Feline Friends's topics - tribe.net

licking plastic bags

2009-08-28T15:28:35Z

I would like to know if licking plastic bags is harmful

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

thanks to all who cared for my Boo Kitty

2009-01-25T19:40:15Z

thank you so much for caring about my sweet kitty Boo. I called every veterinarian and none of them would even see him on an emergency basis because all I had was $80. Appointments were days away and not an option. i took Boo to petsmart because they charge $35 for an exam, and walkins are welcome. the veterinarian said Boo had an obstruction, that the bladder was so large it could burst, requiring immediate surgery. Estimated costs were $400 to $600 for the surgery and a few hundred for x-rays and tests. I told her I had $80, and would pay payments. She said no credit. She said Boo was going to suffer horribly and would die and for $94, I could have him put to sleep. For about 15 minutes, I tried to borrow money, I tried to give him away to friends with credit cards who were especially fond of him, and I prayed. In the end, I held him and kissed him and said goodbye. he's buried out back and he will have a really cool marker. I've been crying for hours and I can't sleep tonight at all. normally, at night, when Boo isn't by my side, I know I have to stay awake and let him in the house so he won't spend the night out in the cold. He slept in my arms on his back like a baby. I have to learn to sleep again without him.

I am not going to get another animal to ease my loneliness. I can't afford to take care of an animal in an emergency.

Finally, I am going to try and not hate myself for whatever I find I did wrong in retrospect. Hindsight is always 20/20. I did everything I could think of. I never wanted this!

thanks again

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

my kitty is acting like he's gonna die!

2009-01-24T00:33:56Z

last evening my kitty "Boo!" was lying on the couch and let out meows like I've never heard. Upon investigation, I found he doesn't want to move, he doesn't want to eat, he can't get comfortable, and he vomits (especially at times when I forced water down him). I got this kitty because, after someone dumped him, he came to my back door and begged to live with me. I have applied for SSI, but until I'm approved, I make $339 a month. Even if any of that was left over from the payment on the first of January, I have no money until Feb. 1st. I feared something like this would happen. That's why I never went out and got an animal...because I can't afford to take care of it right if sickness should happen. I am praying someone out there has some ideas. He's the sweetest kitty.

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

India tiger population less than half earlier estimate: census

2008-02-12T19:36:44Z

From AFP via Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080212/sc_afp/indiawildlifetiger_080212160644

India's rare Royal Bengal Tiger population has plunged to 1,411, drastically lower than the estimated 3,700 believed to exist five years ago, officials said Tuesday.

Rajesh Gopal, who heads Project Tiger, a conservation programme launched in the 1970s, unveiled the latest figures and blamed "poaching, loss of quality habitat and prey" as the main reasons for the decimation.

The census, which took almost two years to complete, counted the big cat population inside dedicated reserves and those in forests, said Qamar Qureshi, a scientist with the Wildlife Institute of India which conducted the survey.

An earlier survey in 2002 had estimated the number of tigers in India at 3,700 -- with the population of those in protected sanctuaries estimated at 1,500.

Conservationists have long complained that many Indian forestry posts lie vacant, while the staff that do exist have little in the way of funds, making them no match for poachers.

Tiger parts are used in traditional Chinese medicines, although international trade has been banned since 1993.

Despite the alarming drop in numbers, both Gopal and Qureshi insisted "there is still hope" for saving the tiger and salvaging the programme touted as one of India's most successful conservation efforts.

The results of the latest survey offers authentic data as it used "more detailed and scientifically sound" techniques than earlier ones based on paw tracks, Qureshi told AFP.

"When you say about 3,700 tigers in 2002, that was just an estimate. So it is difficult to say whether the numbers have halved or not."

The latest numbers however "does not include the tigers in the Sundarbans," the world's largest mangrove forest straddling the Indian-Bangladesh border.

"We are still developing the methodology to count the tigers there, because of the difference in habitats," he said, but declined to give an estimate of numbers living in the mangrove forests.

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Eating eyebrows?

2008-01-02T08:04:57Z

My male cat, Jack, has a "thing" about eyebrows. He either chews off or eats the eyebrows from my two female cats. He'll walk up to Luna, start to groom her, licks her ears (she gets that glazed look), then he chews off the eyebrows. He does the same to Emily but has a much harder time about it because she hates to be groomed - EVER - so she pushes him away most of the time.

Luna will actually walk up to Jack and hold out her head to let him chew them off. She ends up looking rather strange....she looks like a 1940s film star, if that makes sense.

I talked to vets. They've never heard of anything like this. But the vet said that as long as they aren't fighting and getting hurt, it shouldn't harm them. But I can't figure out why he keeps doing it......

Any ideas? Any thoughts?

posted in Feline Friends - 5 replies

travelling with cats in cars

2008-01-01T00:53:07Z

have any great tips for me? im going to drive about 1400 miles with four cats! any tips greatly appreciated :)

posted in Feline Friends - 10 replies

New cat pee's on BR rugs

2007-12-14T06:08:52Z

Please, anyone, help.....i have just added Barney to be a friend to my 5yr Susa (female) and all of a sudden he is peeing on the br rugs (which i have removed and threw out ). He gets plenty of lovin and play time.
I have never had this problem before. can anyone give me some insight as what to do.
I don't have a clue. I have checked in other rooms and it only seems to be happening in the br.

Anything....anyone????

Linda
reply to this post

posted in Feline Friends - 9 replies

Bubbles.....

2007-12-04T22:31:38Z

OK, can anyone explain my male cat's behavior?

He has a "thing" about hot soapy water. LOVES it.

I like to take bubble baths to relax. He will sit on the edge of the tub and my relaxing bath turns into a struggle to prevent him from drinking TOO much hot bubbly water (I say too much because it's nearly impossible to prevent him from drinking any).

When I do dishes, if I leave something in hot water to soak, I'll find him up on the counter (where he KNOWS he's not supposed to be) just so he can drink the hot bubbly water.

So far, we've been lucky. No ill effects. But that can't be good for him, can it?

Could there be something missing in his diet that the hot bubbly water is replacing? Could it be a hairball thing (he seems to have the most problem with hairballs out of all three cats). He's the only one who drinks the hot bubbly water.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

BTW, he's always done this, but would stop if I scolded him (and he NEVER went on the kitchen counter). But lately, he's completely obsessed.

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

New Holiday...Did You All Hear?

2007-11-21T13:41:10Z

So.....I am thinking we should start a new holiday called..........................

National Hug Your Cat Day and it should be officially today's date November 15th, but we SHOULD hug our kitties every day ;-)

So, on that note.....

Happy Hug Your Cat Day ;-)

Now, go get hugging!

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

X-post pooping outside the box

2007-11-20T15:37:07Z

I am at my wits end! I have 3 neutered male cats ranging in age from 9 to 11 years old. In the last year SOMEBODY has started pooping on the floor. He does it right outside the boxes, on the carpet in the next room, and on the rugs on both stairway landings - it's almost daily now. They've gotten clean bills of health from the vet, I've added a cat box (we now have 3), and I've tried changing litter. I scoop at least once a day, too. I have had all 3 cats since they were kittens and never have had any trouble until recently. Does anyone have a solution? I'm about to make all of them go live outside!! (Not really).

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

kitten Lucy needs a loving home!

2007-10-27T06:21:04Z

I am desperately searching for a loving home for Lucy. If you or anyone you know is interested. Please get in touch! My contact info is listed below:

Lucy is a 3 year old white "kitten" with gray patches. I have had her since she was a 8 weeks old. She was rescued at 2 weeks old . Her rescuers believed that her mother died or was injured soon after her and her brother Linus were born. She was in foster care being nursed back to health for the first 8 weeks of her life. Because she didn't get mother's milk, she is very small for a full grown cat and still looks like a kitten. She is definitely a people cat, the way many cats are who are weaned early, but she is not clingy, in fact quite independent.

She was adopted from Pets Unlimited on Fillmore where she was spayed and got a microchip. She is fully immunized and had just had a vet check up and is healthy. She is currently/indoor outdoor cat. Her food of choice is dry Whiskas. She needs to sleep indoors at night and likes to go out to play and sunbathe during the day if outdoors is accessible. She loves chasing a laser pointer and jumping to catch toys with feathers. She is very affectionate once you get to know her, but takes a little bit to warm up. She has been an only cat for the majority of her life and though she can eventually get used to other cats in her environment, she does experience some anxiety around that due in most part to being much smaller than most other cats.

She need a new home because I recently moved in with my partner and he's just not a cat person. Unfortunately Lucy's presence is having disastrous affects on our otherwise amazing relationship which is not healthy for any of the 3 of us!

You can view pictures of her at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16444290@N03/

Please call Prudence 415.516.1368 if you are interested

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Family pets need new homes.... ASAP

2007-10-23T21:02:16Z

My family is in a desparate situation right now and we have to move in 2 weeks. My roommate/exhusband is going to prison and I need to find homes for his pets. I can't keep them b/c I already have 3 cats and my boyfriend's dog.

Tucker is a sheppard lab 8 month old pup. He's about 80 pounds now, has had all of his shots and just needs to be neutered now. He's great with kids and tries his best to get the cats to play with him. Very fun loving dog. Loves to go for walks and yes, is potty trained. Who ever wants him will also get his big fluffy pillow bed, favorite toys, leash and whatever food we have.

Billy is a sweet old black cat with a white belly. I'd guess he's around 7 years old. Very loving and occasionally playful. He has also had his shots and been neutered. I think he may have a couple teeth gone bad b/c his breath is horrendous.

Haley is a cute little gray tabby. She is 2-3 years old. Also vaccinated and spayed. She unfortunately is a skittish one. Sometimes she will want to be loved but for the most part she is not a human's cat... she is a cat's cat. Billy (the cat described above) is her best friend. She gets along with the other cats as well but Billy is her man. And she HATES the dog.

Savanna is a sweatheart but has to stay outside. She's 2 years old. Otherwise she'll pee where she shouldn't in the house. She is white with gray tabby markings on her head, back and tail. She too has been vaccinated and spayed.

If you or someone you know is interested, please let me know.

Thanks,
Annie

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Gonna stuff a cork in it!

