Cat Lovers in Voltville

[Cisme]

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?

I mix clumping Tidy Cat and Fresh Step (I think). I like the blue crystals that seem effective in eliminating odor. I clean their big litter box morning and night and in between when I'm home. They're very particular about a clean box.

Oh dear. What I feed the girls...... We start our day with a bit of Tuna. They have two small bowls out all day; one with Indoor/Out and the other varies. We have cannisters especially for cat food. Purina, Friskies and Fancy Feast atm. (Iams is used as treats because they only like it in small quantitites.) Whiskas is always kept in the big cat feeder because that's what they expect. At 5:00pm we serve up shrimp. The reason we began serving shrimp was to make sure the girls are in the house by 5pm.

So, yes, my cats are indoor and outdoor cats. They only get to be out during the light hours, hence the shrimp to make sure they're in early. Taz was a feral rescue and there was no way to get out of the house without her when she was small. We had to train them to stay in our yard (Buzz) or come home when we called (Taz). Now that they're 10 years old, they pretty much hang out here. It's still nerve-wracking when they're out but, they are happy with their lifestyle and they've trained us well.

Toys? Well..... they do enjoy bringing birds, lizards and snakes in the house to chase. They had a small toy box of fun stuff until they were about 2 and decided they liked the live stuff better. They both love rubberbands which I draw the line at. (One of the few arguments I win!) And one sock filled with catnip that they like to rabbit kick.

No problems with hairballs - yay!

Did I cover the basics? It's hard not to go on forever about our furbabies, isn't it?!

 

[reptilr]

Great thread Stacey!!
Oh... I am in the dark ages, I am sure I have heard of catnip over the years but shame to me my cats have never gotten any. I laughed at the funny catnip post, watched some YouTube and laughed some more- so strange!!
I have two kitty's a female stray called toodie that is now 13years and a boy teddie who is 2. Both so very different from each other.
My girl is a version of me. If we are cold we will sit on top of the ducted heating together with a blanket, her under the blanket and when we are both so hot we look almost dead we both half crawl out from under the covers droopy. Cleaning the car with metallica blasting, my girl will sit in the back seat or on top of the roof and keep me company. I trained her by accident , when i was in my 20's that the only way she could walk down the hallway without jingling her bell was to watch me tippy toe past the parents bedroom. If she could manage that without alerting anyone she was inside then she could sleep with me.... Success and still does it to this day. Will sit outside my bedroom window and meow for 3 hours straight if I don't let her in(true) she also is ready waiting for me at the front of the house 20mintues before I get home everyday/night. And my times vary when I come home.... Mum thinks we are soul mates and I believe that too.
Nowadays she has the run or the house,( she's into senior years) allowed inside and outside, will pay her gratitude to the parents and sit by them once in a while as to thank them. On voice command she knows when it's time for dinner, or time for bed. We can be sitting in the same spot for hours with no movement, any mention of crunchies and she is outta the room and next to the door. Follows me everywhere, even to the loo lol. She will leave the loo only when i reach for the toilet paper. Mum has spoilt her much to my dismay- she loves all the good fresh stuff and will happily eat most cooked things too. They both get purina dry food. Her toys ..... Me. As long as I supply hugs rubs and cuddles and more cuddles she is content. Every now and then we play hide n seak - she loves that. She will also let me know when its toilet time,
My boy is a cuddly teddybear. Loves anything that is furry or fluffy - scarves/ rugs. He is the gardening man of the house, follows dad and picks up leaves with him. Sleeps alot like him too. Lol. He just wants to play all the time, still a baby and poor toodie has too give him a run every now and again. He was toilet trained while young, parents un trained him and now he uses the garden. Poor me when I move back in to my house... Not looking forward to that.
He will snuggle with me only about once a week- he doesn't give alot of affection, but he is still very lovable in other ways. He is brushed evey few days being longer haired, and will groom himself. Have not had a problem with hairballs since they got switched to purina hairball formula. I read somewhere once that they said mix a lil oil in their food to help the separation inside them. But they didn't like it so I gave them some tuna instead.
Hmmm hope I didn't write too much. I think it's going to be a great thread though!!

