Feline Friends

[Robor007 0]

Science Diet was recommended to me by my vet. That's what I've fed him his entire life - dry only. I must admit I do give him treats though. He loves little scraps of lunch meat, grilled chicken, beef jerky, fish, etc.

I skimmed the thread and maybe I missed it but I didn't see anyone recommend a brush. Cats shed - a lot. Minimize it as much as you can by brushing him/her.

Maybe I shouldn't mention it but my cat is declawed. He is 100% indoors so he doesn't need them for defense. The only time he goes out is if he's going to the vet and he's in a carrier then. I've had cats both ways and with just fronts removed and I will not own a cat with claws again. I've had too many things destroyed and received too many wicked scratches while playing with them. Call me cruel but the way I see it the cat is better off getting a declaw surgery than getting put down.

[Mags 112]

i read somewhere recently that soft food is better for cats. i'll have to look up the link.

If you feed them soft food only you are asking for tons of problems with their teeth. ANY problem with s cat's teeth has to be carried out under anesthetic=expensive.

I always use dried food. It's fine, as long as you have a plentiful supply of fresh water. I use Purina Kitty Chow and Purina Urinary Tract dried foods for my cats. It was recommended by the vets and has worked wonders for their coats too.

Science Diet is also highly recommended...if you can find it!

[Lou Lou 1]

My personal choice is to not feed with dry food. Most of them are full of fillers and carbs and not very close to their natural diet. I have just recently adopted a cat who is 10 years old and had been on a dry food diet. She was 3lb overweight (a lot for a cat), had very dry fir and often ill almost monthly with infections. In 4 months she has lost just over 1lb (again, good and slow weight loss for a cat), her coat is shiny and thick, and she hasn't had any infections. I treat my cat how I would treat myself -- the best food, exercise and attention I can afford.

The declawing situation like many have said is a form of amputation. It also affects them mentally and is just bad, bad, bad.

Edited March 6, 2007 by Lou Lou

[Mags 112]

Science Diet was recommended to me by my vet. That's what I've fed him his entire life - dry only. I must admit I do give him treats though. He loves little scraps of lunch meat, grilled chicken, beef jerky, fish, etc.

I skimmed the thread and maybe I missed it but I didn't see anyone recommend a brush. Cats shed - a lot. Minimize it as much as you can by brushing him/her.

Maybe I shouldn't mention it but my cat is declawed. He is 100% indoors so he doesn't need them for defense. The only time he goes out is if he's going to the vet and he's in a carrier then. I've had cats both ways and with just fronts removed and I will not own a cat with claws again. I've had too many things destroyed and received too many wicked scratches while playing with them. Call me cruel but the way I see it the cat is better off getting a declaw surgery than getting put down.

I WILL call you cruel. Putting YOUR needs before the cats. Heartless. Selfish. If you don't want furniture ruined, don't own a cat. Simple.

Edited March 6, 2007 by mags

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

A great place for cat trees is http://www.armarkat.com/index.htm we have two from them, and they are excellent, extremely well priced, and FREE shipping in USA!!!!

Best of luck

good link, i bookmarked it. i've been thinking about adding another cat tree to the house

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

I WILL call you cruel. Putting YOUR needs before the cats. Heartless. Selfish. If you don't want furniture ruined, don't own a cat. Simple.

the two don't necessarily go hand in hand. a good, quality cat tree centrally located will prevent most cats from scratching the furniture.

btw alex, when you do get your cat, do the following. first thing, pick it up and put it in the litter box. repeat this every hour or so, about 4-6 times. that way it will know where the litter box is. shortly after you get home, rub its paws on the scratch tree. this puts their paw scent on the tree and they will use it to scratch instead of somewhere else. (others correct as required, thanks).

Edited March 6, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[Lou Lou 1]

i read somewhere recently that soft food is better for cats. i'll have to look up the link.

If you feed them soft food only you are asking for tons of problems with their teeth. ANY problem with s cat's teeth has to be carried out under anesthetic=expensive.

I always use dried food. It's fine, as long as you have a plentiful supply of fresh water. I use Purina Kitty Chow and Purina Urinary Tract dried foods for my cats. It was recommended by the vets and has worked wonders for their coats too.

Science Diet is also highly recommended...if you can find it!

I was writing the same time as you!

That's interesting, my vet and the teaching vets at the college where OH teaches are all anti dry food. This cat I just got had been on a dry food diet and her teeth were in a terrible state and needed extensive cleaning. She eats the odd mouse which I figured is good, but she also attempts to eat hummingbirds. But that's nature...

[Mags 112]

Science Diet was recommended to me by my vet. That's what I've fed him his entire life - dry only. I must admit I do give him treats though. He loves little scraps of lunch meat, grilled chicken, beef jerky, fish, etc.

I skimmed the thread and maybe I missed it but I didn't see anyone recommend a brush. Cats shed - a lot. Minimize it as much as you can by brushing him/her.

Maybe I shouldn't mention it but my cat is declawed. He is 100% indoors so he doesn't need them for defense. The only time he goes out is if he's going to the vet and he's in a carrier then. I've had cats both ways and with just fronts removed and I will not own a cat with claws again. I've had too many things destroyed and received too many wicked scratches while playing with them. Call me cruel but the way I see it the cat is better off getting a declaw surgery than getting put down.

