Your daily cat and kitten news

[Puddy_Tat]

some cats don't seem to get the meowing thing (possibly those who have been separated from their mumcat too young)

it's not a bad idea to try and encourage kitties to learn to meow if they don't - may come in handy if they get trapped behind something / shut in somewhere

 

[trashpony]

My cats barely make a sound unless they're very upset. It does take me ages to find them if they're shut in somewhere

I had to turn that video off thriller because the pathetic mewling was upsetting Loki

 

[Epona]

Both my girls don't seem to meow like normal cats. In fact I've never heard Chloe meaow at all..

A lot of cats grow out of miaowing at a young age, or at least miaowing in a frequency that humans can hear! If your cats ever open their mouths as if they are miaowing but you hear nothing, it is your lack of ability to hear higher frequencies (sadly common to all humans) that is at fault.

There have been various studies (please god don't make me find links to them, I have been looking after Jakey almost 24/7 since his surgery and am exhausted, if you want links from me it will have to wait until next weekend) that suggest cats do not miaow at one another once they are adults, it is about getting attention from their mother when nursing, or their human once they are grown (but kept in state of kittenhood/dependence because they are pets).

Mind you, 2 of mine are Oriental Shorthairs and they never shut up - I love it! I do wonder though if it is just because they have deep voices, so they always 'talk' within the range of frequencies I can hear.

 

[Epona]

Jakey had a checkup today to see that he is doing alright following his surgery on Tuesday.
OH went to pick him up to put him in the carrier and he disappeared under the sofa and crawled up the back of it so we could not get to him. He really really hates going in the carrier.

I eventually got him out and put him in the carrier but he was panicking a bit and I have some massive scratches (not because of malice or aggression, just because he was scared and panicking and kicking against my arm with his hind feet). The only way I could clean the cuts (because we were already running really late) was using some hand sanitiser on the counter at the vets - that fucking stings like fuck!

Note to self - put on a long-sleeved sweatshirt next time!

 

[oryx]

Hope Jakey is doing OK, Epona.

Re meowing - is it a breed thing? Ours are both tortoiseshells and never shut up unless they're asleep. I have only ever had female tortoiseshells - my last one was also very chatty (though not a persistent moaner like our current two ). I have also had (male) tabbies who have been quiet in comparison.

Just as I typed this I heard my partner get up to go to the loo:

Cat 1: Waaaaaoooow. (sad wail)

Partner: Bleeeeaargh (sleepy version of shut the fuck up)

Cat 2 is curled up pretending to be asleep but more tortoiseshell wails are about 30 minutes away, max.

 

[Epona]

Hope Jakey is doing OK, Epona.

Re meowing - is it a breed thing? Ours are both tortoiseshells and never shut up unless they're asleep. I have only ever had female tortoiseshells - my last one was also very chatty (though not a persistent moaner like our current two ). I have also had (male) tabbies who have been quiet in comparison.

Just as I typed this I heard my partner get up to go to the loo:

Cat 1: Waaaaaoooow. (sad wail)

Partner: Bleeeeaargh (sleepy version of shut the fuck up)

Cat 2 is curled up pretending to be asleep but more tortoiseshell wails are about 30 minutes away, max.

Miaowing can be a breed thing (Siamese and Oriental Shorthairs are particularly known for their love of "conversation" with their humans) - but tortoiseshell isn't a breed, it's a colour, caused by XX mosaicism, and can occur in any breed or moggy where a black and a red cat mate and produce female offspring.

I honestly think that if humans hear their cat miaowing it means either one of 2 things - that they view their human as a mother substitute, and/or they have a deep voice. Oh and btw, if a cat who has never miaowed much starts doing it at age 8+ that counts as a "change of voice" which should be investigated as a possible thyroid problem, that deepens the voice and can make it audible to the human ear.

 

[oryx]

they view their human as a mother substitute

Ours don't have deep voices so that's it. Really interesting - I see what you mean about tortoiseshells not being a breed as in pedigree but I thought they had fairly specific characteristics (not just the oft-mentioned 'naughty tortie' and 'tortitude' thing you hear about but also them almost always being female, males being sterile etc.)

 

[Epona]

Ours don't have deep voices so that's it. Really interesting - I see what you mean about tortoiseshells not being a breed as in pedigree but I thought they had fairly specific characteristics (not just the oft-mentioned 'naughty tortie' and 'tortitude' thing you hear about but also them almost always being female, males being sterile etc.)

