Pookie - cat questions

applecruncher

applecruncher

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Location
Ohio USA
So you have EIGHT (8) cats?

I have one….very spoiled and temperamental.

How do you deal with:

All the meowing? When Bella is hungry and I’m laying in bed, she gets LOUD.

Weaving/circling around your legs? My cat almost made me fall several times.

Litter boxes – how many do you have? For me one is plenty but it’s large and very nice (has a hood); I scoop every day and scrub it often.

Trips to vet – oh my goodness. :(

Nail trims – again, oh my goodness. :eek:mg1: A friend who has 3 cats usually helps me out there.

Where do they all sleep?
 

applecruncher said:
So you have EIGHT (8) cats?

I have one….very spoiled and temperamental.

How do you deal with:

All the meowing? When Bella is hungry and I’m laying in bed, she gets LOUD.

Weaving/circling around your legs? My cat almost made me fall several times.

Litter boxes – how many do you have? For me one is plenty but it’s large and very nice (has a hood); I scoop every day and scrub it often.

Trips to vet – oh my goodness. :(

Nail trims – again, oh my goodness. :eek:mg1: A friend who has 3 cats usually helps me out there.

Where do they all sleep?
Click to expand...

Oh my LOL! I'll try to help you out.

The meowing...I make sure their dry food bowls are ful 24/7l. It's actually diabetic dry food that won't put weight on them. My oldest cat, Isis, is a diabetic. Cat's don't overeat like some dogs. Isis can eat that dry food and it won't hurt her. Our normal cats always get a can of wet food twice a day; she gets her baby food meats (bleah!) and her shot twice a day.

Weaving/circling: One of two things. She's putting her scent on you and claiming you as her own. Or, since this is a senior forum, she's circling you like a buzzard waiting for you to die. LOL! No, she's saying she likes you. Stand very still when she does that, then pick her up and move her to some other location.

Litter boxes: We have eight, one for each cat. Scooping and cleaning them is a chore, but I think you're doing just fine there.

Trips to Vet: Yow. Cats normally don't like cars, so you have to stuff them in a crate, seatbelt the crate in, and drag the whole thing in. They recently had a shot clinic here...you should have seen us taking four at a time, as we only have five crates! Gaaaaahhhhhh! There's no easy way around it unless your vet can give your cat some kitty Valium that turns her into mush. You pop the pill in her, wait about 20 minutes, and when she looks like a Jello cat, throw her in the car and get it over with.

Nail trims: Holy cow! We don't do that. We like living. I trained my cats not to claw the furniture with cayenne pepper and a spray bottle of water. We put the cayenne on stuff we don't want scratched, and catnip on their kitty climbing toys to focus their attention away from furniture. If you need to do nail trims, the kitty Valium might help.

Hairballs: Get that hairball remedy that comes in a tube and smear it around her mouth. You can find it at Walmart, PetSmart, PetCo, or any other pet supply place. She'll lick it off and you won't find a hairball in your shoe or printer.

My hubby built carpeted shelves and put them up under every window except for the big bay window. They sleep on those, or on our bed or couch, or in the computer room on the chair and/or shelf. We keep the guest room closed off. In the bay window, we have a custom-made big cushion for the base. It also has a throw and a couple of tiny pillows I made for them. Indoor cats like to be near windows. We also have those small dog beds in our bedroom and computer room. They like those, too. We have about six of those scattered around. We put catnip in those to draw them to it.

I hope this helps! Let me know, okay?
 
Thanks for that, Pookie.

i only have 2 cats....never nail trim, and they sleep anywhere!
mine go in and out at will, but have turned into cats that sleep most of the night...with me!
taking them to the vets only happens once a year; and mine follow me like dogs, so they don't very often try to trip me up; they walk to heel instead.
 

Thanks, Pookie.

I mainly just wanted to find out how life is with 8 cats. :)

I’ve had Bella for 5 yrs (adopted her from a cat rescue place when she was 1 yr old).

Not many hairball issues anymore. I put a dab of Vaseline on her paw and she loves to lick it off.

Bella doesn’t scratch furniture or carpet. She scratches ME when we’re playing or when I pick her up and if nails get long (talons) it draws blood. :( So trims are necessary.

