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Huntersoninski posted:Can anybody recommend a cat fountain that is decorative and not $130? I want to get one for Ozma and I would put it in the living room, so something attractive I can set on a side table would be ideal (cats hang out a lot on the arm is f a chair right next to a table). All the fountains I can find are ugly plastic, ceramic that reminds me of a urinal, or cute and hand crafted but $130. I've seen etsy ones too, but I've also liked the looks of these: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drink...cat+lotus+water http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Mul...cat+lotus+water http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drink...ds=cat+fountain
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Oct 19, 2013 17:24
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Huntersoninski posted:Can anybody recommend a cat fountain that is decorative and not $130? I want to get one for Ozma and I would put it in the living room, so something attractive I can set on a side table would be ideal (cats hang out a lot on the arm is f a chair right next to a table). All the fountains I can find are ugly plastic, ceramic that reminds me of a urinal, or cute and hand crafted but $130.  Cat fountains from stores often cost more because they actually have filters (which you have to replace). Currently I'm using an aquarium filter, which keeps the water somewhat cleaner. I love it; It's a lot cheaper than the retail cat fountains and filters are easier to buy, but it's the opposite of decorative. I reckon you could DIY something around an aquarium filter, like ceramic pot or a plant terrarium or something. Ema Nymton fucked around with this message at 21:14 on Oct 19, 2013 |
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Oct 19, 2013 21:11
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floofyscorp posted:I've read about cleaners for cloth and carpets which is grand, but 90% of our house is wooden floors(actual wood, not laminate) and I'm not sure what type of cleaner for cat-accidents would work best on that. I'm about to pop out to our local pet supply shop and will ask them if they have any ideas, but I figured this would be a good place to ask too. I'm in the UK so products available here would be preferable! Normal carpet cleaner works but there are specialist ones that will get rid of the ammonia smell (which is what the cat uses to say - this is a toilet area). I just use bog standard cleaner but my mother has some special stuff for her pens, I'll ask when I'm down tomorrow.
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Oct 20, 2013 00:54
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Our family's cat has been hurt.  She's an indoor/outdoor cat, and today she hobbled in with some marks on her left hind foot-- upon closer inspection, we think it might be from some sort of snare, because there's a perfectly regular pattern in her injury which looks like a /\/\/\/\ sort of deal. There's no visible blood from there, as far as I can tell, but our cat's walking as gingerly as possible on it, so there's definitely been some injury. She can still jump up onto a bed with both feet, though, so it's probably nothing broken, right?For the moment, we've put a little vaseline around the injury area and have brought the usual food bowl right to where the cat's resting, but beyond that we don't know what else to do. We can barely afford to go to the doctor's office for anything major ourselves, and I'm not sure the vet's office is open on Sundays anyways. The cat herself is mostly just laying down a lot and looking pitiful, but she isn't howling in agony and still responds happily to pets, so whatever pain there is isn't likely overwhelming. I don't know how else to help her.  I also have a suspicion about where she might've gotten the injury, but I don't know how I want to talk to the person about it. Some new neighbors moved in across the road earlier this year, and they've decided to learn how to farm, so they're growing crops and raising chickens. I suspect, but don't know for sure, that they set little traps for the critters (of which there certainly are some) who would likely prey on the chickens they have, and that our cat accidentally stepped into one of the traps. I don't begrudge the use of traps in general, and whoever did set the trap probably means well-- obviously someone has to've released our cat from the trap, and I bet it was the same person who laid the trap in the first place-- but I don't know who to talk to the people I suspect of having laid the trap without immediately making them go on the defensive ("Hey, do you happen to use snares?" or "Have you seen an injured orange tabby lately?") while all I want is for the cat to be okay, whoever set the traps to be aware of what can happen, and for us to be quickly informed by phone or in-person if something like this ever happens again.
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Oct 20, 2013 01:10
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One of our cats has no problem peeing in the litter box, but he often poops on the mat outside of it. I haven't caught him in the act, but it seems that he doesn't feel he has enough room (it's covered) to poop inside the box. Do cats have that different of a stance for peeing vs. pooping that it would make a difference?
