Pets chit chat thread

[DanieMarie]

For random one post things about pets....like "cute thing my pet did" or one post rants about annoying things they did.

I'm getting this look again:

http://backseatcuddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/puss-in-boots.jpg

He wants to get fed. He doesn't want his dry food, so he's giving me the look. Are they onto the fact that we're suckers for cute?

[Almost_lost]

My dog charlie yesterday spent about half an hour burrowing hin nose and face in this damn made of sticks/leaves/mud in a little stream just to pull out the tinest stick ive ever seen.. seriously it was about -------------------------------------- this big. But he seemed so excited that he got a stick i let him have his moment


edit: And one of the dogs has just started snoring really really loudly! So cute, if a little distracting

[ChainLightning]

I've been down here in Gowrie for too damn long. I miss the kitties!

[volcaniclastic]

My cat wakes me up one hour before dawn every morning. >:(

[SageGreene]

My cat wakes me up one hour before dawn every morning. >:(


Oh cats... somethings are just bred into them. I have a palomino bunny named Aiko :) hes the sweetest little thing but I can't have him in my room because he drives me nuts. At like 4 am he wants to run circles around his enclosure so he's downstairs so that I don't make soft mittens out of him :D

[PharaohKatt]

My cat is so silly. She makes these pathetic mews at me, gets me to follow her into the kitchen, just so I can watch her eat :P

It's not that she wants feeding, she just wants an audience.

[Sin]

My kitty cat Kiari (the burmese kitteh) is totally adorable :-* she doesnt do that annoying catching small animals thing and bringing them in... mainly cos shes a house cat and birds terrify her :P but actually she LOVES flies and spiders... before I left home for uni i was playing with her and sayign goodbye and we were cuddling and fly went past.. she lept over my shoulder (cutting my back open naughty kitty) and dived for the fly and went right into the conservatry window ^_^' silly kittyyy..

[thalassa]

Tesla needs a bath...and she needs to stop eating the kids food--her farts kill small animals.

[SageGreene]

My cat is so silly. She makes these pathetic mews at me, gets me to follow her into the kitchen, just so I can watch her eat :P

It's not that she wants feeding, she just wants an audience.


Hahahaha I love cats

[Thaleia Chara]

My cat is so silly. She makes these pathetic mews at me, gets me to follow her into the kitchen, just so I can watch her eat :P

It's not that she wants feeding, she just wants an audience.


My sister has a poodle and he does the same thing; and he wasn't very nice about it. After a while it got old so we wanted to see what he'd do if we ignored him long enough. He spent almost 3 days without eating, after which, he learned to bring the food to US. Yep, he takes a mouthfull of kibble and jumps on the sofa, or bed, or just the floor next to you and throws it on the ground and starts eating one by one. ::)

[PharaohKatt]

My sister has a poodle and he does the same thing; and he wasn't very nice about it. After a while it got old so we wanted to see what he'd do if we ignored him long enough. He spent almost 3 days without eating, after which, he learned to bring the food to US. Yep, he takes a mouthfull of kibble and jumps on the sofa, or bed, or just the floor next to you and throws it on the ground and starts eating one by one. ::)

Wow, now *that's* dedication!



Tesla needs a bath...and she needs to stop eating the kids food--her farts kill small animals.

Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you?
(mine is smelly too :o )

[weareoceansaway]

I have a small zoo in my home...and I love them all. ^ - ^
My Cichlids give me pathetic looks in their tanks. The babies will play hide and seek if they see me, and one plays dead (the little jerk gives me a heart attack every time!). My big Tangerine girl will pretend she likes me until after shes done eating, then she's back to hiding in her rock. And my yellow Lab boy will swim practically vertically and 'dance' until I feed him.
Now, my 'fraidy cat African Grey (who's name is Horace) will make whistling noises till we take notice of him. Then he'll lift his foot until we come by and pick him up. Once he's out of his cage, he freaks out until we put him back.......then he asks for out again. He's still a baby (only about six months old), so I think it's the cutest thing how indecisive he is.
My kitty, T.C. (The Cat), acts like a dog. She begs for food, waits for us to come home at the door (usually sitting right beside our dog Lucas), and snuggles in bed with us. She'll lay on our stomach or back and put her head on our shoulder....it's the sweetest thing. We found her when she was a tiny kitten, and she had a severe upper respitory infection. We nursed her back to health, and was rewarded with her precious kitty love. Without her, I think my family would go nuts!
And then there is Lucas! Lucas is my little lab mutt that I rescued from being put to sleep. He is the smartest dog I ever met, and would show it more often if he didn't have a jack russel's hyperness. We put him in dog training classes, but he learned so quickly that it never took eight weeks for the courses to be finished. Eventually, we just started training him ourselves. As hyper as he is, Lucas is also my little lover boy...if he would only sit still in my lap, he'd be allowed on the couch more often, lol.

[Shadow Dragon]

I figured we needed a thread on pictures of our pets, to go along with the pictures of yourself thread. I'll start it off with a picture of my new kitty, Lily:

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww141/kl_shadowdragon/LILY.jpg

[volcaniclastic]

Aww, she is an adorable tortoise shell!

[volcaniclastic]

also, why are all your pets named super feminine names? (Lily, Princess, etc) :P

[Shadow Dragon]

also, why are all your pets named super feminine names? (Lily, Princess, etc) :P

Because she's female so she got a girly name. :P Besides, my mom is the one that named her.

[LiadanWillows]

my pets on Halloween

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs929.snc4/74293_572451017061_65006152_32447514_6331510_n.jpg
Malcolm: he is a nine year old lazy cat


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs949.snc4/74231_572451037021_65006152_32447516_7532921_n.jpg
Alice: 5month old German Shepherd who lives to drive me crazy

[Steelyphil]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q110/furfiber/huuurrrr.jpg
Here's my cat!
Whiskers.
She's about 10 but she is very youthful haha
She loves sitting on heater vents and meowing at me.

Here she is rubbing a chair to get attention
Which she is often prone to doing.

[LiadanWillows]

^^ she is so pretty. I love gray cats!

[StegoByte]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs301.ash2/58127_1540434664953_1057516893_31592373_8301297_n. jpg
This is Banjo. He's a Peek-a-poo, though we often, affectionately call him many other things. (Peek-a-derp. Wook-a-chu.) He'll be a year on Valentine's 2011. He was a present from my husband to help combat some fertility issues I'm battling. He's very important to me and gives me something to dote on. =D

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs006.snc4/33665_1540435704979_1057516893_31592387_188229_n.j pg
This is Kazooie. She's an ultra-tiny, seven year old Domestic Short Hair. (fancy cat word for; Mutt). We found her outside and took her in. She's my husband's and probably the second most important girl in his life.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs681.snc4/62165_1537866560752_1057516893_31587072_6145664_n. jpg
This is Phineas; Riley's (the infamous four-year-old) cat. Yes, he named him. He's a Maine Coon, he'll be a year on April 1st, 2011...if he lasts that long. HE TERRORIZES EVERYTHING! He's got Sabertooth teeth. He demolishes boxes, climbs up the Christmas tree, dive bombs my trash can, and sneak attacks people's feet, legs, random body parts. He has the longest, fluffiest raccoon tail and he is so uncoordinated.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs041.snc4/34419_1540434264943_1057516893_31592368_23487_n.jp g
Last but, not least. This is our Albino Japanese Hooded Rat. Her name is Tofu and she'll be pushing Three years old very soon. I love her to death and she's spent a lot of time as my resident shoulder rat. Now, she is old and tired and sleeps all day. Rats only live to be about two years old so, she's on borrowed time and I will be very sad to see her go.

