Cats!!

[Valandil]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
I have found a spray bottle of water is very effective. They hate water.

We use that on a dog (my 'dog-in-law' actually - the in-laws live in the downstairs apartment and the kids have sort of an 'upstairs / downstairs' lifestyle). AND... we've been known to use it on the kids too!

[Beruthiel's cat]

Another device that works very well is the "canned air" sprays that are used to clean dust and debris from keyboards. It sounds like a really loud "HISS".

I've known cats to leap from one side of a room to the other upon hearing it.

I call it the "Cat Teleportation Device."

(a shovel is not necessary...)

[Arcala]

Thank you Beruthiel's cat for the info and advice. The kittie (still nameless) seems to be settling in okay. Do you have any advice on when and what to feed him? I'm kinda confused about that.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Beruthiel's cat
Another device that works very well is the "canned air" sprays that are used to clean dust and debris from keyboards. It sounds like a really loud "HISS".

I've known cats to leap from one side of a room to the other upon hearing it.

I call it the "Cat Teleportation Device."

(a shovel is not necessary...)

BC, did you know that cans of air are expensive? I mean air for gosh sakes. I'll stick to spary bottled water, or a whap on the backside.

[Beruthiel's cat]

Originally posted by Arcala
Thank you Beruthiel's cat for the info and advice. The kittie (still nameless) seems to be settling in okay. Do you have any advice on when and what to feed him? I'm kinda confused about that.

Just remember -- pay no attention to the advice you get from Tessar and Mercutio.

The kitten food formulas are a very good way to start. They are formulated with extra protien and calories because kittens grow fast and need more energy than adults. Once the kitten is 8 to 10 months old, however, you should start him on adult food.

Whether you feed him dry or wet food is a matter of:

1. What you want to feed him. (Dry foods are generally less expensive than wet foods).

2. What he prefers. (They really do develop their own tastes quite early on.)

Nutritionally, both types of food are just fine. Some have theorized that dry foods are not as good for male cats, since males have a tendency to develop urinary tract blockages more frequently than females, but the cat food companies are aware of this and the recent formulations (especially the "premium" ones) contain fewer of the fillers that seemed to contibute to the problem.

My cat is 13 years old and has thrived on a primarily dry food diet. He gets some wet food each day because he is on medication for a thyroid condition (a common ailment for older cats) and it's the only way I can get him to take the pill. (I crush it and mix it in the canned food -- which, BTW, must contain gravy or sauce or the food will sit and congeal in his dish...)

I also recommend reading anything you can get your hands on relating to cat care. Most of the cat food companies have websites (Purina, 9-Lives, etc.) which contain a lot of really good general information. Also, there are books and magazines galore on the subject ("Cats" and "Cat Fancy" are great magazines about cats and cat care...).

As far as naming your cat -- my guy is named Jasper, but I had a cat named Gandalf once upon a time (he was solid grey, naturally). There are lots of good names in Tolkien to try. Frodo has always struck me as a cute kitty name. I might like to name a cat Pippin sometime, too. Some other cat names I've used are Sebastian, Emrys, Sam, Hobbes, T.J. and Mittens.

I will post later a poem by T.S. Eliot concerning the Naming of Cats.

[Beruthiel's cat]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
BC, did you know that cans of air are expensive? I mean air for gosh sakes. I'll stick to spary bottled water, or a whap on the backside.

Well, I wouldn't go out and buy one just for disciplinary purposes...

Water does work pretty well, unless you have a cat like my Paisley. She loved the water and would sit on the back of the sink and trail her tail in the dishwater while I was washing dishes. She also preferred lettuce to meat and drove me crazy every time I made a salad.... The spritzer bottle was like a mini-shower to her and she liked it just fine...

(we should start a thread of "True Cat Tales...")

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Beruthiel's cat
Kittens are very active and love to play (you have probably noticed this already...) Be sure to have lots of safe toys for him to play with and do take lots of time to play with him as well.

And regardless whether he's going to be an indoor or outdoor cat, he'll need something to scratch his nails on or he'll choose the most expensive of your furniture or wall paper to scratch.

Originally posted by Beruthiel's cat
Don't use his name when you discipline or he will associate it with punishment and NEVER, EVER strike your cat!

