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nonanone posted:I can't speak about stressing cats out, because every cat is different, but yes they'll remember you. During my first year of college I only got to see my cat once every month or so, and she always remembered me. Later on, the cats stayed at home while we went on an international trip for 2.5 weeks, and they acted as if we had never left. But they'll be fine. Animals have better memories than we give them credit for. I rarely return home from school except after each semester, which are four months long, and my pets treat me like I never left. It can be hard to tell with a hyper lab who thinks everyone is her best friend, but when my grumpy, aloof old cat crawls up under my chin purring like he's the happiest cat in the world the night I get back, it's clear that they remember I'm not just another houseguest. Animals work on a different level than simply remembering then forgetting after a certain amount of time; it gets ingrained in them. For example, I had two rats. I was their sole caregiver, and they clearly were more affectionate toward me than anyone else. When I had to leave them for eight months under the care of the peerless Unagi, did they initially prefer her over me? Well, yeah. But after only a few days they were back to behaving toward me just as lovingly as they had before.
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Apr 28, 2009 17:17
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My kitten jumped out my open window this afternoon and has been gone for a couple of hours. He goes outside occasionally just on the porch, but today he's nowhere to be found. I'm getting worried. I put out some tuna to lure him back home...is there anything else I should do? Should I be worried? Also, he's a rescued feral cat who is about 8 months old and still has all his claws.
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Apr 29, 2009 01:15
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bewbies posted:My kitten jumped out my open window this afternoon and has been gone for a couple of hours. He goes outside occasionally just on the porch, but today he's nowhere to be found. I'm getting worried. Put his litter box and bed outside so he can find his home by smell. Get a flashlight then go around your neighborhood looking under every car and in every bush. Enlist every kid you see to help you look, an offer of 5 to 10 bucks goes a long way of encouragement for a ten year old. My sisters cat got out and she had to do the same thing. Two days later I came over and took everything out of her garage and found her cat under a book shelf she had stored in there. Moral of the story is the cat might be closer than you think, look everywhere. Get your cat micro chipped if you haven't already. and Good Luck. E. and good on you for not declawing your cat.
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Apr 29, 2009 01:30
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Paul E. Waug posted:Enlist every kid you see to help you look, an offer of 5 to 10 bucks goes a long way of encouragement for a ten year old. Be careful how you approach the kids, especially if you're a dude. "Hey kid, help me find my puppy/kitten!" is the most stereotypical pedo thing after candy.
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Apr 29, 2009 02:39
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maplecheese posted:Be careful how you approach the kids, especially if you're a dude. "Hey kid, help me find my puppy/kitten!" is the most stereotypical pedo thing after candy. Yes true that I was just assuming the poster was a girl type person.
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Apr 29, 2009 02:48
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Paul E. Waug posted:Put his litter box and bed outside so he can find his home by smell. Get a flashlight then go around your neighborhood looking under every car and in every bush. Enlist every kid you see to help you look, an offer of 5 to 10 bucks goes a long way of encouragement for a ten year old. My dad's cat went missing once, and turned up after a few days under the hood of his car. (She was fine, he heard her meowing and let her out.) Cats like to hide in enclosed spaces. You could try asking your neighbours to check their sheds/garages as well, missing cat flyers I've seen always ask people to look there. Good luck finding him, I hope he turns up soon.
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Apr 29, 2009 02:48
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Paul E. Waug posted:Yes true that I was just assuming the poster was a girl type person. Yeah, I usually assume PI poster = girl, but not so much in this thread.
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Apr 29, 2009 04:59
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Silly question but does anyone elses cat growl and run towards the door when someone rings or opens it? Our cat has started doing this since we moved to a new place. The first time it happened she was lying on my chest while I was half sleeping in the living room couch, then my girlfriend comes home and opens the door, as the lock turns her head bolts up and she growls and runs away towards the door, taking a running start of my chest that leaves bleeding lines. She did it again yesterday and even had a puffy tail. It's pretty weird, she seems to like the new place a lot more than the old one otherwise.
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Apr 29, 2009 10:39
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It is 5:30am here and lo and behold, who comes climbing back through the window! Kitty is ok! Just a little hungry! Should I not let him go out anymore?
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Apr 29, 2009 11:29
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bewbies posted:It is 5:30am here and lo and behold, who comes climbing back through the window! Kitty is ok! Just a little hungry! Happy days. And no I would not let him go out anymore. And also get him microchiped if you haven't yet just in case he gets out again.