[Amber]

This is Maggie.....Usually from this stance she pounces and lands on my shoulder. But I caught her on film before she could do it LOL. Sometimes its just not safe to be near the fridge

[DanieMarie]

This is Petzi:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/SweetMarie_01/4d7d4ebf.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/SweetMarie_01/a27792d9.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/SweetMarie_01/Picture85.jpg

[volcaniclastic]

This is Petzi:



What type of kitty is he? He looks like a scottish wildcat, almost!

[Maulus]

Just a few of mine int he avatar <<<<<
Top Left: Colin
Top Right: Charlie (deceased)
Bottom Left :George (aka poorly poorly george) and Poppy (adopted from my Grandmother)
Bottom right: Stanley
Middle: Dotty

M

[perzephone]

Chelsie, 2 year old Catahoula Leopard Hound mix. Probably Greyhound mix, and more than her fair share of coyote - if not in genetics then in attitude:

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz56/janefromvegas/Chelsie/DSCN0462.jpg

[Aerlina]

This is my baby, Snickers! I adore him so much and I'm sure the feeling is mutual. He's turning 4 this year.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/Aerlindesa/62859_155648171124006_100000364730140_367660_52330 89_n.jpg

This is Kira! She is my second baby, but she is more my husbands baby than mine.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/Aerlindesa/12454_102085713146919_100000364730140_51142_183705 1_n.jpg

I love my dachshunds so much! My parents have one, sister has one, my grandmother-in-law is getting one (they were just born this week), and there are already 3 others in my husbands side of the family! Best dogs in the world! (I probably say that because I'm a bit partial to them).

[volcaniclastic]

Cedric ♥

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1389.snc4/164163_631516080713_116205901_36681130_2848436_n.j pg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs127.snc4/36732_608127401813_116205901_35894725_5121756_n.jp g

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww189/volcaniclastic/IMG_0842.jpg?t=1292979652

[Juniper]

Oy. I have too many. Here's a good start.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/bloodredraventcm/Pets/DSCN1443.jpg
Left to right: Luna (7), Jinx (7), Lucy (rip 2010), Gemini (8 )
Bottom: Ophelia (8, She has a lot of hair and she is rather tall for a cat, but she is by no means fat. She just looks like it cuz she's poofy.
For some reason they all look way bigger in this pic than they actually are. Luna is our tiniest. Lucy is no longer with us. I miss her dearly.

Magick (16-17 y/o)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/bloodredraventcm/Pets/magickroll.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/bloodredraventcm/Pets/DSCN1312.jpg

Rain (9ish)
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/bloodredraventcm/Pets/l_742c1032c4cb58cf962e9fe619eabc2e.jpg

And just cuz I love this pic. This is one of my favorite pics of Lucy:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/bloodredraventcm/Pets/lucy1.jpg

[Shadow Dragon]

Ophelia looks kind of evil in that picture. Like the way a cat would look in a horror movie.

[DanieMarie]

What type of kitty is he? He looks like a scottish wildcat, almost!


I'm not sure...he's a third-hand cat (used to belong to my old roommate, before her he lived with an old lady). His cat passport (vaccination records, birth date, etc) says he's a European Shorthair, but I think he might be some sort of wildcat-influenced breed. He has a lot of personality and physical traits of a Maine Coon, but they're not super common in Europe so not entirely sure. He's definitely not too similar to Domestic or European Shorthairs! He's HUGE and has big paws, gets super fuzzy in the winter, but is kind of a 'gentle giant' and loves to cuddle and loves people.

[Clive]

All your pups and cats make me smile. :)

This is Ella, the seven year old Tibetan spaniel. She's uber lazy and doesn't even want attention most of the time, but when she does she's a mouth-licker. She looks pissed off in this picture because she hates cameras. If you point one at her she barks at you...I think she thinks you're going to attack her.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/NachtSorcier/ella.jpg

This is Skeeter, the thirteen year old miniature pinscher. Like most of her breed, she loves attention, and she's also the alpha bitch of the house. Or she was...now she's just old and cranky. She and Ella are lesbian lovers, I'm pretty sure.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/NachtSorcier/skeeter.jpg

This is Roxy, Skeeter's grand niece. She's almost two and really goofy, not to mention needy. She likes to stand on your chest and rub her face all over yours. My roommate says that for some reason this breed really likes you to talk in their ears, and this one is no exception. And yeah, I need to stitch the arm of that chair. :P
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/NachtSorcier/roxy.jpg

And this is Melody the jackabee - that is, Jack Russell and beagle mix. She's about five and is the only pup in the house who is truly mine. She's a very good dog, the only one who never, ever makes in the house, very well-trained. She likes to howl and "talk" and loves playing fetch and tug of war, though not as much as she used to. She's the best dog I've ever had. I think she was abused before I rescued her, though. She's afraid to walk past the kitchen chairs and every time you hold something she acts like you're going to hit her with it. In fact, she was afraid of the camera, like I was going to throw it at her. I keep her happy, though.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/NachtSorcier/melody.jpg

We've got two males also, but we keep them on the back porch because one is very big and rowdy and the other considers him his rival. They're show dogs so my roommate won't train them for obedience (can't have them sitting in the ring and whatnot) or have them neutered. I didn't want to take a picture 'cause the porch is really dirty, but I'll snap a few when I get a chance.

[LiadanWillows]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1386.snc4/163854_578451686671_65006152_32566438_1808363_n.jp g

Alice 7 month old German Shepherd puppy, getting BIG!

[volcaniclastic]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1386.snc4/163854_578451686671_65006152_32566438_1808363_n.jp g

Alice 7 month old German Shepherd puppy, getting BIG!


I LOVE THIS! He's all like "Oh hai there, whatcha pointing that black thing at me for?"

[LiadanWillows]

I LOVE THIS! He's all like "Oh hai there, whatcha pointing that black thing at me for?"


I know right?! I love when she does this. I trained her to turn her head like that whenever I say "what". It made my mom literally pee her pants once. ;D Ah the joys of having a pet!

[romeopaul29]

She's uber lazy and doesn't even want care most of the time, but when she does she's a mouth-licker.

[Hawkfeathers]

Buddy, a 21 year old African Grey parrot, lives with me. He's smarter than most people and he knows it.

[calfhill]

This is Vidar (I hope I can make this picture appear here): He's a very old Chihuahua and Chief of Security at my house.
mailbox:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner.LORAINE/Application%20Data/Thunderbird/Profiles/snk4duiy.default/Mail/pop-server.tampabay.rr-5.com/Inbox?number=837870168&part=1.2&filename=201101261446000.jpg

---------- Post added at 12:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:54 AM ----------

Bummer. That didn't work. Let me try something else.

[Shahaku]

Lets see if this works. So, I inherited my parents pooch because niether of them feel they can take care of him on their own. He's a cross between a Boston terrier and a French bulldog. He's such a cutie, a year old, and still looks like a puppy.

[kijani]

I am thinking of getting a goldendoodle in the fall. I used to have a boston terrier, but she was beaten to death by someone in the neighborhood. She was an ESA. It was really hard on me. It's been almost a year. I've been volunteering at a no-kill shelter and started doing some research. I don't have pictures to post yet, but I still wanted to share the plan.

[Hawkfeathers]

My neighbor has a little Benji-type dog, cute as a button. I walked him tonight, which was fun! I enjoy borrowing dogs every now & then.

