Advice for new cat owners?

carnation · #1 10-03-2004, 10:51 PM

So we are the proud new owners of 2 kitties. BlazerCheer rescued a gutsy little calico from a culvert and Fifth Daughter rescued a Siamese/Burmese from this weird lady with 19 cats in a tiny house.

Does anyone have any tips? Mr. C. and I haven't had cats since our teen years. Is there anything that cats love?How can we keep them healthy and happy?

I might add that these 2 rescued two kittens last year. We gave them to a Kappa in Birmingham and her vet was like WHOA, those kittens are part or all bobcat!

phisigduchesscv · #2 10-04-2004, 12:50 AM

Get some scratching posts and place them around the house. Make sure that you take the kittens over to the post every so oftern during the day and move their paws on the post in a scratching fashion. This will save your furniture in the long run.

Get a squirt bottle filled with water and use that to discipline the kittens if they are doing something you don't want them to. But only squirt them if you catch them in the act. If you punish them after the fact they won't know what they are being punished for.

buy some little balls to roll around and have them chase after. From what I've been told catnip doesn't affect kittens. so when they are a little older get some catnip mice for them. You may be able to train them to play fetch with the catnip mice - my siamese loves to play fetch.

If you can, buy or build them a "kitty condo" that they can play on, sleep on, and if covered with carpet - scratch on. My cats go through phases but usually there is one sleeping on the condo

tunatartare · #3 10-04-2004, 01:21 AM

Be sure to clip their nails every day! When I had a cat, it was my dad's daily ritual after work to come home, clip her nails and brush her hair for a good 15 minutes or so. I miss that furball.

thetalady · #4 10-04-2004, 02:46 AM

1. Be sure that they like their litterbox & litter! Very very important. It must be kept extremely clean to get them to use it reliably. Until they are about 4 months old, DO NOT USE CLUMPING LITTER! Use plain clay litter. Kittens play in their litter & can ingest quite a bit of litter from licking their paws. This will drop off as they age.

Take a look at the following for excellent articles:

http://cats.about.com/od/kittencare/

2. Next, please, please, please do not declaw them

It can cause a lifetime of problems. Learn to clip their nails, provide them with good climbing/scratching posts that are very very stable. This will give them an accepable place to scratch & stretch their muscles. The crappy carpeted post on a square base is worthless. Don't bother with Ebay either. The shipping is outrageous.

3. Feed them high quality kitten food... this means NOTHING from the grocery store. Royal Canin, Felidae, Chicken Soup, Innova, and Wellness make wonderful dry food. Nutro is an acceptable brand that is easier to find. Do not feed cats dog food. Do not give them cow's milk. Many cats cannot tolerate it.

4. MOST IMPORTANT.... get the little darlings spayed or neutered ASAP! The calico is a female, so she should be spayed by about 3-4 months. I don't know the sex of the Siamese mix, but I bet the same 3-4 month guideline will work.

FYI, my SIX cats have trained me well as to their requirements!

Good luck!

mmcat · #5 10-04-2004, 07:14 AM

talk to them a lot by name...and lots of positive attention.

angelove · #6 10-04-2004, 02:34 PM

Ditto thetalady on the declawing. It's harmful to cats - it throws off their balance and there are other issues.

If you have blinds on your windows, tuck the strings away - cats can hang themselves on the cords. Put rubberbands away where the kitties can't get to them - also a choking hazard. Keep the toilet lids down - kittens can fall in and drown (plus it has the added benefit of ending all those up vs. down debates with the men in the house).

It's essentially like babyproofing your house, except you have to do it at all levels because the kittens can jump.

Take lots of pictures and post them on GC! What are their names?

shultzz · #7 10-04-2004, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnation
Fifth Daughter rescued a Siamese/Burmese from this weird lady with 19 cats in a tiny house.

Valkyrie?

KSigkid · #8 10-04-2004, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shultzz
Valkyrie?

You're back?

Rudey · #9 10-04-2004, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
You're back?

GC Hall of Fame dude...hall of fame.

-Rudey

KSigkid · #10 10-04-2004, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
GC Hall of Fame dude...hall of fame.

-Rudey

We should start a thread, have an induction class or something like that

valkyrie · #11 10-04-2004, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shultzz
Valkyrie?

Yo homes, I only have 18 cats.

carnation · #12 10-04-2004, 08:29 PM

Nah, it's not valkyrie. I don't think that valkyrie would let her cats be chomped up by fleas and ear mites like these babies were.

valkyrie · #13 10-05-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnation
Nah, it's not valkyrie. I don't think that valkyrie would let her cats be chomped up by fleas and ear mites like these babies were.

You might want to get them the coolest cat toy ever invented, the cat dancer. They're cheap and cats go nuts for them.

Jill1228 · #14 10-05-2004, 12:37 PM

You have gotten some real good advice here! I too am SO not down with declawing!

Oh yeah, Calicos have attitudes! I have one
I guess naming my cats Thelma and Louise might have something to do with that!

Good for you for rescuing the cats...both of mine are rescue too. Before I rescued my 2, I never had cats (my parents are the Anti-Cat!)

absoluteZChi · #15 10-08-2004, 01:41 AM

I have two kittens (Mr. Neo Anderson & Agent Smith)...my BF is really into the Matrix...ya think!

Well all the above advice is what you need to know. Lots of love and keeping that litter box clean!

Now...I know alot of people are saying to stay away from declawing...that's a big taboo with cat lovers...but I have had both of mine declawed. I've discussed with with my vet and he has cats of his own and they are declawed. I know everyone can give me reasons why it shouldn't be done and I can show you two healthy cats. BUT its a personal decision for everyone.

If you don't want to go down that road, I agree that you have to get your kittens into the habit of getting their nails clipped. It has to become normal to them, so start doing it often, even it you just go through the motions of clipping. You can also save your furniture between clipping by using these plastic "tips" that go over their claws. They don't hurt them and can be found at any Petsmart.

Toys - you can buy all the toys YOU think are cute, but your cats will play with things you might have around the house!...getting a 12 pack of beer or pop? Don't throw out the box. Put a ball that's somewhat hard to get out and they will have a ball.
You know those knee-hi's that you get at Walgrees that come in a round plastic container for about $.50...put a penny in there, seal it and they will go nuts!!