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It's really way too soon to post this. I'm scared I might jinx it for myself. But I told ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cottonmanifesto and now I wanna tell everyone because it'll be so great if it happens...
We may be about to have our own cat!
Was talking to Downstairs Neighbour Couple with the miniature Dingo this afternoon and I happened to mention how much Spike wanted a cat and how I was looking out for one that needed rehoming. And they told me they knew someone at the Conservative Club who's moving into sheltered accomodation who needed a new home for an eight month old cat. Not only that, she's a BLACK AND WHITE TUXEDO CAT. And she's used to being an indoor-only cat, and she's apparently been introduced to dogs before and got on all right.
I can't imagine anything more perfect. I've been wanting a cat for the longest time; only I felt it needed to be a youngster. I didn't think it would be very fair to take a cat used to a dogless household and free access to outdoors (whether one approves or not, it's the norm for cats round here) and force her to adapt to being indoor-only and coping with Spike in her face to boot. A young one that's never been an outdoor cat will cope much better, don't you think?
I've lived with my Mum's cat Maisie before, which is how I know how badly Spike wanted one of his own, but I've never been responsible for a cat myself before. At least half my f-list has cats so PLEASE tell me anything you think I might need to know, which are good books to read, and which are the best LJ cat communities to join? I've had a look at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
cat_adoration, but that's more about showing off pretty kitties than the nuts and bolts of keeping them happy and healthy.
And cross your fingers for me, too. I want this cat to be my cat.
cottonmanifesto and now I wanna tell everyone because it'll be so great if it happens...We may be about to have our own cat!
Was talking to Downstairs Neighbour Couple with the miniature Dingo this afternoon and I happened to mention how much Spike wanted a cat and how I was looking out for one that needed rehoming. And they told me they knew someone at the Conservative Club who's moving into sheltered accomodation who needed a new home for an eight month old cat. Not only that, she's a BLACK AND WHITE TUXEDO CAT. And she's used to being an indoor-only cat, and she's apparently been introduced to dogs before and got on all right.
I can't imagine anything more perfect. I've been wanting a cat for the longest time; only I felt it needed to be a youngster. I didn't think it would be very fair to take a cat used to a dogless household and free access to outdoors (whether one approves or not, it's the norm for cats round here) and force her to adapt to being indoor-only and coping with Spike in her face to boot. A young one that's never been an outdoor cat will cope much better, don't you think?
I've lived with my Mum's cat Maisie before, which is how I know how badly Spike wanted one of his own, but I've never been responsible for a cat myself before. At least half my f-list has cats so PLEASE tell me anything you think I might need to know, which are good books to read, and which are the best LJ cat communities to join? I've had a look at
cat_adoration, but that's more about showing off pretty kitties than the nuts and bolts of keeping them happy and healthy.And cross your fingers for me, too. I want this cat to be my cat.
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Puppies vs. Cat, the Mexican standoff
Quite possibly the oddest noise I have ever heard a cat make
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and oh, how I loved those vids, especially the puppies! Spike went batshit when the cat mewed...
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Heh, yeah, they amused me too. Hm. I shall have to play them when I'm home and when my dog is around...
/ evil
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and even if Spike loves the cat to pieces, she's still gonna be a bit unnerved. He might get himself scratched more than a little...watch out for his eyes. she may be used to dogs, but have a few reservations about an overly friendly one. :D
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Maisie scratches his nose whenever he gets too annoying. He liikes it, the freak... any attention is better than nothing for him and I'm not convinced he can actually feel pain.
Maybe I should get him protective goggles...
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remember I told you about Julius' eye? must be Giddy got him a good one in the eye...it's starting to clear up, but I could see the scratch on the eye by then...
sigh...children...
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Spike and Squish will take a few swipes to the nose, but it is the only way they will learn not to put it in an annoyed kitty's face.
The cat will be a bit skitterish for a bit, so it is a good idea to have a hidey hole for the cat. Bear in mind that you can pick a spot all day long, but she will pick her own and it won't be where you want it to be.
I've always had cats and dogs until Happy passed 18 months ago and the best advice I can give is keep the cat's food away from the dogs and let the animals sort things out amongst themselves unless it gets way out of hand. No amountof intervention from you will make things any different from what they will be.
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They'll all be eating more or less the same food - raw meat and bones - but I have some good big windowsills I'm planning to use as cat-only space for feeding bowls. I need to keep litter trays where Squish can't reach, too, because he eats catshit if he gets the chance, the nasty spotted barbarian.
Yeah, what you say sounds about right. I do know that I can trust my dogs not to hurt a cat - not only were they safe with Maisie but they've cornered several other people's outdoor cats in the park before now. If they were ever going to hurt a cat they'd have already done it. Everything after that they can all sort out between them.
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Yeah, kitties!!!
*fingers crossed for kitty happiness*
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Re: Yeah, kitties!!!
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But keeping the cat's food away from the dogs - especially if it's going to be the same stuff Spike and Squish eat - is a must. Otherwise they'll eat the cat's food too. Using the baby gate might be some help, but from what you've said, the boys sound pretty rambunctious. I don't know if it would stand up to them.
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Besides, he'd probably wedge himself in it and get stuck. he's annoying like that.
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I admit, I did have a vision of walking all three together. Not sure if it would be very doable, but it would be amazingly cool...
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I cannot have dogs anymore. At about age 25 I developed a severe allergy to dogs that no one can explain. I had dogs when I was growing up, etc. The asthma kicked in, and now I cannot allow a dog to lick me because if I get licked by a dog I break out in hives wherever the dog saliva has touched! I also now sneeze and wheeze. I have to take strong allergy medicine when I visit folks who have dogs.
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Yeah, Maisie always used to pretend to hate Spike. But I've seen her do the arched back/raised tail thing at him, and I've seen her rub her chin on him too. And she moped as long as he did when we moved out. She loved him.
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Hope it goes well for you al hon!
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I'm going to have a houseful of evil black and white minions. How cool is that!!
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Cats usually tend to take care of themselves quite easily, provided they had a good start. I don't have lots of tips, although I grew up with cats and we never really resorted to books and such. Use common sense. Cats do too. Sometimes.
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I haven't got any books on caring for cats - I used to have a really good one but I'm not sure where it is right now, will have a look! Um, I've gone blank ...
Will get back to you a bit later and try to have collected thoughts on taking care of cats!
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*bounce bounce bounce*
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3 quick things.
1. Find out what type/brand of kitty litter she uses. Many cats wont allow change.
2. Get some indoor pot plant growing cat grass. Cats need it for their digestion. Also check any house plants and make sure they're not poisonous to cats.
3. Give her somewhere to hide for the first few days. She will be scared and will want somewhere "safe and secluded".
Good Luck and I hope this helped :)
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Good points about cat grass and kitty litter, thank you! I was thinking of growing something grassy for the dogs anyway. Squish is a great grass-eater, I'm sure it would make him happy.
I don't have houseplants, much as I love them. I know from long experience that I have a hard time remembering to look after anything that can't interact with me. The only time my plants ever stayed alive was when my husband was alive and took care of them.