[magic]

Starting from tonight I will be a proud and lovable cat owner so I need your advices about cats. I know some of you have cats so I expect lots of advices cause I want my baby to have the best care :D

So what should I need to know? How to teach kitten to go to their toilet? (I need to know it already TONIGHT :lol) How to tell he's gonna poop on your couch/ bed? lol (very urgent lol) What are dangerous things that you shouldn't leave without watching like wires maybe etc. How to hold cat from scratching your bike tires? lol What do they eat besides cat food in stores? Which food is better- dry or wet? Should I give him milk or water only? lol How often should I take him to the vet?

I only know cats eat plants so I have a prob cause I have a huge plant very close to the floor in kitchen and I have no idea where I should put it now :huh

That is a kitty boy and he's probably 6 weeks old.

[soap]

Nice.. If you want an extra cat, then you know we have one here too :)

You can't give milk to a cat. It's bad for them and they get a sick stomach.

Get him a scratch board and some toys.
Use the toys to teach him to scratch the board and not everything else :)

And get him a 'toilet' and remember to clean it everyday.

Dry food should be sufficient, but you can get wet food too.

[magic]

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Nice.. If you want an extra cat, then you know we have one here too :)

I think I should be fine with one cat for now lol

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You can't give milk to a cat. It's bad for them and they get a sick stomach.

Ok, that's weird cause I thought cats drink milk. But I guess city cats are not used to it.

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Get him a scratch board and some toys.
Use the toys to teach him to scratch the board and not everything else :)

My bf bought some things already. Not sure what exactly. So about the scratch board. How exactly he understands it's for scratching? To play around the scratching board with the toys and be ok when he gets his nails into it and be not ok when he uses his nails on something else? Is that how it works?

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And get him a 'toilet' and remember to clean it everyday.

Do you know how to make him understand it's his toilet? I think my bf got him toilet already.


Also a question. How old he has to be to cut off his... hmm.. thingy? lol I think mail cats need to do it or else they go crazy lol

[magic]

p.s. and how to make your cat to be Michael's fan? :whistling :lol

[sandwaterfall]

I had my first cat when I was a little child, maybe about five years old. So, I really don't remember how we taught him, but he was really freaky. Well, at least I thought so in childhood. He didn't loved me, he loved jump on me and scrap me and once he even scraped my whole hand. He used to poop beside our furniture and also to pee, but he didn't do that on beds. Once my dad come from work and he done something bad again and my dad was so mad on him when he left him in the balcony for a night and we had our window open and guess what? In the morning when we woke up and went to look after him, he wasn't there anymore, he jumped out of the window. Weird, I wasn't upset, probably because he didn't lived with us long.

My second cat was the most beautiful and most be-loved one. She died this year on March 14th and I still miss her. :cryin We had so much adventures with her, it was fun. I can to tell you that little bit later, if you are interested about it, of course.

About cat's care was similar to the first one, but my second cat had different nature. She had to poo and pee on our beds when she was a kitten and my dad wasn't happy about that at all. It was like you come from school or work and "Oh, again surprise on the bed". I will say, luckily she didn't do her "big work" very often on bed, but she used to pee very often. :lol Well, how we taught her, my dad took her by her fur coat and took her to the place where she made her job and said to her "What is that?! What is that?! What?!" (Of course it is... you can guess :lol ) and hit her to the thigh because in that place you won't hurt the cat. I don't know if it is the right way how to care about the cat.
I will warn you, the cats doesn't like when you hit them to noise. When she was a kitten we used to feed her with boiled milk and porridge, she also liked fruits and vegetables, also meat. But you can't feed cats with pigmeat. You can give a dry food, but it is not that heathly, and cats who only eats dry food doesn't life long. That's why better give to the cat wet as well. If your cat will be gelded then better buy food at vet or pet-shop. Rarely supermarkets has good pet food. Other people say when cats after gelding they become more calmly, but mine didn't.