Yeah well all I can say about the "naughty tortie" thing is that there are a lot of stereotypes in life that are not always true - of course if you do have a tortie that is naughty, that just backs up the stereotype in your eyes, it doesn't mean it is true.

Yes there are some tortie males, NO, not all of them are sterile, there are 3 (all rare) ways that a male can be tortie and some of them are fertile - I have to go to a guild event in my MMO right now but will explain later.

 

[toggle]

Just noticed they have clipped all his claws really short, way shorter than I normally do them, I just take the tip off so they aren't razor sharp.
Thank fuck they didn't charge us extra for a pedicure!

that is fairly normal, if they noticed the claws are a bit long. cause it takes seconds and is really easy to do while they are out

 

[toggle]

Mind you, 2 of mine are Oriental Shorthairs and they never shut up - I love it! I do wonder though if it is just because they have deep voices, so they always 'talk' within the range of frequencies I can hear.

that's one of the reasons that we think ours has a fair bit of one of the oriental breeds in her. she is exceedingly talkative. and has that particular voice that they can have.

 

[trashpony]

Whereas mine bite my toes and attack the duvet when they want me to get up

 

[CRI]

Jakey had a checkup today to see that he is doing alright following his surgery on Tuesday.
OH went to pick him up to put him in the carrier and he disappeared under the sofa and crawled up the back of it so we could not get to him. He really really hates going in the carrier.

I eventually got him out and put him in the carrier but he was panicking a bit and I have some massive scratches (not because of malice or aggression, just because he was scared and panicking and kicking against my arm with his hind feet). The only way I could clean the cuts (because we were already running really late) was using some hand sanitiser on the counter at the vets - that fucking stings like fuck!

Note to self - put on a long-sleeved sweatshirt next time!

Really sorry to hear about your lacerations and the hand sanitiser (it's brutal even on paper cuts!), but hope Jakey (and you) are doing better and you get some good news from the vet soon.

 

[CRI]

Managed to get a nice pic of Anton today. What a handsome boy

View attachment 62453

Anton is gorgeous. I'd say that's a look of determination on his little face!

 

[CRI]

CRI Those lesions are what Charlie had. As the article said, that 3rd molar was the worst affected, it looked absolutely awful, but almost all his teeth had them, including his top 2 canines - as well as a crippling degree of tartar build-up. As you know, his post-op recovery was made more complicated by a flare up of his hyperthyroidism, but a month on from the surgery he's doing incredibly well. He gets a bit frustrated with his top lip catching on his remaining bottom canines, but he's had all but those 2 teeth removed so it'll take a good while for his new mouth real estate to make sense to him.

I was told that they shouldn't have soft food in the first week after surgery, because it can get trapped down in the new gum cavity. My vet recommended stringy foods like chicken and fish. He's eating soft foods with no problem now though. Apparently dry food will be doable once the gums harden up, but he doesn't tend to have that these days anyway. He can manage his catnip drop treats now, which he's very pleased about.

Does Breeze have any painkillers and/or anti-inflammatory meds? It can be really quite painful and sore for a couple of days after the surgery.

Good luck for her speedy recovery! Charlie didn't to my knowledge have any little bumps that were sent off for testing, so I can't comment on that part of it I'm afraid.

And Epona, good luck for today <3

Oh, I hadn't thought that might be the same as what Charlie had. I hope Charlie is doing lots better now.

Breeze was given antibiotics and Metacam (interestingly, at almost the same dose as Griff guinea pig gets, despite being about 4 times his size - rodent metabolism is just different,) daily. I put it in the food, which she sort of sniffed with a, "this isn't quite right," look, then gobbled it down. We were away Thursday and Friday, but lovely pet carer came in to feed and check her and the pigs. She had her post op check this morning and it's completely healed.

The gum lump that was removed was a benign tumour called an Epulis http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/mouth/c_dg_epulis, which seems to be pretty common in dogs, but very rare in cats. Presumably, not so rare in "dogcats."

Here's Breeze looking a bit sore and miserable one day post op.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Oh, I hadn't thought that might be the same as what Charlie had. I hope Charlie is doing lots better now.

Breeze was given antibiotics and Metacam (interestingly, at almost the same dose as Griff guinea pig gets, despite being about 4 times his size - rodent metabolism is just different,) daily. I put it in the food, which she sort of sniffed with a, "this isn't quite right," look, then gobbled it down. We were away Thursday and Friday, but lovely pet carer came in to feed and check her and the pigs. She had her post op check this morning and it's completely healed.