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Oct 20, 2013 01:55
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hooah posted:One of our cats has no problem peeing in the litter box, but he often poops on the mat outside of it. I haven't caught him in the act, but it seems that he doesn't feel he has enough room (it's covered) to poop inside the box. Do cats have that different of a stance for peeing vs. pooping that it would make a difference? He may just assume that since his front paws are in the box, surely the hind paws are in there as well!  My cat does that every once and a while, we assume it is because it was a poop he was especially proud of.
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Oct 20, 2013 02:22
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Ofaloaf posted:Our family's cat has been hurt. No offense, but if there are traps around and you can't afford a vet visit you should probably keep your cat inside from now on. I can't really offer any advice besides that you should take your cat to the vet if possible.
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Oct 20, 2013 04:47
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Quick update on Nightstar, the couch-making GBS threads kitty. We've developed a bit of a system, with a litter box by the couch and pee pee pads covering the seats in case of an incident. So far so good she hasn't done one in three days, fingers crossed that it continues. As for her possibly feeling territorial about the Hedgehog, that will no longer be an issue come Monday. Unfortunately when my daughter bought him in Alabama it never occurred to her or us that Hedgehogs might be against the law elsewhere, and she and the Hedgehog moved in with us... in Georgia. So I've contacted a Hedgie rescuer in Alabama that will meet me at the border and take my very illegal spiky friend off my hands now that I know he's illegal (thanks to a kindly lady at the animal shelter that told me all this without reporting me.) I love that drat Hog, but it has to be done or animal control will come get him and euth him. Why the gently caress they are illegal here is a mystery to me, it's not like they are dangerous to the local wildlife population of loose Pit Bulls and foxes.
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Oct 20, 2013 08:39
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Hummingbirds posted:No offense, but if there are traps around and you can't afford a vet visit you should probably keep your cat inside from now on. I can't really offer any advice besides that you should take your cat to the vet if possible. Yes it's also possible that your cat was actually going after the chickens, not an innocent bystander getting caught in a trap. The other possibility is getting a leg caught in a chain link fence or even the chicken wire or something like that. Also, vaseline on the wound? what?
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Oct 20, 2013 14:52
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Hummingbirds posted:No offense, but if there are traps around and you can't afford a vet visit you should probably keep your cat inside from now on. I can't really offer any advice besides that you should take your cat to the vet if possible. Topoisomerase posted:Yes it's also possible that your cat was actually going after the chickens, not an innocent bystander getting caught in a trap. quote:Also, vaseline on the wound? what? Ofaloaf fucked around with this message at 15:35 on Oct 20, 2013 |
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Oct 20, 2013 15:29
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weavernaut posted:So the family cat has taken to occasionally pissing on random things. Like, deliberately coming up to something, sniffing at it and then marking it (example: my partner's mother's scarf that was hanging off a chair in the dining room; another example: the bathroom door). He's indoor/outdoor and was fixed quite late, at around nine months old. Would that contribute to him still occasionally marking things? Or is he an arsehole? Should we take him to the vet? No one answered you and I came to ask almost the same question  Would that Cat Attract Litter have any effect on a cat who's just peeing around the house to mark his territory? He wasn't peeing so bad when he was going outdoors sometimes (he loves to sneak out) but lately we've been pretty vigilant about not letting him out. I'm gonna try a special collar but should I try Cat Attract/Feliway/Prozac/anything else too? For such a tiny cat he sure holds a lot of pee.
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Oct 21, 2013 02:47
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What's a typical lifespan for the feather attachment on Da Bird? My two boys are crazy for it and it's gotten quite raggedy after a couple play sessions. Should I go ahead and invest in the 12pack? Edit: Just as I hit post one of the larger feathers got ripped off and now it's not making the cool swivelling flapping sound. Aaag cats.
