! Cats Anonymous !'s topics - tribe.net

I'm pregnant and had a dream I had a kitten, not a baby

2008-05-09T15:49:56Z

Oh yes, I kid you not! I'm 4 months pregnant and had a dream I had a cute little white fluffy kitten in place of a baby. Everyone else was treating it like a baby, wanting to hold it. I was asking my Mom how I know when to feed it and when its had enough and wondering why I wasnt producing breast milk. LOL. This will be my first child. It sure was a cute kitten!
My husband said if I give birth to a kitten we're going to have some problems. Or we'll get really rich off of it. LOL
Just thought I'd share that little bit of craziness with y'all. Have a great day!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Beijing killing cats

2008-04-25T22:03:34Z

http://extremehonesty.tribe.net/thread/dd003fd3-ecea-4cbf-99cf-078d9959ed7f

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 1 reply

Help! I'm soooo sleeeeeepy!

2008-04-01T00:26:33Z

I adopted a sweet cat from the SPCA a little over a month ago (see my icon). I love her to death, but she has NEVER let me sleep more than a few hours in a row at night. She wakes me up meowing loudly, licking and rubbing against my face, biting and clawing at the spaghetti straps/drawstrings of my tank tops/PJ bottoms, nibbling on my fingers, etc.

I live in a studio apt, so I can't put her in a separate room (she'd go crazy and chew the door apart anyway). I also can't crate her (she HATES it), nor do I want to do that. I want her to sleep in my bed and feel loved and welcome, but how can I make her actually SLEEP?

BTW, she used to run around all night like a maniac, running over me and pouncing on me as I slept; but since I started taking away her toys at night, she has stopped the running around/pouncing stuff.

---She gets PLENTY of exercise before bedtime (she loves kicking toys all around the apt, running FAST in big circles, wrestling with me, and climbing on her cat tree, which goes all the way to the ceiling).

---She's not hungry (I feed her a little while before bedtime, and there's still some left over in the morning).

---She gets tons of attention from me in the evenings.

I can't prevent her from sleeping all day while I'm at work (so telling me to keep her up all day won't work; I can't bring her to work with me).

Any more ideas? I'm never getting rid of her, so please don't suggest that. ;)

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 9 replies

Need Advice

2008-03-23T18:47:54Z

Hello, I'm new to this group and I was looking to see if anyone could help with a behavioral issue with my cat. I've had my cat for about 2 years now and a little less than 6 months ago he has shown really aggressive behavior. I've grown up around cats and I have never encountered a problem like this one and I have no clue how to help the situation. Every so often I will be walking and my flips out and jumps on my leg, holding on as tight as he can biting me. He literally attacks me and it isn't in a playful sort of way; he is pissed. (His ears are back, hair on his back is standing up, his tail is twitching, and he's making these strange little meows) I have to pull him off and he continues to go after me trying to grab a hold of whatever he can. I usually end up having to grab his scruff and hold him to the floor till he relaxes then release and praise. I read somewhere online that is the best way to break a cat of this sort of aggression. However i wish there was something more I could do because he seems so stressed out when he is in this state. Now a little twist is that when he is in my room he is completely different. I can carry him to my room while he is trying to attack me and as soon as I enter my room and set him down he turns into the affectionate cat that he normally is. Now, I live with my dad, step-mom and brother and he does not act this way with any of them only with me. I am the one that takes care of him when I am home he hangs around me including sleeping with me. So if anyone has any suggestions to guide me in the right direction that would be very appreciated. Thank you!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

Grown male cat still wants to suckle

2008-03-22T03:56:17Z

My adult male cat Percy will stop at nothing to suckle. He sneaks up to you and makes himself very comfortable and then begins sucking on your clothes wherever his lips fall. If you let him you hear the loud sucking sounds and the spot is soon soaking wet. How do I stop him? Please help.

ps he also loves cucumbers. will eat skin and any other part he finds even if he has to dig in the garbage for it

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 10 replies

my scruffy's a cheshire cat

2008-03-12T01:35:15Z

he just keeps coming & going, so much energy for a 6 yr old indoor kitty

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

cat fight!

2008-02-25T15:51:07Z

what's your style when your cats cross over from playing to fighting, let em have at, or make em stop? My boyfriend makes them stop, I'll let my boys keep fighting, cause it's funny! except when it starts unfairly, sometimes Scruffy picks a fight with a sleeping oponent!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 7 replies

Advice for Moving Cross Country??

2008-02-07T18:37:17Z

Hi... I Just joined this tribe, and am looking for a little advice for my little friends:

We are tentatively planning to move this August (of all months) - Oakland to NYC area. The people portion will be driving, but we know this wont work for the 2 kitties involved. They are pretty nervous travelers in general - the boy tends to puke, pee, poop, and then foam at the mouth when all his other reserves are exhausted- on 20 min car rides to the vet. SO we are obviously a little concerned as to how to get him and his sister across country in one piece..

Does anyone have advice on this? Are there companies that specialize in this sort of thing, any with personal references? We will probably need some sedation from the vet... right now the biggest logistical concern is transportation. Has anyone brought cats on a plane ride? (I refuse to check them, they must come in as carry on... can they really go 6 hrs without littler box breaks?) Help!

We welcome any and all feedback, we adore these guys..

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 4 replies

have you toilet trained your cat?

2008-01-17T21:06:24Z

We recently moved from a rather spacious 2-bedroom apartment into a one bedroom and discovered that there was absolutely no convenient place to put a litterbox. Having discussed the concept for several years, my fiance and I decided it was time to train our cats to use the toilet. I was wondering if anyone else has tried, and how successful was it? I'm also curious how long your cats took at each stage and what challenges sprang up? So far, the kids have adjusted to the new, strange litter pan, and we're about to move it up onto the toilet. It's going to be an exciting adventure for us all in the next few months...
Please, share any stories!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

introduction...meow...

2008-01-16T23:09:45Z

ok this site is great....I read all the requirements for being waaay into my kitties...and every last one of them is true, and I'm proud to say it!!

I have two, Charlotte, and Sami-ji, who are 3 years old...and I'm totally smitten with them.

Even at 7am when Charlotte stands by my head on my pillow and starts making sounds to wake me up. When I finally pop my eyes open to see her, even though I really don't like being awakened out of dreams, her little green eyes just melt my heart....she works me!!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Sick Kitty??

2008-01-15T00:27:25Z

Hi, I'm a new member to this tribe but a long time cat lover!!

My kitty, Theo, has a tumor on his tummy that is going to be surgically removed tomorrow. I found out it's mast cell cancer. The dr said this type of cancer is usually dermal (at the skin level) but they won't know for sure if it's spread until they do blood work and get in the surgery. She also said that 99% of the time, surgical removal takes care of it. I take him to a super place in SF and have a great deal of confidence in the dr, but I haven't had any experience with something like this.

Have any of you kitty people gone through this with your cats??

We've been so fortunate that our pets have always been healthy and when their time came, it was just plain old age.

I'm usually good at handling stress, but I'm so darn worried about this. He's only 9.

Have any of you cat lovers had a kitty with a mast cell tumor??

Thanks!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 5 replies

AHHHHH FLEAS!!!!!

2007-12-09T00:22:04Z

So my roommates and I have been battling an ongoing flea problem with our three adult cats. AHHHH. Fleas=hell. So we've frontlined them once a month for the past 3 months and this seems to have been helping. Just when we thought we'd zapped the problem, my cat had kittens, and now all five of them are flea infested. They are two and a half weeks old, and I'm just not sure what to do. I'm definitly going to use fronline on the other two cats, but is it safe to use on the mother while she is nursing? I've heard that washing them with baby shampoo, then going over them with a flea comb will help, and hopefully that in combination with the frontline on the other cats will help as well, but I have a feeling that as soon as I place them back on the floor with there mother, the fleas that are in the house will just climb right back on and resume the party. Needless to say, this is going to make the adoption process difficult...I definitly don't want to give someone a kitten with fleas, and I'm afraid the little guys are going to get sick! Help?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 4 replies

Hi, I am new and I have a question

2007-12-03T23:49:58Z

Hi, I am new here and have decided that it is time that I educate myself on the life of being an elder cat owner.

