The Cat FAQ/Megathread: buying a second, clean broom just to use on him

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Pet Island > The Cat FAQ/Megathread: buying a second, clean broom just to use on him

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Can someone help me identify what kinda cats I adopted? They were super creamy with faint markings when I got them, but after a year one has started turning all colours, even ginger. I thought they'd just have their markings darken slightly, but this is like having a whole new cat.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Lanky Coconut Tree fucked around with this message at 09:12 on Jun 19, 2023

# ¿ Jun 19, 2023 09:09

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 08:26

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Huh, learned something new today. I've actually never seen or heard of a colourpoint before, as far as I knew kittens just got darker markings as they aged.

Taima posted:

I am completely unqualified to answer but my guess for funsies is a cross between Khao Manee and an American shorthair or something.

He's very pretty. May I suggest insurance? I suggest insurance. Haha.

Haha just picked up insurance over the weekend for them.

# ¿ Jun 19, 2023 14:09

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Chronojam posted:

Doesn't insurance suck? Is there good insurance?

Depends on your country. Not in the US but the pet insurance here covers 90% of the cost. Not great, not terrible.

Crocobile posted:

Siamese are colorpoints (tho not all colorpoints are Siamese?). It’s a heat sensitive mutation of albinism, iirc.

Here’s Niko at 6 months vs 1 year old:

My other cat, Sinjin, just went in for a routine exam this weekend and he 1) needs to lose a pound (Niko too probably) and 2) needs his teeth cleaned. He’d been doing this weird chewing on the side of his mouth at random times and the vet said there’s a lot of plaque and some gingivitis, so that’s probably what’s bothering him. Probably no extractions at least.

Kinda anxious about having him anesthetized but hopefully his mouth feels better. I guess… I need to figure out how to brush their teeth in the future?? 🙃

Ahh, yeah I thought they were part Siamese after 6 months, but the orange coloration that showed up recently really threw me off.

For gingivitis and plaque, I'm using a water additive from Oxyclean which seems to keep things under control. Might be something you could try? My girls did not appreciate the brush.

# ¿ Jun 19, 2023 18:24

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Arsenic Lupin posted:

Don't use carpet with the loops out. You do not want to train your cat that clawing carpet is cool.

Sisal rope is really really cheap. Much better alternative to carpet.

# ¿ Jun 30, 2023 05:34

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

RapturesoftheDeep posted:

Thanks for reminding me of this trick. These don't get anywhere near the level of obsession out of her that the springs do, but they definitely scratch the same itch. Plus the other cat (who's not really interested in toys unless I'm playing directly with her) got into it as well.

Yeah with cats it's always best to try the old basic toys before getting new ones. Try a string or thick shoelace next.

Taima posted:

Thanks for the laser tips that's great to hear.

One last question: can cats withdrawl from drugs? My cat was placed on gabapentin and bupenorphine after his surgery, and now that he's off the meds he seems anxious and weird. But it seems to be getting better over time, slowly.

And it just made me wonder, is my cat withdrawing from fun drugs like a human would? Cuz it really tracks with what how he's acting.

Proably don't overthink it? It's equal parts likely that he's just recovering from a really weird and traumatic experience that he has no frame of reference to contextualise.

# ¿ Jul 3, 2023 04:14

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

LeninVS posted:

Thanks for the advice everyone.

When should I be breaking them up, only during a brawl? They have been in a pretty epic stare down for the last 30m.
Lucy on the dresser and cora on the bed.

I would step in if they escalate to yelling at each other, posturing, or anything that seems like the step right before blows. Might be a bit too risky to let them swat at each other and pray they keep the claws in.

# ¿ Jul 4, 2023 10:06

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Gadzuko posted:

Question for those with scaredy feral cats: how do you deal with vet visits? I have a cat who was born outdoors in my neighborhood, she was spayed and vaccinated as a kitten and the shelter attempted to get her adopted but she escaped from the home and came back to live outdoors here. I spent about a year working with her to get her indoors and now she is indoor/outdoor hopefully to become fully indoor one day (she still loses it if she is inside for multiple days ) but she is only socialized to me. Like another cat described earlier she is wonderful and cuddly, sleeps on my lap and purrs up a storm when we are alone but as soon as a guest stops by she is nowhere to be found for hours.

I have tried taking her to the vet but she still hates being picked up and is too fast for me to catch, and I'm worried she would freak out and really fight the vet staff even if I got her there. She has gotten one trip to the local TNR clinic run by the shelter where she was spayed, she got updated vaccinations and a checkout which turned out fine but they are limited in what they can do and she was sedated the whole time. I am concerned about her getting older and not having access to proper vet care. What are my options here?

Is it possible for you to get a new pet carrier and turn it into a cat cave? Once she's used to sleeping in it or going there for treats, it should be easy enough to just pick her up.

You'd have to go very slow and also make her comfortable with being in the car for short trips.

# ¿ Jul 10, 2023 06:27

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Organza Quiz posted:

Doesn't work with cats who are scared of strangers. It was the first thing I tried with my one and the verdict on her health was "well she must be in good health because look how quickly and agiley she's avoiding me". The only thing that works is get them to a vet who can sedate them properly so they can be examined.

