Postings by Iba's Family

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Iba World's Best- Kitten- Socializer     Purred: Mon May 20, '13 7:35pm PST  My first thought as well, Slyvy. If this cat isn't neutered, he needs to be YESTERDAY. Once that's taken care of, there are two problems I see: territorial insecurity (the pooping, a bit of the yowling) and the yowling itself. Territorial insecurity must be dealt with from within and without. If there are outdoor cats coming into Manuel's territory, either contact a TNR program to trap and neuter them or install some sort of deterrent (motion detection sprinkler) to keep strays out of his yard. Inside the house, give Manuel multiple places he can conquer at different heights--either with wall shelves or scratching posts--so that he can feel like the king of his castle. As for the yowling at all hours, part of that is hormonal (if he isn't neutered), part of it territorial, and part of it excess energy. About an hour before you want to go to bed, play with Manuel for 10-15 minutes (and REALLY play...he should be breathing hard). Then feed him a substantial treat (maybe a can of cat food). He will eat, groom, and then settle down to sleep, probably until you're ready to wake up in the morning. But first and foremost--this sounds like a cat whose hormones are out of control. If he hasn't been neutered, do it. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Trek Monster of- Mayhem     Purred: Wed May 15, '13 8:42pm PST  Two better options than the sock which only further encourages the biting behavior: First--Use wand-type toys. Feathers on sticks are fun and they keep your hands out of harm's way. Second--If she does start biting at you, withdraw your hand and walk away. She'll figure out pretty quickly that she can't get attention through biting and stop. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Cat Health > Not Eating...

Fiyero Mr. Laid-Back     Purred: Sat May 11, '13 7:01am PST  Warm up wet food to release more smell. Try some baby food (make sure it doesn't have any garlic or onions in it--Beechnut and Gerber are both safe). It has more odor than cat food. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Kitten Corner > Those fun electrical cords and me

Trek Monster of- Mayhem     Purred: Fri May 10, '13 12:53pm PST  I have one like this. Trek has destroyed 4 power cords to various things. First, kittens do grow out of this eventually. As for things to help keep kittens from electrocuting themselves, here are a few suggestions" Some specialty pet stores have clear plastic cord covering that is infused with a citrus taste that isn't appealing to cats. You just wrap it around cords and it's cut to fit. Pipe insulation can work for a large bundle of wires, such as around a TV or computer. Bitter Apple spray works on some cats. Spray it on the cords and they may be deterred by the taste, but I also know plenty of cats who are determined enough to deal with the taste The most successful thing I have found is using Sticky Paws (the double sided tape designed to prevent cats from scratching on furniture) on cords. The stickiness of it is not appealing in the least to cats. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Food & Nutrition > Research: what food do you feed and why?

Fiyero Mr. Laid-Back     Purred: Fri May 10, '13 12:16pm PST  I feed Blue Basics Duck and Potato dry--free feed. My cats get 2 cans of canned food nearly every day (equals about 1/2 can per cat), and lots of treats, especially now that we've started clicker training. Canned chicken and ham are particular favorites of theirs for such endeavors. Fiyero also gets (because he's special, also spoiled) a jar of ham or beef baby food a couple of times a week. He feels as though it's his birthright and because he's my NOT problem child, I indulge him. I can't feed anything with chicken or grain because of various gastrointestinal maladies. I would love to feed all canned food, but I can't afford it right now (especially with 4 cats) and frankly, every cat my family has ever owned has lived well past 15 eating dry food, so I'm still not quite on board with the raw diet craze...but that's just me. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Laila Queen Bee     Purred: Wed May 8, '13 2:25pm PST  All animals have certain quirks. If it isn't adversely affecting him, I wouldn't worry too much about it. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Kitten Corner > Not harmful young cat behavior (I think), but 'crazy leg dance?'

Laila Queen Bee     Purred: Wed May 8, '13 2:24pm PST  All animals have certain quirks. If it isn't adversely affecting him, I wouldn't worry too much about it. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Cat Health > What to expect from first vet visit?

Trek Monster of- Mayhem     Purred: Wed May 8, '13 2:23pm PST  Definitely take his shot record with you, including rabies tag number and issuing vet. Please, please, please--for everyone's sake, definitely put the cat in a carrier. You'll be happier, your cat will be happier, the front office staff will actually like you, and your vet will be pleased. Even though it's just a routine checkup, make sure you can answer questions about your cat's bathroom habits (how often is he going, what do his bowel movements look like--the more descriptive the better), eating habits (what kind of food, how often, any people food), energy level (I'm assuming it's pretty high since he's so young), and general disposition. Your vet will do a routine physical exam, meaning he will look at the cat's eyes, ears, and mouth, then start at the head and work his way down to the tail, feeling for anything odd or anything that the cat reacts badly to. Go prepared with any questions you have--either about food or anything else. Be warned...some vets are so beholden to particular pet food companies that you won't get a straight answer. Many, however, are very open to questions and willing to work with you regarding diet questions. Also, if your cat isn't so great with toe nail trims at home, it's probably a good time to deal with that, too. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Behavior & Training > Training motivators

Trek Monster of- Mayhem     Purred: Sun May 5, '13 4:58pm PST  I'm going to start working on clicker training with Trek this week because he has so many stinking bad behaviors that need to be dealt with. I know the most common reward for clicker training is treats, but not only is he not treat motivated, he actually tries to cover up the treats (I use Blue Buffalo Kitty Yums. My other 3 cats fall all over themselves trying to get to them). He's highly play motivated, so I'm thinking that I might try to use a feather toy of some sort (Trekkie LOVES feathers), but I'm not sure. Any suggestions? my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Iba World's Best- Kitten- Socializer     Purred: Sat May 4, '13 5:46pm PST  Are your cats neutered/spayed? If not, do it. My guess is the cat outside is not. If there is a TNR (trap-neuter-return) program in your area, give them a call. They will set out a trap, trap the cat and have him neutered, then return him to the neighborhood. That should cut down in his irritability. If that doesn't work, you might want to consider some sort of motion triggered deterrent (air, water misting, etc) to keep him OUT of your yard. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

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