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Apr 29, 2009 11:35
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bewbies posted:
Best to keep him in if you can, safer over all. Definitely get microchip and collar if you haven't yet. Little question of my own for PI, might be a dumb question but... I've offered to do some volunteer work for a local cat shelter because they desperately need help. My duties will include working with the cats, cleaning, socialising etc and of course doing fundraising and transporting animals places if needed (as I have car + clean license etc). I'm really keen to get started, but it suddenly occurred to me - if I have contact with sick cats, which I ofc will, is there anything that I can bring home and infect my cats with, just from having been in contact? Any precautions I can take? I mean, I'll obviously be washing before leaving and everything, I just want to avoid bringing anything nasty home to my fat and healthy bunch.
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Apr 29, 2009 21:48
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Helanna posted:Little question of my own for PI, might be a dumb question but... I think if you brought a change of cloths every day. Just leave the dirty ones tied up in a plastic bag for laundry day. And used a good antimicrobial soap/lotion before you leave. Then you shouldn't have a problem.
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Apr 29, 2009 21:57
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Is it OK to leave a dog in a fenced back yard during the day? I ask because I'm thinking of getting a dog under such conditions. My work day varies anywhere from 8 to 12 hours so it seems like the best thing would be to let the dog tear around the yard all day until I get home. Any particular problems there? What about when winter comes back around? Heated dog house in the yard?
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Apr 30, 2009 00:36
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As much as I'd like to read through 85 pages, I can't...so if this has been covered before, I'm sorry. Does anyone know a good way to get dead fish smell out of a dog's fur/body? I came home today and all three of them had been rolling in two dead fish in the back yard. They've had baths, but it seems like for my rat terrier even washing him three times the smell was still there. One good wash with dog shampoo seemed to work just fine on the puppy. I thought that was kind of weird because she's got much thicker, longer hair. I don't know if its just getting on the terrier's skin or what since he has really short hair. Any recommendations on a brand of dog shampoo or a home remedy that would get the smell out quicker? I washed him twice with dog shampoo and once with Dawn dish soap hoping that would do better. The poor little guy looked so sad after I rinsed him twice and then went back for more soap.
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Apr 30, 2009 00:47
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chellesandcheese posted:Does anyone know a good way to get dead fish smell out of a dog's fur/body? Oldie but goodie: tomato sauce. Just buy the gigantic Costco sized cans and DRENCH your dogs in it.
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Apr 30, 2009 00:58
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RazorBunny posted:Oldie but goodie: tomato sauce. Just buy the gigantic Costco sized cans and DRENCH your dogs in it. Awesome, I suppose we'll have to try that then. Thanks!
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Apr 30, 2009 01:17
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McCracAttack posted:Is it OK to leave a dog in a fenced back yard during the day? I ask because I'm thinking of getting a dog under such conditions. My work day varies anywhere from 8 to 12 hours so it seems like the best thing would be to let the dog tear around the yard all day until I get home. Any particular problems there? What about when winter comes back around? Heated dog house in the yard? I just wouldn't get a dog. Wait until you have a different schedule or a spouse.
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Apr 30, 2009 02:08
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His Divine Shadow posted:Silly question but does anyone elses cat growl and run towards the door when someone rings or opens it? Our cat has started doing this since we moved to a new place. My cat does that, she growls when a car pulls up, and when the neighbors leave for work and at the garbage man also, but she acts like she means to attack who ever is coming through the door. Really? your 8 pound rear end is going to save me from a 120 1b intruder? When she sees it's some one she knows she normally just sits down. Normally we will both be in a dead sleep in my room, the door handle turns she puffs up growls and is off, normally using me as a spring board. as to why, I have no idea, but I think she means to protect the house. we have watch cats.
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Apr 30, 2009 02:28
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maso posted:I just wouldn't get a dog. Wait until you have a different schedule or a spouse. What precisely is wrong with that scenario? The amount of time? I have to admit hearing, "Nah, you shouldn't own a dog." is a little crushing because I've worked that horrible yet well paying job for so long that I've decided I need to start finding fulfillment outside of work. Hence the house and a dog. Seriously, if you're telling me that people who work over 8 hours a day shouldn't own dogs then please confirm that now so I don't waste any more time on this notion.
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Apr 30, 2009 02:44
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McCracAttack posted:Seriously, if you're telling me that people who work over 8 hours a day shouldn't own dogs then please confirm that now so I don't waste any more time on this notion.