 

[EleanorR]

Awww, your Toodie --

There's something about "senior" cats -- they do just become your soul mates.

 

[sidetrack]

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.

My Aby was my most favorite cat ever and I have had a few different cats in my lifetime. The friendliest cat ever. I truely miss being awaken with his light tap on the nose with his paw every morning. Lost him last year and still miss him every day.
You will never regret an aby....but be prepared to be "owned" and loved. High energy and inquisitive cats.

 

[Loveridden]

Thanks for the tips! I have been cat shopping the past few months and due to random & unexpected financial obligations that keep coming up haven't gotten to get one yet. But in April for SURE we are getting our kitty!! I almost got a Devon Rex but didn't and still regret that. I have mild cat allergies but I do seem to have less or none around black cats it seems so I am probably gonna get a black cat. My son and I are VERY excited and April is the longest we can wait - can't have another month go by before we have our new family member!!

 

[starsong]

Follows me everywhere, even to the loo lol. She will leave the loo only when i reach for the toilet paper.

That cracked me up... Maggy does the same thing. Will "heel" next to me until I reach for the paper, then off she goes.

 

[starsong]

I have mild cat allergies but I do seem to have less or none around black cats it seems so I am probably gonna get a black cat. My son and I are VERY excited and April is the longest we can wait - can't have another month go by before we have our new family member!!

Good luck with your adoption! Just be sure to keep him/her inside around Halloween. They won't even do adoptions of black cats here at that time because it isn't safe for them.

 

[Staceylt40]

Believe it or not the Domestic Shorthairs (most common house cat) are the best to have if you have cat allergies. Not sure why. One of my favorite cat as a child was Manx. She was what I called my tuxedo cat. Black all over except the chest and feet. I hope you find your furbaby. )

Thanks for the tips! I have been cat shopping the past few months and due to random & unexpected financial obligations that keep coming up haven't gotten to get one yet. But in April for SURE we are getting our kitty!! I almost got a Devon Rex but didn't and still regret that. I have mild cat allergies but I do seem to have less or none around black cats it seems so I am probably gonna get a black cat. My son and I are VERY excited and April is the longest we can wait - can't have another month go by before we have our new family member!!

 

[Staceylt40]

Ohhhhh to funny about the restrooms kitties. LOL Jewelz does the same thing. Its like she just knows when I have to pee. lol heaven forbid if I close the door to keep her out. You would think the world was coming to an end. lol

 

[EleanorR]

Follows me everywhere, even to the loo lol. She will leave the loo only when i reach for the toilet paper.

That cracked me up... Maggy does the same thing. Will "heel" next to me until I reach for the paper, then off she goes.

Ohhhhh to funny about the restrooms kitties. LOL Jewelz does the same thing. Its like she just knows when I have to pee. lol heaven forbid if I close the door to keep her out. You would think the world was coming to an end. lol

Heh. "Own a cat: never pee alone."

Not only did my 3 boys all do "potty duty," they also all insisted on lying down on the bath mat just outside the shower door whenever I bathed -- as if to make sure Mommy didn't go down the drain or something!

Have you ever tried to sidestep 3 cats upon exiting the tub, while still managing not to drip water on either them or the floor?

 

[reptilr]

Awe loveridden!!! How exciting!! The month will fly past really quickly.
I used to get a tongue licking my eyeball in the morning, nowadays i wake up with one scratch every few months on my nose....
Hehe everyones kitty's are cracking me up...

 

[marlou]

Good luck with your adoption! Just be sure to keep him/her inside around Halloween. They won't even do adoptions of black cats here at that time because it isn't safe for them.

Once I volunteered at a cat shelter and we wouldn't let black cats leave when we got close to Halloween either. People could adopt them but couldn't pick them up until after Halloween.

I was glad to find out that lots of you have bathroom kitties too. Guess that means my Abby isn't so weird after all. lol
What's so funny is my cat is the one who follows me all around the house, not my dog.

