Weird problem with male cat

Originally Posted by poohandwendy

It's is awesome that you took him in. There are far too many animals left out to fend for themselves. It is so sad and frustrating. (but that is a whole other topic, LOL)

Sorry to hear about your car. Been there, done that. We had ours stolen from our driveway and then returned the same night totalled. (4 local teens, between the ages of 12 and 14!!!!!) The real pan in the butt was that they were caught but only received a slap on the wrist for it. We were out hundreds of dollars (insurance deductable)

Grrrrr.

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My father cancelled my insurance shortly after I moved here, which was right before the car was stolen. So far, with estimates, there has been at least $4k in damage and theft. I'm a car enthusiast so it hurts a bit more than just "oh well, it's only stuff we can buy back". I understand that point of view... but it's different from my point of view.

At least I remembered I had GAP insurance from the dealership. GAP insurance pays off your car if it's totalled. That means if I can find out my car has enough damage that it could be totalled, then I can have it totalled. I'd have to pay a $250 deductible and then the GAP insurance pays it off. When a car is totalled (at least where I am) the owner is given first choice to buy it back before it goes to auction. So that way I could end up buying my car back, and have no payments on it. I could fix my car the rest of the way and go in to have it retitled (thouhg insurance will always be able to see it once had a theft recovery title meaning they will charge the same for their service, but if I had to total it for an accident for example, it would pay perhaps 30% less than a clean title vehicle).

Then just last week I found out a car I had noticed in our complex is stolen from the local dealership. The theif might have been found (lives here and has been driving the car until the iginition fuse blew), but I don't think he's been charged yet. I'm not really sure. If he has, I'll make sure to try to get him out of this complex since conducting criminal activity on apartment property goes against the lease. Sad thing is, we live in a nice enough area... there's just some bad people.

I had a friend who fired at a car's tire after the occupants tried to steal/break into his car (there's a lot of money invested in his car - about $25k into a car that costs around $30k new). He hit the tire (he was only trying to stop the car, not hit anyone) and one bullet (out of the two total) went through the rear hatch metal and into the buttocks of a passenger. It bruised his buttocks and he deficated himself (the other two urinated out of fear). Funny thing is they thought he shot at them upwards of 30-40 times because his blow off valve (a valve meant to relieve pressure on turbocharged vehicles) is so loud that they thought he was firing at them when he was just shifting gears. My friend is probably going to jail. Most local police aren't happy with his arrest and some even thank him for helping to lower the theft in that area (it's significantly dropped since it happened).

People will continue to have car stolen from them because the police do not care. I was yelled at for throwing a 1-inch tin of mints out the door when I arrived to pick up my car exactly where it was found. The cops didn't collect evidence and probably will never connect anyone with my theft because traffic offences ($101+ for a speeding ticket) collect much more money.

Btw, I've never gotten a ticket here, haven't received a ticket in the last two years (or even gotten pulled over), and never race my car or install anything on my car that could increase harm to myself or others.

So, hopefully we'll be able to afford to fix my car and get Noob (yeah, that's the cat's name) neutered.

Oh man...I feel your pain. The car of ours that was stolen was not a favorite, more of a family car (mini wagon). The one I drive now...oh, I can feel your pain. It's my baby.

That just stinks for your friend. Man...I just don't understand why people can't just keep their hands off other peoples stuff, ya know?

Hope it all works out smoothly. That's a whole lotta pain in the butt to go through, I know.

Originally Posted by poohandwendy

Oh man...I feel your pain. The car of ours that was stolen was not a favorite, more of a family car (mini wagon). The one I drive now...oh, I can feel your pain. It's my baby.

That just stinks for your friend. Man...I just don't understand why people can't just keep their hands off other peoples stuff, ya know?

Hope it all works out smoothly. That's a whole lotta pain in the butt to go through, I know.

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Best part is... after all that happened... I had to go to a local auto shop to buy a new (well, used, but new for me) steering column. It cost me $430 and included the switches like the combination switch (turn signal, headlights, wipers) and the clock spring (tells when to cancel your turn signal for one). I didn't need those, but after so much trouble I was just ready to have my car drivable again. Well... they messed up. Or someone did at least. They sold me the wrong year column. That was last year, several months ago (Nov - Dec). They just last week gave me a new one that *should* fit for free. It was very rusty (from the NorthEast) but I polished most of that out. Now I just have to wait for my mechanic/friend to have time in his schedule to put it in.