The gum lump that was removed was a benign tumour called an Epulis http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/mouth/c_dg_epulis, which seems to be pretty common in dogs, but very rare in cats. Presumably, not so rare in "dogcats."

Here's Breeze looking a bit sore and miserable one day post op.

((( breeze )))

hope she's feline better soon

 

[CRI]

((( breeze )))

hope she's feline better soon

Perfect!

She's doing really well. Wasn't even much bothered about going to the vets this morning. She's also (I think) getting more tolerant of "kid brother dog" who also seems to be hassling her less. Mind, Charlie and the humans of the household were away Thursday and Friday. I was imagining Breeze doing the Tom Cruise Risky Business dance when she knew we were all gone!

 

[fishfinger]

Perfect!

She's doing really well. Wasn't even much bothered about going to the vets this morning. She's also (I think) getting more tolerant of "kid brother dog" who also seems to be hassling her less. Mind, Charlie and the humans of the household were away Thursday and Friday. I was imagining Breeze doing the Tom Cruise Risky Business dance when she knew we were all gone!

Glad to hear she's on the mend, and getting used to Charlie

 

[thriller]

Well. Was in bed this morning, surfying the net, when I heard a thump. Looked up and was startled to see Chloe on top of the cupboard. Never realised she could jump that high. So after enticing her with a ball, I videoed the next leap. She looks like she is calculating the distance at first, then goes for it. Cats are indeed the gymnasts of the animal world.

Anyone else have any videos or pics of their moggies jumping?

 

[Bakunin]

Whereas mine bite my toes and attack the duvet when they want me to get up

At least they don't pounce on your balls.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Furry boys!

 

[CRI]

Not exactly cuddle buddies yet, but getting on a bit better every day.

 

[Epona]

I'm absolutely knackered from looking after Jakey. I swapped the cone for an inflatable collar which doesn't terrify him quite as much (I swear he is claustrophobic), but he still needs supervision and it's exhausting. He should be fully healed by Friday and will have another checkup then, I tell you, it cannot come soon enough. We should have the biopsy results by then (please please please let it be benign). He had his last dose of metacam today.

 

[Shirl]

Me and wolfie have just registered our interest in becoming emergency volunteers for a cat rescue. It will be more about transport than anything. We can't fill our home with unwanted cats but we'd like to do something worthwhile to help them.
I hope they'll take us on

 

[Mogden]

Me and wolfie have just registered our interest in becoming emergency volunteers for a cat rescue. It will be more about transport than anything. We can't fill our home with unwanted cats but we'd like to do something worthwhile to help them.
I hope they'll take us on

I can't Like this enough Shirl

 

[Shirl]

I can't Like this enough Shirl

Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes

 

[fishfinger]

Me and wolfie have just registered our interest in becoming emergency volunteers for a cat rescue. It will be more about transport than anything. We can't fill our home with unwanted cats but we'd like to do something worthwhile to help them.
I hope they'll take us on

I can't Like this enough Shirl

I second this!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Not exactly cuddle buddies yet, but getting on a bit better every day.

"it's still here. why?"

"it's behind me, isn't it?"

Me and wolfie have just registered our interest in becoming emergency volunteers for a cat rescue. It will be more about transport than anything. We can't fill our home with unwanted cats but we'd like to do something worthwhile to help them.
I hope they'll take us on

 

[Manter]

Lovely idea Shirl!
Anton looks ace tendril
Idiot cat it very talkative. Apparently some ragdolls are- they have Siamese in the breed mix (if you believe the geneticists as opposed to the FBI-experiment-conspiracists)

 

[CRI]

I'm absolutely knackered from looking after Jakey. I swapped the cone for an inflatable collar which doesn't terrify him quite as much (I swear he is claustrophobic), but he still needs supervision and it's exhausting. He should be fully healed by Friday and will have another checkup then, I tell you, it cannot come soon enough. We should have the biopsy results by then (please please please let it be benign). He had his last dose of metacam today.

I hope you manage to rest up at some point. It must be so frustrating and he doesn't understand what's happening, poor boy.

Me and wolfie have just registered our interest in becoming emergency volunteers for a cat rescue. It will be more about transport than anything. We can't fill our home with unwanted cats but we'd like to do something worthwhile to help them.
I hope they'll take us on

Great idea! Never thought it could involve helping in ways other than fostering, but of course they need transporters. Good luck!

 

[thriller]

reserved another kitten. would be 3 in total.