I WILL call you cruel. Putting YOUR needs before the cats. Heartless. Selfish. If you don't want furniture ruined, don't own a cat. Simple.

the two don't necessarily go hand in hand. a good, quality cat tree centrally located will prevent most cats from scratching the furniture.

btw alex, when you do get your cat, do the following. first thing, pick it up and put it in the litter box. repeat this every hour or so, about 4-6 times. that way it will know where the litter box is. shortly after you get home, rub its paws on the scratch tree. this puts their paw scent on the tree and they will use it to scratch instead of somewhere else. (others correct as required, thanks).

That's good advice from Charles, Alex. Most of our cats don't scratch stuff (we have cat trees and five cats) but one of ours is a bit insane and scratches at the wall. Regardless of this, I wouldn't have him declawed. It is a horrendously painful procedure for the animal. I clip the ends of his claws myself (get your vet to show you how, this way you don't clip the blood vessel in each claw) and this helps.

[Robor007 0]

I'm fully aware of what the declawing surgery is and yes I do put my needs and health before my cats. IMO the brief surgery and recovery period is better than a cat not getting adopted and put down. I've had 3 cats over the past 20 years and they were all declawed and lived happy lives. If you say I shouldn't own a cat then those 3 cats would have all been put down. I think if you ask them whether they'd prefer being killed or declawed they'll choose the latter. By the way, do you also consider circumcision cruel and inhumane?

[Mags 112]

i read somewhere recently that soft food is better for cats. i'll have to look up the link.

If you feed them soft food only you are asking for tons of problems with their teeth. ANY problem with s cat's teeth has to be carried out under anesthetic=expensive.

I always use dried food. It's fine, as long as you have a plentiful supply of fresh water. I use Purina Kitty Chow and Purina Urinary Tract dried foods for my cats. It was recommended by the vets and has worked wonders for their coats too.

Science Diet is also highly recommended...if you can find it!

I was writing the same time as you!

That's interesting, my vet and the teaching vets at the college where OH teaches are all anti dry food. This cat I just got had been on a dry food diet and her teeth were in a terrible state and needed extensive cleaning. She eats the odd mouse which I figured is good, but she also attempts to eat hummingbirds. But that's nature...

To have a good effect on the teeth, the dry food has to have the pieces of a substantial size, so they can crunch them. Some cats "gulp" down dry food rather than chewing it...that may have been the problem with your cat, Lou.

[Mags 112]

By the way, do you also consider circumcision cruel and inhumane?

Of cats? I didn't realize vets did that. If you are talking about humans, however, that has no relevance.

Most people who are "pro" declawing use the old "they would have been put down" squeal. *yawns*

It is illegal in the majority of the world for a reason y'know.

Edited March 6, 2007 by mags

[Alex+R 0]

What exactly is a cat tree? Fulfills cats' need to climb high? Do they make tree/scratching material combos?

Charles, thanks, the lady at the shelter told me cats did not require training like dogs, but it sounds like a bit of instruction can get a cat better set up. Actually there was a lot she didn't tell me, hmmm

[derekkj 0]

Jenny was fed mostly dry food for the first half of her life and my vet told me that it probably contributed to her kidney problems that she developed in mid/later-age. Granted her age probably didn't help either, but cats who consume ONLY dry food drink far more water than cats who get soft foods as well, which can obviously lead to issues with the kidneys. The next cat will most likely have a combo of dry (good for preventing plaque on teeth) and soft foods (easier on the kidneys). By the way, despite the dry food diet that she got in earlier years, Jenny also developed dental issues and they are expensive, yikes!

Jenny seemed to like IAMS, Nutro, and Purina. Science Digest made her puke, but obviously all cats are different. And cats can be very finicky about food, so best advice, feed it what it enjoys and try not to change foods too often. That can really mess with their systems.

[Lou Lou 1]

Maybe I shouldn't mention it but my cat is declawed. He is 100% indoors so he doesn't need them for defense. The only time he goes out is if he's going to the vet and he's in a carrier then. I've had cats both ways and with just fronts removed and I will not own a cat with claws again. I've had too many things destroyed and received too many wicked scratches while playing with them. Call me cruel but the way I see it the cat is better off getting a declaw surgery than getting put down.

Yes, you are cruel and selfish. There is no need for your things to be destroyed. I have 'cat-proofed' the whole house to stop scratching. Sellotape on the sofa works. If she lifts a paw, she gets picked up and put outside for 30 seconds. She now doesn't do it, and just lifts her paw but remembers how cold it is outside.

You will not own a cat with claws again? Well, don't get one. Chop off half of your fingers for the rest of your life, and see how that feels. Oh, but at least your house will look priddy.

[quote name='mags' post='761387'

I was writing the same time as you!

That's interesting, my vet and the teaching vets at the college where OH teaches are all anti dry food. This cat I just got had been on a dry food diet and her teeth were in a terrible state and needed extensive cleaning. She eats the odd mouse which I figured is good, but she also attempts to eat hummingbirds. But that's nature...

To have a good effect on the teeth, the dry food has to have the pieces of a substantial size, so they can crunch them. Some cats "gulp" down dry food rather than chewing it...that may have been the problem with your cat, Lou.

She did gulp because she couldn't chew, which turned her into a lard #######...poor thing.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

but she also attempts to eat hummingbirds.

i want to see the video of that. it sounds like trying to nail jelly to the ceiling