Originally Posted by Noob

Best part is... after all that happened... I had to go to a local auto shop to buy a new (well, used, but new for me) steering column. It cost me $430 and included the switches like the combination switch (turn signal, headlights, wipers) and the clock spring (tells when to cancel your turn signal for one). I didn't need those, but after so much trouble I was just ready to have my car drivable again. Well... they messed up. Or someone did at least. They sold me the wrong year column. That was last year, several months ago (Nov - Dec). They just last week gave me a new one that *should* fit for free. It was very rusty (from the NorthEast) but I polished most of that out. Now I just have to wait for my mechanic/friend to have time in his schedule to put it in.

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You know, Murphys law...when it rains it pours...

hope you step in a lucky puddle soon...you sure have had your share of bad...

Originally Posted by poohandwendy

You know, Murphys law...when it rains it pours...

hope you step in a lucky puddle soon...you sure have had your share of bad...

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It's not all bad. I moved across the US in the summer of last year. The car we found that was stolen belongs to the local Honda dealership and now we get a discount there. A lot of friends from all over the country sent me parts (and some sent me a little bit of money) when they found out my car was stolen. This is common on a car forum I belong to. I made a friend in the Netherlands late last year. I've met a lot of new people in Washington that are just wonderful people.

It's not all bad, just a little bit. And like you said, it always seems to come at once.

That's a good outlook, focusing on the the good, when the bad feels like a lead balloon.

Originally Posted by poohandwendy

That's a good outlook, focusing on the the good, when the bad feels like a lead balloon.

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What's weird is... some people on the other forum (the one about cars) say that I'm being too negative about my "situation" with my car. Should I be happy my car was stolen? lol This isn't the kind of situation where you can say, "It could have been worse, someone could have been hurt." My car was stolen from outside my bedroom window as I slept.

They told me I should stop living in fear of my car getting stolen even though I've recently noticed cars get stolen often here. At least mine didn't get cut into six pieces and left miles apart on the intertstate like other cars I've seen locally. Still waiting for an alarm for my car too (things are expensive and some can be easily hacked).

weird that people on a car forum would think being upset about a car being stolen as too negative. Usually they are super protective of their cars. Oh well, you really can't understand that kind of personal violation (crime against you) unless you have been there.

You know, when my car was stolen...what made me the most mad is that they burnt a hole in my seat with a cigarette. For some reason just seeing it there reminded me that they just didn't care at all and I felt personally violated. (I was even a smoker at the time, but that really made me mad)

Originally Posted by poohandwendy

weird that people on a car forum would think being upset about a car being stolen as too negative. Usually they are super protective of their cars. Oh well, you really can't understand that kind of personal violation (crime against you) unless you have been there.

You know, when my car was stolen...what made me the most mad is that they burnt a hole in my seat with a cigarette. For some reason just seeing it there reminded me that they just didn't care at all and I felt personally violated. (I was even a smoker at the time, but that really made me mad)

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Odd as it sounds... there's a number of people on car forums that AREN'T into their cars. Some of these people bought their cars modified (no sweat and love into it if you know what I mean). Some of them have let their cars fall into disrepair (and then call them POS, even though they only got that way from being mistreated).

I take care of my car and though she's basically stock now, she's very clean, I'm told she's immaculate by the people at the dealership even. Lately I've been having some tranny trouble and it seems I'll need a new transmission, but come to find out it's just bad design.

I also don't think anyone here thought you were abusing him. I certainly didn't.

I think what we're trying to say is that when it comes to inappropriate behavior, simple punishment is not always the most productive. Cats do thngs not to be bad, but for certain needs they may have at the moment, be it illness or something as simple as boredom. They need to not only be discouraged from the bad behavior, they need to be directed to an appropriate one and retrained. You end up with a happier, better cat for it, and one that is easier to live with.

I think this particular issue is a difficult one, and at least what I was trying to say was that there is a difference between a cat performing a specific behavior, as opposed to a basic physical bodily reaction.

If he were a female, he'd be in heat, and punishing a female simply for being in heat is fruitless, even if it is a humane and kind punishment. And doing something like that can confuse a cat to a point, since they don't know what they're supposed to be "learning", that it can make them more nervous and have worse behavior problems in the long run.

I think, as others have said, the wisest thing is to keep him off the bed completely for now, or out of the room if that's the only way to do it, so he's not in a position to exhibit that physical behavior in the first place until you can find a better solution. But as other have said, punishing him for this particular thing is not going to help, but can, in some ways, perhaps make things worse.