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Oct 21, 2013 03:15
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Charmmi posted:What's a typical lifespan for the feather attachment on Da Bird? My two boys are crazy for it and it's gotten quite raggedy after a couple play sessions. Should I go ahead and invest in the 12pack? Judging by the ninja edit I'd say yeah, go get the 12-pack.
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Oct 21, 2013 04:14
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Ofaloaf posted:She's a nine-year-old cat fairly set in her ways at this point. Just keeping her inside from now on was my first thought, but that'd require a huge change of habits in her (e.g. bathroom stuff) and I have no idea how she'd handle it all. I guess you need to weigh that against a known danger that your cat will face every time she goes outside, which you apparently can't afford to treat when she is injured by it.
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Oct 21, 2013 06:36
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Ofaloaf posted:I don't know who to talk to the people I suspect of having laid the trap without immediately making them go on the defensive ("Hey, do you happen to use snares?" or "Have you seen an injured orange tabby lately?") while all I want is for the cat to be okay, whoever set the traps to be aware of what can happen, and for us to be quickly informed by phone or in-person if something like this ever happens again. I'm sure whoever set the traps is very aware of what can happen, seeing as that's the point of the traps, and it sounds like this one might have done its job. Why can't you just go ask them, say you're sorry if your cat was stalking their chickens, and ask they give you a call if she ends up injured by one of the traps? Do the neighbors even know what your cat looks like/ know it was yours? There's a good chance as soon as the cat was free she bolted, or was being hostile because she was stuck, in pain and scared. Not much else they could have done in that case.
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Oct 21, 2013 07:16
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Is there a goon consensus on a no-dust litter these days? Fiancee is allergic to something in the house and I've changed basically everything else around except for the litter, which is Fresh Step Multi-cat. It owns but constant sneezing fits are not worth it. They also changed the scent lately which is not great.
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Oct 21, 2013 16:04
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I'm trying to figure out what the hell my kitten is doing and whether it warrants a trip to the vet. I keep catching him standing in a weird, rigid, crouching like position a few inches in front of the litter box. I'm extra worried because we just dealt with a nasty crystal problem a month ago. He's normally a total food pig but today he left half his food to go do his weird crouch in front of the litter box thing. Any ideas? Edit: when he had crystals, he was CONSTANTLY licking his crotch. I've caught him doing that a little bit in the past couple days but it's no where near the same level. Lackadaisical fucked around with this message at 16:39 on Oct 21, 2013 |
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Oct 21, 2013 16:27
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Stew Man Chew posted:Is there a goon consensus on a no-dust litter these days? Fiancee is allergic to something in the house and I've changed basically everything else around except for the litter, which is Fresh Step Multi-cat. It owns but constant sneezing fits are not worth it. They also changed the scent lately which is not great. World's best
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Oct 21, 2013 16:37
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Azhais posted:World's best Yup. World's Best.
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Oct 21, 2013 19:10
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Worlds best is loving awesome. I think I'll try to switch away from Cat Attract back to it as my cat hasn't gone outside the box since she came to my apartment several months ago. It's cheaper and flushable.
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Oct 21, 2013 19:32
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Hummingbirds posted:Worlds best is loving awesome. I think I'll try to switch away from Cat Attract back to it as my cat hasn't gone outside the box since she came to my apartment several months ago. It's cheaper and flushable. I think I must be the only one who hates World's Best. I think it stinks, but even more of the reason I don't like it is that I'm pretty sure it was the World's Best that made my one cat start peeing outside the box. I switched to Cat Attract, and with a little time to train him back he hasn't had any issues in years. I gradually switched to their Ultra version which is cheaper and doesn't have the cat attract magical herbs in them and he has still been fine. Any time I tried any weird non-clay litters out in an extra box, the cats totally ignore it for the Dr. Elsey's. My cats don't like the corn/wheat/paper based products. Edit: The Dr. Elsey's Ultra is also scent free and one of the least dusty clay products I have found.
