Cat Chat 2

[fluffycat6]

We bought orijen 6 fish kibble for the cats and of course Max won't eat it. He won't eat anything unless it's unhealthy Even when we mixed it in with the old food he wouldn't eat it and now Skittles won't eat it either, at least Patches and Ruby like it. Any advice on how to get them to eat healthy food?

More often than not, it seems like cats prefer less healthy cat food a) because it's what they're used to, or b) because the less healthy food simply smells/tastes better. It could also just be that some of your cats don't like that particular flavor of food for one reason or another. I would recommend trying to find a different flavor of food and see if that has anymore success.
Alternatively, if your cats like wet food, you could try mixing some of that in with their kibble and that might spark their appetite.

Thanks for the help. It isn't really a big deal that he doesn't like it that much because they eat mostly wet food, we just feed them some dry at night so they don't wake us up too early in the morning haha. I think it was just getting used to it because after a few days he started eating it, just doesn't like it that much. We bought a new brand to mix in with the other food and they really like it.

Anyways, I think that fights with Patches have decreased, but they are definitely still there (my other cats pick on my shy cat, Patches). I think what helped the most was when Patches was sleeping in this big cat bed we have, and Ruby jumped up and Patches kept hissing at her even though Ruby just wanted to sleep. I pet them her for 20 minutes before she settled down, and I guess she figured out that it was ok for Ruby to sleep near her because now I see them both in the bed together a lot. At opposite ends of it, but it's still progress .

[Nyxeva]

I tried the Six fish blend with my cats, who all reliably eat Orijen Regional Red, and they didn't like it. You could try a different flavor of the Orijen to see if the problem is the fish.

My cats really like the Regional Red formula, and they're doing really well on it. Fish flavored foods make them all a tad greasy, I've noticed.

[fluffycat6]

I tried the Six fish blend with my cats, who all reliably eat Orijen Regional Red, and they didn't like it. You could try a different flavor of the Orijen to see if the problem is the fish.

My cats really like the Regional Red formula, and they're doing really well on it. Fish flavored foods make them all a tad greasy, I've noticed.

Thanks, i'll definitely try some other flavours.

[ChompGod]

;; Recently we got a new cat and no one wants her. We really need her gone, but my mom refuses to send her to the pound (as do I). Anyone have any advice? She's constantly beating up my other /really/ old 6 year cat that has a limp and a ripped ear because of her! I just don't know what to do... I'm really getting worried that she may chase off my old cat and that he'll never come back. He was missing for three days. He just showed up last night.

[Sixx O'Clock]

;; Recently we got a new cat and no one wants her. We really need her gone, but my mom refuses to send her to the pound (as do I). Anyone have any advice? She's constantly beating up my other /really/ old 6 year cat that has a limp and a ripped ear because of her! I just don't know what to do... I'm really getting worried that she may chase off my old cat and that he'll never come back. He was missing for three days. He just showed up last night.

Honestly, I would recommend you try to find a foster for the cat. It sounds like she has temperament issues and will need special care. Ask your local shelters or animal control facility if they know of any fosters willing to take in a cat with temperament issues. She sounds like the kind of cat that would only be happy if she's the only cat in the house.

In the mean time, keep the two cats separate. Keep them in different rooms or areas of the house, where they can't come in contact with each other. And definitely try to get your older cat to a vet whenever possible.

[ru.]

I got more photos from the foster mom of the litter of kittens that I will likely adopt a male from!


{Family Photo, haha}






The two darker ones and two flame points are male, and the black tabby & one of the flame points is female.

What do you guys think of the darker males' markings? Are you guys still think they might be seal/seal point/seal bicolor. I know that one of them has white feet.

What do you guys think?

[woospuss]

Ruff gave me a bit of a scare this evening... Noticed one of his front paws was quite swollen, walking on his toes and painful when i touched it, plus he was bowing his leg when he stood.... Of course I think the worse that he has possibly fractured a bone. So I dose him up on some pain meds I have from a past limp he had. Thankfully when I manage to get a proper look after the meds kicked in, he has a cut/hole on the side of his foot with red all around it, most likely infection. Gave it a good clean out with antiseptic.

Looks like he will be making a trip to work with me tomorrow for one of the vets to clip, clean and bandage it, and a dose of antibiotics! Still not sure if its just that wound, since his whole foot is swollen but I hope thats all it is!!

[ChompGod]

;; Recently we got a new cat and no one wants her. We really need her gone, but my mom refuses to send her to the pound (as do I). Anyone have any advice? She's constantly beating up my other /really/ old 6 year cat that has a limp and a ripped ear because of her! I just don't know what to do... I'm really getting worried that she may chase off my old cat and that he'll never come back. He was missing for three days. He just showed up last night.

Honestly, I would recommend you try to find a foster for the cat. It sounds like she has temperament issues and will need special care. Ask your local shelters or animal control facility if they know of any fosters willing to take in a cat with temperament issues. She sounds like the kind of cat that would only be happy if she's the only cat in the house.

In the mean time, keep the two cats separate. Keep them in different rooms or areas of the house, where they can't come in contact with each other. And definitely try to get your older cat to a vet whenever possible.

If it doesn't get better I may take him. He's terrified of the crate and cars. Last time I tied putting him in one, he gave me a pretty deep scratch. We're also very low on money right now... I do think she has temperament issues. I was petting her the other day and she seemed to like it (her tail was up and her ears were forward- like a cat that wanted to be pet) but she just got mad at me >.> Another thing I forgot to mention was that she was a starving stray when she came up to our porch. But she was still really friendly, so out of pity we fed and kept her. We've been trying to find her a good owner but no one wants her. Thank you for the advice! I'll do my best.

[Rachley]

@Rudy - Yes, I agree on finding someone to foster her. I also have some ideas why she could be acting out. There are a number of reasons why cats are very different than dogs, and they need to be treated differently than dogs. On the other hand, you could do everything correctly and the cat could have an underlying health problem or trauma, causing her to lash out.

Did you introduce the two cats properly? Keeping the new cat in a separate room for a week is important. If not, you can always re-introduce them. First introduce their scents, then they eat on either side of the door, then play at a distance, and introducing them by sight is last. This process could take up to a few months if you have cats that hate each other. But I think it's important for both cats that they're kept separate, so no one gets further injured.

Another thing, cats can easily be overstimulated. But you've already mentioned her body language seemed happy when you were petting her, so it can be difficult. My cat does this, too, so I really have to look at his face for clues on when to stop petting him. Sometimes he doesn't seem to give any, so I can see where it gets difficult.

I personally have a fearful cat that's easily overstimulated, and used to get scratched constantly when I was younger. But once I stopped picking him up unnecessarily, as well as being careful not to touch him when he's playing or focused on anything, I noticed a huge improvement (playtime for at least 15 minutes is important for indoor cats, too). I never get scratched and he's a much happier cat. He's 8, so the equivalent to 50 human years. Still young. :) But it was such a small change with huge results.

But it sounds like neither cat is happy, so I think it's important to separate them, and maybe find someone to foster her. :P

Edit: I almost forgot! Spaying/neutering cats is another important way to stop aggression, among other things.
I also want to mention that I think it's amazing how you fed her, took her in, and want to find her a good home. Thank you so much for doing that! <3

[Thalassic]

I've found that neutering my little guy hasn't really stopped their fights. Though they seem to be caused by the little one being a butthole and attacking the elderly ones back legs from behind. And at some point the old dude just won't stand for that anymore and catches him and they fight.