Cat Lovers in Voltville

[Staceylt40]

There seems to be a large number of cat lovers in Voltville and thought maybe we could share tips and tricks on caring for our felines.

What is your favorite litter brand?
What do you feed your kitties?
Are you kitties indoor? outdoor? both?

 

[starsong]

Maggy is 16, so I feed her food for seniors. She gets her breakfast treat of a 1/2 of a small can of Fancy Feast, then the rest of the day she can graze from her dry food container with Purina One and Healthful Life mixed. She had a pretty bad gum infection once and the vet said wet food contributes to that and I should only give her dry. But I figure a couple tablespoons a day isn't gonna hurt and that's our morning routine she looks forward to.

I used to use Johnny Cat litter, but the stores around here stopped carrying it So now I go for whatever scoopable one is cheap. I tried one of the new Tidy Cat varieties, but it smelled worse than what she does to it.

Maggy is strictly indoors. It is healthier and safer for them. Besides, she has no front claws so couldn't defend herself out there. And when I open the door she doesn't try to bolt out, she knows better. But in the spirit of changing the scenery, I will take her in the backyard with me with a harness/leash on her. She actually likes it - she knows when I put it on that's where we are going -- without the leash she doesn't try to follow me out, but with it on she knows it's OK and happily trots out to explore.

 

[Staceylt40]

I love my babies. My Beau kitty is by far the most maintenanced cat I have ever had and I have had plenty. LOL I use to feed exclusively dry food in an auto feeder. Have always done it. Well Mr. Beau taught me a valuable lesson. He developed a urinary infection that would NOT go away. I was worried about all of the antibiotics he was taking. Of course the litter mishaps were horrible. He would contribute his pain to wherever he peed so it was a different place every time..... litter or not. lol I was at my wits end. The vet had him on "prescription" cat food which was way more expensive than I could afford. But I felt I had no choice. After many many hours of researching and exploring alternatives.... I discovered that the prescription canned cat food I was buying at $1.50 a can had the exact same ingredients and percentages as Friskies Special Diet for Urinary problems. No other cat food even came close. I took a can of each to the vet. She examined both cans and was also amazed. So with her blessing, both of my cats get Friskies Special Diet. Beau is not allowed treats or any other food at all. He doesn't seem to mind lol.

Beau and Jewelz both are indoor cats and are declawed. I also walk them both on a leash/harness. Beau could care less if he ever goes outside, but Jewelz loves it and only darts at the door when the leash is on. Funny how they just know.

I have tried all kinds and brands of litter and keep going back to Fresh Step Clumping cat litter. Its the ONLY one that doesn't smell and clumps perfectly. The litter box is scooped twice a day. Its part of my morning getting ready for work routine and my bedtime tuck in my kid routine at night. lol We never have bathroom accidents any more.

Now if someone can tell me how to stop the hairballs I would be eternally in their debt. Beau is Maine .... and long haired. He not only finds its necessary to bathe himself, but he bathes his sister too. UGH!! I have tried everything under the sun. Jewelz very rarely has them, but Beau is about every other day. So I am open for suggestions for sure.

We have lots of toys. Some with catnip, some without. Jewelz loves her catnip and Beau stays far far away from it. None of our toys have strings or feathers of any kind. (the feather toys come out during special occasions) About 2 years ago Jewelz decided she wanted to know what string tasted like. So she got a hold of hubby's sweat pants and ate the wasteband string. The WHOLE thing... all 3 feet! By the time we figured out what she had done and an emergency visit to the vet at 11:00pm (almost 24 hours later) we almost lost her. The cord had sawed through her stomach lining and intestines. After 2 surgeries and 2 weeks in the hospital, they let us bring her home. She refused to eat or drink anything and they didn't think she was gonna make it. BUT she did!! She just needed to be home with her mommy. She is a happy healthy kitty now. Sometimes I seriously think she thinks she is a dog though. lol She sleeps right next to me, head on my pillow, under the covers with me every single night. Beau is happy at my feet. Jewelz wakes me every morning and tells me when its time to eat in the mornings and evenings. Funny how they just know what time it is. lol

Well, now that I have rambled enough about by catbabies.... LOL Jewelz is telling me its dinner time.