My Zen came to us in Sept of 94 and was about 2 years old at the time. She has been a great cat, true to form in most ways (has to have things on her own terms, lets you know when she is unhappy... you know the drill) except for one thing. She is horribly allergic to fleas. Like horribly in the most horrible way. Loses all of her hair, can't sleep for all the itching, gets cranky (-er) and so forth. She doesn't get to go outside, but she does sneak out maybe twice a year... grrrr and we do not bring any other animals into the house. Of course you can't exactly screen house guests for fleas, and I am sure that we bring them in from time to time on our clothing after hiking, camping, general outdoor stuff.

In the past what has worked is a quick trip to the vet, a shot of Methylphenid and then 6 weeks of Prednisone at home. However, now I have been informed by the vet that fleas may not be all that she is allergic to and that she could just be randomly "acquiring" new allergies as she ages. The vet also told me that using the Prednisone can make her more susceptible to disease and infection and shorten her life. We let the vet know that a shorter more comfortable life is better than a long drawn out life of misery... and at at least 14 years of age (this was last year) she had already lived longer than any cat either of us has ever owned.

The last round of Methylphenid and Prednisone has not done the trick and she is fairly miserable. I have flea bathed her, she is up to date on her flea meds (advantage) and we have bombed the house. None of us have seen fleas anywhere except on her and we don't have bites ourselves. Finally, in desperation last night I bathed her with some moisturizing shampoo/soap in hopes that it would soothe her itchiness a little bit.

Any other suggestions for soothing her dry irritated skin? I am totally all for anything natural/herbal/whatever. I just want her to feel better. I hate the idea of having to put her down if there is something that can be done to make her more comfortable.

Thanks,
Lochlainn.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

Cat memory span?

2007-12-03T21:01:57Z

Hi everyone! I'm new here :)

;_; I have something that worries me... I have to leave my cat with my roommate for 3 weeks. Will she remember me when I come back? This is the first time I'm off on a long trip like this...

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 8 replies

indoor kitty question

2007-11-28T07:37:05Z

when Petey chases bugs, & flies, my boyfriend takes the "catch" away, so he won't eat it, cause he said Petey would get sick or parasites, I don't think he would, if he were outdoors he'd be eating way worse & we couldn't stop him. Is there anything an indoor kitty can get from eating the ocasional moth or spider?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 5 replies

Question From a Newbie

2007-11-11T21:12:55Z

HI Everyone -

I'm kind of at the end of my rope here and at a loss for answers. I have a vet appointment scheduled for tomorrow and then realized "I bet I can find a Tribe on CATS!" So, I'd love to see if anyone can give advice.

Ever since I moved to a new place my adorable 5 year old kitty has been peeing outside the littler box. Luckily, she's stayed off of wall to wall carpet, but she has picked a new couch and bedspread to mark. I've washed and replaced couch cushions and bedspread numerous times. I've used Urine Off spray (which I think is great) to neutralize urine enzymes. I've used Feliway and Buspirone medication. There have been numerous vet visits - never has there been any urinary infection or bladder issues.

My cats sleep on my bed every night - they are happy, well fed, leave me kitty toys and lov e ach other. The vets figured the urination problem was due to stress: being in a new place, anxious when I'm gone. This morning, I awoke to scratching, as my kitty had urinated on my bedspread, while I was in the bed! This is super distressing, because there's been no anxiety and I was iright there when it happened.

I don't understand her actions and I don't know how to break the pattern - she's fine and then, out of the blue this happens.

It's hard for me to imagine that she may need a different home environment, but this has been happening for a year. I've tried everything I know and I've owned cats all my life.

Any ideas?

Many thanks

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Organization that helps people w cats?

2007-11-11T05:19:06Z

Would any one here know of an organization that helps people in financial difficulty, care for their cats?

I am trying to help someone whose greatest fear is to not be able to provide for her cats. If she knew such a organization existed it might help to relieve some of her anxiety during a rough time.

Thanks for any info.

Leslee

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

She's a cancer

2007-09-28T19:32:04Z

Her star sign, that is.

Siamese. 3.5 years old. I am a scorpio and scorps and crabs fit together just *so*.

I just needed to share that.

My name's Cymbrogi, and I'm a cat lover.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 7 replies

a feline proverb?

2007-09-28T18:46:24Z

I turned my calendar to the month of May and it had this "How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward" It credits it as a Spanish proverb, but in my opinion it sounds as though it was written by a cat! I may just adopt this as my motto...

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 4 replies

Two Loving Kitties Looking for Good Homes

2007-08-23T23:22:27Z

As much as it saddens me, I am looking for GREAT homes for two of my cats, Huey and Monchi.Huey is a black medium hair boy and Mochi is a white and tabby shorthair girl. They are brother and sister, a little over a year old, spayed and neutered and impeccably housetrained. I have been having trouble with my living situation and it has been hard to keep up with all 3 of my cats, so I am hoping to find homes for these two.

They are incredibly friendly and affectionate, I'm not exaggerating they have never scratched or been aggressive, they are extremely talkative and playful and very loving. They get along well with children and other animals (even dogs!). I have their mother and have raised them since they were born and they are adorable animals.

If you think you may be interested, pm me. You can check out my photo album for pictures or just pm me and I'll send you some photos.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

shmall kitties i'm feeling lucky

2007-08-23T21:48:55Z

I just joined this tribe, and I was searching for cats anonymous because I have become so obnoxious now with the cats' website that if I Google Shmall Kitties and hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button my their web page pops up. This is mostly from me looking at the cats and setting up links from other web sites to the Shmall Kitties Official Web Site I guess. I spend more time on their website than I ever do on mine. I have been inflicting this web site on people who even say they hate cats. Today I made up an excuse to show it to a coworker who hates cats while we were discussing a web site we have for the company that uses a similar java code. Hehe.

Anyhow, it has been there for years unchanged, but recently I began to work on it again because we of course got another shmall kitten. That's when I noticed the Google thing. Evidently it takes very little obsession to get that I'm Feeling Lucky thing to hit your site.

Anyway, thanks for this tribe. I really like the posts I read so far. You all seem like a very lively and interesting bunch.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 1 reply

If i had a choice i would not wake up in the morning

2007-07-31T23:59:08Z

tomorrow's a day i don't look forward to....every thing is now out of the apartment.... and my girl said something to me i never thought I'd hear.... she said babe, it's not fair to have the cat's stay in the car with us.... mind you she has had china blue for almost thirteen years... I have avoided having cat's since my dear patches was put to sleep six years ago because she out lived her body at the age of 22.... and for a calico that is unheard of....so now hear i sit, waiting until 9 am to take our babies to the spca because we can't live in a car with them... and she is wright, it's not fair to them.........my tinker bell, the most loving cat since my patches.... a calico also.... thinks she is human more than cat.... every night licking my head until she feels I'm clean and then sleeps on Shelly's head....and then the baby, Tabatha's small when i brought her home.... i hid her behind my back and told Shelly to pick a hand....she picked the wrong hand and i said no you wanted this hand. and handed her this small piece of magic... she still has only a squeak of a meow.... and is only half the size of a regular cat... but in my heart she is a lioness.... and what can i say about chynna blue.... the girl who made it possible to want kitties agin..... i felt like an executioner tonight giving them two cans on wet food tonight, knowing damn well where i am taking them tomarrow...... but i have know choice.... no one will rent to us with cat's and it was made quite clear.... so good bye my loves.. i hope to get better in health and then maybe i can bring you all home, but if not a piece of me dies with you leaving my life.........please great spirit take care of my babies........ and if you can save them, do it before you help me........ they mean that much to me.... and just as much if not more to my shelly

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

~Kitty gives "WORMS" as gifts!~

2007-07-23T11:25:13Z

O.K.~ thanks for sharing!
Here's one for some of us who thought we had heard it all...
My kitty "Luna" brings me large earthworms/night crawlers for "presents".!!! OH YippY!
I am truly grateful since she dosen't kill them- and, even better, dosen't go after birds, squirrels or other prey that might put her in harms way.
Does anybody else have a kitty with such a sense of humor?
Even as a former zoo keeper and vet tech I've never heard of such a creative kitty.
~Shanti~

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 1 reply

come aboard...