Look after the cat's nails, they shouldn't been broken, fur-coat, and if some weird symptoms have appeared then take the cat to the vet. You don't have to take your cat always, you can also go without the cat and talk about the problem to the vet, if it isn't something serious of course.

PS. how to make your cat how to be a Michael's fan - I don't know, but you can try. If you will make it then tell us how you did that.

[sandwaterfall]

DON'T FEED CAT MUCH!! :wife

[soap]

It's not true that dry food is not healthy and it makes the cat die sooner.
Dry food has everything the cat needs. Good dry food I mean.
The cat needs more dry food than wet food.
And a kitten needs to be fed many times a day. 5 times or something like that.

And use the toys to get it to the scratch board.. then it will learn it.

[magic]

Loving the advices :D I will get good at this :D

I remember my friend's cat had kidney stones. The vet said to her to feed him more with dry food and little bit of wet food.

Can I give a water from tubes to cat? Or should I better buy clean water in store?

[sandwaterfall]

soap, on 04 July 2010 - 05:09 PM, said:

It's not true that dry food is not healthy and it makes the cat die sooner.
Dry food has everything the cat needs. Good dry food I mean.
The cat needs more dry food than wet food.
And a kitten needs to be fed many times a day. 5 times or something like that.

And use the toys to get it to the scratch board.. then it will learn it.

Okay, you can let your cat only eat dry food and you can eat it by yourself also and then say it is healthy or not. It is not healthy to eat it all the time and don't give wet food. -____- Cat needs a MEAT. :3

I am not talking about times, but how much you give a food and when he gets older you should watch how much he eats to not let him get fat. When you give a less food and many times a day and don't look after how much you give him, cat starts to eat all because he sees you have gave him less food and is waiting when you give him more later - THAT'S THE CAT LOGIC. You should give much in once a day or you should split it in two parts if it is a dry food. For each cat's age is a correct quantity how much you should give to the cat.

[magic]

sandwaterfall, on 04 July 2010 - 05:26 PM, said:

You should give much in once a day or you should split it in two parts if it is a dry food.

Yes, that's what Micha said as well :) The cat will know how much he needs to eat.

And everybody (ppl giove me advice also in Facebook :) ) tell that I should give dry food BUT also give him wet food time to time. But dry is the main one :D I don't think Nik tried to say I should only feed him with dry food only, he also said the wet food is needed so everything is fine :sunflower

[soap]

Our cat is not having dry food only. But the vet told us that dry food would be enough. But our cat is very spoiled :)

Tap water is fine

[Sharon007]

I have had cats for many years. They are great because they are so easy to train. Get a litter tray and some cat litter for it dosent need to be expensive stuff either. Once your kitten eats then put him on the litter tray straight away ALL the time and that will get him to go there.

You need to cut off his thingy when he is 6 months old. Male cats tend to go off when they want to mate with other cats.

For food give wet food to kittens at first then after a few months give dry food and it dosent need to be expensive stuff either. Lidl do OptiCat and I often got that for mine in the past and they loved it. They also sell the litter in Lidl as well. But once they like certain brand or taste of food they like to stick with the same one so its not so easy to change over. You can give milk or water. I have seen special milk for cats but I never got it as it was expensive and only one company does it.

[Eriny]

magic, on 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

Starting from tonight I will be a proud and lovable cat owner so I need your advices about cats. I know some of you have cats so I expect lots of advices cause I want my baby to have the best care :D

So, that's it - you've won? You have a cat?? ;)
I guess that means we won't go biking for some time... :unsure I remember very well how it was the first days: you don't do anything else, just follow the kitty... Feed, play, clean after him, watch him sleeping... :D

magic, on 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

So what should I need to know?
How to teach kitten to go to their toilet? (I need to know it already TONIGHT :lol) How to tell he's gonna poop on your couch/ bed? lol (very urgent lol)

