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Light Gun Man posted:my cat seems to only wanna sleep and occasionally go outside. I hope he's getting some exercise out there, but I would like to find something he'd enjoy indoors to play with too. I've tried your usual basic cat toys, balls lasers etc, but he doesn't seem too interested in any so far. any somewhat more esoteric suggestions for like a game I can play with him? or something like this https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07X8SYYXK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
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Mar 15, 2023 01:47
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| # ? Jun 2, 2024 22:59 |
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My cats' exercise is mostly ambushing each other and chasing treats I throw down the stairs. As kittens they loved teaser wands but it's real hard to keep them interested 6 years later. The more aloof one will play at night when we're asleep because we have a little box of kitty toys and stuff is always missing in the morning (I know it's her because the other one has to sleep on top of my feet every night). Basically they'll take care of themselves given the opportunity.
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Mar 15, 2023 02:04
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My cats response this morning to putting down the same exact loving can of food she begs for and scarfed down yesterday and every day before that for the last 2 years: “what the gently caress is this gross poo poo I aint eating that” 
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Mar 15, 2023 10:28
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Maybe the can was spoiled somehow? I’ve had it happen with pouched wet food once or twice, cats refused to touch food from one pouch but ate normally when I gave them the same stuff from another pouch.
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Mar 15, 2023 10:49
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I swapped the cats from one room to another this morning. The new cat immediately wanted back into the bedroom, to get to the bed she spent most of her time sleeping on, so I think it's going to be good for her to spend today and tonight getting more comfortable in the living room. They saw each other for a few seconds while the door was open and it seemed to increase their tension, there was even some subsequent hissing at the closed door that separates the room, but thankfully since the door was shut nothing could come of it and by the time I left for work they both seemed calm in their respective rooms.
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Mar 15, 2023 14:24
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edit: removed as I think we resolved the situation!
melon cat fucked around with this message at 01:45 on Jan 15, 2024 |
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Mar 15, 2023 23:58
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We have a male cat who we love and is such a goof but he likes to pee inside. Without getting too much into the specifics, it seems pretty deeply ingrained and he seems to have too much energy and doesn't know what to do with himself, and he may be getting stressed out by the presence of MANY neighborhood cats? He is a former stray who we found living under a bush at our old apt. We have tried many things to help with the situation but nothing has worked, including meds and behavior stuff. He seems to have a lot of anxiety. Attached is a picture, but that's not really what my question is about. We have a small but fenced-in yard. The fence is a kind of net thing attached to an existing chain link fence, and I think it's specifically for cats. So they can run around and stuff via the cat door, which is cool. Last week our guy brought a pigeon inside, which was terrible. We live in the desert though and while we hope to have grass this spring, for now it remains a dirt/sand kind of blank space. We have an aluminum shed in the yard as well, toward the middle of our quarter (half?) acre of backyard. To give all 3 cats something to do/him a reason to stop peeing, I want to build/place some kind of structure in the yard. does this make sense? I am of limited means, but would like some...any kind of arrangement that maybe lets the cats jump onto the shed and/or climb on something. Or even something as simple as a wooden board connecting 2 chairs or something super simple. Ideas? I'm not mechanically inclined. My cat used to really like climbing trees, so I'm sure she'd appreciate anything to climb, too. Oh, lastly there is no drift wood really of any kind out here. And we have considered planting something like a tree, but think we will be moving sometime soon. Here is 🐈   this is from recently when he had a lump on his jaw  but he's ok now. it also shows the yard kind of. He lost his collar from escaping (bad, dumb cat)
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Mar 17, 2023 04:03
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Here's some better pictures of him, our good boy eggbert
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Mar 17, 2023 04:16
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You mean a catio? They're a good idea, but you can't half rear end them or they can be dangerous. You should either buy a prefab one and have it professionally installed, or if you DIY it, there's plenty of YouTube tutorials. Just make sure you build something secure and safe (and probably don't do it if you're renting).
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Mar 17, 2023 19:30
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Nah, the whole yard is a catio already. It's all fenced in, except it's flat and dusty and has no trees or anything to climb. I'm just having a hard time conceiving of any kind of climbable structure, much less one that lets them get onto the shed roof. I'll have to look on craigslist, I guess.
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Mar 17, 2023 19:55
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Wilkins Micawber posted:Nah, the whole yard is a catio already. It's all fenced in, except it's flat and dusty and has no trees or anything to climb. I'm just having a hard time conceiving of any kind of climbable structure, much less one that lets them get onto the shed roof. I'll have to look on craigslist, I guess. Maybe a cheap wooden step ladder? Cover the steps with carpet to make it easier to climb.
