violagirl
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Post by violagirl on Jan 14, 2016 19:58:43 GMT -5
Make sure you have several litter boxes. Not sure if you have lived with multiple cats before, but I found adding the third one, the poop increases exponentially. I think the general litter box rule of thumb is at least one per cat and in multiple locations.
Multiple boxes in multiple locations because probably at some point someone is going to block the odd cat from using the litterbox, so it is good for them to have options. And if yours are like my female cat, she likes her litter box to be pristine.
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finnime
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Post by finnime on Jan 14, 2016 20:05:03 GMT -5
I read an hilarious post from a guy with three cats + a roommate. He started with one kitten, and that was fine - women are good with that. Then the second kitten was no problem really, because of course they could be explained as entertainment for each other. When he got the third, he became "That Guy with Cats". He did have some good physics demonstrations involving the cats.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jan 14, 2016 20:07:54 GMT -5
Litter box rule is one box per can + 1 extra. Works well here. I use a special litter box, though, and they really prevent odors and ease the mess of cleaning. It's the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. Sure has taken the work out of cat box cleaning!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 20:07:56 GMT -5
Right now, the old man has two litter boxes in his room (utility room). Scout has his own in his room and Tumbles has one that was in her own room, but is now in the hallway outside of it I was hoping to just put them all in the back utility room in the basement eventually, but probably should spread them out. I think the old guy would like one to be on the main floor somewhere as well. I do hate litter boxes. I don't want them everywhere. The back utility room is nice because all the scattered litter stays contained to that room.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 20:11:10 GMT -5
Litter box rule is one box per can + 1 extra. Works well here. I use a special litter box, though, and they really prevent odors and ease the mess of cleaning. It's the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. Sure has taken the work out of cat box cleaning! Well shoot. Wish I would have asked for suggestions when buying two new ones the past few weeks. I was going to ask if anyone owned here one of those automatic cleaning ones and how well they worked. I've told DS that now that there are 3 he has litter box duty and it has to be done every day. In the past with just Leroy and two boxes we'd often leave it go for several days.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jan 14, 2016 20:16:39 GMT -5
Litter box rule is one box per can + 1 extra. Works well here. I use a special litter box, though, and they really prevent odors and ease the mess of cleaning. It's the Tidy Cats Breeze litter box. Sure has taken the work out of cat box cleaning! Well shoot. Wish I would have asked for suggestions when buying two new ones the past few weeks. I was going to ask if anyone owned here one of those automatic cleaning ones and how well they worked. I've told DS that now that there are 3 he has litter box duty and it has to be done every day. In the past with just Leroy and two boxes we'd often leave it go for several days. I've had the automatic cleaners but found these to be better. If it's got moving parts, you can count on the darned thing breaking! These don't. They have a tray at the bottom that catches the urine. It's lined with a plastic-backed "puppy pad" that's treated for odor control. The litter is larger pellets instead of the regular litter that the cats spread everywhere. Just pull out the tray and the old pad into a plastic bag, wipe the tray with a Clorox cleaning cloth, put in a new pad and return the tray. The litter doesn't have to be changed often, at all, because the urine goes right through holes at the bottom of the litter tray into the lined tray, so you just scoop out the poop. You can wash the litter if you want. I don't because it doesn't need changing very often anyway. There is the cost of the pads, but I find it worth it for the time and effort saved! Don't know what the boxes are going for these days. They are more expensive than a regular cat litter box, to be sure. I just really like them.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 14, 2016 20:22:31 GMT -5
I've tried the automatics. They always break. I've still got the four from when I had the three cats. Now I have four for two. But they all are in one room. I'm going to look into what mmmhmmm said because kitty litter from their feet is everywhere. In the old house there was a lot of carpet before they got back upstairs.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 14, 2016 20:23:24 GMT -5
Wow. I hit the m key a whole bunch more than I thought I did.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jan 14, 2016 20:27:41 GMT -5
I've tried the automatics. They always break. I've still got the four from when I had the three cats. Now I have four for two. But they all are in one room. I'm going to look into what mmmhmmm said because kitty litter from their feet is everywhere. In the old house there was a lot of carpet before they got back upstairs. I really think you'll like them, zib! For me, they've been a God-send! So much easier to keep up with and I don't have litter tracked everywhere! LOL about the mmmmmmms!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 14, 2016 20:30:15 GMT -5
No kidding. Good grief!!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 14, 2016 20:32:35 GMT -5
Did you use the old fashioned ones first then switch? Will my old cats freak at something new?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 20:40:33 GMT -5
I made the mistake of letting the other cats visit him in his room. He was all excited and you could just hear him thinking, "FRIENDS!!" He ran over and jumped on the old guy and he was not happy. He hissed and growled (he never does this), then decided to just leave the room. Tumbles pulled some super bitchy Ninja moves on him before she left. Poor Scout was sitting there looking like, "friends?"
