Like, how off topic? But anyway, some of you may remember that I got some birds a couple of years back. Since then, I've also taken on some rats, and now that we've moved house so that there is a safe room for my vulnerable pets, I've agreed that my husband can have the cats he's wanted for years. I have precious little experience of cats, and these cats have to be house cats. I think they're between 6 months and 1 year old, there are three of them, and they are arriving tomorrow. I've been shopping like a crazy person for them, and will be shopping a bit more today because apparently you can never have enough litter trays and scratching posts. Lots of you guys have cats, right? Advise me, please! Just try not to put me off

Wow, you are getting a lot of cats all at the same time. Makes me think you were depriving your DH and he may be going a little over board. I have heard you should have one litter tray for each cat plus one more, but in my house I only have the one for my two cats and they do fine with it. I do have to clean it out more often than I would like but then they probably should be cleaned once a day anyways. As for toys .... I tend to introduce those as I get to know the cats personalities. I have one who will ONLY play with a "ball" of paper. My other one loves to play with the toy mice I bought, but will also play with the practice golf balls I have. Scratching posts .... I have two that are torn apart about every 6 months and then I have to replace the carpeting, (or rope). My parents and brother have a scratching post for their cats and they are not used at all. Cats can be fickle creatures. I hope this helps Meridian. Enjoy your new additions.

I have a zoo: --12 hedgehogs --9 cats --7 axolotls (they're adorable, look them up!) --4 turtles --120 gal. tank of tropical fish For the most part, cats will do their own thing. Make sure they have their own food bowls (and two water bowls, in opposite ends of the house, or upstairs and down, cats have a tendency to never drink enough water, which, in neutered males, can cause feline urinary tract disease--one of my males has this). Feed a high quality food that has a Guaranteed Analysis, and has ingredients like Chicken Meat, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, etc. Dry food is the most important part of a cat's diet, only add a bit of wet canned food to impart a bit more flavor and moisture into their diet. Cats don't like to chew, so make sure the kibble size is relatively small so they only have to bite once before swallowing. Always make changes in diet slow, over a few days, to avoid upset tummies! Cats spend 18 hours a day sleeping, and they will decide for themselves where they want to sleep. They tend to change where they sleep with each season. Some cats are heat-seekers and will sleep wherever it's warm, some like to sleep near windows, others on beds or sofas (I have one male who prefers to sleep at the foot of my bed, under the blanket). My bed can get pretty crowded, with as many as 5-6 of 9 sleeping on it. (Ever wondered why Egyptians look so funny and angular in their artwork? They worshipped cats. They had to sleep with them. I look just like that--contorted beyond belief). If they do something they're not supposed to, fill an atomizer/spray bottle (like you use to mist plants) with water, turn it to jet stream, and squirt them with the water and a sternly say "No!" I've yet to have a cat not respond to this, and it's a harmless form of discipline. After 6 months, cats respond to the scent of catnip. The scent will drive them temporarily batty, then send them into sleep. If they ingest catnip, it's like they're smoking marijuana--they'll play a bit, then get the munchies, then sleep. Have a couple toys stuffed with catnip (preferably cloth ones, because they'll gnaw and lick the cloth), and buy some organically grown catnip and KEEP IT HIDDEN! Rub the nip onto beds, cat scratchers, cat furniture, etc. to make it more enticing. A cat will rub their cheeks onto items covered in catnip, and scent glands in their cheeks will mark that territory as theirs. It will help them settle in because they'll be marking the area, and when they return to it, they'll be familiar with the scent. As for toys, cats will play with what they want to play with (translation: they will ignore all toys bought for them and play with your shoelaces, and other things they're not supposed to have). Some cats are clever at opening cupboard doors, so make sure they're secure so they don't get into the trash, harmful chemicals in the kitchen or bathroom, etc. Until they get used to the place, it's best to keep doors shut to rooms you don't often used, then introduce those rooms over time (helps lower stress and prevents them from hiding away). Put a couple socks you have already worn on the floor for them to sniff at, just to get used to your scent (this is also a good tip for when they have to go visit the vet--a used sock in a carrier will remind them that you are still there). For the most part, let them wander around by themselves. You can show them the food area, the water, and the litterbox, then back away and let them go. It's best if they don't know you're watching them--cats prefer to explore on their own in private. You'll find they have very strong, unique personalities. I can tell exactly which cat is meowing down the hall just by the way it meows, and I know their hisses and purrs. They really are people in fursuits, in my mind (my mind is a bit strange, though). The first week is always the worse, but I find the more cats you have, the faster they get settled in (cats are social animals, they'll work out an heirarchy on their own). I could keep going (see what happens when you have pets not children?), but this should be good for now! If you have any questions, just give a shout. I loves kittehs! Katse