2007-09-03T05:04:30Z

Well, okay, probably won't do that, but I'm having a problem with one of my cats. She's been peeing on the couch. I checked, no UTIs, and the vet says she's healthy.

The only thing I can think of is that I've been trying - SLOWLY - to switch them to Yesterday's News cat litter.

Now, I can accept that she is expressing her displeasure (I have a futon couch and I have a plastic cover on it because she was having problems a while ago)....but the other night, my boyfriend and I were sitting on the couch. She hopped up between us, squatted, and peed! Talk about arrogance!

So I'm giving up the hope of switching to Yesterday's News......

But has anyone else had that type of problem? I mean, I know about the peeing, but to hop up and pee on it while I'm sitting right there!? Not only did I have to clean the couch, but I had to change clothes becuase it soaked into my pants too!

This cat is my "diva".....if she were a human she'd be Bette Davis!

posted in Feline Friends - 20 replies

Hoping for support.

2007-08-17T11:30:17Z

Hey everyone. Woke up this morning to find my tabby-maine coon Nimbus acting very odd. He seemed to be stiff while walking, was lip in my lap and even drooling a little. He would walk around, howl a little and try to squat with no luck. He even seemed a bit punch-drink for a bit, which I attribute to pain.

Brought him to the vets... I guess male cats often get urinary build up of proteins. He needs to stay there for a few days, and it's costing an arm and a leg but we had to do it obviously...

Just wondering if anyone else has had to go through this, and if they had any words of advice so I'm not sitting around all day with his sister Azia and fretting myself to death.

Thanks much.

posted in Feline Friends - 9 replies

HELP!

2007-08-05T18:54:33Z

OY VEY! I'm having problems with my 10 year old cat. He's just your common house tabby, was always a big cat, slightly overweight, always wanting to eat. Then all of a sudden he drops weight, he still kind of eating but it has to be a particular food, never the same kind twice, still drinking water. I can't tell if he's using the litter box because we have 2 other cats and they all go outdoors at some point.

And the strangest part is he goes around the house meowing randomly like he wants something now! or as if he's locked in a room or in pain! Very frustrating and worrisome!

We took him to the vet and he want us to bring him back in a few days for blood tests. He took his temperature and that was normal he just noticed that he was a little underweight (you can feel his spine). I know until we have tests done we won't know for sure but...

He's kind of a finicky cat too. Once when we changed the litter on him, he started pooping everywhere but the box, even on our bed pillows. We went back to the usual litter; problem solved. Weird! And he seems to be very interested in what we kind of food we feed the stray momma out side. I fed it to him he did eat it but then he stopped. I thought maybe he was doing a hunger strike on us.

Any help on this would be great! Suggestions, comments, thanks in advance.

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

Begging cat?

2007-07-30T13:44:23Z

Hi there-
I have 3 cats and one is a bit chubby. Not fat yet, but "pleasantly plump" as the vet called her!! She is also the only cat that begs for food. They NEVER get human food but she begs me for cat food. She will wake me up by meowing, dancing on my head (and bladder!) and pushing stuff off my nightstand at 5:30 every morning. She won’t stop until I've fed her. I have tried feeding at different times in the morning (i.e., after I showers, right before I leave). Every time I am in the kitchen, just walking through or doing dishes, she is meowing and prancing around her food bowl! She never used to be this way! She will steal the boys’ food if they don't eat fast enough. I have to patrol her at the food bowls.

Am I doing something wrong? Any thoughts or ideas on how to curb this behavior? I feed all Wellness brand food and a combo of wet and dry....

posted in Feline Friends - 10 replies

HELP!! My Cat is spraying and peeing...

2007-07-27T17:01:36Z

in the house!

my friends has two 2 year old cats. one has begun to spray and pee in the house. she has tried to destress him and the environment. they are both neutered. they are both male and nop females around that we kow of. no new furniture has been introduced to the house. it is possible he may be seeing other cats while gazing out the window she may tried to block the view.

anyone else experience this? what have you doen to address the situation? any suggestioiins on controlling the odor as a result of all the peeing and spraying. she has tried nature's miracle, feline hormone spray and peroxide. anything else you can recommend?

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

hot ears?

2007-07-13T15:56:09Z

OK, here's the thing. I've noticed that, periodically, my cats' ears are hot.....way warmer than the rest of their bodies.

Is this a fever? When my male's ears are hot, I've noticed that they tend to be a lot dirtier and require cleaning, whereas normally, they do not require cleaning.

With my female, when her ears are hot, she's very tired all the time.

But I haven't found anything that confirms my suspicions that hot ears = a fever.

Does anyone here know anything about this?

posted in Feline Friends - 10 replies

Sparklers, Firecrackers and Rockets OH MY!

2007-07-12T19:34:48Z

Keep your cats happy and safe on Independence Day

The 4th of July, Independence Day, is the most traumatic day of the year for cats. If you live in the U.S., unless you pack a tent, hiking boots, and your cat, and take off for the high country, it is unlikely you'll spend a fireworks-free 4th of July. As with many of our traditional holidays, people tend to forget the meaning of "Independence Day," but concentrate their celebration on "bombs bursting mid-air" and barbecues. Although many municipalities don't even allow the "safe and sane" fireworks anymore, people still seem to find the not-so-safe kind. In my neck of the woods, some fools take the "bombs" literally, as they explode one M-80 after another. These can be devastating to human nerves, to say nothing of the poor cats'.

Prepare a Sanctuary

Frightened cats will seek shelter, immediately. Many cats will run and hide under a bed or in a closet when the doorbell rings. Imagine what they will do when a bottle rocket goes off nearby. It will help your kitty if you prepare a sanctuary in advance, perhaps a bed inside a closet in an interior room. Rub a towel or small blanket with her scent and put it in the bed. Show her where it is well in advance of the 4th, so she will know it's her own "safe place." We usually spend the evening of the 4th in our bedroom with our cats on the bed, so we can pet them and soothe them when the fireworks start. It doesn't totally take away their fear of loud noise, but it does help a lot.

If your cat is normally an indoor-outdoor cat, keep her indoors for the day. Unfortunately, there are still sadistic sub-humans around who think it's great fun to tie a string of firecrackers to a cat's tail. Don't let your cat become a statistic, and forever ruin your enjoyment of the holiday.

Having a Party?

Unless it's a quiet family get-together, you might want to consider boarding your cat at your veterinarians if they will have staff on duty during the holiday. Otherwise, it's best if you keep Fluffy locked in your room during the festivities, with her food, water, and litter-box handy. Even if it's just family, try to discourage feeding kitty scraps from the barbecue, though she might beg. Barbecue and the accompanyments that go with it are usually too rich and greasy for your cat's metabolism, and she needs all her physical resources in optimum condition just to handle the fireworks later.

Consider Herbal Relaxer

No, not for you, but for your cats. If your favorite feline is normally the skitterish type, ther are some herbal concoctions that have a calming effect. Rescue Remedy, available at health food stores, is recommended for shock, both physical and emotional. It is a mixture of several Bach Flower Remedies: impatiens, star of Bethlehem, cherry plum, rock rose, and clematis. Many veterinarians routinely prescribe it.

Try to take time out from the activities of the holiday to spend a few minutes with your cat, every couple of hours, petting her and talking to her. She needs to know you haven't abandoned her during these stressful hours, and the respite will be good for you, too.

Happy Independence day, and I hope it will be a safe and sane one for both you and your cat

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Introduction and question about cats and "pimples?"

2007-05-31T02:18:24Z

Hi, my name is Michele, and I am the proud mama of three cats: Jack, Luna and Emily. All three were strays whom I adopted. (You can see pics of them in my profile and eventually I"m sure I'll post a pic and/or video of them here).

Anyway, that's me and my furry brood.

My question has to do with feline "acne". I've read that cats sometimes get either acne or pimples on their chin because it is one of the places they cannot get to easily. Anyway, my male cat, Jack, seems to be getting a recurring pimple on his chin. I've seen a scab there periodicially and I've been assuming he got a nick while wrestling with his sisters. But on Sunday, when I was rubbing his chin which he likes, I noticed a small lump. Yesterday, it had a white head on it, and by last night, he must have scratched it because it was gone, but there was blood.

Questions: Does anyone else's cat get this? Is there a way to prevent it? Does this sound like just a pimple or should I get him to the vet? Since it was Sunday when I found it, and yesterday was a holiday, I did not take him immediately, and since it appeared to act just like a pimple, I didn't call today (scheduling a visit with my vet in between my work is difficult and they aren't usually willing to offer an opinion over the telephone).

My boyfriend (a HUMAN nursing aide) feels it really sounds like just a pimple and I shouldn't worry unless it shows up again and won't go away.

But I'm a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to my pets.....I want to make sure I'm giving them the best care I am capable of.

So....any opinions? Any advice? Am I a fruit cake?

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

I have a big biting problem

2007-05-16T13:27:34Z

I love my human very much and I am sweet most of the time. However, when I get playful I start to bite my human then I run around the room and jump and attack her like she is a toy. When she pushes me off, I just come back wilder.

I am not afraid of water so the spray bottle trick does not work on me. I am getting bigger and stronger. This morning after she spent a long time petting me, I bit her so hard I broke the skin and drew blood.

My human is at a lose of what to do. I am the first male cat she has ever had and she thought that after I was neutered I would mellow out. I didn't.

I am still a kitten of 8 months, so I should be able to break this habit.

Any of you older cats have some advice for me?

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

I'm having difficulty cutting my cats nails,but the groomer doesn't. Any ideas.

2007-05-15T02:55:41Z

How do you calm a cat while cutting their nails?

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Strange Eye Condition

2007-05-13T01:41:08Z

My cat Azia seems to have a strange dot in her eye. She's about four years old, an auburn colored tabby. While her eye color is green, you can see a sort of blue color beneath. It looks like someone blew up a balloon behind her eye color and the blue is pushing through the green. It doesn't seem to bother her at all, and her vision is fine... but I'm terrified that it's something serious. She never had it when she was a kitten, probably showed up about a year ago. It can only be seen when it's sunny out and her eyes are contracted. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. I'll post an image of it in my own images if you'd like a clearer look at what I'm talking about.

