Kitty Corner with Teallaura

[Teallaura]

(Yeah, yeah, I know - so I'm a copycat!)

I figured I'd start a thread on something I knew something about. Since we can eliminate computers (:rofl: boy, can we!) and I get enough Poli Sci in Poli Sci (boy, do I! :argh:) I figured cats were as good a subject as any. I've kept multiple cats for a number of years so I do have a great deal of 'on the job' training. Any cat-related question is okay, except one - how many cats I have. Too many is the only answer you'll get.
Practical things like how to wrap a cat or trimming claws will work well. Health questions as long as they're basic and with the understanding that I'm not a vet and I'm very likely to answer 'take it to the vet'. Training questions I'm so-so (basic tricks and litter training are easy - anything more complicated is outside my abilities) and breed questions are iffy (depends on how much experience I've had with the breed -and for the record, I hate Himalayans) but I'm game if you are.
And of course, feel free to tell me about your baby - we can't very well discuss cats without that! :smile:
My guess is this thread gets six responses (and I know who they'll be) and it'll die when I really won't tell them how many cats I have (say it with me - too many!). :shrug: Worth a shot anyhow.

So, what would you like to know? :smile:

[eudyptes]

err...must resist....























....too weak.


How do you make kitty gumbo?

[Teallaura]

Start with one raw penguin, finely chopped....

[eudyptes]

:mutt-snicker:

[mossrose]

I have a recipe for cat litter cake if anybody wants it.

No, really. It is real cake. Just LOOKS like a litter box.

:teeth:

[eudyptes]

I have a recipe for cat litter cake if anybody wants it.

No, really. It is real cake. Just LOOKS like a litter box.

:teeth:


how does it smell?

[furay]

Would you agree that the Scottish Fold is the cutest (and therefore the best) cat breed ever?

[Teallaura]

Would you agree that the Scottish Fold is the cutest (and therefore the best) cat breed ever?Well, I wouldn't go that far - I have a special place in my heart for the Ragdoll, but Folds are adoreable. Never had one but I've never heard anything bad about them temperment wise, so I'd say they were a pretty cool breed - and ya gotta love the ears! :teeth:


I have a recipe for cat litter cake if anybody wants it.

No, really. It is real cake. Just LOOKS like a litter box.

Cat litter cake? :eww:
No thanks, I deal too much with the real thing.... gotta go now....

[mossrose]

how does it smell?

it smells like cake.

Cat litter cake? :eww:
No thanks, I deal too much with the real thing.... gotta go now....

:frown:

it's really cute, and funny......

[eudyptes]

Cat litter cake? :eww:
No thanks, I deal too much with the real thing.... gotta go now....



Uhh...nevermind :mutt-snicker:

[Darth Executor]

kittens ^_^

[Teallaura]

it smells like cake.



:frown:

it's really cute, and funny......
Oh, okay, go ahead and post it since it's cute....:smile:

Love the pics, Darth - the one in the pie plate I have on my bulletin board at work! I got it in an e-mail with a cute caption about the need for moderation. :teeth:

[mossrose]

Oh, okay, go ahead and post it since it's cute....:smile:

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

WANT TO HAVE FUN AT A PARTY? PREPARE THIS RECIPE! COMPLETELY EDIBLE,
BUT YOUR FRIENDS MAY NOT THINK SO!

CAT LITTER CAKE RECIPE


CAKE INGREDIENTS

1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 box of white cake mix
1 package white sandwich cookies
1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix
A few drops green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent

SERVING "DISHES AND UTENSILS"

1 NEW cat-litter box
1 NEW cat-litter box liner
1 NEW pooper scooper

Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan.
Prepare pudding and chill. Crumble cookies in small batches in blender
or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of
cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside.

When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss
with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the
mixture moist but not soggy. Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.

Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable.
Shape the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more
rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining
white cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over
top.

Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the
cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining
Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box. Place
box on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper. Enjoy!

[Teallaura]

:haha:

Okay, next pot luck I go to.... :grin:

Question: what the heck are 'white sandwich cookies'?

[A Cup of No]

...

[Piebald]

:lol:


[attachment=1] [attachment=1] [attachment=1]

[Piebald]

[attachment=1]

[A Cup of No]

ROFL :rofl: :lmbo:

That is a hilarious video. I saw that on jeffiscool.com that place has some great ones

[mossrose]

:haha:

Okay, next pot luck I go to.... :grin:

Question: what the heck are 'white sandwich cookies'?
I think they would be like, oreos, but with a vanilla cookie and a white filling?

I, um, have not made this attractive cake, yet.......


:slinkoff:

[Teallaura]

:brood:
Cup, you're annoying me. :brood:

Hammy, love ya dear, but this is no place for a hamster... go on now, shoo! :ahem:


I'm now afraid to see what that banner is going to look like...:noid:

[Piebald]

TL, loook at this, if you can:

http://jeffiscool.com/numanuma.html

All should see it.

[Teallaura]

:brood:
I saw it on NBC's Today Show a few months ago. What exactly does that have to do with cats? :brood:


Shoo, already!!! :glare:

[D. Medvedev Fan]

Teal, do you have any kitty pictures you can post?

[Teallaura]

Hmmm.... It'll take me about a week, but I was about ready to post my garden pics anyway - I should be able to post a couple...:smile:

[Lizard]

TL, the cat expert:

Why does my manx (sp?) hate me?

