Pet Paradise

[samls324]

Show off pics of your pets, tell stories, anything you want to share about those special animals in your life 🙂 Post as much and as often as you want!




Here are are my fluff babies DJ and Gunner (also called Lulu or Lou). They are mother and daughter. DJ is my baby and Gunner is a daddy's girl. They are approximately 9 years old and very spoiled!

This is DJ. She loves to be near me.

Miss Gunner Lou loves her catnip carrot

[k617]

Yes @Anonymous you should definitely spay her even if she will be an indoor cat. I think if you don't spay her she'll go into heat and there are risks associated with not spaying your cat. I would also keep her shots up to date (FVRCP) but according to my vet, rabies shots are optional though my cats still get theirs updated every 2 years.

Excerpt from http://www.hartz[dot]com/Cats/Health/Medical_And_Preventive_Care/the_importance_of_spaying.aspx about consequences of not spaying:

• It is not uncommon for un-spayed cats to suffer from ovarian cysts and uterine infections due to constantly fluctuating hormone levels.
• Spaying your cat will reduce the risk of mammary cancer as she ages.
• Spaying your cat will not impact her ability to grow and does not cause your cat to get fat.
• Unspayed cats might call loudly, mark the house with urine, and do everything they can to get out and find a mate. If she does find one, odds are good she will get pregnant.

Also, if kitty decides to bolt out the door one day and she isn't spayed, then she could potentially get pregnant!

The self cleaning litter boxes will depend on your cat. We have friends whose cats have been using a self-cleaning litter box from when they were kittens, so they don't mind it. I have other friends who tried to have their cat use a self cleaning box but the box made weird sounds and so kitty got afraid of it and won't use it anymore (and when that happens, they resort to other things). My personal motto with litter boxes is "if it works, don't try to change it"...the litter box is something you do NOT want to mess with. I've had 3 different types of litter boxes throughout the almost 4 years we've had our girls, and I think we've finally found a good combo. We have one high top litter box and one top entry litter box. Our one cat is an aggressive digger, so the top entry box gives her more privacy AND prevents litter getting kicked out of the box. We might eventually replace the high top one with another top entry, but so far this works for us and we  haven't come home very often to a massive pile of kicked out litter anymore, so we'll keep things this way for now.

Having litter all over the place is just something that you'll learn to deal with having cats. Or, if you're lucky and you get a cat that is super tidy (like my other cat who digs and covers very gently, and gracefully hops out of the litter box with minimal litter tracked), maybe not so much. A mat might work but again... cats get weirded out by odd things. ONe of my cats refused to go in the litter box through the front when we added a mat to the entrance. So rather than tracking litter and having the mat pick it up, she started entering the litter box from the side and tracking litter that way... haha. In our current house our kitties' litter boxes are in a tiled laundry room so we can go a couple of days without doing a full vacuum but when we were in the townhouse where their litter box was in a hardwood floor bathroom, we vacuumed pretty much once per day (in that area, at least). We use World's Best... odorless, light, easy to clean, and less dusty/harmful for kitties compared to conventional clay based litters.

Honestly, even though my cats sometimes will make a mess (and my black cat just had poop stuck to her butt the other day when we got home, which meant bath time) I don't know what I'd do without them. I'd never had a pet before adopting our two, so when they were kittens and crazy, it was a bit overwhelming for me since they were always getting into trouble and were so loud at night. Now that they're 4, they're much calmer, cuddlier, but independent at the same time. If you want great resources, I frequented the Cat Site and lurked their forums, lots of great info and knowledgeable people there!!

[vhm333]

I always have to laugh about the World's Best litter - I tried so hard to get them to use it as kittens and one would get in the box and sit and eat the corn haha. The other one just followed suit and didn't use it. 

Cats are weird ❤️ 

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone! 

I might be adopting a kitty this weekend. Can someone help me with where it goes and how a litter box works? I'm getting anxious about the litter box and it not being sanitary. Sorry I have no clue about being a cat mom. All tips welcome! Food, toys, things they need?

[vhm333]

@Anonymous are you adopting a young kitten? If you are I strongly recommend getting a pair of kittens instead! I adopted mine two years ago and I was completely new to being a cat mom. I lived alone so the cats really kept each other out of trouble. Young kitties get really lonely and can be destructive if bored, but they always stayed together. It was so much fun watching them learn from each other as well! When one caught on to something, the other would learn from observing it. Plus cats need to know how to play and hunt and what not. And their little play squabbles are amazing! 