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jan 14, 2016 21:19:08 GMT -5
Did you use the old fashioned ones first then switch? Will my old cats freak at something new? I did use the others at one time. None of my cats has rejected these boxes. The pellets are really different but they've not minded at all.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jan 14, 2016 21:26:42 GMT -5
OH poor scout He's the weird kid in the house. Play extra hard with him for the first week, he'll settle down. Also, when he's given more territory to roam, he'll get some energy out that way. Put yourself in his shoes...he was essentially locked in a box for 1/3 of his life to this point, serious stimulation deprivation plus he has missed out on some of those kitty 101 life skill lessons. The other two will teach those soon enough. Oh - - - so, So, SOOOOOO much
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jan 14, 2016 22:02:36 GMT -5
I made the mistake of letting the other cats visit him in his room. He was all excited and you could just hear him thinking, "FRIENDS!!" He ran over and jumped on the old guy and he was not happy. He hissed and growled (he never does this), then decided to just leave the room. Tumbles pulled some super bitchy Ninja moves on him before she left. Poor Scout was sitting there looking like, "friends?" Awww, its tough on all of them. I probably would have tried one on one instead of both at once. Your old man cat has gone from being by himself, to one new kitten, now two new kittens. He's probably not amused or ready to play with yet another one.
I would have thought Tumbles would have been better, but perhaps she wants to establish she's been here first and he's the bottom of the totem pole. Plus to her, it was her room and very quickly now there's this new guy in it. Is there a neutral room you can try watching the new kittens play in together?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 22:58:02 GMT -5
I made the mistake of letting the other cats visit him in his room. He was all excited and you could just hear him thinking, "FRIENDS!!" He ran over and jumped on the old guy and he was not happy. He hissed and growled (he never does this), then decided to just leave the room. Tumbles pulled some super bitchy Ninja moves on him before she left. Poor Scout was sitting there looking like, "friends?" Awww, its tough on all of them. I probably would have tried one on one instead of both at once. Your old man cat has gone from being by himself, to one new kitten, now two new kittens. He's probably not amused or ready to play with yet another one.
I would have thought Tumbles would have been better, but perhaps she wants to establish she's been here first and he's the bottom of the totem pole. Plus to her, it was her room and very quickly now there's this new guy in it. Is there a neutral room you can try watching the new kittens play in together?
Yeah, poor Leroy! He does really seem to like Tumbles though. I've actually caught him running around the house playing with her sometimes and right now they're both curled up on the couch next to each other. Leroy is pretty easy going wants to meet everyone, but Scout totally pounced on him and bit him (in play). Tumbles is more "I'm the Princess. Keep your distance!" When I introduced her to Leroy, he was the nice one and she was the one hissing and growling for the first week and he wasn't jumping all over and acting like a nut job. She really did not like this young guy running up to her and wanting to play. Tomorrow evening I'll lock them up in the bedroom and let Scout run around the house.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Jan 14, 2016 23:18:10 GMT -5
He's much better today. Thank God. Seriously. If anyone had told me 5 years ago I'd have three cats, a cat tower in my dining room and be buying prescription food for them I would have told them they were out of their flipping minds! What is happening to me!?!? I'm never going to get another date again.
Sure you will...men of CHARACTER. Men who don't like cats have issues with independent women. They like someone they can boss around. "Sit! Fetch! Heel! Stay!"
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jan 15, 2016 4:37:01 GMT -5
Get a laser pointer. That'll help tire him out. Just be careful of not in the eyes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 10:42:23 GMT -5
Get a laser pointer. That'll help tire him out. Just be careful of not in the eyes. The kids have them. They play with Tumbles with it to get her worked up, but I don't think anyone has dared take it into Scouts room yet. He's worked up enough as it is! I didn't check on him this morning, but DS said he was reasonably calm. I think when I get home tonight I'll lock up the others and let him check out the house...and the kitty tower...that should be interesting.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jan 15, 2016 11:23:04 GMT -5
Pictures and or video please!
