Got cats?

[Lenny]

I think our previous cats have had the only vaguely sensible names out of all of our pets - Milly and Bertie (to give them their full titles - Tonkabella Nicolette Nora, and Tonkabella Uri Umberto). Our rabbits were Hopper and Flopper (named by me, because Hopper had big ears, and Flopper liked to jump... I kid you not - I had a wicked sense of humour as a five year old), and the three pairs of goats are Dandelion and Burdock, Rum and Coke, and Milk and Shake.

[Lenny]

We appear to have reached an agreement, after I steered me mam and sister towards Roman emperors, and then emperors in general.

Maximilian and Theodore (who me mam and sister can called Max/Maxie and Theo/Teddy).

It's either that, or Manuel and Basil.

EDIT: It's going to be two of these kittens: http://www.linczozocats.co.uk/kittens.php

[StormFeather]

Beautiful kittens Lenny - and great names too! Can't wait to see more pics when you've got them.

My boys are getting on a bit now, and one of them has just started scent-marking the house at random moments, in random places. He did it yesterday on a box of Easter stuff that's waiting to go back to the school, and just now on the curtain over the front door as I put my boots on. Both of these were right in front of me when I watched, but I dread to think where else he might have sprayed when I wasn't watching.

Has anyone else experienced similar situations with their cats? I'm loath to take Tigger to the vets unless absolutely necessary as he finds it to be the most stressful experience. Any tips would be most welcome!

[crystal haven]

I hope someone can help put my mind at rest. We've a 14 year old cat, and found out yesterday she has diabetes and she must have injections twice a day. Is there anyone in a similar situation?

I hope you don't mind me asking, but I'm really concerned, and would be very grateful for any advice.

[anivid]

Hello Crystal,
Yes, I'm the grateful owner of a 15 year old cat (male) which have had diabetes for almost 8 years.
And yes, I've done injections twice a day during that time - it's a routine as so many other routines in life :-)
It's like being Cinderella, you have to be home at a certain time every day :-)
May I ask: How much is she weighing ??
Cheer up - a diabetes properly cared for is not that big a deal.
Is there anything you specifically want to know??

[crystal haven]

Hi Anivid,

Thanks for the reply - that sounds really positive.

Our cat is a Burmilla, and weighs 3.9kg, I think. According to the vet she's about average weight. I suppose my biggest concern is giving her the injections. Does your cat just accept it? I'm worried I might hurt her, or make her wary of us.

[The Judge]

Can't help with the diabetes question, crystal -- save that I know from watching the vets that they inject into the scruff and the cats don't seem to feel much at all (but they could be so traumatised by the trip to the vets in the first place...)

Stormfeather, are the boys entire toms? If so, that's your problem. We've always had neutered toms and never experienced any scent-marking. If yours are neutered then it could be a stress issue -- we use that feliway stuff on eg Bonfire night, which seems to help a little.

[anivid]

Crystal, I was just as shocked as you are now, when getting the message J
But cats like order and routine – which is of great help.
You negotiate a feeding time with the Burmilla – a time making it possible for you to feed her 12 hours later also (insuline is « feeding » too)
The best (and only) diet for a diabetic cat is still « Royal Canin, Diabetic », it’s a bit expensive, but that’s worth it for avoiding further problems – and cats just lo-o-ove it, which is equally important J
Give app. half of it right away, then prepare your syringe and get ready.
It’s important the cat has got something into its system before you apply the insuline.
Take a grip and lift up the skin on the back/sides of the back (the thick skin), and slowly (not real slow) but steadily press the pump (avoid briskness – it’s an act of love J
The injection is just under the skin (subcutaneous), not intramusculaire or anything – after having given the injection rub gently the place for stimulating the uptake, avoiding the formation of knots – and for showing your affection J
Finally she can have the rest of the food.
I use the one backside for the morning injection, and the other backside for the evening one (for not using the same spot all the time), my cat is so used to it so he by himself turn the correct side to me J
The diagnostica, the signs of diabetes normally are raised water consumption, raised amount of urine, and weight loss - keep an eye on those things, and you’ll be able to foresee your next visit to the vet for augmenting/lowering the dosis of insuline.
When did the Vet tell you to come back ??
Of course you’ll be nervous the first couple of times you’re injecting her, you don’t want to hurt her – even if you’re a little clumpsy there, she’ll forgive you – cats don’t bear grudges, they feel the intention J
Dont worry whether she can feel pain – I inadvertedly pricked myself in the finger once, and it doesn’t hurt, but of course you can feel it, but pain ? – no.
Ther’re so many things I could tell – but we got to have you started first.
Pls. don’t hesitate to ask.
A good thing she got normal weight, I had to slim my cat one third – ever tried to slim a cat ?? – no, you haven’t, but that’s quite a job, I can tell J
May be it would be a good thing you’re talking to her during the process, cats like to hear our soothing voices, it sort of calm them down.
Courage Crystal – when getting used to it, it’s really no big deal :-)

[anivid]

Forgot to tell, Crystal that I'm injecting WHILE the cat's eating - that way, it's occupied with a most important thing - and not paying that much attention to me :-)

What is the dosage of insuline your vet recommended ??