Don't take him to bed with you: he's too small, you can crush him by accident. Try to put him to sleep in the same place (on a blanket in a cardboard box).
Our two cats started to go to the plastic boxes with "clumping"/litter (?) the first day we brought them home. In fact, it's better to take a kitten when he's at least 2 moth old because till then it's his mum that takes care of his "toilet needs", she kinda shows him how to "bury" what he has done. You see your cat scratching the floor or a newspaper that lies on the floor or a sock... That means he's searching for a place to pee! That won't be in the middle of the room, but in a corner, in some hidden place. If he has "done bad thing" somewhere, clean that place very good, with some special cleaner ("Fairy"... ;) ). Then, if you want him to go to his special box, take a bit of paper having the smell of his pee or poo and put it in his toilet box. Some hours later, put him there and let him smell that that's his toilet, let him nuzzle there. If he continues doing toilet things elsewhere, repeat with placing the "smelly paper" and kitten in the toilet box. Should work! ;)
Just checked: the litter we use is "Lindo Cat" (10kg cost 4,35Ls; while the kitty is little, it should be enough for a month), very absorbing, very little smell, easy to clean.

magic, on 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

What are dangerous things that you shouldn't leave without watching like wires maybe etc. How to hold cat from scratching your bike tires? lol

Don't let him climb on the curtains, scratch upholstered furniture or your leg... :D There are special "devices" in animal stores for cats: kinda cottage on the shank, where he can climb up to sleep. Then you'll avoid scratched furniture and cat sleeping on your computer chair. ;)

magic, on 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

What do they eat besides cat food in stores? Which food is better- dry or wet? Should I give him milk or water only? lol

It's better to give both - dry and wet food. Our cats eat wet food 3-4 times per day and dry food - 2 times per day. You must mind if he has clean water in his bowl, change it two times per day.
Your kitten very little so at the beginning give him special wet food for kittens. Many people don't recommend "Whiskas"; we tried different food to find out what they like most. We should go to "Animal store", I can give you some tips. ;) They also eat raw beef, but not very often. Don't give to your cat fish and milk - he'll definitely have stomach problems!

magic, on 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

How often should I take him to the vet?

I'll say - twice a year. To clean his teeth, his ears, to check if he doesn't have warms or flees... If the cat is not playful and lively for several days, if he eats poorly and can't go to toilet you should take him to the doctor.

magic, on 04 July 2010 - 03:19 PM, said:

I only know cats eat plants so I have a prob cause I have a huge plant very close to the floor in kitchen and I have no idea where I should put it now :huh
That is a kitty boy and he's probably 6 weeks old.

Cats don't eat every plant! There's a special grass you can plant in a flower pot: the cat cleans his stomach with that. When he licks himself to wash, he eats some fur so he must get rid of it. Eating grass makes him vomit it out. I guess there are some vitamins too. Eating grass is one of the first thing our cats do when we take then to our summer house.

[Eriny]

Oh, a cat drinking milk and eating fish - that's a pretty bad stereotype. :rolleyes One of our cat's died because he loved fish and we were giving it, not knowing that it affects his kidneys... There are many bad things in the fish, even for people.
Yeah, and have you seen a cat milking a cow?
The same with hedgehog: when one comes to your garden - don't give him milk! :rolleyes That's the worst thing you can do.

About cutting off the "thingy": you should wait at least 6-7 month. For your kitten it will be in January, but I think you can wait till February because "tomcat time" here starts in March, not earlier. Anyway, in January, take your cat to the doctor, he'll tell if he's "ready". We had to wait a month longer for the maturity of our cats. ;)
As to doctor, I'd suggest "Čiekurkalna veterinārā ambulance".

[magic]

Eriny, thank you for your advices :giddy

Can't write much cause laptop is loud but our cat is very small. He already use toilet. All we did was placing him twice in his toilet box and later he went there by himself. He has bad leg for now so we spoil him by taking in bed, but not when we sleep cause we may crush him. When he wants to go to toilet he show us he wants to go off the bed. Then we place him on the floor and he goes to toilet. But he's not gonna do it in bed. So smart :luv

I was wondering how long we should watch over him?