[Teallaura]

Manx's (yep, that's how it's spelled) have a rep for being temperamental (not the best husbandry in their background). That doesn't mean that they can't be good cats. If it's a temperament issue, it's probably over-stimulated. High strung cats don't deal well with noisy, high-traffic homes - or with rough housing owners. They need things calmer to give them a chance to adjust.
Try crating during the day (or any high stress time). Feed in the crate and leave it open most of the time so the cat doesn't associate it with punishment. When the cat is crated, leave it in a quiet room with a favorite object (a good cat throw, which can be nothing but an old towel, will help). At first, only for a short while, then you go let the cat out. Over time, you can crate longer. As that happens, come in and quietly play with/pet the cat. As the cat learns that you aren't the enemy and that it does have a refuge from the hustle bustle of people life, it will gain confidence and probably settle down. If it's a temperament issue, it will never be a 'easy go lucky' cat, but it can learn to relax and deal with humans.
Is there a particular time/setting when your cat seems most irritable with you? There can be other reasons why a cat takes exception to a person. But with no info, I simply covered the most common.

[Cyrus Johnson]

Dear Cat Lady,

What is your position on de-clawing? I am strongly opposed to this practice myself.

What are the alternatives?

[Lizard]

Manx's (yep, that's how it's spelled) have a rep for being temperamental (not the best husbandry in their background). That doesn't mean that they can't be good cats. If it's a temperament issue, it's probably over-stimulated. High strung cats don't deal well with noisy, high-traffic homes - or with rough housing owners. They need things calmer to give them a chance to adjust.
Try crating during the day (or any high stress time). Feed in the crate and leave it open most of the time so the cat doesn't associate it with punishment. When the cat is crated, leave it in a quiet room with a favorite object (a good cat throw, which can be nothing but an old towel, will help). At first, only for a short while, then you go let the cat out. Over time, you can crate longer. As that happens, come in and quietly play with/pet the cat. As the cat learns that you aren't the enemy and that it does have a refuge from the hustle bustle of people life, it will gain confidence and probably settle down. If it's a temperament issue, it will never be a 'easy go lucky' cat, but it can learn to relax and deal with humans.
Is there a particular time/setting when your cat seems most irritable with you? There can be other reasons why a cat takes exception to a person. But with no info, I simply covered the most common.

Well sometimes it is temperment, and the cat is realy jumpy if I approach it (even if I am just walking past it to get where I need to go).

Other times, the cat will sit down about 10 feet from me and just sit there. Like she want's attention. But if I get up to pet her she tenses up (but doesn't get up), if I try to pet her, she may let me for about three seconds, but then slowly walks away.

But then she does not like to be petted with hands, but with her brush. Sometimes, she will let me pet her with her brush for a good while.

[Jaltus]

What Ph D were you working on?

[Teallaura]

Dear Cat Lady,

What is your position on de-clawing? I am strongly opposed to this practice myself.

What are the alternatives?
I abhor the practice. It is not necessary and puts the cat at a terrible disadvantage if it should get out. The only exception is as a last resort before euthensizing the animal (something I also abhor but declawing is the lesser of those two evils - if you really can't handle your cat better than those to choices, find it a good home and stick to gold fish).

Three alternatives:

1) Buy a good scratching post (sisal is best but carpet works well). Apply an attractive scent (there are a number of good ones on the market if catnip doesn't do it for your cat - available from specialty pet stores, by catalog or occasionally the vet). Do not use food - cats don't scratch dinner the same way and while they will be attracted, it probably won't be for long. For most cats, once they are used to it, the post becomes the scratcher of choice. Keep it in good condition and problem solved.
Occasionally you'll need to back it up by spraying other areas your cat is trying to use with a repellent (available as above) and using a spray bottle filled with water (buy one - no recycled Windex bottles!) whenever you catch the cat using an inappropriate object.
This will not work if the cat doesn't accept the post and is left alone a great deal of the time.

2) Trim the cat’s claws regularly in addition to the post. I trim once every week or two. You can buy special trimmers or if the cat's claws grow pretty fast, use regular nail trimmers. The key is to be very careful to stay away from the quick (the white stuff visible through the claw) - at least a centimeter or so from the quick (as trimmers dull they will squeeze the quick painfully - the cat will let you know! - and staying away will prevent this). Since only the tip needs to be trimmed this works fairly well.
This will not work for high strung or difficult to handle cats without a lot of time and patience conditioning the cat to accept it.

3) Nail caps: I've only seen them in catalogs and they have to be replaced every six weeks. Like false nails, they are glued over the cat's claws to blunt them. I've never used them but they would probably work with a calm but obstinate cat. With a high strung, you'd also need to condition the cat or wrap it.

[Teallaura]

Well sometimes it is temperment, and the cat is realy jumpy if I approach it (even if I am just walking past it to get where I need to go).

Other times, the cat will sit down about 10 feet from me and just sit there. Like she want's attention. But if I get up to pet her she tenses up (but doesn't get up), if I try to pet her, she may let me for about three seconds, but then slowly walks away.

But then she does not like to be petted with hands, but with her brush. Sometimes, she will let me pet her with her brush for a good while.