I thought I had managed to talk him down to 2, but when the RSPCA people were here he asked for 3 so 3 we are getting. I don't dislike cats, but I've never lived with any before. I only bought our new sofas in October and I don't want them scratched to bits. I'm sure that I haven't bought enough stuff for them yet, whereas he's sure that I've bought too much. I've only got 1 litter tray and I know they need more than that. I don't even know if the carrier I've bought is big enough for 2 cats, so don't know whether I need to get a 2nd bigger one or not, given that I'm hoping they'll accept the carriers as beds. All this for creatures that might spend the next 3 months hiding under the sofas! I'm stressing a bit.

Thanks Katse, you posted while I was typing I've got one squirter for bird discipline, I shall have to get some more of that type for cat discipline. The pet shop persuaded me to buy Royal Canin dry food for them, after showing me the ingredients on other cat foods. I was amazed that one of the leading brands of wet food here has an actual meat content of only 4% of 4% of the whole volume of the packet! Presumably the rest is reclaimed meat and squelchy bits. They opened a tin of the cat food they give to their cats, which was clearly just full of flakes of tuna with little bits of squid in it, rather than an amorphous mass of lumpy bits. So, they're going to be spoiled foodwise. They've got a rather nice looking pouch of chicken and ostrich meat as well. I can't remember if I bought catnip yet - I know I bought some little fabric mice with catnip in but they've got bags with catnip treats and all sorts. If that keeps their claws off my sofas, I shall be happy Fact is, I shall probably be delighted with them when they're here and settled, but I'm just dreading all the mischief they could be getting into when nobody's keeping an eye on them, and being woken up all night by them. I love my sleep.

You cannot keep a cat in a house. Unless you want it wrecked. Cats are very destructive, they need lots of places to tear up that doesnt matter. never collar a cat, even if its a safety collar, cats still get them caught up. Dont let a cat have too many treats otherwise they will demand them all the time. Cats are born food faddists get disinfectant for use on scratches Kiss your sofa goodbye

That's really not what I wanted to hear, Tengu. It is my greatest dread that you are correct, and it's part of why I'm stressing so badly about this.

My cats are "indoor" cats. They do go out occasionally in the summer when the temperature is nice but most of the time they are indoors. As for my furniture, that has been fine no scratches anyways. They problem is with the cat hair. What is suffering in my house is the carpeting on the stairs. Even with two scratching posts my two lovelies like to try and pull the carpeting off the stairs. I can't tell you how many times I have had to get the staple gun out and reattach the carpeting to the stairs. Sometimes I wonder if the cats are trying to get their revenge by making me trip down the stairs and kill me.

Im correct, dont worry. There are lots of other ghastly things I dont dare tell you about. but cats are great fun, Id have another one if I had the time

