Off topic…what do you do during the cold winter and hot summer for George and Gracie so they stay comfortable?
George and Gracie pretty much take care of themselves – they hang out under the coop during the summer days, and if they want to get out of the weather in the winter, there’s a protected area in front of the coop. They can also go into the coop if they want to (Gracie does that more often than George does). The cold weather doesn’t bother them as much as the hot weather does!
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Lurker here, slowly wading in to the commenting pool…. I read your blog religiously (it’s the first thing I open when I get to work — yay proCATination) I need the help of some experienced cat owners!
My 3 yr old tuxie, Delilah, thinks she’s a dog (it’s my fault… she’s my first cat. Leash trained and gives high fives when asked. Anyway, I digress). In the past 24 hours, she has tried to kill my bf and me twice. Last night she chewed through his laptop power cord and caused the computer to short out. Today, I went to dry my hair and was supremely startled when sparks and smoke starting shooting out all over, the fire alarm went off, and, luckily, the breaker tripped.
Point is, the girl is a chewer. That bitter grapefruit spray doesn’t work. Nor does wrapping things in tin foil. Or coating them in pepper.(She chews tinfoil and loves pepper!). I’ve tried giving her things to chew on (even dog toys) and nothing works. Any suggestions for 1) getting her to stop eating the electric cords and 2) a good chew toy or diversion for her chewing obsession?
You can read this post here – there are my suggestions in the post itself, and then be sure to check out the comments too, I believe there are more suggestions there. (One day, I’m going to get myself organized, and get that information put on a page by itself so it’ll be easy to find! )
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I need some help from fellow cat lovers, or maybe I just need to vent. I have four cats: Cookie, 12, spayed female; Xena: Warrior Calico, 5, spayed female; Marmalade, 5, neutered male; and Valentino, 3, neutered male. Xena hates male cats and she particularly hates Marmalade, which is disappointing because I bought her as a companion to Marmalade when he was six months old and was driving Cookie crazy with his overly boisterous playing/attacking. I used to let them out while I was at work (usually 1 to 9 p.m. shift). Two years ago, I found a stray cat in my driveway, dead and partially eaten, possibly by a coyote. I live 2 miles from downtown, so it was pretty shocking. There have also been pit bulls who roam my area. I went into overprotective mama mode and started only letting the cats out on weekends during daylight hours. Xena and Marmalade starting fighting all the time and Xena was miserable. So, I started letting her out, alone, when I went to work. Marmalade was NOT happy about this. I chose to let Xena out because she was aptly named, a fierce, street smart warrior whom I trusted would be OK. Over the past six months, Marmalade has been retaliating by spraying inside the house. He is now spraying all the time. I just ordered Feliway plug-ins and spray. No cats have been killed lately in my area. The question is: Do I let Marmalade, and possibly Cookie and Valentino, out during the day? Marmalade is lovable, but not the brightest bulb in the candelabra. If a coyote or pit bulls were still around, at 16 pounds, he would be a desirable target. But then again, I get home at 9 p.m. and bring all the cats in then. What should I do?
For the most part if there are coyotes and possibly dogs around, I’d do my best to keep the cats inside. Which I understand is a whole lot easier said than done! Are there places in your house where Xena can get away from the other cats? (Cat trees, tops of bookcases, like that?) Is there any way to make an enclosed area outside where they could go? I know that if our cats couldn’t go into the backyard during the day, we’d be having serious issues!
I wonder if putting Marmalade on kitty Xanax (or something like that) would help.
I know I’m not being much help here, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. Just know that I sympathize, because there’s nothing as frustrating as a cat who sprays! Readers, do you have suggestions? Please chime in!
Actually, now that I think about it – I recently read this post on Jade’s blog. She tried a Martha Stewart brand calming spray that worked amazingly well for her two kitties – it’s available in the store, but apparently not on their web site yet. I made a mental note of it because I thought I’d get a bottle and give it a try when we’re having issues. Unless it’s a tiny bottle, that’s not a bad price. (I’ll report back if/when I buy some.)
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I guess there is a tabby dad running around somewhere avoiding child support.
and
(From OldCat, our genetics expert!) Tabby dad had some white on him too.
I was going to post a picture of Corbie looking guilty here (just to be funny, of course), but then I thought “Wait. Does Corbie have white on him?” and couldn’t remember. I had to go look to see that he has no white on him at all!
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The pic labeled “The first two” – does that baybee on the left have a thumb???
I don’t believe so, I think it’s just the angle and the way his foot was pushing against the bed.
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I love, love, love how #4 (I think?) started out on his back being squashed and trampled, but then managed to make his way to safety at the edge of the bad by the end. It always surprises me, how strong they are when they’re just born. I feel for the mama cats – can you imagine having five kittens, each nearly strong enough to move him/herself across a Kitten-King of siblings and a cat bed, all bundled up inside your belly and anxious to get out?! And with those claws, it always amazes me that the mothers survive the gestation process without having their innards lacerated!
Totally adorable – and I don’t know how you managed to keep your hands off of them for the filming of the video. I’d have all five of them down the front of my bra, and only give them back to Kate for nursing and potty-time. (See: this guy, tempted to keep baby bears.)
Kittens just NEVER stop moving, I swear. They’re constantly in motion, squirming over and around each other, climbing up Mt. Mama, exploring the bed. I’ll add, though, that their claws are very soft right now, so probably they weren’t clawing at her from the inside. That, or her womb is made of Teflon!
The only thing stopping me from stealing those babies away from Kate is that she willingly takes care of potty time for them, and I… am not so willing. 🙂 I spend plenty of time petting their little heads (and bellies, oh good LORD the bellies!), and then Kate decides I’ve messed with her babies plenty, and she climbs into the bed, drapes her tail over them, and gives me a LOOK that clearly says “You may go, lady.” I usually obey, because she’s in charge… at least for now!
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BTW, a PSA to all FB users — there’s a bad Facebook scam going around called “Experience Facbook Black”; read all about it here and stay safe.
Thanks for the heads-up, Charlene!
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If you need to regularly pill a cat and you’re terrible at it (I certainly am – Fred’s the one who gives pills in this house!), check out Connie’s post with instructions – and pictures – on how to get the job done!
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Beautiful mama (you can see a little black head tucked under her chin).
Sleepy monkeys.
A whole pile of ’em!
You know, it really is quite exhausting to be THIS cute.
Keeping an eye on me.
Telling secrets.
The little pink paws – seriously. Do they kill you dead, or what?
Climbing babies.
Mama Kate lubs her babies (she was purring and kneading here.)
They sure do climb a lot. I should have named them after mountain climbers!
Snuggling with Mama’s foot.
She seems a bit less frazzled, doesn’t she?
Sweet girl.
I’m planning to post at least one day this weekend (probably not both), if only because I’m getting so many pictures that I don’t want to flood you with 40 pictures on Monday!
Names will be announced in Monday’s post.
Annnnd… how about a video? Say hello to Kate and her squirmy little monkeys.
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Try to relax, Corbie. Such a stressball.
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Previously
2012: “Good lord, I hope I don’t look half as dorky as you when I’m waiting to get my treat.”
2011: Do you see this face?
2010: “What babies?”
2009: Meet The Seven.
2008: No entry.
2007: How cute are these guys?
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.