We tried scratch posts but she loves cardboard boxes, I’ve arranged/stacked several and it’s her “condo”. Also spends lots of time in the living room window bay.

She has a bed but usually only uses it for brief naps. She likes to sleep on the floor at night and on my bed during the day. When I get in bed she usually jumps off because she is not into sharing space.

Also, Bella has been to the vet lots of times. Always in a carrier….but putting her in there is no fun. She gets checkups, shots, and last yr she had gum surgery which resulted in removal of all her teeth because of a disease. (feline stomatitis) She does fine with soft wet canned food and also sort of soft dry food.

When visitors come she loves to be in the thick of things. Sits and listens to all the chatter, but if I laugh too loud or if there is too much noise (like a card game, etc.) she doesn’t like it and goes into the bedroom.
 
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Lovely post Pookie.
But this cat is off to bed soon.
Good night and...

20130726-231727-368538469.gif
 
Only 2 cats?

Only 1 cat?

Sigh.

The litterboxes are the biggest job. We have a garage which we turned into the pet area. We built a platform for the cats' food and water with a ramp leading up to it so the dog doesn't eat their food. Underneath it are the litterboxes, and down by the window is the dog's food and water.

The kitchen door leads to the garage, so we put in a dog door they all use to go back and forth. When the kittens (Buster, Tuxy, and Molly) were tiny, Buster and Tuxy (the little boys) went through just fine on the second try. Molly? NO! She refused. So we started calling her "Princess." She'd be standing there and we'd see her. We'd say, "Gaaaaahhhhh!! Gotta go open the door for the Princess!"

Finally I had enough, and shoved her little tail through it. Enough of the Princess stuff! She finally figured it out.

Food's an issue because of Isis being diabetic. In the mornings and evenings, each cat gets their own can of wet food. The five adult cats are Isis, 14, Loki, 13, Tigger, 12, Pook and Saav, 11. The kittens are 15 months old. Isis gets baby food meats (GROSS!!) or rotisserie chicken or tuna in water. The dry cat food is okay for all of them. It has the taurine and all the stuff they need to be healthy. We throw the kittens with their bowls into the computer room so the five adults can eat in peace.

Whatever that is in this house. Who knows?

Keeping the fur down is fun. We have a Roomba which, luckily, doesn't eat cat toys on the floor and it just pushes them away. The Roomba's filter gets clogged a LOT, so we clean that out every day. I have an Electrolux canister vacuum which can suck a town out of China from here, and I use the wand thingy for the corners, every other day. We change the filter on the furnace/AC twice a month.

Litterboxes are loads of fun. The kittens like the Kitty Diggins litter, the adults like the scoopable Fresh Step or Tiday Cats. Every three days of scooping, the boxes get emptied and taken outside where we blast them with the pressure washer with a bleach and water mix.

We have hardwood and tile floors here, so the errant hairball isn't a problem. Pick it up with a paper towel, run the Swiffer wet jet over the area, and you're done.

Isis is so good about her insulin shots. You just grab her shoulder skin, rub her real good, and pop her with the needle. She doesn't even flinch. You can use the same needle twice on cats. She uses regular tiny people needles and people insulin. I was in for a shock when she became diabetic! I thought this was going to be super-expensive, but it isn't. You have to shop around for insulin. One pharmacy charges $119 for one bottle of Novolin; Walmart charges $24 and with my discount card, it's $22. No-brainer on that one!

They are ALL affectionate in their own ways. I'm on vacation this week, and no matter what I'm doing, these guys keep me company. Pookie loves to be just next to me if I'm sitting down somewhere doing something. Like right now as I type, she's right next to the laptop, Saav is in my lap, Tuxy is on the other side of the laptop, Buster, Loki, and Tigger are zonked out in the recliner, Isis and Molly are in the bay window, and Lilly the dog is right next to me on the livingroom couch.

When company comes, they vanish. After a while, Isis, Buster, Tuxy, and Pookie will come out to see what's happening. Saav might come out from under our bed next week sometime. She's shy and frail; she had an awful start and she only weighs 4.7 pounds, but she's healthy!

