I just got a kitty

[Professor]

Yes, a kitty. She's an 11 week old black cat. I think I got all the necessities:

- food and water bowl
- food
- litter box
- litter
- pooper scooper for the litter box
- collar
- carrier
- padded bed for the interior of the carrier
- 2 swinging stick toys (1 colored cloth ribbon, 1 feather/bell/light up ball)
- 3 balls
- 1 catnip toy
- nail clippers
- nail files
- nail goop in case of getting too close
- hair brush/comb
- scratching mat
- tags

I already left a message to make an appointment at the vet, they were closed by the time I called. I also switched over the ownership from the pet store to me. I started literbox training.

Anything else? And any advice?

[Leslie]

Congratulations, Professor.

Have you ever lived with a cat before?

[Alonzo]

You should try to find a good 24 hour vet. From my experience, most problems will occur after your normal vet is closed.

[Leslie]

You should try to find a good 24 hour vet. From my experience, most problems will occur after your normal vet is closed.

That's for sure. :madlaugh:

[Professor]

We have an animal hospital.

[Osborn F. Enready]

My best advice Professor... avoid hard food for your kitty. They literally have problems with many of the hardfoods and carbohydrates, especially cheaper foods.(at any age)

I would reccommend a well known brand of soft food that hasn't had recalls over the last few years.

Indoor or outdoor, or both kitty?

If indoor only, I definitely would avoid hard food all together except a bi-monthly serving for tooth cleaning.

I hope you enjoy your new pals companionship.... a good kitty is a great friend if you can establish good trust.

[Stoner]

I was going to get some kitty tonight but she called me earlier with some lame excuse about her husband coming home from his trip 2 days early. Bastard.


Anything else?

Barbecue tongs and charcoal? :peace:

[Alonzo]

My best advice Professor... avoid hard food for your kitty. They literally have problems with many of the hardfoods and carbohydrates, especially cheaper foods.(at any age)

I would reccommend a well known brand of soft food that hasn't had recalls over the last few years.

Indoor or outdoor, or both kitty?

If indoor only, I definitely would avoid hard food all together except a bi-monthly serving for tooth cleaning.

I hope you enjoy your new pals companionship.... a good kitty is a great friend if you can establish good trust.

Maybe it's different with cats, but for dogs, ferrets and most other animals I know of, hard food is superior to wet food, especially when it come to teeth and gums.

[BoogyMan]

Hey professor, cats are awesome. I never thought I would like a cat, but my daughter talked me into letting her have a kitten and ever since then the little guy has needled his way into my heart.

I am now pretty much a die hard cat person.

[ECW]

Pookie will be estatic. Us dog people have no use for them but I am glad it makes you happy. Pick out a decent name for the thing, at least. That could be the saving grace.

[jafar00]

Yeah, where is pookie? She need to know about her latest conquest in the holy war to convert the world into cat people :D

[tecoyah]

Yesterday, at Appox. 11:00 am, the world lost a great feline friend, as 13yr. old Peaches drew her final breath. She was the love of many, bane of birds, and mauler of mice, yet within her was the compassion of the Buddah. Peaches was laid to rest in a private ceremony in the corner of a garden, and given many tears to water the flowers planted on her grave.

She will be terribly missed.

[ECW]

My condolence, man. Losing a pet is never easy. My thoughts will be with you.

[Osborn F. Enready]

Sorry to hear that Tecoyah.........

[Osborn F. Enready]

Alonzo said:
Maybe it's different with cats, but for dogs, ferrets and most other animals I know of, hard food is superior to wet food, especially when it come to teeth and gums.

Thats the problem with cats in regards to hard food.....

Hard food is good for their teeth and gums, but terrible for their digestive system and metabolism.

If you only feed the cat canned food, you may have to brush their teeth for them.

[Truth_and_Power]

Some cats prefer hard food, some soft. My cats eat iams (hard) and will do no more than lick the gravy up from the soft food. Even if they are very hungry because I've run out of food, the will hardly eat any of the soft food. Cats don't like changing food. When you find something good stick with it. If you do switch, don't be surprised if they throw up once or twice when getting used to it. If it continues, try a different kind.

If you are going to let them outside at all, start slowly. First, get them used to inside so they realize where home is. Then go outside with them several times so they used to where home is from an outside perspective. The first time you let them out without going with them, call them and let them back in within a couple hours. Once you get past that, they are 99.9% unlikely to get lost. Then the only issue with outside is rifraff.. other cats mainly, but dogs & raccoons can also be an issue. Even if you're never going to let them out, I personally think it's a good idea to normalize them outside incase they escape.. so they don't get lost. Then again, once you let them out, they will beg forever to do it again. Let the cat have a full life, let it out now and then! Quality > Quantity.