It was an amazing experience and I'm so thankful for it every single day. I hope you enjoy every moment with your new baby! Try not to play with your hands too much when they're little. You don't want them growing up and getting used to it. Lots of scratching posts and high spaces. A cat tree is wonderful. As for toys, I have a million recommendation, but when they're very little, everything is amusing - one of mine is obsessed with water bottle caps. 

Get used to the tough things early, like trimming nails etc - they grow used to it. For litter box, I would suggest investing in a kitty locker. I use clumping litter by purina but it was a trial and error process finding something that didn't make a mess and they were good with. Even with one kitten, your life will be a bit easier if you have more than one litter box. 

Food depends on age and is one of those subjects that lots of people seem to disagree on so I take the middle road and go wet in the morning, dry in the evening. Make sure to avoid foods that are dangerous to them and be careful with floss. Mine are obsessed and will seek it out so I have to keep it hidden at all times. 

If you're getting your kitty microchipped and neutered/spayed, get them done at the same time. I made the mistake of doing it separately and they were awake during the microchipping - those screams are forever implanted in my mind. 

Take a look at the dangers in your home like wires etc. If you have blinds, be extra careful with the string. One of mine got caught on the string and I was home when it happened and cut him loose but if I wasn't, the results would have been scary to imagine. 

I've grown to seriously adore cats and I have learned that they give you what you give them. They're not pack animals so they won't automatically follow you or want to obey you, but they are not entirely solitary. Pay attention to them, spend time with them and don't assume that they can be alone all the time because they're cats. They can get very lonely, especially when they're little. 

Don't declaw, don't punish. Cats respond better to positive reinforcement and there's always ways to teach them. Be patient with them. Watch Jackson Galaxy on YouTube. 

That's a lot so I'll stop for now, but really, they've been the most enriching part of my life, and I have lived a colourful life so that's saying something. I love dogs too and I've always had dogs before and I have one now but bear in mind their differences.  Once you love cats for what they are and treat them accordingly instead of wanting them to be dogs, you can really appreciate them for their silliness and quirkiness and lovable-ness. Don't be anxious! There will be lots of trial and error, but you care enough to prepare - you're already ahead of lots of people. 

Oh and if you're getting a young kitten, don't bother with the cat nip till they're a bit older. They don't respond and it's a bit disappointing if you try. 

Have so much fun!! 

[k617]

Agree with so many things you said @vhm333! We were also going to adopt one but the lady running the rescue persuaded us to get two. At first I thought it would be way more $$ and lots more work, but honestly, I don't think it make much of a difference in that aspect.

@Anonymous : If you can take two, I would highly, highly recommend it. Rather than taking their boredom out on a poor piece of furniture, or getting into serious trouble, I found that having two kittens meant they always had each other to play with and tire out.

And anything you want to be able to have them do later in life...like tolerate nail clippings, brushing (my cats don't like it), and baths... start early, so you won't dread having to do them. I clip my cats' claws, give them baths when they're really dirty (like poop stuck to butt fur) and people are amazed I still have both arms when I'm done. Honestly, my cats will protest, but I don't recall the last time I was clawed when clipping their nails or giving them a bath.

And yep, please don't ever, ever declaw a cat 😞 It hurts them since on us it'd be like removing the fingertip above the first knuckle... it's not just removing the nail. Declawed cats could be scarred for life and might have issues with using the litter box since it will hurt their paws when digging.

[tsavorite]

@Anonymous,

Congratulations!  Are you the one who is enthusiastic about  adopting a kitty?  Is it a kitten, an older kitten, or a full grown cat? What's it's background?  Does she already use a litter box or litter tray? Don't worry, there is lots of advice available to you. Kittens aren't born using litter boxes, but they are quick to learn, usually taught by their mother.  I've taught kittens to use litter boxes too. If you need help with that, I'd be glad to explain. It's easy. A lot of the advice you are seeking might depend on the age of the kitty.  I'd be glad to help. One piece of advice: most cats and kittens do not tolerate cow's milk.  Good luck with your new friend!  🙂

[curlieq]

cats are wonderful...congrats on the new addition! i grew up with dogs, so our first and only cat has been real fun. don't worry about nice, expensive toys, they'll be more excited about the packaging anyway! our cat looooves cheap toys...sparkly balls and anything that crunches. and plenty of cardboard boxes!! (Sephora boxes happen to be a perfect size for a kitty nest) 🙂

[alexasteph]

Congrats on your (potentially) new kitty! They are such a joy. I am obsessed with my cat. But you have definitely pointed out the worst and most anxiety inducing thing about cats: litter boxes.

