The Kitty in the Tree

Miki means 'tree' in Japanese. This little girl was stuck in a tree outside my residence hall for two days. I didn't even know about her until they had already brought her down. So, I named her 'tree'. The name is pronounced Mee-Kee, since the i's in Japanese are pronounced like e's.

Update: I went to visit Miki today. I put the harness on her and she didn't like it too much. She'd flop down on the ground and try and roll. This did not help her get out of it, so she began meowing at me as if saying "Take it off, mommy." I almost found it funny. I told the vets to keep the harness on her for short periods of time to get her used to it.

Oh and great news! She came back negative on her Feline Leukemia test.

That is really great news. Congrats.

Update: Miki and I leave tomorrow for Richmond. I got her a carrier, a food and water dish, a packet of food, and some treats. (the food and treats are for when she gets home. Don't need her puking in her carrier.) I go to get her from the vet at 8am tomorrow and I head out of here by 9am. With a six hour drive, I won't be getting home till about 3-3:30.

Question. How would you go about socializing a stray cat. She's fine with peope. She doesn't hiss at them or attempt to bite or scratch and she loves to be pet, but she hates other animals. What is the best way to get her used to my three dogs? These dogs are small, two yorkies and a silkey.

Very slowly and dont force her to like the others. Good luck and have a safe trip. Update us on the ride when you can.

What a great story! Miki is a lucky kitty. Thank you for your kindness, esp. since there are many hassels involved!

Poor thing; no family of her own, stuck in a tree, boarded at a vet, a long car ride, then new pets/people to get used to. Please let us know how Miki adjusts to all this.

Update: Miki's move home went suprisingly well. During the ride home, she lay in her carrier, and was either just looking around or napping. Occasionally she'd look at me and meow but only for a few seconds, then she'd go back to doing what she was doing. Once home I put her on the porch and set some water and food for her. She was still a bit nervous, but she wasn't as jumpy. Later that night, my mom allowed me to bring her in the house, as long as I confined her to the front bedroom, which was hardwood floor (so accidents would be easy to clean and there was nothing to scratch.). We got her a litter box and she took right to it. We also got her some jingle balls to play with and some dry and wet food.

What really suprised me is throughout the whole week she was at the vet, she was kind of distant and didn't really seem very affectionate. As soon as I lay down that night to go to sleep, she was up in the bed with me, nuzzling me and wanting me to pet her. She also tried using my hand as a play toy. Miki also has no regard for personal space. She'd lay down on my face or walk across my face and chest. Miki really likes to cuddle during the night but only in short periods of time. During the time she's awake, she wants to play. So for the first two nights, I got maybe 3-4 hours of sleep each night. The third night I was home, I slept at my grandmother's house just so I could get some sleep before having to drive back to college.

We also introduced her to the newest dog (she's the calmest) and Miki wasn't aggressive at all. She was rather distant from the dog and slightly annoyed, but didn't make any move to hurt her. She didn't even hiss. So I have a feeling Miki and Lacey will get alone just fine. On a bad note, my mom is requiring me to get Miki declawed. Her main concern is Lacey. While Miki doesn't show any signs of wanting to hurt Lacey, my mom is very worried that Miki will strike out with her claws and hurt Lacey in the face. (Lacey is a Silkey Terrier, so she is on the same level as the cat.) I tried talking my mom out of it, but its one thing she's putting her foot down on. So we are making sure that Miki goes to the best vet she could possibly go to.

Soka, cheaper than declaw, just as effective - clip her claws! or put on the product called "soft paws" (caps on the nails so they CAN'T claw.) Tell your mom about these options. Not expensive, very effective AND doesn't require surgery (IMHO mutilation) of the cat. Trust me, all will be well if you do the claw clipping/soft paws.