If you have a long or medium hair cat, get some "hairball treats" or some kinda goo that lubricates the stuff. Only other thing youi can do to reduce hairballs is comb them. You will know if they have hairballs because they will vomit them along with some food now and then. Can only be mitigated, not solved.

[Osborn F. Enready]

I wasn't talking about "preference" Truth and Power....

If you look, you can find several studies that show most hard foods are largely undigestable, and can damage cats digestive system. It what they use in making the food, not the fact that its hard.

I haven't looked back in on this for a while, but last I checked those studies against hard food were pretty solid cases.

Hell, I just want whats best for the kitties....hard food, soft food or otherwise.... ;)

I would hate to think I was feeding them something their system didn't like to tolerate.

[tecoyah]

My condolence, man. Losing a pet is never easy. My thoughts will be with you.

Peaches
Sweet and soft this tender love
far more now she is gone
beautiful creature left only in mind
I miss you my kitty
you were warmth
now I feel the chill

[ilikegw]

I have two cats and they annoy me. One is the baby and he's black wearing a tuxedo (white chest, wearing tube socks and mittens) and the other guy is all black. The baby is a freak and is always on the attack and the big one is an old fart who just lays around and does nothing. I wanted females..... no such luck.... :(

[ilikegw]

Yesterday, at Appox. 11:00 am, the world lost a great feline friend, as 13yr. old Peaches drew her final breath. She was the love of many, bane of birds, and mauler of mice, yet within her was the compassion of the Buddah. Peaches was laid to rest in a private ceremony in the corner of a garden, and given many tears to water the flowers planted on her grave.

She will be terribly missed.

Aww, RIP Peaches. My son lost his buddy last October and he was devestated.

[Wndrtch]

Yes, a kitty. She's an 11 week old black cat. I think I got all the necessities:

- food and water bowl
- food
- litter box
- litter
- pooper scooper for the litter box
- collar
- carrier
- padded bed for the interior of the carrier
- 2 swinging stick toys (1 colored cloth ribbon, 1 feather/bell/light up ball)
- 3 balls
- 1 catnip toy
- nail clippers
- nail files
- nail goop in case of getting too close
- hair brush/comb
- scratching mat
- tags

I already left a message to make an appointment at the vet, they were closed by the time I called. I also switched over the ownership from the pet store to me. I started literbox training.

Anything else? And any advice?

Yeah, rip up all your rugs, and replace them with Pergo. That way, when the cat pukes, shits, pisses, it's easier to clean up. They also can't sharpen their claws on Pergo like they will do on your rugs.

Also, get Nature's Miracle odor removal. If/When the cat pisses or sprays, it's great at getting most of the stink out. It breaks down the enzymes.

As far as indoor/outdoor goes, our cats are "indoor" cats (not that they don't get out once in a while), because we get a little traffic, and we have some cyotes in the area.

[Professor]

She's an "indoor" cat, but LOTS of energy. I'm amazed, even the puppy plays with her for 30 minutes then wants a 4 hour nap. But she spends more time playing than napping.

She seems to like semi hard food, it's the kind she "came with." The shop sent her with a bag, the kind she had been eating and a lot of coupons for refills. She's been eating that.

My sister bought her another collar, a bed, and a few bells. The cat is spoiled. I also think she grew and her neck is thicker.

[ilikegw]

My kitten was a maniac for the first few months after we got him. he refused to sleep, wanted to play after midnight and was so wired he was practically climbing the walls. Now he is so lazy (he turned 1 last week) and he sleeps most of the day. When he's rambunctious, he chases the kids all around the house then passes out for a loooong nap.

[Osborn F. Enready]

Hope you have fun with your new kitty Professor. ;)

[Professor]

I promised pictures....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/princesskite.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/PadaungKite2.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/kitelounging.jpg

[BoogyMan]

Now that is an adorable kitty, professor! I hope that you have made a friend for many years.

[Buck Laser]

Professor, congratulations on getting the kitty. I don't understand it, but congratulations anyway. I have been a dog person all my life, and I've watched so many people in my family get therapy from dogs.

Hell, the fact is that I'd probably have a cat if my wife liked them. Her mother scared her away from them when she was a little girl, so we've never had one. I did have a cat that took up residence in my bike shop many years back, but he liked to sleep on my computer keyboard. And one day I caught him making long distance calls to his girlfriend in Buenos Aire, so I fired him.