Buster is enormous. He weighs 19 pounds. I took him to the vet in April because he had a cold, and those are dangerous in cats. I was dragging him out of the crate as the vet walked in. The vet, Scott, said, "Holy cow! I thought I was seeing a kitten!"
I replied, "He is a kitten. He's only 11 months old."
Scott: "That's not a kitten, that's a panther!" LOL! He weighed 17.8 pounds then.

They're a lot of fun, but a lot of work. But it can all be handled with lots of petting, good food, and an industrial-strength pooper scooper.
 
Enjoyed reading about your 8 cats and 1 dog, Pookie. :) You are Very Organized with all you do for your furbabies. I had a cat, Boots, who lived to 18, and he had diabetes too. I gave him 2 shots a day also. Like your Isis, our cat, Boots, was very good about his insulin shots too. He didn't flinch at all either, and he acted like he was thankful for me helping him feel better. I think I would have a problem remembering all of your cat's names. I get our kids names mixed up at times and end up saying, "Who the heck are you?" :D Thanks for sharing :)
 
Misty said:
Enjoyed reading about your 8 cats and 1 dog, Pookie. :) You are Very Organized with all you do for your furbabies. I had a cat, Boots, who lived to 18, and he had diabetes too. I gave him 2 shots a day also. Like your Isis, our cat, Boots, was very good about his insulin shots too. He didn't flinch at all either, and he acted like he was thankful for me helping him feel better. I think I would have a problem remembering all of your cat's names. I get our kids names mixed up at times and end up saying, "Who the heck are you?" :D Thanks for sharing :)
Click to expand...

Thank you! I love to share anything. I feel very free here!

Misty, I had a cat named Misty when I was a kid. I even took her to college with me. I had her at my first duty station in the Army as well, as I could live off-post. She passed at 22 years old and her passing really hit me hard. Every cat's passing is hard, but she was my first. I love your name!

LOL!! About names...Mom would yell, "Pat, Ann, Lynn....oh whatever! Get in here! Did you leave this mess?"

Buster is huge, he looks like a big ol' Buster. Tuxy is a beautiful tuxedo. The rest of the names don't fit how they look, LOL!

Boots acts like Isis. I think they know, and just a short little sting maybe doesn't hurt too much and they are grateful. Bless their hearts! You can read more about my cats in my diary if you like. Thank you so much!
 
I can only suggest what works for us...6 cats and two big dogs...oh and the rats, don't forget our rat pack...as compared to pack rats;)

The meowing...We have two cats that are outside during the day and inside at night. Two that go inside and out all day. Two that only stay inside. It's cute that the "outside" two know the sound of our cars and are prancing on the walkway as we pull in. They don't so much meow as chirp. Levon will climb your leg, at maybe seven pounds it's less painful to pick him up. Then Ninja comes to circle your legs, with Levon trying to hiss him off. Some of them mew more than others. Levon and Boo are the two that love to hear their own voices.

Weaving/circling: The dogs do this more than the cats, however Mr Foote feels he is a dog so yeah he'll try to trip you.

Trips to Vet: We have way healthy cats, every three years everybody gets shots at the clinic. It's like Noah's Ark. Two at a time depending on who gets along with who.

Nail trims: I don't bother, the dogs every few months.

Hairballs: I brush or my daughter brushes, a reliable vacuum cleaner, and if they get a hairball they hack it up and it's all good.

Litter boxes: We have four in the basement and one upstairs for the oldest two who don't do steps so well. The boxes are scooped daily so the dogs don't munch kitty cigars.

We have a large kitchen window and a wall divider between kitchen and dining room. There is a big bowl in the window and a smaller food and water bowl on the divider. They eat at different times so we just keep the bowls full of dry food. They get canned for a treat. The food bowls have to be well out of the dogs reach. They adore cat food.

Finally where do they sleep? The dogs sleep with hubby and me. Mr. Foote sleeps with us or my daughter. The others stay in the living room for the night.

Cats are like potato chips, you can't stop at just one...Enjoy!!!
 
I wasn't looking for suggestions or seeking advice. I noticed Pookie said she has 8 cats and was just curious about how she handles things. I'm fine with just one cat. :)
 
Pookie said:
Thank you! I love to share anything. I feel very free here!