 

[starsong]

Hey ramble all you want, that's what this thread is for
Bummer about incident with the cord. Glad it ended well.
Maggy lovvvves to eat string, ribbon, etc. too. Maybe they think they are saving us from snakes. Once she got into a closet where I keep gift wrapping supplies. Had one of those pre-made bunches of curly ribbon. HAD. She barfed some of it up, the rest I found in the litter box later. LOL
Her other obsession is with plastic grocery bags. Loves to chew those too. I am always "maggy proofing" the house.

For hairballs, I've tried a few of the squeeze tube types of products, but she hated them. I had to wipe it onto her legs so she'd lick it off, but it felt like I was torturing her. Now I just give her Friskies treats - Hairball Remedy. She loves those and it does seem to keep the problem at bay - not totally but it helps.

 

[Staceylt40]

I have tried the tube things and as long as its "malt" flavor they seem to be okay with. I just have to be careful with Beau. I bathe and brush him to keep the shedding to a minimum. If I can keep him from bathing his sister it would help some. lol She just lies there and soaking up the attention.

I am always cat proofing this house. lol I have an 11 year son and he doesn't always think before his actions. lol Jewelz' current fascination is are the rubber type bracelets. Which are a huge hype at school these days. I am forever picking one up. Jewelz doesn't eat them, but she walks around the house with one in her mouth as if its her baby. lol quite comical, but I don't dare leave her alone with it. Who knows what she is capable of. lol

these the type of bracelets I am talking about. You would think with all their toys, they wouldn't be interested. lol and paper bags..... OMG! she does doesn't chew or eat them, but it is biggest entertainment for her. lol

 

[starsong]

LOL @ carrying them around like a baby. Maggy has something like that too. So funny. I stopped buying cat toys. She prefers wadded up balls of paper. Works for me! But maybe I'll try one of those bracelets...

 

[EleanorR]

Q-Tips on the floor. BEST cat-toy EVAH.

 

[Staceylt40]

Another thing my cats cannot resist is the little plastic strip that comes off the top of a milk jug. They will swat it back and forth like a cat tennis match. lol

 

[Amethyst_Star]

Cat toys? I don't have to buy them! LOL! The cats love any thing they can get their paws on. I have one who likes any thing shiny and another likes bread ties. My two eldest ones don't really play much unless my brother breaks out the feather toy. We just feed them Meow Mix and use cheap clumping litter. Nothing fancy. They get their cat nip and treats, though! They're a spoiled lot!

 

[rolandpibb]

Balled up shopping bag, plastic tag from a milk jug, tinfoil ball; these are a few of my cat's favourite things

 

[starsong]

Ah yes, the tinfoil ball too. LOL
Reminds me of toddlers getting a big toy and would rather play with the box it came in.

So I just had a little marathon (is that a contradiction of terms?) watching Animal Planet - 2 episodes of Too Cute about kittens, followed by Must Love Cats.

 

[Staceylt40]

OMG!! LOL Watching Too Cute and Must Love Cats is what inspired me to start this thread. I happened across it this evening while channel surfing. Never heard of or seen either show before today. Ohhh to funny!! I have always wanted a Ragdoll kitty.

How cute is that?

But then again, I had always wanted a Persian too, until I had one. Talk about high maintenance. Of course I loved my Gizmo, but I had to take him to be groomed once a week. Every Friday I was dropping him off before work and picking him up on my way home. This cat was no dummy, he refused to bathe himself. All that hair!! Picture a long haired, snow white Persian male cat who refuses to groom.... even after using the litter box. Everything STUCK in that cats fur and I mean everything. I can't tell you how many times I would have to get the scissors to the hair around his, um, behind because his poopies got stuck there. It was disgusting!! I gladly paid that weekly grooming bill. Gizmo was probably the strangest cat I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was scared of heights. Would not even jump up on the couch. He would sit there with you as long as he wasn't near the edge and you didn't leave him there if you got up. If you wanted to hold him (and he loved to be held and loved on) you had to be sitting down, preferably on the floor. He would only drink water if it had ice cubes in it. lol He never made a peep. It was very rare for him to meow and I mean rare. *sigh* I miss my Gizmo. He went to kitty heaven at about 4 years of age. He had feline cancer and I chose to put him down. Was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. Wow.... that was over 19 years ago. I am gonna have to see if I can find a pic of him and post it.

