General Chat

One of my cats is called Pig.

Me standing at the door ... Here, pig pig pig pig ...

Whistling is very good. The ones we have now generally hang around wanting in when they know I'll be going in myself, but whistling was always my call of choice otherwise.

If they're reluctant in-comers, you can get them to recognize "din din din din" as being a food signal ... or "nip nip nip nip" as the catnip signal. Or just rattle a can opener. That usually does it even if they've never seen tinned cat food. They seem to be born with the can opener gene.

I have always whistled to get my cats in. I can cope with standing on the doorstep shouting George and Betty (my cats), but my daughter has called the 3rd (her cat, but staying here), Mr Miu. I am not going to open the door and shout Mister at midnight!!

maggie

Lol Maria... I looked after a ginger Oscar for 6 months when his owners had to go away... they were both in the military!

An old wives tale is to put butter on their paws to stop them straying, but it actually has the opposite effect, butter or anything should NEVER be put on paws... it masks the cat's own smell... they have very powerful scent glands in their paws, and they can find their way back if they want to... if you mask the smell with butter or anything else, it makes it more difficult to find their way home.... and also they really don't like it so might not want to come back!!

I have moved house many many times with my older cats... well experienced, lol!

Love

Daff xxx

Just a little more from experience.

My cats are all outside cats -- they were strays, and adult males when they arrived, so I really didn't have a choice. If yours will stay in, and you are happy with that, do consider it. It saves wear and tear on both the cat and the wildlife. It sounds unfair to the cat, but it's one of those decisions we have to take responsibility for if we're going to harbour and populate the world with artificially evolved species. ;)

If you're getting a companion for yours, consider a female. In my experience it's unpredictable how unrelated males will deal with each other, while a female will usually train a male to leave her alone. My multiple males have always dealt with one another mainly by violence and piggish behaviour. Disturbed sleep for us and abscesses from fighting for them, and peeing in the house to mark territory. Tedious.

Not to mention the FIV that likely spread from one to another of mine before we had a clue. It's quite a rare disease (cat equivalent of HIV, although not nearly as deadly) -- our vet had only had 10 cases, including my neighbour's cat and my cat. Don't know who gave it to whom -- suspect one of my other cats was the intermediary, if not the source. But once a cat is diagnosed, it must be kept indoors, to avoid infection in the cat and transmission to others. There's no vaccine.

To sum up: inside/outside, either way is going to make you feel guilty about something; companion, get a girl!

Thanks everyone. We're very excited about the little chap and I may well be back for more advice soon. But I'll take on board what everyone's said tonight.

Note sure how to add him onto my tree - might put that on the Tips board.

Ta very much, off to bed now.

Maria xxx

Hi Daff,

the name he's already been given is Oscar and we'll keep that so as not to confuse him.

What's the thing about no butter on the paws - not heard that before

Love Maria x x

I have 3 two year olds at the moment - not so much rescue cats, but the result of a rescue cat we were assured had been spayed!! She hated her kittens and after having her spayed, she started crawling under my duvet and peeing in my bed- then lying on a dry bit!!
Decided to send the really loveable mum back to be rehomed - I was getting fed up having to turn my mattress and remake the bed every other night!! She's now a really happy 'lone' cat who no longer pees in her owners bed!!
I have had cats nearly all my adult life and have had 3 'disappear'. One went (at the age of 20) to live with an elderly couple down the road. One decided to live on the allotments. Not sure where the 3rd one went.

The problem with cats is, they'll do their own thing!!.

The three I have now are allowed to come & go as they please - George managed to get run over at 10 months and broke his jaw one Bank Holiday - cost me £200!! (£67 of that was the Bank Holiday consultation - where Iwas told to bring him back the next day!!) In return he has become very loving.(he had to grrr)
Generally they're cheerful little beasties, bit wary of strangers, but not a viscious bone in their bodies. Never bitten or scratched - apart from in play (I love to rub their tummies!).

My sister doesn't let her cat out. Stroke her more than twice and she will attack you - don't even consider touching her tummy. Very wary of strangers.

However, my dad never let the 3 cats he had out - because they were rescued feral cats, and there was a chance they would become feral again.
My children were warned not to touch them, but they came up for affection and never bit or scratched.