Try the crating. Maybe just provide the crate and feed in it to get her to accept it and learn that she has a refuge. That may help with the jumpiness. Also, don't make a big deal when she does it. Just speak calmly and keep going. She needs to know she isn't under attack or being hunted.
When she's sitting nearby like that, talk to her, quietly. Offer her a treat by throwing it almost to her. Gradually shorten the distance until she will take it from your hand (this may take a while - don't try it all at once) and let you pet her once or twice. Just be patient and she'll figure it out.
When she accepts your petting, give it to her. Try rubbing different spots (under the chin, behind the ears and especially along her sides). She’ll probably go off to bathe - this is a good thing. It's how cats learn your scent/taste (yes, really) and it helps with the bonding. Rub your hands together first if you happen to have just washed - you want her to smell you, not the soap. Also, when she lets you brush her, try running your hand down her body every few strokes. You want your oils in her fur and when she's enjoying a good brushing is an ideal time to get her used to enjoying petting.
As she settles down, try scratching areas like ears, under the chin and the base of the tail (topside). Stop immediately if she doesn't like it and do something she does like. You may find that one of those is just what the doctor ordered.

[Teallaura]

What Ph D were you working on?
Poli Sci - not cats. :teeth:

[A-Man]

Dear cat woman,
Dogs are better.
r,
Aman

[Teallaura]

Dear cat woman,
Dogs are better.
r,
Aman
I love dogs, but neither is really 'better' - each has it's own charms. Cats can be trained, but require more effort (half the time you're really re-training) and are infinitely easier to keep indoors. Dogs are easier to train (except for housebreaking) but require much more time and attention (an anxious dog will wreck your house, especially if it has separation anxiety. A cat will hide under the bed and almost never develops separation anxiety).
They're both great pets.



(Oh, and :rasberry:)

[A-Man]

Dear cat loving therapy-type person,
Cats do not love. They are actually selfish weasels.
They are better on a sandwich than on your lap.
r,
Aman

[Teallaura]

Dear cat loving therapy-type person,
Cats do not love. They are actually selfish weasels.
They are better on a sandwich than on your lap.
r,
Aman
:brood: You're being a :troll:. Go start you're own thread....

[Cyrus Johnson]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Is there a blood vessel in the quick to worry about as well as the pain? My sister trimmed her dog's nails and went too deep, drawing both blood and pain. Not sure if cats are built the same.

I can't imagine him letting nail caps stay on, but might be worth a try.

1) Buy a good scratching post (sisal is best but carpet works well). Apply an attractive scent (there are a number of good ones on the market if catnip doesn't do it for your cat - available from specialty pet stores, by catalog or occasionally the vet). Do not use food - cats don't scratch dinner the same way and while they will be attracted, it probably won't be for long. For most cats, once they are used to it, the post becomes the scratcher of choice. Keep it in good condition and problem solved.
Occasionally you'll need to back it up by spraying other areas your cat is trying to use with a repellent (available as above) and using a spray bottle filled with water (buy one - no recycled Windex bottles!) whenever you catch the cat using an inappropriate object.
This will not work if the cat doesn't accept the post and is left alone a great deal of the time.

2) Trim the cat’s claws regularly in addition to the post. I trim once every week or two. You can buy special trimmers or if the cat's claws grow pretty fast, use regular nail trimmers. The key is to be very careful to stay away from the quick (the white stuff visible through the claw) - at least a centimeter or so from the quick (as trimmers dull they will squeeze the quick painfully - the cat will let you know! - and staying away will prevent this). Since only the tip needs to be trimmed this works fairly well.
This will not work for high strung or difficult to handle cats without a lot of time and patience conditioning the cat to accept it.

3) Nail caps: I've only seen them in catalogs and they have to be replaced every six weeks. Like false nails, they are glued over the cat's claws to blunt them. I've never used them but they would probably work with a calm but obstinate cat. With a high strung, you'd also need to condition the cat or wrap it.

[Teallaura]

Sure thing! :smile:

Yes, if you cut the quick it will likely bleed. Styptic powder will solve the bleeding - assuming you can still hang onto the cat! Unless you cut it very deep, it usually only bleeds a little, if at all. On the bright side, cat claws are rarely black as dog claws can be, so it's very easy to see the quick and avoid it.
I've never tried the caps myself. I imagine you'd need to hang on to the cat until the glue dried.
:shrug:

[mossrose]

My daughter has the most beautiful, huge, Maine Coon. He gets horrible mats on his belly, and since he doesn't like to be held much OR groomed, the mats usually end up on the floor eventually.

Aside from taking him to a groomer or vet and having someone else deal with the mats, do you know of any way to get him to let the kids cut the mats off?

He is about 5 years old, and weighs about 15 pounds......I thought I had a good picture of him, but I don't have one scanned that shows how big he is. But he is really hard to handle.

[Teallaura]

My daughter has the most beautiful, huge, Maine Coon. He gets horrible mats on his belly, and since he doesn't like to be held much OR groomed, the mats usually end up on the floor eventually.

Aside from taking him to a groomer or vet and having someone else deal with the mats, do you know of any way to get him to let the kids cut the mats off?

He is about 5 years old, and weighs about 15 pounds......I thought I had a good picture of him, but I don't have one scanned that shows how big he is. But he is really hard to handle.