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Oct 21, 2013 19:53
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Hummingbirds posted:Worlds best is loving awesome. I think I'll try to switch away from Cat Attract back to it as my cat hasn't gone outside the box since she came to my apartment several months ago. It's cheaper and flushable. You can get a little shaker bottle of Cat Attract stuff to add to non-CA litter if that might help the transition. Google tells me it is called "Cat Attract Additive". I got some when my cats were avoiding the litter box. Turned out to be an illness related issue, so I can't vouch for its effectiveness because their issues were resolved via medicine.
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Oct 21, 2013 19:54
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four lean hounds posted:You can get a little shaker bottle of Cat Attract stuff to add to non-CA litter if that might help the transition. Google tells me it is called "Cat Attract Additive". I got some when my cats were avoiding the litter box. Turned out to be an illness related issue, so I can't vouch for its effectiveness because their issues were resolved via medicine. Might do that. She used World's Best for years but occasionally shat in the bathtub so we went to Cat Attract. I think it's time to try the corn litter again.
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Oct 21, 2013 20:13
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Can anyone recommend a good, sturdy brand of mouse toy? Butts has literally shredded every one I give him.
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Oct 21, 2013 20:20
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DressCodeBlue posted:Can anyone recommend a good, sturdy brand of mouse toy? Butts has literally shredded every one I give him. I've had good luck with the Kong "refillables" line for cats, though I have a chewer cat and need to keep a close eye on the tail so she doesn't eat it. These are the household favorite: http://www.kongcompany.com/products/cats/refillables/refillable-catnip-toys/frosty-mice/
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Oct 21, 2013 21:05
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Hummingbirds posted:Might do that. She used World's Best for years but occasionally shat in the bathtub so we went to Cat Attract. I think it's time to try the corn litter again. At least she would go for the tub? Easier cleanup at the very least. 
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Oct 21, 2013 21:18
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four lean hounds posted:At least she would go for the tub? Easier cleanup at the very least. We think it's because we tried to toilet train her and my other two cats. They never really took to it but I guess she somehow managed to grasp "porcelain = where I am supposed to poo poo" But yeah, of all the places that aren't the box it was probably best.
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Oct 21, 2013 21:46
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four lean hounds posted:At least she would go for the tub? Easier cleanup at the very least. Any time my cat needs to throw up or cough up a hair ball (which isn't that often) she does it by the toilet.
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Oct 22, 2013 00:44
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Lackadaisical posted:I'm trying to figure out what the hell my kitten is doing and whether it warrants a trip to the vet. Sounds like he's either straining to pee or straining to poop. Male cat with history of crystals definitely makes one more likely than the other unfortunately. Is anything coming out at all?
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Oct 22, 2013 01:28
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Any tips on getting a stubborn as gently caress cat to agree to wear a collar?
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Oct 22, 2013 01:32
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fine-tune posted:I've had good luck with the Kong "refillables" line for cats, though I have a chewer cat and need to keep a close eye on the tail so she doesn't eat it. These are the household favorite: http://www.kongcompany.com/products/cats/refillables/refillable-catnip-toys/frosty-mice/ Oh man, had no idea Kong even made cat toys. Their dog stuff owns! Thanks! 
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Oct 22, 2013 02:55
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Are scented electric oil warmers safe for cats with a history of asthma? I'd like to make my room smell nice, but one of my cats had bad asthma when he was younger. He still wheezes occasionally, but he hasn't had an attack for about five years. Is this likely to make things uncomfortable for him, and if so are there safer alternatives to oil warmers?
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Oct 22, 2013 07:06
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Rabbit Hill posted:Any tips on getting a stubborn as gently caress cat to agree to wear a collar? Grab cat. Put collar on cat. Observe. If your cat turns into a screaming hellbeast and keeps trying to rip it off, you could maybe try a bit of positive conditioning and stuff its gob with treats. Some cats just hate collars though.
