Hello
one day a few years ago, a scrawny cat got into my apartment building, climbed up 3 floors, and started meowing at my door.
I opened the door and let her in.
She could hardly meow, she was weak. I fed her some tuna and she started feeling better. I got some food and a cheap litter pan and went look look for her owner, she was really well behaved and I could swear she was lost, and had an owner.
I went everywhere in the apartment building (25 residences), and then put up signs, a craigslist, facebook post, myspace post (myspace was still going strong then! haha), and put an ad in the local paper...
no one has ever answered...
I noticed she was always scared of running out of food. She eats far too much, and I am desperately trying to feed her less, but she is very insistent and will wake you up at night to get more food. I got one of those compressed air things and i would blow it in her general direction, that would get her away from me, but I really hate doing that, as it seems like a very negative thing.
I am, of course, completely against hitting or spanking of any kind when an animal has a need. I have, in the past, struck a compromise with spraying water but I haven't had to do this with Burgers, and I really don't want to, because it seems to be a very negative thing... thoughts on that appreciated.
anyway, I am trying to feed her late at night to prevent her trying to wake us up....
Another interesting thing about her is that when she looks at me (which she seems to stare a lot) she raises one paw, she does this with either paw, so I don't think she's hurting...
The problem now is that she's really meowing a lot, and peeing on a mat in the bathroom.
Before I take her in for a check up (I really don't have any money for this, unless I know there's some imminent danger)
there are two things I've changed recently:
1. new cat pan, with cover and sifter (I routinely clean the litter box, every other day, at the least, before and after this) - this was about 2 months ago, didn't seem to be direct problems, but I wonder, even though it's a big one, if she can't fit properly in
2. new food for urinary tract health - I got this a few days ago, and the problem really got bad. I think i might have to go to another brand...
So I'd like to explore those options, also, one BIG problem is:
she drinks out of her bowl by scooping it up with her hands. I have to clean the bowl at least twice a day cause there's all sort of crap in it, hairs, dirt, etc... She LOOOOOOOOOVES water right out of the faucet. I got her a fountain before but it leaked like crazy. She loves cups, and sticking her head in whatever my girlfriend and I are drinking (and then pulling stiffly away when she realizes it's rum and diet haha).
I was thinking of trying this again.
I didn't want to be a cat owner again. My last cat was lost in the woods, and I don't know what happened to him... I really don't have the money, and not a ton of time. But I spend good portion of it bonding with burgers. She's a great, well behaved cat and I have grown to love her.
If I have to take her in for a check up, I will. I am willing to do what I can, but I would like to rule out other things first.
so, issues:
1. very vocal in general from the beginning (is this even an issue? I like it)
2. very needy for affection (not a problem really, hoping there's not something under the surface)
3. peeing on shower mat, especially after someone taking a shower gets it wet - and btw, this has also happened when I was away, and someone was taking care of her occasionally (once a day) could it be stress related? Or depression related? Intensified lately, perhaps due to food change or cat pan change? What enzyme based things can i get to clean/prevent this in the future? she's also even torn up tile at times, but it used to be SO rare it didn't bother me, it would be a passing thing...
4. Obesity - I simply cannot have an outdoor cat here, which sucks, but I want to figure a way to get this one healthier. Good, effective playtoys, etc...?
here are some pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...0&l=5decf7317a
(anyone can view)
one day a few years ago, a scrawny cat got into my apartment building, climbed up 3 floors, and started meowing at my door.
I opened the door and let her in.
She could hardly meow, she was weak. I fed her some tuna and she started feeling better. I got some food and a cheap litter pan and went look look for her owner, she was really well behaved and I could swear she was lost, and had an owner.
I went everywhere in the apartment building (25 residences), and then put up signs, a craigslist, facebook post, myspace post (myspace was still going strong then! haha), and put an ad in the local paper...
no one has ever answered...
I noticed she was always scared of running out of food. She eats far too much, and I am desperately trying to feed her less, but she is very insistent and will wake you up at night to get more food. I got one of those compressed air things and i would blow it in her general direction, that would get her away from me, but I really hate doing that, as it seems like a very negative thing.
I am, of course, completely against hitting or spanking of any kind when an animal has a need. I have, in the past, struck a compromise with spraying water but I haven't had to do this with Burgers, and I really don't want to, because it seems to be a very negative thing... thoughts on that appreciated.
anyway, I am trying to feed her late at night to prevent her trying to wake us up....
Another interesting thing about her is that when she looks at me (which she seems to stare a lot) she raises one paw, she does this with either paw, so I don't think she's hurting...
The problem now is that she's really meowing a lot, and peeing on a mat in the bathroom.
Before I take her in for a check up (I really don't have any money for this, unless I know there's some imminent danger)
there are two things I've changed recently:
1. new cat pan, with cover and sifter (I routinely clean the litter box, every other day, at the least, before and after this) - this was about 2 months ago, didn't seem to be direct problems, but I wonder, even though it's a big one, if she can't fit properly in
2. new food for urinary tract health - I got this a few days ago, and the problem really got bad. I think i might have to go to another brand...
So I'd like to explore those options, also, one BIG problem is:
she drinks out of her bowl by scooping it up with her hands. I have to clean the bowl at least twice a day cause there's all sort of crap in it, hairs, dirt, etc... She LOOOOOOOOOVES water right out of the faucet. I got her a fountain before but it leaked like crazy. She loves cups, and sticking her head in whatever my girlfriend and I are drinking (and then pulling stiffly away when she realizes it's rum and diet haha).
I was thinking of trying this again.
I didn't want to be a cat owner again. My last cat was lost in the woods, and I don't know what happened to him... I really don't have the money, and not a ton of time. But I spend good portion of it bonding with burgers. She's a great, well behaved cat and I have grown to love her.
If I have to take her in for a check up, I will. I am willing to do what I can, but I would like to rule out other things first.
so, issues:
1. very vocal in general from the beginning (is this even an issue? I like it)
2. very needy for affection (not a problem really, hoping there's not something under the surface)
3. peeing on shower mat, especially after someone taking a shower gets it wet - and btw, this has also happened when I was away, and someone was taking care of her occasionally (once a day) could it be stress related? Or depression related? Intensified lately, perhaps due to food change or cat pan change? What enzyme based things can i get to clean/prevent this in the future? she's also even torn up tile at times, but it used to be SO rare it didn't bother me, it would be a passing thing...
4. Obesity - I simply cannot have an outdoor cat here, which sucks, but I want to figure a way to get this one healthier. Good, effective playtoys, etc...?
here are some pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...0&l=5decf7317a
(anyone can view)