Cat thread

[schild]

3 cats at once?

This is a terrible idea. I demand photographs.

[Evildrider]

pfft.. you should go up to 5 cats!

[rattran]

Multiple litter boxes is the most important thing. Even if you just start with two, then reduce to one when you get furniture. Having separate food water at the start (in different spots, having all of them in the same place won't help) is nice, but I'd venture to say if you have 3 new cats, and one litter box, you should invest in a pair of heavy rubber gloves, a couple extra rolls of paper towels, and a gallon bottle of enzyme based pet stain/odor remover. Because at least once a cat will decide the box is it's territory and defend it from the others.

And I have an Alpha Male cat, he's not the one still trying to kill and eat the former kittens after 6 years. Shit, if we didn't have such a big house with plenty of defensible cat caves strategically placed, I think either Otto or Festus would have been eaten already.

[Sjofn]

Lizzie is currently the cat queen but I have to wonder how long that will last once Gilly is full grown. Gilly is on track to be bigger than Lizzie, and from watching them it's the size difference that's still keeping Gilly in her place for the most part. Still, Lizzie fights for keeps and just seems to care more about that sort of stuff. The only thing this isn't true for is food. Gilly will cut you if you try to get near her bowl when she is eating.

I do agree that you should probably try to get a second temporary litter box for the three new cats just in case. Gilly and Lizzie shared right away (I set up a second one for Gilly but they both pretty much started using whatever one was closest immediately), but I have heard multiple cats + one litter box = stray poops and pees, at least in the beginning.

[tgr]

I've never really had that, even when I had to replace one of my cats.

The replacement cat was 1 year old, obviously a stray or mistreated, and shy and skittish like nobody's business. It took her *three days* before she'd be out and about other than when I was sleeping, and my other cat was sleeping alongside, and prior to that she'd just go for food/water and taking a piss when she absolutely had to (cue mental image of cat crossing its legs to keep from peeing).

Nowadays though, they go along just fine. Oh, they still sound like they're going to eat eachother alive from time to time, but they also wash eachother. Or, really, the smallest cat is washing the biggest cat, but the smallest cat is a longhair so that might be part of the problem.

I would love to have more than 2 cats, but chances are I'd be "that cat guy" if I did. 

[LK]

I'll have to move down to 1 eventually, but two to start should be fine. The only "acceptable" place for the litter box is the restroom. Otherwise it's in one of the bedrooms (carpeted) or in the kitchen. But I'll put it in the spare room closet for the time being.

[MahrinSkel]

I tried the one cat to Snow thing. Snow didn't mind the male, but the more passive cat it hissed at. I read online that it's a territory thing.

I plan to get all 3 though.

Edit: I'm pretty much all stocked up. Grooming and nail clipping, one litter box (massive though, but there isn't any space for more), three water / feed dishes, three beds, some catnip, all electrical sockets protected, lots of space (no furniture in my apartment yet  ).

Once I get the paper work I'll be getting these kitties a home. I only hope they do their part and get along.

Once they're in a home, they'll have some spats over who gets what spots, or first crack at the food dish, and there may be some minor bloodloss involved.  But within a month or so they shouldn't be doing more than hissing at each other even if they never get along.  Cats are social creatures, just not pack hunters.  They tend to den in groups and fight over hunting grounds.

--Dave

[Signe]

I had two litter boxes but they would only use the one so I ditched the extra.  It's big, it's in their own bathroom and I scoop it about ten times a day and change the litter and disinfect everything once every week or ten days.  I don't think they go more than a few hours  where there's anything stinky in the box unless we've gone out.  Luckily, they seem to do most of their business during the day.  I know, I know, I obsess.  They're very good about using it, too.  Neither one of them has ever had an accident. 

When brought Magenta home, Lister was about fou ror five months old and went into hiding for a week or so.  Magenta loves everyone so all the issues were on Lister's side.  Now, I don't know what he'd do without her.  I don't have to clean their ears anymore!  Lister is very social but only with us and hides when anyone else is around.  I love my kitties.  I'd like to have another.  And three tiny white dogs.  (and a mini trampoline)  But Righ says no.   

[LK]

Ten times a day?? Think I could get away with two? (morning, evening)

[Nebu]

Ten times a day?? Think I could get away with two? (morning, evening)

Yes.  I scoop twice a day with three cats (one a kitten) and it seems ok.  It still smells a tiny bit, but that's mostly because kitten poop is more potent than a nuclear weapon. 

[Venkman]

Ten times a day?? Think I could get away with two? (morning, evening)

You do know where the term "catass" originates right?

[Signe]

Ten times a day?? Think I could get away with two? (morning, evening)

Yes, you probably can.  I over-do it! 

