Need Cat Advice!

[Jamestown1630]

Hi;

I just joined the Kitty-Ping list.

I have what is kind of an urgent question about CATS, and our FRiend 'Slings and Arrows' suggested that I post it to the larger group.

We adopted a little cat, Leroy, a week ago; he’s about 8 months old and still very kittenish. He's adapted to us and our household very well; but we think he needs a cat companion.

We have the choice of adopting one of his brothers, from the same litter; or adopting a female cat who is about 1-1/2 years old, who has already had a litter.

I have never really ‘mixed ages’ in cats; I’ve either had a single kitten, or two or three adults.

Do you think there would be problems, if we adopted the older female, and she lived with the 8-month old male?

We like both the older female and the little brother cat equally; but we want what will be the most harmonious mix.

(The adoption org told us that they first had Leroy and his whole litter available at the pet store; but they fought among themselves so much, that nobody would adopt them. So, then they started showing the boys singly; and that’s how we adopted Leroy.)

The older female is very calm and quiet; the Leroy is very “exuberant", to put it mildly :=)

Can anyone give us advice? We have to make a decision within a day or two.

We live in a small space - two bedroom, two bath apartment. We've never had a problem keeping two cats here; but we've never mixed ages. And, at least until everyone is adapted, the cats will have to stay together in the Master BR, while we are at work.

We are hoping to adopt a second cat before the upcoming holiday weekend, so we'll have several days to get everyone adapted.

The advice of FR cat people would be greatly appreciated;

and

Thanks very much,

JT

[radu]

Sounds like they remembered each other quickly and are having a great time checking out their new digs together. Wonderful news.

Bummer that The Crud has gotten a hold of you but you’ll have some entertainment if you can’t sleep tonight. Leroy’s and Jimmy’s antics could be good “medicine”.

Hope to see “baby pix” soon. :-)

[Jamestown1630]

Oh, Please, Lord in Heaven; just make them SLEEP tonight!

-JT

[radu]

LOL!! Welcome to my world. At least you only have two, not 37.

One thing in my favor is I’m nocturnal and go to bed with the sunrise. BUT, I have no peace when sitting here trying to read news, watch tv, and such. It sounds like a herd of buffalo running through here at the moment.

Leroy and Jimmy will run out of steam at some point and the house will fall suddenly silent. Soon, I hope, for your sake.

[chit*chat]

Cats don’t need to be bathed, thank goodness. So glad to hear of your happy ending and loved all the advice. The energy and exploration levels settle down after a few years. A playful cat is a healthy cat. I treat for fleas with revolution in july and stretch it six weeks if I can to end of august or into September. I am careful about chemicals, in NE so don’t treat for fleas year long, no shots while flea treatment is in system. This works well for my current clan and those that I cared for previously. Good health and times to your wonderful family. C*C

[pbmaltzman]

(As long as you feed them healthy canned food - kibble is poison for cats -

There is dry food available which is grain free. Also watch for other carbs... Tractor Supply has an allegedly grain-free dry food, but it is perhaps not low enough in carbohydrates since they use potatoes in it.

Innova Evo is one premium food that has a grain-free dry food available, and there are others out there. Read labels.

You generally don't want to feed dry food exclusively over the years, since that may lead to slow dehydration, predisposing the poor cat to renal failure.

I try to feed my cats canned food (whether cat food or human-grade canned fish or other stuff) at least once per day. I leave out dry kibbles for free feeding.

Remember that cats evolved as desert animals, and they get some of the moisture they need by drinking the blood and body fluids of their prey. I guess this is why they love canned food which has gravy on it.

I found that feeding cats canned human-grade fish (such as salmon, tuna, sardines, or mackerel) will cure and prevent dry eyes. Apparently the EFAs in oily fish are utilized by mammals' bodies directly in mucous membranes, which the eyes have.

Good luck!

[Yaelle]

I agree about fresh and canned. There are some great cat food brands like Weruva.

No kibbles. They don’t need it and many manufacturers put “mammal msg” in the kibble to get the cats addicted to non-nutritious food. Rats and other rodents smell this ingredient from miles away and come to choose your house because of it.

