So glad I came across this board. I have some cat questions since I've never owned one before. Never really been a cat person until now.
There had been a stray hanging around our farm for several weeks who wouldn't leave. He appeared to be looking for food as I found him in my pitbull's yard eating his food. Don't worry, our pitbull is even scared of mice and just sat there as the cat ate his food, he just LOOKS tough. Anyway, after a couple weeks of trying to approach the cat I finally just put some food out and he came around and ate it. Finally I started leaving a bowl out and he would come by and eat it each morning. I was finally able to coax him into a cat carrier and get him to a vet where they checked him out, gave him all his shots, and neutered him. He seemed to be quite content outside but I started worrying about predators and the like so started letting him in at night. He did well so I finally let him into my bedroom and within a week he was sleeping on my bed. Now he sleeps on my pillow next to my head. He still goes out every morning and stays out for part of the afternoon coming in now and then for food. He has been spending more time inside and with winter here and storms coming through, I'm sure that he will spend even more time inside during the day.
My main concern is his going to the bathroom. He has only gone once in the house and that was early in the morning about the time he goes out. Nowadays he comes in anywhere from 2-4PM and doesn't go back out until 5-6AM. Is it normal for a cat to hold off going to the bathroom for this long? I bought a litterbox for him and have it in the laundry room. He knows where it is and today even saw him in it but he didn't go to the bathroom in it, in fact I've had it for weeks and as far as I can tell, he's never used it, he just goes outside. Will he learn to use it eventually on his own or do I somehow have to train him to use it? If he would just learn to use it, I would feel OK leaving him in most of the day or even all day, especially with winter here.
My other question is about grooming him. I tried to give him a bath only once and he FREAKED. I take my dog to a local groomer and they also do cats so I was thinking of taking him there for a bath and to get his nails trimmed. Anyone take their cats to a professional groomer? Is it ok to do?
This lil guy has really turned me around on cats.
Here he is... Sammy...can anyone tell me his breed?
There had been a stray hanging around our farm for several weeks who wouldn't leave. He appeared to be looking for food as I found him in my pitbull's yard eating his food. Don't worry, our pitbull is even scared of mice and just sat there as the cat ate his food, he just LOOKS tough. Anyway, after a couple weeks of trying to approach the cat I finally just put some food out and he came around and ate it. Finally I started leaving a bowl out and he would come by and eat it each morning. I was finally able to coax him into a cat carrier and get him to a vet where they checked him out, gave him all his shots, and neutered him. He seemed to be quite content outside but I started worrying about predators and the like so started letting him in at night. He did well so I finally let him into my bedroom and within a week he was sleeping on my bed. Now he sleeps on my pillow next to my head. He still goes out every morning and stays out for part of the afternoon coming in now and then for food. He has been spending more time inside and with winter here and storms coming through, I'm sure that he will spend even more time inside during the day.
My main concern is his going to the bathroom. He has only gone once in the house and that was early in the morning about the time he goes out. Nowadays he comes in anywhere from 2-4PM and doesn't go back out until 5-6AM. Is it normal for a cat to hold off going to the bathroom for this long? I bought a litterbox for him and have it in the laundry room. He knows where it is and today even saw him in it but he didn't go to the bathroom in it, in fact I've had it for weeks and as far as I can tell, he's never used it, he just goes outside. Will he learn to use it eventually on his own or do I somehow have to train him to use it? If he would just learn to use it, I would feel OK leaving him in most of the day or even all day, especially with winter here.
My other question is about grooming him. I tried to give him a bath only once and he FREAKED. I take my dog to a local groomer and they also do cats so I was thinking of taking him there for a bath and to get his nails trimmed. Anyone take their cats to a professional groomer? Is it ok to do?
This lil guy has really turned me around on cats.
Here he is... Sammy...can anyone tell me his breed?
