Seeking help with microchip selective large Catflap

[sunshineclare]

Before I do here's mia with her poor little bandage on!! It's off now and all healed [emoji]128578[/emoji][emoji]128578[/emoji]

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• sunshineclare
• Feb 25, 2017

One more!! [emoji]128578[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128512[/emoji]

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• sunshineclare
• Feb 25, 2017

 

[sunshineclare]

They've got such huge paws!!! [emoji]128578[/emoji][emoji]128512[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️

 

[sunshineclare]

This is mojos father:

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• sunshineclare
• Feb 25, 2017

Sorry it's not a better photo, it's from the original reply to my email from the lady! I don't have a photo of his mum. The mum was around 18-24 months old, the lady was just setting herself up as a breeder and registering with all the places you register with.
His mum was registered and we have her certificate, the father she had just imported from the ukraine with an amazing history of champions - we saw the cert but didn't get a copy as she was going to get him registered in the uk and it takes around 6 months I think. He was only 9 months old and already the size in that photo!
So mojos litter was an accident, she hasn't thought he would be a dad that soon although looking at the Suse of him, lol, it's hardly surprising, he was an AMAZING cat, soooooo friendly, even friendlier than Mias dad [emoji]128578[/emoji][emoji]128578[/emoji] mojo was one of 7, the tiniest, he had a clean bill of health from the vet,

Oh and yes we had read about the cardio myopathy, both the people we got both kittens from told us they'd checked their cats and their history and were clear, we made sure to ask and verify that [emoji]128578[/emoji]

 

[sunshineclare]

Sorry for the typos my phone changes words! Mia has had her worming tablets - not working! And looking at the SIZE of mojos dad. Not Suse?!!

 

[sunshineclare]

All 7 of mojos litter were healthy, beautiful strong kittens [emoji]128578[/emoji] They all found lovely homes too [emoji]128578[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️ He's got an amazing, funny, intelligent personality! We've taught them both how to "shake paw"! We are working on a high 5!

 

[sunshineclare]

Here's one of mojo asleep a few days ago

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• sunshineclare
• Feb 25, 2017

He was born end of April 16 so around 10 months old. You can hopefully see he's loads smaller than his dad was at 9 months! I'll try to find a photo of Mia and mojo together so you can see the size difference!! Some angles they look similar and he's definitely catching up now! He actually weighs 4.5kg now so more than her, [emoji]128578[/emoji]

 

[sunshineclare]

Here's a cute one of them snuggling together! I'll look for a better size comparable!!

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• sunshineclare
• Feb 25, 2017

 

[sunshineclare]

This is a bit better [emoji]128578[/emoji]

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• sunshineclare
• Feb 25, 2017

 

[talkingpeanut]

They are very cute. Do you understand that they can't cohabitate if they are not spayed and neutered, though? They are not normal pets if they are intact.

 

[Kieka]

Hi guys,
Hoping you can help. We have 3 cats. 2 are Maine coon kittens so likely to grow large. All 3 are microchipped.

We'd like to get Catflap that only lets our microchipped 3 in or out. We especially liked this one:
https://fetch.co.uk/sureflap-dualscan-microchip-cat-flap-296472011 As you can keep some in and let others out at the same time.

Only problem is the actual flap part is really small.

Does anyone know of a Catflap maybe in the USA that does the above but with a larger flap? Thank you if you can help! Xx

I had the dual scan Cat flap. Hated it. It worked well for my regular sized male. But my large boy, Link, is a tall leggy 13 pound cat and he hated it. It was really hard for him to fit through. He could and did but he would have to really work at it as he grew larger (we got it when he was a kitten). And that is not to mention that it ate batteries like they were candy.

We switched to the Pet Door and soooo much happier. I haven't changed the batteries in 6 months. In fact I had to take it apart to clean the locking mechanism from dirt build up and the batteries aren't even half. I love love love the curfew mode where it auto locks to keep the cats in at night. We have a serious raccoon problem and they haven't been able to break through the pet door.