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on Jan 15, 2016 12:50:00 GMT -5
I made the mistake of letting the other cats visit him in his room. He was all excited and you could just hear him thinking, "FRIENDS!!" He ran over and jumped on the old guy and he was not happy. He hissed and growled (he never does this), then decided to just leave the room. Tumbles pulled some super bitchy Ninja moves on him before she left. Poor Scout was sitting there looking like, "friends?" When I brought Maggie home from the shelter she was the same way. She was so excited & happy she jumped on the other cats. Desmond & she have bonded & are besties now. They play together & just hang out. The older female never did warm up to her but they just avoid each other & stay out of each other's ways. Hopefully when he calms down Tumbles will warm up & want to play with him. I do feel sorry for poor Scout. He's had a rough kitty life so far.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 12:15:29 GMT -5
I swapped cats last night. 2.5 hours was about all I could take and I put him back in his room. He's not tearing around like a madman anymore, but he gets into EVERYTHING. Then he settled in on a blanket next to me on the couch and I thought "oh, this is nice", but nope. Attacking my hand, attacking the cursor on the laptop screen, walking across the keyboard, chewing on the TV remote, jumping up on my shoulders to give me "hugs", crawling inside the sectional and biting/clawing at my butt. I had Tumbles locked in his room while he was loose and I carried Scout in and was trying to shoo Tumbles out when he spotted her, back to the "THERE'S MY FRIEND!!!!" He got away from me and jumped down and pounced on her and OMG was she ever pissed off! She was so mad that it took her about a half hour after he was locked up before she wasn't hissing and growling at Leroy and I whenever we got close to her. She was really mad. I came into work for awhile today and left the social misfit in the downstairs bedroom.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Jan 16, 2016 12:26:43 GMT -5
Can you teach Scout to fetch? or atleast be happy with something you've thrown (like milk jug rings or wadded up paper)? Yeah you wind up with a house covered in milk jug rings or paperwads - but it does burn off energy!
What about a feather on a stick - that way he can still be near you and you don't have to pay 100% attention to him. Have you tried some 'cat traps' - like cardboard boxes (ALDI boxes (tall sides with an opening) or paper boxes from work?) or a handle-less paper bag? or even crumppled up newspaper with a toy hidden under it?
He just needs a safe/socially acceptable way to burn off the energy he's got exploding out of him!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 12:35:41 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm going to have to figure out some things for him to do. I tried the laser pointer last night, but he never found the dot. He was so fixated on getting the pointer out of my hand which he was sure was the toy that he didn't notice anything else. The "Christmas room" (the room with the tree and presents) is still not cleaned up due to all the weekend things since Christmas...maybe tomorrow, but he does like the boxes and tissue paper from the presents. I showed him the tower last night, but he didn't really get into that which surprised me (maybe because a tower is what broke his leg!), plus he'd jump off and land super hard on the hardwood floor. I was worried he was going to re-injure himself.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jan 16, 2016 13:28:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm going to have to figure out some things for him to do. I tried the laser pointer last night, but he never found the dot. He was so fixated on getting the pointer out of my hand which he was sure was the toy that he didn't notice anything else. The "Christmas room" (the room with the tree and presents) is still not cleaned up due to all the weekend things since Christmas...maybe tomorrow, but he does like the boxes and tissue paper from the presents. I showed him the tower last night, but he didn't really get into that which surprised me (maybe because a tower is what broke his leg!), plus he'd jump off and land super hard on the hardwood floor. I was worried he was going to re-injure himself. Try these.... www.amazon.com/Pet-Small-Spikey-Ball-Toys/dp/B002EJAB9U/ref=sr_1_97?ie=UTF8&qid=1452968590&sr=8-97&keywords=cat+ball+toysI found them while I was living in Lexington, the pet store I got Gomez and Gizzy's food from had a big bin of them. I think that they were about 0.50/ea and I'd buy a batch because they would disappear in my apartment. I probably found about 40 of them when I moved out! I've never found them in another pet store, other than that independent one I used, and had to dig to find them at Amazon. Anyway, these are Sheldon's favorite toy too. These bat really well and because they are small and rubber, they can pick them up and carry them around. They work best on floors that are tile/wood because they skid so well, so Sheldon bats them away, they skid down the hall and he goes racing after them, inevitably body slamming into the wall when he can't make the corner. ETA: They are also good things to take and throw and let Scout retrieve them. Gomez would retrieve, Gizzy wasn't so interested in retrieving them. But you could easily tire them out by throwing out a dozen balls and let them go chasing after them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 13:37:23 GMT -5
I'll look for the spikey balls. I think we're taking a trip to "the big city" tonight to go to Sam's Club, and there is a Petsmart and a Petco there. Have to stop anyhow to get crickets for the gecko.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jan 16, 2016 13:40:52 GMT -5
I'll look for the spikey balls. I think we're taking a trip to "the big city" tonight to go to Sam's Club, and there is a Petsmart and a Petco there. Have to stop anyhow to get crickets for the gecko. They are rubber and they squish. They are about the diameter of a quarter. If you can't find any, PM me your address and I'll scrounge up a few of them and send them to you. I have never seen them at either Petsmart or Petco.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2016 19:12:50 GMT -5
This pretty much summarizes the Tumbles/Scout relationship...
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Jan 17, 2016 19:15:31 GMT -5
LOL, MPL! Those two are going to do just fine! They're being cats and there just isn't anything better to be! Half the time, all their hissing and howling is just window dressing. They're actually enjoying the chaos.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2016 20:23:02 GMT -5
This picture makes it look like they get along, but it doesn't convey the fact that she's growling non-stop. She's such a grump ass. You can see Leroy on the back of the sectional off to the left.
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