Any good tips for socialising cats with strangers? Mine are super selective and possibly also racist.

# ¿ Jul 11, 2023 13:01

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Yak Shaves Dot Com posted:

My AC is currently dead. It's going to be probably a week until it's repaired. I'm putting ice in my cat's water fountain and leaving out a frozen milk jug she can hang out near if she's too hot. She seems to be okay, if lower energy than usual. Do I need to worry about her dry food spoiling? Is there anything else I can be doing?

Is it 40C or higher in your place? Cats should be pretty fine with some heat, especially if there's cool dark places to hide. Just check for dehydration; pinch and lift the loose skin on her scruff and see how fast it snaps back into place.

Dry food should be fine in the heat. Do you have it in an airtight container so it's not exposed to bacteria?

# ¿ Jul 11, 2023 17:51

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

pidan posted:

It will also help if the cat is used to you touching her paws. So touch and pet both the upper and lower side of her paws whenever you're petting her. If she tolerates that well, also gently push her fingers up and down so her claws are visible. Don't actually cut them then, but let her get used to the touch itself.

These two factors should make clipping her nails easier.

Just to add to this. If you get your cat used to you patting her all over, then it's easier in the future to notice if they're in pain or discomfort. Regular rubbing her belly, moving her back paws stuff like that can help you notice changes in behaviour in the future.

# ¿ Jul 29, 2023 07:27

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Found out my dumb poo poo cat has been chewing on cardboard and fibre optic cables. Is there some sort of chili spray or paste I could buy to make sure the cables don't taste nice?

# ¿ Aug 27, 2023 05:53

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Obfuscation posted:

My cat does not like it when I try to clip her nails but she loves our new game where I try to hold her in my lap and she escapes by wriggling vigorously. Any good ideas? I’ve tried towel but she escapes those too and I can’t get a second person to help since she is afraid of anyone who isn’t me.

Try trapping her body between your legs as you kneel on the ground. Firm but gentle pressure helps keep them in place.

Wait till she's a straight loaf then just kneel above her.

# ¿ Aug 28, 2023 04:32

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

phosdex posted:

Not sure what to make of this, but there's an outdoor cat that I think lives in the house next to me. Anyway, I saw it today and it's fur was all matted up and overall seemed pretty dirty. Now that could be he was just playing in the field or whatever, but some of the neighbors moved out or something on the first. I wonder if they just left the cat.

Go knocking on doors? Only way to be sure

# ¿ Sep 10, 2023 04:23

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

chocolateTHUNDER posted:

I have two cats - one is extremely food oriented and motivated, the other not so much. I have a dual automatic feeder that drops food at 9am, 3pm, and 9pm everyday. The last month or two, the non-food motivated cat isn't eating all of his food when it drops, causing the food crazy cat to gobble it all up when he walks away. If I pick up the bowl out of the feeder and drop it in front of him, he'll eat a bit more before deciding"nah, I'm good" and walking away.

The result is, over the last few months the food-motivated cat has gained 1.5 pounds and the non food-motivated cat has lost 1.5 pounds. Any suggestions on what's going on, and how to fix this? I'm getting a little worried. They just had checkups at the vet about a month ago, and came back with clean bills of health.

I feel like he would probably come back and eat the rest of the food later, but he doesn't get a chance because the other cat slams it down the second she realizes he's walking away.

Surefeed makes these microchip reader pet feeders that might work for this case. My own idiots are kinda similar in that one prefers to break up meals into 2 or 3 courses, but picking up 2 of the surefeeds seems to have solved the issue.

I have an issue - bought a new mattress and one cat has decided that the corner is a perfect scratching place. How can I train this out of her?

# ¿ Sep 29, 2023 01:59

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Hey has anyone used a furminator on single coated cats? Does it really damage their coat?

# ¿ Oct 6, 2023 07:38

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Rawrbomb posted:

If it has a pump, and you haven't disassembled it to clean, it, please do so soon. Those things pick up dirt, grime, and other poo poo and hold onto it forever.

Get a silicone brush or brush for straws, it'll make cleaning the pump super easy.

# ¿ Oct 27, 2023 05:28

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

KariOhki posted:

What are people's suggestions for a good quality battery powered water fountain? Trashcat has decided that two different bowls of water is no longer good enough for him after a year and has taken to perch on the bathroom counter to wait for me to turn the sink on. Battery powered is a requirement due to lack of outlets in any spot a fountain would fit.

I've never bought this but was contemplating it for the longest time: https://aquapurr.com/

Battery powered and attaches to the water tap

# ¿ Nov 10, 2023 05:25

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Does the litter robot work well with tofu or pine litter? I can't use clay as it triggers asthma attacks

# ¿ Nov 28, 2023 10:42

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Deteriorata posted:

All cat foods are regulated by the FDA to have proper nutritional levels. There is no "better" nutrition. They're all the same, no matter the price. Most of what you're dealing with is marketing bullshit.

What matters is what your cat likes and what, if any, ingredients it's sensitive to.

I don't think I'd go so far as to say they're all the same. Big difference between say, Royale Canine and Friskies.

I think getting the highest protein content with the most amount of actual meat in the first few ingredients is good enough. And if you can afford it, get them on a wet food diet. Applaws is my go to for wet food.

Also I wouldn't free feed kittens as it'll be hard to control their portions and know if they're eating enough.

# ¿ Dec 8, 2023 03:29

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Deteriorata posted:

The nutritional content is the same. Cheap food uses a fair amount of cellulose filler, which is just indigestible fiber so your cat eats more and poops more. So they're less nutritionally dense, but it's all there in the right proportions - and the lower cost is somewhat offset by the fact that cats have to consume more of it.

So it goes back to buy whatever you want. It doesn't really matter.

Uhhh. The caloric density of most cat food is about the same, but the percentage of protein varies. So for the same amount of food, could go from 25-38% of protein, depending on the brand. If that's not a good indicator of varying quality for your cat, I dunno what is.

I'd really wanna see the studies saying that there's no difference in a cheap bag of cat food vs a mid range one. Mind you, not shilling for the grain free stuff, but I think it might be a bit irresponsible to say just buy whatever, it doesn't matter.

# ¿ Dec 8, 2023 05:41

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Melomane Mallet posted:

Simple Solution was what my vet recommended to me when I brought up the issue with Nature's Miracle. I know you can get it at PetCo, at least.

And as aside, I would like to thank everyone here for there suggestions of treats/double sided tape to help curb scratching on furniture. Ryne is very good about using her cardboard scrathers now, but I do now have the question of at what point to I swap out one of these scrathers for a new one? Is there a time frame, condition of the scrather, etc.?

You can swap them any time you want. Usually they're good until the cats get bored of them, even if they've been destroyed into unusual shapes.

Personally I'd recommend getting one of those jute scratchers instead as it's less dust and dirt for you and Ryne.

I picked up this and my cats love it since they prefer scratching on all fours, rather than a standing scratch.

# ¿ Dec 31, 2023 04:32

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

You could also try trimming their pawpad's fur to reduce the chances of things sticking.

# ¿ Jan 4, 2024 07:51

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Have you started making them eat near each other? And swapping litter boxes?

I'd do that for another week, then let them engage with each other under supervision.

Some swatting and hissing is normal, as long as it doesn't develop into a full on fight with claws, blood, and screaming.

# ¿ Jan 12, 2024 04:21

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

khy posted:

New cat is very, very, very food motivated. Old cat is not. I try to give them both Churu when near each other but old cat won't eat when new cat's around, and new cat will eat old cat's food if given the chance. New cat is a bit chubby but so loving adorable.

Hmm so old cat won't even eat within sight distance of the new cat? Last time I introduced cats I had them eating on opposite sides of a door / barricade for a bit before letting them hang out in person.

# ¿ Jan 12, 2024 04:34

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Pollyanna posted:

No takers yet - maybe I should move it out from under the deck/stairs-platform? I chose that spot since it’s hidden and protected from snow, but maybe they’re having trouble finding it. Then again, I have no idea how feral cats would even identify it as a place to rest.

Camera might be worth a shot!

Maybe try leaving some food in it?

# ¿ Jan 16, 2024 15:03

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# ¿ May 21, 2024 08:26

Lanky Coconut Tree: Apr 7, 2011; An angry tree.

The angriest tree

Pain of Mind posted:

One of our cats (9 years old) has been vomiting about once a week, but otherwise she has been acting fine. I brought her in for bloodwork and they said she has hyperthyroidism, though I did not see the results to know how high the levels were. Based on some online reading, she does not seem to have many symptoms of hyperthyroidism, her only symptom is the occasional throw up (it is always kibble, not liquidy or anything), which is pretty much the free square for every possible disease. She has not lost weight and has good body condition, she does not eat or drink excessively or show any of the other common symptoms listed. The vet recommended radiation to hopefully resolve the issue. I guess I just wonder whether the hyperthyroidism is an incidental finding to the vomiting due to the lack of other symptoms. Spending money on the animals is not a problem, but it would feel better if the symptoms matched the diagnosis and I had 100% confidence that it would resolve the issue has best as we can, instead of paying for radiation therapy and then potentially finding out the issue is something else.

Maybe I am a bit paranoid, since about 10 years ago I am 99% sure a vet was taking us for a ride on a previous cat and gave a diagnosis of diabetes and liver disease where I am not sure if they actually did any testing at all. Finally after getting suspicious of them trying to ram through as many procedures as possible, I brought him to a vet who my family has trusted and been using since before I was born and she diagnosed him with kidney failure and that he was not diabetic at all.

Maybe it's just regurgitation and the cat is eating too much too fast?

One of mine does the same - but we tried a bunch of stuff and basically what stopped it was just feeding her small meals constantly. I also picked up a microchip pet feeder so her bowl isn't raided by her sister. That improved things a lot once she became confident that she'll have food left over if she doesn't finish everything.

# ¿ May 19, 2024 09:58

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