My 9 are all indoor cats, and we built little L-shaped cat scratchers that fit up against the arms of the sofa. They're covered in carpet so they have something to scratch. Cats like to scratch vertically--they want to stretch upward, so the scratcher needs to be tall, like a tree trunk (which is what a good scratcher should mimic). Royal Canin food is great! Even my hedgehogs eat that (and one of them is addicted to the Baby Cat food). Defnitely don't feed them cat treats, or any food you eat. It can cause kidney problems, and cat treats can turn them off their food. I don't feed my cats any treats at all. One of my cats has a bit of a digestive problem, so every night he has a tablespoon of yogurt, but he's the exception. Cats are excellent beggars, but you must presevere! They won't wake you up--they have each other to keep them company. They're nocturnal so nighttime is when they're going to want to do the most exploring. One of the smartest things you can do is put a large ledge on a window or two, so they can sit down and look out the window. I have two very large sills at two of my windows, and my cats spend a ton of time there. They love watching the birds, the snow, the cars, the neighbors--they're so nosy! Cats that are both indoor and outdoor cats tend to be more destructive, because when they want to go out, they'll start to destroy items out of boredom because they feel "trapped" inside. Three of my cats were outdoor cats before they came here, and they adapted well to being only indoors, when they realized they had friends inside, windows to keep an eye on the outside, and lots of food. You'll definitely have to post pics! Katse

I have three indoor cats aged between 5 and 6 and my sofas and carpets are fine. So there is hope!

Don`t worry, cats are amazing pets, I have 5 years old indoor one . The only one problem was when he was younger and liked to romp and mew while I slept. But as much as I know cats they are all different as people. My cat eats "Hills" but "Royal Canin" is also good.

the only thing I look for in Cat food is as low a ash content as possible. I gather the ash and (I think it is magnesium) lead to urinary problems in male cats. Or so I have been told.

My cats will bother me when it's time for their breakfast. They have a scratching post, so the furniture is fine. One (Neko) is still a kitten, so she likes to nose around and explore a lot. Every once in a while, Malkin (the elder) has to school Neko.

I have cats and rats

Cats are wonderful pets. But then, I am merely a cat toy, so am ever so slightly biased. You will discover that they will have very distinct personalities - and then you are about to discover the kitty "look". It can range from a look of mild amusement, to complete and utter disgust. You, their humans, will be expected to KNOW what they want and provide it in a timely manner. Not only that, you have the Cat Item of the Day (sort of like Mecha Captain of the Day - but better dressed and more likely to succeed...). Sometimes the item will last for a couple of weeks - sometimes it will only be a day. You will be expected to recognise this item and not move or interfere with it at all - until kitty is bored with it. Basically - think Evil Willow in the Buffy episode and her phrase "Bored now" and you have a kitty. That said, they are wonderful loving furry hot water bottles. Prepare to be assimilated!

Do they still do that `pawsense` programme?

I've got one cat, and he's too elderly (19) to cause much trouble now. In his younger days, he never tried to claw furniture. The only inappropriate things I can recall him ever clawing were door frames (his way of saying "Let me outside!" when he was impatient). My sister, however, has four cats, all under the age of 5 and all indoors-only. Three of hers are well behaved, but one of them is bad. The "bad" cat is the one she keeps finding on counters and tables (being sprayed with water doesn't keep him from jumping back up once her back is turned), he's the one who tries to dash between her feet when she's coming in so he can escape outside, he's the one who actively tries to get inside her aquarium to catch the fish etc. It's just his innate personality. With any luck, your three, Meridian, will be good cats, or mostly good! For numbers of litter trays, I've frequently heard the rule "One for each cat, plus one," which would mean you should have four of them.

Yes, thats one thing about cats. Punish them for something, and they then know never to do that something where you will see them do it.

Don't be confused about their facial expressions (what they have of them). A contented cat will often close (or nearly close) its eyes. That disapproving expression is actually happiness. They like to squeeze into boxes and other spaces, and will even play with bags of various sorts (so careful with the plastic). My Malkin gets into the garbage bags when I decide to shovel out the apartment. I think she's curious about the whole process. And they WILL want to get on your computer keyboard. 'Pawsense'(if it's still around) may be your best defense. That program will notify you if it detects 'catlike typing.'