Misty, I had a cat named Misty when I was a kid. I even took her to college with me. I had her at my first duty station in the Army as well, as I could live off-post. She passed at 22 years old and her passing really hit me hard. Every cat's passing is hard, but she was my first. I love your name!

LOL!! About names...Mom would yell, "Pat, Ann, Lynn....oh whatever! Get in here! Did you leave this mess?"

Buster is huge, he looks like a big ol' Buster. Tuxy is a beautiful tuxedo. The rest of the names don't fit how they look, LOL!

Boots acts like Isis. I think they know, and just a short little sting maybe doesn't hurt too much and they are grateful. Bless their hearts! You can read more about my cats in my diary if you like. Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

Good morning, Pookie :) My cat is named Misty also...and am using her name as my forum name. Interesting about your cat Misty.. your love shows in your writing about her, and you got to enjoy her for many years, and have many good memories. Our cat Misty showed up one day on our doorstep in the cold and snow, and when I took her to the vet, they found she had an ear infection, a collar around her neck that had grown into her neck and she was pregnant. She is Very Special to us, and we Love her lots! :love_heart:

I called our three kids, all three names too, Pookie...in fact my oldest son will call me and say it's me and then say the three names I would call them. Lol

I am definitely going to read your diary, and am looking forward to it. I want to learn more about your fur family. :)
 
SifuPhil said:
Pookie, when I die and come back as a cat I want YOU to be my owner!
Click to expand...


And share with 8 other cats? You'd have more space and peace at my place.......well, kinda. :laugh:

And I issue a pure leather collar with a bell. No frayed nylon/fabric collars.
 
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Misty said:
Good morning, Pookie :) My cat is named Misty also...and am using her name as my forum name. Interesting about your cat Misty.. your love shows in your writing about her, and you got to enjoy her for many years, and have many good memories. Our cat Misty showed up one day on our doorstep in the cold and snow, and when I took her to the vet, they found she had an ear infection, a collar around her neck that had grown into her neck and she was pregnant. She is Very Special to us, and we Love her lots! :love_heart:

I called our three kids, all three names too, Pookie...in fact my oldest son will call me and say it's me and then say the three names I would call them. Lol

I am definitely going to read your diary, and am looking forward to it. I want to learn more about your fur family. :)
Click to expand...

Your poor little Misty! I'm glad she found such a good home. Good on you!
 
fureverywhere said:
I can only suggest what works for us...6 cats and two big dogs...oh and the rats, don't forget our rat pack...as compared to pack rats;)

The meowing...We have two cats that are outside during the day and inside at night. Two that go inside and out all day. Two that only stay inside. It's cute that the "outside" two know the sound of our cars and are prancing on the walkway as we pull in. They don't so much meow as chirp. Levon will climb your leg, at maybe seven pounds it's less painful to pick him up. Then Ninja comes to circle your legs, with Levon trying to hiss him off. Some of them mew more than others. Levon and Boo are the two that love to hear their own voices.

Weaving/circling: The dogs do this more than the cats, however Mr Foote feels he is a dog so yeah he'll try to trip you.

Trips to Vet: We have way healthy cats, every three years everybody gets shots at the clinic. It's like Noah's Ark. Two at a time depending on who gets along with who.

Nail trims: I don't bother, the dogs every few months.

Hairballs: I brush or my daughter brushes, a reliable vacuum cleaner, and if they get a hairball they hack it up and it's all good.

Litter boxes: We have four in the basement and one upstairs for the oldest two who don't do steps so well. The boxes are scooped daily so the dogs don't munch kitty cigars.

We have a large kitchen window and a wall divider between kitchen and dining room. There is a big bowl in the window and a smaller food and water bowl on the divider. They eat at different times so we just keep the bowls full of dry food. They get canned for a treat. The food bowls have to be well out of the dogs reach. They adore cat food.

Finally where do they sleep? The dogs sleep with hubby and me. Mr. Foote sleeps with us or my daughter. The others stay in the living room for the night.

Cats are like potato chips, you can't stop at just one...Enjoy!!!
Click to expand...

Awesome post! Kitty cigars...uuurrrppp. LOL!
 
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