[Almost_lost]

So, i've kinda been AWOL for a while, and this is the reason why, we got a new puppy, called Poppy. She's a 9month old white staffy cross with one little brown spot on her back.
(sorry for the quality, theyre taken on my phone)

So, first picture is Charlie, my mum, Poppy
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216325_10150156497188027_513738026_6824768_2386799 _n.jpg

Poppy fell asleep on my clean washing!
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/221748_10150159779203027_513738026_6850233_3601941 _n.jpg

Poppy and charlie on my bed
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216520_10150156498113027_513738026_6824795_2140514 _n.jpg

Poppy and charlie playing in the garden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHlKcQNFrfs

[Shadow Dragon]

I love how Charlie is sitting on the arm of the chair.

[Amber]

Awwwww!!!!!!

[Bjorn]

I AM GETTING A KITTEN FOR OSTARA.

I am so excited ^_^

[Shahaku]

My dog now knows how to high-five and shake! Up next? Maybe play dead.

[volcaniclastic]

I AM GETTING A KITTEN FOR OSTARA.

I am so excited ^_^

YOU GOT A KITTEN? HOW did I miss this!?! :O

I have to take my kitty to be neutered next week...he's two. I feel bad. :(

[DanieMarie]

My kitty missed me while I was away and now he's SUPER clingy! He follows me around the house and it's always like "cat in my face"....it's cute hehe

[Tylluan Penry]

Our last remaining St Bernard Barney has been very ill these last few months. We really thought we were losing him. In fact, we are. He is on borrowed time, but thanks to a brilliant vet and a lot of love and hugs, he has a very good quality of life at the moment and we are just taking things day by day. But at the moment at least, he is enjoying himself. He has even started singing again (being Welsh - he was Welsh speaking when we had him - 'he do love to sing.' ;))

[DanieMarie]

Awwwww I'm sorry to hear that. Glad that he's had a very full life though.

[Corvus]

my kitty is being declawed!! (i was told that a 2 year old cat shouldt be declawed) and she has roundworm :(

[Shahaku]

Sorry to hear that Tylluan. Sadly our animals usually only have a fraction of the live expectancy we do, so we love them while we can.

[Tylluan Penry]

You're right, but it always hurts. Still., we're making the most of every day which is all we can do. He's so happy though, it's a pleasure to be with him. :)

[LiadanWillows]

Took Alice (my 1 yr old German Shepherd) swimming for the first time yesterday. She loved it.


https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-ak-snc6/231265/389/1969172663219_646.mp4?oh=9e365c520b2b28b9ccf0b6b69 8e976ca&oe=4DDAAE00&__gda__=1306177024_feceab5163cf1cafadb98cfe5f931ff 5

[DanieMarie]

My poor old man kitty. My friend and her daughter and daughter's friend came over tonight, and the girls are 10. The daughter and the cat have gotten along in the past, and he's kind of used to her, but the friend was a bit much for him I think. She kept trying to try to get him to play and trying to pick him up and eventually he just went and hid. The thing is, some people he DOES let pick him up (the daughter was holding him earlier and he was fine with it and purring) but like most cats you can't force it and you just have to let him get used to you. It's kind of funny though...cats and kids aren't always the best mix lol.

[DanieMarie]

Bahhhh cat drama tonight. Petz fell off the sofa and started walking funny for a couple of hours, and I thought he might have pulled, sprained or broken something. He was ok after a rest though...it must have just been a bruise.

[Miranda]

This has been a hard month for our fuzzies and furries. My son lost dog Grizelda and I lost kitty Edgar Allen cat. The same day that Grizzy died, though, my daughter brought home a new yellow lab puppy (Mali) without knowing Grizzy was gone. We also have kitties Lacey, Egypt, Timberwulf, Beowulf, Rapunzel, and Miriam; dogs Bois d'Arc, Callie, and Kenya; horses Star, Rebel, Tamer, and Huckleberry Robin. My son has two dogs, two goats, and more horses than we really want to count.

[lorraine02]

pet, I like dog , but many people like cats, nice stories !

[Jembru]

Another of my mum's guineapigs died yesterday morning. This is the third from the same family that we've lost. One had a tumour, but two died very quickly, before my mum had a chance to take them to the vet. It's so sad. Her friend dropped off two youngsters last night though! So she has four again! Of course, I had to pop over before work to see them. So cute!!

[Lavender Rose]

Had to have another of the orphaned kittens we rescued put down on monday :( was and still is extremely upsetting as we have had them since they were less than two weeks old and I have been hand rearing them for the last almost eight weeks. They're like my babies. I came down in the morning to find the smallest of the kittens laying on her back, extremely cold and seemingly dehydrated. We rushed her to the vets but after a few hours of fluids and warmth, it became obvious that there was something wrong with her little brain bless her. Vet said that some kittens have a problem with their kidneys and that it only becomes a problem when they begin to wean onto food as it causes their blood to bypass their kidneys and the toxins then reach the brain. After several attempts at arguing that she could survive, I finally accepted that it was irreversible and I rushed back down there to say goodbye. Feeling very sad though, as I have lost a member of the family. May the Goddess look after my little kitten called Dolly.

[LiadanWillows]

My German Shepherds Alice (the one closest to the camera is 2 years old) and Miles (he just turned 1 year old)

https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420250_736396224551_1730892937_n.jpg

[B. de Corbin]

Had to have another of the orphaned kittens we rescued put down on monday :( was and still is extremely upsetting as we have had them since they were less than two weeks old and I have been hand rearing them for the last almost eight weeks. They're like my babies. I came down in the morning to find the smallest of the kittens laying on her back, extremely cold and seemingly dehydrated. We rushed her to the vets but after a few hours of fluids and warmth, it became obvious that there was something wrong with her little brain bless her. Vet said that some kittens have a problem with their kidneys and that it only becomes a problem when they begin to wean onto food as it causes their blood to bypass their kidneys and the toxins then reach the brain. After several attempts at arguing that she could survive, I finally accepted that it was irreversible and I rushed back down there to say goodbye. Feeling very sad though, as I have lost a member of the family. May the Goddess look after my little kitten called Dolly.

It's hard to loose a pet. My sympathy to you.

[Jembru]

While I'm able to use my netbook at work, I'll share a few pictures of Magpie.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/294602_10152032800770371_1295048081_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/394336_10152031934860371_325698241_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/542489_10152031873135371_1586013016_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546514_10152048548735371_1408878599_n.jpg

She makes me so happy! We really love this puss.

[lorraine02]

always love snoppy , and want to have one , but it needs much money and work for long time without time to company with him.

[volcaniclastic]

While I'm able to use my netbook at work, I'll share a few pictures of Magpie.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/294602_10152032800770371_1295048081_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/394336_10152031934860371_325698241_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/542489_10152031873135371_1586013016_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546514_10152048548735371_1408878599_n.jpg

She makes me so happy! We really love this puss.

I don't know how I never saw this, Jem, but she's adorable!

[tseringdolma]

Hehe the pictures of Magpie remind me of Yahtzee when we first got him, he's 6 months now and grown so much!

[Sarkana night]

While I'm able to use my netbook at work, I'll share a few pictures of Magpie.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/294602_10152032800770371_1295048081_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/394336_10152031934860371_325698241_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/542489_10152031873135371_1586013016_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546514_10152048548735371_1408878599_n.jpg

She makes me so happy! We really love this puss.

She is so gorgeously cute! Reminds me of my old cat, Amunet. I wish she still lived!