Ah yes, the tinfoil ball too. LOL
Reminds me of toddlers getting a big toy and would rather play with the box it came in.

So I just had a little marathon (is that a contradiction of terms?) watching Animal Planet - 2 episodes of Too Cute about kittens, followed by Must Love Cats.

 

[starsong]

Too funny about the ice cubes Sorry you he didn't get stay with you for very long.
The Ragdoll seems like a great cat, but a little too long haired for me to deal with. I think my next will be an Abyssinian.

 

[CatLady007]

It seems the most irresistible "toy" for my cats has been pony-tail holders. Moving the couch and retrieving them is a normal once-a-month activity in my house, for years, now. Every cat I've had loves them, and I've had some cats that would find them no matter where I hid them. For litter, I use Special Kitty clumping (Walmart has it at a good price), and an inexpensive low-dust clay litter, mixed 60-40. I, too, have noticed that cats love bread ties, but I've always been afraid to let them have them--I always have horrible images of a piece of wire in an intestinal tract.
Hairballs--fact of cat life. I hate it. Some cats are worse than others. My Maine .... mix has it worse that any other cat I've ever had. I feel sooo bad for her; she sounds so pitiful. If I had to yark something up 2-3 times a week, I guarantee you I would not be nearly as good-natured as she is. I feed Iams Healthy Naturals, this year. I only ever feed good quality dry food--less mess; less stink; both out of the package and out of the litter box.
Catnip--I cannot leave a catnip toy with my cat, for fear she will dehydrate. No lie--this cat will drool all over a catnip toy until it is a sodden, disgusting mess. I'll find her passed out with her face stuck to the "mouse", her chin and bib all wet and nasty :shudder: I have to pick it up with tongs (the toy, that is; I leave the cat to sleep it off). You think your neighborhood drunk/addict is disgusting? you haven't seen my Madison after she's had her 'nip for an hour or two. Bless her heart; she is such a dignified lady, otherwise.

 

[starsong]

Catnip--I cannot leave a catnip toy with my cat, for fear she will dehydrate. No lie--this cat will drool all over a catnip toy until it is a sodden, disgusting mess. I'll find her passed out with her face stuck to the "mouse", her chin and bib all wet and nasty :shudder: I have to pick it up with tongs (the toy, that is; I leave the cat to sleep it off). You think your neighborhood drunk/addict is disgusting? you haven't seen my Madison after she's had her 'nip for an hour or two. Bless her heart; she is such a dignified lady, otherwise.

That is hilarious

 

[Staceylt40]

Catlady... that is hilarious. Jewelz does that too with catnip, but I don't let it get to the puddle of drool stage. lol She will pass out cold for several hours. Beau cannot stand to be anywhere near catnip lol. He will run away. Funny how they are so different. They are from the same litter and Main .... mixes, but both so different, yet the same. lol

 

[EleanorR]

Balled up shopping bag, plastic tag from a milk jug, tinfoil ball; these are a few of my cat's favourite things

The tinfoil ball IS a classic!

Be careful about those plastic shopping bags, though: most cats do love plastic, and will make a beeline for those bags, but my Romulus (RIP) once got his head stuck through the plastic handle parts and PANICKED, running around the house and meowing in the most horrid, pitiful, terrified way because he could not get his head clear of the thing. He couldn't back out of it, and the more he ran around (I couldn't catch him for what seemed like forever), the more entangled he became in the entire bag. 8-o

I don't know which of us was more traumatized, but I suspect it was him. (And yes, he was the really smart cat.)

 

[starsong]

awwww poor guy. Be hard not to giggle a little though.

 

[Staceylt40]

I laughed too, but only because I have had a cat do that and I know that horrid sound he made the entire time he was running around the housing, making it worse. LOL I could not catch him for nothing. I was laughing so hard, it was comical. He finally stopped running and just looked at me. I got him untangled and he walked off. I thought he would have nothing more to do with a plastic bag, but it was like the incident never happened. lol He would go for it every chance he had. But I will never forget that sound he made. I didn't know this particular cat was so acrobatic either. lol Silly Kiddy!

awwww poor guy. Be hard not to giggle a little though.

 

[EleanorR]

awwww poor guy. Be hard not to giggle a little though.

Clearly you have NO heart.