Cats use them instinctively, so you don't need to train them at all. I'd recommend putting it in an area of the house away from your most commonly used spaces, spare bathroom, mud room, laundry room, etc. Definitely no where carpeted! I'd recommend getting a large, covered litter box with a "doormat" to catch any litter that kitty might drag out. Some cats are really particular about their litter boxes and won't use them unless they are totally clean or will only use a certain type of litter. Others don't care. You'll find out pretty quickly how your cat feels about it. The key is to always keep it clean enough the kitty can have a fresh patch to use. Cleaning it once a day to every couple of days is the best, depend in on how often your cat uses it. My cat is a POOP MACHINE so I'm constantly cleaning it.

Other stuff... all cats are different. They like different food, toys, places to sleep, etc. Mine, for example, isn't too particular about food or where he sleeps, but is particular about toys. I feed him a small scoop of canned food in the morning and the evening, and have hard food in his bowl during the day. He'll eat anything. Probably explains why he poops so much. For toys, he loves feathers on strings, foam balls, and catnip mice. He plays fetch like a dog. Loves it. He also has a little round track with a ball in it he likes to bop around. I don't really know how to describe it. 

When you first get you cat home, try not to force anything on it. If it wants to sit on your lap, let it sit on your lap. If it wants to explore, let it explore. If you're getting a kitten, it's away from it's mother and litter mates for the first time, so it might feel some separation anxiety and will act either really scared or super needy. If it wants love, give it love. If it wants space, give it space. If you're getting and adult rescue, you have no idea what sort of life they've had until you gave it a forever home, so it might come with some fears. Let it take the time it needs to warm up to your and your family, other pets, etc. Keeping it occupied and distracted with different toys might help it start to feel more comfortable. Little treats and catnip also works wonders! 

[ZombieMetroAnt]

How awesome @Anonymous !!  This site was shared with us when we adopted our kittens and I found it useful.  

Spoiler

animalhumanesociety DOT org/training/bringing-kitty-home-first-day-guide

This is what the site says specifically on the topic of Litter Boxes

Spoiler

1. Prepare the litterboxes. Provide enough litterboxes to equal one per cat, plus one. (Therefore, a family with two cats will provide three litterboxes.) Avoid placing them in areas where your cat might feel trapped, such as a closet or corner. Avoid covered litter boxes for the same reason. Use an unscented, clumping litter and set up a cleaning supply caddy at each one (with bags, a slotted scooper, paper towel and enzyme-based cleaner). Scoop each box once a day. Every 1-2 weeks, dump out the box completely and wash with hot water and dry before replacing with clean litter.

You simply must post pictures of your newest addition so we can all "ooh & aaah" at the lil' bundle of joy  I'm sure you'll do great!!!

[shopaholic15]

They said I could become anything so I became a caterpillar! 

I accidentally had an Alice in Wonderland theme going with my Cheshire Cat pumpkin and caterpillar. I suppose after all the Halloween candy I wasn't supposed to eat I could be the walrus!

We're all mad here!

[anaa]

Adorable!

[samls324]

Cute costume!

[ZombieMetroAnt]

OMG!!  What a cute costume!!  And that Jack O Lantern is amazing....wow!

[samls324]

Happy Halloween from DJ and Gunner! 

[sephoramusthave]

@samls324 both are gorgeous!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[vegchililover78]

My little sleeping beauty!

[EmmyLove]

i totally tuck my baby in too, so cute ❤️

[ZombieMetroAnt]

Oh, this pic makes me crawl under my comfy blankets!!  You've captured the perfect moment @vegchililover78 

[trishavt]

@vegchililover78 your baby looks so comfy under that blanket. So adorable. 🙂

[trishavt]

It's been four months since this little fluff nugget passed away. I get sad when I come home and she's not here terrorizing me for deli meat and gourmet cheese. We had some good moments with this silly cat. 

Here's one of the little bra thief attacking my sisters bra. Coincidentally the bra was missing after this incident. 😛

[teufel]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.  My cat passed away on Sept. 20 and I still keep looking for her by the back door, on her chair, and in her various other spots.  I miss her big eyes staring at me pleading for bits of chicken and pretty much anything else I eat.