To all cat owners...

[Etoille]

chaos i snagged some of those but havent opened em yet - pav loves his goodlife recipe salmon and greens treats though!

[Phelps McManus]

Originally Posted by DMyst

The first thing that is worrying me the most is that he has gone almost 24 hours without eating anything. The shelter gave me a bag of kitten food that lasts for a week but he will not touch it no matter what. He did drink a bit of water thou... should i be worried? Should i try to buy him "wet kitten" food? Oh and how much do you feed a kitten and how often? Last thing i want is a fat fluffy cat. Oh and when are they old enough for treats?

24 hours without eating is a problem for a kitten. Try wetting the dry food with water. Throw in some tuna juice (strong odor) if you need to or get some wet food. The "dry food is better for the teeth than wet food comment below is false, unless you get actual dental bites (not recommended for growing kittens).

Kittens can be free-fed (always leave food in the bowl) unless they start getting fat. They tend to limit themselves until 4-6 months, then you have to limit them.

Is this normal behavior? How long does it take him to get used to someone? I am starting to think that kitten was abused or something.

The cat is rightfully freaked the fuck out from the change in environment, needles, etc. This is normal. It was like NOT abused.

Last question... how do you discipline a cat when he starts clawing or biting stuff? Spray with a bottle of water? A little tap on the butt?

We use spray bottles.

[Phelps McManus]

Originally Posted by Senen

Ya I'm not big on declawing we took our cat in to be declawed and later I found out that they don't just take the claw/nail out. They actualy cut the first knuckle off which removes the entire claw bed. The vet that did ours would only do the front claws, cats need there claws for self defense,tree climbing etc especialy if you leave the cat outdoors. If its stricktly an indoor cat it will be ok if you can get passed the your cutting off part of the cats toes deal.. Other wise I'd just get a pair of the nail trimmers and keep them trimmed down.

If the choice is euthanasia or back to the shelter versus declaw, it is more humane to declaw. You can't tell when you adopt if the cat will destroy your furniture, but make this choice when they are between 12 weeks and 6 months old. A declaw is very difficult for cats older than that.

Also, declawed cats are INDOOR ONLY. If you are letting the cat outside, why even bother declawing it at all?

[Koivu]

While my cat was not rescued from a shelter, it too was very skittish the first few days after I took it home. Not eating is part of the symptoms, and be prepared that even after the fluffy calms down, he still might not like the food you give him. My cat is an obnoxious, spoiled brat when it comes to food, and will only eat cooked chicken, peeled shrimps (his favourite treat, he'll do anything to get some, including purring and rubbing against a total stranger, which he doesn't do otherwise, being a shy cat by nature) and this special cat food we by from a pet shop that is specially designed for "Fussy cats". Any old supermarket wetfood will only be tasted and then left to dry on the bowl.

As for treats, it depends on your meaning here. If you're talking about the store packed "treats" for cats, I'd avoid those altogether. Instead find something that is fresh and raw that the cat really likes, peeled shrimps for example. You can buy them frozen, and very cheaply too, since obviously you can buy the smallest possible size (called "salad shrimps" here), not the king size tiger shrimp. Whenever you want to treat your cat, just take out a handful of frozen shrimps, hold your hand underneath a hot/warm running water for a minute to defrost and you have a perfect cat treat.

If you want him to come to you, buy one of those catnip toys that are attached on a piece of string. Kittens love to play, and rubbing the catnip mousie at the end of string will mix your scent with the catnip, which is a good thing. Just dangling and jerking the mousie at the side of the bed so he can see it and not you will probably lure him out. Also, you can hide an old, dirty t-shirt of yours under the bed near the corner he likes to hide in. You want him to associate you with food and safety. If things are really desperate, you can try and sleep on the floor so he can investigate you while you're sleeping. Kittens that young are used to sleeping near other warm bodies, and is probably why he allows you to pet him while he's tired. My cat has taken this to the extremes, and insists on sleeping on me, or if I'm not around and my fiancé is, on him. Only if no human is around will he deign to do something as denigrating as sleeping on a couch. Otherwise he will lump himself on my legs, lap or one memorable night, around my face.

