Your daily cat and kitten news

[Epona]

I can tell a slight change in the weather, by the fact that my lot stop stretching out individually to sleep, and instead start curling up all crowded together in a pile.

It doesn't even seem to be based on temperature, because it's been a bit warmer this weekend than over the previous week - but it's just like at some point in late summer they glance nervously at each other and mutter "winter is coming" and start huddling together to nap rather than stretching out by themselves.

 

[Epona]

We have a clumsy cat. He was very poorly when he was a kitten and I think that's what caused it. He'll be walking along and his back legs will just collapse to one side. It took me ages to get used to a cat that you had to place down on the floor after a cuddle. I'm used to just letting them jump down onto the floor but if you do that to higgins he just falls in a heap

Awwww, I completely understand that, Jakey is just like that. He's daft as a brush and has no co-ordination whatsoever, I do have to be a bit careful when I lower him to the floor in case he falls over the silly sausage. He is so so sweet though, most loving and purry affectionate cat I have ever met.

He sometimes tries to jump onto the desk and I can see him measuring up the jump (a jump that my other 2 cats make perfectly without having to think about it), invariably it goes a bit tits up and he lands awkwardly. It's an odd thing, watching a cat trying to work out where to land and failing miserably. He is very loved regardless of his lack of normal cat abilities.

 

[trashpony]

The batteries have run out again on the cat flap. So I've replaced them (and cleaned the fluff off) and stupid Bubbles scraped and scraped against the door with his paw to get in and the same again to get out, even though the door is opening AND that the battery doesn't control the 'out' function He really is enormously dim.

Ms T - do your batteries run out every 4-6 weeks too? Given you have several cats of the rather fluffy variety

 

[nogojones]

So I got a lazer pointer for Babs as its surely the PS4 of kitteh entertainment. She looked at it, turned away and left the room

 

[CRI]

So I got a lazer pointer for Babs as its surely the PS4 of kitteh entertainment. She looked at it, turned away and left the room

Breeze will go bananas when you get out the laser pointer - some times, but there's always a point where you can see on her face the look of, "Oh this is ridiculous - go catch the damn red light yourself," and walks off. Other times, you flash the light and get the look and swift exit straight away.

Breeze isn't particularly graceful, but I think most of that is down to her size and possibly the hair between her toes, which makes her slide on vinyl flooring, smooth dresser and desk tops, that sort of thing. She does that mental calculation thing before jumping most of the time, and still often gets it wrong, with a thump!

(Pssssst - we're getting another Breeze in dog form. So excited!)

 

[Ms T]

The batteries have run out again on the cat flap. So I've replaced them (and cleaned the fluff off) and stupid Bubbles scraped and scraped against the door with his paw to get in and the same again to get out, even though the door is opening AND that the battery doesn't control the 'out' function He really is enormously dim.

Ms T - do your batteries run out every 4-6 weeks too? Given you have several cats of the rather fluffy variety

We had the previous ones for over a year. But the cheaper ones we bought to replace them didn't work at all (they are not dud because they power my electric toothbrush fine). I think we've had the Duracell ones for a couple of months now. It's worth ringing the customer service line for Sureflap as they are super-helpful.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

So I got a lazer pointer for Babs as its surely the PS4 of kitteh entertainment. She looked at it, turned away and left the room

I'm sure I've seen a flow chart for cats somewhere on the internet -

Is it a cat toy?

yes - > ignore it

no - > play with it

 

[Ms T]

We were walking down the road to our house earlier and a black cat that was sitting on someone's doorstep chirupped loudly and legged it after us. He then sat on the wall miaowing frantically for attention and rolling on his back for strokes, bless him. The friendliest cat ever.

 

[trashpony]

I'm sure I've seen a flow chart for cats somewhere on the internet -

Is it a cat toy?

yes - > ignore it

no - > play with it

My cats thought the laser pointer was the dullest thing ever but my sister's cats love it. Their favourite toy is the pop up cat tunnel which cost £3 from Asda. Hours and hours of fun (you probably need more than one cat for optimum amusement)

 

[Mogden]

The batteries have run out again on the cat flap. So I've replaced them (and cleaned the fluff off) and stupid Bubbles scraped and scraped against the door with his paw to get in and the same again to get out, even though the door is opening AND that the battery doesn't control the 'out' function He really is enormously dim.

Ms T - do your batteries run out every 4-6 weeks too? Given you have several cats of the rather fluffy variety

I've a magic catflap and had it for over a year. Changed my batteries about 4 times and had 7, now 6 moggies in and out of it in that time.

