My kitty is finally sleeping now.

[Why Syzygy]

He was a b-d gift and I keep the front door open because I do my work in the front room and like fresh air.

But before he was here, a neighborhood kitty made a practice of showing up, you can hear his bell. I have not seen his parent's lately. They left him during the summer and took a vacation, so he ended up sleeping in my bed.

Then the OTHER neighborhood cat started coming by. With the door open, and my hospitality, they just walked in, ate some food, and sauntered out. A couple of days ago, I began to pick up from my kitty that he was not pleased about this arrangement. He is still small and hid under my desk while the other cats came and went at their leisure. So mamma bear (me) had to set the rule down and summon up the water spray bottle and start keeping these other cats out of the house.

I still love them, but they need to know that there is a new boss in the house. He now sleeps in the doorway. Much more relaxing. He was actually starting to get on my nerves because he was in high alert mode. I was a little dense on the uptake.

Dayum he is cute. I'm thinking of NJCher right now. And all the other kitty mommas.

[NJCher]

1. You had to know I'd show up first on a kitty thread

LOL.

Yeah, your kitty was upset because his territory was being violated.

I'm glad the problem is resolved; kitty happiness is paramount, isn't it? :loveya:




Cher

[Why Syzygy]

2. I was thinking of you the whole time

this post went down. Yah. You are probably the most kitty attuned person I know.

I don't remember though, do you have one to take the place of your sweet one who came in the mist?

I hope so.

I know that now all I have to do is point my finger at the cat named Earl and he knows, this is Boogie's place. A mother's job is never done.

And the most I can hope for is to watch the lazy boob sleeping.. Except when he is jumping around out in the yard.

He does this one thing that I'm trying to break him from. Pawing in my hair. He wants to sleep on my pillow. Or at my feet. His desire of the day, of course. I like him stroking my hair, except he uses toenails. I have never had a cat that didn't know pull in the claws, dude. Any suggesions on that?

[davsand]

4. You can nip the ends of the claws off.

Just take the very tiny tip points off--don't go too short or you'll hurt him! What that does, is it keeps those needle sharp points from hurting you, but it still leaves him with some defense tools as well as something to hook into his favorite scratching item to use to stretch (you do realize that is why cats scratch at stuff--right?)

My boy, Chaucer was like that too. He also LOVED to stand on me and do "mashed potatoes" and THAT hurts when the claws are sharp. He's five now, (and still very much the spud!) but he still sleeps with me most nights. I nip off the very tips of his claws every so often, and he promptly starts to sharpen them back up.

He's a VERY determined kitty! :)

Enjoy your baby, and if you can figure out how to provide food or shelter outside your house for the neighbor cats, it really would be a kindness to them!

Regards!


Laura

[Why Syzygy]

6. They have their very own households!

Really I think they just showed up because Boogie is a new attraction. And Earl said, oh I can walk on in and eat your food anytime! I have not seen Earl's parents for quite some time. Surely they did not go off and leave him. But I should investigate that. They did leave him here a week alone when they did vacation, and he slept with me. That was pre-Boogie days.

How do you trim their toenails? Average nail clippers? And the cat sits still for that?

Probably the favorite book of all time was "The Cat Who Came for Christmas". It was never a best seller. Just a charming tale. Execpt when the cat ate the birds on the balcony.

We can't live without them though. I have a kitty chair. An heirloom that was re-uphostered years ago. So many cats have sat on it and clawed it. It's just their chair.

[davsand]

9. I use a pair of fingernail clippers.

Just use a pair of regular fingernail clippers, and I am very serious about saying just take off the VERY tip of the claw. Cat claws are very much like our fingernails and if you cut them too short they will hurt and bleed just like our nails do.

My advice about trimming nails is to sit down in a chair and get the kitty in your lap. I just keep the cat's trimmer by our favorite chair and I'll maybe do a few at a time before he starts to get restless. If he starts pulling his paw back I just let him do it, keep petting him, and I trim a few more in a day or two.

One trick I really do want to share with you as a new cat owner is to be sure and make your cat want to come to you when you call him/her. If your cat has some kind of kitty treat that they love (my cat is nuts about just about ANY of those Pounce type cat treats!) keep a can of those in the house and EVERY time you call the cat give him one when he comes.

I don't care WHY you are calling that cat he gets a treat when he comes to you--EVERY time.

You know your kitty loves you, and you know he knows you love him. However, for his safety and for your peace of mind you want to establish straight away that the cat will be rewarded for coming to you when called.

If he's ever hiding someplace in the house or if he ever escapes outside, you'll be VERY glad you have established this particular behavior patterning. It is the ONE cat training thing I have done with all my cats no matter how dense they are, no matter how stubborn they are.

You can "teach" them to show you they want to be petted, you can "teach" them any number of things. You can NEVER force a cat to do much of anything (nor should you!) You will go far with a cat if there is something in it for them. Kitties thrive on positive rewards (behavior modification) training.

Enjoy your kitty! They are marvelous creatures!


Laura

[SouthernBelle82]

3. That seems about right about the territory comment

Is there any way you can still help the other cats but not make yours uncomfortable? Perhaps you could leave some food in a garage if you have one or your front porch or something like that. The neighbors across the street have some animals (various wild kind) come to their back door every evening for food and they have little bowls out to feed them on their back porch and than they leave when they're done. Perhaps you can do something like that.

[Why Syzygy]

8. I am going to have to go see

if Earl's parents are still here.

When they came back from vacation this summer they came here to see if Earl was here. He was.

I swear I do not tell these cats to come around. I had a brief roommate once who said you make my cats go in your room! No I did not. They just show up on their own. Whoever heard of telling a cat what to do. Absurd.

[Cleita]

5. How cute.

I had to stop leaving my door open because of the visitors including one dog. My kitty was not pleased.

[Why Syzygy]

7. Most dogs

talk to me. Cats are not vocal. Supposed to read their minds.