As for disciplining, I used a 3 tier system. When I first notice him doing something that I don't want (scratching stuff up), I will clap my hands sharply and so No! in a very forbidding tone. If bad behaviour continues, it's the water bottle. And if he's insistent, I'd grab him, go to the shower, and rinse the bastid with cold water. Worked for me, and these days just the tone of voice does the trick. If you're worried about a specific (expensive) piece of furniture, pet shops will sell you sprays that are at least supposed to keep the animals away from them. That said, the efficacy of these sprays is a bit patchy at best, works on some animals, other will shred your leather sofa no matter what. But don't declaw your cat, that is just cruel to a cat. Instead always provide them with something they can safely claw on, it's natural behaviour to them.

[Phelps McManus]

Originally Posted by Etoille

Sarah's Guide to Kittens:
7. Kittens are babies. they explore with their teeth and their claws. expect to get scratched and bitten some what. if the play becomes too rough or is malicious thats one thing but remember this is play for them. even when theyre driving you batshit, theyre playing.

fin.

This is a good guide.

I would only add on to #7 that this is a big socialization age for kittens, when mom and littermates keep their behavior in check. If the kitten is playing too rambunctiously, say "no" and stop playing

[Phelps McManus]

A few other items:

We have gradually been switching our clawed-up furniture out for Microfiber. That shit is awesome!

Cats are often 5% dehydrated before they get the urge to drink, which is why they tend to have kidney problems and their piss stinks so bad. Wetting dry-food, wet food, and water fountains are ways to keep them hydrated. Petsmart sells a decent cat fountain or you can let them drink from the sink while you get ready in the morning (gets annoying).

When you start limiting your cats food, follow the directions on the bag. These amounts are for intact cats, so if yours has been neutered you should cut back slightly.

[Etoille]

Originally Posted by Koivu

While my cat was not rescued from a shelter, it too was very skittish the first few days after I took it home. Not eating is part of the symptoms, and be prepared that even after the fluffy calms down, he still might not like the food you give him. My cat is an obnoxious, spoiled brat when it comes to food, and will only eat cooked chicken, peeled shrimps (his favourite treat, he'll do anything to get some, including purring and rubbing against a total stranger, which he doesn't do otherwise, being a shy cat by nature) and this special cat food we by from a pet shop that is specially designed for "Fussy cats". Any old supermarket wetfood will only be tasted and then left to dry on the bowl.

As for treats, it depends on your meaning here. If you're talking about the store packed "treats" for cats, I'd avoid those altogether. Instead find something that is fresh and raw that the cat really likes, peeled shrimps for example. You can buy them frozen, and very cheaply too, since obviously you can buy the smallest possible size (called "salad shrimps" here), not the king size tiger shrimp. Whenever you want to treat your cat, just take out a handful of frozen shrimps, hold your hand underneath a hot/warm running water for a minute to defrost and you have a perfect cat treat.

If you want him to come to you, buy one of those catnip toys that are attached on a piece of string. Kittens love to play, and rubbing the catnip mousie at the end of string will mix your scent with the catnip, which is a good thing. Just dangling and jerking the mousie at the side of the bed so he can see it and not you will probably lure him out. Also, you can hide an old, dirty t-shirt of yours under the bed near the corner he likes to hide in. You want him to associate you with food and safety. If things are really desperate, you can try and sleep on the floor so he can investigate you while you're sleeping. Kittens that young are used to sleeping near other warm bodies, and is probably why he allows you to pet him while he's tired. My cat has taken this to the extremes, and insists on sleeping on me, or if I'm not around and my fiancé is, on him. Only if no human is around will he deign to do something as denigrating as sleeping on a couch. Otherwise he will lump himself on my legs, lap or one memorable night, around my face.

As for disciplining, I used a 3 tier system. When I first notice him doing something that I don't want (scratching stuff up), I will clap my hands sharply and so No! in a very forbidding tone. If bad behaviour continues, it's the water bottle. And if he's insistent, I'd grab him, go to the shower, and rinse the bastid with cold water. Worked for me, and these days just the tone of voice does the trick. If you're worried about a specific (expensive) piece of furniture, pet shops will sell you sprays that are at least supposed to keep the animals away from them. That said, the efficacy of these sprays is a bit patchy at best, works on some animals, other will shred your leather sofa no matter what. But don't declaw your cat, that is just cruel to a cat. Instead always provide them with something they can safely claw on, it's natural behaviour to them.

lol no offense sounds like your cat is completely in charge here. cooked chicken? peeled shrimp? a special type of food? what would have happened had the cat been adopted by another family unwilling to do all this stuff? would it have starved? probably not it would learn to eat. god help you if when that cat gets older you have to put it on a bland diet for w/e reason.

ok op - none of this stuff is necessary at all. a lot of the behavior going on in here sounds like the results of lack of role/boundary setting. and the shower is pretty extreme.

