Cat thread

[Signe]

The very few times I've had to clean my cats has been when they can't do it themselves.  Happily, I have cats that are very clean.  I also did exactly what Binary Man did when they were kittens.  I paid special attention to their feet because I trim their claws regularly.  I usually have someone hold them while I clip, but I've done done it alone too.  Magenta will squirm and I'll stop if she seems too edgy about it but usually it's not a problem.  She's the one I had to clean when she was sick and she didn't get upset.  I don't put them in water, though.  I use a damp cloth and then cuddle them up in a towel to dry.  They like the cuddles!

[tgr]

Speaking of trimming claws, I've never done that and I can just imagine how many strips of beef I'd be turned into if I tried. One of my cats (Luna) doesn't even tolerate me touching her paws, let alone manhandle them.

She does like the neck/ear scritches, though.

[rattran]

Like with anything, trimming claws with a cat that doesn't like its feet touched just takes consistency and patience. Most important of all, remain calm and cool, no matter how scary the cat is, or how much that claw stuck in your wrist hurts. after a few times they learn not to struggle, that it'll be over soon then its treats and petting time.

[Bunk]

For all of the issues (wounds) Harmony's given me trying to give her medicine, she's perfectly fine with claw trimming. I do it solo, with a pair of toenail clippers. Sometimes she'll only let me do one paw in a sitting, but seems more out of impatience than anything else. I'm just reeeally careful about not over trimming.

Bath though? I wouldn't even consider trying. She won't willingly even go in to the rain. Luckily she's an indoor cat.

[apocrypha]

Zebedee is not a fan of water in any way, shape or form. Possibly stems from having fallen in the bath a few times when she was younger because she used to like sitting on the edge, marveling at these stupid humans willingly making themselves all wet and hey those bubbles are fun to play with haha whoops ARGH OMG WET WET SCRABBLE CLAMBER SPROING RUNAWAY etc.

Sputnik however quite likes the rain and regularly sits on the patio in a downpour looking at her reflection in all the puddles before coming in and leaving huge, muddy footprints all over the house. She does not, however, like being dried with a towel!

Claw trimming is, at rattran says, just a question of patience and repetition until they get used to it. I'm sure I've mentioned it in this thread before, but we only give them kitty treats after they have a comb, claws trimmed or Frontline putting on. Didn't take long for them to learn that when we get the treat packet out and rustle it around it means that they just need to endure whatever for a few mins and then they get yummies.

[Mrbloodworth]

After watching this cat owner palm getting cut and bled. I understand why anyone would want that machine.

Shes a moron.

[calapine]

Speaking of trimming claws, I've never done that and I can just imagine how many strips of beef I'd be turned into if I tried. One of my cats (Luna) doesn't even tolerate me touching her paws, let alone manhandle them.

She does like the neck/ear scritches, though.

Never heard of claw trimming actually. Old Petzi used to get into fights with rats* more than once, so he probably needed them dearly too. A real predator: he brought home mice and birds regularly, and to the dismay of my mother, hunted dragonflies and blindworms (sort of snake, but not actually snakes) near the pond.

*We lived on the countryside, close to fields.

[Ingmar]

We trim ours as well, it is a 2 person job with Lizzie but neither of them are too bad about it. Jack can be done by one person if you catch him while he's sleepy, which is 95% of the time.

[Paelos]

We trim ours as well, it is a 2 person job with Lizzie but neither of them are too bad about it. Jack can be done by one person if you catch him while he's sleepy, which is 95% of the time.

He's sleepy because of all the pooping.

[Sjofn]

2.  Don't grab the cat's neck; grab the back of the neck skin.  That's how momma cats carry their young around, and many cats just go limp when their scruff is grabbed.

Scruffing Lizzie is a sure-fire way to enrage her, it's sort of hilarious. One of her warnings in her vet file is DO NOT SCRUFF because she will try to destroy the uppity fucknut who thinks she's still as stupid as a kitten.

[Ingmar]

2.  Don't grab the cat's neck; grab the back of the neck skin.  That's how momma cats carry their young around, and many cats just go limp when their scruff is grabbed.