To get them off, he'll have to be either wrapped or put in a special cage that won't let him turn around (those are available by catalog - and I love mine!!!) You really need a mat comb - they're comb like things with sharp tines. The comb is safer than scissors with a badly matted cat - scissors are almost guaranteed to cut him as they try to get the mat. The comb will take a while, but it will cut up the mats until they a small enough to be safely cut away with scissors or brushed out (unless you are showing him, I'd opt for cutting).
Wrapping is exactly what it sounds like - take a towel (a bath towel in good condition - nothing threadbare) and wrap the cat firmly, pressing the legs into the body. Normally I prefer to put the middle of the towel under the cat if possible, but you'll need to put it over his back. It'll take a little practice, but once you can control him that way (no paws coming out - squirming will occur) you can expose a little of his belly at a time and start combing. If he is heavily shedding and shows no discomfort, small mats can simply be pulled off. Otherwise, it'll take a long while (probably best done in sessions if he's continuously matted over the whole belly) but the comb will do the job.
The cheating way is to go ahead and have a groomer sheer him (yep, all of him) and start a daily habit of having the kids brush and comb him. He'll hate it at first, but give him a treat afterwards and keep at it until he gets used to it. Eventually, you won't have to wrap him and by the time his fur grows back out, he'll be much easier to maintain. I'd get one of those glove combs for this (the ones made of rubber - I like the ones that fit over the hand, but aren't gloved shaped - they usually have two types of tines and they work great). Or while his fur is short and he's shedding, get a hair block like they use on horses (it's a pumice stone) they're wonderful for heavy shedders. Definitely invest in a good curry comb style scrapper - they'll help a lot with his belly as the fur comes back in, or once it's completely brushed out. Any good catalog or pet store will carry all but the pumice stone (I get mine at the co-op)!
The big thing is do it every day. Once he knows it's going to happen and doesn't hurt, he'll get used to it and settle down. Hang on tight at first - I do know how hard it is to wrestle with a 15 pounder! :teeth:
Hope this helps!

[mossrose]

That's all good advice, Laura! I will pass it on. I know they can't always afford to have him groomed, and the cage idea sounds interesting.

I guess he eventually works them out himself, and that's why they find big old mats on the floor once in a while. I am afraid he will then try to swallow them before the kids find the mats, and then he will have the mother of all fur balls!

My cats eat bits of their fur they find on the carpet.......:doh:, that's how I know the silly creatures do that!

:nsm:

[Teallaura]

That's all good advice, Laura! I will pass it on. I know they can't always afford to have him groomed, and the cage idea sounds interesting.

I guess he eventually works them out himself, and that's why they find big old mats on the floor once in a while. I am afraid he will then try to swallow them before the kids find the mats, and then he will have the mother of all fur balls!

My cats eat bits of their fur they find on the carpet.......:doh:, that's how I know the silly creatures do that!

:nsm:
Sure thing!
If he's dropping them, they can probably be pulled off gently. He'll let you know if not.
Does your cat eat it's own fur? It's probably investigating strange fur - and they have been known to get it stuck to their noses - to get it off, it goes down the hatch. I've never seen one go after it's own fur other than to play with the ball whisping along (and yep, same thing happens when it gets stuck). Unless the cat is really sick, it may play with a mat, but it won't actually eat it. If your cat is actively eating fur, you may want to get him checked at his next vet visit - something isn't right about that.

[mossrose]

We have 2 cats, and I have seen them both sniff at a bit of fur on the carpet or floor or bed, and then they will lick it down if I don't grab it first. And it doesn't seem to matter whose fur it is......

They have both done it for years, and I haven't been overly concerned about it. But they aren't fist-sized mats either, like my daughter's cat gets.....

:nsm:

[Teallaura]

Ah, okay, it's a play habit. Nothing to worry about - and your daughter's cat won't eat the mats, I promise. Play with them and make a mess doing so, yes; eat them, no.
:smile:

[mossrose]

You are likely right, since they are really big.......:lol:

[gharfish]

Ms. Teallaura,

I remember you having a really funny avatar at one time of a "kung-fu kitty." That was hilarious !

CATS ARE BEAUTIMOUS PEOPLE. Yes, I said it...and I am "all man," never-the-less.

Right now I am being set-upon by my male cat, Iry, who is a pitiful "love junkie." He cannot get enough lovin.' He's a super cat. He looks alot like a Maine Coon, but a little Ragdollish too. He is blue-eyed, white with tan points. I just found him outside when he was a kitten. He was a stray, and was so gentle and loving and trusting that I knew I had to take him in. He was just not cut out to be an alley cat. He 'talks' all the time too, like no other cat I've ever seen.

Note: He has very long hair, but NEVER gets mats in it. Weird. And lucky for me.

I have adopted another stray that is a brown-patched tabby -an ordinary type, I know, but this one (female) is very pretty with white cheeks and chin, and white borders around her eyes. She has some silver accents here and there -more stripes than usual..."too long" a tail. She is absolutely nuts...alot of fun.

My wife and I are caring for 4-5 outside cats -regular customers, (that) come up for food and water. I WISH my wife would let me have another cat. Ah, Rats ! ...(Or) Mice !!

Thank you ALL, for indulging me (if indeed you did !) What a great thread.

[Teallaura]

Hi Vance!
Both of your cats sound beautiful - and I also have an outdoor fan club (they are not mine! :brood:). As for your wife, try begging - after all, it's only one more! :wink:
Thanks for sharing - and 'Kung fu Kitty' will probably reappear eventually.... :teeth:

[bandecoot]

Dear Ms Laura

My middle cat Scwielg AKA mad cat, is 7 years old now and still convinced that we are trying to kill her. Despite the fact that we have fed her and looked after her since she was born. Do premie kiitens suffer brain damage? I am fairly sure she was the result of a tom just sneeaking in after all the others were already started.

