Kitty advice

[bmccasland]

Congratulations on the new addition to your family!

Just because she's declawed, it won't stop her from trying. I have a woven market bag that my one declawed kitty loves to try to "shred". I ought to try a sisal post for her.

Look forward to pictures of your new family member, with Heidi of course!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Amanda- sounds like you got really lucky!!! What a perfect cat for you guys!
She's one year old so some of the craziest kitten stage is over with but she's still very young and playful and adaptable....dog likes her, DH likes her...
...and best of all you can feel really good about adopting a shelter cat that needed a home. Now another homeless desperate kitty will get her spot at the shelter and a chance at finding a home.

[Andrea]

I'm glad I saw this post! We're thinking about adopting a cat soon. I've been looking on Petfinder and found these two at a local rescue group:

Parker
Tigger

Either of them sounds good since both ads mention that they get along with dogs & we've got two. The litter advice is interesting. I was wondering what would be best as far a cost/odor control/ease of use. Sounds like the natural stuff may be the way to go.

[Biciclista]

pictures! pictures! congratulations on the new kitty!

[badger]

congratulations!!

my parents recently adopted a manx kitty - he runs up and down their hallway like a speedster; they're sure built for speed!!

[Kathi]

I'm so glad you found a kitty. She sounds perfect and by adopting from a shelter you saved a life.

Scratching is normal behavior for cats. My declawed kitties loved the side of my couch. They didn't damage it like they would have if they had claws but I should have provided more for them to scratch on.

My new cat (with claws) loves this, http://www.catsplay.com/smartcat_post.php3 but also loves the carpet on her kitty tree and the regular rope sisal.

[Tuckervill]

I got to thinking...my one cat that we raised from a kitten, he grew up "making biscuits" on my chest (kneading). He doesn't scratch my skin if he can help it, but just in case I always try to put a quilt or pillow between his claws and my skin. (He still has to do it once or twice a day, at 7 years old.) But the quilt that he usually kneads on has never been torn or scratched up. It's almost like he knows better than to tear up the quilt. It's very cute to see him fall asleep while he is kneading, as if he was a kitty at his mama's side.

Karen

[jesvetmed]

Aggie: I'm so happy for you and also for your brand new kitty! Way to go adopting! Can't wait to see what he looks like!

[smilingcat]

Really happy for you. And big cheer for adopting a cat. It was meant to be. poor guy with no claws and your DH not wanting furniture to be scratched. Also have a really good excuse for not letting him out. (not that you need excuse to have an indoor only cat).

[Aggie_Ama]

I will have to try to snap pictures tonight, she is a cute little thing. We named her TORTILLA. Yes, it is weird. She looks like turtle ice cream (dark brown, light brown, mostly white) and I told my friend I might call her Tortuga. My friend said "you are naming her Tortilla?" I thought it was funny and so did DH so Tortilla is her name.

She is limping, they think it is from the injections they gave her at the shelter but just to be safe she is going to see our vet tomorrow. I hope it is nothing too bothersome for her.

She does have one really weird flaw I am hoping to break... When she is scared or nervous, she retreats to her litter box! We have one of those hooded ones and both nights she did it. Luckily it was post cleaning but I am going to look for a pet bed. I don't want her sleeping in her potty!

[Kathi]

She's not settled yet and still needs a secure place. When I got my cat I took cardboard boxes and made a cutout on one side for her to get into and turned them upside down. We have hardwood floors so I put lots of towels under them and some catnip. I put the boxes in every room she went into. Whenever she needed a secure place that's where she went. After a few months she abandoned the boxes.

I bought her a nice covered bed but no way would she use it. This winter I couldn't find her, typical kitty she was curled up in the bed. It only took 8 mos for her to discover it.

[Biciclista]

yes, once she gets used to you and your home, she will quit hiding in the litterbox. I agree that you ought to give her some cleaner options for hideouts.

[jesvetmed]

My foster kitty liked to hide, and I got her a "tent" with a bed inside. She LOVED it ! Ended up being her normal bed and she would "put herself to bed" every night at 10p! It went with her to the new home.

[Aggie_Ama]

Just a few snaps of our new baby. I bought her a hooded bed to test out and will look around I still have boxes from moving 3 years ago! I will have to get some more pictures, you can't tell how stumpy her adorable little tail is. She is the most vocal cat I have ever had, she meows and purrs like crazy. Yesterday DH caught her rubbing on Heidi like cats do to humans, I think they like each other enough.

[Blueberry]

She's beautiful!! Congratulations!!

I have always had indoor kitties - I strongly advise against outdoor life (I know it's a non-issue for Tortilla, but still....). Outdoor kitties are quite often nuisances to neighbors (I love kitties, but I'm really tired of the neighbors' kitty turds in my veggie garden) and it's really dangerous for them out there. Cars, owls, fights, etc. They really can be well-adjusted and indoor only.

As far as litter - we have found a strong preference for the silica litter. It lasts a long time (at least 3 weeks per jug for one cat), and there's really NOT much smell (and when it starts, it's time to change it). It doesn't track saw dust like the pine litter, and doesn't make clay slicks on the floor like the clay litter.

CA