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Booties posted:I'll go look for some of that stuff this week. I've also heard of vinegar as a good neutralizing agent for the smell. The problem is that this is a messenger bag so I'm afraid to put it into the washer because of the velcro wearing out plastic clips melting a little. I can find out about the washing machine from a biking forum though. Definitely try the vinegar! I wash my ferrets' bedding with regular laundry soap and vinegar, and it almost completely eliminates the smell. Not completely, but they are very musky. And if you're worried about the heat melting the clips, wash the bag in cold water. I had an old messenger bags I used to wash all the time, and the velcro wasn't affected at all by it. 
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Aug 4, 2009 02:19
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Vinegar actually dries odorless, so you may have some success there, but I've never heard anything but good things about Nature's Miracle and other enzymatic cleaners. In fact, it works wonders for ferret messes, so I highly recommend it.
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Aug 24, 2009 01:03
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Fire In The Disco posted:Also, if they tend to be in cat piles often, they might get to cleaning each others' face. The GIS'd "cat pile." The results were mostly awesome, as you can imagine.   Click here for the full 500x657 image.
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Nov 30, 2009 05:16
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GILF Hunter, have you tried putting fliers up or asking around your apartment complex? If people know you're looking for a missing cat and you give them details on what he looks like, they might be able to tell you if they've seen him or even scoop him up and hold onto him for you. Otherwise, like you said, he's just another cat wandering around the place.
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Dec 18, 2009 03:04
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This sounds weird, but have you tried showing them how to do it? You might want to try taking their paws while they're in the litter box and manipulating them in the motions of burying their poop to see if they'll catch on. I'm not a cat owner myself, but I've seen this suggested around PI several times before and the success rate seems reasonable enough that it would be worth a shot.
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Dec 23, 2009 09:21
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Rev. Bleech_ posted:Microwave on high for approx. 7 minutes. You ought to be pleased since he saved you the trouble of stuffing him.
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Mar 19, 2010 01:03
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Crooked Booty posted:As for the matting, some cats simply won't tolerate grooming. This isn't really an acceptable excuse, though. Animals can be stubborn about things like medicine or grooming, but that doesn't give anyone a license to just let their neglect their pet's well-being. If your cat won't let you brush him and it gets to the point where his fur starts to mat, you should take him to a groomer to have professionals handle it, not just let it happen because the cat is being difficult. There's no point in making excuses for something as easily remedied as matted fur. It does bring up the suspicion that the level of care is quite likely below par, but I agree that the best course of action would be for Teatime Prize to talk to the owners and then go to the RSPCA if he/she still has serious concerns after that.
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Mar 21, 2010 08:54
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Teatime Prize, sounds like you're doing all you can do. In situations like this, usually all you can do is sit back and wait for the authorities to come out and hope it changes the situation. Crooked Booty, I figure it would just be more humane to shave a cat like that.
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Mar 21, 2010 18:13
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Dr. Waffles posted:My kitties are getting bold around the apartment and following me into the bathroom. These cats are such little darlings, the thing is I can't let them into the windows during the day because the landlord made a secret agreement with me that I could have them as long as my neighbors didn't know. Make sure you have this in writing because this could turn out very badly if the landlord suddenly decides you can't have them any more because neighbors complained.
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Apr 12, 2010 17:02
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SWATJester posted:Like I said, I don't believe it should be a first option. But I think if owners have tried various measures to mitigate the problem, without success, they should not be stigmatized for electing to declaw their cats. I don't know, I think a lot of them should be. You're allergic to cats, even if only mildly. Why did you decide to adopt cats with issues when there was a high risk of being scratched, which sets you off? Even if you did try to correct the behavior with various methods, you probably shouldn't have adopted cats in the first place because of your allergies, especially when your ultimate solution was to mutilate them. You made a poor decision regarding animal ownership, hth.
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Apr 15, 2010 21:48
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inky101 posted:New cat! Looks like Abby got into the bleach. 
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Apr 17, 2010 19:23
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Panthrax posted:Any suggestions for getting your rear end in a top hat cat to STOP CLAWING THE loving CARPET? I bought a sisal mat that he likes to use, and has been for the last several weeks, and I've never seen him clawing the carpet since I got it. But the last two or three days he's started up again. I've trimmed his claws to see if that helps, but loving cat. Does he have any places that he is allowed to scratch? Cat trees with good sissal scratching posts work, or for a low budget option there are horizontal scratching posts like this. They also make them with replaceable cardboard inserts. If your kitty doesn't seem interested in it at first, you can try rubbing some catnip on it. If that doesn't work, you can always try SoftPaws, plastic claw caps that prevent your cat from scratching things up.
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May 16, 2010 02:31
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RheaConfused posted:Where I work they do it based on weight, so if he is truly a maine coon then he probably is plenty big enough. I'd have it done before he hurts himself... but when you say man parts what do you mean exactly? Probably something like this (scroll down a bit)?
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May 28, 2010 04:22
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A soft e-collar could possibly help get him out of the habit. He'd hate you, but he's a cat so that was already a given.
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May 28, 2010 04:48
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Annakie posted:Help, PI. How do I make my otherwise happy and healthy kitten enjoy eating? Have you tried different types of food, or do you need to be feeding him the Science Diet? He might just be a typical finicky cat, so trying out a few options may help you to figure out what he'll eat readily.
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Jun 10, 2010 20:45
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nef posted: Beautiful kitty!
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Jul 16, 2010 00:04
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RayneFire posted:The vet also mentioned that its best for them to be on dry (for their teeth), which is the deciding factor really. This is a really outdated school of thought, and in fact dry food is actually rather hard on pets' teeth.
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Jul 18, 2010 20:58
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Dear cat people, I want a cat. Please help. So I'm moving into a new place soon that will allow me to have a cat, so I fully intend to take advantage of this if possible. The trouble is that there are a few snags that prevent me from just going down to the shelter and picking out the loviest fluffball I can find. The first is that I have ferrets. I've seen cats and ferrets get along just fine, but I'm planning on getting an adult cat (ferrets are kitten-like enough for me, thanks) and I don't know how he/she would react to the ferrets. I'm almost certain it will be fine, but does anyone have any experience introducing adult cats and ferrets? The ferrets are caged during most of the day, but I let them roam for at least an hour a day and while I know they're fine with other animals, I want to be sure that the cat can co-exist with them without being aggressive or even fearful. The second and main problem is that my boyfriend and best friend are both fairly allergic to cats. I don't live with either, but I would like them to be able to come to my house without their faces exploding. I've heard Russian Blues tend to work better for people with cat allergies, but after doing some research into purebreed rescues, it doesn't seem like there are many purebreds actually available anywhere and that most "Russian Blue" cats or mixes listed in shelters are just ordinary gray cats. What breed the cat is doesn't matter to me at all. I don't even have a preference for color, I just want a nice cat. Short of bringing my boyfriend down to the shelter with me and rubbing his face with cats to see which doesn't make him sneeze, what can I do? I don't want to have to just have them resort to Benadryl every time they come over, so if I can't get past this problem I can't get a cat.  How do I find a cat they won't have bad allergic reactions to?
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Aug 1, 2010 22:05
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Serella posted:Dear cat people, I want a cat. Please help. I don't think anyone noticed me.  Any help or advice?
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Aug 4, 2010 02:49
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Crooked Booty posted:Sorry that's not very helpful, and I probably didn't say anything you didn't already know, but I noticed you. No, it was very helpful. I had a bad feeling that I would probably need to bring the cat home and see how it went. I don't like the idea of keeping the cat out of the bedroom since it's not a huge place and the whole point of me getting a cat is because I want a pet I can spend a more chill, one-on-one time with, but it's definitely an idea to kick around. I'll also see how the shelters around here about "home trials." Maybe a private rescue would be more flexible, so I'll make some calls. justFaye posted:I can't say I have much advice, but I can share our story. Our cat was labeled as a "Russian Blue mix" at the shelter, and since I can't really attest to the validity of the Russian Blueness, I will say that our friend who is quite allergic to cats has no problem with ours. Whether this is related to her claimed Russian Blue side or if it's just because she's awesome, we'll never know. Thanks for the anecdotes. The way our schedules are, my boyfriend is only over a few times a week, so hopefully it will be either enough exposure to help him adjust to my particular cat or not enough to particularly bother him.
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Aug 4, 2010 03:17
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Ok, so I have some questions about a cat I should be getting next week. I am adopting him from my coworker, and he is declawed on all four paws (she adopted him that way as well). What does this mean for his ability to use cat trees and jump up on things? I'd like to get him a cat tree, but I'm trying to figure out what kind would be best since I don't want to get one he wouldn't be able to fully use. Would he be able to reach upper levels without his claws? Secondly, he is kind of fat. Actually, he's like a 7 or 8 on that cat weight chart, so I guess what I'm saying is that he's pretty fat. I'm planning on transitioning him on a good weight management food and also taking him off of free-feeding, which is apparently where his weight problem comes from. What is a good feeding amount/schedule? I guess I can figure out the amount based on the calories when I choose a food, but would it be best to feed once or twice a day? Lastly, I need some litter box suggestions. The problem mainly resides in the fact that my ferrets are stupid and like to snuffle around in grainy litter (which is why I use Yesterday's News for their box), so I was thinking of going with the Rubbermaid tub with a hole cut in the top to keep them out of it. Do you think a fat cat would be able to jump up into the box? I'm just worried he wouldn't even make the connection that it's his new litter box since I think he uses regular ones right now. Maybe if I left the lid off for the first week or so until I was sure he got it? Should I try Cat Attract to be sure? Clearly, I am very anxious and excited about getting this cat, which is why I have a zillion questions. I've never had a cat before, so I have no anecdotes or experience of my own to go by, so any info regarding fat, declawed cats would be super helpful.  I also need to think of a new name for him since his current one is terrible.
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Aug 15, 2010 16:31
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Thanks for the quick response. I'm heading to the store this afternoon to pick up what stuff I'll need for him. Luckily, I've already got a lot of stuff for the ferrets that will be just fine to share with the cat, like treats and toys. I probably won't pick up a cat tree for a few weeks, but it's good to know that he'll be able to use it. I think I may do a split of wet and dry feeding, or at least give one meal of wet food every few days. Something tells me this cat won't be picky. Thanks again for that website detailing weight loss info, I'm sure it'll come in handy. I'll have to pick up a new scale since the one I use for the ferrets is pretty small. I hope the new cat likes laser pens too, since he's going to need the exercise. :P
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Aug 15, 2010 17:33
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invalid posted:I suppose I am, but perhaps skittish is the wrong word. She's just scared of the other cat. They've come a long, but up until a week and a half ago I was keeping them seperated. It's just a lot of change in a short period of time, especially as most cats aren't good with change. I still don't understand why your girlfriend's father can't get his own cat and needs to take one of yours when you clearly want to keep them. He's sick and probably wants a companion, but why does it have to be one of your cats when that was only ever a back-up plan?
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Aug 28, 2010 17:25
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CompactFanny posted:Ok cat ladies. Help. I don't have any helpful advice, but I guess it makes sense that she's been trying to give them drat cat away. I wish people were more upfront about their animals' behavioral problems instead of just dumping them on other people and letting them have a nasty surprise.
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Sep 26, 2010 02:57
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Red Robin Hood posted:I read through the entire FAQ but I either missed it or it wasn't in there. I'm curious about cat treats. I just adopted a 1.5 year old female cat from my local shelter and she's a sweetheart, and I would like to reward her good-doings with some cat treats. Cat nip is good and I have some of that but I was wondering if anyone has had an experience with the cat treats that come in the little bags... awhile back my mom's cat's vet talked about how giving the cat too many treats like that can actually be harmful. Anyone have any suggestions? If you use treats properly and don't overdo it, there isn't much harm they can do. Giving them too many treats is definitely not good as treats are not nutritionally complete and your cat should be filling that stomach space with actual food. My recommendation is to go for high quality brands and avoid the ones that have too much junk. Greenies are a popular favorite around PI. They're supposed to be good for your cat's teeth and I've rarely heard of a cat disliking them.
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Oct 3, 2010 22:26
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BeefofAges posted:I would appreciate some advice. My cat is vomiting up food. This sounds kind of like my cat, actually. He's a smidge overweight and when I first got him, he would gorge himself on food and then barf it back up most undigested a few minutes later. I came up with a feeding schedule where he gets three small meals a day -- a little bit of kibble in the morning before I go to work, part of a can of wet food when I get home from work in the evening, and a little bit of kibble just before I go to bed. This way, he gets enough food, and it keeps him on a good schedule where he's never too far away from having eaten food, so he doesn't feel like he's "starving" and just binge on the food the second he gets it. I think it could work for both of your cats, and you wouldn't be starving either of them just by keeping them on a schedule. Both cats should figure out fast when mealtimes are and actually eat when they should. Of course, you always have to keep a close eye on how your cat is eating since they can be fussy and weird about it, but it's definitely something that worked for me.
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Oct 4, 2010 23:33
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SubbyMinx posted:Not sure about trimming their claws. It might help, but I doubt it'll stop them climbing all together. They'll still try, and probably just destroy the lower portion of the wall!!! Trim their caws and cap them. Softpaws are a great way to keep your cats from destroying things.
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Oct 17, 2010 17:36
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pandaid posted:It's 3 am and I am awake after cleaning up another messy litter box episode. She got it on her foot again and decided that she needed to shake her foot as she walked around my apartment, because there was something funny feeling on it. How big is your litter box? If it's a standard-sized one, you may want to try a Littermaid tub where she'll have enough room to do her business without getting it on herself when she buries it.
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Oct 24, 2010 01:17
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So my cat was at the vet the other day for some issues, and today he's sneezed a few times so I'm worried he may have picked up a bit of a kitty cold while he was there. He only sneezed 3 times all day, but I'm completely paranoid that he's getting sick two days before I'm going out of town because he's going to be boarded for 4-5 days. It may be nothing, but for reference, what do you do if your cat gets a cold/URI? Is a vet visit necessary, or do they just tough it out like people do? His appetite is still good and he's acting normal otherwise. Am I just worrying too much? He's my first cat and within only 3 months of having him he's already ended up with struvite crystals so I'm super concerned. 
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Nov 8, 2010 00:06
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Crooked Booty posted:1) if their nose is stuffy enough, they can't smell their food, so they stop eating Ha. My cat doesn't know the meaning of "stop eating." Thanks for the info, though. I'm not sure if he's actually sick yet. Also, one more question. Why the gently caress does my cat freak out and bite me sometimes? He just did this and now I have some angry-looking welts on my arm from being bitten twice, though it didn't break the skin because I'm wearing long sleeves. He was sitting on the other side of the bed, and I was shaking my hair out a bit to try and get the elastic band untangled, and a second after I finished and put my arm down, he rushed over, bit me, and hissed, followed by another quick nip. Needless to say, I shoved his rude rear end off the bed, but he was back 10 seconds later looking for love and purring like nothing ever happened. What the hell. Do all cats do this?
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Nov 8, 2010 05:25
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duckfarts posted:As for Serella's cat also hissing, that part's more unusual. From my experience, when cats want to play, they'll be excited, make mrowry "startin' somethin'" noises and puff up, but they'll never hiss or spit. If your cat can snap out of it quickly, maybe your cat indeed just wants to play and is role-playing it up a bit much. That's exactly what I thought too. He's nipped me before when I play with him, but always a more deliberate, playful bite and not very hard. I think he just got freaked out by me shaking my hair (there is quite a lot of it), but he's never really flipped like that. Also, I think he may be part weasel. Five minutes ago he was on the arm of the couch. Now he's between me and the laptop with his head on my wrist. How did you get here, houdini cat?
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Nov 9, 2010 02:34
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I miss my cat. Got home from a 4&1/2 day vacation and can't pick up my kitty at the kennel until tomorrow after work. Meanwhile, I'm sick as hell and want my big snuggly kitty to make me feel better. I hope he won't be mad at me for leaving him.