[Teallaura]

Hi Mr. Bande,
Yes it's possible that she suffered brain damage if she was premature, but it isn't likely (the kind of difficulties that would lead to brain damage reduce the chances of survival considerably - and kittens rarely receive intensive care). A queen will accept multiple toms when she's in heat, and actually, multiple fathers are the norm outside of selective breeding. It's quite possible that she had a different father and that it is a temperament problem.
I have friends who had a literally insane cat, but the problem was none of the above. She had a very bad reaction to anesthesia when she was spayed and was never the same. Was there a time when your cat changed? It could be a medical problem, or something traumatic may have happened. Both are rare, but they can cause serious behavioral problems.

[mossrose]

Here is picture that my daughter has as her screen saver at work of Sebastian the Maine Coon and Sophie the Torty Siamese.

It is still not a great pic of how big The Boy is, but you get some idea.

[Teallaura]

Actually, assuming a fairly standard window, it gives me a pretty good idea - he's a whopper alright! Sophie isn't tiny either. They're both pretty, by the way.
The cage I mentioned before is called a 'Bathe and Carry'. I know Jeffers carries it. It works well, and my Miracle can fit inside, so Sebastian probably will fit just fine. (Miracle is a cross, probably a Persian throwback - he and his brother both are big and muscular.)
Later!

[mossrose]

How come my cat Murphell, in my avatar, likes to lick anything plastic?

And how come my other cat, Dusty, the blind Siamese, likes to chew on cardboard or paper?

:smile:

[Teallaura]

My best guess is that he likes the taste/feel of the plastic - I have several that do this as well. Boredom also seems to be a factor. Like catnip, it simply feels good so they keep it up, especially when bored.
I rarely see mine chew paper or cardboard and it's usually when they are hungry or really needing some fiber. Try oat grass.

[mossrose]

Murphell likes to lay on plastic too. Her favourite place to sleep is in a great big box (my dryer came in it) that we use to store plastic grocery bags for recycling. :lol:

And Dusty doesn't actually eat the cardboard or paper. I think she just likes to make a mess.

:nsm:

[junipersilver]

Will you give dog advice too? If so...
My dog is terrified of thunderstorms & rips up the house if he is alone. He has seriously chewed through both marble and metal. If we are home, he is still really scared, but he doesn't rip up the house. We usually have someone watch him if we think it'll storm, but we can't always know. We tried keeping him in a big crate & in a fenced area, but he got out of both of those things by chewing through them. We tried giving him things to distract him, but they don't work either. We've also tried medicine, which helps some, but presents the same problem of not being able to be home all the time. We took him to a vet who said it was seperation anxiety, but didn't have anything new for us to try.
Can you think of anything? He's usually a really calm & nice dog, but storms(& fireworks) really scare him.

[HighBeams]

Hello! I haven't had any kitties for over 20 years because my husband is allergic to them, but I do love cats! I fondly remember my "pretty kitties". Usually, I have to resort to visiting friends who have cats in order to get my "kitty fix". :lol:

I love dogs equally as well, and I agree that neither cats nor dogs are better than each other. They're just different. My favorite breed of dog is a Schipperke (pronounced SKIP-er-key), and I've told Mossrose that I'd give her some info on them. I'll do that in another thread.

Junipersilver, I don't know if this will help or not with your dog's storm anxieties, but here's my experiences.

While some of the storm fear may be a separation anxiety, there may also be a genetic disposition to fear severe storms. I've had many dogs over the years, but I've only had one (a Pomeranian) that was what I call a "weather barometer". She became somewhat anxious during storms, increasing in fear with the severity of the storm, to becoming a little wild dog in her crate during tornado-producing storms. Her reactions, to me, seemed to correspond with the barometric pressure changes that accompany storms. If this is part of your dog's problem, I don't think there's much you will be able to do about it short of tranquilizers or moving to the desert. What kind of crate were you using for him? You might have to invest in a metal wire crate, possibly one like they use for show dogs. Is your dog crate trained? Just as Teallaura was describing to someone else about their cat, you can train your dog to see the crate as a safe place to be. It takes a little time, but it's well worth the effort.

I'll reminisce about my cats in another post.

[Teallaura]

