 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2003Can I handle a third cat?
I have two cats right now, one just about a year old and the other maybe one and a half. Both fixed males. A friend is worried about a very cute cat named Puff that was thrown out of his home by a neighbor. Puff was having trouble locating the litterbox. My understanding is that the neighbors had 6 cats (now 5) and aren't the best about cleaning the litterbox. I'm not sure how many boxes there were but cleanliness may have been a problem. I do not believe that they checked to see if there was a medical problem. Puff is fixed, about a year old and fairly long haired. Adorable and sweet. He is supposed to have had his shots. They're still sort of taking care of him and he hangs out outside their house so he still gets some food but my friend is worried that winter is coming. Plus, Puff has a tendency to take naps in the street. I figure that I can maybe give it a trial run but my understanding is that each additional cat causes problems to multiply geometrically. Clearly Puff will need a trip to the vet just to make sure that he is negative for bad things and probably to de-flea him. Plus, could I turn him out if it doesn't work? Well, yes if he's permanently down on litterboxes. I have a small house but there is certainly plenty of room for three cats. But I have two litterboxes now (yes, I know the formula is #ofCats+1) and do not plan on adding any more. My friend would take him in but she has a 17yo cat and doesn't want him to have to deal with a newcomer, so I get the guilt trip. So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, right? They threw him OUT?? Egad. Number one, get some Feliway, to ease the transition. Fix Puff up a room with a box for himself. You may not need to keep the box, but he needs to be introduced to the others slowly. Some kindness and understanding may go a very long way to helping Puff. Get Puff an appointment to make sure there isn't an UTI going on (though, that rarely shows even when its there). I know others will have great tips. I think Puff needs a friend. Karen > I have two cats right now, one just about a year old and the other > maybe one and a half. Both fixed males. A friend is worried about a [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, > right? >They threw him OUT?? Egad. Number one, get some Feliway, to ease the >transition. Fix Puff up a room with a box for himself. You may not need to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Karen Thanks Karen but I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of "NO NO DON'T DO IT YOU'LL BE SORRY". I'm sort of worried about him not wanting to stay indoors having now tasted the wilds of Queens NY. Maybe if I wait until it snows... >> I have two cats right now, one just about a year old and the other >> maybe one and a half. Both fixed males. A friend is worried about a [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >> So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, >> right? > Thanks Karen but I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of > "NO NO DON'T DO IT YOU'LL BE SORRY". > > I'm sort of worried about him not wanting to stay indoors having now > tasted the wilds of Queens NY. Maybe if I wait until it snows... He'll probably be dead by then. Busy streets and all. Please get a cat rescue group to take him if you feel you can't. If you think you might have to abandon him for litterbox issues, this is probably the best solution. Why get him all comfy and nice in your home just to make him leave his home again? Moving homes can be very stressful to cats. Better to let a rescue take him and get him a forever home. BTW, I have 3 cats and 2 boxes and no problems...but some cats are *really* picky. As my Mom says, if you really don't know what you want to do, toss a coin and call heads or tails. When the coin is in the air, you will find youself hoping for the head or the tails. That's what you go with. :) ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Hey, if you got it flaunt it! If you don't, stare at someone who does. Just don't lick the TV screen, it leaves streaks. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- >> Thanks Karen but I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of >> "NO NO DON'T DO IT YOU'LL BE SORRY". [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >BTW, I have 3 cats and 2 boxes and no problems...but some cats are >*really* picky. Puff apparently. > >They threw him OUT?? Egad. Number one, get some Feliway, to ease the > >transition. Fix Puff up a room with a box for himself. You may not need to [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I'm sort of worried about him not wanting to stay indoors having now > tasted the wilds of Queens NY. Maybe if I wait until it snows... Some cats adapt quickly to indoors. You have other cats, do you have cat trees and a window? It is entirely possible to convert them. By the time it snows, he could be very happy. Karen >> I'm sort of worried about him not wanting to stay indoors having now >> tasted the wilds of Queens NY. Maybe if I wait until it snows... [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Karen I'll have to put up a picture (as soon as I find a place to host it). I have lined my little backyard with, well, fancy chicken wire. The cats probably could get out if they really tried climbing it but so far they haven't. So they do go out when I'm there with them. I wouldn't want Puff going back there until he is very used to being in the house. > Thanks Karen but I was kind of hoping for something along the lines > of "NO NO DON'T DO IT YOU'LL BE SORRY". > > I'm sort of worried about him not wanting to stay indoors having now > tasted the wilds of Queens NY. Maybe if I wait until it snows... Must add my .02. :) I just rehomed a stray cat 3 days ago and he immediately took to the litterbox (without any dirt in it!) and shows no signs at all of wanting out now that he's an indoor kitty and he just loves his new Paw. This stray has been living outdoors all of the time I've known him, since last winter. It is probably longer than that but that is all I know about. I think he has come into your life for a reason. :) > Thanks Karen but I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of > "NO NO DON'T DO IT YOU'LL BE SORRY". > > I'm sort of worried about him not wanting to stay indoors having now > tasted the wilds of Queens NY. Maybe if I wait until it snows... Please, please, please don't wait a moment longer to bring that kitty inside! Every day he is outside means it's another day he could be run over, attacked by a dog, tortured by some a.shole, shot, etc. Even if you are not 100% sure if you want to keep Puff, please bring him inside! Set him up in a spare room or a bathroom (good because it's easier to clean accidents in the bathroom than on carpet), with a litterbox, food, and water. Have him checked out by a vet as soon as possible, too. Since he's a longhaired cat, he