Best of all Link loves the size of the pet door.

Buy directly from the sure flap company because the price isn't much different and their customer service is amazing. My catdoor malfunctioned at one point and they shipped me a new one for free. They have also sent me testing strips when it was malfunctioning. Just amazing. Should note all the problems were with the cat door. The pet door hasn't had any other than the latches not locking due to dirt but that was a simple pop the faceplate and clean thing.

 

[sunshineclare]

To be honest it's never been an issue talkingpeanut. They play and sleep together and are just like normal cats. Now they are getting older and are of the age where I guess Mia could become pregnant I guess we will have to take that decision soon. We have tried to be mindful in that we don't let them out since mia had her first heat, and are with them a lot. Her last heat - her 2nd - was the end of Jan. Her first was just after the new year. So I guess she is due another one now Ish. She's shown no signs of being on heat yet. There's a chance she could be pregnant from the end of Jan, we told the vet this when she was checked up for her foot and they gave her different antibiotics accordingly. She has to go back to the vet this coming Monday for her final foot check up, she had an abcess poor girl, it's healed amazingly, so I'll ask the vet to check again. I'll discuss with my partner. I do appreciate the advice and you taking the time to reply.
As already mentioned we did already try to find my boyfriends mum a rescue cat and ourselves too. I've previously adopted rescue cats. Clearly there are many more rescue centres. I was shocked to read battersea cats and dogs home puts to sleep many healthy animals.

 

[sunshineclare]

I had the dual scan Cat flap. Hated it. It worked well for my regular sized male. But my large boy, Link, is a tall leggy 13 pound cat and he hated it. It was really hard for him to fit through. He could and did but he would have to really work at it as he grew larger (we got it when he was a kitten). And that is not to mention that it ate batteries like they were candy.

We switched to the Pet Door and soooo much happier. I haven't changed the batteries in 6 months. In fact I had to take it apart to clean the locking mechanism from dirt build up and the batteries aren't even half. I love love love the curfew mode where it auto locks to keep the cats in at night. We have a serious raccoon problem and they haven't been able to break through the pet door.

Best of all Link loves the size of the pet door.

Buy directly from the sure flap company because the price isn't much different and their customer service is amazing. My catdoor malfunctioned at one point and they shipped me a new one for free. They have also sent me testing strips when it was malfunctioning. Just amazing. Should note all the problems were with the cat door. The pet door hasn't had any other than the latches not locking due to dirt but that was a simple pop the faceplate and clean thing.

Hi Kieka,

Thanks for this! [emoji]128578[/emoji] The thing with the pet door is you have to have the same settings and times for all cats. The size is excellent [emoji]128578[/emoji]
I looked at small dog ones but all the ones I saw were too large! Or you needed the microchip thing on a collar rather than implanted. Our 3 cats don't wear collars.

Really good to know about the battery issue, that's annoying! Would love the pet door to have selective entry for each cat.

Maybe we will just get the pet door and figure it out. It's better than what we have now!!

 

[sunshineclare]

We did consider being foster carers for cat rescue centres! I love that idea!! Especially for pregnant cats or and cats with kittens! If theres not another huge waiting list I could do that. I'll call up and ask our closest one and see [emoji]128578[/emoji] I just get attached to cats very easily so I could only imagine how hard it would be raising kittens and then sending them away to their forever homes even if I knew they'd have a wonderful new home!! Still, it would be so rewarding and reading others posts here like ashade1 and rescue people, I guess you would always have other cats and kittens needing you! When I used to volunteer at the cats protection place I lasted a massive 3 weeks before I adopted 2 cats! They had a policy of if the cats are brought in together they must be rehomed together!
talkingpeanut

 

[sunshineclare]

talkingpeanut

What advice can you give potential foster carers about not passing on any infections from cats and kittens being fostered onto your permanent cats? And how do you deal with socialising the cats? Assume ours would be neutered if we did this obviously lol! What if you have to foster a cat that's viscous or scared? Our kittens know nothing but love and peace and mojo catching a fair few mice, lol?!

