Fur and Feathers 4 Ever

I mentioned in a prior post that I would share my other cat soon and discuss the best ways of introducing a kitten to a feral cat. Teddy was adopted several months after Mitsy. She's the formerly feral kitten that has been the subject of my earlier posts.  I was concerned about how well they'd get along, but the first introduction went better than expected. There was some hesitation and hissing, but that's completely normal with feline introductions. Before long curiosity and the desire for play and companionship won them over.  Meet Teddy My Orange-Striped Tabby Cat  Teddy is a big orange-striped medium-hair tabby cat that grew larger than Mitsy, but he wasn't always the biggest. At three months of age, he was a little less than half her size. According to the former owner, he would be big like his father.  Teddy and Mitsy Teddy's father was thought to be a large stray orange-striped cat. Unfortunately, he was killed by a car, but I wouldn't let that happen to ...

Three years ago on a warm and breezy autumn evening, I heard what I first thought was the cry of a kildeer in the far end of the backyard. As I sat at the dining room table I soon realized that it wasn't a bird. It sounded more and more like a kitten in distress, and I had to investigate. I had been secretly wishing for a kitten, and maybe the cat distribution system had finally worked in my favor.  My cat Panda Bear was 13 years old, and the dreaded thought that he wouldn't always be around had crossed my mind more than once. Having a kitten or another cat to care for would soften the inevitable blow. I'll save that story for another post.  Anyway, after digging through one of two kitchen junk drawers for a working flashlight, I ventured outside as the sun sank below the trees and further darkened the landscape. Following the sound to the far corner of the one-acre yard brought me to a scrubby-looking bush and thick weeds in the neighbor's yard. I bent down to see the ...

Welcome back to my new blog and my second post. If you read my first entry I said that I'd follow up on how I helped the feral kitten I rescued from the backyard, and I'm posting it a day earlier than expected. I plan on posting a few times a week, and it may be more often until my site is established.  Anyway, after bringing Mitsy inside I was able to examine her. Thankfully she wasn't trying to bite me or escape. I quickly retrieved the carrier I used for my shih-tzu and lined it with a towel. I also offered her water, a little wet food, and a small litterbox made from a shallow plastic lunchmeat container. The cage would also keep her safe when I wasn't able to actively watch her. Kittens are like toddlers, and they must be supervised.  Mitsy My Little Feral Either Mitsy was at least partially weaned or she was extremely hungry and finished the food. At this point, she seemed to realize that I was a friend. She became relaxed enough to play with a cat dancer toy, and...

Hello again, and welcome to the third post at My Two Cats . I didn't begin with two cats as my blog name suggests. When I rescued Mitsy I already had two seniors. That leads me to the topic of this article. I wasn't sure if the adults would instantly accept her, if they would physically attack, or if they would hide in fear of this fluffy little invader. Turns out none of the above happened.  Why I Didn't Immediately Allow Contact  The initial introduction went better than expected, but it wasn't without challenges. As I said in my second post, I waited to introduce the feral kitten. She could have had anything from worms to feline leukemia, and I waited because I wanted to protect my indoor cats until after a thorough veterinary exam.  How the Older Cats and a Dog Reacted to a Feral Kitten The two older ones did lots of hissing but didn't attack or run off in fear. Mitsy was clearly put off by their not-so-welcoming reactions, but the hissing and lunging lessened e...

My blog is primarily about cats, but I have to discuss a problem that I can't help but think must be common. I can't reach the clothes in the bottom of the washing machine. Do you have that issue too?  Deep Drum Washers and Struggling to Reach the Clothes After getting my new machine I began by washing my cat's blankets and a few furniture coverings, and the first thing I noticed was how deep they designed the drum! I'm about 5' 4" tall, and my arms are either short or manufacturers aren't considering height when designing these products.  A Reacher Grabber Tool is Safer than a Stool or Chair My first inclination was to stand on my little wooden stool , but I immediately envisioned falling into the drum and getting stuck with my legs up in the air. I have a good imagination, but I am more cautious these days. My mind went back to when I stood on the arm of the couch to reach a plant and the padding shifted. After a two-second life review, as I fell to the f...