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Oct 22, 2013 11:15
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I've got a question about separating cats. I just adopted my second cat on Saturday. The original cat, Meowmers, is a ~6-year-old usually very mellow spayed female. The addition is a recently neutered 6-month old male kitten named Mulligan. For his first day home, Mulligan was confined to the bathroom, and then on Sunday, we let him out to check out the rest of the house. Meowmers has been mostly just watching from afar, but Mulligan is a kitten used to his siblings, so he keeps going up to her wanting to play. When he gets too close, she hisses and bats toward him (I don't think she's actually touched him yet). Well, it turns out Mulligan is still skittish around my husband and I, and while we've been playing with him, he won't let us get close to pick him up to put him back in the bathroom. The cats aren't really initiating fights unless Mulligan gets too close wanting to play with Meowmers. Is it okay to leave them out together, or is this messing up the introductions? Should I re-separate? Also, our first cat was incredibly easy and adjusted within the first day of taking her home. Mulligan runs when we walk into the room where he is and hides. I've got him to sniff my hand a couple times, but any sudden movement, and he's gone. Is there anything else besides feliway, leaving him alone and getting him to come out to play with toys that I can do to make him more comfortable? Pics:    
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Oct 22, 2013 15:59
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No blood no foul - I would leave them be. But if you need to get him in the bathroom, play him into it rather than scooping him up.
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Oct 22, 2013 18:41
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So I've read it's best to move litter boxes slowly, but what about removing one entirely? I put one in my room when I first got my cat, but now that it can roam my house I don't want it there any more. Should I just yank it? Cut it in half? Put it upside down?
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Oct 23, 2013 03:11
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Eeyo posted:So I've read it's best to move litter boxes slowly, but what about removing one entirely? I put one in my room when I first got my cat, but now that it can roam my house I don't want it there any more. Should I just yank it? Cut it in half? Put it upside down? You could try moving it slowly towards another litterbox. Then just remove it when they're next to each other.
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Oct 23, 2013 03:30
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Engineer Lenk posted:No blood no foul - I would leave them be. They're tolerating eachother. 
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Oct 23, 2013 03:37
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Well, my worst nightmare happened last night - I discovered blood in the litter box. At first I panicked because I wasn't sure how to tell which cat was responsible, and they were both eating/acting like normal...then I noticed Pizza straining at his box. One trip to the emergency vet later, and he's been given an antibiotic shot and a tentative diagnosis of UTI...not 100% sure because no sample could be obtained (which the vet said was good in a way - he was able to empty his bladder and there was no temperature at least). Took Pete in to the normal vet this afternoon but they couldn't get a sample either - he'd wet his carrier on the way over. So now we have to take the poor boy in first thing in the morning and leave him at the vets all day so they can get a good sample and run tests. What do I do now? Pizza has always been a good drinker, and we've just bought him a fountain which will hopefully help. We've been adding water to his kibble, which he eats, but he won't touch wet food. He's had access to it for a year now but consistently sniffs then tries to bury it. Which is odd considering he's a fatty who will rapidly consume just about anything else you let him. Is there any kind of...I dunno, water additive or vitamin or something I can look into to help him from getting more bladder issues? I'm so worried I could puke, I haven't been able to think of anything else all day. He's still eating, drinking, playing, and cuddling/purring, but the pee is red and he strains and I worry so much I just don't know what to do. I hope I caught it early enough but my poor guy, I just have no idea what to do. Pizza
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Oct 24, 2013 00:14
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Huntersoninski posted:Well, my worst nightmare happened last night - I discovered blood in the litter box. At first I panicked because I wasn't sure how to tell which cat was responsible, and they were both eating/acting like normal...then I noticed Pizza straining at his box. You can bring up these concerns with your vet. He might put Pizza on a prescription diet that is meant for cats with a history of crystal, or have some suggestions for increased water intake. You could also try a variety of wet cat food to see if there is one that catches his fancy. I would try the "Acceptable Canned Cat Foods" in the PI Nutrition thread as those should be good and stinky without being too nutritionally empty. My sister's finicky cat won't eat anything but Fancy Feast, so she balances it with a high quality dry food. You could also put out extra water bowls around the house. Poor lil' Pizza. I hope this issue clears up soon.
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Oct 24, 2013 02:12
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