(Thought about bringing her to the vet but... more often then not, I shell out a few hundred dollars and they don't know what is wrong with her. ><)

posted in Feline Friends - 8 replies

Social Sampler - a new social networking event- pet owners discussion table

2007-05-11T19:05:08Z

Social Sampler

http://www.SocialSampler.com

Try something new... Meet someone new...
28 activities 7 rooms 6 hours 300 chairs 10,000 square feet
6 pm to 12 midnight Saturday May 26
$12 general - $6 Students with ID
each Fourth Saturday of the Month
Oakland Veterans Hall
200 Grand Avenue, Oakland CA 94610
info Scott (650) 326-6265
scottFNW@pway.com
Light refreshments. Large parking lot. Casual comfortable attire. All ages.
Average age 30. Average attendance 150 - 250.
A non alcohol event. Join, watch, or wander activities. several helpful hosts

CONVERSATION TABLES: Movies, Books, Relationships, Culture, Tech, Dining, Humor, Random Chat, Artists, Networking, Writers, Harry Potter, Pets, Weather, Vacations; DANCING: Waltz, Swing, Latin SOCIAL : Board games, Card games, Social games, Sing alongs, Script Read alouds, Costumers club, Toys, Food sampler

Conversation Tables
Each Conversation table has a different theme such as Movies, Books, Relationships, Culture, Tech, Dining, Humor, Random Chat, Artists, Networking, Writers, Harry Potter, Pets, Weather, and Vacations.

Each table has a deck of cards with a different topic on each card. Each card is turned over one at a time. People talk about the topic as they wish until everyone who wants to talk is finished. Then the next card is turned over. For example, for the Movie Table, topic cards include “Your favorite movie?” “Your favorite actor?” “Your worst movie experience?” “Your favorite theatre” “Your favorite movie snack?”. Similar topic cards decks are set on each conversation table. You may participate or just listen. You may join or leave any table at any time. There is a host at each table to answer questions.
Movies Table May 26 -a table each for Spiderman III, Shrek III, Pan's Labyrinth, movies in general.
Books Table Recent book discussion, writing, literature, business of authorship
Relationships Table Romance and Relationships discussion
Culture Table Symphony-dance-opera-ballet-theatre
Technology Table Technology, computers and science fiction
Dining Table cooking, fine dining, restaurant, food, cooking experiences
Humor Table Read Jokes, write cartoon captions
Random Chat Table There are 100 cards: "What was the oddest thing you have ever seen?""What is your worst hair day?" “What was your worst job experience?" "Most embarassing moment?"
Artists Exchange Table Exchange techniques, shows, art
Networking Table Business Networking: startups, marketing strategy, IPO, financing
The Writers Exchange Table mutual help for new writers and authors
Harry Potter Table movies, books and trivia
Pets Table cute pet stories, pet health
Vacations Table favorite vacations, budget vacations, dream vacations
Weather stories Table Everyone has interesting stories about weather. Blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, hail

Dancing
Waltz Dancing Dj music for Waltz, Polka, Congress of Vienna, Bohemian National Polka
Swing Dancing Dj music for Lindy, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Shag, Balboa, Blues dances
Latin Dancing Dj music for Salsa, cha cha, samba, mambo, bachata, cumbia dances

Games Room
Social games including charades, acronamatic, the question game, story time, WHAT IF? There are social board games in the room: pick up a social board game, select a table, and invite other to play with you. You may leave any game at any time. All games stop after 30 minutes so that everyone can try other games.

Board games including cranium, outburst, monopoly, Pictionary. There are social board games in the room: pick up a board game, select a table, and invite other to play with you. You may leave any game at any time. All games stop after 30 minutes so that everyone can try other games

Card games including Hearts, Holmes Card Game, Magic: Mamma Mia, other. There are many decks of cards and many specialty card decks. Pick out a game, select a table, invite others to join. You may leave any game at any time. All games stop after 30 minutes so that everyone can try other games.

Social Rooms

Toys
Legos, Tinker Toys, K’nex, Erector sets, modeling clay, group jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzle. You are welcome to play with the toys and invite others to join you.

Script read-alouds
reading aloud scripts from TV, plays, movies, such as the Simpsons, Seinfeld, Friends, Mash, All in the Family, Hamlet, Shakespeare in Love,Buffy, Coupling, American Beauty. There are many scripts on the table. Pick one that you would like to read aloud. Select a table, invite others to join in. Everyone selects a character, and start reading aloud.

Food Sampler There is a different food sampler each Social Sampler. Some food sampler themes are ice creams, chocolates, coffees, potato chips, cookies. Odd Ice Creams with be sampled for May 26: Avacado, Buko (Baby Coconut), Ginger, Green Tea, Halo Halo (Buko, Langka, Ube, Pineapple, Mongo &Sweet Beans), Langka (also known as Jackfruit, a relative of the Fig), Lychee, Mango, Thai Tea, Sweet Coconut, and Ube (purple Yam).

Costumers Club activities include swap or sell fabric, clothing, or costumes' sewing circle talk; or meet potential new clients about new costumes, tuxes, or gowns; or finish a costume in a 'stitch and bitch' session. This is a group for costumers and seamstresses who make costumes, gowns, wedding dresses, and clothing for such events as Renaissance Faire, Dickens Faire, Science Fiction costume masquerade balls, Halloween balls and events, Sea of Dreams NYE, Anon Salon events, Costume cons, Belly Dancers outfits, Greater Bay Area Costume Group events, Art Deco's Gatsby picnic, Newport Week, San Francisco Waltzing Society, Friday Night Waltz New Year's Eve formal Waltz Balls, Peers and Gaskells formal balls.

Sing alongs
Sea Shanteys are songs traditionally sung by sailors to accompany and set the rhythm for certain kinds of heavy, repetitive work on board ship—raising and trimming the sails, raising the anchor, and working the pumps.

Musicals are the songs from musical plays and movies, such as Sound of Music, Grease, Singing in the Rain, Brigadoon, Hair, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls.

Folk songs are just that: traditional folk songs

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Blood in Urine

2007-05-07T22:30:07Z

Hi all.

We have a bottle baby that has blood in her urine and a cottage-cheesy discharge from her vagina.

Any thoughts on what this is and how to treat it?

I don't want to bring her in to the vet if this is something simple we can handle ourselves...

-feralcat

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

Tranquility blend Apawthecary

2007-05-02T14:28:07Z

I just wondered if anyone has ever used this stuf on their cat? Someone recommended i use it for my big move to macon for transporting the cat. I've never given her any kind of sedative so i just wanted to make sure it was safe.

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

Inappropriate potty issues

2007-04-12T20:21:42Z

So I need some help. My youngest femail cat Cleo (about a year old) keeps using the bathroom on my carpet in corners and so on. She is housebroken and litter box trained and she uses the litterbox 9 out of 10 times but it is that 10th time that is making me crazy. She likes the litter box itself, the litter is soft and sandy textured, and we scoop it daily so I don't know what the problem is.

Help!

posted in Feline Friends - 9 replies

Declawing, Doping up kitty

2007-03-26T21:57:57Z

I'm really frustrated, and don't know what to do, so any advice would be appreciated.

My kitty has decided that she has emotional/mental issues. Her neck has a serious wound on it, but it's self inflicted. We have given her both topical and internal anabolic steroids (?), we tried some kind of kitty prozac, we are isolating her from the other kitty, and trying to really focus attention on her when we get home. Yet nothing is working. We put bandaids, socks, and anything else we can brainstorm on her, to protect her from the ravages of the back claws, which have done serious damages at least 3 times, as those back legs are quite strong.

My vet and I are at a loss, and her suggestion at this point is either to really get my cat STONED (not on pot, of course), where she is all but inactive all day long, or to declaw her front and back claws (which is apparently unusual, as most people who declaw do it only on the front).

I'm really torn on which would be worse for a kitty. being stoned/drunk/sleeping all day, or goign through the pain of 3-4 weeks of healing from surgery to cut off her toesies.

any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.

posted in Feline Friends - 8 replies

Pet food recall, very important!

2007-03-26T07:27:55Z

if you have not been alerted to this please be advised to read this and also go to this site to
check the brands...

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates
was available from the Menu Foods Web site, http://www.menufoods.com/recall

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PET_FOOD_RECALL?SITE=1010WINS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Mar 17, 4:53 PM EDT

Animal Owners Frantic on Pet Food Recall

By MATTHEW VERRINDER
Associated Press Writer
U.S. Video
Buy AP Photo Reprints

UNION, N.J. (AP) -- Pet owners were worried Saturday that the pet food in their cupboard may be
deadly after millions of containers of dog and cat food sold at major retailers across North America
were recalled.

Menu Foods, the Ontario-based company that produced the pet food, said Saturday it was recalling
dog food sold under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and
Eukanuba. The food was distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico by major
retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the
affected pet food, the company said.

Many stores that sold the affected brands frantically pulled packages off shelves.

for more use link for full article.............

posted in Feline Friends - 11 replies

Update on Pet food recall-feel free to pass on

2007-03-26T02:31:49Z

Menu Foods Income Fund
TSX:MEW.UN
INDUSTRY:

Financial Services - Personal Finance, Retail - Consumer Interest
MARCH 24, 2007 - 14:09 ET

Menu Foods Initiates Market Withdrawal of All Varieties of Recalled Wet Pet Food to Ensure Consumer Protection
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 24, 2007) - As a result of reports from the FDA and various media outlets that some recalled lots of "cuts and gravy" style wet pet food remain on store shelves, Menu Foods has asked all retail outlets to immediately remove all impacted varieties of wet pet food posted at www.menufoods.com , regardless of the date code.

Menu Foods remains concerned that consumers are able to purchase recalled items.

There is no known risk from items not listed on the recall list but an abundance of caution is called for in this situation.
FDA has been apprised of this action.
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/PRESS%20RELEASE03241409.htm
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

New Tribe for pets

2007-03-10T18:28:50Z

Hi, I'm the cat of a triber and I thought it was about time us pets had our own tribe to discuss our issues. Obviously, our owners will have to post on our behalf, but I'm sure everyone will benefit from the postings.

tribes.tribe.net/petvent

Please join on behalf of your pet and start the topics rolling.