I think peiople here are just trying to share their experiences with you so both you and your little guys can live happier together in harmony.

Do you ever check Ebay for parts? My DH has had really great luck finding parts for decent and sometimes awesome prices there. You just have to know what you are looking for, what questions to ask and check their feedback...it can be a gamble, but we have not had any problems that way.

Although with really heavy parts, you either have to narrow your seacrh to local sellers or are better off trying other avenues. Just mentioning it because it can be a great resource.

I hear you about the different personalities on message boards. It's interesting.

Yeah, I got some of my parts off eBay already. It's almost back together.

Well, looks like we won't be getting Noob fixed. Looks like someone else will have to. I just had to clean up his poop off the floor and I think what I saw was tapeworms.

I'm pretty sure you can only cure that with prescription medication for him and we definately can't afford that. If anyone wants a pretty, fuzzy little orange kitty in or around Olympia, WA, he needs a good home soon. We'll be taking him to a shelter (not sure which one) in the next few days if no one wants him.

He needs to be fixed and he needs treatment for tapeworm. He gets along with other cats (moreso when his testicles don't come into play), loves to lay in the window, and loves to be petted.

This photo is from when my boyfriend firrst found him wandering around. He's since put on some weight since then.

So your getting rid of him?.

If you do send him to a shelter please find a no kill one.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

So your getting rid of him?.

If you do send him to a shelter please find a no kill one.

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That kind of goes... without saying.

He looks and sounds like such a sweet cat, and will be lovely once his problems are solved. It is unfortunately almost inevitable that a cat taken off the streets will have worms and fleas. If you really can't keep him (and I hear your problems) then I do hope he finds a good home. Maybe you could keep/foster him until a shelter/humane society finds him another home? Then they might pay for the worming and neutering?

Your other cat might have these problems too now.

I think tapeworms and fleas go hand in hand, so your other cat has them to most likely. Tapeworm is inexpensive to treat, but on top of the neutering and car cost, you have a lot there to deal with.

Please try to find a no-kill shelter or rescue group. Do not take him to a pound or kill shelter. They only have a couple days in those and obviously won't be treated or neutered there.

One other thing to consider before you give him up. If you try some of those low cost clinics first, some only charge $5-$20 to neuter a male, if not free.
At least give the free clinic a call and see if they will neuter him and ask about flea/worm treatment. I get one tube of flea meds for $6 and the low cost clinic here treats for worms for $5. So there is a chance you could get him all taken care of for almost nothin and wouldn't really get that far into your money needed for the car. Especially since now you are going to have to treat your resident cat too.

At least try that option first before taking him to a shelter. Please? For his sake? It really is worth a try.

Well, if there's any cat I'd rather keep here, it's Noob. My bf thinks he's a pain in the ass because he has testicles though. Noobie's a really sweet cat when he's not trying to hump something though.

So far I KNOW Noob has to be neutered and de-wormed and of course he has fleas (we find them on him all the time). He had roundworm before, and we eventually got rid of those. His coat is still soft and silky even though I found a piece of worm in his mess last night that was about 4-5 millimeters long and very active.

I'm the only one who changes the litter here or feeds the cats so I'm pretty aware of their eating habits and who might be sick. Some poo in the box has no worms visible. Usually I am more likely to notice worms when it's done out of the box though, which Noob seems to do often when he has a problem. He'll go right outside of the box, but he never pees outside of the box. Noob was found wandering our apartment complex's parking lot (to bring anyone up to speed who didn't read earlier).

With the other, slightly older car, Jagger, I know he has at least some fleas (rarely see him, but he's a greyish and black colored tabby) and seems to have a flea allergy. He was fixed awhile ago, possibly before my boyfriend got him. Jagger was picked up by my boyfriend at least a year ago at a local shelter. He thinks of him as his baby.

They are both usually pretty sweet. Jagger's vice is getting on the countertop or anywhere else high enough to try to put himself at the same level we are. He also grabs treats from your hand, which is really cute, and mews when he needs water or food or a toy. He also cries at the bird out the window and twitches his tail. Noob is the kitty who meets us at the door almost everytime we come home. He always wants to know what's out there. He purrs when he jumps, meows to us to let him in our room and paws at the door.

To be honest with you, I'm more of a dog person myself (I REALLY want a boxer pup again). I think that might be why I prefer Noob. Noob is social. Jagger is not usually so social.

Especially with my boyfriend thinking he's a pain, I think Noob might be better off in a house where he gets all the loving he needs.