[kijani]

I have a rescue cat I named Apollo. He's not a kitten. He's probably between 5 and 8 years old but he's my baby. I'll have to get some pictures so I can post them. He's kinda a character. I call him my grumpy old man cat. I initially went in hoping to get a younger cat but he really called to me and I'm glad I brought him home. I'll post pictures as soon as I find some!

[Clive]

We've just welcomed two new members to our family - Timothy the snail and Archimedes the parakeet. Timothy is, well, a snail and little more than an algae eating machine. Archimedes is very timid and quiet and would probably warm up to us all faster if Ziggy the bully cat would stop trying to eat him. I'll eventually get him a little friend.

[Jembru]

Congrats on the new family!! Is that a giant snail? I used to want one or two of those but was put off by stories of flies. People warned me that no matter how clean I keep their tank, there'll always be little flies around. Birds are cool. I'm sure it has come up before, but I adore magpies. Thing with birds is that.. it's like they not only seem to know they used to be dinosaurs, they actually think they're T.rex. I love them for that. They have bags of personality and are very fun to have around, if not the grumpiest, least affectionate animals you could wish to keep! Keep us posted. In fact, this goes to anyone.. let us know how your furry, scaley or feathery friends are doing!

[Clive]

Congrats on the new family!! Is that a giant snail? I used to want one or two of those but was put off by stories of flies. People warned me that no matter how clean I keep their tank, there'll always be little flies around. Birds are cool. I'm sure it has come up before, but I adore magpies. Thing with birds is that.. it's like they not only seem to know they used to be dinosaurs, they actually think they're T.rex. I love them for that. They have bags of personality and are very fun to have around, if not the grumpiest, least affectionate animals you could wish to keep! Keep us posted. In fact, this goes to anyone.. let us know how your furry, scaley or feathery friends are doing!

He's not a giant snail, but he's not teeny-tiny, either. I'm not sure what classification it is. He's about the size of a half-dollar, if that helps. I've never heard the thing about flies. The only reason we got him was so he would eat the algae in the tank where the betta (who has yet to be named) lives.

Archimedes was very scared when I brought her (I'm pretty sure it's a girl) home. She just stood motionlessly and silently in her cage. She's starting to warm up, though. I've been talking and whistling to her and she chirps back to me and moves around. She still won't let me touch her, though. I keep putting my hand in her cage and just keeping it there, trying to get her used to it. She always climbs to the top of the cage if I put my hand near her, though. As I mentioned in another thread, she seems to like the band Saliva...when I put them on she look over and sometimes she'll walk back and forth on her perch and sing along. lol I think she might be a strange one. She doesn't play with her toy or the paper chain I made, even though parakeets normally like to rip things apart.

Funny thing is, my dog is jealous of the bird. When I stand by the bird cage and talk to her, my dog will start whining and acting nervous and begging for my attention, then when I sit down she'll hide under my desk. Can't say as I'm surprised, Archimedes is the first pet I've gotten since I adopted Melody five years ago. I guess the only thing to do is ignore her when she acts like that so she'll learn to share my attention.

[Jembru]

Melody is my favourite name! I actually like it so much I can't use it. Weird, I know, but once it's gone it's gone, you know? You won't get flies with an aquatic snail. I thought it was a terrestrial snail. There is something about the slime they produce that just calls flies to it. Even a newly clean tank will have mucus, so it's apparently hard to control the flies.

I hope Archimedes settles in soon. I've never had a bird myself, but known many domestic birds over the years, and they're amazing fun. I love it when they bond with their owners and ride around on them.. then it's only visitors that need to fear for their earlobes or finger tips!!

[Hawkfeathers]

We've just welcomed two new members to our family - Timothy the snail and Archimedes the parakeet. Timothy is, well, a snail and little more than an algae eating machine. Archimedes is very timid and quiet and would probably warm up to us all faster if Ziggy the bully cat would stop trying to eat him. I'll eventually get him a little friend.

Archimedes is my parrots middle name! I call him Buddy, but his "real" name is Bubo Archimedes. Congrats on your newbies!

[Clive]

Archimedes seems to be kind of an oddball. He's not a nervous mess anymore but still does not want to be touched and refuses to play with toys. That's okay with me, though. He's still a nice bird.

In other news, Apollo the Tibetan spaniel is showing his age...he seems to have a sore leg and has been limping around. This does not stop him from climbing the hill outside, however.

[iflewoverthecuckoosnest]

A video of me playing with my little Chinchilla Man a few years back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYjXhGTkT7o

Now that I have Rocky, I completely understand all of those crazy old cat ladies who refer to their cats as their children. I love the little guy to pieces.

[volcaniclastic]

Now that I have Rocky, I completely understand all of those crazy old cat ladies who refer to their cats as their children. I love the little guy to pieces.

Can verify this. My cat is my tiny little furry child.

[Jembru]

Can I also agree please? We so often forget that magpie is in fact, a cat and not a little child. I can't remember if I already posted a photo of the presents we got her for Christmas, but she was spoilt rotten. We talk for her all the time in a cute little cat voice and just absolutely dote on her. She even has her own seat at the dining table and sits on it, watching us when we're playing cards! She's amazing (although currently making it very hard to type).;/////////////////!// I think I'll leave that in for comic affect. She stood on the keyboard.

[WinterTraditions]

My hamster is just the most adorable thing in the world <333

His name is "Mr.Cuddlesworth" (don't laugh) and he's a golden teddy bear hamster. Whenever he's in his plastic roaming ball, he always goes to one specific wall in the house, and rolls back and forth against it OCD style. It's the cutest thing EVER.

And, of course, he cuddles.

[Maria de Luna]

Can I also agree please? We so often forget that magpie is in fact, a cat and not a little child. I can't remember if I already posted a photo of the presents we got her for Christmas, but she was spoilt rotten. We talk for her all the time in a cute little cat voice and just absolutely dote on her. She even has her own seat at the dining table and sits on it, watching us when we're playing cards! She's amazing (although currently making it very hard to type).;/////////////////!// I think I'll leave that in for comic affect. She stood on the keyboard.I would like to also agree, and I have two furry little babies, and regardless of how big and uncuddly they may feel at any given time... they are fuzzy little babies, who sometimes like to slay dragons with mommy on the computer.

[chris1987]

I have a cat named Dutchess, I took her in since someone abandoned her as a kitten I was about 10 and she was about 3 weeks old, she still needed a bottle! She's about 16 years old now and I love my Dutchess! she even saved me once. I felt like ending everything and normally she was outdoors at that time (she is an indoor cat now.) but for some reason she kept close to me that day and kept pestering, distracting and meowing at me, so I grabbed her and hugged her and gave up my plans.This is my baby!1599

[volcaniclastic]

My cat was alone for two weeks while I was away. I spent most of last night awake because he couldn't stop cuddle mauling my face.

I didn't even mind.

[anunitu]

When I went through my major depression thing my cat really kept me from doing harm to myself. I think animals can sense when you need attention,and they give it in bucket loads. I don't have an animal in my life at the moment,but if I did it would be a cat.

[Shawn Cameron]

I have three cats, (down from 6... long story) and it amazes me how individual their personalities are. all animals are individual but I've never noticed as distinct a difference with any others then I have with cats. (I've had cats, dogs, goats, pigs, cows, rabbits, and birds through my life) and they can defiantly seance when you really need the love. and in the case of mine... when you don't but they just want to get in your way so they give it too you anyway... I have one nuzzling my face now and stepping on my keyboard every time he turns around to come at me at a better angle... and he is too suborn to put on the ground, he will just be back up an instant later... he has won the war of wills this one.