I can bike during weekends and on evenings when my bf is with him :D

My bf wants to call him Ozzy. I like one song from him so don't know about it yet. I don't like him that much to call kitty after Ozzy :dontknow

[magic]

Eriny, if you're in Riga, come tomorrow to see the kitten ;) I'm at home all day :D but call me cause I'll reinstall my comp.

[magic]

Eriny, on 05 July 2010 - 09:58 PM, said:

As to doctor, I'd suggest "Čiekurkalna veterinārā ambulance".

my bf's cousin takes their cat to Tvaika iela haha there's vet as well

[Eriny]

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:14 PM, said:

Can't write much cause laptop is loud but our cat is very small.

Haha, that's what I thought, you're treating him like a baby! If he wants to sleep, no computer can bother him. ;)

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:14 PM, said:

Eriny, if you're in Riga, come tomorrow to see the kitten ;) I'm at home all day :D but call me cause I'll reinstall my comp.

I'll text you or call you at noon.

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:14 PM, said:

my bf's cousin takes their cat to Tvaika iela haha there's vet as well

Don't know about Tvaika iela (that's where the clinic for alcoholics is?!), "Čiekurkalna veterinārā ambulance" is one of the best in Riga! ;)

This post has been edited by Eriny: 05 July 2010 - 10:38 PM

[magic]

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Haha, that's what I thought, you're treating him like a baby! If he wants to sleep, no computer can bother him. ;)

omg, I haven't slept yesterday at all so it all is coming out from my mind :lol I meant laptop is loud but my bf is sleeping next to me. But our kitty is very smart cause he uses toilet already. That's what I wanted to say :lmao

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I'll text you or call you at noon.

deal :D

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Don't know about Tvaika iela (that's where the clinic for alcoholics is?!), "Čiekurkalna veterinārā ambulance" is one of the best in Riga! ;)

I will tell my bf about it. Why it's considered as one of the best? Ok, you will tell me tomorrow, I need a sleep :faint lol Hopefully see you tomorrow :D

[Eriny]

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:13 PM, said:

Eriny, thank you for your advices :giddy

Welcome. ;) Can't think about another things you might need. We should go to a "Pet shop".

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:13 PM, said:

Can't write much cause laptop is loud but our cat is very small. He already use toilet. All we did was placing him twice in his toilet box and later he went there by himself. He has bad leg for now so we spoil him by taking in bed, but not when we sleep cause we may crush him. When he wants to go to toilet he show us he wants to go off the bed. Then we place him on the floor and he goes to toilet. But he's not gonna do it in bed. So smart :luv

Be careful with him in bed. Better make him a nice cardboard bed. ;)
See, it was not difficult. But still keep an eye on him after eating, and put the toilet box somewhere he always has easy access.

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:13 PM, said:

I was wondering how long we should watch over him?

What do you mean by "watch over him"? You don't have to look at him all the time. Just observe regular time for meals, clean his toilet box, play with him a little. Cats show when they want to be cuddled, and also when they don't want it. While playing, don't let him scratch your hands [too much]: these wounds wont heal easily and there could be scars left for quite some time. Make him a toy! Cats love to play with little paper pellets! :yes

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:13 PM, said:

I can bike during weekends and on evenings when my bf is with him :D

Yeah, :ermm but that means that now you won't be able to come to my summer house for several days... :(
I'll be in Riga tomorrow [evening] and probably Wednesday [evening] too, think about going back to Jurmala on Thursday.
I wont be in Riga on weekends, that's for sure.

magic, on 05 July 2010 - 10:13 PM, said:

My bf wants to call him Ozzy. I like one song from him so don't know about it yet. I don't like him that much to call kitty after Ozzy :dontknow

My first thought was about Ozzy Osbourne... :D Well... I don't know - his kinda black[haired] too!