 

[Bakunin]

Rump steak tonight, which totally failed to escape detection by the mighty Taxcat.

She had half of mine before I actually got the chance to start on it. And ordered me to cut up her piece into small Taxcat-sized chunks.

 

[trashpony]

I've a magic catflap and had it for over a year. Changed my batteries about 4 times and had 7, now 6 moggies in and out of it in that time.

I assume yours also scrap over the door and faff about a lot too? I've changed mine about 10 times and I've had it less than a year

I wonder if it's because I bought a brown one I thought it would show the dirt less <chanelling my mother >

 

[Mogden]

I assume yours also scrap over the door and faff about a lot too? I've changed mine about 10 times and I've had it less than a year

I wonder if it's because I bought a brown one I thought it would show the dirt less <chanelling my mother >

Might be as I have a white one and 2 of the 6 are proper fur monsters. Flinty insists on scenting the entire of the outside by cheek rubbing before she will come in. Grey does the faffing bit but more cos she is outright scared of humans, inherited from her mum. Meg used to struggle with it as she was too tubby to use it comfortably so I built sort of steps either side of it.

Incidentally they have a paw mat on the inside which usually moves 20 minutes after I reposition it and they just continue to make an unholy mess. Swept out a jumbo dead moth earlier.

 

[Manter]

We were walking down the road to our house earlier and a black cat that was sitting on someone's doorstep chirupped loudly and legged it after us. He then sat on the wall miaowing frantically for attention and rolling on his back for strokes, bless him. The friendliest cat ever.

Friendlier than idiot cat? He'll be gutted....

 

[thriller]

Well I got the new kitten for Chloe to play with on saturday. And what a mess I made. I just brought her into the living room thinking Chloe will be happy.

She immediately started hissing and pawing at Bella. Jumping and clawing/biting the new flat mate before the poor girl could even unpack her bags.




Here she is sneaking up behind Bella ready to attack:



I had to spend most of the time telling Chloe off and dragging her off Bella. Then placed them in seperate rooms. But by today, they are getting a long much better, even sleeping together. Still some fighting going on every now and then, but no way as bad as the first day.

 

[trabuquera]

Glad that peace is on its way. And yes they do make a lovely little couple. But srsly - "I thought Chloe would be happy to see her" ???? wtf?
Integrating a New Cat with an Old(er) Cat is the #1 behavioural challenge for most cat carers - can't believe you had never ever even heard of this.
Anyway that's enough spluttering. they're gorgeous. how can you stand to tear yourself away to leave the house at all, for any reason, except to buy kittenfood?

 

[fucthest8]

Well I got the new kitten for Chloe to play with on saturday. And what a mess I made. I just brought her into the living room thinking Chloe will be happy.

Er yeah, massive cat owner fail. Do your bloody homework. Had I known you were doing that I would have lectured you, at length, about keeping them separate to start, letting them get used to each others smell, etc etc. You fucked it up.

So, in case you aren't already doing it, give them separate food bowls, don't let them pilfer off each other, make sure they can keep apart from each other if they want to. You're probably lucky in a way though that they are young, so perhaps Chloe will be more tolerant than an older cat.

Try not to be a twat again though. You have Responsibilities now.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

So, in case you aren't already doing it, give them separate food bowls, don't let them pilfer off each other, make sure they can keep apart from each other if they want to.

also worth investing in a second litter tray and placing it apart from the existing one. if a territorial dispute happens and the only litter tray is on cat a's patch, cat b is going to 'go' somewhere...

if you are fairly new to being owned by a cat, there is quite a bit of kitty care advice on cats protection website.

 

[thriller]

Glad that peace is on its way. And yes they do make a lovely little couple. But srsly - "I thought Chloe would be happy to see her" ???? wtf?
Integrating a New Cat with an Old(er) Cat is the #1 behavioural challenge for most cat carers - can't believe you had never ever even heard of this.
Anyway that's enough spluttering. they're gorgeous. how can you stand to tear yourself away to leave the house at all, for any reason, except to buy kittenfood?

yes, it was a massive cat fail on my part. But it seems all fine now. It is hard leaving them. I've come home a few times to find the flat all quiet only to find them sleeping together on the bed or in the duvet compartment of the sofa bed.





And I find myself constantly taking pictures!!