Happy to have you as friends.

Thom

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Soft Paws?

2007-03-08T22:22:09Z

Has anyone had any experience with the Soft Paw nail caps? I have 2 sweet kitties that really don't claw anything except our new leather couch! They don't do it when we are home because they know it is bad, and I am thinking this is a good option. Any thoughts.......?

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Emergency Situation in Las Vegas

2007-02-17T17:32:44Z

Hi folks,
I just found out about an emergency in Las Vegas. The main shelter that was low-kill just went high-kill due to an outbreak of Parvo virus in dogs. This means that all the animals in that shelter are suffering. So, the local SPCA stepped in and gathered together a bunch of other resources to help the animals. I know this is a cat group, but cats are suffering too. If you can help, check out the blog at www.bloggydoggy.com and see what you can do to help. They are setup to accept donations. The SPCA is the spearhead on this.

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Kitty Soreness/Tenderness in the Back - Any ideas?

2007-01-06T03:25:29Z

Hi there. New to this tribe, but joined because I have a specific question (and am generally interested in health for my cat!).

I have an 10 or 11 year old cat, no particular breed or such, but that has normally be very agile. Lately I have notice, however, that she is quite tender in the area on her back from about mid back to her tail. Petting her there causes her skin to "ripple" (reaction, like recoiling almost), and sometimes when I pick her up (not a common occurence), she will make an almost yelping sound and sometimes hiss.

I do not see any wounds in the area, and so I am at a bit of a loss as to what could be the matter with her. And thought I would seek assistance with you all before possibly over-reacting and taking her into the vet (who may or maynot have any idea as to what is the matter with her). Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

PS: I am going to crosspost this, so my apologies in advance. Want to reach the largest # of people possible. :-)

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Hilarious little video

2006-12-01T06:01:49Z

Hey cat lovers. I found the most hilarious little video on myspace. I don't know how to add it to tribe, or I would. The easiest way I know for you to see it is to go to my myspace profile. go www.myspace.com/czarinaanya and you will see the video on my profile page. You may have to hit the "Pause" button on my song to shut Simon and Garfunkle up, cuz the video has it's own music. Enjoy! Looks kinda mean, but if you know cats as well as I do, you know banging into walls doesn't REALLY hurt them. Besides, they're doing it to themselves! It really is a hilarious video.

Feel free to comment here OR on my myspace profile.

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Abandoned Cat in New York

2006-11-08T15:37:22Z

Hi Everyone - I know there are thousands upon thousands of homeless cats on the streets of NY but it becomes another matter when you see an animal abandoned in front of you. I was walking back to work on tuesday and came across a beautiful house cat that was left on the lawn part of a high rise building. Spoke to the doorman and they said it had been there for a few weeks. I went up to the cat, she was soooo friendly allowed me to pick her up etc. I then called Humane society, aspca and various other no kill shleter and was told they are all completely overwhelmed with animals and there just isn't any room anywhere. No one would come and get it and I don't want this cat to starve or be picked up and put down. basically I am asking if anyone has it in their heart to rescue this cat and find it a home? I have two cats already and I just rescued another stray in the begining of august. I just can't handle it right now I am overwhelmed with what I have. The cat has siamese coloring beige with blue eyes, female and appears to be an older cat maybe between 8-10. But it does not have that long lean body like a siamese. this is truly a beautiful cat too. I have no idea why someone would just abandon such a sweet animal but please if any one has the goodness of heart to help this cat I would be so grateful. The building is 300 East 56th street and second avenue. THere are 2 lawn areas, the cat is on the one further down the block toward first avenue. She will allow you to pick her up but please talk to the doorman and let them know what you are doing as this is an exclusive building. If you can help please let me know. Thanks!

posted in Feline Friends - 6 replies

old topic-- new ideas? kitty ear mites

2006-10-12T01:41:56Z

anyone have a home remedy? i don't like the toxic stuff. thanks!

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

Cat obsessed with licking everything

2006-09-11T16:57:39Z

Further to the posting on the cat liking to lick plastic, my cat likes to lick anything and everything. My toes, the chair handle, a newspaper, a CD case, my hair, etc. You name it, he enjoys licking it. I don't mind this so much, but it becomes very annoying at 3 AM, when I am trying to sleep and he feels the sudden urge to start licking my nose, shoulder non-stop. Is this normal

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

Litter box smell

2006-09-07T16:16:36Z

Hi all! I am new to this Tribe, and I have a question.........My husband and I are moving to a new house in few weeks with our two cats who are strictly indoor. They are good about using the litter box, but now their box is on a screened in porch with plenty of ventilation, and "technically" not in the house. At our new house, the box will have to be inside and my husband is very worried that it will smell, and look, horrible. Up to now we have never given it much thought and we use an open box with the Swwwheat Step wheat cat litter. I was thinking to switching to a clumping multi-cat cat litter and getting a closed box? Does anyone have any advice? We really don't want our new house to smell like a litter box. Thanks!!!

posted in Feline Friends - 8 replies

New here

2006-08-27T07:12:17Z

Hi! I am Julie. I am currently owned by 8 cats, most of whom are rescues. They find me. Sometimes I think I have a bulls-eye painted on me that inly they can see. I bring them in fix them up and find wonderful new homes for them. Thank God for credit cards. I do the shots myself but tests and sterlization get expencive. I love my work!!! Anyone on the Portland area want to add to their family please keep me in mind. Right now I have a 1 1/2 year old spayed siamese mix, a 5 month old grey and white girl kitten, a manecoon mix male, a black and white girl around 2 with a funny tail, and a black and white male. The cats that really own me are Oreo(a 24 toed back and white ditzy girl), Dusty(a purple cat that thinks he is either a dog or a kid), Zeus(King of the kitties but sadly a chicken)

So that folks is my bunch and story. Glad to be here!

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Puking and Teeth Cleaning

2006-08-25T22:33:01Z

I don't know why I didn't think to come here and ask these questions before! I have a male cat, very skittish and nervous and he throw up a LOT. It's usually wet and doesn't always look like it's from hairballs. The vet said this was normal, but it seems like he throws up more than what I would think is normal. Does anyone else have a problem with that?

And teeth cleaning, is it something I need to get done yearly or more often?

Thanks in advance for any help.

posted in Feline Friends - 16 replies

This is my first cat.

2006-08-18T22:28:17Z

I've had my cat for 5 years now and shes the first cat i've ever come across. Her and her 2 sisters were brought up to our house at 4 weeks of age from their mother. We bottle fed them until they were able to eat on their own.
Up until the age of 1 1/2 she was the biggest lover. She loved everyone and anyone. I don't know what happened but now she hisses at certain ppl and not others. She basically wants them to pet her but when they do pet her for a bit she ends up hissing at them and i dont know why. Can anyone help?

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

The Glove Thief

2006-08-04T19:13:20Z

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2219553

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

Toliet Training Your Cat?

2006-07-26T04:39:36Z

Anyone done this? Any suggestions? I have a cat that occasionally will do big business in the toliet ring. But I don't know which one is doing it.

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Toilet Flushing Cat!

2006-07-25T02:42:55Z

http://videosift.com/story.php?id=5589

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Share pictures of your cat or kitten

2006-07-14T23:18:46Z

Picato is a site for sharing pictures of your cat. You can browse pictures of other cats or view their profiles. Pictures can be categorized, organized and sorted by tags. http://www.picato.net

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

New Tribe

2006-07-08T20:31:38Z

Hi, there's a new tribe at
http://tribes.tribe.net/siamesecats
dedicated to Whisper, a blue point siamese. All breeds, welcome :)

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Can anyone recommend a good cat groomer in San Francisco?

2006-06-30T19:21:34Z

I take my cats to Pets Unlimited, but they closed their grooming department. Please help - Stinky's got dreadlocks forming on his hind quarters!

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Cats licking Plastic?

2006-06-26T03:23:36Z

Does anyone elses cat do this? My cat, tanner, does this with plastic bags or anything wrapped in plastic. Is he lacking something in nutrition?

posted in Feline Friends - 15 replies

Cat Takes on Bear and Wins

2006-06-22T14:25:14Z

X-posted... b/c its too funny!

http://tinyurl.com/o5w6r

A New Jersey woman says that a neighbor's 10-year-old clawless tomcat chased a black bear up a tree in her backyard.

Patricia Giovanetti told the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., that in the first encounter she watched between Jack the Cat and a bear, the bear was up a tree and Jack was standing his ground, giving the bear the eye. After a 15-minute standoff, the bear climbed down and quickly dashed into the underbrush with the cat in pursuit.

The bear found another tree and climbed up. Jack kept watch for a few minutes before joining Giovanetti and the cat's owner, Donna Dickey, allowing the bear to make a hasty escape, the Star-Ledger said.

Giovanetti and Dickey have decided that Jack considers their yards and the one in between his territory and is not about to let another animal in, not even the black bears that are increasingly common in Northwest Jersey. Giovanetti said there have been times when Jack, not always a friendly animal, has made her nervous.

"Sometimes, I fear him," she told the newspaper. "Now, I think I fear him more."

© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2006

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Non-Tracking Cat Litter

2006-04-23T01:09:32Z

Just wondering if anyone out there has come across a non or low-tracking cat litter other than pellets. Or a litter box accessory that helps to prevent the tracking of litter into the living area.

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Pre & Post OP suggestions???

2006-04-04T02:56:04Z

Any pre and post op surgical suggestions, especially in the realms of alternative, Chinese or natural medicine?

I am taking my Cat in for removal of a tumor next week

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Tristen

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

Synthetic taurine made for vegan cats

2006-02-15T19:25:45Z

Synthetic taurine made for vegan cats

I just learned that synthetic taurine is available.. maybe you already
knew

www.vegancats.com

* Don’t cats need a dietary source of Taurine?
* Is it true that vegancats.com is telling some people to feed their cats meat?
* I don't want to feed my cat ANY meat; what steps can I take to accomplish this?
* You're not listening to me. I don't want my cats to eat ANY meat. Is such a thing possible?
* Isn't it hypocritical and non-vegan to recommend that people give their cats meat?
* Are there any other health concerns I ought to worry about with my vegan cats, other than urinary tract issues?
* Should I also consider feeding some meat to my dogs?
* Which food should I be buying for my cats and dogs?
* Do you offer free samples?
* I live in _____. Is there a store in my area that carries your products?