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Apr 30, 2009 02:47
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McCracAttack posted:Seriously, if you're telling me that people who work over 8 hours a day shouldn't own dogs then please confirm that now so I don't waste any more time on this notion. Well, basically yes. You said yourself you'd be working 8-12 hours a day, which means not only long hours for the dog to be alone, but unstable hours as well. Leaving him outside all day won't help either -- just ask the people who live across the way from my apartment complex. They used to leave their dog in the yard during the day when they weren't home, and he howled for hours. If there was someone else in your house who would be willing to spend time with the dog while you're out, then I could see it being feasible, but otherwise it's just not fair to the dog.
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Apr 30, 2009 02:48
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...roger.  Okay, one more question actually. I won't dispute what's been said about leaving dogs in the back yard while you're at work. But I do have to wonder how in the hell anyone is able to own a dog in this day and age? Do you all have say-at-home spouses or something? Also I'm allergic to cats. wash bucket fucked around with this message at 03:01 on Apr 30, 2009 |
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Apr 30, 2009 02:50
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Go to an animal shelter and ask for the most doglike cat they have, and a buddy for him/her. My sister has a cat who drinks from the toilet, plays fetch, and walks on a leash. And he shits in a box and doesn't care if she's gone an hour or a weekend, so long as there's food.
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Apr 30, 2009 02:59
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McCracAttack posted:...roger.
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Apr 30, 2009 03:05
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McCracAttack posted:...roger. How many days a week do you work? 12 hour days 5 days a week is too much to spend enough time with a dog, but if you only work a few days a week a dog isn't out of the question. If it's only a few days a week, you could get a doggy door and a lazy, older dog from a shelter/rescue. As long as you could commit to spending some time with the dog after such long days (and not just sitting on the couch, but walking, playing, etc.), and of course lots of quality time on your days off, I don't think that would be cruel. This scenario would also work if you were willing to pay a dog walker to take your dog to the park or something every day while you're at work, or take the dog to a reputable daycare type place during the day. Lots of busy people in big cities have daily dog walkers or use daycare, and maybe everyone else thinks this is terrible, but I don't think that's a bad life for a dog who would otherwise be in a shelter.
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Apr 30, 2009 03:37
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I know this sounds a little wonky, but my neighbors had a gorgeous golden retriever, and they would let me walk him and groom him to my hearts content. I got all the benefits of dog ownership (but they kept making GBS threads out kids and the house became to small and they moved) Man I hit the lotto with my neighborhood. I guess my point is if you don't have the luxury of a neighbors dog to love on maybe you could volunteer at an animal friends or rescue on weekends for now, maybe even do weekend fosters while you are off work? That way you get the benefits but on your busy schedule?
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Apr 30, 2009 03:43
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It doesn't need to be a stay at home spouse. Just one who has different hours from you and can be home to let the dog out by the 8 hour mark. Alternately, if you have more money than time, you can hire a dog walker to come let your dog out on the days you have to work long hours. It can be done, if you are very committed to it, but it will not be easy and you must have either time or money to invest. You would also need to get an adult dog, absolutely not a puppy. Leaving the dog out in the yard is NOT a solution. My dad does this to their dog and it kills me. She's done THOUSANDS of dollars in damage to their property, dug out of the yard more times than they can count, and is constantly eating and getting into things that are extremely dangerous for her. It has gotten better now, after I sat them down and gave them a very stern talking to over it. She now gets to come in at night and more often during the day, and has gotten some training so she's not a danger to the baby, but it still sucks. Dogs left alone in yards get just as bored as dogs left alone in houses. They get just as destructive as dogs in houses. And they are in just as much of a position (or perhaps a better one) to get themselves injured or killed. Leaving a dog outside does not make the situation better, it just results in a dog that is destructive and in danger outside your house rather than inside it.
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Apr 30, 2009 03:46
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Ceridwen posted:Leaving the dog out in the yard is NOT a solution. My dad does this to their dog and it kills me. She's done THOUSANDS of dollars in damage to their property, dug out of the yard more times than they can count, and is constantly eating and getting into things that are extremely dangerous for her. It has gotten better now, after I sat them down and gave them a very stern talking to over it. She now gets to come in at night and more often during the day, and has gotten some training so she's not a danger to the baby, but it still sucks. This. My ex's family has a poor GSD mix that they still leave in the yard. An intact GSD mix. He's on a zipline because he kept digging out under the fence to find the bitch in heat down the block. He's always so happy whenever anyone gives him the smallest scrap of affection.  Aw, I made myself sad thinking about it. Poor Rocky.