2007-06-05T17:25:09Z

@
http://tribes.tribe.net/siamesecats
if you have this wonderful breed and have memories & tips to share =)

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Looking for loving home(s) in Sonoma County

2007-06-01T21:07:05Z

Hi folks,

I have to find new loving homes for my two boys, Shane (3 yrs) and Ringo (5 yrs?), preferably in the Sonoma County, Santa Rosa area. I have several reasons for doing this, the most important of which is for the sake of their well-being and happiness. I've posted a few photos of them in my photo album here.

Shane and Ringo do not have to go together as they more or less only tolerate each other. Shane would probably be better as an only cat, but he needs a lot of attention or he'll get into mischief just to get attention one way or another. You know how they can be. But he's a sweetie, too. He'll roll on his back and open his legs for a belly rub and if you're anything like me, you'll put your face right in there in the SOFTEST fur you've ever felt on a cat! His white patch there is a perfect target! ;-D He is a beautiful and intelligent being and is completely worthy and deserving of respect and as much love as can possibly be given.

Ringo is so cool! Quite laid back for the most part. He's a big boy, 20 pounds or so, but he is beautiful, the ultimate tuxedo cat! He rolls on his back, too, but rub his head at the same time as his belly to really bliss him out! He really likes to play and will chase a laser light around the place and make his little noises as he tries to catch that dang light! He is a bit of a talker, too, though I wonder if he'll talk as much under other circumstances. He will jump up and sit next to you, more than in your lap, to knead first and then for a good head and ear rub, but not for too long. And he will wind and rub himself around your legs quite often.

Both these boys were shelter cats and I suspect they experienced some trauma from that time as neither like to be held or picked up very much or for very long. However, they have adapted to living in a one-bedroom apartment with me, never going outside (dangerous in so many ways). I feel, though, that they would both be happier if they had more space, and maybe a safe, enclosed space outside for at least part of the day.

If you're at all interested, or know someone who might be, please let me know as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the boys, just ask, I'll be more than happy to tell you whatever I can about them. Oh, I should also say that they are both quite healthy, and they had their initial shots, but I have not been able to afford any more (one of my reasons for giving them up). I have all their papers and they have ID chips from the shelter, too.

Thank you.

Blessings, Love and Peace to you all,
Avalon

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

stereotypes...

2007-06-01T00:14:30Z

i've worked closely with cats for several years now and i've come to the conclusion that breed/marking stereotypes *tend* to run true.... these are:

calicos: they are princesses... they are usually sweet and can be affectionate... they tend to be loners...

torties: by and large they are insane... like they have a miswiring in their brains... they can scream a LOT... and be hissy and pissy... for no really decent reason you can discern...

dilute calicos and torties: i think that the colour dilution on their coats reaches into their personalities... they are almost always sweet, lovable and cuddly

black: thin black cats have the ability to be insanely dangerous and violent... you look in their eyes and are never quite sure if they are thinking how much they enjoy you or how much they might enjoy you for dinner... my first ever serious bite came from a sweet little black female kitty that i never would have suspected... now i come at all black cats with caution... i think they mellow as they age...

tuxedos: TOTAL clowns.... they may or may not be aware of their fabulous senses of humour... but they are always amusing

bengals: ok, this one is obvious, they are completely insane... not even worth mentioning it it's so true...

maine coons: sweet, sweet, SWEET!

silver chinchilla persians: i shudder everytime one comes in for a groom... they are almost always a nightmare and willing to fight me to the death... ugh...

red tabbies: only a little over half the time are they male and they can be real assholes when they want to be, despite the commonly held belief that they are always the big sweethearts of the cat world

russian blues: wise, gentle and interested in people...

anybody agree or disagree? anything to add?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 5 replies

The Rackadoo and Smart-Dog show...

2007-05-25T00:57:54Z

I have a fourteen year old male, black cat named Rackadoo and I wish to introduce a kitten friend into his life. I was walking the other day and came upon an elderly woman who had five kittens. Her name was Deloris. I was able to photograph just one of the five playing in her garden before I ran out of film and have decided to attain this cat and name it "Smart-Dog". How should I introduce Rackadoo to Smart-Dog? I live alone and every night when I come home from work Rackadoo is crying since he's just spent the entire day by himself. Another option is to get a live in girlfriend but I don't see that happening.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 4 replies

Sick kittie! Need advice!

2007-05-15T21:50:58Z

Hey! I just took one of my cats to get her fixed, so my cat fund is running very low. *sigh* I have a cat who is sick (different cat). He was hanging around the neighbor's cat who was showing symptoms of a severely runny nose, drenching his chest. My neighbors took him to the vet, never told me the problem, but said they gave him Doxycyline (sp). My issue is that my kitty is now showing symptoms. Instead of nose slobber, it's coming from his mouth. And he has really REALLY bad breath. I have Pennicillin, but wonder if this would help him out. Can't get the other antibiotic without a vet visit (at least, around here). Any thoughts or ideas? I could really use the help!!

Thanks so much, and just so you know, if I have no choice and he's not better, I WILL end up paying for the vet. It's just a matter of having food, or taking cat to vet... sad but true!

Michelle

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 12 replies

i may need some help

2007-05-15T19:02:54Z

dear friends, i have blown up my back ( had surgery in 2003 ) and may lose my house. my wife and i have 3 beautiful cats. and i fear we will not be able to care for them if we lose our home. this is very hard. we are asking if anyone would be able to house our cats until we get back on our feet. living in a car with 3 cats won't work. we are in Stockton California wright now, and will probably be heading for San Fransisco when we lose our place. our cats are like our childern. and we don't want to lose them. please help!!! or some advice on what to doo. thanx so much mark. you can also email me at rdlc500@yahoo.com

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

Cat pottying in bad places ...

2007-05-05T18:20:57Z

I have a cat who is 9 months old. From day one after we rescued him from the pound he's been good about the litter box. In the last month, however, he's been pottying under my sewing machine and the computer table. I've tried everything from time out in the bathroom after a good scolding to dispersing mothballs in the offending area and putting 'things' on top of the preferred places.

He'll be good for a few days then BANG right back again.

I thought it was the environment. I changed litter, made sure the box was being cleaned two or three times a day, there have been no unusual disturbances and nothing out of the norm. He gets plenty of attention.

I need to get him to stop this before I have to take him back to the pound. I can't have an outside cat and he's so amazing - other than the potty issues.

A week ago he started not peeing in the litter box at all among the other things he's doing. He's peeing outside in front of the litter box (thank god I keep it in the bathtub).

Any suggestions? Please help me!!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 6 replies

O.K., I know this is weird, but . . .

2007-05-04T02:18:15Z

do any of y'all actually go out of your way to try to smell your cat's breath? Hi. I'm Misha, and I'm a cat addict. O.K., so for some reason I've had this strange compulsion over the past couple of months to get REAL close to my kitty, Violet, when she yawns so I can smell her sweet baby-cat breath. I also find it quite amusing to see the look of shocked surprise she always gets when she closes her mouth after a face-splitting yawn and finds me right there, almost nose-to-nose with her! Tee hee! :o) She always looks very perplexed when I ask her how on *earth* her breath smells like fish when she's allergic to fish, and probably hasn't actually eaten any for, oh, like 8 years. Some mysteries we'll never know, like why their toe-beans are just so perfectly formed, or why sometimes they act as if your hands are poisonous, and that being petted by you is a complete affront, and that our disgusting scent needs to be licked off IMMEDIATELY . . . Furry little buttheads - how can you not love them?!?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 26 replies

Can't we just get along

2007-04-30T17:57:18Z

Does anyone have ideas on how to get cats to get along with one another.... it is a serious problem, as it requires me to barricade sections of the house. I have read a couple of books and their suggestions (slow meeting methods) have not worked

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 1 reply

Cat User's Manual

2007-04-30T11:47:14Z

CAT v.6.1b: Completely Autonomous Tester, Manufactured by MOMCAT
User Installation and Maintenance Documentation.
Features
User Friendly
Low Power CPU
Self Portable Operation
Dual Video and Audio Input
Audio Output
Auto Search Capability for Input Data
Auto Search for Output Bin
Auto Learn Program in ROM
Instant Transition (Energy Saving Standby Mode When Not In Use)
Wide Operating Temperature Range
Mouse Driven
Self Cleaning
Production Details

After basic KIT construction, the unit undergoes six weeks of onsite ROM programming and burn-in testing. Listed features are installed during this period. Since MOMCAT uses local suppliers, there may be a variation between individual units. Some of the units may not meet general standards. MOMCAT's quality assurance may reject inferior units. Users may sometimes salvage rejected units. Beware of Far East clones. These may violate import restrictions.

