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Epona said:
Yeah he's not too bad ta - well not blocked at least. He still has some blood in his urine sometimes (and it is blood, I took a sample and put it in the fridge and it separated, if it was discolouration that wouldn't have happened), and is weeing mostly on a puppy pad on my lap because it must be a bit painful and he wants comfort (he wasn't doing any of this behavioural stuff yesterday).

I meanwhile have been battling with the vet appointment booking system, which makes absolutely zero sense to me and lack of ability to plan ahead by even as little as 12 hours due to their same day appointment system is playing havoc with my autistic brain.

Hopefully will be able to get him seen tomorrow, but I don't know yet, so I'm in a state of decreased function/shutdown and haven't eaten tonight.
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Poor baby. Hope you can get an appointment tomorrow and some answers. I understand that horrible can't-eat type anxiety only took well.
 
I tried to use the online next day appointment booking service which opens at 00:00, and all the appointments for Tuesday had already gone.

There was one for after 5pm but I need N to help me carry Jakey to the vet, because I can't manage the carrier by myself and he's got extra shifts, long ones this week, due to halloween being the biggest day in the doughnut industry and has to leave here before 5pm to get to work - also with only 2 days to go to Diwali, there are fireworks going off after dark every night (have been for a few days) so I'm not putting him in a carrier and taking him out in the evening for an appointment, struggling to carry him by myself, and possibly causing him stress - he's not scared of fireworks but he is scared of the carrier, and I don't want him outside in the carrier when there are fireworks going off.

The vet hospital which is the other alternative takes about 2 hours to get to on 2 buses and a long walk at the end from here. I will of course get a cab up there in an emergency, but something that is a bit painful and just needs a cystocentesis and urinalysis and a course of treatment isn't an emergency, I should be able to go to my local vet for that.
 
story said:
I understand the concern about foxes and fighting and other cats etc.

In my experience, it takes a bit of time for a cat to develop their boundaries and make sure everyone in the neighbourhood - including foxes - knows the score. There will be months of negotiations, parlaying, treaties, testing the boundaries and so on. Then it settles down.

For me and my cats it’s never ended in disaster, male or female, large or small. One of the fiercest cats I ever lived with was a tiny little bitch-cat-from-hell who was easily the match of any tom dick or harry in the neighbourhood, foxes included.

And I've had to deal with wounds and the abscesses that can arise from wounds (cat spit can be right toxic). The Auld Warrior was in an ongoing war with an equally fierce opponent for almost a year before they finally made a truce that worked for them both. He was to the vet so often that they waived the consultation fee for him, so long as it was a bite wound. When the war was over, it was pax aeturna.

When Cat was little, he was bullied by the local Big Boys. I was worried he’d never be able to stand up to them (he’s a gentle soul). Then one day, he did, and after three months of scrapping and quarrelling and fighting and swearing matches, they stopped bothering him and they now don’t even come through the garden. Cat prevailed!

Depending on the cat and the circumstances, I’ll sometimes stare down the opposing cat, sometimes hiss at them, sometimes just observe and not interfere. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing or not tbh.

HOWEVER…!
This is anecdotal, and I’d never suggest it as policy for anyone else. It’s just the way things are for me.
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I haven't known this level of aggression from a fox before. Well, conflict. It's entirely likely that Carrie is starting it.

The most I've known is a bit of shouting. My first cat, Ruby, who was little and pretty like Carrie, saw off a fox once. On the same night as it killed the neighbours' rabbits.

Have you had cats injured by foxes?
 
Epona said:
I tried to use the online next day appointment booking service which opens at 00:00, and all the appointments for Tuesday had already gone.

There was one for after 5pm but I need N to help me carry Jakey to the vet, because I can't manage the carrier by myself and he's got extra shifts, long ones this week, due to halloween being the biggest day in the doughnut industry and has to leave here before 5pm to get to work - also with only 2 days to go to Diwali, there are fireworks going off after dark every night (have been for a few days) so I'm not putting him in a carrier and taking him out in the evening for an appointment, struggling to carry him by myself, and possibly causing him stress - he's not scared of fireworks but he is scared of the carrier, and I don't want him outside in the carrier when there are fireworks going off.

The vet hospital which is the other alternative takes about 2 hours to get to on 2 buses and a long walk at the end from here. I will of course get a cab up there in an emergency, but something that is a bit painful and just needs a cystocentesis and urinalysis and a course of treatment isn't an emergency, I should be able to go to my local vet for that.
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I hope they give you an appointment soon. ((((Epona and Jakey))))
 
RubyToogood said:
I haven't known this level of aggression from a fox before. Well, conflict. It's entirely likely that Carrie is starting it.

The most I've known is a bit of shouting. My first cat, Ruby, who was little and pretty like Carrie, saw off a fox once. On the same night as it killed the neighbours' rabbits.

Have you had cats injured by foxes?
Click to expand...


No, never.

The most alarming thing that ever happened was when Mama Cat was watching over her kittens one evening as they were playing out in the yard. She'd taken them out there. They were about 6 weeks old, she was weaning and socialising them.