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Apr 30, 2009 06:56
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my dad had a dog named rocky he kept out back while he was at work and I loved playing with it on the few occasions I was over there, I convinced him and my mom that I should take it to my moms where It could be an indoor dog, but my dad kept saying he was to mean. He was always nice to me. about a week into him being at my moms she came to wake me up for school and smacked me on the leg and yelled or something and the dog bit her on the hand, bad enough for her to need stitches, she went to the hospital and called the pound from there I was only like 10 or 11 but I was devastated when they came and took him, and I think he went loopy out back of my dads. all of this is anecdotal of course, I don't know the dogs history or anything, I just know that was no way to keep him.
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Apr 30, 2009 08:02
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ChairmanMeow posted:smacked me on the leg and yelled or something and the dog bit her on the hand That could actually have been the dog defending you, through devotion, rather than being driven loopy being outdoors. My family's border collie mix was incredibly devoted to my brother, and if I shouted at or shoved my brother (or if he did the same to me) the dog would lunge in and nip my leg and bark. Never enough to do any real damage, because she wasn't violent, but it was a clear defense of my brother.
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Apr 30, 2009 14:49
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What is the name of the stuff that you can put in the dog's food that makes it so the pee doesn't kill the grass?
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Apr 30, 2009 20:56
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Helanna posted:That could actually have been the dog defending you, through devotion, rather than being driven loopy being outdoors. My family's border collie mix was incredibly devoted to my brother, and if I shouted at or shoved my brother (or if he did the same to me) the dog would lunge in and nip my leg and bark. Never enough to do any real damage, because she wasn't violent, but it was a clear defense of my brother. My oldest cat actually does this. If I stub my toe or am yelping for any (usually self injury) reason, she bolts over and attacks whoever is closest.
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Apr 30, 2009 21:19
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How can I stimulate/exercise my dog? We run/jog/walk a lot, but I was wondering if there was something else i could do? He has a kong, loves rope toys, i tried to get him the toy that has the treats on the side, and he doesnt like them.. I was wondering any toys other than kongs to stimulate him, and any ideas to help wear him out and get his mind thinking? Here is the lazy guy: 
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May 1, 2009 02:59
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Helanna posted:That could actually have been the dog defending you, through devotion, rather than being driven loopy being outdoors. I would like to believe maybe they evaluated him. But I think the amount of time that he spent with no one working with him worked against him.
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May 1, 2009 08:46
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I recently (April 15th) adopted a dog from the local shelter. They had her listed as a "Scottie mix". I've been looking at pictures of Scotties online and think that she might be something else... The closest I've found is a picture of a Cairn on Google image search that looked a lot like her. Anyone recognize this pretty girl's ancestry? Cell phone pic my wife took at the shelter:  Click here for the full 604x483 image. Picture from the shelter website that made me go to meet her: 
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May 1, 2009 16:41
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StarryEyed posted:What is the name of the stuff that you can put in the dog's food that makes it so the pee doesn't kill the grass? There's a whole bunch of products and brand names, go down to your closest pet store and ask an employee where they're kept.
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May 1, 2009 16:58
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Why does this: fart like he's trying to ward off the devil? I swear to god, he gets up and leaves after he does it. He knows how terrible it is. I'm currently feeding Blue Buffalo Spa Select Salmon and Brown Rice. He does fine with their canned "Savory Seafood Stew", which they get as a treat when I'm feeling benevolent. He does have flea allergies, but as far as I can tell, that has no bearing on food allergies. He also had fleas when he was in the shelter a few months ago (before I got him) and because of that, the vet couldn't tell from his fecal float if he had worms. I haven't seen any signs the vet told me to watch for, (ie, rice like segments in his poop or on his butt) but he has been having loose poops. The kind that are almost diarrhea and stink in an eye-watering way. The other cat remains unaffected. I intend to call the vet after work tonight regardless, but thought some people might have ideas. Here is a picture of them playing as thanks for your help: 
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May 1, 2009 17:51
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Joker23 posted:Anyone recognize this pretty girl's ancestry? I see a scottie mix....Her snout is definitely to long to be cairn. She also has the big bat ears that are very scottie like. The overall proportions are a little off (snout a tad too short, ears a tad too small, legs way too long) but I believe scottie mix is correct.
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May 1, 2009 23:28
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I bought some large beef soup bones today... can I give them to my dog? How should I prepare them if I give them to him, or can I just give them as is?
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May 2, 2009 00:02
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tokyoakazukin posted:I bought some large beef soup bones today... can I give them to my dog? How should I prepare them if I give them to him, or can I just give them as is? Just toss 'em to him as they are and let him chew on them and eat what he can. If he breaks off and swallows chunks that's fine, as long as they're raw. After a few days throw anything leftover away once it starts to get gross.
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May 2, 2009 00:15
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