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Mar 17, 2023 20:00
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Oh. Just about anything will do, then, really. An outdoor table, a shelf, etc. Again, look at catios on youtube and see what kind of outdoor climbable structures they set up in there - but a cat won't be picky as long as it's a flat surface they can jump up to. If you want to get a bit crafty, wrap a 2x4 in thick twine and stand it up to make a "tree" he can climb.
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Mar 17, 2023 20:18
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Wilkins Micawber posted:Nah, the whole yard is a catio already. It's all fenced in, except it's flat and dusty and has no trees or anything to climb. I'm just having a hard time conceiving of any kind of climbable structure, much less one that lets them get onto the shed roof. I'll have to look on craigslist, I guess. a cat can absolutely climb a fence, if you're concerned about escapes
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Mar 17, 2023 20:30
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If you have any tools at all (hand tools will take longer but work fine, all you need is a saw, a staple gun, and a glue gun) hunt around on youtube for diy pvc cat trees. There's a ton of ideas out there. Home Depot even has some branded tutorials on how to make stuff (because they want you to buy the rope and pvc from them). I've done it before and they look can look pretty nice and you'll end up with something that fits your situation exactly.
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Mar 17, 2023 20:59
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Peace and stability has returned to my house hold by keeping the cats in separate rooms. The new cat stays in the bedroom, the old cat has the run of the living room and kitchen .They're safe, they're relative happy, it's a decent starting position. But where do I go from here? I'm struggling to progress to the next step. Here's some issues I'm running into: If I try to feed them on either side of the closed door 1) They don't seem all that willing to eat there 2) I've made a mess more than once with the wet food. I might need something better than "the wet food bowl placed on a hand towel" If I try to switch them into the other room, they both don't like it and wait and the door and whine, but the second I open it they're face to face and ready to fight. Relatedly, the one time (yesterday) I tried to socialize them by just having them in the same room it immediately went bad. Instead of sort of giving each other space, the new cat went straight towards the old cat, and I had to immediately pick up the new cat and put her back in the bedroom. In fact, while typing this out just now in the living room, I heard a hiss behind me - the existing cat had been sitting on the floor near my PC, and my girlfriend had stepped into the kitchen and forgot to close the door behind her. The new cat came out of the bedroom, went straight to the older cat and, when the older cat ran away, the new cat made a half hearted lunge at her that I only think was half hearted because I yelled and stepped in between them. We put her back in the bedroom. She whined we picked her up but was otherwise docile, and seems happy enough to be back in the bedroom. I was looking online to maybe buy some sort of magnet mesh curtain for the bedroom doorway? Something that would let them see each other but not actually let them touch? I don't want to rush things, and if the answer is to just keep them in separate rooms for the next two weeks, or the next two months, OK, I can do that, but I don't want to fail to take some necessary next step from inactivity. Would it be a decent plan to just keep them separated and try another supervised co-habitation once every weekend and look for the instance where the newer cat doesn't just bee line towards the older cat and start a confrontation? Typing this all out it seems bad, but really there's a lot to be thankful for - they're both having no problem living in their rooms, they eat food if it's away from the door, they have no problem using the litter boxes, and the new cat doesn't really seem to mind if she's left in the bedroom for hours, she's older and spent most of her time asleep on the bed in her old house anyway. And the existing kitty doesn't seem to mind sleeping alone in the living room, which she'd do about half the time before anyway. Unless something changes it seems like things could stay like this for as long as necessary. Edit: I want to reiterate that I'm not trying to rush things, I know it hasn't even been one week yet. Just sort of checking and airing my thoughts and concerns, I appreciate all the help and feedback I've gotten so far.
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Mar 18, 2023 20:26
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You're going to have to let them work out their issues. They're establishing communication/signaling norms and fighting over dominance. Those problems aren't going to be solved by keeping them separated. The new cat will always make a bee line for your old cat and start a confrontation whenever it's given the chance, until their dominance and cohabitation issues are settled. Each sees the other as an intruder that has to be confronted. Try something like a toddler gate, where they can see each other but touch is limited so they can start to communicate. They'll still try to swat through it, but the other can back away.
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Mar 18, 2023 20:36
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I thought about getting a gate, but couldn't either cat just jump over it super easily? Do they make really tall ones?
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Mar 18, 2023 20:38
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Get multiple and stack them in a doorway.
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Mar 18, 2023 21:38
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Jack B Nimble posted:I thought about getting a gate, but couldn't either cat just jump over it super easily? Do they make really tall ones? I linked it up thread, but this worked wonders for us: https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Thickened-Resistant-Kitchen-Closure/dp/B09MVP3LQ8/ That way they can see each other, and even bap at each other, but can't actually get to one another. Plus you can just peel it off when you're done (though uh, do note if you're renting that it might damage the paint a little bit!)