Don’t cats need a dietary source of Taurine?
Yes- and the vegan cat foods we carry contain adequate amounts. Although Taurine naturally occurs only in animal tissue, synthetic Taurine has been produced on a large scale since about 1930. In fact, many meat-based pet foods utilize synthetic Taurine to meet nutritional requirements as well (most naturally-occurring Taurine is washed away during the rendering process)!
Back to Top
Is it true that vegancats.com is telling some people to feed their cats meat?
Yes. After much soul-searching, we have decided to change our official recommedations for certain cats.

Urinary tract problems are extremely common in cats and, because of the relative acidity of meat to vegetable protein, many vegan cats suffer from them.

Although we have been giving advice for some time on how these problems can be minimized while still feeding a completely vegan diet, we have found that the vast majority of our customers have not been following this advice.

Unless you are very committed to following the advice outlined below, we therefore recommend that you mitigate the risk of urinary tract problems by feeding males cats only a 25-75% vegan diet and females a 50-100% vegan diet.
Back to Top
I don't want to feed my cat ANY meat; what steps can I take to accomplish this?
Because of anatomical differences, the risk of urinary tract problems is much less in females than in males (although both can develop crystals in their bladders that can cause discomfort, females cannot become completely blocked by an aggregation of these crystals; therefore, urinary tract problems in females are easier and less expensive to fix and are not as painful and potentially dangerous as they are in males).

For this reason, we recommend that all female cats be given a 100% vegan diet unless they display a tendency for chronic urinary tract problems that cannot be controlled through the basic preventative methods outlined below. In those relatively rare instances, giving some canned meat food along with the vegan food may be a necessary step to normalize pH.

Because of the greater risk to males, we recommend that some canned meat (a veternarian-prescribed pH balancing formula is ideal) be given along with vegan food, regardless of their medical history. Cats who have never displayed any tendencies to develop urinary tract problems can probably get by at the lower end of this scale, however, while those who have had problems in the past may need as much as 1/2 to 3/4 of their food consist of meat in order to completely mitigate this risk.

For all cats of both sexes, the following basic rules of prevention ought to be followed as much as possible:

1) make sure your cat is getting as much water in their meals as possible. Wet or canned food is preferable to dry; if your cat will only eat kibble, consider soaking it in water for a few minutes prior to serving. No cat-- particularly males-- should be eating a diet of just kibble or dry food.

2) add enzymes pH to every meal. Enzymes are a good idea anyway, as they aid digestion and reduce metabolic tax on the body; enzymes pH also contains vitamin C and cranberry extract, both of which help acidify the urine and soothe the urinary tract simultaneously.

3) have your vet check your cat's urine pH and make sure it remains in the range of 6.0-6.5. This is the step that most people seem inclined to skip, but it is the number one diagnostic method by which you can head off a problem before it starts. This test will probably only run you in the neighborhood of $20-30, and can pick up a risk before it becomes a serious issue. Treatment for a blocked male cat who requires hospitalization and catheterization, on the other hand, may run you $1000 or more (and this is not even taking into consideration the effect on your cat). It is WELL worth taking the time to get this test done within the first few weeks of introducing a vegan diet to your male cats.
Back to Top
You're not listening to me. I don't want my cats to eat ANY meat. Is such a thing possible?
Yes, of course it is. There are literally thousands of 100% vegan cats out there and most of them do fine. Females, as mentioned above, can usually be given a 100% vegan diet with no problem. And so can many males. However, we really need to stress that if you want to make your males completely vegan, you need to be very dedicated and vigilant when it comes to maintaining their urinary tract health.

NEVER feed a male a strictly kibble diet. Most vegan male cats will do best on NO kibble whatsoever (we recommend making them meals using Vegecat pH ideally).

Have their urine pH checked by a veterinarian, as outlined above, not just once but periodically. If the pH is over 6.5, or if crystals are detected in the urine, you may need to introduce a methionine supplement into the diet (we sell a vegan version, but you will need to get a dosage prescribed by your vet) and then get another pH reading done to make sure the supplement has been effective.
Back to Top
Isn't it hypocritical and non-vegan to recommend that people give their cats meat?
No, we don't think so. As vegans personally, and as a vegan company, our goal is to reduce animal suffering and death by as much as we possibly can.

Although we believe that the majority of cats can do fine on an entirely or mostly vegan diet as long as proper precautions are taken, we have come to realize that many people find the steps outlined above to be daunting or confusing, and choose to ignore them and feed their cats vegan anyway (which may lead to urinary tract problems and ultimate disillusionment with the idea of vegan cat food altogether) or decide that feeding their cats a vegan diet is too difficult or risky and so continue to feed them meat.

We hope that everyone with the time, dedication and resources to carefully monitor their cat's urinary tract health and take all reasonable precautions to maintain it-- as outlined above-- will continue to do so. Our intention is not to scare anyone who has completely vegan cats and seems to be doing fine with them into going back to meat.

What we hope to do is encourage people who are nervous about giving their cats vegan food, whether because their cat experienced a urinary tract incident while on vegan food in the past or for some other reason, that they do not necessarily have to choose between a 100% vegan diet and a 100% meat one. A fifty/fifty split, for example, can decrease their contribution to the animal slaughter industry by a significant amount while at the same time mitigating their cats' risk of developing urinary tract problems.

If all the vegans out there who are worried about feeding their cats a vegan diet would instead strive to feed them a partially vegan diet, the collective benefit to animals would be tremendous. For this reason we believe that advising people to give their cats a mix of vegan and meat food is not only not hypocritical and anti-vegan, it is actually the most moral, ethically consistent, vegan position that we can possibly hold at the present time.
Back to Top
Are there any other health concerns I ought to worry about with my vegan cats, other than urinary tract issues?
Nope. None. Although veterinarians often attempt to blame any health problem that a vegan cat may develop on the diet, nothing other than the aforementioned appears to show up any more often in vegan cats than it does in non-vegans.
Back to Top
Should I also consider feeding some meat to my dogs?
No. Dogs are natural omnivores much like ourselves and adapt as easily to a vegan diet as we do. They do not have the same tendency to develop urinary tract problems that cats do, and so none of the precautions listed for cats applies to them.
Back to Top
Which food should I be buying for my cats and dogs?
The best food for cats is Vegecat (pH is recommended for most-- see above), which is a supplement that comes with recipes that you can use to make food at home. If you don't have time to cook for your cat, Evolution is also nutritionally complete and doesn't require any additional supplementation. If you are going to be also giving your cat some meat food, we don't particularly endorse any brand over any other; it mat be a good idea to use a special "prescription" pH formula (available through vets) though, as this will allow you to use the least meat possible.
posted by:
posted by:
posted by:

posted in Feline Friends - 5 replies

Canton Oh Health Dept. Threatens Stray Cat Feeder With Arrest

2006-01-16T05:01:07Z

Canton Oh Health Dept. Threatens Stray Cat Feeder With Arrest

www.cantonrep.com/new/index...Search=yes

Saturday, January 14, 2006
By ED BALINT REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER

www.starkhealth.org

Jesus, Buddha, and Isaiah say to feed the hungry while the Canton
Health Dept. threatens people with arrest for this action.

Please give feedback on this story to
starkhealth.org/contactus.htm
Health Dept Director: Wm J Franks
franksb@starkhealth.org

CANTON Margaret Hughes first noticed a gray cat in her 10th Street NW
neighborhood about two years ago.

Tugging at her heartstrings, the feline cried for attention and begged
for something to eat.

Unable to resist, Hughes set a food bowl outside her house. A pillow
and blanket were tucked into a wicker basket for a bed. She named the
cat Ghost, and limited the animal to the outdoors since she had an
indoor cat.

Another cat entered the picture later. She fed that one, too, once in
the morning and once in the late afternoon.

"I was just trying to save the cats from starving to death," Hughes said.

Then the 69-year-old got a notice from the Canton Health Department on
Jan. 6 ordering her to stop feeding the cats and to remove the bed. If
she doesn't comply by Monday, Hughes would be expected to show up for
a hearing, and could face up to a $100 fine and 90 days in jail, said
Law Director Joseph Martuccio.

"They always seek voluntary cooperation," Martuccio said.

Hughes, meanwhile, sees little harm in feeding the cats, saying she's
"trying to do something humane."

"I felt bad for the cats because they're on a porch meowing," she
said. "They're hungry, and I fed them."

Still, Hughes said, she's complying with the order, removing the food
bowl and bed.

(Jackie Godbey of the Humane Society in the following quote sounds more
like a dogcatcher than a humane society official)

Food dishes can attract raccoons, skunks and rats, he said. Food left
for cats also can lead to a colony of the four-legged creatures, said
Jackie Godbey, assistant director of the Stark County Humane Society.

The city and county health departments do not pick up strays. Neither
does the Stark County dog warden's office, which refers inquiries
about stray cats to the Stark County Humane Society.

The Humane Society accepts cats and puts them up for adoption, Godbey
said.

"They are the most important resource we have for cats," Wade said of
the agency.

People who have strays or want to get rid of a cat should not dump
them in rural parts of the county, Godbey said.

"They'll see a barn, a farm and they'll take (cats there), and they
don't think that 800 people have done that (in the same area) over the
years," she said.

Reach Repository writer Ed Balint at (330) 580-8315 or e-mail:
ed.balint@cantonrep.comui8klo

Please give feedback on this story to www.starkhealth.org

parts of this article which reflected the point of view of pharmaceutically
dominated professional executioners (of mammals)
at the health department were removed

(As the Health Dept. violates the 1st amendment in
harrassment of Good Samaritans, it neglects investigation of
national chain and local restaurant incidents of food poisoning,
ecoli sickness, spongiform encephalopathy etc.)