will need a thorough grooming and any mats clipped out. At least have the heart to provide him with shelter and food while you decide what to do. If you don't want to add a third cat, contact a no-kill rescue group. Usually there is a waiting list to surrender a cat, but if you can keep him in your home as a foster, then they can list him on their website and add him as a possible adoptee. He may get adopted before he even has to live at the shelter. Those neighbors that threw him out sound like trouble. I would find an excuse to get inside their house to see what conditions the cats are being kept in. Don't worry about him wanting to go back outside. It's possible he may have no desire to go back out there. Two of my cats that were strays never even head for the door. I think they know life is much better inside than out there in the world. This story really got my attention because my brother's new kitten is named Puff. I think it's just the cutest name! Every time you mention Puff being outside, I picture a little fuzzy kitten wandering around outside, wondering why his family won't let him back in. If you need any help, advice, anything, rescuing Puff, please email me privately. - kelly@farringtons.net. Put something obvious in the Subject, I'm being slammed with spam because of that Swen virus. I'll try to do whatever I can.  Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net Check out www.snittens.com >> Thanks Karen but I was kind of hoping for something along the lines of >> "NO NO DON'T DO IT YOU'LL BE SORRY". [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >I'm being slammed with spam because of that Swen virus. I'll try to do >whatever I can. Thanks. He isn't in bad shape at the moment. He is hanging out with a few other outdoor cats that the lady next door to his home feeds and she's built a shelter for so it isn't like he's running wild. But I will call my vet and try to take him in and at least see if he has a UTI. >"dgk" <sonicechoes@hot-nospamp-mail.com> wrote in message news:ufqjmvcsholi3r3ke0dh4qr54tom6s4prd@4ax.com... > I have two cats right now, one just about a year old and the other > maybe one and a half. Both fixed males. A friend is worried about a [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, > right? I'd say give it a try. The litter box problem was probably associated with the situation in his former home. If things don't work out, talk to a cat rescue group in your area. Some of them will foster cats in their homes until they can be adopted. They are also a good resource for ideas to try for litter box problems. Bill >I'd say give it a try. The litter box problem was probably associated with >the situation in his former home. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Bill Yes, it sounds as though you want to give it a try. We took in a third cat (a stray) a few months ago, with the idea that if it didn't work out, we'd find her a good home. Well, it wasn't working out (she and one of our other cats took quite a dislike to each other and fought a lot) but the good home we thought we'd found for her fell through. So we still have her, and she's getting along better with the other cats, although there are still a few altercations. Just be prepared that if after a couple months, you can tell the cats are never going to get along, you may be too attached to Puff at that point to give her up to a rescue group. Even though I still think our stray would be happier in a home with fewer or no other cats, at this point it would have to be a REALLY good home before we'd let her go. >So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, >right? I think you should give it a try. Three cats really isn't that many. I'm sure you already know the drill about introducing Puff to your cats, making sure he's vaccinated, etc. etc. So I say, go for it. You might be Puff's only chance. I usually always have four cats; three right now because of a death. I keep two litterboxes, extra-large ones, and they do just fine with them. Sherry dgk sonicechoes@hot-nospamp-mail.com >I have two cats right now...Both >fixed males...Puff is fixed, about a >year old and fairly long haired. >I figure that I can maybe give it a trial run...could I turn him out if it >doesn't work? Your neighbors are idiots - they don't clean the litter box and then dump the cat because the cat doesn't want to poop in a dirty box. Also, they don't take the time/trouble to place the cat in another home or bring him to a shelter. Your heart is in the right place. With some time & patience, the situation definitely could work. Obviously, Puff needs to be checked by a vet. Is he neutered? If not, I it's best to have that done as well. To introduce Puff to your babies, have him isolated and have some towels and toys for him (and towels or something with his scent around the other cats, so they will get used to it.) Good luck! : So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, : right? When we added a second cat, we had the most problems from the alpha male who probably could have been happy as an only cat. Believe it or not, the third cat balances the household out much better and now we have less fighting between cat #1 and cat #2; odd as that might seem. However, the smell factor has really set it. With two cats and frequent litter box cleaning, the house rarely smelled like a den of animals. The new cat has been thoroughly checked out but she has really smelly poops and the waft of cat poop permeates our home even with weekly litter changes and twice a day scooping. I think the biggest expense, though, are the vet bills. Vets are so expensive these days and for a complete exam of all three cats plus shots, etc., I came out $225.00 poorer. Overall, it's been worth it to bring in the third cat but it is not without some drawbacks. Noreen >: So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, >: right? [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Noreen That really is not an unimportant point. I found out last year just how expensive cats can be. I paid well over a $1000 to have one die in a weekend, and then spent over $3500 to have another live for four months. Having three cats means that I really cannot afford extraordinary expenses. Maybe insurance? Is it cheaper by the dozen? Well, three? > >: So, what to you think? I'm an idiot even to be considering this, > >: right? [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > extraordinary expenses. Maybe insurance? Is it cheaper by the dozen? > Well, three? You make a good point. Different people have varying opinions about pet insurance, but what I do is have $15 per week taken out of my paycheck and put in a savings account. Since it's direct deposit, I never miss the money, and it's there in case of an emergency. Cats are like people--some are very healthy and others not. BTW, Puff sounds like a great cat (and a great name too!) and I wish the best for you and him. Rene |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.