I tried telling my mom, but she said if the cat doesn't get declawed, she has to stay out on the porch (which gets super hot in the summer) and I don't want her to have to live out there. I want her to be able to come inside and roam the house just like any other indoor cat. My fiance's mother said that there is a vet in town that does very well with declaws. Both of her cats are declawed and they were both up and running around like their old selves by the next day. I have no choice in the matter. Either declaw, or she lives on the porch where it gets really hot (90 and up in the summer) and well below 40 in the winter.

I am sorry you have to make that decision.

Originally Posted by Soka

I tried telling my mom, but she said if the cat doesn't get declawed, she has to stay out on the porch (which gets super hot in the summer) and I don't want her to have to live out there. I want her to be able to come inside and roam the house just like any other indoor cat. My fiance's mother said that there is a vet in town that does very well with declaws. Both of her cats are declawed and they were both up and running around like their old selves by the next day. I have no choice in the matter. Either declaw, or she lives on the porch where it gets really hot (90 and up in the summer) and well below 40 in the winter.

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If you clip the claws like once a week, the cat really won't do any damage..did you tell your mom that?

It doesn't matter how "well" the declaw is done..it's still unneccesary to the cat IMO.

I will try to talk to my mom about it, but like me, she is quite stubborn. She's afraid that if Miki lashes out at Lacey, that the claws will catch Lacey's eyes or something like that. I will talk to her about getting the claw covers. Hopefully I can change her mind. I don't like cats getting declawed, especially if she ends up getting loose, she won't be able to hunt or defend herself. It'll take some convincing on my part though.

That is why my Skittles has hers still. There is other ways to detore the scratching.

Update: Well I have successfully convinced my mom to use the soft paws on Miki instead of getting her declawed. As soon as my check comes in, in May, my mom is going out to get Miki an automatic litter box. Oh and something unexpected, my grandmother (who hates cats and is allergic) likes Miki. Who would've thought. My mom says that my grandmother is always saying how sweet Miki is and how wonderful she is. My grandmother doesn't fall for cats easily. Actually, she's never liked any of my cats. So this is a big thing for Miki and myself. And I think my mom has fallen for her too. My mom really wants to get the automatic litterbox for Miki so she can come into the main part of the house, and she is always telling me she'll give Miki a kiss for me. Its so cute how I bring her home and both my grandmother and my mom (who wanted me to give her to someone else) have fallen in love with her. How could you not?

what wonderful news all round, no declawing and your grandmother and mother like her but your right - how could you not fall in love with that sweet girl?

awwww she is so lucky that you took her in and now she has the chance at a perfect loved filled life This really is a great story!!

That is awesome news that everyone loves her and she won't have to be declawed!! Thats really great!

All right!! No declawing for Miki!

Regarding Soft Paws--you're gonna have to be persistant with those; most cats try to get them off, and you have to glue on another prety often till they get the point that you're not gonna let them walk around without their soft paws on!

Update: I swear, my mom loves that cat just as much as I do. I was just talking to my cousin online and he said him and my mom were trying to find a 'cat tree' or kitty condo for her. I swear, this cat is going to end up spoiled. Before I know it, I'm going to be sleeping on the floor, and Miki will have the bed. Miki has even claimed a certain spot as 'hers' on the porch. We have an old fireplace/furnace that she like to crawl under. It has only one opening and she crawls in there where its cool. She is such a nut.

Hey, if she claims the bed, at least you'll have a warm bed to get into in the winters! Cats aren't big enough to claim the WHOLE bed, no matter how hard they try

Good for the cat tree thing--make sure it's got a scratching post thingy on it... cats scratch, fact of life, whether they have soft paws on or clipped claws or even no claws at all... instinct. And it'll give her something to scratch so if the soft paws come off, she'll be less likely to damage furniture.

Oh, yeah, and most cats love kitty trees with some sort of hideaway thingy in them. It's like a law of science: "Any small, comfortable place in the house must contain a cat at the earliest possible moment."

How'd Miki take to the soft paws?

Haven't gotten them yet. I have to wait till I get back to Richmond, hopefully by the 13th of May. When I get back, I'm setting up a vet visit to get her up to date with all her shots, and also set an appointment to get her spayed.