Transportation
A suitable transportation case should be used for transportation to the operating site. Failure to properly ship a CAT unit may result in loss or damage to the unit and serious injury to the user.
Installation Procedures

Upon receiving the CAT unit, the user should examine the unit to verify that all I/O channels are free of debris and operational. The user should look for minor bugs in or on the system. Bugs are indicative of the MOMCAT production environment. The user may manually remove any bugs. Bring the CAT to operation in an environment temperature of 20°C (±3° tolerance). Use a quiet room with the primary user(s) present. Open the transportation case and let the CAT unit autoexit. Initialize the self learning program by displaying the output bin. The next step consists in displaying the input bins. These should contain H2O (liquid state, room temperature, 99% purity) and dry energy pellets. Immediately afterwards, you must display the output bin.

If the user already has a CAT unit successfully installed, it may be possible to download the BASIC routines to the new CAT. For the first day or two, the CAT will stay in self learning mode. When the learn buffer overflows, the CAT will autoswitch to sleep() mode. This is normal. The MMU system will store the new information to permanent memory. After 72 hours, the CAT will be interacting with the operating environment. The unit may often be placed in direct sunlight. If all basic environmental requirements are satisfied, the CAT system will produce a slight hum. This is normal.

A new CAT should not exit the primary site facility. Full portability comes after extensive burn in. Some users never let the CAT unit autoexit the site. The advantages are longer unit life and fewer bugs. Contact with pirate CAT units may lead to unplanned BATCH iteration. Contact with untested CATs may lead to virus infection. If allowed to exit, some CAT units may try to port across a street. Fatal errors may happen. These errors are never recoverable. Such situations are not covered by warranties. If you decide to let your CAT out, it should have a READ_ME.TXT file with a system address and URL.

Your CAT should have a system name. The name may have to be repeated until the system can read it correctly. This lets you issue voice commands to bring the unit to an online state. Many owners give their CATs a secret password as well. You can also get the CAT's attention by booting the system. While this is effective, it is discouraged. Too much booting will abuse the system. The manufacturer is not responsible for injuries to the user.
Applications

MOUSE is a killer app. This is pre-installed. At present, there are few productivity applications for CAT. Many owners use their system for game playing. CATs play best when they are young. Older units suffer a system timing decay which leads to reduced response and flexibility. Some of the better CAT games are:

CACHE
The CAT will CACHE a data code. Similar to the K9 unit game, but the object code must be smaller.

MIRROR
Place the unit in front of a mirror and watch it attempt to parse itself. Some units may ESCape. Reboot the system by calling its name.

STRING
The CAT attempts to parse a data string.

JUMP
Move the data string through the air. The CAT unit will reach new heights of operation.

CHASE
Played between two CAT units or a CAT and a K9 unit. Units take
turns as one is the data and the other attempts to parse it.

DANCE and SING
Offer fishy data code to elicit a range of audio output.

Maintenance
CATs will self recharge. This takes 20 hours in a 24 hour cycle. CATs are self cleaning and require little user maintenance. Do not clean the unit with alcohol or benzine-based solvents. This can lead to violent explosions.

A CAT unit should be taken once a year to a VET (Very Expensive Technician) for a system checkup. Do not attempt to open a CAT. There are no user serviceable parts inside.

If a unit emits strange smells or sounds, it should be serviced immediately by a VET.
You may examine the CAT system to determine if it has a male or female scuzzy port. If the port is male, then the CAT unit may emit a non-toxic aerosol. The VET can remove this component. CATs with female ports are plagued by periodic heating problems. The VET can fix this permanently by removing an internal part.

Caution
CAT systems are normally user friendly. However, in certain documented situations, a CAT may pose a danger to the user. Repeated jamming or obstruction of air ports may lead to a CAT deploying its auto defense mechanisms. Do not strike a CAT. Its CPU clock rate is over 500 mHz. Twin D-shaped five-pin connectors have an average seek rate of 3 milliseconds. Children should not poke anything into the CAT's I/O ports. CAT may BYTE.

In dry, cold weather, a surface electrostatic charge may build up. To avoid electric shock, stand on an insulated surface. Do not operate the CAT above water. This may lead to user damage. Carry a CAT firmly. Do not swing it by its "tail".
Service Life

As CATs become older, the learn program will recognize every situation. The CAT may become too smart for its own good. The Ctrl key on many CAT units is defective. CATs like to have their own toys. They often have hobbies, such as bird watching or studying tropical fish.
If you properly care for your CAT, it will give you years of loyal service. Many users get a second or even third unit. Most users don't need the extra capacity, but they enjoy the ability to run complex simulation games.

Lifetime Warranty
The CAT unit is guaranteed against catastrophic failure. Nine coupons are included.
Specifications

Models Main frame, desktop and laptop models (smallest footprint in the industry)
Interface Touch sensitive interface for maximum user friendliness
Memory 16 MB with 1 MB in ROM
Upgrades available real soon now
Expected Lifetime 12 years with +/- 72 months (although 20 years are common)
Weight 3-6 kilograms without optional cables
Speed 3 milliseconds search/find with self-uprighting supertwist technology
Color Graphics Either paper white, monochrome (black/white), 64 grey shades, or maximum of 16 million colors with 40 gigabits of high resolution pixels
Sound Chip 16 octaves, digital MIDI output (MI/OU)
Power Consumption 250 grams protein daily (2 micrograms per second.)
Operating Range -30 to +45° C (-22 to 105°F)
Vibration 5-500 Hz, one octave/min, dwell at all resonance points

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Interstitial Cystitis aka cat peeing everywhere

2007-04-25T01:49:32Z

Hey guys,

just found this tribe and it made me feel normal even though I adore my cat.

I have spent the last few days searching and searching and searching the web for information on helping my cat with her interstitial cystitis. It's a urinary inflamation, not an infection, but it has the same symptoms. The urine itself irritates the cat's bladder so that she thinks she has to pee and experiences pain etc.

Antibiotics do nothing for the condition but we were told to put her on the Science Diet CD. She will not eat it, we have tried every trick in the book. She'll starve herself before she will eat any of it. We feed her very healthy organic food and are hoping to substitute her diet with something that will keep the inflammation from coming back. What is it in the CD diet that helps the cat?

We have heard we should acidify the urine but there are a different opinions on how to do that. We just started giving her vitamin C powder. Any suggestions? Any links to holistic pet care pages or any recommendations for holistic vets? Right now we are in Florida but we travel fulltime in our RV, so we can look up a good vet anywhere if need be.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 6 replies

Update on Pet food recall-feel free to pass on

2007-04-10T03:20:23Z

Menu Foods Income Fund
TSX:MEW.UN
INDUSTRY:

Financial Services - Personal Finance, Retail - Consumer Interest
MARCH 24, 2007 - 14:09 ET

Menu Foods Initiates Market Withdrawal of All Varieties of Recalled Wet Pet Food to Ensure Consumer Protection
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 24, 2007) - As a result of reports from the FDA and various media outlets that some recalled lots of "cuts and gravy" style wet pet food remain on store shelves, Menu Foods has asked all retail outlets to immediately remove all impacted varieties of wet pet food posted at www.menufoods.com , regardless of the date code.

Menu Foods remains concerned that consumers are able to purchase recalled items.