[volcaniclastic]

When I went through my major depression thing my cat really kept me from doing harm to myself. I think animals can sense when you need attention,and they give it in bucket loads. I don't have an animal in my life at the moment,but if I did it would be a cat.

Totally agree. That's actually how I got Cedric 4 years ago - I'd just had knee surgery, I couldn't walk, and my long-term boyfriend who I was living with broke up with me. I had to move out of our place into one of my own without the use of my legs, and I was absolutely wretched. So my mom gave me a kitten.

And now he's a pudgy spoiled little tomcat.

[WinterTraditions]

This is a baby teddy bear hamster! I just got her on Wednesday. I saved her from the animal shelter, as they were going to put her down. She's completely blind.

Some interesting things she likes to do:

- She doesn't sleep in her hut. She instead stretches herself underneath the silent wheel in her cage, or she sleeps in the potty compartment we got her.

- When we hang one of those treat sticks from her cage, she (unlike my other hamster who just gobbles right off of it) nibbles a piece off, and then sits down to eat it patiently.

- She likes to dig through her wood shavings. Right now her cage has a cover over it as she gets used to it. I went to lift it the other morning, and a spray of wood chips flew it me xD

- She spends a solid 10 minutes cleaning herself; legs, feet, arms, head, back, belly, ect....

She's such a lady <333

- - - Updated - - -

Oops, the picture didn't load!

1600

[chris1987]

This is a baby teddy bear hamster! I just got her on Wednesday. I saved her from the animal shelter, as they were going to put her down. She's completely blind.

Some interesting things she likes to do:

- She doesn't sleep in her hut. She instead stretches herself underneath the silent wheel in her cage, or she sleeps in the potty compartment we got her.

- When we hang one of those treat sticks from her cage, she (unlike my other hamster who just gobbles right off of it) nibbles a piece off, and then sits down to eat it patiently.

- She likes to dig through her wood shavings. Right now her cage has a cover over it as she gets used to it. I went to lift it the other morning, and a spray of wood chips flew it me xD

- She spends a solid 10 minutes cleaning herself; legs, feet, arms, head, back, belly, ect....

She's such a lady <333

- - - Updated - - -

Oops, the picture didn't load!

1600
She is so CUTE! :bounce:

[iflewoverthecuckoosnest]

When I went through my major depression thing my cat really kept me from doing harm to myself. I think animals can sense when you need attention,and they give it in bucket loads. I don't have an animal in my life at the moment,but if I did it would be a cat.

That's beautiful. Animals can be very healing. I remember when I was little my dog would always cuddle up to me and kiss me when I was sad.

[Plenilunium]

I have one cat named Shadow who is adorable. He's very big and all black. He loves jumping in my lap when I'm trying to do something and he runs right behind me all of the time. (That and the fact we can't see him in the dark is why we named him Shadow).

[B. de Corbin]

I have one cat named Shadow who is adorable. He's very big and all black. He loves jumping in my lap when I'm trying to do something and he runs right behind me all of the time. (That and the fact we can't see him in the dark is why we named him Shadow).

Sounds like our black cat - Ralph, the invisible cat. When we had a black couch, he kept getting sat on :D

[Jembru]

Our kitten, Magpie, was hit by a car and killed. We are crippled with grief. Everyone who knew her cried at the news, because she really touched everyones life. She was more than just a cat. We'll never be able to replace her.. not the way she sat at the table with us, on her own seat, or purred and suckled on our dressing gowns or jumpers, or the way she would sit in the same spot at the end of the yard. Or how she loved water... We can get another cat, but it won't ever be the same. JP loved her like a child, and he found her at the roadside. He's traumatized and blames himself. I guess this is just the first tragedy of many, we'll face as a couple. Makes me hate the world so much. Where were my so-called gods when this happened? Why did she come into our world just to be taken from us like this? I'm so angry, and confused and lonely.. i hate waking up, because when I do, I remember, and it's like losing her all over again.

[Hawkfeathers]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jembru.

[iflewoverthecuckoosnest]

Our kitten, Magpie, was hit by a car and killed. We are crippled with grief. Everyone who knew her cried at the news, because she really touched everyones life. She was more than just a cat. We'll never be able to replace her.. not the way she sat at the table with us, on her own seat, or purred and suckled on our dressing gowns or jumpers, or the way she would sit in the same spot at the end of the yard. Or how she loved water... We can get another cat, but it won't ever be the same. JP loved her like a child, and he found her at the roadside. He's traumatized and blames himself. I guess this is just the first tragedy of many, we'll face as a couple. Makes me hate the world so much. Where were my so-called gods when this happened? Why did she come into our world just to be taken from us like this? I'm so angry, and confused and lonely.. i hate waking up, because when I do, I remember, and it's like losing her all over again.

My condolences to you, Jembru. May your sweet little kitten rest in peace. Losing a pet can be so hard, sometimes.

[Bjorn]

Our kitten, Magpie, was hit by a car and killed. We are crippled with grief. Everyone who knew her cried at the news, because she really touched everyones life. She was more than just a cat. We'll never be able to replace her.. not the way she sat at the table with us, on her own seat, or purred and suckled on our dressing gowns or jumpers, or the way she would sit in the same spot at the end of the yard. Or how she loved water... We can get another cat, but it won't ever be the same. JP loved her like a child, and he found her at the roadside. He's traumatized and blames himself. I guess this is just the first tragedy of many, we'll face as a couple. Makes me hate the world so much. Where were my so-called gods when this happened? Why did she come into our world just to be taken from us like this? I'm so angry, and confused and lonely.. i hate waking up, because when I do, I remember, and it's like losing her all over again.

I will take you with me into prayer tonight. I will be sending "wings" to your cat just in case there is a spirit world, and some much needed love for you. Know that you both were benefited from each other's existence. Maybe I'll send some pink love wings at her or something, because I'm a silly sappy witch.

Anyway. -HUGS-





(is it just me, or does death seems to be hungry as of late? )

[Jembru]

Thanks for the condolences everyone. I recently looked into whether or not it is cruel to keep a cat indoors. I always just assumed that a cat needs outdoor time. Well, even PETA, yeah, those guys, think it is BETTER to keep a cat indoors. The RSPCA, isn't for or against, the PAWS website has such a strong article about why all cats should be house cats, that I felt wholly responsible for Magpie's death, for letting her out :(

We're definitely getting another kitten. JP wants to wait at least another month, so we have time to properly grieve. He's probably right, but everything reminds us of Magpie: nothing was untouched by her. There's a stocking in our Christmas decorations with her name on, that I'm dreading seeing again... I just want something to focus my love on, so I can stop crying.

[volcaniclastic]

Thanks for the condolences everyone. I recently looked into whether or not it is cruel to keep a cat indoors. I always just assumed that a cat needs outdoor time. Well, even PETA, yeah, those guys, think it is BETTER to keep a cat indoors. The RSPCA, isn't for or against, the PAWS website has such a strong article about why all cats should be house cats, that I felt wholly responsible for Magpie's death, for letting her out :(

We're definitely getting another kitten. JP wants to wait at least another month, so we have time to properly grieve. He's probably right, but everything reminds us of Magpie: nothing was untouched by her. There's a stocking in our Christmas decorations with her name on, that I'm dreading seeing again... I just want something to focus my love on, so I can stop crying.

I'm so sorry this happened, Jemma.

I don't know if you were a member when it happened to me, but I used to have two cats. They're both inside-outside cats, and in the summers, I let them come and go as they please. I was inside the house, cuddling both of them, and one went out to play. 15 minutes later, I got a call from my landlord asking "if I had an orange cat" ...I dropped the phone, ran out the house barefoot, and was uncontrollably sobbing by the time I made it across the street. Someone had hit him (on my sleepy tiny street), and my landlord put him on the curb so he wouldn't get hit again. Almost no blood, must have died on impact.