Might you have time to reply to my questions about Mias weight and diet? I know this thread is all over the place now, lol and well off topic!! Really appreciate your replies! [emoji]128578[/emoji]

 

[sunshineclare]

Oh and to add we don't really have much space to have separate areas for multiple cats. There's 3 rooms. All quite full of stuff!!

 

[talkingpeanut]

We did consider being foster carers for cat rescue centres! I love that idea!! Especially for pregnant cats or and cats with kittens! If theres not another huge waiting list I could do that. I'll call up and ask our closest one and see [emoji]128578[/emoji] I just get attached to cats very easily so I could only imagine how hard it would be raising kittens and then sending them away to their forever homes even if I knew they'd have a wonderful new home!! Still, it would be so rewarding and reading others posts here like ashade1 and rescue people, I guess you would always have other cats and kittens needing you! When I used to volunteer at the cats protection place I lasted a massive 3 weeks before I adopted 2 cats! They had a policy of if the cats are brought in together they must be rehomed together!
@talkingpeanut

I would highly, highly recommend that you do this before breeding your own cats.  

It sounds to me like you are in a position where you would like to breed your cats, but the timing is not right.  You are not prepared to separate them, and they can no longer be together.  She is too young to get pregnant and you cannot rely on her cycles alone.  They may not be regular, and you may not know at all. 

You can always breed at a later point if that's something that you choose to explore, but you are not set up to breed your current cats.  Don't rush it.  It's a huge commitment.  Do your research and foster some pregnant cats in need.  Maybe one of those kittens or one of the moms could go to your mother in law.

Spay and neuter the cats you have and let them be your beloved pets, living together happily and safely.

 

[talkingpeanut]

@talkingpeanut

What advice can you give potential foster carers about not passing on any infections from cats and kittens being fostered onto your permanent cats? And how do you deal with socialising the cats? Assume ours would be neutered if we did this obviously lol! What if you have to foster a cat that's viscous or scared? Our kittens know nothing but love and peace and mojo catching a fair few mice, lol?!

Might you have time to reply to my questions about Mias weight and diet? I know this thread is all over the place now, lol and well off topic!! Really appreciate your replies! [emoji]128578[/emoji]

If you foster a pregnant mom, she will definitely need her own space.  Some moms do get aggressive towards other animals when they are close to delivering, and would need privacy until the kittens are about 3 weeks old at least.  Do you have a space that you could clear out?  Once everyone is vetted and settled, you can do some introductions.  It's a process.

I will also add that if Mia is timid, she may not be a suitable candidate for mating and breeding from.  It's distressing and painful for mom.

Sorry, what is your question about Mia's diet?

 

[talkingpeanut]

Oh and to add we don't really have much space to have separate areas for multiple cats. There's 3 rooms. All quite full of stuff!!

So what do you plan to do to keep your intact male away from Mia?

 

[sunshineclare]

Hi talking peanut, 

So I'll try to answer all those questions at once! Rather than quoting each of your replies quoting me, it gets too long. I'm on my laptop not phone this time so should be easier.

So, about Mia's diet - I wrote a separate post about in on page 1 towards the lower part. But I copied it and added some info and made a new thread here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/335015/advice-on-feeding-a-1-year-old-female-maine-coon#post_4217567 if you are able to reply or anyone else that would be great.

About fostering - as I said in London everything is oversubscribed. We tried to offer to help the local animal home to walk their rescue dogs and there was a HUGE waiting list. Even to muck out the kennels there was a waiting list, lol! 

About Mia and Mojo - cats could be contained in each of our 3 rooms without moving too much stuff. The bedroom would be the worst as they could easily hide under the bed. But if Mia and Mojo did have kittens I was thinking to contain Mia with kittens in either of the other 2 rooms and make her a nest, or we could block off under the bed somehow if it was best for her to be in the bedroom. They sleep with us in the bedroom but normally under it or to the side of the bed and then they jump on it in the morning when they think it's breakfast time! If we don't get up they will snuggle with us - or play!!