[pbmaltzman]

I agree about fresh and canned. There are some great cat food brands like Weruva.

Haven't heard of Veruva before, but have heard of several other brands, such as Innova Evo, Wellness, etc.

No kibbles. They don’t need it and many manufacturers put “mammal msg” in the kibble to get the cats addicted to non-nutritious food. Rats and other rodents smell this ingredient from miles away and come to choose your house because of it.

That's news to me as well. One of my older cats was raised in rescue until she was about a year old (was trapped in the California high desert), at which point I adopted her from that rescue. She really likes dry food, even the cheap stuff.

[Yaelle]

Cats “really like” dry kibbles because of the artificial flavor enhancing “msg” style chemical in it. In fact,mother become so addicted to it that they will prefer it to fresh chicken or fish being cooked and served in the house. This is wrong.

Your cat should be very excited about real meat, even if he doesn’t get part of your filet mignon.

When you make the switch to no kibble (dogs too) and remove every kibble from your property, rats and rodents will be included to leave your property and head next door where they smell thst kibble.

And you will notice your pets’ coat becoming thick and glossy from high quality canned food, and their taste buds will not be dulled any more. They will find your foods attractive again. My cats have been interested in all meats and fish, and even melon and broccoli once getting off that flavored junk.

[pbmaltzman]

What do you think of the various raw food diets out there for cats and dogs? I think they have at least some merit. I have a copy of Michelle T. Bernard’s “Raising Cats Naturally.” Right now I can barely afford the cheap food, as I’m still looking for a job. But I might eventually try doing stuff like that part-time in the future.

[Yaelle]

Raw food is very good for dogs and cats but 1) they have to get into it slowly to develop the right gut bugs to digest it because THeyve been eating cooked and b) it’s pricy if you buy it but better if you do it yourself and thus you need a blender or food processor just for your pets, and a lot of freezer space. I tried for a while but got very sick of blending raw meat and organs. And we don’t have the freezer space. If you do, it is an awesome way to feed your pet.

[pbmaltzman]

Freezer space isn't that much of a problem. Back in California I had bought a slightly used Tasin meat grinder, which will handle chicken carcasses. Haven't used it yet... need to replace some kitchen items when I'm working again, such as a new blender, toaster, etc.

Canned oily fish, even though it has been cooked, seems to be a wonderful treat for them, and I make sure to give them the juices too. I discovered that it would cure and prevent dry eyes in cats, and I enjoy giving them things which they really like!

[Yaelle]

Go for it. We like the top class Weruva food, adding some olive or coconut oil over it sometimes. It’s just so convenient and I have 4 kids.

[pbmaltzman]

Haven't tried coconut oil on my crew yet. Not olive oil either, on the theory that cats are carnivorous and need animal sources of protein and fat.

I sometimes give them butter and meat scraps, sometimes gravy on their food (they like canned food with its own gravy). I just killed off the remains of a ham, and gave a few scraps of the meat to a couple of the furbabies, which they scarfed up.

[Twinkie]

Cats like to be outside; in fact, they almost worship the out of doors. Shutting them up inside goes against nature. - I, of all people, know. “Brutus”, our cat who rejected all the names we gave her (Zippy, Lambchop - both rejected), only gladly finally accepted “Brutus”; not caring that I don’t like the name. She acts up, thinking I control the weather; driving me nuts with her nagging until the thermometer gets up to at least freezing before I’ll let her go out. She will come inside when it’s well after dark and she has run herself ragged outside. - The rattlesnakes & copperheads out here are in hibernation right now; but I dread springtime when the sneaky snakes and predators are out. Cats still have the *wild* factor in their makeup; believe me.

[Jamestown1630]

Oh, I’m sure the cats still have the ‘wild factor’.

We’ve been fortunate with the cats we’ve had over the past 20 years; they’ve all been rescues/adoptions who mostly never knew anything about the outdoors. Once in a while they escape out a door, and immediately ‘pancake’ - they think they want to be out there, but once they are they’re scared!

I keep two rescued pigeons, and the cats are the same way when they manage to sneak into the ‘bird room’: once they’re in, and look up and see those fat birds, they ‘pancake’ :-)

-JT