One of the worst odors a cat parent can face comes from urine, and it isn't always caused by territorial spraying. I found a puddle under my cat's pan; at first, I had no idea how or why it happened. The plastic wasn't cracked, and it was a fairly deep newer box.  My second thought was which cat did it and why. The following possibilities crossed my mind: UTI Dirty litterbox Blocked access to the box Bad litter pan design  My Cat Pooped and Peed in the Bathtub!  The only other incident I had with inappropriate urination also involved feces. Years ago I found cat poop and pee in my big garden bathtub. The only cat I had at the time was Patch, an older female calico, but she was impeccably clean and would never do that on purpose. No cat would since they're clean animals.  Upon further inspection, I discovered that after cleaning her pan I had turned the opening toward the wall. She couldn't get in! It was smart to find the next best thing. The bathtub must have looke...

From the time my previously feral cat was tiny her form of cat speak was atypical. Since ferals aren't around humans they communicate differently than their domestic counterparts. They make a series of trills and other vocalizations, some without opening their mouths.  I call Mitsy 'my cat with a feral accent'. The sounds that she makes are much different than any cat I've had in the past. She can meow, but she had to learn how by observing my senior cat Panda Bear. She had lots to learn! Mitsy's First Meow I hadn't really thought much about Mitsy not meowing even though just about every sound she made came from her throat and through a closed mouth. One morning she let out a big loud meowww that surprised me and scared her! She wanted food, and she knew that she had to speak up.  Mitsy's eyes looked as big as saucers after her very first word. She learned by observing Panda Bear communicate with house humans through meows. Since human beings are vocal crea...

Cat litterboxes have greatly evolved over the years. The first one I bought decades ago was a basic plastic pan. When the lidded type came out I had to have one and would never go back to the open kind. Now you'll find motorized varieties that do the scooping.  I don't have a self-cleaning litterbox, but I'm happy to have one that doubles as decor. It's perfect for cat parents without a green thumb or where space is limited. I bought the original hidden litter box years ago.  I Love Hidden Litterboxes! Before buying my tropical faux plant litterbox I considered one that doubled as a side table. Whoever thought of these was a genius!  Furniture cat litterboxes are the bomb, and they look remarkably better than plastic.  If you can make it work I highly recommend one that doubles as a side table or bench. If I had chosen this option I would have topped it with a thick and comfy pet bed or cushion. It's the perfect height to place beneath a window.  I ended up with...

My Aldi ficus tree was doing remarkably better - until my cat started chewing on it. Yes, I know that ficus is toxic to cats. I keep my bedroom door closed now. She didn't suffer any ill effects and my title was dramatic, but I wouldn't risk it after knowing that it can be harmful. Besides, the leaves are now riddled with puncture marks, and I'd like it to survive another 15 years.  That plant was about six inches tall and started as a bonsai when I bought it a decade and a half ago. It started out with a neatly braided trunk secured with gold twist ties. Unfortunately, one section didn't grow tall like the rest. I quit trying to keep it braided after it became obviously shorter.  Toxic Plants and Cats Back to the subject of my post, since I am covering the dilemma of my cat chewing on my ficus tree. Many houseplants are toxic, including but not limited to poinsettia and lilies. You must keep the cat and plants separated or opt for other varieties. If you can't keep...

My female tabby Mitsy is seven months older than my orange male cat, Teddy. I initially thought that Mitsy was the dominant cat because she was older. Also, from the moment they accepted each other Mitsy took on the role of mother. As I've said before, just as some people love children, some cats love kittens.  Why Would a Cat that Never Had Kittens Act Motherly? I thought it was adorable when Mitsy started licking Teddy's ears. My husband's late cat Baby, would have never groomed my late cat, Panda Bear! They were older when first introduced. They were also still here when I brought Mitsy home.  Baby didn't exhibit motherly instincts toward Mitsy. It was like watching a cranky old lady scold a playful child. She tolerated other animals in the house, but they knew to keep their distance.   Mitsy still grooms Teddy's head, ears, and neck, and he often lies down in front of her as if to say, ' You can groom me now '. It's still as adorable as ever, but it ...