I cried unconsolably for six hours on my kitchen floor, until a friend came over and carried me to bed. I mean, my cat was right there, 15 minutes before it happened! I don't know what you did with Magpie's remains, but my friend and I took him out to the country and built a funeral pyre for him. I said some prayers, and sprinkled sage into the fire, and we stood there until we were sure all that remained was ashes. We let the fire burn itself out, and we left. I found it really helped - I didn't grieve as much after that.

Maybe that is a possibility for you, also?

It's sad, but it does get better. And I still have Cedric, three years later, and I still let him outside. It makes me nervous as balls when he goes near the road, but I let him come with me across the street that day, and I let him sniff up my other cat, so he would understand why the house was now a house of one. He was really upset for a while, and he got over it too. It helps that he's afraid of cars.

The decision to let your cat out is a personal one. I let Ced out, because I can't say no to the damn little guy. But if you live near a busy street, or have raccoons, or any kind of predator, I would be more wary. I only let him out in the daytime here, and only because I live at the end of town, on an unpaved street. When he lived for a year at mom's house, he was inside only because she lives near the highway. For us, at night, we have predators that will eat little kitties, so he comes in after dinner.

But either way, it isn't cruel. What is cruel, however, is letting them outside, and then deciding they should be inside. I'm afraid you have to pick one or the other.

Hope you guys feel better, soon. And I'm really sorry about Magpie.

[B. de Corbin]

Our kitten, Magpie, was hit by a car and killed. We are crippled with grief...

I'm sorry, Jembru. That's always so rough.

[Amelia-Mary]

(((bigcuddlesJembru))) I'm so sorry :( I hope you can move on from the grief shortly, I can imagine she will definitely stay in your hearts forever <3

[Clive]

Sorry about your kitty cat, Jem. *hugs*

I don't think I've mentioned yet that I have to give my pets away before I moved. I can't afford the necessary preparations to take my Melody dog to Hawaii and my Archie bird wouldn't survive the flight. A family my dad knows has already agreed to take my dog in; I took her over there yesterday, and there are some problems. They have four dogs already, one of which wouldn't stop trying to rape Melody, and another of which tried to rip her face off. However, the owners of the dogs are confident that the aggressive dog is just a grumpy old boy and will eventually warm up to Melody. They seem to be trustworthy and responsible pet owners, so I'm not too worried. I would feel more comfortable, however, if they would agree to have the horny beagle neutered.

As for Archimedes "Archie" Bird, I have a friend who owns a macaw and once raised parakeets. I need to talk to him about taking my bird in.

[Jembru]

Thanks again everyone! @V: I actually read your post to JP and we sat and cried together. It was very touching, and I think we needed to kow we're not alone in being traumatized by this.

I'm not sure if this is such a good idea or not, but it's kinda too late; I saw I kitten I really wanted and had a 2-day frenzy over trying to contact the lady homing her. After a lot of hard effort from my sister (she kept calling for me while I was sleeping), we finally had confirmation that this little kitty is ours. We colletc her on Friday.

When JP came home on the evening of day one of this frenzy, he found me crying, surrounded by carrier bags of cat toys, a tray, kitten food and a scratching post, because I'd got too excited that I'd get her. The advert was taken offline, so I assumed I'd missed her and was really upset. I had even saved a photo of her to my PC to show JP. Then we checked again and by magic, the advert had been resubmitted with a message from the seller saying that it keeps being removed for no reason.

Well, in the end, I got her, but almost as soon as it was confirmed, I felt horrible for getting a new cat so soon. I just can't be pleased. I don't get the kitten:- I cry, I do get the kitten:- I cry..

She is very pretty. Kind of blue-grey with pale ginger patches now and then (like a washed out tortoise shell). She also part long-haired and the tufty hair on her head makes her look a lot like Yoda, which was maybe her biggest selling point! She'll never replace Magpie, but nothing can replace her. At least now we'll have someone to love and cuddle.

We'll definitely keep her as a house cat. It won't be easy, because people here often think it is cruel to keep a cat indoors (while researching, I discovered that attitudes vary between countries and regions). It's not nice being accussed of being cruel to your cat, but I think we have good grounds, and she's such a rare colour that we could risk her being stolen. We plan to get her used to her basket early, so we can take her to my mum's and JP's mums (who has other cats), so that she gets to explore other places and meet other cats, while always coming home to our cosy flat. Hopefully this will help prevent her from getting bored all cooped up in doors.

Clive: I'm so sorry that you have to re-home your pets. It's not a choice anyone makes lightly. It must be very hard to say good bye.

[Clive]

I'm glad you got a new kittie, Jem. She sounds beautiful. :)

It turns out that I may not have to leave my Melody behind after all. Our move has been delayed by a month, so my parents have decided that we have time enough to get her ready. This means I'm hitting the street looking for a part-time job so I can help pay for the process. Archie still has to stay, unfortunately.

[Lilium of the Valley]

My cat waits until i walk by his cat tree to claw at my head...every frikken day!!!!!!!! lmao
not to mention his jealousy towards the computer :P for certain reasons lol

[Rae'ya]

She is very pretty. Kind of blue-grey with pale ginger patches now and then (like a washed out tortoise shell). She also part long-haired and the tufty hair on her head makes her look a lot like Yoda, which was maybe her biggest selling point! She'll never replace Magpie, but nothing can replace her. At least now we'll have someone to love and cuddle.

We'll definitely keep her as a house cat. It won't be easy, because people here often think it is cruel to keep a cat indoors (while researching, I discovered that attitudes vary between countries and regions). It's not nice being accussed of being cruel to your cat, but I think we have good grounds, and she's such a rare colour that we could risk her being stolen. We plan to get her used to her basket early, so we can take her to my mum's and JP's mums (who has other cats), so that she gets to explore other places and meet other cats, while always coming home to our cosy flat. Hopefully this will help prevent her from getting bored all cooped up in doors.

I'm sorry for your recent loss, Jembru, and please don't feel guilty for getting a new kitten. Sometimes they come to us, with or without our input.

I just wanted to chip in to your questions over indoor vs outdoors for cats. I'm a vet nurse (vet tech for those in the US) and a cat lover/owner and I am absolutely an advocate of indoor cats or enclosed cat runs. Without question. There is nothing cruel about it and people who say that it is cruel just don't understand cats. There are some cats who don't adapt to being totally indoors and who require outdoor enclosures (which is my recommendation anyway because it's better mental and physical stimulation), and there are some cats who end up in a family that they don't suit and would be better off somewhere else (not necessarily outside) but if it's done properly then there is nothing cruel about it.

I also want to say that there's nothing cruel about having an outdoor cat that you then make indoors. Most cats will adjust surprisingly well if it's done properly. My cat was 9 years old when we changed him to being indoors with an outside enclosure and he never had problems. He's a lot happier and safer now and is 16 - he wouldn't have made it to this age if he was still outdoors. The clinic cat at the clinic I work at was an injured stray of 2-3 years old when he came to us. He's now 11-12 and is one of the happiest clinic cats you'll ever see (some clinic cats suffer anxieties over sharing their space with patients - Flynn doesn't).