Since we have more than one cat, we have to use their names, otherwise they'll act like it's not them you're talking to. In my experience it's the volume and tone of your voice, rather than the words you use, that informs them you don't like their behaviour. I've read somewhere that mother cats sometimes discipline their young with a small tap on their noses. It works with ours too, they remember it better than just a shouting at. That is, when you can get to their nose, often they make sure they're well out of your reach when they know they did something wrong. Water works just as well but you can't have a water spray can in your hand all day and the little buggers don't exactly stay put for you to take aim

Originally posted by Beruthiel's cat
Be sure to have him checked over at the vets office and tested for any diseases that might be problematic. The vet will also be able to recommend the best time to have the cat neutered...yes this is something you WANT to do!!! If male cats are left unneutered, they will spray-mark their territory with strong-smelling and unpleasant urine, they will get into fights with other tomcats (often sustaining injuries) and they will be far more susceptible to wandering off for long periods of time.

Amen to that! Vets and neutering are vital. There are far too many wild cats in most towns. In some places they're a very heavy burden on the wild life. Neutering the pet cats is a humane and good way to help prevent too many wild house cats.

Ah, cat poems... this one is my absolute favorite:

Cats, no less liquid than their shadows,
Offer no angles to the wind.
They slip, diminished, neat, through loopholes
Less than themselves; will not be pinned

To rules or routes for journeys; counter
Attack with non-resistance; twist
Enticing through the curving fingers
And leave an angered, empty fist.

They wait, obsequious as darkness
Quick to retire, quick to return;
Admit no aim or ethics; flatter
With reservations; will not learn

To answer to their names; are seldom
Truly owned till shot and skinned.
Cats, no less liquid than their shadows,
Offer no angles to the wind.

[Beruthiel's cat]

Originally posted by Eärniel
Ah, cat poems... this one is my absolute favorite:

Cats, no less liquid than their shadows,
Offer no angles to the wind.
They slip, diminished, neat, through loopholes
Less than themselves; will not be pinned

To rules or routes for journeys; counter
Attack with non-resistance; twist
Enticing through the curving fingers
And leave an angered, empty fist.

They wait, obsequious as darkness
Quick to retire, quick to return;
Admit no aim or ethics; flatter
With reservations; will not learn

To answer to their names; are seldom
Truly owned till shot and skinned.
Cats, no less liquid than their shadows,
Offer no angles to the wind.

That's beautiful, Earniel! Who is the author???

Here is the poem I promised by T.S. Eliot, from the collection of poems called "Old Possums Book of Practical Cats" later adapted into the stage musical "Cats" by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Naming of Cats
by T. S. Eliot

The naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn’t just one of your holiday games.
You may think at first, I’m as mad as a hatter
When I tell you a cat must have three different names.

First of all, there’s the name that the family use daily
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George of Bill Bailey,
All of them sensible, everyday names.

There are fancier names, if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames,
Such as Plato, Ademetus, Electra, Demeter,
But all of them sensible, everyday names.

But I tell you, a Cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that’s peculiar and more dignified.
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind I can give you a quorum
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum,
Names that never belong to more than one Cat.

But above and beyond, there’s still one name left over
And that is the name that you never will guess.
The name that no human research can discover,
But the Cat himself knows and will never confess.

When you notice a Cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same;
His mind in engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought,
Of the thought,
Of the thought
Of his name.

His ineffable, effable, effanineffable,
Deep and inscrutable
Singular
Name.

[Insidious Rex]

Discipline? just do what I do and drag out the vacuum cleaner when the cat is up to no good. you dont even have to hit them or touch them. my cat is virtually traumitized by the contraption. shes gone the moment you wheel it into the room. im pretty sure its the noise. and if that doesnt work theres always the lawn mower...

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Beruthiel's cat
That's beautiful, Earniel! Who is the author???

Here is the poem I promised by T.S. Eliot, from the collection of poems called "Old Possums Book of Practical Cats"

We have that! (well...since you have it, it would follow that I...). Anyway, they are so funny! I love reading that.

And there's no need to ground me--I'd never use a shovel on our cats.

[Beruthiel's cat]

Originally posted by Mercutio
We have that! (well...since you have it, it would follow that I...). Anyway, they are so funny! I love reading that.

And there's no need to ground me--I'd never use a shovel on our cats.

