Posted on 07/25/2004 6:02:18 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
I seem to have adopted a stray kitten as an indoor cat. I've never had a cat in my life! (I do have a Jack Russell Terrier.) What do I do now?!
Others have suggested a scratching post. Get more than one, and if you see kitty scratching on furniture, pick her up and take her to the scratching post, and place her paws on the post. She'll catch on, that's what I've done with kittens that I've had, and it works. They really need something to scratch, and you need to have more than one so they don't have to go looking for something to scratch. Others have also suggested high quality food; I second that. Supermarket food just doesn't seem to have what they need. Our vet has recommened Iams, and they do well on it. And kitten food, until your kitty is a year old.
owner of two dogs and two cats..
The cat is your master.
It will let you know what you need to do.
Your life as you know it has ended.
As soon as you get the whole 'cat box' thing squared away with your new companion, everything is going to be easy from there.
And that isn't hard.
Also scratching post is a good idea. All you have to do is when kitty strats scratching the furniture or wall, GENTLY take it over to the oist and GENTLY rub its paws on the post. This transfers his/her scent to the post and it will return there consistently form then on.
I have a JRT and cats. The cats just ignore the dog and sleep with it when its cold. They even team up when outside to catch field rats and moles. The cat and JRT will love you when everyone else is dumping on you.
Thank you all for the advice, jokes, recipes, etc. This adoption was unexpected to say the least, and you al really helped.
Kitten and dog have settled down; kitten has eaten some premium kitty food; dog has not eaten kitten. Both of them seem to be getting on well together; Janey (the dog) is having the time of her life.
I'm going to take the kitten to the vet first thing tomorrow, and get it the whole nine yards. Haven't made up my mind about declawing yet. Neutering is a given.
I haven't picked a name for the kitten yet, mostly because I still don't know if it's a boy or a girl. (I'm pretty sure it's one of the two.)
I've got an old Logitech cam somewhere; when I get it going and get pix I'll ping y'all again.
Please do ping when you get the pics. There was a ton of good advice on this thread, and plenty of amusement. My two kitties and their obedient dog salute you on your acquisition.
Please don't declaw the cat. It's a barbaric practice in my opinion. I trained my cats not to scratch things by putting scratching posts near the most attractive objects, and using a squirt gun when necessary. I also take a nail cutter and trim the claw tips to blunt them. If you trim, be very careful not to get the 'quick' that's down inside. It's visible if you look closely, and if you clip it, it's the equivalent of cutting into your finger tip. Ouch.
JRT might be thinking kitten tastes like lollipop. I too have two JRT's and adopted 100 pound German Shepherd. the vet advised getting rid of the Shepherd so the JRT's wouldn't hurt it. Instead, I demanded JRT's honor presence of Shepherd in our family, and that Shepherd accept the continuous abuse he endures from JRT's without responding in kind.
One night recently, after 3 years of family togetherness, the Shepherd had a seizure and was twitching helpless on the floor- both JRT's immediately jumped on Shepherd with murder in mind. If I hadn't been there, they might have pulled it off.
JRT's have no permanent friends-only permanent interests - inbred instinct to kill the furry and squeaky.
Good Luck and always have an escape perch for kitty. And never get a second JRT because they hunt in pairs like velociraptors.
The fact that there were two of them might have had something to do with it - pack behavior. I have no intention of getting another JRT, though - one is enough!
About the declawing, I did that to my girl Tessio and I know it's very cruel. It is like cutting our nails off, the whole nail. I was very guilty because the vet had called me and informed that Tessio was bleeding and it would not stop she was at the Vet's for a few days. This was six years ago. I would not do that again. Cats do ruin woodwork and couches. It's a tough decision. I have another one in the house and he is not declawed and he ruined my couches. I will not replace them until he goes to heaven! Good luck.
I'm glad your dog likes your kitten.
Most baby animals can be introduced to dogs. Dogs inherently have a sense of fair play. An adult cat is vermin, a kitten is too easy and will likely have a safe time of it. Once they have adopted each other you shouldn't have too many problems but do expect a spat now and then.
I've had a Jack Russell now for about 3 years and she and the cat are friends. In fact the cat sometimes jumps on the dog. The difference is my cat was here and 5 years old before I got the JR as a puppy. So the person who posted the article may have more problems then I have had. I have heard of people coming home to find their cat slaughtered all over the living room by a JR. So who knows. Probably depends on the cat and the dog. My cat is an indoor/outdoor cat. He's pretty fiesty and must be good at avoiding trouble as we live in the country and coyotes are thick out here. He's probably about 8-9 now.
Becky
You might enjoy this thread.
Becky
Get a litter box, a scratching post, cat food, treats, some of those plastic milk jug tie things, and a small water gun.
Cats learn pretty quick that the litter box is the potty. They will have hours of fun with the little ties you peel off of new milk jugs when you want open them. The water gun is for discipline -- try to make it so that if/when the kitty does something bad, it doesn't see you squirt it. Usually, if it thinks some mysterious force showers it when it does something, it'll stop.
Thanks. The kitten will not be outside, except on a leash/tether.
One day gone by - so far so good. Kitten goes to the vet in few hours for its physical and shots...and so I can find out what sex it is. (Yes, I know where to look, but it's kind of squirmy.) Naming to follow shortly afterwards.
I'm sorry about your loss.
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