Show us your pets!

[SLash]

Thanks, she's an indoor cat and that is the closest she has ever been to a bird - its a video with sound so had her kind of puzzled and frustrated I'm sure!

[Zen]

When I had cats, they loved to watch a VHS tape called "Video Catnip". Nothing but birds and squirrels at feeders. They were always indoor cats but they were still mesmerized.

[badger]

I just found out that I'll be fostering this girl starting Thursday! She's another of the Taiwan rescues, I was there at the airport on Sunday to help greet her and 10 other dogs. She went to a foster home, but it didn't work out with their other dog so they asked if I'd take her. Oh, such a slippery slope with this face!!

[Red Rock]

This is our "new" house cat. We have had her for about a week, now. She is still adjusting. When we got her, after being quarantined by a person that my DH works with, she was 6 lbs. After a week, I think she has gained one pound. When she was more comfortable she really started to eat like crazy.

This has been a whole new education for me. How to take care of a cat. I have been looking into food and nutrion for cats and learning a lot on the forum, too.

Any ideas for a newb cat owner?

[Trekhawk]

I just found out that I'll be fostering this girl starting Thursday! She's another of the Taiwan rescues, I was there at the airport on Sunday to help greet her and 10 other dogs. She went to a foster home, but it didn't work out with their other dog so they asked if I'd take her. Oh, such a slippery slope with this face!!

Oh what a cutie!

[tulip]

Red Rock, that cat has attitude! I'd by worried that I'd step on her on that white floor. Have fun with her. Get a Furminizer and brush her; most cats love that and it will reduce the shedding in your house.

[annielynn]

My Kitty!

[bmccasland]

RedRock - with a longhaired cat, you definitely will need to brush her, and she's beautiful! Or you'll learn about the dreaded hairballs.

Cats are obligate carnivores - must eat meat, don't eat or digest carbs very well. So with that thought in mind, the the http://www.felinediabetes.com/diet.htm website has some interesting links to cat nutrition. Basically cheap cat food is BAD.

I have two elderly cats, both with nutritionally related diseases, that I don't know if I fed them differently they would be healthier now or not. They ate ScienceDiet most of their lives, which I thought was good for them. Still high in carb count. Or it could just be an elderly cat thing.

Still your kitty is beautiful, may you have may happy years together. Catnip mice are lovely toys.

[tulip]

When I had cats growing up in the 70s and 80s, we fed them what was available, which was cheap-o Purina dry food. But they were farm cats and they supplemented that with plenty of mice and birds and lizards and crickets. They also got plenty of exercise and were always trim and healthy. Fudge lived to be 21, Khin-lin was 18, Marblehead was 20, and Vronsky was 15.

But if you have indoor cats, you have to feed them high-quality food. A raw diet is very much preferred for healthy, happy, and appropriate-weight cats, but not everyone is inclined to do that. So get the best food you can and give them plenty of opportunities for exercise (climbing towers and feather toys and that awesome ball-racetrack that BleekerSt Girl has for her munchkin).

[Red Rock]

bmccasland, tulip thank you for your help. I have been reading the Tortilla cat thred and this got me thinking....I have visited and read the catinfo.org page that was recommened. Yesterday, I called the vet, since I am a newb at this whole cat thing. They, ( I spoke with a tech NOT the vet) suggested that I stay with the IAMS brand of dry food. I then went and did some research on IAMS and they look no different than the chepo brands of cat food. They are still high in the carbs and low in proteins. (I hope I am not hijacking this thread, please forgive me if I am.) I need to get this cat up to weight 8-10 pounds before getting shots. What am I to do ? I also do not want this cat to become overweight. My DH and I are thinking of getting a harness so we can take her for a walk around the neighborhood when she is more relaxed.

What is a Furminizer? I have never heard of that. What does it do? Where do you get one?

Thank you for your help.

Red Rock

[7rider]

What is a Furminizer? I have never heard of that. What does it do? Where do you get one?

I'm not sure, but I think she meant a Furminator.

My vet sells them, and I've seen them at PetsMart (chain pet supply store).

p.s. That cat looks like she really knows who the boss is in the house (hint: and it's not you!).

