or mix what furryball of cuteness is used to eating with the new food for a few days. And, be prepared, changing food makes for an extra stinky litterbox.

 

[stitch79]

I love my two cats tremendously and I have put in a lot of time to make sure they are trained properly. If you start when they are young then you can train them to use scratching posts, to let you clip their nails regularly, behavior, bathing, etc. They are definitely worth the time and effort in the love they give.

I know this is getting somewhat controversial on this topic, but IMO if you are considering declawing your cat then you probably shouldn't have one. If you cannot deal or train the issues that your cat may have then it would be better of in a home of someone who can.

Kittens do need to stay with their mother until 10-12 weeks of age. Their mother teaches them skills that they will need until then. She teaches them how to use the litter box, social skills, etc. Bringing cats home too early can lead to many issues that people complain about, mainly with the litter box.

For more information on cats or kittens I would suggest looking beyond the DIS for advice. This website and forum has tons of information and great advice.

www.thecatsite.com/forums

I wish you the best. Please take in information from several sources before you make your decision.

 

[Laura]

Thanks for all the advice, lets try not to dwell on the humane versus inhumane aspect of things.

What are your cats favorite toys?
Do you have a pet condo?
What brand and type of food does your cat enjoy?
Tell me about your litter boxes!

The cats' absolute favorite toy is what we call "the feather". It looks like a short fishing pole with a giant feather lure on the end. You can just sit on the couch and veg, flick the pole through the air, and the cats go nuts chasing the feather. They could do it for hours. They also like things that roll well, mice with catnip in them, that kind of thing.

We don't have a pet condo, but I think our kitten would like one. They are rather expensive to purchase. We do have a cushy seat that attaches to the window. They love that.

They eat Nutro dry cat food. They get wet as a treat on occasion. They seem to like it. One cat isn't interested in people food, the other is. People food can make a cat sick, so be sure to keep it away from them.

Litter boxes: we have two large ones, they're round with domes. Booda is the brand, I think. We use SwheatScoop litter. It's made from wheat. No perfumes, and it's safe for kittens to ingest when they lick their toes (not made of clay that expands). It clumps, it's biodegradeable, there's no smell unless you never clean out the box, and you can even flush it. Fabulous stuff.

 

[LittleRydia]

I must say cats are great to have ive got two now, and never went a time in my life without having a cat. it seems though many people have answered your questions for you, i got a few for you.

do you plan to make this cat a inside cat? or will it be going outside?

if you plan for it to go outside also, please do not de-claw it. the reason is if another cat attacks yours, he/she will have no way of defending theresevles. ive had one of our cats declawed for shes a house cat. all my others are not, but they come in at times and go out. if you plan for he/she to stay inside its your choice then if you wish to declaw or not.

all my other cats who have not been declawed gave me no problems about scratching the furniture. vira did for shes evil (j/k shes just spoiled) but really just a good "no" or gentl pop on the butt will teach them not to do it. its like traingin your dog really, you catch him with something hes not supposed to have and you get onto him for it.

we have also always had dogs, and the whole "cats and dogs dont get along" myth is not true. we have gotten kittens with full grown dogs, or vice versa. just hold your dog and let him/her sniff the new kitten and take very gentle around them. before you know it they will be best friends just make sure you dont give more attention to the kitten, and ignore your puppy. it will cause jealous issues.

I have gotten cats from 2 weeks old up till 14 weeks. i dont belive there are any issues as to getting the cat to mind you by how long it stays with the parent. yes the younger you get, the more attached sooner they get with you. but my cat honey who i got at about 14 weeks belives him his mother and follows me around meowing all the time.

if you are planing to move i think it should be fine since the kitten will be so small and young it wont even notice what is going on.

someone said to get two kittens.. i say no. since you have never had a cat it will be more work for you to get both trained. your puppy will make great friends with the kitten. put it this way.. my friends pitt bull plays with her cat as if she is a cat herself.

toy wise, i know the cheapest and great toy that always worked for me. get a old stocking or sock. put some cat nip in it and tie it shut. this will keep them intertained untill they get older and rip it open

for clothes.. cats are not like dogs in that way. you cant put a leash or clothes on a cat and expect it to act like a dog. you could maybe get a hat, or bow for him/her. but i would avoid shirts and full outfits.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It seems that you are possibly jumping the gun and you need to spend some time with some cats and figure out if it's even an animal that you'd even enjoy. I love cats, but not everyone likes them. Do you have some friends (more than one so you can see some different personalities) who have cats that you can hang out with? The toys, litter, scratching posts, etc are details that you can figure out later based on the actual cat (and it's the fun part well, not the litter... ), but first figure out if it's an animal that you'd enjoy. Some people do, some don't.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I must say cats are great to have someone said to get two kittens.. i say no. since you have never had a cat it will be more work for you to get both trained. your puppy will make great friends with the kitten. put it this way.. my friends pitt bull plays with her cat as if she is a cat herself.

Our dogs play with our cats, too, but it's not in the same way that our cats play with each other. They play, and sometimes even cuddle, but our cats are best friends with each other. I have 2 sets of siblings so they's always had each other. After doing it this way, I will always plan to get sets of cats (of course whenever I make plans something always gets in the way ).