There is no known risk from items not listed on the recall list but an abundance of caution is called for in this situation.
FDA has been apprised of this action.
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/PRESS%20RELEASE03241409.htm
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 3 replies

DEAR KITTY FRIENDS

2007-03-22T22:26:22Z

Count your life by smiles not tears. Count your age by friends not years. Count your blessings day by day, because you are all special and I sincerely hope that 2007 brings you everything you all ever wanted. God bless and have a good one!!!!!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 6 replies

New to the tribe

2007-03-11T07:12:49Z

Hi everyone, I am new here so thought I would introduce myself and tell you a bit about myself and my feline family members :)

I am a mother of 7 children, singer/songwriter/craftsperson and part time student (studying naturopathy and alternative therapies), and I currently share my house with 9 furry babies as well :)

We have Sweetie (white/tabby male, about 6yo, he has just recently come to live with us when my partner moved in); Banshee, so named because when I found her she used to constantly yowl like one *G*, 3yo pure white female and momma of the rest of the babies in my house (she was dumped and somehow found my place and has lived here ever since, I am still looking for the invisible neon sign that only animals can see that says "all strays welcome"!); Bowie, Banshee's littermate, who is so named because he has odd-coloured eyes, one blue and one green; Angus Ruadh (Gaelic, "Angus the Red" cause he's ginger); Amber (little white girl with amber eyes) who is about 6mths old, and her brothers Corey (tabby/white), Neko (white/blue eyes), Arnie (white/odd coloured eyes, one gold one blue) and Reejit (white/odd eyes, one gold one blue but they are the opposite ones to Arnie LOL, and Reejit is also deaf).

Have been reading a few of the threads so far with interest, particularly the one about declawing - not one of my babies is declawed and we have never had a problem with scratched furniture or anything, they don't even have a scratching post because we have several great trees that they love to scratch and climb (I have a huge yard). And despite having so many cats, we have had no problems with them fighting or anything, even Sweetie who has only been here a week has settled in nicely and is very relaxed and happy to be with the other cats (and they all adore him too, he is currently curled up on the sofa with Amber and Corey snuggled up to him) :)

My kitties are also all allowed to go in and out as they please during the day (since I am home all day most days) and only get shut in at night time, but they tend to like to stay inside during the day because that is where my kids and I are mostly and they like to be part of the action ;) As I type I have Reejit sitting happily on top of the monitor supervising me *G*, and Neko pottering around my feet, Angus has just made a fool of himself (again!) by trying to dodge the dishrack when going out the kitchen window on a toilet run and has misjudged his jump and fallen in the sink *giggles*, fortunately there was no water in it! He just kinda pulled himself up with that indignant "I MEANT to do that, truly I did!" face and looked away then went out the window properly.

I also have 4 chickens in my yard who love to play with my cats, it is not uncommon for me to go outside to do something and find them playing tag (usually chicken chasing cat!) or having a good conversation with each other, and on a few occasions I have seen either a chicken pecking bits of dirt and stuff off cats, or cat grooming the chicken! They are all best friends :)

Anyway just thought I'd say hi, and I look forward to much cat-related discussion with lots of other cat-people :)

Tonia
in sunny Perth, Western Australia

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 1 reply

Neighbor's cat with back end issues

2007-03-11T05:45:23Z

Hello all... I have a friend with a cat that has rear end problems. I don't mean butt, I mean tail and back end are really itchy and have a few scabs on them. Any thoughts as to what could be causing this? There are no fleas on her... I'm at a loss...

I'm also searching for a cat-webmd if anyone knows of something like that... I sure would appreciate it!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 3 replies

Declawing Of Your Cat How Does It Effect Them

2007-03-06T09:51:47Z

Well my guy want's to declaw our kitten not now but down the road and i have heard that it is not only crule but it hurt's the cat. I do not want to do this to him only because it is his self defense in case for some reason he does get outside how will he defend himself i know that they have to sharpen there claw's and i'm going to get a scratching post for him and try to get him to use it or talk to my vet on what is good for him. But if you have any feed back i would love to hear any and all comment's on this subject about declawing and how it effect's the cat's themselve's.In my oppinion i think it is cruel to do to any cat even if he is an indoor cat there is alway's a possibality that he can get out no matter how hard you try to keep him/her inside. pam

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 28 replies

It makes me so happy

2007-03-05T01:12:50Z

to see men that love kitties as much as ladies do! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp51s4pPxnk SO stinkin' sweet! :o)

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 3 replies

helllooooooooooo All

2007-02-28T16:16:59Z

So sorry for not being around lately to enjoy the conversations. SO much has happened in the last few months. I moved and have a new job. BUT my kittie pals are in heaven with a new bigger place and more or a stressfree place too- me too :) but I will be on allot more. Just wanted to say HI and wish everyone the best and give your kitties babies a big hug for me- thanks 420

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

He's Mad At Me!!!

2007-02-16T01:22:42Z

My Beasley is mad at me. :(

My temp job ended so I'm sleeping late. OK, that happens! But, the first morning, he snuggled and head butted at 6am. I pet him and went back to sleep.

The second morning, he was running across my pillow & I yelled "STOP" and raised my arm - he ran into it. All that day and night, he would not come near me! He didn't even greet me when I came in from outside!

Last night, the female who has a crush on him kept pestering him so he came to lay next to me. I tried to pet him & he bit me like I was attacking him and left! He's SOoooo Mad!

Today, I got up at the crack of dawn, put some food in the bowl and went back to bed. He's still not talking to me! Now what???

I keep offering cuddles and play. I keep talking to him like nothing is wrong. He just doesn't respond. Do you think that offering food early in the morning and maybe even apologizing to him will help?

I got a magnet at Chez Target yesterday that says "There is no snooze button on a hungry cat" and I plan to remember that...

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 8 replies

Nora; the Piano Playing Cat

2007-02-15T11:06:24Z

If this isnt just the most adorable kitty:
http://www.ravenswingstudio.com/docs/cats.html

Or you can watch it on U=tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM&mode=related&search=

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 3 replies

MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW

2007-02-11T07:33:49Z

DAMN!
I lvoe my cat to death but she does ONE annoying thing. She wont stop meowing. I open the door she doesnt want outside, I pet her it continues, I feed her and she keeps meowing. ITS A CONSTANT meow meow meow meow meow meow meow! At least 18 hours of the day! How can I please her? What the heck does she want?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 20 replies

Fits me to a "T"

2007-01-10T20:24:10Z

Wow! I just found you - this group - and I'm so happy to meet you all - and I don't even know your names yet.

I just found "tribe" today, and yes, the description of this group fits me to a "T" I talk about cats all the time. It's becoming a joke! I have cat print sheets & drapes, clothes, figurines, pillows, and 5 cats (3 fosters and my 2 from rescue).

All my cats have personalities & likes/dislikes (of course) and I even built a website around cats that's beginning to pay for cat food and cat litter after 18 months.

So, I'm really glad to know you all.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 7 replies

Cat group newbe

2007-01-07T16:04:01Z

Hello there. I just joined your lovely group this morning and I read through the back posts. Lemme tell you, I can understand and agree with most of them. I have a drooling cat who puts his paws to each side of my neck and then tucks his nose in my neck and drooooooools... uck... and three of my cats are all on crack. I swear they have a stash somewhere in the house I haven't found... and the little squirts don't share! *lol*

I am a cat mommy. I discovered locally that there was no where for people to take motherless kittens who needed to be bottle fed. So I started talking to local shelter-type places, and take in the kittens. I've now raised and found homes for almost 80 kittens. I'm so proud of them! Kind of hard when you don't have much money and you have to pay for formula. Any thoughts on less expensive ways to do this? Once I switched from vet-supplied formula to Wally WOrld formula and had two cats go into a coma... they both came out of it in 2 days but it was really rough. They just laid there and didn't move, barely breathing and had to put saline in their eyes so they wouldn't dry out. Miserable time! But out of 87 cats, I've lost 6 (all from ONE litter) so I figure it was genetic. All other litters were healthy and royal pains in the butts. *G* I LOVE them. My cats aren't sure if they love them, but they take care of them really well and put up with the tail-chasing.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Thanks for the group! Y'all are wonderful!

Michelle

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 13 replies

Help! My cat is hacking!!!