Will you give dog advice too? If so...
My dog is terrified of thunderstorms & rips up the house if he is alone. He has seriously chewed through both marble and metal. If we are home, he is still really scared, but he doesn't rip up the house. We usually have someone watch him if we think it'll storm, but we can't always know. We tried keeping him in a big crate & in a fenced area, but he got out of both of those things by chewing through them. We tried giving him things to distract him, but they don't work either. We've also tried medicine, which helps some, but presents the same problem of not being able to be home all the time. We took him to a vet who said it was seperation anxiety, but didn't have anything new for us to try.
Can you think of anything? He's usually a really calm & nice dog, but storms(& fireworks) really scare him.
I'll try.
My dog is also storm anxious, but no where near as bad. Highbeams is right, a wire (sturdy!) crate and tranquilizers are the first line of attack. Do you have any other dogs? Another dog - preferably an older calm dog - may help with the separation anxiety (which he may well have a touch of as well) and will keep him from being alone when a storm hits.
I'd definitely crate train him - that's a process of getting him accustomed to going into the crate, using it as a 'home' base. It gives him a refuge (besides you) when things get scary. Make it comfortable with a nice bed and a favorite toy or two and don't use it like punishment. At first don't even close it. As he gets used to that, close it for a moment or two and gradually progress to where he can stay in it for longer periods of time. Let him out when he shows signs of anxiety and reassure him, then put him back shortly. He'll learn the crate is a good place and he'll use it as a refuge.
I really think your best bet will be to find a second dog - that way 'someone' is home with him all the time. Dogs are 'pack' animals and don't like facing trouble alone - and to him, storms are grade a, number one trouble.
The other possibility (used in conjunction with the others would probably be best) is to condition him. Get him enrolled in obedience school - you want him used to training and to regard training as fun. Once complete, keep working him, but start to add loud noises and unexpected surprises (a firecracker going off while he's at stay, that sort of thing) and reward him when he handles it well. Tin cans on a string, just loud noisy stuff, that he has to deal with, a little at a time (the first time, one loud noise, period... gradually work up to roman candles .. give him time to figure out that loud isn't going to hurt him). The trainer can help you work out a program for him.
He'll never be relaxed and easy going during a storm, but with some conditioning and a lot of time and patience, he probably can learn not to fear it so.
I hope this helps and wish you all the best with him.

[junipersilver]

I'll try.
My dog is also storm anxious, but no where near as bad. Highbeams is right, a wire (sturdy!) crate and tranquilizers are the first line of attack. Do you have any other dogs? Another dog - preferably an older calm dog - may help with the separation anxiety (which he may well have a touch of as well) and will keep him from being alone when a storm hits.
I'd definitely crate train him - that's a process of getting him accustomed to going into the crate, using it as a 'home' base. It gives him a refuge (besides you) when things get scary. Make it comfortable with a nice bed and a favorite toy or two and don't use it like punishment. At first don't even close it. As he gets used to that, close it for a moment or two and gradually progress to where he can stay in it for longer periods of time. Let him out when he shows signs of anxiety and reassure him, then put him back shortly. He'll learn the crate is a good place and he'll use it as a refuge.
I really think your best bet will be to find a second dog - that way 'someone' is home with him all the time. Dogs are 'pack' animals and don't like facing trouble alone - and to him, storms are grade a, number one trouble.
The other possibility (used in conjunction with the others would probably be best) is to condition him. Get him enrolled in obedience school - you want him used to training and to regard training as fun. Once complete, keep working him, but start to add loud noises and unexpected surprises (a firecracker going off while he's at stay, that sort of thing) and reward him when he handles it well. Tin cans on a string, just loud noisy stuff, that he has to deal with, a little at a time (the first time, one loud noise, period... gradually work up to roman candles .. give him time to figure out that loud isn't going to hurt him). The trainer can help you work out a program for him.
He'll never be relaxed and easy going during a storm, but with some conditioning and a lot of time and patience, he probably can learn not to fear it so.
I hope this helps and wish you all the best with him.

Surprisingly enough, we did use a sturdy wire cage & he still got out. He's a pretty big dog(a black lab), so when he gets insane it's pretty hard to keep him anywhere.
We don't have another dog, but we have a lot of cats. Maybe it's not quite the same though.
I'll definetly try the crate training though. We never did that ahead of time, so hopefully that helps.
Thanks for the advice.

[Teallaura]

Surprisingly enough, we did use a sturdy wire cage & he still got out. He's a pretty big dog(a black lab), so when he gets insane it's pretty hard to keep him anywhere.
We don't have another dog, but we have a lot of cats. Maybe it's not quite the same though.
I'll definetly try the crate training though. We never did that ahead of time, so hopefully that helps.
Thanks for the advice.
Sure, I hope things go well. Try one of the pet catalogs - you may can order something built for the job (most cages run 7 - 11 gauge wire - the lower the number, the better) and a good book on crate training as well.
God bless!
-T

[mossrose]

Our cats are also afraid of thumderstorns, and will head for the basement and under my sewing table at the very first rumblings.

It is strange, because they will tolerate the vacuum cleaner to a certain extent, and other loud noises, as well.

[Teallaura]

Caleco, Winter '03

[mossrose]

She's beautiful, Laura. What a sweetheart! There is some Siamese in her somewhere, looks like..

:hug:

Thank you for sharing this precious kit with us........

[Teallaura]

Thanks Mossrose. I appreciate it. :hug: She was a good cat.


Here's the bedroom gang, sans Siren (who absolutely will not sit still when she hears the camera warm up. The blurry black thing in the second picture is Siren with her nose headed for the lens.


From left to right: Caleco, Tid Bit, Daniella, Caleb (white and black), Silver (light gray) and Sweet Pea (one-eyed Siamese)

[D. Medvedev Fan]

Yay! Kitties! (The cuteness!)

[Teallaura]

Hey! I posted pictures of (some of :whistle:) my cats - let's see some of yours! :smile:

[mossrose]

Well, you've seen my daughter's big boy Sebastian, and her Siamese Sophie, and I have shown my cats elsewhere on Tweb, but here are mine again.

[themuzicman]

I wish I still had the picture from the taxidermist who would make your house cat into a cat skin rug.... what google search was that, now... :argh:

Edit: Found it!