Each cat is different. You will soon know whether or not your kitten wants a friend.

maggie

Maria.... no butter on the paws.... don't let him out until he has been vaccinated, defleaed and dewormed, and make sure you go out with him to start off with as well. Could I also suggest starting straight away a distinctive call that you use whenever you need his attention... for food or titbits initially... I have a sort of loud chirrup... they all respond to that straight away, and I always reward their response with a treat.... it is similar to the cry a mother cat will give when she is calling them a sort of loud BRRRRuuuup! Because it is such a definite sound rather than the psss pss people often use, they usually respond straight away, although Hermie did go walkabout for a few hours when he was 6 months old!!

I have 5, lol two of whom can't stand the sight of each other.... although the two I had from our Puss last year are wonderful together... and all the older cats have really taken to them as well.

Good luck... do you have a name for him yet?

Love

Daff xxx

I agree, if you want another cat/kitten..... try and get them at the same time.

We got two kittens from different litters at the same time (same age). We brought them home on the same evening. They were best friends immediately.

We've also had cats that have never got on with each other because they were reintroduced as adults (would you believe they were mother & son?)

Thankyou all sorry was sorting kids still awake when halfway thru posting last comment,

our last cat went out and loved it but reading up tonight wasn't sure if that was recommended ( I know it depends what you read) We have a garden and open fields 3 doors down but then on the other side not that far away from a busy road (which our old cat never seemed to go on but you never know!)

If I was expecting another baby at short notice I'd know just what to do and I'd have all the equipment I could ever need lol

Maria x

Yes I am....I love my pussy...Sasca

Hmm, not really maria, I have a 15 year old tom and a 6year old she, they hate the sight of eachother!!!
but the older one taught the new one the "ways of the outside world"! go figure!!!

the tiny cat of my moms was brought to my mom as a rescue she was suposed to be a 4 months old kitten but 2 weeks later she had kittens mom fell in love had cat spayed and 8 years later the cat is still ther but she did keep kittens till they could be spayed and then rehomed
rache x

If your gonn get another do it while they are young!

The trials and tribulations I have had taking in additional rescues you dont want to know over the years Ive had cats over the years that adore each other and others that just wont gel - generally when they are older - up to about the age of five its easier than after then.

But they do work things out in the end - even if its just tolarance and heirachy.

Thanks for all your advice. He hasnt been done yet but I'm ringing vets in the morning to book him in for this and a check up and jabs.

Have also researched tonight local catteries to find one we like as couldn't ask my sis - she would collapse after the last time lol.

Some people have said it's better to have 2 as they're good company for each other - is this not necessarily so?

Maria x

One of mine was a flat cat - not an ikea job but never been out. It breaks our heart to look at him, we took him in when he was ten and he dosent live his life as well as our cats that go out when they want to through the flap.

He is probably the most unhappy cat ive ever rescued and needs constant reassurance and attention - we can only give him the best we can - but he looks out the window at the others climing the trees and fences. He goesout to do his toilet and comes straight back in - personally I think if you have a garden let him enjoy it. Theres nothing more uplifting than looking out your window watching your cat turn cart wheels in the sun or playing tag with each other.

hi maria

i don't have cats but my mom has 3 cats a beautiful maincoon[sorry spelling] a huge 15lb ginger cat not fat the bl***dy thing is more muscular than the dog and a thin little tabby all allowed to roam who hates going outside the ginger the pedigree hates being indoors and the tiny one is a savage so they all have a choice and they are all happy.

rache
ps
very funny when a lady came knocking my moms door saying she should have her ginger tom done as her persian was pregnant by him she was very surprised as he is 5 years old and was done at12 months old lol

ive got 2 girls & their house cats,wouldnt wont it any other way at least you no where they are. i think gettin him any other play m8 would b a great idea spech with him been so young will give him some1 2 play with if nuthin else.

I appreciate that and really feel for you wanting to keep him indoors but maybe that will be a decision you will have to make once you get to know him. He may be happy to stay indoors but conversely, he might drive you nuts to be allowed out!

you need to keep him in the house for at least a week so he can get used to his new surroundings .means a litter tray though for a while . then when you let him out into the back garden let him take his time and go out with him , he will soon scoot back indoors when you call him. It would be kind too not to change his name unless you really cant stand the name he has at the mo . and make sure he gets a check up at the vet and to make sure he is wormed . he is too young for his jabs as yet but please get them done asap and get him neutered its much kinder to him .

Shirley