I just raised some questions if we were to go down the fostering even more cats route - especially pregnant mums - yes we could contain them in one of our rooms - I'm in the middle of sorting a lot of the stuff out anyway! The catflap is in the kitchen which is too small a room to contain cats and kittens anyway - just seems it would be a bit mad with even more cats - 3 is a lot already! The ones we have get along brilliantly together, but Angel the older one can be a bit territorial and very protective of his food!!  No matter how much is out for everyone! 

So I guess my only worry is what if we got a cat who was very scared, or angry, aggressive etc - wouldn't they be better off going to homes without any other cats already? Whenever I see the rescue centre listings, they always say things like "xxx was having a bit of a hard time here with all the noise etc, so they are currently in a foster home if you want to meet them"

What do you think about that? I guess if we said we ONLY could foster pregnant mama cats they will be more chilled and happier to be confined in one room? I'll ask this coming week anyway, if you have any thoughts or advice on this I'd be happy to hear it. I do really appreciate your advice and experience, as I do everyone else on here.

Regarding Mia and Mojo being together in the flat - I hear what you are saying. I have taken it on board, I'm back home tomorrow as I came 5 hrs from London to see my parents for my mum's birthday this weekend. I'll discuss it with my partner and see what he says. I'm sure he will concur, this might sound lame, but it's true - honestly the cats are SO chilled and happy together, we really haven't thought we needed to worry about anything. When Mia first was on heat, we were more curious than anything.

We had read that it was a horrible thing for cats to go through, and the last thing we want is to put our beautiful girl through anything horrible. She slept most of the time. We had watched some youtube videos about them putting their bum in the air and making different noises. We LOVE the little chirrups our Maine Coons make - for all things - it's so unusual and cute - she was just doing that, she would purr if we stroked her, she would cuddle, she was still cuddling with Mojo - he did try to get on top of her and do the deed, and we were watching just to see what happened and as I said he wasn't long enough, and they were more playing around than seriously trying - whenever we went out we shut them in separate rooms and then when we were home we let them in together and they didn't rush together or anything.

The second time she came on heat it was a lot less intense, maybe because it's cold outside and we read they don't usually come on heat until spring time. Yes, I absolutely hear you about they can come on heat and get pregnant anytime at all - we just don't see her doing ANYTHING much yet to make this happen. Again most of the second time she was asleep, mostly on her own and Mojo wasn't too persistent - he is just so sweet and seems to be learning what to do slowly but isn't there yet. They spend so much time cuddling and licking each other they are like a sweet little in love couple!! LOL, Sorry I know we shouldn't humanise cats but we can't help it as they are so super cute together!! 

She was more bothered about going outside when she had her little bandage on her foot than she was when she was on heat! I know, things change as they get older, and the older they get the more likely she is to get pregnant - I'll talk it over with my partner and vet on Monday and we will make a decision ASAP. As I said we are home a lot and it's very easy to keep them separated when we are out if needs be. They don't like it as they love playing together and snuggling together, I take your point though.

:-)

 

[talkingpeanut]

Hi talking peanut, 

So I'll try to answer all those questions at once! Rather than quoting each of your replies quoting me, it gets too long. I'm on my laptop not phone this time so should be easier.

So, about Mia's diet - I wrote a separate post about in on page 1 towards the lower part. But I copied it and added some info and made a new thread here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/335015/advice-on-feeding-a-1-year-old-female-maine-coon#post_4217567 if you are able to reply or anyone else that would be great.

About fostering - as I said in London everything is oversubscribed. We tried to offer to help the local animal home to walk their rescue dogs and there was a HUGE waiting list. Even to muck out the kennels there was a waiting list, lol! 