As I type now, I have a cat laying in front of the monitor, soaking up the heat from the LCD display. She's a calico, and in my experience, they're a bit touched. My two youngest went to the vet today and were given clean bills of health! Yuri, though only 2, has the urinary tract disease, so we had to put him on medicated wet food and high quality dry food. He's lost weight (a big factor in urinary tract problems) and he's had no problems since it was first diagnosed in September, when he had crystals in his urine (poor thing). Our vet was very impressed, because getting a cat to lose weight has to be a slow process, because the fat has to come off very slowly (or they'll suffer liver failure), and be replaced with muscle mass. They're orange tabbies, and last March we adopted a tailless burnt orange male a year or two older than them. The three of them are always together--I call them my "ginger men". Males tend to be more affectionate and lazier than females, and they tend to want to be around each other so they can bother each other. My females come to me when they want attention, and will hit my arm with their paw so I know. Some of them love to be brushed, and it's a good idea to get them used to it, because it prevents long haired cats from getting matted (my calico's fur is so fine she's got to be groomed twice a year because there's no way to get her fur untangled), and it reduces shedding and furballs! Right now, I've 18 eyeballs boring holes into me. It's feeding time. If I ever die in this house, all they're going to find are some heavily chewed bones. Katse

Originally posted by Cep I have cats and rats

Yay! Another rat fan!

Well, they arrived yesterday evening - an hour late, because one of them would not be caught to be put in a box to travel The two males had a bit of an explore before hiding, whereas the female hid straight away - on top of my daughter's computer in the computer desk - and didn't come out for at least 5 hours. Elwood (the male with less white, I am trying very hard to remember which one is which but if you can't see under their chin they look the same) seems to have decided that he likes living upstairs, and he's let us stroke him a few times. Jake is a noisy little devil, who is not interested in being stroked yet, and woke me up before 6am meowing, presumably for his brother, and didn't shut up until everyone else had got out of bed too. Honey has quite a squeaky miaow, and is being very shy, but she had a wander around after I got up this morning, looking at me every time she went past with this sort of "what are you doing here?" expression. I've got to give her some medicine because she's got cystitis, and I can't find her Shall try looking again in a bit. They have found the litter trays overnight - as a person who has never had to attend to a litter tray before, I am astounded at the amount of poo they left for us! I had put the shoes and my handbag in safe places before going to bed, just in case... I haven't noticed anything shredded yet, which is a very good thing. So, that's the first night with them out of the way.

It sounds like they're going to settle in okay to their new home. Exploring, hiding or meowing in the night are all pretty normal, from what I've seen, for cats in a new place. They'll be acting like they own your place very soon! I hope Honey gets well soon. Trying to give cats medicine can be a tricky business, though some are more difficult about it than others. I was taking care of my sister's cats once, and one needed to be given a liquid antibiotic twice a day, and I had to grab her when she was least expecting it, wrap her up in a large towel so that only her head was protruding (so she couldn't thrash or claw me up), hold her still by pinning her between my knees and my chest, and then use both hands to get her to open her mouth so I could squirt the medicine in!

Love the names! Now you only have to worry about Jake and Elwood suddenly appearing in dark glasses and doing the kitty version of car chases around the house. (and yes - that massive thundering sound is the kitties. You will soon find that kitties have two modes - silent or herd of thundering wildebeast) Congratulations on becoming a kitty-slave.

I say they sound like a herd of elephants. It is amazing that such small creatures can make so much noise - when they want to.

Cats have magic powers. There's the pounds-per-kitty-paw power, in which the cat's weight varies according to whim. A 10-pound cat can feel as if it weighs much more than that. Another power is 'multiple cat sounds', in which one cat sounds like four. They can transport themselves into the dangedest places, and you will never know how it happened.