Cats:
www.vegancats.com
www.veggiepets.com/
forums.petfinder-network.com/vie....php veg. cat food
www.romancats.com Italy
www.cats.org.il/ Israel
www.pcrm.org suing Ohio State over treatment of cats
www.thecatsite.com/forums/
www.poetwill.org exposing Ohio State's giving AIDS to cats in vet. school
www.ci.akron.oh.us Akron Ohio Mayor and City Council trapping cats and selling or giving
them to Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State, Battelle, Kent State, Case Weste
www.worldanimalnet.org
www.network54.com/forum/460325
www.petfinder.com
www.notmilk.com
www.meatout.org
www.peta.org/alert
groups.msn.com/ar9/general.msnw
www.christianveg.com
www.jewishveg.com
www.hindu.org
www.plumvillage.org
www.egroups.com/messages/meatfreezone
www.envirolink.org
www.veggieboards.com
http://www.helpinganimals.com

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

anti-social

2006-01-06T18:40:52Z

my cats are spoiled primadonas with bad social manners. my friends couldn't bring their cat over to my house coz my cats will launch a full out attack. any way to remedy this situation, coz we all love our cats and it's sad for them to leave their cats at home when they sleepover -- not to mention embarassing for me to have such unfriendly cats.

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

katrina petition for pets...

2005-09-08T16:41:12Z

cross-posted to other kitty tribes...

check this out. read the article. sign the petition.
people are NOT leaving until they can take their pets
with them!!! and fema ordered the rescuers not to take
any pets. counterproductive!!!

http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=specialreports&catid=04061773-BDB9-396E-9001EF6EC01318A4&mode=entry&entry=3320E379-BDB9-396E-944F1E8653174023&stid=1

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/090705/new_evac001.shtml

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/840979272

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Anyone have Feral Kitten Rehab advice?

2005-08-28T23:20:09Z

So, I have a feral kitten who is about 3 months old, who has contracted a serious upper respiratory infection and some goopy eyes. She is on antibiotics now, and hopefully will be improving shortly, as far as her health goes, but I fear I may be in over my head when it comes to accustoming her to humans and making her adoptable (she is very sweet now--but she is also uber sick).

I know that now is my chance to familliarize her with humans--I have to give her liquid antibiotics 2x daily, as well as eyedrops, so I'll be holding her a bit, and shes got a flea problem--shes been advantaged, but is going to need to get used to being brushed (I think she's gonna be a fluff-monkey). The question is, how much how soon? Obviously the drugs have begun, but should I wait for a bit to start brushing her, or go for it now while she is too weak to fight back :P

I don't want to aggrivate her too much, but--I know this is a huge opportunity. She seems to be running on a "I know you are helping me so I'm going to try not to panic" sort of mind frame right now.

Does anyone have experience with this?

I know that it can be done--my youngest, Bear, was a feral kitten. He was rat poisoned, and also contracted kitty pneumonia. He is now the sweetest, most affectionate kitty ever. He can still be a little skittish around some people, but basically he is social and cuddly and just the most perfect boo ever. Unfortunately, his godparents (the folks who socialized him) have fled to Black Rock City, and I am stuck guessing until thier return.

Any suggestions anyone has would be greatly appreciated!

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

Dandruff and Black Cats

2005-08-27T19:18:05Z

I recall reading somewhere once that black cats are prone to dandruff. Unfortunately, I can't seem to recall what the cure was. My 7 year old black-and-white cat recently started sporting some serious dandruff. I haven't changed his diet. Any suggestions for what to do about this?

Btw -- I tried to do a search of old threads, but got a messed-up screen in response; I don't know if it's just my browser that doesn't like the Tribe search engine, or if something's down at Tribe, so please forgive me if this topic has been covered before.

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

New home needed for pariah cat

2005-08-19T22:27:13Z

Hi everyone. I live in the San Diego area, and am looking for a new home for my female pariah cat. Preferably as a single cat household. She had 2 dogs in her family, so she likes cat-friendly dogs!!

She is just picked on too much by my alpha male cat, and is always irritable and scared of the other cats in our household. She is about 6 years old, and I have taken her in from the woman across the street's house because her baby is allergic. I love her very much, and need to let her go to another home so that SHE can be happy, despite how hard it is for me to let her go.

Her name is LULU (nickname for Kailua, HI), she is all white, and loves to rub and sometimes gives tiny licks. She would best be suited to a home, I think, where someone is home a lot and the environment is serene.

Thanks for your time!!

-Bpkitty

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

kicking poop

2005-08-18T08:54:38Z

what does it mean when she (princess diamond) kicks poop out of her box? she did this twice today...after i cleaned the litter even. wtf?

posted in Feline Friends - 5 replies

Cat roomates

2005-08-17T16:29:35Z

Help! I'm moving in with my boyfriend to a new apartment soon and we both each have an adult female cat. Both are about the same age and have never had to live with other felines. I'm fearful it's going to turn into Cat Wars, and want to do anything that is humanly possible to ease this transition and avoid it being too horrible for either of them. Any suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks
Kirsten

posted in Feline Friends - 6 replies

cat news, better than fox..

2005-08-05T02:02:27Z

cross-posting...
check this out. read about it in "entertainment weekly". cuter than heck!!!! go smiley muffin go!!! post your reviews after reviewing at:

http://www.channel102.net/show.php?show=17

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

sick/injured kitty...any suggestions?

2005-07-20T16:14:52Z

So, yesterday I was in the tub, and one of my cats, Bear, always likes to sit on the side and splash me. Well, he sat up on his hind legs, and then just didn't seem to have the stregth to push himself into a standing position to hop up onto the ledge. He then sorta crouch-hobbled a few steps, laid down for a moment, then did it again.

I took him to the vet, who told me that it was probably just a sprain and to give him half a baby asprin once a day, and that if it wasn't better in a week, to take him back for xrays.

Well, I'm not sure that I agree with her diagnosis. First off, she said she couldn't really see him favoring the leg because of how he was walking. Now admittedly he was scared, but Bear has NEVER walked like that--thats part of the problem :P

I can stretch both legs out and message them without him flinching or pulling away. I'm wondering if its something internal...ya know, something as simple as constipation (his butt is always facing downward), or maybe even something more serious. Anytime I have seen a critter with a hurt foot/leg, it doesn't affect BOTH legs...they walk and favor the leg/limp, or they keep it completely tucked up under them and hop, not this wierd hobble a few steps and stop thing.

He is an indoor cat, but has an older brother, so its hard to tell who is pooing and thus whether its constipation. Does anyone have any ideas, I am very concerned...if its an internal thing I need to find another vet and get it fixed before it gets (more) serious....

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

cat tail pollen/fluff

2005-07-10T15:51:20Z

Has anyone ever heard of cats being intoxicated by cat tail pollen or the seed pods???

I have a large bag of cat tail seed pods under my desk that I am going to use for paper making, and my cat loves to sniff it. Hebehaves like he has been sniffing catnip... Anyone ever heard of this?????

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

ISO CAT SITTER FOR SF GARDEN FLAT CATS BURNING MAN WEEK

2005-07-05T17:37:06Z

yes, we are speaking and seeking for our two beloved felines asha and biba, who are strictly indoor boyz, the images of health and oh so fun to hang with.

US: we need a LIVE IN SITTER for about 4.5 days, from wed-mon night (aug 31st through sept 5th)

$$PAID POSITION$$$. (MEOW!!) beautiful secluded garden flat in soma, surrounded by lofts, upscale grocery stores, general soma boho coolness abounds....location is central to all commute lines and dowtown sf/financial district

YOU : kindly have responsive references, a demonstrable, loving, intuitive way with cats, and a quiet way about yourself ; ie, you are someone who would relish the chance to spend 5 days reposing rather solitarily in our clean, comfy home and reading, repasting, watching netflix, drinking nice wine we left you, enjoying the garden and the environs of our sf neighborhood....

DONT'S: please NO party peeps or people who are attached at the hip to their lover.....this is essentially a no-guest gig considering you will be a stranger to us.....

YUM: we would have you over for a great dinner first and a mutual interview!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE SUITABLE
and blessings on you and your mewlers...............

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Wall Peeing

2005-06-30T21:03:46Z

Hey everyone,
My Bengal, Ike, pees on the wall in front of my desk sometimes. It's happened three times. I'm not sure why he is doing this. Any suggestions? I smacked him after this one and tried to rub his nose on it, but I think that might only work for dogs.
Is this a sign of aggression?
Thanks
m

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Bad Territory issues! HELP!

2005-04-15T18:27:35Z

So after feeding the ferel kitties that live in my fence, my indoor only kitties have now deceided that the cat boxes are of no use and are peeing in my plants and closets and on any loose bits of softness that hits the floor! One kitty in particular has also deceided that a corner in the livingroom is now her pooping station!
We have tried "Nature's Miracle" and putting food where they pee.
Any more suggestions?

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Kitty tv

2005-04-13T22:53:24Z

http://webevents.broadcast.com/wsp/build_09/english/frameset.asp?nEventID=8857

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

CVMA FIGHTS FOR THE RIGHT TO MUTILATE&DECLAW YOUR CAT!

2005-03-07T08:09:57Z

California Veterinary Medical Association is filing a lawsuit against the city of West Hollywood to challenge the law that prevents the declawing of cats in that city. There is a gathering to protest this CVMA lawsuit. Details follow...
CVMA FIGHTS FOR THE RIGHT TO MUTILATE

The CVMA has scheduled a press conference for tomorrow, March 6, 2005 at 10 am at Laurel Pet Hospital in West Hollywood (7970 Santa Monica Blvd., 323-654-7060, at Laurel Canyon and Santa Monica Blvds.) to announce their suit against West Hollywood's ban against declawing.

Why the California Veterinary Medical Association wants to spend its time challenging the will of the 37,000 citizens of West Hollywood when it could be working to end pet overpopulation or other serious issues is as puzzling as it is disturbing.

CVMA's British brethren, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, calls declawing "mutilation." Declawing is considered unethical by almost all the veterinarians in the rest of the world.

It would be a shame if protestors spoiled their nice press conference.

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

disconnected

2005-03-05T12:12:33Z

It has been a few months since my last post. So my last discussion was about having to leave my cat for 7 weeks and having someone else stay with her (or as the discussion started, it was suggested that I put her to sleep by another friend).

