The Cat Thread

Yep it will learn soon enough.

Re scratching, if you have anything you really don't want torn to pieces (sofa arms for example) think about treating, hiding/covering or offering enough good alternatives. Two cats can go through a house like a tornado with claws.

Hey are you intending to keep kitties?

If you are near me, can lend you a flea comb, it is a nit comb. Can lend you a cat basket that is kitten proof but you have to be a careful as the bigger may be able to force the door.

Do the kittens claws need clipping?

Oh and scratching posts, lots of scratching posts.

EDIT: also kittens need to be wormed but you can get a worming syrup. Wilko is a good source of cheap kitty stuff.

I thought I'd enjoy the sun and take a call in the kitchen ... but feel like I'm being watched.

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We sadly no longer have cats... but get to enjoy visits from several of the neighbours...

We sadly no longer have cats... but get to enjoy visits from several of the neighbours...

We sadly no longer have cats... but get to enjoy visits from several of the neighbours...

One of our two cats has become incredibly noisy to the point where I'm worried I will chuck him off the balcony if he sings the 4am song of his people again. Bad enough when the bloomin toddler does it.

So I've been trying to positively re-enforce good behaviour by generally ignoring his demands, waiting till he is quiet, then feeding him. This has not worked. He doesn't seem to be able to associate calm quiet behaviour with getting the things he wants.

Any tips for the next steps in operation 'quiet cat'?

He's indoors only and yes we have cat drugs in the plug sockets.

Our senior cat who is normally super cuddly has changed radically her behaviour recently.
We initially thought it was depression from 2 humans WFH because of the lockdown.
Then 2 weeks or so ago, she started eating much, slight weight loss (from being rather overweight).
She's also sleeping much more than normal and feels lethargic.
Last visit to the vet in October only picked up on some possible dental problems due to her age - which we've ignored and till very recently she was eating both dry and wet food daily. It's been a while since I saw her eating any kibble or asked for her Dentabites treats.
We thought it could be hairballs. And maybe digestion related. Will get her booked in asap.
Anyone's cat been behaving differently recently with lockdown?
Cheers

One of our cats got in a fight, was bitten on the neck, which we noticed due to dried blood matting the fur. Cleaned that up and left her to it. Few days later, thought her cheek was a bit puffy (beyond the fluffy fur growth due to cold weather here), investigated, found another wound under her ear and ended up squeezing out loads of stinky pus. It just would not stop. Cleaned with salty water (flinch), went to vet next day, she had a shave and got some pills. All good now, but the pus... Does cat pus smell more than human?

Oh it's awful. We had the same here recently with an ear wound. Even the vet said that cat pus is pretty much the foulest smelling thing ever.

Can totally relate to this. Dont know why but cat abscesses are the worst. As you say, loads of pus and absolutely honk!

When Fabric was little he got into a fight and took a bite to a paw. I swear it was less than 8 hours from bite to huge pus filled swelling. Cats must have truly revolting mouths from a microbial perspective!

One of my cats used to do this so I'd grab her and go back to bed for a cuddle. She stopped bothering in the morning after a short course of that treatment.

Hah this would require me being able to catch the bugger - he’s fast when he wants to be.

James really wants to go outside, and I'd let him out in a shot if he wouldn't then go to Thief Of James (aka Ian and Judy). However, he would, and we'd stop being able to take care of him and likely end up with him back at the vets, starved and ill.

He's currently back up to a sensible weight, glossy coat, and looking very healthy - which is contributing to his desire to run around outside I am sure.

How could I train him not to jump over the wall into ToJ's garden?

Brotherly love.

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He's been sat purring to himself like this for quite a while now.

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Bonus photo of Blue lying on a pillow bearing his likeness.

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I want to fix my garden as the lawn is a shambles at the moment, so the cheapest way to do it is putting down grass seeds, hwo to do this safely with the presence of a cat?

I don't care if the grass doesn't grow, but I do care very much about the seeds themselevs could post a real danger to her when she is out and about and rolling herself in the garden.

I can't keep her in for a week or 2 or 3...

Any idea?

What in particular are you worried about? The seed getting stuck in her skin and working in?

exactly this. The state of her when she comes in most days...

Grass seed is a concern for dog owners too. A friend's dog had horrible surgery to remove a seed dart from about three inches into her leg. For our dog breed, the big worry is a grass seed entering the eye and becoming lodged at the back.

That said, our vet dismissed worries about grass seeds for dogs and cats. His opinion was that while he sees a grass seed injury most weeks in summer, its a small number of pets compared to the number on his patient list. His suggestion was to inspect paws daily and just look out for problems so they can be treated early. I really don't think that grass seed is as big a threat as the pet insurance people seem to make out online.

Does commercial grass seed pose as much as a problem as natural grass seed? Normally commercial grass seed has had the dart removed so loses most of its barbs. Besides, if you keep it wet it shouldn't get stuck in skin or coat? Maybe just make sure you brush Patch extra carefully once a day once you have seeded?

Not intending to dismiss your concerns. As I said, grass seed can cause horrible injuries. Its just that my personal opinion and that of our vet is that the risk is exaggerated by internet pet people.

Not very helpful or definitive I know. Thought I'd share my opinion anyway.

Thank you, your reply is actually very helpful. I worry about her too much sometimes.

I am hoping to take advantage of the rain in the coming days, I might even get some new soil, my garden is an embarrassment.

Thank you, your reply is actually very helpful. I worry about her too much sometimes.

Meh, the feeling in the pit of your stomach when something bad happens to your cat is why we are good cat owners I guess. Only natural to want to avoid that.

I worry about her too much sometimes.

No, let us not even go down that path.

Now do you need a hand, as you know I will steal all of princesses love ;)

Only natural to want to avoid that.

Not to be rude, some have a different natural. Personally I have found myself caring more about animals than I do about humans. Not sure that is right.