The key there is that it must be done properly. Cats don't get bored being indoors if you give them things to do. Scratching posts, shelves to climb on, toys, hidey holes etc. The thing to remember is that if your cat likes to climb, you MUST give it something to climb on. If your cat likes to hide, you MUST give it something to hide in. Some cats live indoors without any modifications at all... some cats need some special furniture and/or changes to the house to keep them happy. Problems don't occur because a cat is indoors and it's 'cruel', they occur because we aren't giving them the correct environment and mental and physical stimulation. Cats can have anxiety problems from being around other cats, small children, dogs, from not having appropriate hidey holes or escape routes, from lack of mental stimualtion, from visitors, from workmen, from loud noise like the vacuum cleaner etc etc. You just have to accept that your cat is an individual with a personality and preferences and make sure that you can share your space happily. Like having a room mate who hates your loud music. If you want to live together you have to compromise.

Here in Australia there are many companies that make cat enclosures, either permanent structures, transportable ones or temporary things that can be attached to rental houses without damaging the facias and things. You can even get enclosures that build onto balcony windows or run along the outside of the house from window to window. You can even get little UV protected boxes to put in windows so that your cat can sunbake without fear of skin cancer. We have all sorts of dangers here in Australia to worry about... cat fight abscesses, cars, FIV, FeLV, skin cancer on ears and noses, fatal snake bite (it's Australia... pretty much all of our snakes are venomous and they can live in the suburbs), cane toads (in some states). Not to mention the thought that outdoor cats damage our native wildlife (which is debatable but that's a whole other issue). About the only thing we don't need to worry about here is rabies. Cat enclosures are an absolutely brilliant thing and I will never have another outdoor cat in my life. I look at it like this... we keep our dogs locked up in backyards by themselves (dogs, who are social creatures and need a lot of social contact as well as physical and mental stimulation) to keep them safe, why shouldn't we afford our cats the same protection?

Having said that I don't actually think it's cruel to let them outdoors. It's just not as safe. You didn't cause your kitty's accident by letting her outside. No one causes the death of their cat by letting them outside, its just a risk that we take with outdoor cats. And it's up to each individual to chose whether or not they accept those risks. Personally I don't and I recommend that my clients don't, but some people accept the risks and that's their prerogative.

Lastly, cats are generally solitary creatures and don't actually like to socialise much with cats that aren't part of their colony. So taking your cat away from it's house into another cat's house is actually not a great idea. Some cats can cope with that, others get a great deal of anxiety about it. It could cause more problems than good, so just be careful of that. Cats aren't like dogs.

Anyway... that was a bit longer than I intended. Forgive me if I sound a bit opinionated but I love animals and I understand them... it's my job to protect them, to heal them, to keep then healthy and to educate my clients about how to do all that. I work with animals both physically and spiritually... I'm passionate about animals and about facilitating their happy and healthy relationship with people.

*climbs off her soapbox*

[Jembru]

Thanks so much Rae'ya! You've helped to ease some of my anxiety. There is a friend of the family who makes hutches and runs for small animals, who might be willing to make us something especially for Dolly (she came home on Friday and we called her Dolly). We've moved the book case magpie used to use to get onto the wardrobes, so I might invest in a tall cat tree that she can use to climb up there.

We talked about maybe trying to get her used to wearing a harness. I'm just worried that even if she takes to it, once she goes outside sometimes, it will make her cry at the doors to be out.

I'm also worried that the lady has given her a kitten too young. For some reason, I was convinced the advert said 8 weeks, but she doesn't look 8 weeks to me. Maybe I should put up a picture. She's eating well and using her litter tray at least. She never cried for her mum or brother, but if we both leave the room, she starts calling out and sounds really distressed.

Anyway, thanks again for your helpful message. I'm going to show it to my partner too.

[Rae'ya]

Post up a pic and I'll see if I can tell if she's 8 weeks or not. This age is about the only time you can tell just by looking how old a cat is lol. They normally wean at 4 weeks so if she's eating well then she's over that. Is she eating dried kibble or just soft stuff?

They all cry when they're alone at first. Puppies do the same thing, unless they've already been in a shelter or something. When you think about it, she's just gone from always having someone with her (mum, other kittens, people) to suddenly being left on her own. That's a scary thing for a baby. It's quite natural for a young animal to call for their mother or siblings when they're alone - just survival instinct. Mums don't kick kittens out 'in the wild' until they're about 4-6 months old, so it's quite against their nature for us to be giving kittens away at 8 weeks old. They learn independence and socialisation in those first 6 months and are giving special 'get out of jail free cards' by other adult cats. Once they're sexually mature then they are treated like any other cat, and are fair game for fights, hunting and territory disputes. We just have to encourage her to grow up a bit faster than normal. She'll get the hang of it, but there are a few things you can do to help. In the room where she's alone, put a warm snuggly bed, maybe with a hot water bottle in it. A metronome or ticking clock can also be comforting for them, as can the radio on low. She should grow out of it, but try not to pander to the crying too much. Don't go in there and pick her up and cuddle her, because that will encourage it to turn into attention seeking and you'll teach her to be a noisy cat. Just go back in, say something short and simple and in a normal tone of voice to let her know that you're there, otherwise ignore her for a minute, act as though you didn't hear any crying at all and try to think of ways to keep her comforted when you leave. Maybe put her in her bed with a teddy bear or something that she can snuggle into. Remember that it's probably the first time she has ever been alone in her life.

As far as an enclosure goes, wait until you know a bit of her personality before you think about getting one built, especially if it will be small. Small is actually not an issue as all, as long as it's built on the correct plane. Some cats prefer vertical space to horizontal space... generally if she's a climber then she needs vertical space. Watch her over the next few weeks - if she's always trying to get up on the couch or climbing the curtains or something then she needs vertical space and it doesn't really matter how wide it is. Shelves that go up with little tunnels and ramps and things. If she stays on the ground or the bed is the highest she ever goes then some horizontal space with maybe just a low shelf and a hidey hole would be fine. The worst thing you can do for a vertical-plane cat is not give them space to climb up!

Scratching posts... not all cats like the carpet covered ones. Cats have a personal preference for what they like to hone their claws on. Mine likes vinyl. The clinic cat likes carpet. Some like rope or leather or whatever. So if they wont use the fancy cat post you bought, but like to claw the couch, get your post re-covered lol. Also, a scratching post needs to be tall enough for the cat to stretch out completely at full length. So those short ones actually aren't that great. Again, they don't actually have to be vertical, because some cats like to stretch out along the ground. My cat goes horizontal along the ground and scratches at the vinyl low down and so we actually have a 'scratching chair' out in the cat-run rather than a scratching post for him to poke holes in.

Harness training can be helpful if you want to give short visits outside under supervision, but not strictly necessary. Some of the problem with half indoor-half outdoor cats is that while they've been inside, someone else has come and marked their yard. That encourages anxiety and cat fights. I've recently converted one of my patients to totally indoors for this very reason. He would come inside and fight with the other cat and spray urine around the house out of anxiety, partially because every time he went out he had to re-stake his claim on his yard, and every time he came in he had to re-stake his claim on his house. Making it consistent was part of the treatment plan, along with some pheromone diffusers and retraining. Lots of people go 'well he doesn't like to be inside' and make their cat totally outdoors, in which case the cat is 'cured', but it's rarely that they don't like inside, just that they don't like the inconsistency. Having a cat door helps with that, plus single cat households don't experience it quite as much as multiple cat households. One of my colleagues used to have her cats out on a harness before they had a cat enclosure built, because they were in a snake area. She would peg them out on a long lead and let them stay for an hour or so. Only one of her three cats actually enjoyed this, the other two didn't like it so she stopped doing it for them. Also remember that they usually prefer garden to lawn, so if you do it then take her into the garden and the shrubs to play rather than expecting her to play on the lawn like a dog.