[TsPoet]

They, ( I spoke with a tech NOT the vet) suggested that I stay with the IAMS brand of dry food. I then went and did some research on IAMS and they look no different than the chepo brands of cat food. They are still high in the carbs and low in proteins. (I hope I am not hijacking this thread, please forgive me if I am.)

What is a Furminizer? I have never heard of that. What does it do? Where do you get one?

Thank you for your help.

Red Rock

Iams supports vets. Go into any vets office and 99% of the time if they carry food and the like, it will be Iams brand. IMHO Iams is marginally better than the big-box food, but only marginally. The vets ought to know better, the tech is probably repeating the Iams reps propaganda. The vet might very well parrot the company propaganda, too, since there is a sponsorship thing Iams has with them.
Again, IMHO, if you want to feed Iams, save some money and feed the cheapo stuff. If you want to spend Iams type money, buy something better.
Beautiful cat. Feeding her and loving her are good ideas, but I wouldn't worry about fattening her up specifically - with the proper care that will happen anyone. And, if it doesn't, that will mean another vet visit

[MartianDestiny]

bmccasland, tulip thank you for your help. I have been reading the Tortilla cat thred and this got me thinking....I have visited and read the catinfo.org page that was recommened. Yesterday, I called the vet, since I am a newb at this whole cat thing. They, ( I spoke with a tech NOT the vet) suggested that I stay with the IAMS brand of dry food. I then went and did some research on IAMS and they look no different than the chepo brands of cat food. They are still high in the carbs and low in proteins. (I hope I am not hijacking this thread, please forgive me if I am.) I need to get this cat up to weight 8-10 pounds before getting shots. What am I to do ? I also do not want this cat to become overweight. My DH and I are thinking of getting a harness so we can take her for a walk around the neighborhood when she is more relaxed.

What is a Furminizer? I have never heard of that. What does it do? Where do you get one?

Thank you for your help.

Red Rock

Vets get paid to recommend certain brands (either directly or indirectly). Science Diet is another brand that does this and it's despicable. You are right, Iams is "the cheap stuff" with better packaging/advertising so it's more expensive. I hate to say it, but don't trust your vet, do your own research and make your own decision. My friend (who was feeding "Taste of the Wild, which is a raw dry food and very good) just recently had a vet recommend Science Diet supposedly to rule out food allergy issues....the dog spent 4 days at an emergency vet and almost died (not directly related to the food, but still, it was absurd to think that Science diet would be better than raw).

I have dogs (not cats) and feed Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul (yes, a food, not the book ). It's still dry food, and it's not the best, but it is much much better than the Petigree/Iams/Science Diet/Beneful stuff (first ingredients are NAMED meats not "chicken byproduct") and fits somewhere in between on the price scale as well (I just can't justify/afford the best of the best raw diets for a voracious eater on a grad student budget). They do make a cat food as well, may be worth looking into.

[Red Rock]

This is a very loving cat. It may not show it in the pic, but she is. She has just been around in may places with no one to love her and just be nice and take care of her. She was found apparently in the middle of a traffic circle here in town. When my DH and co-worker saw her in the pound she was black from dirt and road dust ..etc.

I had a feeling that IAMS and others supported the vets. So what is one to do? You would think that, of all people, they would want to give the "proper advice". I guess when 1/2 your money is coming from selling the food, there is not much else they can do. Oh, well.

Thank you for the information on the Furminator. I will check it out. It would have been nice to have one of those with our golden retriver when I was growing up. We would get a ton of hair off that dog.

So as far as getting her to weight...what do you all suggest? I have been giving her dry food at this point. The amount I do not know, and she is free feeding at this point. That was what the vet suggested. What other places should I look for getting better food?

Thank you,
Red Rock

[tulip]

Right, Furminator, of course. Blame it on my bike crash...

A furminator is a great (but pricey) special comb/brush thingy. My dog loves it, and I gave one to my mom for her dogs and cats, and they line up for it when she takes it out. It will reduce shedding and reduce hairballs, which once you experience a hairball you will not think twice about spending $ to reduce them. The cat-sized furminators are about $25 at Petsmart-type stores.

Stay away from Iams, etc. I don't have cats anymore, so I'm not up on the good brands, but there's plenty of good advice given here.