[LK]

Craziness is ensuing. Landlord doesn't want me to have cats despite an apartment complex-wide policy of allowing indoor cats and the fact I made it clear during the rental process I wanted to have pets. Lots of shady, looking the other way going on between landlord and the rental management company (who sympathize with cats, wants me to have the pets, but has to look out for the landlord's interests, who is anti-cat).

We'll see how this drama unfolds but because this landlord is such a giant dick the rental company doesn't like renting out his properties and people aren't telling him when they are violating policy (bringing in pets without deposit and rent) because of his attitude.

I have to get the landlord's approval to adopt through the pound. Otherwise I could just bring any pet (except dogs) in and the rental company wouldn't care. Other people have done that. But I want to take the kitties out of the pound.

[tgr]

If that'd been in Norway, then chances are that you could've used a few rules to tell them to get stuffed, and demand that they get proof that it's actually a problem/an inconvenience for your neighbours.

[schild]

If I ran an apartment complex I wouldn't allow dogs or cats. Cat piss stinks for just about forever and dogs have the tedency to have owners that don't pick up their shit. And they're loud and obnoxious. Animals are just tiny forms of living vandalism.

Edit: I should add: I love cats and a good number of dogs, but in an apartment complex, it's just too much of a goddamn hassle. Allowing animals pleases only a tiny subset of the population and adds nothing to the whole. And to reiterate, cat piss stinks.

[Reg]

The landlord sounds like a jerk but I can understand him objecting to multiple cats in an apartment.

[Sjofn]

Objecting to it is fine if you make it clear before the lease is signed. That doesn't sound like the case here.

[Reg]

Oh absolutely, if the lease doesn't set down rules about pets then he hasn't got a leg to stand on.  Now getting him to actually fill out a form for the animal shelter saying he approves might still be tough though. In Ontario landlords can't deny you a pet but they can regulate the number.  My last condo association limited residents to just one cat or dog per unit. Of course, that rule was routinely ignored but if they'd wanted to be assholes about it they could have.

[LK]

Well, he doesn't know about the multiple cats part.  My contact at the rental property has made it clear that I should only tell upper management and the landlord I'm only getting one cat, despite the fact she wants to see me get all three cats. Hell, the complex has several ferals, one which this woman feeds.

But even before they talked to the guy upper management said he doesn't allow cats (a fact they failed to mention during the rental process). The lease does say that the Landlord has to sign a pet agreement as a section of the contract on pets, but nothing else.

Moreover, I think other people in my building have pets, though "unofficially." The other day I was walking near my apartment and saw a cat in the window. So I'm not the only objector to this guy's views.

[schild]

Other people aren't a good argument for your own case. "Other people are a dick and don't care what you think, why can't I be?"

I mean, comeon.

[LK]

If they talk to the Landlord and he still says no, then I'm going to be a dick too, it's just I won't be able to adopt from the pound. But there are other methods of acquiring cats, like friends who need to get homes for their kitties.

It sucks and I'll probably be limited to 1 cat, but the property management doesn't really care, and will look the other way when it comes to their tenants having cats in their property in a complex that allows cats.

[Reg]

Can't you just get a friend to adopt from the pound? Or tell them you own the apartment and don't need a note?

[LK]

I might go that route too. It's stupid that the only thing keeping me from getting these pets is a piece of paper.

[Signe]

You should kick your landlord's ass.

[LK]

That's alright, rental company did it for me. I haz a pet agreement. :D

[Cyrrex]

Good on you!  Be sure to post pics, stat.

[Mosesandstick]

Now all you need is some pets!

[Sky]

And cheeseburgers.

[LK]

 

[Reg]

So are you still going for three or does the permit limit you?

[LK]

I'll let you know later. I'm going to go get the agreement then head straight to the pound to start the adoption process on my lunch. I want to pick them up Saturday.

[tazelbain]

And fajitas on Sunday?

[Signe]

I'll let you know later. I'm going to go get the agreement then head straight to the pound to start the adoption process on my lunch. I want to pick them up Saturday.

Wait.  You're planning to EAT them?   

[tgr]

Wait.  You're planning to EAT them?   

Some are certainly cute enough.

[LK]

I don't eat that kinda pussy. >_<

Edit: Yes, getting all three, but not all at once. One of the two cats in the two-cat cage has ear mites, diagnosed today, and won't be able to be adopted for 2 weeks. The third cat didn't even have its medical information handy.

I have to come in the day before I want to pick them up (so, Thursday) because they don't do holds (despite being told that by two different clerks), they won't hold the pets after I "adopt" them for more than a day, and well, the whole experience of adopting has been surreal and annoying so far.