Scruffing Lizzie is a sure-fire way to enrage her, it's sort of hilarious. One of her warnings in her vet file is DO NOT SCRUFF because she will try to destroy the uppity fucknut who thinks she's still as stupid as a kitten.

The moment just before DOOM:

[Sjofn]

The crazy eyes get me every time. 

[01101010]

Strangely enough, I look at this picture and hear a Goliath from Borderlands 2 after I shot off his helmet.

angry... I am SO GOD DAMN ANGRY!!

or

mistake... big GOD DAMN MISTAKE!!

 

[Signe]

[Signe]

[01101010]

If only that breed were domesticated. I'd have three at least.

[Lantyssa]

The wild 403, seen here in its native habitat...

[Signe]

I thought I fixed it.  I deleted by mistake and then reloaded it.  Bugger.

Here it is:

[Signe]

Tiger Bubbles.

[Cyrrex]

2.  Don't grab the cat's neck; grab the back of the neck skin.  That's how momma cats carry their young around, and many cats just go limp when their scruff is grabbed.

Scruffing Lizzie is a sure-fire way to enrage her, it's sort of hilarious. One of her warnings in her vet file is DO NOT SCRUFF because she will try to destroy the uppity fucknut who thinks she's still as stupid as a kitten.

The moment just before DOOM:

She may have a crazy look on her face, but that is one gorgeous cat.

[Sjofn]

Thank you! She can be quite photogenic when she isn't plotting the downfall of all who have wronged her. People compliment us on her all the time when we're at the vet (non-vet tech people, that is. Lizzie is totally chill when she's in her carrier, the better to fool people.).

[Signe]

She has one of those pretty, sweet kitty faces.  She really looks like a girl.

[Evildrider]

[Samwise]

This will be my new standard response to anyone who claims superiority of dogs based on them being able to do tricks.

[Ingmar]

Our cats know one trick each. The problem isn't that they're not smart enough to learn tricks, the problem is they just don't care about pleasing you. 

[Samwise]

What's great about that trick is that I can't imagine too many dogs having the balance and coordination to pull it off, whereas even a below-average cat wouldn't have much trouble.  The hard part, as you say, is getting them to want to do it.

[Sjofn]

She has one of those pretty, sweet kitty faces.  She really looks like a girl.

Yeah, I guess you're right, I don't think anyone's ever mistaken her for a boy cat.


And for those curious, Lizzie's trick is "sit" and Jack's trick is "speak." And they'll only do it if they know you have a treat for them. Sometimes they'll do their trick the second you touch the treat bag (not a big deal for Jack, as he'll just keep on meowing until you either give him the treat or he gives up and just purrs hopefully, but Lizzie sits and stares at you until you throw the treat, because she KNOWS).

[rk47]

What a couple.

[Signe]

I've seen my cats that way before but they can't fool me.  I know that just before I walked in the room, Lister had Magenta in a headlock and was biting her head.  I could hear them!!!  Then I walk in and they look as if they've been posing for Town and Country magazine!

[JWIV]

As part of the usual hurricane prep, we had filled a tub with water and kept the bathroom door shut.  This morning, I opened the bathroom door, and Finn charges into the bathroom and immediately falls into the tub. 

[Signe]

[Lantyssa]

That's the face of a naughty pussy.

"What, Mum?"

[Sky]

Bart has a thing for boxes. I finished off my honeycrisps ( ) and set the box next to the fridge (it's about 20"x36"x20"high). When I go to feed Bart, he stalks it. So I put it in the living room and when he gets done eating he jumps in and spends the rest of the evening in it. Brought in some toys to decorate.

[Signe]

Regardless of the fact that both my cats and my sister's dog have nice comfy beds and hidey holes, as soon as someone sets a box somewhere in their line of vision, all three try to be the first to climb in.  You can feel the tension in the air when the other two have to wait their turn.  The parrot would do the same if it wasn't so scared of the cats.

[Sky]

The funny part is the bottom was the ridged insert they put in so the apples don't move around during shipping. Apparently not uncomfortable.