[Osborn F. Enready]

Cute kitty..... I like the all black ones like that.

He looks comfy and at peace with you pointing a camera at him, so you must be establishing some trust. ;)

[preservanation]

Awwww.
cats.

Is that a female?
Get her fixed.
Female cat's are notorious sluts...specially a beauty like that one.
Meeeeyow!

[Professor]

Yep, she's a she. Her name is Kite, but we call her Princess Kite because I had her less than 15 minutes and she was already so spoiled. As it is she is going to be 3 months old on tuesday and whenever people come over to see us, they bring her a toy. I always say, "No! A toy BOX!" She has so many toys, and at least two of everything, it's ridiculous.

We haven't gotten her fixed yet, she's still too young. When she's old enough she will be.

[CockySOB]

Don't forget to give her cheezburgers... lots of cheezburgers!

http://icanhascheezburger.com

[preservanation]

Yep, she's a she. Her name is Kite, but we call her Princess Kite because I had her less than 15 minutes and she was already so spoiled. As it is she is going to be 3 months old on tuesday and whenever people come over to see us, they bring her a toy. I always say, "No! A toy BOX!" She has so many toys, and at least two of everything, it's ridiculous.

We haven't gotten her fixed yet, she's still too young. When she's old enough she will be.My good pal, the esteemed prof....get the * fixed.
Seriously.
It is a nano-second from which one become a reluctant cat owner to a kitten-broker.

[Blueneck]

Two pieces of advice.

First: Frontline Plus. One large dog dose = 3 cat doses, per my vet. This will save you quite a bit of money.

Second: Even if you don't let them outside they can get warbles (botfly larva) so if you see a small puncture wound in the neck or head area that doesn't heal and keeps getting bigger from underneath, do the vet quickly. I've had two cats that got that. It's really gross.

We just gave away two kittens yesterday. We still have two left, both polydactyls. They'll probably be gone before tomorrow.

I'm a big believer in having more than one cat as they keep each other company and watching kitty WWF and combat maneuvers is great entertainment.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa62/Cindyville_photo/DSCF0015.jpg

The orange one and the gray tabby are gone. :sadly:

[Osborn F. Enready]

CockySOB said:
Don't forget to give her cheezburgers... lots of cheezburgers!

http://icanhascheezburger.com


ROFLMAO at the link pics!

[Professor]

I'm a big believer in having more than one cat as they keep each other company and watching kitty WWF and combat maneuvers is great entertainment.



I already want another one, my argument being we have two of everything! It would be a white male (after she is fixed of course) named Alexei. My sister just shakes her head everytime I suggest it. She still tells me I can't even keep myself alive and should have started out on something smaller like a houseplant. :lmao:

[preservanation]

This is great....we took two of our felines to the Humane society to get spayed because they do it a lot earlier than a vet would (after they give birth)...but the crazy people cut half their ear off for ID.
Basically mutilated them.
Oh, well....effin subsidized medicine.

[Professor]

This is great....we took two of our felines to the Humane society to get spayed because they do it a lot earlier than a vet would (after they give birth)...but the crazy people cut half their ear off for ID.


ARE YOU SERIOUS?! THAT IS INSANE!!!!!

[Professor]

Taken today...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/Alltiedup-1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/Kitelayingonhercatnip-1.jpg

[preservanation]

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! THAT IS INSANE!!!!!Hoooo, Boy, is it!
We were pissed!.

They used to "notch" them....now they take a pinking shears to 'em.
2" of ear gone.
Sadists.

Trade off I guess.
It was state/county subsidised, cheap and they would break the rules for spaying a cat who just gave birth.
I guess a half of an ear has replaced a pound of flesh in these modern days.

[ECW]

Still no name for the thing? Poor kitty...

[Professor]

Her name is Kite, but we call her Princess Kite...

Yep, she has a name ECW. My 13 year old sister named her. She said she had always wanted a black cat and a cat named Kite so we were able to get both!

[Professor]

More pics (I'll eventually stop spamming)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/ihatethecamera.jpg
^^^^
Taken 2 weeks ago I woke her up with the flash and she was PISSED!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/chesterandkite.jpg
^^^^
That's my sister's feet, her and the dog Chester all playing.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/Kitekillingcatnip.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/Kiteandcatnip4.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Mere85/Kiteandcatnip5.jpg

[Pookie]

Awwwwww! What a cutie! So glad for you, Prof. Love this!

Tecoyah, I am so sorry for your loss of Peaches. It's awful to lose a pet, and I am so sorry.
Purrs,
Pookie