Anyway, I have been back for 3 weeks now. The gal who watched PranaSzechuan, my cat - is very loving and I do not question the affection she gave while I was away. She was at our house every other night.

So I've been trying to reconnect with PranaSzechuan - she doesn't "feel" the same, she seems distant and depressed. She lays in her "bed" most of the day, not that she was all that active before - but I am concerned that she has been traumatized by our being away so long - as if she distrusts us to reconnect. Are animals this complicated? I dunno if I am reading too much into than what is really there - ya know what I mean? She still sleeps on me and runs to the door when I come home - but it doesn't FEEL the same.

Any suggestions? I have tried to give extra affection, snackies, talk to her whenever I am at home. I have been considering getting another cat so she won't be lonely, but I am hesitant that this will stress her out more.

Has anyone introduced another cat into a home with an old solitary cat? If so, what were your methods to prevent a massive territorial war and fighting?

Any input is appreciated...

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Raw Meat for kitty

2005-03-04T22:26:39Z

hmmmm, sounds naughty ;)

I've been contemplating a raw meat diet for my cat. I have been researching Irritable Bowel issues in cats and I was rather astounded about my ignorance to the obvious. Cats don't eat kibble in the wild, they eat live prey (amongst other "things") - so why am I feeding dry cat food to my cat?

So I was wonderin' if anyone here does indeed feed their cat a raw meat concoction and could share stories of how the cat's overall health changed/improved.

I am reading a book that details dietary needs (like adding egg yolk, B vits, vit E, etc...)

I am somewhat uncomfortable with purchasing "meat" as I have been vegetarian for many many years - I guess I better get over it, eh? Any suggestions for purchasing relatively guilt free carcass?

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

I lost a second kitty in 5 months time :'(

2005-02-16T23:28:18Z

My curmedgeon cat, Amanda, who was 16 years old, and cranky due to arthritis and allergies, was apparently attacked and killed by a dog while sleeping in her favorite spot in the yard on the 15th. My 18 year old Jason passed away from old age in July as well, so I now only have 2 cats left, Jessica, who is Jason's bio sister and Tyler, known as Da Tyler Monster on Tribe, who is almost 6 now. It's too quiet around here now, although Amanda's spirit seems to be enjoying her painfree state and freaking out the remaining cats from time to time, as well as us humans a bit! It's just hard for the cats, who have spent most, or all, of their lives together, to suddenly lose one of their number. And I have an extra big hole in my heart from losing two so close together. Hoping that Jessica, who is an absolute sweetheart, lasts for a while longer!

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Helping Cat sit...

2004-12-29T03:46:32Z

Hi..I'm somewhat new to the tribe, I read more than post messages. But, after reading someone post about having to leave and not being able to watch their cat...I thought, hey, there's a lot of us on this tribe who are probably able and willing to watch a cat or any other pet for someone out of the sheer goodness of our hearts. I love cats and have a few of my own so I know what that can be like. I just want to say that I'd be more than happy to catsit someones cat(s) (in their home, come by and visit, feed, play, etc.), but I am in Florida at the moment. We won't be back west until a few months from now.

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

Anyone travelling to Norway??Want to take a friends' cat to His Mother

2004-12-14T16:24:31Z

My friend Tryggs mom visited her sister in Norway&decided to stay/But her cat is here in N.J.
I'm looking for someone who would take the cat over on a flight to Norway when they go to visit.email me back here,thanks

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

new kitty misses ex-mommy

2004-12-13T04:42:06Z

well, i got a new kitty...a beautiful little princess named Diamond. It was very sudden tho. Her ex-mommy found a love-match who is terribly allergic so she had to let Diamond go pretty quick...literally overnight. Last night was her first night here and she kept me up with howling at the doors and doorways...probably looking for her ex-mommy of course. Anyway, I am looking for hints to help her adjust. Last night I tried so hard and ended up in tears...on the verge of giving her back even. But i really want to give this a chance, so any advice would be soooo appreciated, thank you.

posted in Feline Friends - 8 replies

Artificial Christmas Tree

2004-12-09T18:49:47Z

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep my cat from eating my Christmas tree? I stopped buying live trees because of this issue, but he seems to love the artificial tree just as much. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Putting an animal "to sleep" for the sake of convenience?!

2004-12-09T16:55:45Z

My goodness! I just had a conversation with a friend who suggested I put my 10 year old cat to sleep, instead of putting her in a kennel for 2 months (I'll be out of the country). On occasion, my cat gets colitis), but otherwise is very healthy and quite possibly has another 8-10 years left.

I was bitching about the $600 I have to come up with to pay for the kitty hotel. I hardly think putting an animal to death for the sake of convenience and financial savings is an appropriate alternative.

I was just surprised she would mention such a thing, especially since her cat died last week, but was too emotionally distraught to tell anyone about it.

Hmmm, strange.

posted in Feline Friends - 17 replies

moving with cat across the country

2004-11-24T12:40:44Z

I will be moving soon, driving for a few days with my cat and am told that Rescue Remedy will help reduce the cat's stress.
However, I haven't been able to find a recommended dosage.

Can anyone here provide a dosage recommendation for an average cat?

Thanks!

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

catsitting

2004-11-14T20:33:30Z

I am catsitting for a few weeks and wonder how much I venture from the owner's general care and feeding directions before I have crossed the line? I wouldn't want to mess this up on purpose...but for instance, the owner gives him his main meal (med bowl of soft food) at 5 am, but I am not up at 5 and have to either do it before I go to bed (about 2 am or so)or when i wake up, which is closer to 9 am...also she keeps a harness on him, but i took it off and only put it back on when he wants to go out. And I have to admit I have been giving him a few more treats than she does. Just wondering how you would feel. I still have 9 days to change everything back to how she had it...but it seems like maybe she could just go back to her routine when she returns and the kitty won't have too much difficulty changing back...although i do wonder about the feeding and the treats. Maybe I should stop the extra treats? Just interested in other POVs on this. :)

posted in Feline Friends - 5 replies

Rabies

2004-11-12T16:07:33Z

Both of my kitties have gotten their booster shots and rabies shots last year. They're both indoor only cats. I got a notice from the vet that they need to update their rabies shots. Is it necessary if they're both healthy and indoor cats??

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

I miss my kitties!!

2004-11-09T17:20:23Z

My family used to have 6 (mama and her 4 kids, plus an outsider)

Now, Strawberry passed in Nov. 2002, Shiro, the outsider, passed last year in July, and Long Socks passed this year in May. :(((((

I miss the kitties....

Don't mean to bum you guys out... just miss my kitties alot.

posted in Feline Friends - 14 replies

sick kitty help

2004-11-07T17:24:20Z

I have a sick kitty. She's 14 years old and was doing pretty well until about a month ago. She start vomiting and had really bad diarrhea (couldn't even make it to the litter box). I took her to the vet immediately and they ran some blood tests. Ended up her liver enzymes were off the charts. A month before that test she had had a normal blood test. So the vet had me put her on a long regimen of antibiotics in case it was just liver infection. She seemed to get better (stopped vomiting, still had some diarrhea and started playing with the other cat again) until she was done with the course. Now she vomits about once every 4 days. The BIG problem is that she's not eating. I've even tried giving her her favorite food - turkey. she won't eat it raw or cooked. She won't eat her regular food (she usually eats canned vet food). All i can get into her is chicken broth, nothing solid. She's also hiding a lot, esp. during the day. At night she comes and cuddles with me. She has a vet appointment tomarrow morning. anyone have any advice on how i can make her more comfortable until then? she's still full of love, and i don't feel that she's asking to go yet.

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

free kitty care in sf???

2004-11-06T18:49:54Z

my friend, who is dealing with some pretty awful financial problems, has a sick kitty and needs badly to get it taken care of somehow. anybody know if there is sliding scale or even free kitty care available in San Francisco??? (her kitty is developing some sort of severe rash and is scratching herself so hard that she pulls out clumps of hair and sometimes skin.)

thanks for any advice or help with this. :)

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Babies and cats

2004-11-02T19:06:17Z

A friend of mine told me that when my baby is born that I have to keep the cat out of the nursery. She says that cats attack babies. Doe anyone know if this true? Or is this a wives tail?

posted in Feline Friends - 7 replies

Nursing Question

2004-11-01T10:57:51Z

I got a kitten six months ago and she's adjusted well to the male cat I have (who is about a year and a half old). They love each other, play, cuddle, clean each other, etc. I do have one concern. When I first got her, she kept trying to nurse my boy kitty. He would let her and she'd suck his nipples even though nothing came out! I figured she was missing her mom, or something. But's she's about 8 months old now and she still tries to once in awhile. Does anyone know why?

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

But why does he have garlic breath?!

2004-10-20T00:22:17Z

So, my kitten, Bear, is acclimating fine to me, my existing kitty, and life in general. I never did figure out a way to get Monster not to eat his food, so I just put it down when the Mo goes out, and otherwise Bear can just eat Monster's food (the baby food has too much fat for Monster...he doesn't need to get any bigger!) Anyway, he is the best kitten in the world, except he always smells like...garlic. Its the wierdest thing. The most god-awful breath in the world. He just went to the vet last week, and the vet said he was fine, his teeth and gums healthy, etc. Any ideas about how to get rid of the garlicy smell? Are there kitty breath mints?

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

alternative pet?

2004-10-05T14:33:57Z

I can't have a cat here without having to pay extra rent and a deposit that i cannot aford...so anybody know of an alternative pet...something relatively easy to care for and cuddly like a kitty perhaps? I really need some company here! Thanks.

posted in Feline Friends - 9 replies

Kitten questions

2004-10-04T05:15:11Z

Hey guys! I just got a new kitten, and am trying to acclimate him to my apt and my existing cat. If anyone has suggestions or insight on the following, I'd love to hear it!

1st, a little background--he's about 3 months old, fixed black little fuzz ball of doom named Bear. He is very tiny for his age due to having been rat poisoned and catching kitty pneumonia. He is getting better now (only 4 more day on his banana (because cats eat a lot of banana, so thats a logical flavor :P)-flavored medicine. He is also recovering feral, so although he loves being held and petted, he is very skittish and gets overwhellmed easily.