About Mia and Mojo - cats could be contained in each of our 3 rooms without moving too much stuff. The bedroom would be the worst as they could easily hide under the bed. But if Mia and Mojo did have kittens I was thinking to contain Mia with kittens in either of the other 2 rooms and make her a nest, or we could block off under the bed somehow if it was best for her to be in the bedroom. They sleep with us in the bedroom but normally under it or to the side of the bed and then they jump on it in the morning when they think it's breakfast time! If we don't get up they will snuggle with us - or play!!

I just raised some questions if we were to go down the fostering even more cats route - especially pregnant mums - yes we could contain them in one of our rooms - I'm in the middle of sorting a lot of the stuff out anyway! The catflap is in the kitchen which is too small a room to contain cats and kittens anyway - just seems it would be a bit mad with even more cats - 3 is a lot already! The ones we have get along brilliantly together, but Angel the older one can be a bit territorial and very protective of his food!!  No matter how much is out for everyone! 

So I guess my only worry is what if we got a cat who was very scared, or angry, aggressive etc - wouldn't they be better off going to homes without any other cats already? Whenever I see the rescue centre listings, they always say things like "xxx was having a bit of a hard time here with all the noise etc, so they are currently in a foster home if you want to meet them"

What do you think about that? I guess if we said we ONLY could foster pregnant mama cats they will be more chilled and happier to be confined in one room? I'll ask this coming week anyway, if you have any thoughts or advice on this I'd be happy to hear it. I do really appreciate your advice and experience, as I do everyone else on here.

Regarding Mia and Mojo being together in the flat - I hear what you are saying. I have taken it on board, I'm back home tomorrow as I came 5 hrs from London to see my parents for my mum's birthday this weekend. I'll discuss it with my partner and see what he says. I'm sure he will concur, this might sound lame, but it's true - honestly the cats are SO chilled and happy together, we really haven't thought we needed to worry about anything. When Mia first was on heat, we were more curious than anything.

We had read that it was a horrible thing for cats to go through, and the last thing we want is to put our beautiful girl through anything horrible. She slept most of the time. We had watched some youtube videos about them putting their bum in the air and making different noises. We LOVE the little chirrups our Maine Coons make - for all things - it's so unusual and cute - she was just doing that, she would purr if we stroked her, she would cuddle, she was still cuddling with Mojo - he did try to get on top of her and do the deed, and we were watching just to see what happened and as I said he wasn't long enough, and they were more playing around than seriously trying - whenever we went out we shut them in separate rooms and then when we were home we let them in together and they didn't rush together or anything.

The second time she came on heat it was a lot less intense, maybe because it's cold outside and we read they don't usually come on heat until spring time. Yes, I absolutely hear you about they can come on heat and get pregnant anytime at all - we just don't see her doing ANYTHING much yet to make this happen. Again most of the second time she was asleep, mostly on her own and Mojo wasn't too persistent - he is just so sweet and seems to be learning what to do slowly but isn't there yet. They spend so much time cuddling and licking each other they are like a sweet little in love couple!! LOL, Sorry I know we shouldn't humanise cats but we can't help it as they are so super cute together!! 

She was more bothered about going outside when she had her little bandage on her foot than she was when she was on heat! I know, things change as they get older, and the older they get the more likely she is to get pregnant - I'll talk it over with my partner and vet on Monday and we will make a decision ASAP. As I said we are home a lot and it's very easy to keep them separated when we are out if needs be. They don't like it as they love playing together and snuggling together, I take your point though.

:-)

I commented on your other thread. From what you are saying about Mia's body type, she is clearly not fully grown at all. I'm sure you can see that allowing her to get pregnant now would be a large issue.

As to fostering, yes, make yourself clear about not being able to take on an aggressive cat. If you make it clear that you have a multicat home and can only take a cat who would be happy in its own room, like a mom, or a cat who could mingle, it will be respected.

I believe heats can get worse as they get older. It's not comfortable for them, in any case. The biggest risk in my mind is that every heat makes reproductive cancer more likely, and there is always the risk of pyometria.

And, again, I just think it's too risky to trust that you'd see it. They have both exhibited sexual behavior.