Cat advice: Companion kitty for senior cat?
sas95
13 days ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (16)
sas95
13 days agoRelated Discussions
Cat stairs/ramp advice?
Comments (8)My little kitty with a front leg missing, didn't have any problems at all with jumping up on anything she wanted to jump on .... at least waist high. She also used to tight-rope walk along a long metal rod suspected at least twenty feet above the floor above the staircase in our old pre-civil war house .....where star bolts had been put in to reinforce the brick walls. That used to scare me, but evidently she felt sure footed enough to lift that one leg up and have no legs on the front to keep on the rod. She was also our best mouser. IOW the amputation didn't leave her any different than the other cats. If she does have osteoporosis however, you are smart to want to provide her with ramps so she won't be prone to breaking the only leg she has left in front. That is an issue. My DD's tripod cat has a rear leg amputation and she fell a long ways one time and injured her only hind leg. She had to be confined to a cage for total rest for two weeks, and thankfully mended. Had she not..she'd have been totally immobile and not had a good outcome. She is BTW still cranking, is prolly sixteen and doing fine....See MoreWould a new cat(s) pee in old cat's smelly pee spot?
Comments (3)Not necessarily so but yes, you could be headed into a problem. Scent is a big thing for cats and the new one may start marking because he smells marks on the rug already. It's probably going to be dependent on the cat. Why is your cat peeing on the rug? You didn't mention him having medical problems so that leaves a behavioral issue. What have you used to clean your rugs? If you can still smell pee in the house (unless its from a brand new pee episode) you haven't used the correct cleaner. I've learned the correct cleaner is a necessity. You've got to get a good enzyme cleaner designed for pet urine. Soak the soiled areas and you might have to go down to the padding/floor boards if it was deeply soaked. Sometimes you have to do it twice. It's a chore but try to eradicate any sign of odor to see if you can correct it if he's having a behavioral issue. (They sell black lights that you shine on your carpet in the dark and urine spots show up to help you find the places needing treatment). Does he seem lonely for a playmate? He might be happier living out his days as a solo cat if he's elderly rather than being introduced to a new guy. That's a consideration, too all dependent on his personality and age. I'd personally try to get his problem corrected before bringing in a new one. Pee smell in the house is awful! Remember, a new guy is going to cause him some type of stress which might exasperate the situation....See MoreFor Senior Cats - What Temp. Do You Keep House in Winter?
Comments (32)Labmomma-My inside cat is totally inside. Has never has been out. I can definitely tell a difference in her coat from summer to winter. And,as I mentioned,it is a more subtle change than that of the outside cats,but a change that is noticeable. It is also possible that the climate you live in has something to do with your cat's coats? If your climate is cooler year round,a winter coat might not be as much of a change as it would be if your summers are very hot and winters are very cold. I live in W TX where summers are in the hundreds most of the time and winters can get very cold. I think that is why there is such a drastic change in the cat's coat about this time of year. Anyway,I do see it in most animals and believe that it is natures way of protecting them. That is why I mentioned it in the first place. I just had a thought about something to use for a warmer that would also be very inexpensive. I make warmers for my gourd bread warmers like this and someone else had mentioned using the same principle with an old sock for a sore neck. Cut an old towel or some fleece fabric in a square,oval or round,whatever size you like,sew it up and fill it with rice. Heat it up in the microwave and it will stay warm for a long time. You can stick this in the cat's bed and cover it with a blanket or something that will also help to hold the heat in. Dried corn can also be used as the filler. If you use rice be sure it isn't the quick cooking kind,just regular long grain rice....See MoreCompanion kitty for senior cat?
Comments (2)In my experience, elderly females rarely enjoy the company of other cats unless they've been raised in a multicat household. If you really want to bring in another feline for yourself, however, I would recommend either a young female kitten, or an older, very mellow, neutered male with a history of living peacefully with cranky females. I would NOT recommend a male kitten, as they tend to be obnoxiously active and demanding of play. If you want a male kitten, then adopt two so that they can wear each other out and hopefully leave the older female alone. If you adopt an adult, your husband's old girl may be more accepting of a mellow, neutered male than she would be of another adult female. Of course, these aren't hard and set rules. Individual personalities always override any generalizations about age and gender matches. Laurie...See Moresas95
13 days agogsciencechick
13 days ago
Related Stories
PET PLACESPet’s Place: Mister Kitty Likes Being the Only Cat at Home
An Ohio couple and a cat settle into their new home after years of traveling and moving
Full StoryMOST POPULAR7 Ways Cats Help You Decorate
Furry felines add to our decor in so many ways. These just scratch the surface
Full StoryPETSReaders Share Options Galore for Cat Litter Boxes
Houzzers recommend their cat box solutions and customized hacks
Full StoryPETS10 Tips for Keeping Indoor Cats Healthy and Happy
It's National Cat Day: Ask not what your cat can do for you (because it will ignore you) but what you can do for your cat
Full StoryPETSConfessions of a New Cat Parent
Here’s what I learned about adoption, litter box setups, cat hair management and the joy of feline companionship
Full StoryPETSHouzz Pets Survey: Who Rules the House — Dogs or Cats?
New data shows that pets make people happy, and pet owners love spending big to return the favor
Full StoryPETSHouzz Call: Send in the Design Cats
Post your best photo of your cat at home, in the garden or with you in your studio. It could be published in a featured ideabook
Full StoryPETSSo You Want to Get a Cat
If you're a cat lover, the joys outweigh any other issue. If you haven't lived with one yet, here are a few things to know
Full StoryPETSHow to Find a Rescue Cat That’s a Good Fit for Your Household
Australian TV’s emergency veterinarian discusses what to consider before adopting a cat and introducing it to your home
Full StoryTHE HARDWORKING HOMEA Laundry Makes Room for a Diva Cat
A South Carolina laundry room was designed to be sophisticated and functional, but when a kitten arrived, whimsy emerged
Full StoryZanesville's Most Skilled & Knowledgeable Home Improvement Specialists
Bunny