Become a Patron!
We love cats
- Thread starter Whiskey
- Start date
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Since I'd never been able to have a cat before -- partly because of my bad allergy and partly because my mother hated them -- I didn't know ANYTHING about feline behavior when Tuxie came to us, so I checked out "The Cat Whisperer" from the library, so I'd know how to act with her, what to expect, etc. I guess it must be good advice, because we've never had any behavior issues with her, like pottying outside the box or spraying or shredding the furniture. Of course my husband is the REAL cat people around here; he spoils her rotten, keeps her box clean every day, basically lets her do anything she wants -- including bite him, when she's feeling rambunctious. I've gotten her pretty well trained not to bite me; I just say "hey now" and she stops at once, doesn't bear down, gives me a look, then a little lick, like "I was only playing, mom."
She *usually* won't even scratch me, but the other day, she was so terrified, I guess she just wanted DOWN, NOW, so she could go hide! 
Andria
The prowler has been out in the freezing rain. I don't know where he thinks he wants to go when its like this, its miserable out there. I saw him sitting on the back stairs where the eave of the roof hangs over. He came back chattering and a little annoyed. I had to dry him off with a towel.
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
When it rains, we just keep Tuxie in -- she does NOT like being wet, and isn't really too thrilled with wet feet either. So today was her 3rd or 4th day indoors. She sits at the sliding glass doors, surveying the backyard. Or on her perch in the garage, keeping an eye on the neighborhood thru the garage-door windows.
And it's good that we live in the south; I don't let her go out at all till it's at least 40 degrees outside, so I know she won't freeze. Cats can actually handle heat better than cold.
Andria
I have had cats most of my life, but I do have a mild allergy to them, especially when they are very young kittens. The sinus trouble and every little scratch when they are under a few months old causes quite the welts and itching. I don't know why that is, but it is. It has never stopped me from rescuing and even bottlefeeding and raising the occasional orphan.Since I'd never been able to have a cat before -- partly because of my bad allergy and partly because my mother hated them -- I didn't know ANYTHING about feline behavior when Tuxie came to us, so I checked out "The Cat Whisperer" from the library, so I'd know how to act with her, what to expect, etc. I guess it must be good advice, because we've never had any behavior issues with her, like pottying outside the box or spraying or shredding the furniture. Of course my husband is the REAL cat people around here; he spoils her rotten, keeps her box clean every day, basically lets her do anything she wants -- including bite him, when she's feeling rambunctious. I've gotten her pretty well trained not to bite me; I just say "hey now" and she stops at once, doesn't bear down, gives me a look, then a little lick, like "I was only playing, mom."
Andria
Many cats have what is called redirected aggression and when it is not that, they can not be comforted or restrained while frightened by other circumstances. They will use tooth and claw to escape. I hope it wasn't too bad.
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I figured out a while back that my own allergy is because of a detergent in their saliva -- there are several detergents I can't use at all, they give me a rash. When I learned that cats' saliva contains detergent, I was like: BINGO! I think kittens are worse because they're "double licked" -- their own instinct to lick and clean themselves is there, plus the mama cat licks them all over, to teach them, and help keep them clean. I've noticed the same thing, a much bigger problem with kittens than with adult cats. I was able to tolerate Tuxie as a 3-4 month old kitten because she had been abandoned, so no mama cat around to lick her, and also, we didn't have her inside till she was about 2 yrs old; I had to make sure the Zyrtec would really cover me with my allergy problem, because of how it can sometimes exacerbate my asthma. Allergy, in my own case, is simply discomfort; asthma, far worse.
Andria
ETA: I posted a pic of the scratch a page or two back... it wasn't bad, just surprising, since she's normally so good about not scratching me. But she just won't tolerate strangers in the house, AT ALL.
Yes, It is the dried saliva that supposedly causes irritation. I have also had irritation when they tried to nuzzle and suckle on me( no mom around but Smokey was allowed to lick and clean them when needed.
Zyrtec FTW! I use the generic form now, as all of my allergies I didn't know I had have returned since quitting the cigs. I was not allergic to cats as a child. Just since I was in my 30's, I guess. Didn't even notice anything until rescuing Smokey at 34.
Just be sure to let a cat hide when a stranger visits if possible. Also try not to pick up a cat when they are frightened unless they are in imminent danger of some kind, unless you know and can handle your cat very well. It can be disastrous. lol
Most of mine are cool with it, but then mine come running to me when I call out and ask who wants their nails clipped. :-O
Moustache!
Sorry, I miss one of the ferals that was run over a couple years ago and her name was Moustache.
So I especially love a moustache kitty.