They are fun, aren't they?? I love "Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat" and "Bustopher Jones."

I'm glad you'd never use a shovel on the cats. After all, flattery will get you nowhere.

(think about it...two, three, four, five...you got it, didn't you???)

[Tessar]

Oh my God. Someone put a quote of mine in their siggy... *sniffles*


I'll never do another mean thing to a helpless animal ever, ever again!!!


(Now to a CAT on the other hand... )

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Beruthiel's cat
That's beautiful, Earniel! Who is the author???

The author is a certain A.S.J. Tessimond. Don't ask me how he or she is, I have no idea but I've never read a poem that suited a cat better.

Originally posted by Insidious Rex
Discipline? just do what I do and drag out the vacuum cleaner when the cat is up to no good. you dont even have to hit them or touch them. my cat is virtually traumitized by the contraption. shes gone the moment you wheel it into the room. im pretty sure its the noise. and if that doesnt work theres always the lawn mower...

One of our cats, Chefren, loves the vacuum cleaner. He loves to chase the nozzle. And I absolutely refuse to drag the lawn mower inside.

Originally posted by Tessar
Oh my God. Someone put a quote of mine in their siggy... *sniffles*

I'll never do another mean thing to a helpless animal ever, ever again!!!

(Now to a CAT on the other hand... )

I have quoted you now, but if I ever hear you're torturing cats than I'll misquote you in such a way your reputation is ruined forever so that even putting "Note to all: I'm a BOY" in your sig will not undo the damage. I can be very.... inventive in these cases.....

[Tessar]

[Beruthiel's cat]

Originally posted by Tessar

(Now to a CAT on the other hand... )

You need to read the short story "The Sin of Madame Phloi" by Lilian Jackson Braun.

Cats can extract revenge, my dear. Be very, very careful what you say...

[Tessar]

Oh I'm just teasing . I actually like some cats, I just don't like all of them.

I like the big cuddly ones that will crawl up into your lap to be stroked.

I can't stand the little #($%)(#$%()ers that like to trip you, scratch you, and hiss at you.

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Tessar

Yes, I figured that would be your reaction....

Originally posted by Tessar
I can't stand the little #($%)(#$%()ers that like to trip you, scratch you, and hiss at you.

That can just as easily be the nice cuddly cat that lay crawled up on your lap just a few minutes ago. When my cat hisses at me, I hiss back.

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Eärniel
When my cat hisses at me, I hiss back.

See...I'd rather have a loving, loyal friend such as a dog. Cats are so independent they get...too independent. You can't cuddle up as well with a cat; barking is better than hissing; big teeth are better than small pointy ones; dogs can play in big fields with toys and are more fun; you can teach dogs a lot more than you could a cat.

Cats aren't bad, dogs are just way better.

*stands back waiting for the attacks*

[Earniel]

Originally posted by Mercutio
Cats aren't bad, dogs are just way better.

I've had discussions about what's better, a cat or dog, for years with a friend. We never reached a conclusion so I'm of the opinion that you have cat-people and dog-people.

Hissing doesn't make so much noice as barking and you won't have neighbours over to complain about your cat hissing, while they will if your dog barks all the time. Have a headache and then see whether you prefer the barking. When it comes to bites, I prefer the small teeth very much. A dog can make kebab of you if he wants to. And you'd be surprised just what you can teach a cat BTW. Besides a cat lets itself out where as you have to go on walks with your dog. And cats don't drool in that quantity....

I'm a cat-person. I won't say cats are better but it's them I would prefer if I had to choose.

[Insidious Rex]

Originally posted by Eärniel
I've had discussions about what's better, a cat or dog, for years with a friend. We never reached a conclusion so I'm of the opinion that you have cat-people and dog-people.

personally i find cat personalities go with my own personality so much better then dog ones. In fact I find I like the same things in cats that i like in girls. allure. fickleness. occasional irresistible affection. and strong iron clad independence. with the occasional wild feline impulse. none of this codependent neurotic goofy hyper dog nonsense. what a drag. personally I like a creature (or a girl) oh wants to be played with and be affectionate but then wants their own space and wants to be left alone. cant stand it when they follow you all over begging you to do stuff with them or pay attention to them. and you gotta love an animal that can sleep anywhere and acts like they own the place. i was definitely a cat in another life.