A fox leapt over the wall into the yard, startled Mama Cat, who startled the kittens, who skedaddled and further startled their mum. Kittens cartoon-charged back into the house, Mama ran directly at the fox, fox was astonished and cartoon-ran backwards up the wall, all humans were startled and cartoon-stood up. Everyone shouted in their native tongue, which added to the mayhem.

Fox shat herself, kittens peed themselves, humans spilt their drinks.

Mama cat's pupils were huge and her heart was thundering, but no injuries.

One of the humans claimed he'd seen the fox lurking and stalking but I never believed that. Even a hungry fox ain't gonna go after 4 kittens with the mama and humans close by.


I get why you're worried.

Does Carrie seem to know what she's doing? Does she seem scared?
 
story said:
No, never.

The most alarming thing that ever happened was when Mama Cat was watching over her kittens one evening as they were playing out in the yard. She'd taken them out there. They were about 6 weeks old, she was weaning and socialising them.

A fox leapt over the wall into the yard, startled Mama Cat, who startled the kittens, who skedaddled and further startled their mum. Kittens cartoon-charged back into the house, Mama ran directly at the fox, fox was astonished and cartoon-ran backwards up the wall, all humans were startled and cartoon-stood up. Everyone shouted in their native tongue, which added to the mayhem.

Fox shat herself, kittens peed themselves, humans spilt their drinks.

Mama cats pupils were huge and her heart was thundering, but no injuries.

One of the humans claimed he'd seen the fox lurking and stalking but I never believed that. Even a hungry fox ain't gonna go after 4 kittens with the mama and humans close by.


I get why you're worried.

Does Carrie seem to know what she's doing? Does she seem scared?
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A blend of scared, still wants to go out cautiously, fascinated by the fox... The first time I let her out after she arrived she hopped straight over into next door's garden to confront it :eek:

She was feeling a bit battered yesterday I think and spent the whole day asleep in the comfy spot furthest from the garden or on me. (She's now doing zoomies with her catnip carrot.)
 
RubyToogood said:
A blend of scared, still wants to go out cautiously, fascinated by the fox... The first time I let her out after she arrived she hopped straight over into next door's garden to confront it :eek:

She was feeling a bit battered yesterday I think and spent the whole day asleep in the comfy spot furthest from the garden or on me. (She's now doing zoomies with her catnip carrot.)
Click to expand...


Sometimes I'll only know something's gone on by Cat's mood. He can be very blue for several days, and I think that happens when he's been shamed by running away from another cat.


I'm also pretty sure he dines out in other cats' houses, and he must get shouted at and chased away from that sometimes.

I always check for injuries when he's in that mood.
 
She was a stray of course, so she must have encountered foxes then and survived. What her life was before that nobody knows. The theory is she was used for breeding and then dumped.
 
Cruel.
But better than being over-bred for far longer, and she's landed in a good life.

And I guess you're right: as a stray she would have had to be fierce and tough. Perhaps that will fade as she continues to settle in.
 
story said:
I understand the concern about foxes and fighting and other cats etc.

In my experience, it takes a bit of time for a cat to develop their boundaries and make sure everyone in the neighbourhood - including foxes - knows the score. There will be months of negotiations, parlaying, treaties, testing the boundaries and so on. Then it settles down.

For me and my cats it’s never ended in disaster, male or female, large or small. One of the fiercest cats I ever lived with was a tiny little bitch-cat-from-hell who was easily the match of any tom dick or harry in the neighbourhood, foxes included.

And I've had to deal with wounds and the abscesses that can arise from wounds (cat spit can be right toxic). The Auld Warrior was in an ongoing war with an equally fierce opponent for almost a year before they finally made a truce that worked for them both. He was to the vet so often that they waived the consultation fee for him, so long as it was a bite wound. When the war was over, it was pax aeturna.

When Cat was little, he was bullied by the local Big Boys. I was worried he’d never be able to stand up to them (he’s a gentle soul). Then one day, he did, and after three months of scrapping and quarrelling and fighting and swearing matches, they stopped bothering him and they now don’t even come through the garden. Cat prevailed!

Depending on the cat and the circumstances, I’ll sometimes stare down the opposing cat, sometimes hiss at them, sometimes just observe and not interfere. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing or not tbh.

HOWEVER…!
This is anecdotal, and I’d never suggest it as policy for anyone else. It’s just the way things are for me.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately fights can end up badly. My big old female Tabby had a fight with local 'Boss' who came in our back yard a couple of months ago and she had a claw ripped right off. 3 weeks of antibiotics, Metacam anti inflammatory painkiller and warm salt baths plus the few hundred pound of vet fees.

Could have been worse, much worse. At one point the vet mentioned that sometimes in these cases they end up having to amputate the affected toe.

He ain't coming back having been chased with a broom and having empty plastic flower pots thrown at him.
 
My lil lad has lost loads of fur on his back legs, and some on his front. It's been going on for a while now and I thought it might be due to one side of his cat flap being a good 5" lower on the outside (pvc door) but he seemed to be managing okay so I left it. Lately though, it's gone really noticeable. Could it simply be due to the cat flap difference in height/him repeatedly dragging his back legs over the opening, or is it much more likely to be what all of the internet says - stress and overgrooming?