(this caused a MAJOR uproar at the time... :lol:)

[Teallaura]

:cool: They're gorgeous, Mossrose! :thumb:










:sad: I really wish you hadn't done that, Muz....

[themuzicman]

Hey! There are those who wish to preserver their pets in this way! Let's not judge them!

[mossrose]

Thanks, Laura! Although they have been making me crazy lately, I don't know what I would do without them.......:frown:

And Michael! You KNOW you got into huge trouble the last time you showed that picture!

:mossrose:

[Dave G]

The last time I touched a kitten, he spazzed a foot in the air.

[One Bad Pig]

Here are Mimsy - grey tabby (died of heart failure :bawl:) and Schroedinger (black tabby).

[attachment=2][attachment=1]

[bandecoot]

Humph! I went through this whole thread looking for the Laura pic.... All I found was 1 leg.

[Teallaura]

OBP: They're both beautiful. :thumb:

Bande: You wanted a pic - you got one.... :grin:
Besides, it's a cute foot.... :teeth:








(Sorry, I really haven't figured out the link thing on Pal-Talk or I'd have saved you the hunt...)

[spiritmech]

Too funny. :)

[Teallaura]

It took three years but I can pick up Scramble now and fully handle her. She even seemed to enjoy having her anal glands evacuated (for obvious reasons I hadn't done it in a very long time) and she tolerates having her claws clipped very well!!! :woohoo:

[One Bad Pig]

Thanks for bumping this, TL. My pic of Mimsy is almost perfectly proportioned for the new avatars.

[CallistoSeeking]

I wish I still had the picture from the taxidermist who would make your house cat into a cat skin rug.... what google search was that, now... :argh:

Edit: Found it!

(this caused a MAJOR uproar at the time... :lol:)


:eek: ...I...am..disturbed....

And now this...

I am glad I started finally searching the forums and finding cool threads, :hehe: I will definiely be posting pictures of my baby, Berzerker (most of the guys/gals in TAMS thread know about him, as I keep claiming no guy can compare to him, and that he's the love of my life!! :lol:), when I get them on disk/computer. He's my almost 2yr old un-neutered male, & he is living proof that animals have different personalities!

He also talks more than I do...which is amazing, heh:wink:

Right now he's got a cut on his paw, which I'm not sure how he got. I was wondering if anyone here ever put neosporin on their animals? lol..Mom thinks it's a good idea--I think she's crazy, he'll lick it, get sick, and no. Anyway, blah blah! Yay Cats!!!

~~Audrey~~

[Teallaura]

Neosporin is fine - just don't use the pain killer included kind. He'll lick it but enough stays in to help. Just don't go overboard - a little goes a long way.

[Shadow Phoenix]

I think I should put up a picture of myself and my kitty. To be clear, I'm the one with less hair in the picture.

[themuzicman]

My cat killed my bird. What should I do?

[One Bad Pig]

Buy another bird for the cat to kill. :yes:

[JB]

Nick, your cat's adorable. :smile:



As we're in the business of posting pictures of our cats, here are mine:

[In order, from left to right: Enoch, Kezia, Moses, Josiah.]

[Nang]

I am enjoying everyone's pictures!

Here is our "Muffie" who spent her first year as a wild, unapproachable kitten, sleeping in our hay barn. Reader kept her alive by taking her food, but she would not come near. Until getting caught either in a trap, or by a predator, and suffering a wound down to the bone on a front leg. She decided she needed our help, and we took her in, nursing her back to health, and she hasn't left the homestead since.

[CallistoSeeking]

Awwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

[Teallaura]

Here are some better views of my babies - I'm beginning to figure out that software!


Tidbit:
40841

Siren:
40843

Sweet Pea and Danielle (Danielle is deceased):
40842

Silver (being camera shy):
40845

Calico (deceased):
40844

The whole bedroom gang - '03:
40846

[norwegen]

I don't remember if I've ever posted this before, but here are Portia (L) and Bear (R).

[norwegen]

Dear Cat Lady;

Is a butt-sniffing fetish normal?

[Teallaura]

For your cat, yes, it's their way of finding out about each other. For you, no, seek counseling.

[JB]

For your cat, yes, it's their way of finding out about each other. For you, no, seek counseling.

What if it involves both of them? :uneasy:

[Teallaura]

Pesticator just took a hunk outta my hand - not really bad, just annoying. He got wrapped for his trouble and we finished the claws, did the ears and evacuated the anal glands - I don't take no sass outta no cat!

He's actually doing much better than he has been in a while - he's been ill and gets picked on so he gets unruly when other cats are near and I am working with him. I got to the last paw before the biting started - a big improvement for him! :thumb:

Yes, my vet thinks I'm nuts, too. I'd gone after one in a carrier that was pitching a hissy fit and he looked at the assistant and said "I wouldn't do that!" :teeth:

Got the cat out and he got his shot! :smug:

[Teallaura]

What if it involves both of them? :uneasy:The cat should sue for divorce...

[CallistoSeeking]

I'm hoping these images download and can be seen. My avatar already shows one of them scaled down, but I'm a sucker for my baby! This is Berzerker, the love of my life!!! He is proof that animals have personalities, heh. And I'm pretty much the only one who knows his. :teeth:
~~Audrey~~

[Nang]

Pesticator just took a hunk outta my hand - not really bad, just annoying.

Take good care cleaning and medicating that cat bite, dear, for they can be quite dangerous.