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Mar 18, 2023 22:16
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That looks absolutely perfect, thank you! I'll try to be careful with it regarding the paint, good tip.
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Mar 18, 2023 22:35
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Probably get some bowls for wet food, and don't be afraid of hissing and swatting that's how they sort their poo poo out.
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Mar 18, 2023 23:21
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Organza Quiz posted:Probably get some bowls for wet food, and don't be afraid of hissing and swatting that's how they sort their poo poo out. Ceramic or metal bowls, to add to this. Plastic ones harbour bacteria and can give your cat an infection pretty easily (this happened to Quill when she was a kitten).
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Mar 18, 2023 23:40
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Currently I feed both cats out of an assortment of ceramic ramekins, because it keeps them from whining so much about seeing the bottom of the bowl, even a small amount of food looks like a cornucopia.
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Mar 19, 2023 04:21
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I hate spring. I swear I’ve brushed an entire third cat out of my cats and the little shits are STILL SHEDDING.
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Mar 19, 2023 18:42
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My cat's been farting a lot more recently. We already have him on prescription anti-fart food and put an anti-fart powder into his food, but it's getting bad. Any other tips for dealing with cat farts? The vet doesn't have any other suggestions. Also the general question of trying to get him to drink more water. I've tried ice cubes in the water, I've bought several different drinking fountains. We have him on wet food which gets him some water, but I think he needs more.
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Mar 20, 2023 16:27
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Can you massage his belly? That might at least make the farts all come out at once. It's also possible he's allergic to something in the food (or conceivably something else he eats, if there's plants or human leftovers around). Maybe the anti fart food is pro fart food for him. You could also try giving him (uncarbonated) mineral water to drink for a few days, magnesium can help with stomach issues.
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Mar 20, 2023 17:20
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pidan posted:Can you massage his belly? That might at least make the farts all come out at once. It's also possible he's allergic to something in the food (or conceivably something else he eats, if there's plants or human leftovers around). Maybe the anti fart food is pro fart food for him. He definitely farts way more if we try taking him off his current diet, so it helps a ton. I don't know if I want to try the massage option, I don't want more concentrated cat farts briefly, instead of them spread throughout the day and often in rooms I'm not at the time. I do know if we startle him it makes him fart. Uncarbonated mineral water is a good idea. I'll double check with the vet before doing that.
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Mar 20, 2023 17:29
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Jack B Nimble posted:Currently I feed both cats out of an assortment of ceramic ramekins, because it keeps them from whining so much about seeing the bottom of the bowl, even a small amount of food looks like a cornucopia. Our eldest gato doesn’t like his whiskers to touch the bowl sides, so he will stand next to a mostly-full bowl and scream at you until you recreate the mashed potato scene from Close Encounters, but with cat food.
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Mar 20, 2023 20:43
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Deviant posted:a cat can absolutely climb a fence, if you're concerned about escapes I wouldn't put it past our 3 goofballs, but it's like a dog fence. So it has an extra hingey top part that is designed to bend down if the pet puts weight on it. It actually works remarkably well, though we have had other issues (namely random cats dive-bombing into the yard and getting trapped and freaking out in the middle of the night, gaps caused by wind, etc.) Don't besmirch the fence. But thank you all for the suggestions. I have a big thing of sisal twine that I've been meaning to make some cat furniture with. Right now I'm leaning toward zip tying a few wooden pallets together to make some kind of structure. Probably 3 to make a sort of cat table? And/or 2 end-to-end to make a climbable ladder to the shed roof.
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Mar 20, 2023 22:38
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MrYenko posted:Our eldest gato doesn’t like his whiskers to touch the bowl sides, so he will stand next to a mostly-full bowl and scream at you until you recreate the mashed potato scene from Close Encounters, but with cat food. My two have been happier to finish their food since I switched to wide shallow bowls (these)
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Mar 20, 2023 22:51
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Screen door is up and they're willing to eat on either side of it, and willing to play or be petted by someone on each side of the door. There's some whining and hissing but it can't escalate. So, do this until...what? Should I be looking to see them booping noses through the fence at some distant point in the future?
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Mar 21, 2023 14:23
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Jack B Nimble posted:Screen door is up and they're willing to eat on either side of it, and willing to play or be petted by someone on each side of the door. There's some whining and hissing but it can't escalate. Give it a week or so, probably. Look for them to start exhibiting curiosity about each other and a general relaxation in each others' presence. Then open it enough for them to touch noses and see how it goes from there.