[Etoille]

Originally Posted by Phelps McManus

If the choice is euthanasia or back to the shelter versus declaw, it is more humane to declaw. You can't tell when you adopt if the cat will destroy your furniture, but make this choice when they are between 12 weeks and 6 months old. A declaw is very difficult for cats older than that.

Also, declawed cats are INDOOR ONLY. If you are letting the cat outside, why even bother declawing it at all?

I'll go one step further. Don't let the cats outside. Its a good way to never see your cat again. And if youre like oh just this one time it will start to want to go outside.

If you choose not to listen to me and have an indoor outdoor cat - fine but the claws stay. Otherwise its absolutely cruel as the cat will have zero way of defending itself or climbing things to run away.

[w166um]

My cat was the same exact way when I first got him. I ended up buying wet food and now that's all he eats to this day- he doesn't touch anything dry.

I've had him declawed and he hasn't had any problems as a result. Not sure if I would do it again if I got another kitten though.

[chaos]

Heh yeah, peeled shrimp? dude... yeah my cat thinks he's people but damn dude. I always tell him he's just lucky I don't feed him the poison food from China.

My cat eats paper, I always saw him playing with it and it was no big deal. But my gf was cleaning out the cat box last night and noticed that there was quite a lot of paper in there. Reading up on it, it seems like it's really common and only in the most rare of cases can be an indicator of liver problems. Something that has me a little worried about him, but he seems fine, I think he's just bored.

[xelnix]

Originally Posted by Etoille

lol no offense sounds like your cat is completely in charge here. cooked chicken? peeled shrimp? a special type of food?

ok op - none of this stuff is necessary at all. a lot of the behavior going on in here sounds like the results of lack of role/boundary setting. and the shower is pretty extreme.

I was going to say the same thing. Leave a bowl of dry food down and ignore the little snob until it eats. Soon, you won't have such a snotty cat!!

[Etoille]

Originally Posted by w166um

My cat was the same exact way when I first got him. I ended up buying wet food and now that's all he eats to this day- he doesn't touch anything dry.

I've had him declawed and he hasn't had any problems as a result. Not sure if I would do it again if I got another kitten though.

some cats are 'wet food' cats. my two kitties that i had most of my adult life one was a wet food cat - hard food made him sick - and the other preferred dry food even though wet was obviously available, though now that hes 15 he prefers wet a lot more.

i keep a few cans of wet food around for the kitten and i can always run to the store for some baby food incase his stomach gets upset for some reason (hasnt happened yet with the kitten) - its easier to digest but for the most part pav just eats his iams kitten food and is happy with it.

(attached just b/c we're already talking about it anyways )

[slitz]

Is declawing actually legal in the states? That's cruelty to animals and should be punished by chopping off the balls of the owner.

[Sharmai]

Yes its very legal here. Some vet's won't do it others will. The vet I went to had a vet who would do front claws then wouldn't do back claws for a couple of months later. The other vet wouldn't do either...


LoL didn't realize there were so many peta initiates on FoH.

[Etoille]

Originally Posted by slitz

Is declawing actually legal in the states? That's cruelty to animals and should be punished by chopping off the balls of the owner.

i know in some places in Europe its illegal but its still legal in the states. there are newer procedures that are more humane (laser) now a days and i think its an owners choice. (ONLY for totally indoor cats - if the cats are going to be outside at all ever the claws should stay)

sharmai theres no reason to do the back claws. even my cats that have been declawed in the past theyve always been front only. (my kitten will be keeping all of his this time around but hes aces at letting me trim his with a nail clipper - DO NOT trim your cats nails yourself unless you know what youre doing - you can REALLY hurt a cat if you dont know what to do)