2007-01-07T02:55:23Z

Just as I'm telling everyone how healthy my cats are, my little boy (he's about 17 lbs and growing) just started coughing (like he has a hairball, but he's coughing all the time, every 5-10 minutes). I just paid bills and have absolutely no cash to take him to the vet and won't until the beginning of next month... I'm so worried about him! Any thoughts on what it could be and/or possible fixes? I'm so stressed. I put out a heating pad on the lowest setting with a blanket over it, and he's sleeping peacefully on that. I don't know what to do.... do they make Nyquil for cats? (just kidding)

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 5 replies

BABY GIRL GONE!!!

2006-12-18T07:38:38Z

I AM TOTALLY DEVASTATED MY BABY GIRL MITSHKA HAS DISAPPEARED. THIS HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO, YOU KNOW CATS NORMALLY WONDER AROUND. SO THE FIRST NIGHT SHE DIDN'T COME HOME I WASN'T TO STRESSED ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN SHE DIDN'T COME HOME LAST NIGHT, WELL NOW I KNOW FOR SURE SHE IS GONE. SO I AM AT WORK NOW MAKING UP FLYERS THAT I CAN PUT IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODS POST BOXES. I HAVE ALSO PHONED EVERY VET AND SPCA IN RANDBURG AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO MITSHKA TO BE FOUND. PRAY FOR MY LITTLE GIRL PLEASE MY FRIENDS, THAT SHE IS AT LEAST WITH A GOOD FAMILY AND NOT DEAD. THAT WOULD TOTALLY KILL ME. SO AT THE MOMENT I AM VERY SAD AND DOWN BUT I KNOW I MUST BE STRONG AND SHE MIGHT JUST COME BACK, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BUILD UP MY HOPES TOO MUCH.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 12 replies

TWO HOMES????

2006-12-15T15:53:50Z

WHEN I FIRST MOVED INTO THE COTTAGE I AM PRESENTLY LIVING IN TWO YEARS AGO MY MALE CAT, GISMA, KEPT ON WONDERING OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS AT A TIME. THEN WHEN HE DID COME BACK HE WAS ALL RIPPED UP AND BLEEDING. I THEN DECIDED TO HAVE HIM MUTED. HOPING THIS WOULD KEEP HIM HOME. WHICH IT DID FOR AWHILE. BUT THEN HE STARTED DISAPPEARING AGAIN. NOW HE ONLY COMES HOME FOR SUPPER AND DISAPPEARS AGAIN. I THEN DECIDED TO PUT A NOTE ON HIM SAYING "PLEASE STOP FEEDING MY CAT". WELL LAST NIGHT HE CAME HOME FOR DINNER WITH A NOTE SAYING "VERY SORRY I WILL TRY NOT ENCOURAGE IT BUT I LOVE CATS AND THEY ALL COME VISIT ME". NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS, HAS ANYBODY GOT ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME.....

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 22 replies

please see if you can help!!

2006-12-06T17:05:33Z

i'm trying to cross-post this to get the word out asap about this kitty:

http://losangeles.tribe.net/listing/Cat-needs-a-home/los-angeles-ca/b12da3ef-c1a1-4358-b1d8-6a5538812c63

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 4 replies

Spazzy after using the potty!

2006-11-29T14:22:13Z

After my fur child, Adam, uses the litter box, he always has to do this MAD DASH when he is finished - and continues to run around the room for maybe 10 seconds after. LoL!

MY other cat, Spanky (rip) used to do this too! IS this a typical cat thing - to be all spazzy after making poopie?? IS it that they feel "light and free" and want to express that by running around? LoL! Do any of your fur children do this?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 6 replies

STOMPIE OR SHORT STEPS

2006-11-23T12:59:11Z

MY FEMALE NORWEGIAN KITTY HAD 3 KITTENS 6 WEEKS AGO. THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS - VERY MIXED BREEDS THOUGH. WHEN I CAME HOME THE NEXT DAY, MUCH TO MY SHOCK THE CORD FROM THE MOTHER WAS WRAPPED AROUND ALL THREE KITTENS LEGS. I GENTLY CUT THE CORD OFF THEM, BUT WHEN I GOT HOME THE NEXT DAY ONE WAS DEAD, VERY SAD. BUT THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING I FOUND THE ONE KITTENS BACK PAWS WERE FALLING OFF. IT MUST HAVE BEEN FROM THE CIRCULATION BEING CUT OFF WHEN THE CORD WAS WRAPPED AROUND HIM. ANYWAY THE POOR BABY DOESN'T HAVE CLAWS AND THE TIPS OF HIS PAWS ANYMORE, OTHERWISE HE IS VERY NORMAL. HE IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, FLUFFY, GREY AND HAS BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES. THE ONLY THING IS WHEN HE WALKS ON SLIPPERY FLOORS HE SLIDES WITH HIS BACK LEGS AS IF HE IS ICE-SKATING. HONESTLY THOUGH I NEVER HAD THE COURAGE TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP, SO I GEUSS I HAVE TO KEEP HIM FOR MYSELF. AT LEAST ONE THING IS FOR SURE, HE WON'T GO WANDERING, I HOPE!!!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 5 replies

PRESSIES FOR MOM

2006-11-22T08:27:35Z

I have four gorgeous Norwegian Forest Cats, and boy are they forestry. Every few days one of them brings me a present home. Either a bird, rat, snake, or some kind of insect. I honestly adore them for bringing me a present home but the thing is they rip the present into pieces, and it ends up all over my house. Especially the rats (ugh), their guts and brains and all their insides all over the place. But their favourite place to leave these is on my bed. Now what should I do about that, do I lock them out of my room? But then I am going to upset them if I do that, any suggestions about keeping them off my bed with their wonderful presents!!!!

back to monique »

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 28 replies

Is there anyone in Ashland, OR who si giving away selling a cat?

2006-11-17T04:07:26Z

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Double Trouble

2006-11-03T23:31:48Z

l need some advice on two problems.

1. A six year old male neutered cat who doesn't know what a litter box is for. He just ignores it.
2. A female cat who won't tolerate being brushed or combed.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 14 replies

Weird Food that Cats Like

2006-11-01T01:16:28Z

I've heard of some strange favorites, but my cats are getting ridiculous.

Mary Jane LOVES cantaloupe and avocado. I have had to take the cantaloupe rind away from her because she will just sit there and lick it for days on end.

When Nemo was a kitten he loved to drink Kool aid and eat iceberg lettuce LOL. Very nutritious.

Angel will try just about anything, but she really loves french fries. I mean, she's crazy. She prefers french fries over anything else, even meat! And the other day I dropped a container of guacamole and she sat there licking it off the floor.

These days Malcolm turns down pretty much anything except chicken or tuna, and even then he's very sparing, but when he was little he used to love Cheetos!

My first cat Lucy used to like Froot Loops....

Any similar craziness with your cats?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 34 replies

Does This Remind you of anyone?

2006-10-26T14:18:08Z

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8384926893172492028&q=CAts

And this one has love written all over it
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=653272207795340425

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 1 reply

Declawing Cats: Manicure or Mutilation?-from PeTA

2006-10-15T13:19:05Z

Declawing Cats: Manicure or Mutilation?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cats’ claws and the bones and cartilage that hold them in place allow cats to balance properly, climb, and defend themselves, among other functions. Declawing, which removes these claws, bones, and cartilage, is a painful and permanently crippling procedure that should never be performed. There are effective and humane alternatives to declawing that can prevent cats from inflicting damage with their claws.

Why Do Cats Claw Objects?
Cats claw to have fun and exercise, to maintain the condition of their nails, and to mark their territory—visually and with scent. They stretch by digging their claws in and pulling against their own claw-hold. Cats’ natural instinct to scratch serves both their physical and psychological needs. Before domestication, cats satisfied these needs by clawing tree trunks. Today, domesticated cats can be guided to satisfy their desire to claw without damaging valuable property.