Monster is my current boo. He came to me as a stray about 2 years ago. He is also fixed, as well as declawed (he came to me that way), and is assumed to be around 4 years old.

1. I brought Bear home a carboard scratch pad so he would attack it rather than the carpet. Monster promptly claimed it as his own by peeing on it. Should I get everything in pairs, or would it even matter? Bear didn't seem to mind, he came over, sniffeded it, and proceeded to rub his entire body all over it. Should I care?

2. Recommendations for healthy, non-vitamin treats that I can use for either or both kitties as rewards. I want to give Monster something when he is being particularly patient with the little tyke, and I want to be able to give Bear something when he is being brave.

3. Bear's poops STINK. Dear God. He is currently on Purrina Kitten chow, but I will slowly be weening him off it and onto Wellness kitten (purina is what he grew up with, so I'm going to let him get used to life here a little longer before starting the switch). Is this something that can be helped, or am I just going to have wait until his kitten chow days are done?

4. Monster loves Bear's food. As a result, I have to put it up when Monster is around, which means that Bear can't get to it. Any recommendations as to how to put a stop to that?

Thanks guys for any help that you can give me! I really want these 2 to be loving brothers to each other, and want to make the transition as easy as I can for everyone involved. I'm trying to do lots of pet Monster, pet Bear, pet Monster type situations so he still feels like top cat. I know it could be going a lot worse, but I wish Mo wouldn't hiss at the little guy. He hasn't swiped at him yet--even when Bear crashed into him accidentally, so I think thats a good sign.

posted in Feline Friends - 8 replies

do u think my cat would kill my kitten?

2004-09-28T00:31:49Z

I just brought a kitten home. she is so so tiny still. she came from the same mom as my current cat (mom is a feral, we cant catch her for anything) My cat is a pretty nasty cat and has been attacking the lil kitty viciously. I break them up b4 it gets outta hand but i'm actually scared. My cat has been around other animals, we used to live with 2 other cats and a dog. She used to attack them too. My cat is declawed but knows how to use her teeth. I'm scared to leave them alone tomorrow. :O( do you think she has it in her to actually kill? (shes not a very friendly cat, never was, not even as a kitten) the kitten is like the size of a very large mouse right now. My cat is around 11 pounds.

posted in Feline Friends - 13 replies

finally!!

2004-09-26T02:34:45Z

got pics of my pud up...just had to share :)

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

kitty colitis

2004-07-21T22:19:52Z

Do any of you have kitties with colitis? For the last 3 years, my senior kitty will occasionally have episodes of bloody mucus stools - usually lasting 2 hours per episode. We're not talking piles of the stuff, but dime-sized splotches. Sometimes she'll go months without any problems, other times 2-3x/wk. She signals the onset with a loud howling (I presume pain related). It seems to be triggered by psychological distress - if she doesn't get her way, she literally throws a "shit fit".

I have taken her to the vet, thus the colitis diagnosis - unfortunately there wasn't any treatment option outside of shoving pills down her throat 2x/day for 14 days. My cat wouldn't have it, and after 3 days of meds, she hid from everyone, no matter how much you interacted with her outside of medication time.

The only thing I have found to help is when she starts howling, is to rub her tummy and sit quietly with her. When I have done this, she doesn't go into the "bloody mucus poop stage".

Any other suggestions? (A psychiatrist?...)

posted in Feline Friends - 5 replies

Indoor/Outdoor to just indoor transition

2004-07-21T11:51:10Z

I have a fiesty indoor/outdoor boo who is going to need to become a "just indoor" cat (due to a psycho neighbor in my apt who complained about the "dusty paw prints" on her car :P) and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to make the transition more smooth. He generally likes to be out at night, and can be very loud and demanding at obscene hours of the morning if not allowed to go prowl. I got a tremendous amount of cat nip, and am planning on nipping him anytime he gets cranky and wants out, but am not sure that that it the best idea (I don't want a nip-head for a cat). Does anyone have an idea as to how I can keep him from yowling to go outside? I tried squirting him with water, but being the unnatural beast that he is, he thought it was a game (he likes water). Any other ideas?

posted in Feline Friends - 13 replies

I feel so terrible...

2004-07-06T18:30:13Z

I have two cats which are around 10 and 8 1/2. They have always been spoiled by me, and they always have gotten away with scratching furniture for the most part- because I never had good furniture.

Now I am older and my boyfriend and I are about to be moving into our own home. I will admit the cats have done some damage to this place we live in now, and he wants me to declaw them. They don't go outside and will never.

I just feel so bad because I know it is so cruel. But they do scratch and destroy carpets and furniture sometimes, and we can't buy all new furniture for the house then have the cats use it as a scratching post. I have tried providing them with alternatives, but when we are not looking they go right to the couch.

I don't want to do this to my babies :(

posted in Feline Friends - 25 replies

REAL Feline health questions

2004-06-28T19:48:31Z

I've got a white tom, who is deaf, and in the last week or so he has developed what appears to be a severe gum irritation, sores on his lips, and a runny nose. How can really chew hard food right now, and I have no clue how to help him besides keeping him indoors and giving him soft food and fish. He's normally an indoor/outdoor cat with free reign to roam as he pleases. I can't find any online forums that address these issues beyond this one, certainly nothing that has a vet answering questions or giving suggestions. I don't have the cash to pony up for a vet visit right now, and I'm afraid that this could turn more serious, with the vets asking to run hundreds to thousands of dollars on tests, just to tell me that he's got something that they can't treat and he's only got a few months to live. I love the little guy, I really do, and I want him to live the happiest and healthies he can for as long as he can. Anybody got any suggestions at to who I could talk to about this, where I might be able to get some answers? Thanks on behalf of my fuzzball.

O

posted in Feline Friends - 2 replies

Cats who bite

2004-06-26T05:04:19Z

My 10 month old cat bites all of the time. I know they are probably love bites, but nevertheless I want to train him out of the habit. Any suggestions?

posted in Feline Friends - 6 replies

spaying suggestions!!??

2004-06-04T04:03:58Z

i need to get my mama spayed and i really don't have more than $100 to spend on that.

i'm thinking about going to the local humane society where they do it for dirt cheap, but usually when things are dirt cheap, it always comes with a price... any suggestions?????

posted in Feline Friends - 3 replies

A note on critters and pounds

2004-05-31T09:07:22Z

a friend sent me this link, and it made me cry like a little baby. I'm sure that we've all had friends, family members or coworkers that we saw getting a pet for, what we felt, were all the wrong reasons. Mebe we should have them read this before they "commit" to a critter for life?

http://www.furryfriendsfoundation.com/Adoption/SadTale.htm

posted in Feline Friends - 4 replies

spaying and antibiotics question!

2004-05-24T22:37:06Z

is it very important for the cat the have antibiotics after the spaying??? MOST of the vets i called just do the spaying with no antibiotics. i was told antibiotics help prevent infections afterwards.

on friday mama's goin in to get spayed and i'm picking her up the same day. i asked about antibiotics and the girl said they don't give em any. i don't want her to get infected, but i'm a paranoid mother. bleh, i guess i'll find out something

posted in Feline Friends - 0 replies

Ringworm

2004-05-22T03:15:22Z

Okay here is the situation –

My best friend has 2 cats. When she got the second one, Monkey, he had ring worm. This was about a year ago. He came from a Persian/Himalayan cat rescue. He of course gave ringworm to Rini, the first cat. She then treated them both by dipping on a regular basis. Monkey was so bad that he had to be shaved. So, as time goes by they get ringworm again. She treats again. Several months go by and all is good.

December, my girlfriend moves into a new house and suddenly is getting what appear to be bug bites on her legs. She uses normal bug bite stuff on it. It gets worse. She goes to see a dermatologist. First, they think it is eczema and treat accordingly and now they think it is bug bites. Caused by what sort of bug they do not know. She bombs the house and washes everything after being touched/used once – all linens, etc. The doctors have removed her from all her normal face and body products and placed her on non-allergenic, fragrance free, prescription crap. Meanwhile the “bites” have spread over her entire body and now is on her face. They even biopsied one of the lesions which came back non-conclusive.

So, Monkey, gets very bad mats, and ends up getting shaved in … February. Then he starts to have all sorts of skin problems. He has sores everywhere. She takes him to his vet who insists it is not ringworm that he has some sort of allergy, changes his diet, and treats accordingly. The groomer says “oh, it is definitely not ring worm.” The cat has a lion cut (he is/was a beautiful long haired Himalayan) and is not getting any better.

I insist she takes him to a board certified veterinary dermatologist that I know. She does and – she diagnoses him with ringworm – severe ringworm. Now she starts to treat accordingly.

Meanwhile she is getting worse. I am freaked out. Her boyfriend is freaked. We are racking our brains trying to figure out what is happening to our friend and is there a correlation between the cat and the girl. He states whatever it is he gets “bit” too but does not have the reaction that she does.

Well, now that the cat is diagnosed. The doctor believes that Rini is a carrier – therefore showing no symptoms. Two of Holli’s g-friends have contracted ringworm and it looks like classic ringworm. A third girlfriend gets something and guess what it looks just like what Holli has. They start out as little bumps, looks like a small pimple. And then it itches. And then there are more. And then there will be an itch somewhere else and you itch and there is a bump. Hm-m-m… looks like bug bites but not. None of these bumps look like classic ringworm.

The doctors don't seem to think its ringworm at all. Three people around the cats have this reaction and two more have the normal ringworm circles on them. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks! We can use all the info we can get to fight this crap!

posted in Feline Friends - 1 reply

Declining cat

2004-04-24T03:02:56Z

Hello everyone.

Just was wondering if any of you had some sage words of wisdom. Our 19-year-old cat, Severin, is starting to decline. We've spoken to the vet about the procedure of putting a cat to sleep. But the most difficult question facing us right now is knowing when is the right time. He's still eating, and purring, but he's really weak and having a hard time moving around. The vet said it's a quality of life issue. Have any of you gone through this? If so, how did you know when it's time? Any suggestions on how to survive this whole process?

Many, many thanks.

~Cindy

posted in Feline Friends - 5 replies