When I first got a cat, my aunt gave me an article to read to Zeek, just so he would know his responsibilities in our relationship. Cats can read, but when a human is around to do it for them, why bother? Meridianday, at the behest of my three masters, I pass it along to your three... RULES FOR CATS WHO HAVE A HOUSE TO RUN. 1. DOORS: Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get door opened, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. Once door is opened, it is not necessary to use it. Avoid swinging doors at all costs. 2. CHAIRS AND RUGS: If you have to throw up, get to a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental rug. If there is no Oriental rug, shag is good. When throwing up on the carpet, make sure you back up so that it is as long as the human's bare foot. 3. BATHROOMS: Always accompany guests to the bathrooms. It is not necessary to do anything - just sit and stare. 4. HAMPERING: If one of your humans is engaged in some close activity and the other is idle, stay with the busy one. This is called 'helping' otherwise known as 'hampering'. Following are the rules. A. When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on and then picked up and comforted. B. For book readers, get in close under the chin, between eyes and book - unless you can lie across the book itself. C. For knitting projects or paperwork, lie on the work in the most appropriate manner as to obscure as much of the work or at least the most important part. Pretend to doze, but every so often reach out and slap the pencil or knitting needles. The worker may try to distract you; ignore it. Remember, the aim is to hamper work. Embroidery and needlepoint projects make great hammocks in spite of what the humans may tell you. D. For people paying bills, working on taxes or Christmas cards, keep in mind the aim - to hamper! First sit on the paper being worked on. When dislodged, watch sadly from the side of the table. When activity proceeds nicely, roll around on the papers, scattering them to the best of your ability. After being removed for the second time, push pens, pencils and erasers off the table, one at a time. E. When the human is holding the newspaper in front of them, be sure to jump on the back of the paper. They love to jump. 5. WALKING: As often as possible, dart quickly and close as possible in front of the human, especially on stairs, when they have something in their arms, in the dark, and when they get up first thing in the morning. This will help with their coordination skills. 6. BEDTIME: Always sleep on the human at night so they cannot move around.

I have an addition to your bedtime list - if you're not sleeping on the human, sleep between their legs. Start at ankle level, then slowly during the night move up, so that they are eventually doing the splits in bed and can't actually move at all. It's great fun to watch them try to get up and out of the bed without your cooperation at this stage...

Don't forget the golden rule to bedtimes. Even if you are sleepy yourself, make sure you run up and down the hallways just as the human is dropping off. If you can possibly manage a leap to land near their head at the end of your dash, this is a bonus. Them jumping makes sure their hearts are working and they will be available to feed you in the morning. If there are more than one of you, choose positions around the human to ensure they cannot move from the twisted position you mould them into. This is particularly amusing as they cannot shift all of you at the same time should they become aware of your game. Once moved from your position, return to it as they are dealing with one of your colleagues. This can continue on as long as you have the energy to do so. Or are thrown out.

If human will not pay attention to you, head for the nearest table, nightstand, dresser, etc., and start knocking things off. Bonus points if you do it while within reach of the human. (My kitties do that a lot.)

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter If human will not pay attention to you, head for the nearest table, nightstand, dresser, etc., and start knocking things off. Bonus points if you do it while within reach of the human. (My kitties do that a lot.)

Thankfully only my male does that. The girls are too busy demanding food and attention to think along the sneakier lines. However, no doubt we are scaring Meridianday with this, so to put her mind at rest - you CAN train a cat (to a point). My three do NOT climb all over me while I'm on the computer, nor will they actually jump onto the converted kitchen table that serves as the desk. There is plenty of room for them, but they know they aren't allowed to. They don't scratch my furniture - the water bottle taught them that one quickly. Painting my cell phone charger's cord with Tabasco sauce taught them not to chew on it. They don't climb over me anymore while I'm in bed - I tend towards being grouchy when a furball commando rolls into the back of my head in the middle of the night - but they do sleep on it. On their side. If they move too close they find themselves on the floor. The trick is to be firm and consistant. Cats are better than kids when it comes to sniffing out weaknesses in your resolve.

Perhaps I need one of these. http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/supplies/b640/

These are great. Thank you for the good laugh girls. I wish I could think of something to add but I can't think of anything else at the moment.

Originally posted by meridianday Perhaps I need one of these. http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/supplies/b640/

"No batteries required -powered by wishful thinking" That's for sure!

Elwood has decided he likes me! He's come to me for a fuss several times this morning. Jake decided yesterday that he likes OH, now scaredy shakey just Honey needs to decide she likes bratlet and we shall have a moggy each...