Understanding Declawing
Declawing involves 10 separate, painful amputations. It is a serious surgery, not just a manicure. Declawing a cat involves general anesthesia and amputation of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail.(1) The following are possible complications of this surgery:
• Adverse reaction to anesthetic
• Gangrene, which can lead to limb amputation
• Hemorrhaging
• Permanent nerve damage
• Persistent pain
• Reluctance to walk
• Scar tissue formation
• Sequestrum (bone chips), requiring additional surgery(2)
• Skin disorders

After surgery, the nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain but remaining invisible to observers. Declawing results in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder, and back muscles, and because of impaired balance caused by the procedure, declawed cats have to relearn to walk, much as a person would after losing his or her toes.

Lasting Difficulties
Without claws, even house-trained cats may urinate and defecate outside the litterbox in an attempt to mark their territory. Declawed cats may be morose, reclusive, and withdrawn or irritable, aggressive, and unpredictable. Many people think that declawed cats are safer around babies, but in fact, the lack of claws, a cat’s first line of defense, makes many cats feel so insecure that they tend to bite more often as a means of self-protection.(3) A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) reported that of those observed, 33 percent of declawed cats developed at least one behavioral problem and 80 percent had more than one medical complication.(4) Declawed cats are also more likely to be surrendered to shelters.(5)

Banned by Countries and Cities and Condemned by Vets
Nearly two dozen countries—including England, Australia, and Japan—ban or severely restrict declawing surgeries.(6) Catalonia, Spain, prohibits declawing under its Law of Animal Protection.(7) A declawing ban was passed in West Hollywood, California, where one city council official explained, “As guardians of animals, we have a relationship of respect, that the animal not be amputated or subjected to techniques that create harm.”(8) On the heels of that precedent-setting legislation, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution “condemning” declawing and urging veterinarians to drop the procedure.(9)

Many vets refuse to perform the surgery. Dr. Jennifer Conrad wrote in JAVMA that “[r]outine declawing (unlike sterilization) is never performed for the sake of the animal” and that as a veterinarian, she has “an obligation to do what is best for the animals and not what is most convenient for their owners.”(10) Dr. Melinda Merck does not perform declawing surgeries at her Georgia clinic, saying the process “is an amputation … and it’s awful.”(11) The Cat Practice in New York City tells its clients, “If you love your cat … don’t declaw!”(12)

Compassionate Alternatives
With a little effort and patience, you can protect your furnishings and preserve your cat’s claws at the same time. The following hints will help:
• Trim your cat’s nails regularly. When the cat is relaxed and unafraid, gently press on the toes until the claws extend. Use a pair of nail clippers and cut only the tip of the nail, taking care not to damage the vein or “quick.” The nail hook is what tears upholstery, so removing it virtually eliminates damage.
• Buy or build two or more scratching posts. They must be sturdy, tall enough to allow the cat to stretch (3 feet or taller), and properly placed. Bark-covered logs, posts covered with sisal, or posts covered with tightly woven burlap work well. Soft, fluffy, carpeted scratching posts don’t work—they are one of the greatest causes of declawing because cats don’t like the posts, and frustrated human companions resort to surgery. If you use carpet, secure it to the posts with the rough backing on the outside; soft carpeting will not satisfy a cat’s need to claw. Place one scratching post where your cat is already clawing and another near the area where he or she normally sleeps (cats like to stretch and scratch when they first wake up). An excellent scratching post is available from Felix Katnip Tree Company, 3623 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103; 206-547-0042.
• Consider cardboard or sisal “scratching boxes” that lie flat on the floor. These are inexpensive and small enough to scatter around the house, allowing your cat easy access to an “approved” scratching spot at all times. They do wear out fairly quickly, however, and will need to be replaced every few months—otherwise, cats may get frustrated and revert to using furniture.
• Teach your cat where to claw and where not to claw. Place your cat on the new scratching post and move his or her paws, or pretend to scratch it yourself. This will scent the posts and encourage exploratory clawing. Make the post a “fun” place to be. Play games with your cat on and around the post, and attach hanging strings, balls, and/or bouncy wire toys to it. Try sprinkling catnip on the post, too. (A once-a-week or so refresher application will keep your cat interested.) When kitty uses the post, reinforce this behavior with praise, but be careful not to startle or frighten him or her. When your cat claws furniture, discourage this behavior with a firm voice or other loud noise, but never with physical force. Directing lukewarm water from a squirt gun at the animal’s back is often successful. During the training period, you may need to cover upholstery with plastic or other protection (cats don’t like the slippery feel and will quickly learn to stay away).
• Strategically placed double-sided tape, such as Paws Off (available at PETACatalog.org), also discourages the clawing of furniture and upholstery.

What You Can Do
If your friends or family members are considering having their cats declawed, let them know about the danger and cruelty of this serious and unnecessary surgery. Support legislation to ban declawing in your community.

An excellent book that will help you understand your cat better is Ingrid Newkirk’s 250 Things You Can Do to Make Your Cat Adore You, available at www.PETA.org. By learning to understand cat behavior and using common-sense precautions and behavior-modification methods, you can prevent clawing damage without inflicting pain on your feline companion.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 4 replies

I knew this day was coming..lol..

2006-10-14T12:33:23Z

So I was fast asleep last night (with Adam, my sleeping bed buddy) when @ 1:30 am I was awakened by the sounds of,

*HacK!* *CouGh** *Hack!* *Bleck!*

And I must've jumped about 50 feet - and just avoided a nice hairball in my face - LoL. Adam threw up twice in my bed...I *knew* this day was coming!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I was sooooo tired - way too tired to be cleaning up barf at 1:30 am. So I just took my blanket and slept on the floor for the rest of the night - and cleaned up the barf in the morning, when I was feeling a bit more conscious. LoL.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 29 replies

Curiosity...

2006-10-14T12:20:29Z

So somehow my 12 week kitten snuck outside while my mom was getting the newspaper from just outside the door this morning, only to be found by a neighbor 1 hours later with her belly scratched up and her back with two big bite marks.

my poor poor kitty cat! we took her to the vet and have antibiotics and pain medicine for her, but she's still so scared and shooken up. She's been trying to sneek out for a few weeks now, somehow convinced that its a bundle of fun outside and that we're just being mean by not letting her out. silly cat! bet she'll never do that again!

anyway, i'm still just so very worried for her, and i am definately counting my blessings that the older cat that attacked her didn't have kitten for breakfast.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

Fellow Cat Moms (and Dads, lol) - I Need Your Insight!

2006-10-14T12:13:03Z

Ok….well to those of you who don’t know me, my name is Robyn and cats are my heart and soul!! I am currently the proud mamma of a 20-lb big orange tabby named Adam. I adopted him over 2 yrs ago and we have lived harmoniously and bonded very much. He has been the most well-behaved cat I have ever had – til this morning!!! :(

Well, I don’t know what is going on inside his little kitty brain, but I woke up at 6:15 am this morning, and when I flipped on the light, Adam was making a sickly “meowww!” I thought maybe he had to cough up a hair ball ( that’s what he normally does when he’s about to do that). And I can be forgiving of the vomiting, I mean – cats can’t control that.

BUT – so back to the story – after Adam’s “Meeeoooow!” I see him squatting and the next thing I know, he is pinching out two little terds on my carpet!! Just like that! And then he TRIED to use a nearby bag of mine to cover it (I pulled it away before he could do that)!! I mean, he has NEVER DONE THIS and has always used his litter box!!!!

I was so mad and I yelled and he had never heard mom use that tone of voice, but I have never had to yell at him before! I also gave him a cold stare to show my disapproval. He then retreated to under the bed.

So, I don’t know why any of this happened….so I tried to think of all of the reasons why he would do that (a little bit of kitty psychology). I then felt bad because his litter was low, plus, I’ll have to admit – he has a small litter box. I never saw his size until the adoption “foster mom” dropped him off at my apt on June 5, 2004 – and then realized that the box might be a pinch too small. BUT – he has always used it, even on days when the litter is low and I need to change it, and he has ALWAYS USED the BOX, period!

So I went out to the grocery store before work this morning (it was a hustle, esp. with traffic - good God!), and purchased him a BIG boy litter box PLUS fresh, new litter. So there are NO excuses now!!

Also, I gave him a catnip toy last night, so I’m wondering if that made him wacky overnight, so that’s why he pooed? I’ve also been mad-cleaning my apt this weekend, and I know how animals can be sensitive to changing environments – maybe that’s why he pooed? But I have cleaned before, and he’s never behaved like that). So, who knows??