I've now put bricks down on the low side of the cat flap, and he's been in and out nae bother all day on them. I also plugged in a cat pheromone diffuser. He's off to the vets next week anyway for his jabs so I'll get the vet to look at it and give me their opinion, but what say the urban cat family?

No other symptoms of stress btw.
 
We got to see a vet today thank goodness.
11:45 though, and they were running late due to an emergency so we didn't get seen til 12:30 - right in the middle of when N ought to be asleep, he's just off to work now and he's knackered.

Vet said no point bothering to do tests, we know due to his kidney issues and past UTIs that it's almost certainly an e.coli bladder infection and sent us off with a box of the extra-strong antibiotics and an instruction to let them know if there's no improvement by Monday.

Fingers crossed this will sort him out.
 
RubyToogood said:
I haven't known this level of aggression from a fox before. Well, conflict. It's entirely likely that Carrie is starting it.

The most I've known is a bit of shouting. My first cat, Ruby, who was little and pretty like Carrie, saw off a fox once. On the same night as it killed the neighbours' rabbits.

Have you had cats injured by foxes?
Click to expand...
We have a family of foxes at the bottom of our garden. However, they keep a respectful difference from our two boys. Lil’ Bob is especially hostile to them (which surprises me given his easy nature) and will actively see them off. The notion that the foxes will be the aggressors is strange.
 
sojourner said:
My lil lad has lost loads of fur on his back legs, and some on his front. It's been going on for a while now and I thought it might be due to one side of his cat flap being a good 5" lower on the outside (pvc door) but he seemed to be managing okay so I left it. Lately though, it's gone really noticeable. Could it simply be due to the cat flap difference in height/him repeatedly dragging his back legs over the opening, or is it much more likely to be what all of the internet says - stress and overgrooming?

I've now put bricks down on the low side of the cat flap, and he's been in and out nae bother all day on them. I also plugged in a cat pheromone diffuser. He's off to the vets next week anyway for his jabs so I'll get the vet to look at it and give me their opinion, but what say the urban cat family?

No other symptoms of stress btw.
Click to expand...


A neighbour’s cat turned out to be allergic to newsprint. The cat loved to sit on newspapers, in preference to anything else, and had a number of newspaper-lined boxes and hiding spots thoughtfully provided by the humans.

They tried everything. The GF of the son of the house said she’d known a cat with this allergy, and it turned out to be that.

So they switched to brown parcel paper and the problem was solved.






I too have provided a staircase arrangement for Cat to get through the cat flap. A big square oakwood block inside, which I found on the beach, wrapped around with hessian rope, and a granite cobblestone outside, nicked from nearby Waterworks Road. When it’s very hot I see him resting his paws for a moment on the cool granite as he comes in. He completely ignores the thoughtful hessian wrapping provided for claw sharpening.

I guess it serves as a doormat and absorbs the wet.
 
Last edited:
seeformiles said:
We have a family of foxes at the bottom of our garden. However, they keep a respectful difference from our two boys. Lil’ Bob is especially hostile to them (which surprises me given his easy nature) and will actively see them off. The notion that the foxes will be the aggressors is strange.
Click to expand...


I agree.

Cat likes the foxes, and has made friends with some of them. One or two of them have become playmates. There are others who he’s not so fond of but they give each other plenty of space.


But I suppose, if Carrie is aggressively propounding her territory there may be ructions.






As ever, the mysterious private lives of cats…..
 
LeytonCatLady said:
Had to do Lilith's anti-flea treatment today. Glad it's over with for another 3 months!
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We have to do it every month since, while Vic is pretty allergy free, Lil’ Bob has a big allergic reaction from whatever his brother brings in. It’s been good though since he’s largely scab free now and he’s a happy chappie 😼
 
I think my cat needs treating for fleas. I looked in the cupboard and found some comfortis tablets but they're 2 years out of date. Are they likely to still work or should I just bin them and go to the vet and fork out for some more?
 
sojourner said:
My lil lad has lost loads of fur on his back legs, and some on his front. It's been going on for a while now and I thought it might be due to one side of his cat flap being a good 5" lower on the outside (pvc door) but he seemed to be managing okay so I left it. Lately though, it's gone really noticeable. Could it simply be due to the cat flap difference in height/him repeatedly dragging his back legs over the opening, or is it much more likely to be what all of the internet says - stress and overgrooming?

I've now put bricks down on the low side of the cat flap, and he's been in and out nae bother all day on them. I also plugged in a cat pheromone diffuser. He's off to the vets next week anyway for his jabs so I'll get the vet to look at it and give me their opinion, but what say the urban cat family?

No other symptoms of stress btw.
Click to expand...
I'm no vet but I remember my better half sending me a few years ago a link to a page regarding 'over grooming' which can be caused by various reasons not just stress. Maybe mention it and see what the vet says.

Edit, if his fur is fine where he cannot get to lick and pull at it that might give a clue.
 
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