Crying to go out/for food/whatever, you can train them out of. Apart from Oriental breeds, who are difficult to train out of 'talking' because it's part of their nature, it's easy enough to do. Just ignore it. It sounds mean but seriously, ignore it and they'll stop doing it. My cat used to cry for food every single day whenever you went in the kitchen until someone fed him (and would then try to con a second dinner from someone else). It used to drive us nuts. When I became a vet nurse and learned about these things I retrained him not to, by setting a consistent dinner time and having everyone ignore the crying. It took a few weeks but he doesn't cry for his food anymore. He also doesn't bother trying to wake me up for breakfast anymore because I ignore him and roll over. My lorikeet is the same - he's quiet as a mouse for me but he cries for attention with my husband, because my husband gets frustrated and tells him to be quiet and goes and looks at him. Ignore it, don't look at them, don't speak to them, pretend you can't hear it. Then spontaneously reward the quiet behaviour. It's the same thing I teach all the puppy-parents in my puppy classes lol. Just remember that the crying she's doing when you leave the room now is a little different, because it's the natural contact request of a baby looking for it's security. So that's not simple attention seeking but it can become attention seeking as she gets older if you handle it the wrong way.

[Jembru]

Thanks again for your post! I think I'll keep referencing them actually. Well, we've actually never had visiting cats to our yard. Even the little boy Magpie always followed around, never came into the yard and instead waited outside the gate for her. It has high walls, and even when my roommate still lived here with her rabbit and guinea pig, cats never visited. Magpie got out by jumping on a window ledge and then onto the garage roof that was about half a foot lower than the wall, so maybe other cats haven't worked that out and just see a yard they probably couldn't get out of. We wondered if blocking off this route would keep Dolly in the yard, but don't want to try in case it doesn't work. While it's possible to get a cat with a taste for outdoors, used to indoor life, it would surely be better if we never have to do that. So many hard decisions to make...

She's very well litter trained, always remembering to go when she wakes up, and she is on both dried kitten food and wet. We give the dried in a little dish separately.

I've uploaded a video to youtube so you can see her better than in a photo.


http://youtu.be/IpKh75kB5SM

Please excuse the vile carpet. The cigarette burns were my ex roommate, honest! ^^ I asked the landlord for a new one but he said if we want a new carpet we'd have to pay for it. :(

- - - Updated - - -

Oh also, should I be worried that she cries whenever she has a poop? I've thinking of taking her to visit a vet if it still happens when　I'm next off work.

[Rae'ya]

It's a bit hard to tell without getting a good look at her face but I would guess that she looks about 6-8weeks old, She doesn't strike me as younger, and if she's chewing on dry food happily then she is at least 6 weeks. I don't think she's over 8 weeks.


Oh also, should I be worried that she cries whenever she has a poop? I've thinking of taking her to visit a vet if it still happens when　I'm next off work.

Yes, I would be worried. That's not normal and it shows that she has pain on toileting. Don't panic - it's not necessarily life threatening, but it shows that there's something not quite right. It could be as simple as the food that she eats not creating the right consistency of faeces, which is causing pain when it passes. This is especially true in very young puppies or kittens, due to food and digestion changes, and their small size. I normally tell people feed them the best quality food you can afford, because there IS a big difference between the expensive vet stuff and the cheap off-brand stuff - but always make changes slowly over a week or two. Stick to a good quality cat food (kitten food at this age), and don't give her extras, except maybe some chicken wing tips when she's a bit older for dental care. She looks a little pot bellied, which despite popular belief is actually not normal in kittens and puppies and is often a sign of worms or of cheap pet foods. Have you wormed her? A worm burden could also be causing her issues with toileting. Otherwise from what I can tell she looks to be a good weight, but then I can't be sure without actually touching her because I can't see beneath the fuzz. I really want to ask you what her poos look like, but that's kind of... weird, isn't it? lmao. Who asks that on a pagan forum? A vet nurse, obviously. :rolleyes:

Either way, if she's 6-8 weeks old then she's due for her first vaccinations (yes, I'm an advocate, even for indoor cats as cat flu is airborne and can be caught through open windows or doors). Even animals who are not vaccinated should have regular check ups - for kittens and puppies that means when you get them, at least twice before desexing time. For adults that means every single year. Sometimes we pick things up in health checks before you see signs at home, and sometimes what people think is normal is actually not normal at all and there are things we can do about it.

[Jembru]

I should probably try to get some photos up of JP holding her, or put her next to a DVD or something, because I might make her look larger than she is (I'm very small, just 5' tall with creepy tiny hands ^^).

We've already decided we'll be keeping her vaccinations up to date. In fact, it was never even up for debate. In Magpie's case, we had a plan through the vet that entitled us to a lifetime of yearly boosters and health checks. We paid out a lot of money for that, and the other precautions we took to ensure her safety (we had her spayed and chipped) and yet when she died, they didn't even send us a card. They just charged us a further £45 to dispose her body. I'm quite upset by the way they treated us actually, so we're going to a different vet with Dolly. We'll be getting her spayed too, although we haven't decided if it's worth having her chipped.

In the UK, vets generally vaccinate from 9 weeks, so we have an appointment for her for Monday morning. I have a few other concerns so I really want her checked over, even if the vet decided she's not 9 weeks. yet.

I got one spot wormer (and flea treatment, but she's too young for it yet), before she even came home to us. Unfortunately, the lable says not to use it on kittens under 1kg. Dolly is a little shy of 1kg so we haven't been able to give her it yet. I personally think she's close enough, but my partner, JP, is very protective and insists I wait. If she hasn't had it by Monday, I'll see if the vet can give her anything. There's nothing visible in her poops at least, but I know they don't always show right away (I worked for 9 months in the cattary of an animal shelter, although it was many years ago now).

My other concern is her ears. I can't see anything, but she defiitely seems to be scratching and shaking her head too much. This poor little girl...

[Rae'ya]

The ears is probably ear mites, and the vet can confirm for you on Monday. A young puppy or kitten is the ONLY time I will ever say 'it's probably ear mites' without seeing a pet, because its very very rare to have ear infections at that age, and very, very common to have ear mites lol Adults rarely get ear mites, but pet shops seem to like to tell people that any ear scratching is mites, when in actual fact it's more likely to be an infection.

It sounds like you're well on top of things, which is good to see. The vet can sort out the rest for you on Monday. They should also be able to confirm her age by looking at her size and her teeth. And make sure to mention about her toileting problems. And they can check for signs of fleas and other things. Make sure you go to a vet who actually does a proper health check during vaccinations - some vets just do cheap vaccinations and don't actually do health exams unless a pet is sick. The best ones (I could be biased here... given that we do this!) do a full health exam at every visit, including teeth and ears, will talk to you about good nutrition, worming, fleas, toys, all those sorts of things that people sometimes feel is 'overselling'. When they're your babies you want to make sure that they are getting the best we can give them!

It's disappointing about your previous vet, especially if you had paid out a pre-paid health plan. At our clinic, EVERYONE gets at least a letter when their pet dies. Most actually get a brass memorial plaque as well. And we would (and have) transfer any pre-paid plan over to a new pet if one dies very young. It's sad that you've had that experience with them. Our pets are a part of our family, and should be afforded the respect and compassion that reflects that. My clinic's motto is '...because they're family' and that's just the way that we see it. Even if they have only been with you for a short time, it's still just as tragic and just as heartbreaking to lose them.