 

[Staceylt40]

LOL Marlou. My Jewelz thinks she is a dog. lol She meets me at the door every evening when I get home and follows me around. She is very opinionated and keeps me on schedule. LOL Even when its bedtime or when SHE thinks I need to go to bed. She will get up on me and paw my cheek. She only does that when she is ready for me to go to bed so she can go with me. lol The most animated cat I have ever had and love her to death. I would be lost without her. )

 

[marlou]

Stacey, I think you'll appreciate this... My cat and dog get along well and I'm sure they actually like each other. But when the dog (a Shih Tzu) gets too playful and pounces on the cat, the cat yowls. Abby (the cat) could easily get out of reach but instead she yowls. I finally figured out why she does that, it's because when she yowls I scold Emma (the dog). It's like taking care of two furry children. lol

 

[Staceylt40]

Oh to funny. You are right...... she could easily get away and out of reach, but she knows she has her human trained. LOL No doubts. Cats are smarter then some give them credit for.

Stacey, I think you'll appreciate this... My cat and dog get along well and I'm sure they actually like each other. But when the dog (a Shih Tzu) gets too playful and pounces on the cat, the cat yowls. Abby (the cat) could easily get out of reach but instead she yowls. I finally figured out why she does that, it's because when she yowls I scold Emma (the dog). It's like taking care of two furry children. lol

 

[chimney55]

Thanks for the tips! I have been cat shopping the past few months and due to random & unexpected financial obligations that keep coming up haven't gotten to get one yet. But in April for SURE we are getting our kitty!! I almost got a Devon Rex but didn't and still regret that. I have mild cat allergies but I do seem to have less or none around black cats it seems so I am probably gonna get a black cat. My son and I are VERY excited and April is the longest we can wait - can't have another month go by before we have our new family member!!

Hi Love,

I "inherited" a cat from my niece who couldn't keep him anymore. (She only kept him a short time because he was growing up abandoned and feral "thanks" to a neighbor. But she had 3 dogs who didn't like cats.) Anyway, Fuzzybutt (in my avatar) is a "russian blue mix". He's an absolute doll and the love of my life. I did a bit of research and it appears that they are sort of "hypoallergenic". A friend of mine was jealous of my kitty and said that she wanted to get one but she had been highly allergic for years to cats. She ended up doing research and finding a russian blue in her area. Long story, short--she ended up adopting one and absolutely loves her! Russian blues have a wonderful disposition! (and are beautiful!)

 

[EleanorR]

Russian Blues (including Fuzzybutt ^^^^) totally ROCK!

Between their fabulous good looks, those gorgeous yellow/green eyes, their awesome disposition, and their low-maintenance coats, they really are "the whole package"!

(Although I'm still in love with furry furry cats that I can't properly care for, like Snowshoes and Ragdolls! Thank heavens the 3 boys I had when I became ill were all low-maintenance short/medium-hair kitties. The one with the most awesome medium-length coat was Drusus: his fur was super soft and shiny, never matted, and felt/looked just like a black mink!)

 

[starsong]

My Maggy is a Snowshoe - best cat ever! Ragdolls look similar and have a great personality, but the longer coat is more than I care to deal with. My family had 2 Siamese that were great cats too. Guess I just love the coloring and those blue eyes.

 

[Staceylt40]

I found a picture of my Gizmo (RIP).

 

[reptilr]

Oh stacey gizmo is gorgeous. Ragdolls are gorgeous but are very expensive here. Its funny really , i never got to choose a cat... They found me in life. My first cat i had when i was 12 ish , a friend brought him to me. His mum got hit by a car and he was left on his own. He would let me pick him up and hug him and he slept me with too. We did everything together until i went overseas for 3 months and big sis had to look after him. Big sis is not into animals. So off he went and dissapeared for three months. Came back home 4 days before i came home.
Found a cute pic for the day!!!
Nope lost the cute pic oh well. I did want to ask though- those of you with senior cats- do you clip their nails?