Does your Cat (or any pet) misbehave since caregiving your loved one?
Have you been required to take care of your loved one's pet after they have passed? Does your pet have cute antics that entertain your loved one?
And finally, has the cat or dog transferred their loyalty to your Mother?
I woke up to another round of poo on the white fur carpet by my bed. 😠 I can't think what to do right now, can't take them in for examination because I work all this week. And... I really don't know which one is the culprit. I suspect older one but who knows..? Could be goofball younger one.
Great ideas everyone. Dh and I are so allergic, trying for no litter odor at all. Additionally, I am now sure it is just to punish us, she fails to bury it. She makes all the moving the litter around movements, scratching to the bottom if the pan (we use plenty-maybe too much), creating a mountain of litter, but she missed!
Choices, choices, at this point, the idea of a soft pine scent appeals.
Chicken, ok. Turkey, a no. Cowboy Country, by Merrick, doesn't want anything else now, creating a scene, meow meow meow!
@ 3 1/2 oz. for $1.39, or was it $1.69.....That is expensive I am sure. Persuasive Petco helper!! Kitty loves her Merrick kibble.
This must be the beef, wondering if cats eat vegan? Sheesh.
We now have two litter boxes, placed strategically.
Thanks everyone!
Lu, hope Odom is better.
Your food,The Merrick kibble is one we haven't tried.I'll give it a go next and hope my babies like it like yours does.
Hope all you cat and dog caregivers out there have a good day~
My medium hair cat has thankfully claimed the litter box in the basement, so I will find poop outside of the box where it just got stuck onto her. She also will run to the basement to let loose of a hairball. Whomever taught her that [she has had 2 previous owners] I do thank them. The hairball cat food does help to cut down on the hairballs.
The cat soups, there is one made for a cat 15+ years. My cat prefers just to lick up the liquid and leave behind the chicken or fish, whatever was in that pouch. Yep, expensive liquid but we needed him to put on weight.
These cat soups are made to be mixed with regular cat food to get the cat interested in eating.
I had a friend who's cat liked can food and dry food all mixed together in one dish.
Unless... the offender is the longer haired, younger gal. She does have longer hair. Still not a long haired cat but not short like the old man tabby cat. I just need to see this happen in action just once, I can move towards solving the mystery! lol
Odom lives in a different area by himself,because the babies have always hissed at him when I've tried to introduce them sad to say.They all eat the same foods though because my little kittens turned into full grown cats on me.Theyr'e a year and 5 months old now already,but freqflyer you're right about the food being too rich I think and Odom should be on a special diet for his older age.Really,all of them NEED to go on a diet now and get some weight off.After they were all spayed,they got SO fat,but it's a huge relief to me that they are spayed.I can't afford any more babies physically or financially.
She loves loves loves the Merrick Purrfect Bistro Surf Turf Pate. (Grain free). She eats it all, right away. It smells like some cat food from many years ago, probably the cheapest kind of "Friskies". Since it is gone right away, there are no odors left behind.
Lu, If I had lots of cats, I would be saving money buying something in a large can, not these 3 oz. Cans. Imo.
Another brand she is trying, "Fussie Cat", also grain free. The chicken comes in strings of meat. She picked it up with her paw, but left a lot.
When Kitty had her stitches out today, the vet said she is Calico, and "diluted". That is why she is not black, Brown, and beige in spots, but instead looks smeared. Colors run together. Cute.
Now her sister is at the shelter. Wonder how many more? Sheesh. Hurts just a little, confused, just a little. Sure she will be adopted to a good home, and sure I can never have what I want. Must stop looking. Sad, maybe not so little.
My old man tabby gets the pukes pretty regularly. It's tough to see him feeling so bad at times, but he rebounds very quickly and it doesn't seem to affect him long term. The best I can tell, these are not hairball related, but allergies to food, maybe. I plan to switch to a different brand of wet food and see if he tolerates it a little better. But overall, we are all doing fine.
I had a visitor at the apartment yesterday. The cats LOVED her, they were full of energy and curiosity and enjoyed interacting with her, she was giving them lots of rubs. Hm. Maybe they just need some more TLC from me...?? I'll get one of those teaser toys at the dollar store and see if they want to play. I was doing some sewing and Delilah was batting at the thread.
I'm still figuring out how to be a good cat mom.
Hubs "forgot" to tell me the kitty threw up "about 3 cans worth of food" the morning we went to get her stitches out. Too late for that information days later.
Since she poops regularly, and is not overfed (3 oz. can max per day + kibble), I don't know what to do with this likely " m i s i n f o r m a t i o n ". Vet said she is healthy.
Making a decision soon about what canned to feed her. Too many choices, and not one to feed a cat something different each day. Is that best? Does she NEED a variety?
Hey Lu, you were exactly right, this is harder than I expected!!! The finances must also be considered.
Ali, the cat toys have made all the difference! I took a neighbor who had cats with me to two stores. She recommended so many good ones. Yours are older, so maybe a very few with catnip would work, but mine (at 11 months) just went crazy!! She did not need that much stimulation.
What is catnip, a drug? Maybe it is pot for cats?
Kitty has her own toy box basket now.
As far as food and feeding mine,it's a smorgasboard at our house with every kind at the same time,from Friskies and 9 Lives to Meow Mix and Surf nTurf,wet and dry.They go down the line of dishes and turn their noses up though because they only want the expensive broths and stews at over a dollar a piece.
Is this bowel incontinence? I plan to have him checked out. The feces looks normal so I'm not thinking it's emergency for him at this time, just a problem with him controlling his urges, I guess.
A vet visit is in order to rule out parasites, or rule out some other things I haven't thought of. But the cat is just fine... with some gross habits that he can't seem to help. Probiotics for kitties seems a solid first step to helping him out some but I'll wait to talk with a pro. He's a character, and good company, and doesn't seem in any pain or discomfort in the least, except when he's spasming with tummy or other-end sicks. He's not ready for Rainbow Bridge just yet.
People can be caregivers to cats and dogs as well.
Well, I know you are not too worried, but felt the need to comment
about this community's value way past the caregiving years.
The friendships, the knowing others, being known and accepted, the wealth of experience passed on by former caregivers, and the support for past caregivers, and recovering from the difficult times.
All very helpful in my opinion.
One time I had an older cat who would squirt on the wall which is unusual for a female cat to do... turned out she had a feline type of a UTI.
If it turns out to be the cat just can't get to the litter box in time, then more litter boxes need to be placed around. I was able to get one older male cat to use those blue-sheets [doggy pads] instead of cat litter. He wouldn't cover his litter anyway, the old female cat would make that her chore to do. Jeeze, some guys are no different in feline life as they are in human life :))
As for litter boxes, I found I had better luck buying those Sterilite clear plastic storage bins that one can find at Target, the 6" tall ones work fine. And they are less expensive then a cat made litter box. Right now I am using the plastic storage boxes that one would use to hold rolled wrapping paper. It just gives the cats more room.