So to all of your other cat moms (and dads, lol) – do you have any insight into this? I am FREAKING out that when I get home, I could find more poo or who knows, even pee in places where there shouldn’t be poo or pee. I really hope that this was the first and last episode. Have any of you had any similar experiences??

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 9 replies

bored kitty!

2006-10-10T02:27:01Z

my 2 year old indoor cat Petey wanders around the house hollering despite the fact that he has plenty of toys to play with and we try to play with him all the time! he'll play with his milk caps, furry mice, fetch his ball ect. for a few minutes, loses interest and and starts meowing like I haven't been playing with him. does anyone have a suggestion? he even has our other cat scruffy to play with.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 6 replies

Dating People with Cat Allergies

2006-10-02T23:50:53Z

Am I the only one for whom dating crititeria includes the question "Are you allegic to cats?" Several people have been rather insulted recently because I told them I wouldn't even bother with one date if they're allergic, since theres really no point. I wasn't rude about it or anything, but tried to explian that the cats were an integral part of my life. i have dated guys with cat allergies in the past, and it always ended badly, since there comes a point where you get sick of the fact that they can't visit.
My cats are also a litmus test for guys, they know right away who's good and who needs to go home.
Is it just me?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 14 replies

Travelling with cats

2006-09-15T07:03:04Z

Hello :)
I'm moving to SF in two days from Spain and I have to send my cats separately on a plane. I have two cats and I just want to know if anyone has any suggestions or comforting words for me. I'm really disturbed about having to leave them in other people's hands for so long. Is there something we should do before we hand them over? And does anyone know about the bathroom situation? I know they don't like to pee where they sleep, but I also know that they have to be on a plane and between airports for quite a while, so I would like to know what we can do to make their trip a little easier and cleaner.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 7 replies

leaving my cat while on vacation

2006-09-01T14:59:45Z

I can't believe how sad I get when I have to leave my Janey when I go away. I won't even be gone that long. I said goodbye this a.m. and wont see her til next Tuesday or Wednesday.
I know she'll be fine, and she is with my family in her own room with windows and a.c. if it gets too hot and my nephew will scoop her litter. but its still so sad! I have pix on my MP3 player and my phone for when I get too missing her too much.
Does anyone else get this sad!??

My bf said to me the other nite that I love my cat more than him, I wasnt sure what to say, I mean, its a different kind of love, ya know.........

siiigghhhhh..

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 9 replies

Four Kittens Looking for New Home!

2006-08-28T19:16:11Z

As some of you already know, my cat Angel recently had four adorable kittens. I have fallen deeply in love with them, they are all very sweet, rambunctious and quite the little characters, but alas, I already have three cats and live in a tiny apartment, and am a college student, so I can't keep them. I would like them to go to a home where I know the person is caring, attentive and a fellow cat LOVER (Not like, LOVE. :D) and who can support them financially and emotionally.

There are three girls and one boy, the boy is a black and white medium hair, there is a white and grey tabby shorthair, and medium hair grey brown tabby twins. They are five weeks old and all have blue & green eyes. You can check out their sickeningly cute pictures in my album :)

I live in the Bay Area and can bring the kitten to you, if necessary. If you are interested in adopting one of my little babies, please message me! Thanks ;D

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 0 replies

Hi everyone here seems friendly

2006-08-27T18:34:13Z

I am new and just getting used to all of this. I have 5 cats which live indoors. It is a lot of work and 2 of them are sick. I also have 2 cats which I feed and they live in my garage. I would love to find homes for them but I can't get near them. I don' think they are ferel , just scared because they have been through so much trying to survive. I would take all the cats into my house but I have to draw the line because I would be one of those ladies you read about in the newspaper with 100 cats....

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 6 replies

hey! I'm getting my cat detailed!

2006-08-27T18:29:41Z

so check this out!

I'm taking my cat to get her detailed today!

this cat wash over here down the road from me is having a "wash and detailing" special for compact cats.

She's pretty small, so I guess she would qualify as compact. They do a waxing too, which I assume is to help with summer time shedding...this place does the whole works! and its all brushless! they even wash her "rims", all for $29.95!-and that includes the detailing. which is good, because she doesnt need that darn tail anyways. it just gets in the way.

but what I don't understand is, why would they need to polish her white walls?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 10 replies

Let's SEE some Photos you Humans out there

2006-08-16T20:33:19Z

I see SOOO many cool folks have come onboard. SO now let's pump up the photo room with all we have..I will be collecting more from freinds to put up. Let's see your pride & joys folks...smiling, sleeping, playing, eating and chillin...bring it on and let's have some good laughs. Thanx

(I added some new ones today)

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 2 replies

Angry, Peeing Cats! And Cats Who Like to Be Walked!!

2006-08-16T04:38:06Z

Hi There...

Well if y'all have been reading my last post, y'all know that I have been having some experience with cats and poopin,' lol. Well now I have a little pee pee story about my dad's friend's cat, which I would like to share as well -

So my dad's friend, Steve, has a cat named Turbo, who actually LIKES to takes walks, while on a leash!!! I think this is incredible and quite a rare quality to find in a cat, lol. So everyday, Turbo would look forward to these daily walks.

Well one day, Steve wasn't feeling so well, so he didn't take ol' Turbo out for his walk. And apparently, this upset Turbo soooo much, that he peed in Steve's favorite jacket (which I guess was balled up on a chair). LoL!

So, Steve never knew how much Turbo liked his walks until he received Turbo's little dose of revenge! LOL. So from that point on, Steve always made sure that *somebody* took ol' Turbo out for his daily walk.

LoL! Just when you thought you heard it all, right? LoL.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 16 replies

Litter Robot

2006-08-09T05:26:19Z

Does anyone have a littler robot? If so, are you happy with it? I have read so many great reviews about it and it sounds like a great solution for multiple cats. I know it may not work for my 20 pounder though. But, he is a big teddy bear and would probably try to find a way to get in there. Karen

http://www.litter-robot.com/default.aspx?ac=1

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 5 replies

litter

2006-07-30T07:45:56Z

I cant find a good litter that I like

feline pine, fresh step, johny cat....nothing seems to work for me...its not like it "smells" really bad or anything, its just that I am just not liking it...clumping, scoopable, whatever...I really cant find one that I am comfortable with

any suggestions about cat litter?

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 17 replies

Kittens!

2006-07-26T20:15:19Z

My baby Angel had her kittens! It was very unexpected, she didn't look very big and I didn't think she wads due for at least another two weeks, but when I was out of town on Saturday night my boyfriend came home to find her giving birth to the last kitten in my bottom dresser drawer. Thank goodness she knew what to do because they would have all died had she not. No one was there to help her and I hadn't even remotely trained my bf on what to do.

My friend said the kittens are a little smaller than hers were, which got me worried, but they seem healthy, they are nursing, sleeping and occasionally wiggling to the edge of the plush basket they're in, and Angel is very healthy. She is a perfect mom, very attentive and thorough and she takes long breaks while the babies are sleeping. She has been going a bit psycho for the past two days because she caught a male cat sniffing at our door and went into killer mom mode, but for the most part she is doing well. She nurses and bathes the cats until they are asleep and then eats, drinks, and lounges with my other cats in the kitchen until she hears the kittens crying again.

There are three girls and one boy. I'm a little disappointed because none of them look like a mixed Siamese like their mom, they all look like their father (I presume), dark grey shorthair tabbies, though the little runt boy is black. They all have very distinctive white and tan markings on their face, neck and chest, and two of them are almost twins. They are so adorable and I can't wait until they open their eyes and start walking around. I hope they have blue eyes like their mom! I will post pics as soon as I get them.

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 11 replies

hi, newbie here

2006-07-25T18:18:16Z

Hello everyone. My name is Tara, my cat is Janey, she was a kitten of a feral cat.
I often prefer her company to that of many humans, and probably do have a bit of an obsessive problem. Hey, theres worse things to have issues about, right??
Glad I found this tribe!

posted in ! Cats Anonymous ! - 7 replies