THE NEW CAT ROOM! (or the Cat Room #2)

Fitz was neutered quite young, around 6 months old. Because his personality was still developing, I suppose you could say that his aggressiveness came despite the neutering. He was also a big boy, a 22-pounder. And he never saw a dog that he couldn't take, so he thought. We rescued several small dogs from him, and intervened with several large ones. Luckily for us, Fitz never learned to climb fences so most of his days were spent peacefully in our large back yard.

Maybe you met Fitz! No I never put him on medication, nor was it ever suggested. And actually taking him to the vet's was a bit of a trial for me -- I often felt like the mother of a badly misbehaving kid.

Tico,

Oh I know! I feel so guilty sometimes taking the cats to the vet. But, it has to be done. I have one cat that is very fearful of the vet. He had his eye removed the first time he went and I think he's afraid of losing more parts or something. So, he has to be medicated to go. He's usually ok after an hour or so of coming home.

Cats are very unique creatures. Each with their very own personality. I don't think I've ever met two cats exactly alike yet.

I've never had the chance to to live with a cat before. It's a very different situation when they're living with you. I've realized just how intelligent they are, it's amazing.

You'll be amazed how quickly they develop the skills to manipulate you!

Life will be easier if you just do as you're told!

So true Margo. So true.

yes, definitely have him neutered or he'll be very antisocial to live with, spraying and territory marking

He'll be just as wild when neutered and playful - Paddy is a little tearaway, (so is Rosie) and Timmy was always very playful. Paddy has come home several times carrying a pigeon nearly as big as himself and stands up to local cats, making friends with most of them though.

Don't let him bite and scratch you or you'll regret it - I had to make Rosie stop as her teeth would just scrunch straight through my skin (she was only playing and over excited but it HURT! and bled copiously!) It was alright when she was tiny but as her teeth grew - ouch! She was very put out at not having so much fun but learnt.

The clawing when he's on your knee - is that along with purring happily and what we call 'playing the piano'? rather than scratching like on a scratching post? if so it's sheer happiness (and painful!) I used to put a cushion under Timmy's paws if he did that.

They truly are amazing creatures, Erymil. They never cease to surprise me.

I have an announcement!!!!!!!!! Yesterday Felina, the torty Calico, had three babies! This morning while Felina was away from her kittens, Katarina crawled in the basket and had one of her own! So now, the four little babies have two mommas that are sharing momma duties! This picture isn't great but hopefully you can see some of the babies!

That's adorable, Momma. I'm butta'. I can make out one little baby head. So sweet!

Do you have a lot of kittens running around?

I only have seven little kittens at the shelter now, flushd. I have three more cats here that were pregnant when they got here. Burt right now, there are seven babies.

I just adopted out two cats! woo hoo!

Hi all

Just dropping in to say hello after a few nights of report writing & a few days of work, all at the same time. A bit of a wobbly time, with a cold to contend with as well. Phew! I'm very relieved to have those reports finished & to be off work for the rest of the week! I will sleep very soundly tonight!

Anyway, Ms Poppsie/Flossy (any takers for Floss/Flossie?) did NOT take at all well to being ignored for a computer screen! Not at all! So last night she decided it was time to get my undivided attention. She sneaked up & planted a paw (with extended claw!) into my thigh as I was attempting to type away. Not once, but three times! Each time I'd get up, only to have her sort of frolic in the general direction of the bedroom. (It's cool this week & the bed is warm & her favourite place to be!) Once she & I arrived there she was as nice as pie! Ms Charming. What a manipulator, hey?

[quote="Eryemil]I've never had the chance to to live with a cat before. It's a very different situation when they're living with you. I've realized just how intelligent they are, it's amazing.[/quote]

Dammit.

Now the man is nearly utterly perfect!

Ah. She has commenced the training program, then.

She certainly has, Deb!

Dammit.

Now the man is nearly utterly perfect![/quote]



Welcome, Eryemil!

In my humble opinion no intelligent man (or woman) is complete without the company if a cat! You are in extremely good company in respecting these incredible creatures! They are smart!

very successfully too by the sounds of it. Glad you are feeling better and now have time off.

Hmmmmm .... Week 4 of Ms Poppy/Flossie's residency at the Ms Olga Pet Motel. I'm having my doubts about letting her sample the great outdoors this coming weekend. She's still quite jumpy from time to time, though fine, the rest. I'm seriously wondering if a couple more weeks of incarceration is required?

msolga,

Does she try to get outside at all? If a cat here at the shelter really tries to get out all the time, I won't let them. They will usually run. You might try taking her out for a few minutes at a time with you.

That was the idea, MA. Short samplings of the garden, in my company. Slowly building up to independence & the of use of the cat door (locked at the moment). No, she doesn't try to bolt. But she's very interested in the bird life she can see through the front & back flywire doors. A firm "No!" works if she gets a little too close to the doors as I come & go through them.

My girls had a hair-raising adventure last evening. One of them--not sure which one--popped out the screen in the back bedroom window and jumped out. The other two followed.

My girls are strictly indoor cats! As soon as I discovered the popped out screen, I looked out and saw my oldest girl standing in the yard looking rather confused. I called her and she ran right to the window. The window was way too high off the ground for her to jump back in. She's old and carrying a lot of extra weight and her jumping ability isn't what they used to be.

I rushed outside to get my old calico and my old tabby came walking around the corner of the house crying like crazy. Every hair on her short-haired body was standing on end. She was scared! I grabbed her and scooted her in the back door. I ran back for the calico, and she was scared too. I grabbed her and helped her back through the open window and then I snapped the screen back in place.

But, I couldn't find my youngest girl! I called and called and called to no avail. I ran inside to call my man. He's out of state with his dad on another buying trip for the store and I was in panic mode. My man calmed me down and told me to take her jingly toy outside and jingle it--and to take her snack container outside and shake it. She always comes running when she hears her the "play time" and "snack time" noises.

So that's what I did. I was crazy lady, running around my back yard shaking bells and a snack container and calling my kitty's name. Finally, I heard her meow from the other side of the neighbor's 6-foot high wood fence. She couldn't find her way back to our yard.

Don't tell anyone . . . but I found a piece of fencing that was broken near the ground and held in place by a single nail . . . and I pushed on it until the nail came loose and the broken piece of fencing was removed. A doorway back to our yard was opened up and she came running through it! Well, my trapped cat was far more important than his broken fence!

I cannot believe my girls jumped through that window. They are strictly indoor cats. They love to sit in the window, watch the birdies, and breath the fresh sping air through the screen . . . but they are scaredy cats. I can understand the young one being adventurous and jumping out the window . . . but the old ones? They were terrified once they got outside and didn't dare to venture very far. They were so happy to be rescued from the big scary outdoors. Was it a case of monkey see -- monkey do?

Debra Law,

I am so happy you found your babies! How scared and worried you must have been.

The cats that are "indoor cats" here at the shelter may go to the window or the door and look out, but they haven't tried to go out. I couldn't even venture a guess as to why yours did that.

The only one "indoor cat" that has even walked on the porch is my three-legged cat, Max. He loves to go outside and lay in the sun. So, I try to take him out there a few times a week.

Msolga,

Good luck on your kitties. You seem to be an awesome mommy to them!