Nang

[Teallaura]

Thanks. It's okay.

He did really well at the vet - well, for him. I had to wrestle him to let the vet worm him then shove him in a special cage I have for the vet to give him his shots but it went fairly well. The vet still thinks I'm nuts - he kept saying "I don't see how you do that". Good thing he's never seen Pest throw a complete fit! :wink:

[CallistoSeeking]

lol i've never taken Berzerker to the Vet in his life, & I'm pretty sure when I do, I'll be the one who has to hold on to him for anything..he's a good cat to me, but if other people touch his legs, or just at random--he'll scratch their face off! :hehe: he's very spoiled :wink:

[Thespia]

We have two cats who live with us.

My Zorro:
http://xf8.xanga.com/0218045042239112130170/m79934703.jpg

Zorro and Ophelia on the couch:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/nightcometh/IMG00026.jpg

Ophelia is more my mom's cat. She used to like me since I rescued her from certain death! (I found her in a parking lot at a community college.) But when I moved to England and came back 6 months later, I don't think she ever got over it. So she just tolerates me now. :sigh:

But Zorro loves me :teeth:
http://x57.xanga.com/b9cd2bf150330113128255/s80747397.jpg

[JB]

We have two cats who live with us.

My Zorro:
http://xf8.xanga.com/0218045042239112130170/m79934703.jpg

Zorro and Ophelia on the couch:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/nightcometh/IMG00026.jpg

Ophelia is more my mom's cat. She used to like me since I rescued her from certain death! (I found her in a parking lot at a community college.) But when I moved to England and came back 6 months later, I don't think she ever got over it. So she just tolerates me now. :sigh:

But Zorro loves me :teeth:
http://x57.xanga.com/b9cd2bf150330113128255/s80747397.jpg

They're adorable. :smile:

[Rayado]

Dear Teal,

I think my cat has a death wish or has given up on life. She's a fifteen-year-old Himalayan, and she tries to get in the middle of everything anyone does around the house, be they three-year-old twins or trying to sit down in front of my nintey-nine year old stepmother who promptly steps on her. She always wants attention and is generally a good cat, but throwing herself in front of two toddlers and a 99 year old woman seems a little suicidal, don't you think? Do I need to have her committed?

[Teallaura]

She's an affection hog - count your blessings, Himalayans are not noted for their calm demeanor or warm personalities. You need to keep her away from your stepmom for safety's sake, your stepmom's, not hers. She could easily trip the lady and falls are really bad things at her age.

Try spraying her in the face with water when she does that. I doubt it will work because you need to do it consistently and it's hard to do under those circumstances.

In a more general direction, try spending more time with her and possibly crating her at certain times. She may be insecure for some reason.

[Rayado]

:yes: This cat does have a very calm demeanor--and she (as well as her deceased brother) just loves attention and affection. If she keeps pestering Granny more, she may be moving in with me if at all possible.

[Shadow Phoenix]

Speaking of Himalayans, here's a few shots of me at my parents' place holding my cat Stormy. In one, he does what we call "Super Kitty" where he stretches his paws out as far as he can. He only does that when I pick him up and we have no idea why. In one, my Dad got a close-up of his face and his eye is yellow in it. It's an effect of the camera, but I find it quite cute.

[Gabby]

He's a beautiful cat!

[Storico]

I just saw this, Nick. Awwwwwww. :teeth: Cute! My cat does that stretching out thing, too. It's just funnier when Himalayans do it because of all the extra fur! :hehe:

[medical 2933]

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

WANT TO HAVE FUN AT A PARTY? PREPARE THIS RECIPE! COMPLETELY EDIBLE,
BUT YOUR FRIENDS MAY NOT THINK SO!

CAT LITTER CAKE RECIPE


CAKE INGREDIENTS

1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 box of white cake mix
1 package white sandwich cookies
1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix
A few drops green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent

SERVING "DISHES AND UTENSILS"

1 NEW cat-litter box
1 NEW cat-litter box liner
1 NEW pooper scooper

Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan.
Prepare pudding and chill. Crumble cookies in small batches in blender
or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of
cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside.

When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss
with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the
mixture moist but not soggy. Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.

Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable.
Shape the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more
rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining
white cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over
top.

Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the
cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining
Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box. Place
box on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper. Enjoy!






good nice i loved it but the PIC was just to gross :eek:

[Meh_Gerbil]

Cats are teh deval.

[Tobias Reiper]

Everyone else is posting pics, so I guess I will.

This is my cat Cosette. Right now she thinks her litter box is her bed, but I'm hoping to remedy that before things get too out of hand.

[Brown Cat]

I really won't tell them how many cats I have (say it with me - too many!).

IMO you can never have too many cats. I am limited however to two.

[Storico]

I was making my bed this morning, and put my favourite comforter (can you tell I love cats, much? :wink: ) on the floor for a moment. My baby dove right in....

looked at me for a while....


and then fell asleep. :hehe:

Three hours later, she's still there.

[themuzicman]

My cat.

Here's something nice for your pet:
http://www.pet-animalpreservation.com/?gclid=CMfnlYWJio8CFRBlQQodq0JPjw

[Teallaura]

Awww....

[semmie'ssister]

Here's a picture of Duke......he and Duchess were always sleeping in baskets and show boxes. We had to get rid of them when we moved to Okinawa :frown: