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[Zoe]

Anybody here ever do lion cuts? I feel like there's no end to all these mats popping up suddenly

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Hey GAF,

I finally got the chance to adopt a kitty. I got the news yesterday and I'm super excited!

I wanted to ask you guys for advice though because there's something that worries me a bit. The kitty is only a few months old (less than 5, I still don't have the details) and I work pretty much all day: leave home at about 8am and get back at about 8pm. Since the kitty is so young I worry that if anything were to happen to him, I wouldn't be there to take him to the vet or assist him right away. I'll make sure he doesn't have a way of getting in trouble (eating anything he could choke on or falling from heights or whatever) but I wonder if it's a bad idea to leave him unattended for so long every day. I also feel bad because he's going to be pretty lonely for a few days, but I'm asking my GF to stay at my place in the meantime (though we're still negotiating) so that should be fixed soon.

Also, I'm still trying to decide on a name. I have a large list but haven't made up my mind just yet.

Here's a couple of pictures
This is the guy!

Here's the guy with the rest of the family, though I don't know which of the grey ones he is.

Now, for a preliminary list of names:

Cisco (after my dad, named Francisco)
Kain (from Crystal Dynamic's Legacy of Kain video game)
Shadowfax (yes, I'm a nerd, Gandalf's horse)
Logan (Wolverine)
Stephen King (one of my favorite authors)
Porthos (the Musketeer)
Paul Simon (one of my favorite musicians, thinking of making an appreciation thread soon)
Leonardo (after Da Vinci, the inventor and artist)

Ideas, suggestions, warnings, or free catnip will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Ribbon]

Simba

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Sorry for the bump and thread hijack, but I really need some advice from other cat owners. Don't want to make a thread since it would be pretty short lived. Maybe I should take this to the "stupid questions" thread instead?

Quoting myself:

I finally got the chance to adopt a kitty. I got the news yesterday and I'm super excited!

I wanted to ask you guys for advice though because there's something that worries me a bit. The kitty is only a few months old (less than 5, I still don't have the details) and I work pretty much all day: leave home at about 8am and get back at about 8pm. Since the kitty is so young I worry that if anything were to happen to him, I wouldn't be there to take him to the vet or assist him right away. I'll make sure he doesn't have a way of getting in trouble (eating anything he could choke on or falling from heights or whatever) but I wonder if it's a bad idea to leave him unattended for so long every day. I also feel bad because he's going to be pretty lonely for a few days, but I'm asking my GF to stay at my place in the meantime (though we're still negotiating) so that should be fixed soon.

Ideas, suggestions, warnings, or free catnip will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Zoe]

In the beginning with a kitten you want to keep them in one room (bathroom works well) so they can get used to being in a new home and being around you. Use this acclimation period to "kitten-proof" your home. You can gradually let the kitten out more and more while you're home until you feel the kitten can be trusted on its own.

Cats are pretty self-sufficient. Just be sure to give him plenty of love and attention when you are home.

 

[Shiv47]

This is Cooper. He just turned 15. You can't tell from the picture, but he's a big bastard, about 18-20 pounds.

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Thanks Zoe! I was thinking of keeping him confined to a room so that I wouldn't have to search everywhere for him once I got back home, so that's good news.

 

[Retro]

Ideas, suggestions, warnings, or free catnip will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Minor tidbits of cat advice;

- Kittens are assholes. They bite, they fight, they never learn. They grow up into respectable cats though.

- Some cats can open cabinet doors with their paws. One of mine can. Probably best to get child proof latches on anything with chemicals in it, or park a hamper or other heavy item in front of them. Probably not a concern until kitty grows up.

- Cats can fit anywhere. ANYWHERE. If you have any gap that's bigger than a few inches wide, a scared cat will make it home and you'll never get them out. My girlfriend's cat got through a small hole in the kitchen that was between two cabinets and maintenance had to come out and tear everything apart to get her out.

- Declawing a cat is like cutting off the first knuckle on all of your fingers. Like docking with dogs, this is a practice that is common enough not to sound like a problem but is actually quite inhumane.

- Sisal Rope scratching posts instead of carpet, or you'll teach kitty to sharpen her claws on your carpet.

- You can buy no-scratch spray to keep them off your furniture. My girlfriend also drapped towels over the edges of her couch and since the cats didn't get a good clawing from the experience, kind of gave up on that particular object.

- Cats dislike citrus-y smells, so a few air fresheners in the correct location can deter kitty, but will not keep her out.

- Spray Air Fresheners spook most kitties (you can even buy motion-sensor aerosol sprayers to keep cats out of places), so that can help as a deterrent if you need to. Your best bet is probably the trusty old spray bottle.

- Cats are usually grazing animals, so if you have a dog, the cats food should be elevated so it doesn't get eaten. We tried to get our cats to eat at specific times and the smallest one got into a nasty habit of wolfing her food down and then throwing up.

- Fresh water too, especially if you're feeding them dry food. You may consider one of those water bowls that cycles the water, that will keep it fresher. Some cats love drinking from the faucet as well.

Edit: Better include some pictures too. My girlfriend got them both from a no-kill shelter before we started dating.

(Her previous owners wanted her and her brother destroyed because they had new carpet put down. Her brother was adopted quickly but she was in there for over a year. You can see she eats well.)

(Former stray. Used to get bullied by the big calico and never left the bedroom. When I moved in, the calico kind of lost her control on the situation and this little one kind of became my cat.)

 

[Red UFO]

My cat just checking out her social networks.

 

[DrFunk]

Simba

no, this is Simba:

Spoiler

our cats have the same name

 

[Decado]

That reminds me of my kitten
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hYlqWRMvUQ

She loves that stuffed dog still to this day. Although she plays with it more than cuddles with it.

lol. Why was your kitten wearing a strap-on?

 

[Lolligag]

lol. Why was your kitten wearing a strap-on?

Serious? It's a cast.

 

[Ribbon]

no, this is Simba:

Our cats should meet up!

Minor tidbits of cat advice;

- Declawing a cat is like cutting off the first knuckle on all of your fingers. Like docking with dogs, this is a practice that is common enough not to sound like a problem but is actually quite inhumane.

This definitely should be pointed out. Whenever people tell me they have declawed their cats, and I tell them how horrible it is, they just look at me very confused.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

I always had tons of pictures of my cats, but since getting an iPhone I have been taking WAY too many and posting them online.

 

[Devin Olsen]

I love my cats.

 

[Atlantic]

Almost a year old and still a jerk.

This is Douglas and he melts everyone's heart, then bites your toes.

 

[Zwei]

 

[The Lamonster]

Sophie and Monty:

The one on the left looks just like my cat, Zooey:

And Reggie:

 

[sprinklez]

my cat after getting the lions haircut. (its cruel, i know)

what she normally looks like

 

[Corran Horn]

lol. Why was your kitten wearing a strap-on?

lol that is a cast. She broke her leg.

So much money down the drain there.

 

[OttomanScribe]

This is my cat Muezza

She is slinky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOUAmzqJ5Bk

She also enjoys climbing flyscreens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q60cb1h2XYE&feature=channel_video_title

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Minor tidbits of cat advice;

Retro and CO, thanks for the advice. I would never do such a thing as declawing, and yes, I was planning on getting a scratching post and other toys to keep him occupied.

Regarding narrow spaces, should I worry about him trying to get behind/below the freezer and/or washing machine? I fear for his safety if that's the case. Maybe I should get something to cover those spaces?

Thanks again!

 

[serfr]

My mom's cat "Buddy"- the neighborhood bully

 

[Retro]

Retro and CO, thanks for the advice. I would never do such a thing as declawing, and yes, I was planning on getting a scratching post and other toys to keep him occupied.

Regarding narrow spaces, should I worry about him trying to get behind/below the freezer and/or washing machine? I fear for his safety if that's the case. Maybe I should get something to cover those spaces?

Thanks again!

Yeah, the comment on declawing is just because a lot of people who have never had cats don't know how cruel and inhumane it is (likewise with docking dogs), and because it's so common most people think it's acceptable, which it clearly isn't.

As for narrow spaces, absolutely in both cases. I think you should be able to get your refrigerator close enough to the wall that your cat won't get behind it, but washing machines are definitely far enough away. If the fridge proves to be a problem, get a narrow box or something to wedge in there and they'll get the picture.

In my apartment our washer/dryer unit is in a closet, so we can close the door. If you have a laundry room, that's what I'd suggest; just keep that room shut. Barring that, if she gets back there, just try to make enough room at floor level that she can get out.

Cats love to explore and love high places, and they will inevitably get up on and in things. I used to think my timid little cat would stay off the counters, but she's gotten up on them on more than one occasion just to see what's up there.

Cat's aren't stupid and if they get trapped someplace they (usually) won't go there again. When they're scared though, they tend to try and find tiny places to hole up in, so if there's a thunderstorm or something they might hide there. The best thing you can do in that case is provide your cat with a place they can hide in and is okay for them, where they go when they need to be comfortable, etc. If you know where it is and don't disrupt them, when there's an emergency you'll know where to find them.

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Sound advice

Thank you so much, again. I will be doing that today since I'm probably picking him up tonight or tomorrow afternoon and I want to be as ready as I can be.

The shelter I contacted for the adoption is asking me if I could consider adopting two instead of just one, so that they both keep each other company and grow up a bit more social. I'm not sure what to do because I would LOVE to adopt two (has always been the plan, though I was thinking of adopting one first and then the other a few years later) so I may end up going home with two kittens instead of one. I assume I will need two kitty litters if that's the case, right?

Finally, I've been reading up on dry vs. wet food, what's the GAF consensus on that? Money is a bit of a concern but I want my kitten(s) to grow up healthy, so that's the priority.

 

[The Lamonster]

Measured dry food is the healthiest. Goes for dogs too.

However, I have some fatties. Their food bowls are always full...

 

[Zoe]

Just one litter box should be fine unless they're huge monsters, but you will want to clean it daily then.

 

[S. L.]

no way that is your cat

 

[Retro]

Thank you so much, again. I will be doing that today since I'm probably picking him up tonight or tomorrow afternoon and I want to be as ready as I can be.

No problem, and you're taking a good route by asking for advice instead of figuring it out as you go.

The shelter I contacted for the adoption is asking me if I could consider adopting two instead of just one, so that they both keep each other company and grow up a bit more social. I'm not sure what to do because I would LOVE to adopt two (has always been the plan, though I was thinking of adopting one first and then the other a few years later) so I may end up going home with two kittens instead of one.

My wife got the same advice, and adopted two. If you're comfortable enough with the idea and can afford it, go for it. There are tons of cats that need a home and every adoption helps

That said, in my cats' particular case, it didn't work out perfectly. For the first two years my wife had them, the big calico bullied the little tabby to the point where she never left the bedroom; she even ate in there and my wife kept a litterbox in the walk-in closet. After I moved in, I kind of stuck up for her (the calico avoided me, we think she was abused by a guy because she's friendly around women but hides from men), so now she's out and about, sociable and has put on weight (finally).

Now they generally don't mind each other but they take swats at each other in the hall as they pass and never ever do anything cute like lie together or eat from the same bowl. You may luck out and get some siblings or two cats who get along, but we got a little timid stray and a big fat crabby prima donna grandma cat.

Your mileage may vary, but don't be concerned if they don't take to each other. For cats, tolerance is generally enough and the occasional scuffle is expected, but if there's lots of fighting going on you may need to find another home for one of them.

I assume I will need two kitty litters if that's the case, right?

Depends on the cats and the litter. We have two, but one of our cats is old, fat and lazy and has a habit of not burying her waste (it's a dominance thing). If you're noticing a lot of crap, spring for two. If all you notice is a little extra odor, they have multi-cat litter (we use Arm and Hammer) that can help.

Finally, I've been reading up on dry vs. wet food, what's the GAF consensus on that? Money is a bit of a concern but I want my kitten(s) to grow up healthy, so that's the priority.

We use dry food, specifically Inova EVO, and switched to the weight control formula since the calico is already heavy and we were worried the tabby was getting a noticeable bulge. It's not something you'll find at most grocery stores, most major brands generally aren't too healthy. You'll want to go to ask your vet what they recommend, since I'm not sure what's best for kittens since ours were grown when we got them.

Edit: Some advice from the wife reading over my shoulder; vets usually don't receive any nutritional training as part of their education, so their advice may be limited to Science Diet or whatever they sell in their offices. Her advice; meat as the first ingredient, not glutten or meal. Try to avoid things with bi-products, etc.

We occasionally give them wet food as a treat.

The only thing to watch out for with dry food is to make sure they have fresh water at all times. We keep three bowls (two near their food, one in the dining room) just so we're sure they always have access. As mentioned above, if it doesn't freak them out, one of those self-cycling water dishes will ensure they always have fresh water in abundance.

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Can't thank you guys enough; the info has been very helpful. Apologies for the thread hijack though. I had to work late today so by the time I called the shelter it was too late and they told me that I need to wait until tomorrow.

I'll (hopefully) post pictures then. Thanks again!

 

[itxaka]

shirka

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Hey GAF,

So I was finally able to pick up Tanuki on SCaturday. It was a bit late and he was scared and hungry and when he got home he started meowing so I was worried and a bit sad as well (he was understandably shy and wouldn't come near us at first). He drank most of his milk and chewed a bit of his food but it seems he was more interested in exploring than eating even though he seemed hungry.

After a while of walking around the apartment he started to feel a bit more confident in his surroundings but not so much of me and my girlfriend. He walked near us but would try to run whenever he had tried to pick him up.

Since it was getting late my GF had to leave so I stayed with him and sat down with a book to do some reading in his room while he explored around. Needless to say I didn't do any reading because I was looking at him all the time. He started climbing above my head (I sat down on a mattress on the floor with a triangular-shaped pillow) and running around my feet. I was a bit drowsy so I turned off the lights and decided to sleep there in the matress, since leaving him alone prompted the most heartbreaking meowing. I woke up several times during the night and he was now sleeping close to me but still in an alert position, basically sitting down in all fours instead of laying on his side or back. I had setup a bed of sorts for him but he just slept on the floor (and sometimes I would wake up to find him in a corner).

I woke up early in the morning, called the vet to schedule an appointment and watched him play with a ball for a while. Took him to the vet and then went shopping with him for some toys and a better litter box (since the one I had wasn't large enough and he kept kicking the sand out of it). I was looking for a nice bed but didn't really find one to my liking.

The vet checked him out, mentioned she wasn't completely certain about the kitten's gender (Tanuki got super upset when the vet lady was looking at his private bits, claws out and hissing madly), said he/she looked healthy and told me to go back next week to take some blood tests.

Anyway, by the time we got back home he had fallen asleep but as soon as we got back he started playing and jumping around and generally being a little kitten. He slept with me that night (yesterday) and usually starts meowing as soon as I'm out of his sight; though he loves exploring the apartment (and hasn't been able to make it to the second floor yet).

Sorry for the wall of text, but I wanted to share and thank you all for the advice.

Some pics of the little Tanuki. We ended up adopting a different one than the one we'd seen at first but I'm still considering adopting another one (from the same litter of kittens) to keep him company.

 

[mrseaves]

 

[Maklershed]

d'awww

Doesn't get much cuter than that.

 

[Max Armstrong]

d'awww

Doesn't get much cuter than that.

That's pretty hard to beat!

 

[glaurung]

Last time when I visiting my parents house, I snapped these pictures of the two cats currently in our family.

The first one is Felix, a pure-breed Russian Blue (full name Felix Baltic Wave). He is now over 15 years old (I think) and still the most intelligent pet I have ever had the good fortune to meet. Usually very quiet, calm, behaves well with guests and is overall very pleasant.

The second one is Babette, and she is my sister's cat currently residing with my parents while the sister is abroad. Pretty much the opposite of Felix. Hates everything and everybody, is fat and stupid as f### and hostile towards Felix. These two do not get along at all. Babette has a sad history, she had to have a c-section after there were complications with the babies and after that she was half-neutered: one half of the reproduction organs removed, the other half left in. Producing the worst scenario: she goes into heat, but cannot have babies.

Sorry about the crap light conditions and camera quality, I did not have my real camera with me.

 

[MonkeyKnuckle]

Meet 'Pickles'

Have this photo framed and on the wall.

 

[BlueTsunami]

Abstract Cats!

 

[ROBOKITTYZILLA]

This my cat, Momo, the Norwegian Forest Cat. She is 5 years old this March and still looks and plays just like a kitten. The top picture is the most recent and the bottom 4 are from our apartment about 2 years ago before we moved into our house.

Peek-a-boo!

Bonus kitten pic:

 

[Qwomo]

Meet Popper! Got her off craigslist a little over a year ago. She's a huge scaredy cat and hates being held, but oh well. I think she's a cutie!

Stoned out of her mind in that last pic.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Seeing this thread bumped a lot is going to make me sad.

Treasure your pets, GAF. Treasure them.

So true.

I miss my kitteh!

 

[FunkyPajamas]

I wish I knew how to take pictures as good as yours, but these will have to do for now.

He's nearing three months now!

 

[Blue Ninja]

We had 2 cats until a few months ago, when one of them unfortunately got run over by a car. We only have this one left, now: the closest english approximation to her name (Petoet) would be 'Tut'. :lol

Cellphone pic, so the quality sucks, but oh well. One of the most adorable cats I've ever known, though she hates being photographed.

 

[Shanadeus]

A friend found a stray cat that shortly thereafter gave birth to three little adorable kittens!

 

[Xeke]

 

[Schrade]

There's nothing more relaxing than watching a cat sleep in the sun.

 

[Qwomo]

My cat is so brilliantly white that if I watch her lying in the sun my eyes hurt and I start seeing spots.

 

[Goldrush]

Friendly words of warning, you want to stop that right now. It's cute right now, but you'll be cursing yourself out in a few months time.

 

[G-Fex]

A friend found a stray cat that shortly thereafter gave birth to three little adorable kittens!

Awwwwwwww

My cat impregnated a stray who now lives with us but damnit she had them under the house I think and I want to see them ><

 

[Dachande]

This is Whorecat.

He's not our cat as we're not allowed pets, but he belongs to someone two houses down from us. We don't know his real name and can't be bothered to ask, so we've just called him Whorecat for the past two years as he is an enormous whore. He gives absolutely no fucks so long as you're making a fuss of him somehow. You can stroke him anywhere and he'll turn into a purring turbine; all you need to do is look at him and he'll flop over onto the floor wherever he's standing to be belly-rubbed. He comes to see us nearly every single day.