 

[thriller]

also worth investing in a second litter tray and placing it apart from the existing one. if a territorial dispute happens and the only litter tray is on cat a's patch, cat b is going to 'go' somewhere...

if you are fairly new to being owned by a cat, there is quite a bit of kitty care advice on cats protection website.

I've got two trays. One in the living room for bella and one in the bathroom for Chloe. Strangely, they are sharing both! The living room one is used by them both the most.

 

[oryx]

thriller's two cats have got friendlier with each other in four days than our two have in seven years!

 

[Epona]

thriller's two cats have got friendlier with each other in four days than our two have in seven years!

Aye, lucky break for thriller and both cats there!

I'd have gone "NOOOOOO" if someone suggested bringing in a new kitten and popping it in the living room with existing cat to say hello, by some stroke of luck thriller appears to have got away with it alright though

EDIT: Mind you, my Sonic and Jakey became firm friends within a few minutes of sniffing each other even though they were both adults when they met, possibly the fact they came from the same breeder meant that Jakey had a familiar smell as far as Sonic was concerned, but they're pretty much inseparable.

 

[tufty79]

Innit - if it weren't for the pics, I'd swear he was trolling the thread


Not a huge amount of news from my kitteh corner, other than I keep being well entertained on the way home. There's a slightly smaller double of rocky at the top of the street, which all my lot have started hanging out with - lots of pouncing at each other in various gardens I keep having late night panics and double checking I let the right cats in though

 

[Epona]

Unfortunately I had to wait for money to clear before I could do my usual zooplus order for Bozita, and have had to feed the cats Whiskas for a couple of days whilst waiting for my delivery (and there is very little choice locally).

The poor buggers are eating twice the mass of food that they would normally eat (and shitting twice as much!) and no I am not exaggerating, and are still begging me for food. It just doesn't satisfy their needs, how anyone can feed this shit regularly and think they are properly feeding their pets is beyond me. Normally I feed half this amount of food a day (92% meat content) and they aren't hungry again for ages - this shit is really just the worst junk food. It is really as if the manufacturer worked out exactly how to make cats need more food in order to sell more units.

Fingers crossed that my delivery arrives on Monday.

8 out of 10 cats prefer it? No, more like 8 out of 10 cats haven't had their nutritional needs met and still feel hungry afterwards.

 

[Epona]

Just to make it clear, I normally feed my lot twice a day, about 10 hours between feeds.

Normal schedule is I feed them for their first feed at the same time every day, high meat content food. I actually put the time of their second meal back a bit (I used to offer it 8 hours after their last meal), because they would look at me with bored indifference when I brought it to them, rather than being hungry and keen for it. (None of them are particularly fussy about food, but they don't want it when they aren't hungry). But they do get a similar meal in the evening, it's just that now I tend to leave dishing it out until they ask me for it (people who have cats will know what I mean by that), because if I serve it out too early they are not hungry yet and not interested in the food, which leads to waste.

At least that is my usual experience, feeding a high meat content food.

Whiskas for 2 days = perpetually hungry cats, begging for more food a couple of hours after the last meal. And as I already mentioned, they need to eat twice as much as their usual food, and they are hungry again earlier than they would be on a good quality diet.

 

[thriller]

well both my kittens now have diarrhea. Chloe has had it a few days. Now Bella has joined her this morning. Not sure what is going on. Very loose stools. They have both been eating wet food with gravy since 30th August (Bella has always been on wet food). Everything seemed fine until now. I wonder if it is food related? Might go back to the gourmet canned tuna or white fish that Chloe was on before Bella moved in. Chloe is defo more lethargic since she has had loose stool and sleeps more. Could also be tapeworm related. Going to get de-wormer from Tesco today and try that.

Will need to make an appointment with the local vet. Since they close at 5, might have to wait till saturday or pull a sickie at work.

 

[oryx]

feed them chicken and white fish

 

[Puddy_Tat]

are you giving them ordinary milk?

contrary to the stereotype, many cats (and for that matter quite a few humans) can't digest the lactose in milk.

alternatives are available. some of the pet food outfits do 'cat milk' which is for not from cats...

get well soon, kitties

 

[purenarcotic]

Feed them plain boiled chicken, scrambled eggs, get to a vet ASAP. There are out of hours vets. Where did you get the new cat (can't remember which one is which sorry) from? Might he worth speaking to the breeder to see if they have kitty sickness. A change in food can cause a change in stools but lethargy etc sounds a bit worrying. I would not be waiting till Saturday tbh

 

[Manter]

Agree with purenarcotic in such young cats there is no way I'd wait 5 days. Vet ASAP