Moustache 2 by Adrienne Siebert, on Flickr
I'm warning you.
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I just keep my face off her, which kinda sucks, I can't kiss her the way my husband does.
And I find it useful to wash my hands after petting her, though with the already-enormous amount my hands are wet, it's brought on some kind of weird eczema on my hands. I get my generic zyrtec at Dollar Tree -- $1 for 14 pills, can't beat it! I also get some generic regular "benadryl" type, which I'll take if the allergy is getting past the Zyrtec. I keep that on hand all the time because I (sometimes) enjoy gardening, working with my roses, and with existing asthma and many allergies, I'm very careful about beestings; I've been stung by actual bees about 4-5 times in my life, and so far it caused nothing but a bit of swelling to the stung part, but that might be just about enough sensitization to make bees really dangerous to me.There are only 3 things that will bring Tuxie running: the sound of her porcelain food bowl against the tile floor, the word "treat", and usually, when my husband gets home from work -- which also happens to be treat time.
Andria
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
That's Dupree? GORGEOUS!!! Tabbies are just so damn cute. I';m pretty sure that Tuxie's mama was a tuxedo cat we used to see a couple streets away from where we lived before, and I think the male must have been a tabby; Tuxie looks fully black in indoor light, but in direct sun, you can see that she actually has tabby markings, but black on black... my little miniature leopard in a tuxedo.
Andria
I love me some tabby! @VaporCatThat's Dupree? GORGEOUS!!! Tabbies are just so damn cute. I';m pretty sure that Tuxie's mama was a tuxedo cat we used to see a couple streets away from where we lived before, and I think the male must have been a tabby; Tuxie looks fully black in indoor light, but in direct sun, you can see that she actually has tabby markings, but black on black... my little miniature leopard in a tuxedo.
Andria
It is so lovely when they have the stripes on a solid coat! @AndriaD You could try and get a photo with the right light. The grey brother of my 3 younger cats had subtle striping. He was rehomed.
You might be able to see here:
http://bugadrienne.deviantart.com/gallery/48253974/Mr-Grey
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
View attachment 68579
With the forum acting so fucked up, I dunno if this one will show. I thought it was funny, and I like black cats, so... If it doesn't work, I'll try it again later.
Andria
With the forum acting so fucked up, I dunno if this one will show. I thought it was funny, and I like black cats, so... If it doesn't work, I'll try it again later.
Andria
Cant get enough of those torties, calicos rule. What are their names?I'm away on business for a week. I miss my kittehs. (And my husband too I guess a little bit)
Attachments
This one didn't post, can't edit.... maintenance stuff.
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Your lil girl doesn't mind the dangly thing on her collar? We tried to "bell the cat", a collar with a tiny bell on it, but it drove her INSANE; she went absolutely bonkers getting that thing off, didn't let up till the entire collar was off her.
That was when I had to start keeping her indoors till 10-11am, to hopefully spare the birds. Plain collars, she'll mostly tolerate, though she's lost a couple, and she lost her original rabies vaccine tag the first month she had it! Thankfully we do have the paperwork on file. Andria
Nope, not a tiny bit. When I got her, she was tiny and I nearly stepped on her numerous times, so I got a tiny bell for her. It made all the difference in the world! I still love the little sound of her scampering around. I got one for Bosco, too, wasn't quite sure how he'd react, since he's quite a bit older. He tore through the house, playing like a kitten. He really loved it. - strangest thing ever, LOL. Bosco got BLING! He doesn't wear it anymore, though. Had a couple instances where he's gotten a back claw stuck in it, and with his advanced age and brain thing going on, I just felt it was safer to remove it now.Your lil girl doesn't mind the dangly thing on her collar? We tried to "bell the cat", a collar with a tiny bell on it, but it drove her INSANE; she went absolutely bonkers getting that thing off, didn't let up till the entire collar was off her.
Andria
LOL, that was my house last night. I was sitting here, trying to type out a bunch of things. Dog lays her head on the keyboard, ends up adding a bunch of letters, then deleted a lot of stuff. She finally moves, then Bosco claws his way into my lap, walks along the keyboard, does the same thing. I was tired and grouchy, but the critters reminded me to put the keyboard down for a few minutes to love on the furries for a bit.
Critter therapy!
AndriaD
Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Yep... as independent and disdainful as all cats can be at times.. when I'm really sad, Tuxie seems to know it; she's still not a lap kitty, but she'll curl up right at my feet. If I cry, it seems to upset her too, and she'll go back and forth, back and forth, under my chair, and of course, petting a kitty is the "anti-weep" solution.
Andria
There ya go! That's a good one