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Mar 21, 2023 14:27
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Jack B Nimble posted:Screen door is up and they're willing to eat on either side of it, and willing to play or be petted by someone on each side of the door. There's some whining and hissing but it can't escalate. Can't speak for everyone, but for our cats I knew it was time when they'd sort of just calmly sit on opposite sides of the gate, try and touch noses, and just be more curious rather than standoff-ish. Also occasionally they'd try to start a wrestling match with the gate between them which was always funny to watch. Ultimately though, even when they were seemingly totally chill with each other it was months of wrestles occasionally devolving into hisses and growls and chases as they worked out how much play was too much and stuff like that. But now they're pretty much completely fine, and they almost laid in the same bed the other day! The younger guy doesn't seem to really get cuddles though, so when the year older cat tried to lay down with him in the bed to watch birds it quickly turned into another wrestling match lol
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Mar 21, 2023 14:29
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I've also had cats who, despite a very careful, slow introduction, following to the letter of what I was supposed to do, still hated each other with a violent passion. So YMMV.
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Mar 21, 2023 17:59
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Weird Pumpkin posted:Ultimately though, even when they were seemingly totally chill with each other it was months of wrestles occasionally devolving into hisses and growls and chases as they worked out how much play was too much and stuff like that. But now they're pretty much completely fine, and they almost laid in the same bed the other day! The younger guy doesn't seem to really get cuddles though, so when the year older cat tried to lay down with him in the bed to watch birds it quickly turned into another wrestling match lol Mine are brother and sister and grew up with each other and their play still devolves into hissing and growls and hiding sometimes. The brother is just much bigger and forgets to moderate himself, but they’re always friends afterwards so I don’t worry too much about it 
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Mar 21, 2023 18:54
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Light Gun Man posted:my cat seems to only wanna sleep and occasionally go outside. I hope he's getting some exercise out there, but I would like to find something he'd enjoy indoors to play with too. I've tried your usual basic cat toys, balls lasers etc, but he doesn't seem too interested in any so far. any somewhat more esoteric suggestions for like a game I can play with him? My sympathies, my cat is like this, too. A couple suggestions: I've discovered that, although my cat doesn't care for laser pointers, he really likes light bounced off a hand mirror and other kinds of larger light patches slowly moving along the wall and floor. I also got him a nightlight that projects stars onto the ceiling (like this) and created a kind of paper lid for it that only shows a few stars at a time (he gets overwhelmed** if all the stars shine at once), and I turn the lights out and hold the nightlight in my hand to shine the stars slowly across the floor. My cat also really likes silvervine (but not catnip), so sprinkling that on stuffed toys and hiding the toys in spots for him to sniff out gets him moving around a little more and stimulating his brain. **My poor cat is very easily overwhelmed. Any toy that makes noise, moves through the air, or moves on its own triggers either his Flight or Freeze response. He can handle other toys like balls or little stuffed mice on string pulled along the floor for maybe 5 minutes max before he either comes running over to me to hide behind my legs, or he just shuts down with a glassy-eyed 1000-yard-stare.
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Mar 21, 2023 21:24
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Rabbit Hill posted:My sympathies, my cat is like this, too. A couple suggestions: thanks for the suggestions. somehow, mine has magically become more playful in the last couple days. not sure what changed, but ok. seems to mostly want things I do with/for him, but it's progress. hopefully I can find something he likes to engage with on his own next. good luck with your catte as well.
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Mar 22, 2023 01:03
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Light Gun Man posted:thanks for the suggestions. somehow, mine has magically become more playful in the last couple days. not sure what changed, but ok. seems to mostly want things I do with/for him, but it's progress. hopefully I can find something he likes to engage with on his own next. Well, maybe he just specifically wants to play with you 
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Mar 22, 2023 01:21
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Weird Pumpkin posted:Well, maybe he just specifically wants to play with you could be! I've just been worried about when I'm away from home and asleep, basically.perhaps it's not as big of a problem as I imagine it to be. also, someone mentioned wide, shallow bowls earlier in the thread and I switched him over to those and I think it's been a positive change. so thanks for that too, thread. now if I could just get him to tolerate applying his ear drops... edit: i think this cat is just like, trying stuff out this week. he's decided to piss in the tub now. well, better than the carpet, i suppose. Light Gun Man fucked around with this message at 03:28 on Mar 22, 2023 |
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Mar 22, 2023 02:34
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| # ? Jun 2, 2024 22:59 |
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The OP mentions Amarkat cat trees, but does not appear to have been updated in ten () years. Are those still the goon go-to, or have they been supplanted in our
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Mar 22, 2023 04:50
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