[crystal haven]

Thank you, so much, Anivid, that's really helpful and reassuring. I appreciate you taking the time to post.

We noticed her drinking a lot and using her litter tray more, and also being slightly confused. I did wonder if it might be diabetes, but thought of it being controlled by diet - I never thought about having to give injections.

The vet has given us a DVD to watch, before we make any decisions, and tomorrow we are going to go and talk to her about it all. I will let you know what's decided. I gather there are individual shots, like a pen, that we can use, so we are looking at that.

[anivid]

Good Luck with tomorrow, Crystal :-)

[StormFeather]

Originally Posted by The Judge

Stormfeather, are the boys entire toms? If so, that's your problem. We've always had neutered toms and never experienced any scent-marking. If yours are neutered then it could be a stress issue -- we use that feliway stuff on eg Bonfire night, which seems to help a little.

Thanks TJ. My boys are neutered - we've had them from 6 weeks, and had them done as soon as we could. They're now about 11.5 years old. I've got one who is already pulling out his hair on his back - spent over £200 at the vets to finally be told it's stress. Now the other is scent marking.

It is possible that another cat is busting through the cat flap and Tigg's is just trying to re-assert his authority in the house, but it's the way he's doing it right in front of me. Bizarre!

I've tried the Feliway and have also supplemented with the 'Pets at Home' own 'Pet Remedy' - smells like cat wee for a few days but seems to have a calming effect overall. I know that the refill had run out, but didn't replace it as I've just had a PTA meeting at my house and didn't want them to think my house smelt like at cat's litter tray!!

[The Judge]

Definitely sounds like stress of some kind, poor thing. I don't suppose there's any way to lock the cat flap to keep out any marauding toms? If yours have collars, I think there are some electronic gizmos which allow them to enter but would keep out other cats. In the meantime, to reassure them, get a clean cloth and rub up and down the scent glands on their cheeks and then rub that all over the doors etc -- if they have that reinforcement of their scent he may not need to spray so much.

Hope you solve the problem soon, though!

[Moonbat]

I think they make catflaps that work on the microchips as well, so you might not need collars.

Talking of collars, is it something every cat should have?
Our cat, Nina J, has started catching birds. Ok long story coming.

We used to live in Weybridge and we got Nina as a rescue cat, the area we lived in was a small estate and there were lots of cats aroundbut very little wild life. We didn't have a cat flap so we had to let her in an out in the evenings. About 7 months ago we moved to Devon, we live in a much more rural estate with a small stream nearby and a dog walking path. One of our neighbours has three cats and one of them, Mittens, keeps fighting with Nina J, he chases her and she wails when he comes near. We had to take her to the vet onver the bank holiday for a nasty cut near her mouth, we think Mittens probably did it.
Anyway, she has learned how to catch birds, the first was a couple of months ago, My GF woke up one morning and then starts shouting that Nina has a bird, and sure enough in the second bedroom is a live brid tyring to fly out of a closed window. Nina is jumping around, sort of playing with it, but not really hurting it too much. I open the window and let the bird fly away, Nina is not happy with me, but I am delighted with her as I'm proud she is becoming a hunter.
This week she has figured something out because he has caught a bird every day. Monday it was the same as before, I woke to find her in the second bedroom with a bird, it was slightly injured (bleeding) but I opened the window and it flew away (this make me wonder if it was cruel to let it go, cruel to Nina for releasing her prize, and cruel to the bird as if it is injured it will probably die a slower death). Then Tuesday I was in the kitchen at lunch and I could see Nina coming up to the catflap and not coming in. I went to look outside to see what she was upto and she had a bird in her mouth. I tapped on the window and waved to her cooing how clever she was, she paused for a sec and must have released her grip on the bird, it flew away, she chased it but looked really annoyed that she had let it go.
Yesterday, She brought another one into the house, but this time into our bedroom, it was during the day, but she had let it go and it had flown up onto a shelf in our wardrobe, Nina was mewing at it and unable to get to it. So I opened the window and tried to encourage it to fly away, it flew straight into one of the closed windows and almost knocked itself out, it was dazed for a minute or two, but again, once it got out of the window it flew away.
So, our little Nina J has learned how to catch birds and, although she doesn't eat them or kill them, she is bringing them into the house. I am quite proud of her, but it is a bit mean to the birds. Should we give her a collar with a bell on, we did it before once but it freaked her out and she went mental, also it would give Mittens (her enemy) an unfair advantage, but it might save the birds. Then again there are plenty of birds around (including seagulls twice the size of Nina) so it might just weed out those less fit to survive.

[Warren_Paul]

Holy wall of text, Batman!

My experience with collars is if you don't train them early on to wear one they keep pulling them off - somehow. It will be quite possible that she won't like them, because she isn't used to it.

Cats are natural predators, it is annoying bringing them into the house though, but it is a pride thing for her - showing off her prize. She is likely catching the birds because she wants to play with them, not as food.

I'm not sure what to do about it though, or if you should do anything.