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Nov 15, 2010 01:15
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Abbeh posted:Anyone have a good cat centered charity I could donate to in Fry's name? I usually donate to Best Friends, but I wouldn't mind sending someone else a bit of cash instead. Also, we wont be getting his body back (I'm so angry about this, it's the stupidest thing ever, especially since his rabies cert. was on file AT the vet) so is there anyone who knows of a good memorial? A marker or small statuet we could put in the yard for him? Just wondering, did you happen to ask the vet about the possibility of cremation? If they're keeping the body due to health concerns, cremation should be a safe option for you to get his remains back, and then you'd have a memento to keep or a chance to spread the ashes if you preferred.
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Nov 28, 2010 22:55
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Abbeh posted:Since Ed refuses to play with his toys, I think we'll bury a few of those instead of fighting to get the ashes. A tree is a really nice idea - I've wanted to try to grow a persimmon tree in the yard (in theory it could work) and they're kind of sweet and weird like he was. There are some really nice marker stones for pets on etsy, so I might get one of those too. I know it's probably the last thing on your mind right now, but I do hope at some point you will let the vet's office know they can get hosed. That is a seriously horrible way to treat someone who has just lost a pet. The tree idea does sound really nice, though.
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Nov 29, 2010 04:13
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Myrddin Emrys posted:I definitely don't want to deal with her being fat, I want her to be healthy. I've already switched brands of food today (today was volunteer day at PetSmart so it was convenient). Using the nutrition thread as guidance I got Blue Buffalo (the highest thing on the list they actually sold) and am weaning them both onto that food instead. I got a scoop, too, so it should be easy to stick to a schedule. Also, try splitting the food into several smaller meals. That way fatty cat feels like she's eating more because she's eating more frequently. My hog kitty gets three meals a day -- two moderate and one tiny -- and it stopped him from barfing from either hunger or binging.
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Dec 16, 2010 03:22
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Rrail posted:I finally found them a few hours after that post. The wife/mother said that he's just old, and that the he's already been to the vet. She couldn't tell me what specifically was wrong with him but I didn't press it. She said they don't really expect him to live through the holidays; he is 12 or 13 years old. Already been to the vet, but when? How is he being treated, since he's obviously sick? Sounds fishy to me, like they don't want to take care of their cat. Also, 12 or 13 is not particularly old for a cat. Most live past 15, a good lifespan being between 18-20.
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Dec 17, 2010 04:07
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Kerfuffle posted:Thanks for the tips so far, I just read this in the current declaw thread about declawed cats not liking to use the litter box because it's irritating I would think that that would mostly apply to cats that were recently declawed. If you cat has been walking around without pain and outside a lot as well, I doubt he'll have serious issues as far as the feeling of litter under his paws.
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Dec 20, 2010 23:51
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Abbeh posted:Currently their names are Yogi and Berra, but we'll definitely be changing names. My husband is leaning towards Zoidberg and The Professor, while I'm leaning towards Arthur and Zaphod. I guess we'll have to meet them to decide for sure. It really would have to be Arthur and Ford.
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Jan 4, 2011 05:00
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Abbeh posted:All cats love a good rear end slapping and will back that thang up until you start slapping it around. I wish I was making this up. fixed this for you
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Jan 12, 2011 00:46
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pandaid posted:Is it possible for a cat to be intolerant to chicken wet food, and not chicken kibble? Also, it only seems to be when chicken is the main ingredient, not when there's any chicken in it. I only have three data points so far, but it seems that chicken baby food was NOT as easy to digest as the vet implied. I would imagine pets may have mild intolerances to things the same way that people can. Some people are mildly lactose intolerant and can eat dairy, but only in small amount. Also, chicken baby food is basically just chicken, maybe with some preservatives, whereas in dry food it may represent a significantly smaller percentage of the total food bulk. Perhaps the baby food was just TOO MUCH CHICKEN for your kitty.
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Jan 18, 2011 04:12
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