posted 12-08-2003 11:25 AM         

I finally convinced Granvel (my boyfriend) into leting me take him home. Then we saw the mother and other kitten and a ol' hound dog in awful condition as well. We couldn't catch the other two cats, nor the dog. So I used the rest of the dog food I had in the back of my truck and doggie bones, ( I doubt Smokey and Charllotte will mind, as they have a bazzillion toys and chewys anyhow) and put it in piles for them. The dog came running and scarfed the food down sooo fast. He was sooo skinny, but you couldn't get near him and the cats came over to join the food, nether the less, we still couldn't catch them.

We brought "Tom" home and gave him some canned cat food, seeing as he problably needed something soft in his belly, and watered down some dry kitty food. He didn't even chew! Just swallowed everything whole. We had to take it away and feed him by hand to get him to slow down so he wouldn't choke.

Well we put him in the bath room with a collar with abell on it incase he got out and we could find him if he hid.

He was fine this morning and had finished off the whole can of food plus half a bowl of dry, and all of his water.

He even used the litter box!! BUt he wasn't the loving ccat this morning as he was last night.
He growled at me and hid, and as I used the potty, he rubbed against my leg, but refused to let me pet him.

Poor guy. we feel so sorry for him. It breaks my heart that people do that. I'm taking him to the vet Thursday, I want to try and get some weight on him before they poke and prod on him and inject him with all that meds....

I'm a horse a dog trainer, not a cat one!! The cats we have are fat and lazy...this guy is going to give me a run for my money if he lives.

posted 12-08-2003 11:30 AM         

I'm sure since he's been through so much, he's scared to death and may take a little while to warm up to everyone. But, I'm sure he'll very quickly realize how great it is to live in a loving home!

My husband's lucky that I don't run into too many strays or else we'd have a very full home!

posted 12-08-2003 11:49 AM         

Make sure if you have other cats that you keep the little guy separate until a vet has evaluated him. I would also check for fleas, since he could give those to your dogs.

You might try playing with him with a little catnip toy or something like that to help him to want to interact with you. The younger he is, the faster he will warm up.

I'm with lucidity03 - I once considered volunteering at a shelter, but I was afraid I would end up taking critters home with me. My husband would freak out. He's very tolerant of my pet collection, but he has his limits (and I am usually pushing right up against those limits). I'm pretty sure a judge wouldn't award pet support...

posted 12-10-2003 06:38 AM         

I'm so far out in the country, ASPCA won't even think about us!! I rescue puppies and all kinds of animals all the time. I'm a huge sucker for them.

People have finally figured out that I'll take them in, give them vet checks, make sure their healthy and find them new homes... so they have started dumping puppies out in our drive way!!!

GRRRRRRR

NO we don't have any other cats. THis is our first cat together. He's going to the vet tomorow.

He allowed Granvel to pick him up and pet him like he's been doing it all his life, yet is still shy around me.
THis morning he rubbed all on my legs and let me pet him.
We had to take him off the canned food, he got really bad diareha...

His new name is "tom" I was going to call him Mouse, but Granvel said he wasn't going to call around the house "here mousie, here mousie!" it was so funny.

He's mouse grey with black dots all over him. Looks kinda like a washed out lepard.

posted 12-10-2003 01:02 PM         

I'm thinking Cat nip is like Crack for cats. We bought the natural stuff and put it on the scratch post so he wouldn't start on the furniture.....he went nuts..flipping and running and attacking the scratch post....it says its all natural and the only ingrediant in it is "Catnip leaves".

Hopefully its ok.

posted 12-10-2003 04:34 PM         

The best thing for them to scratch on is:
http://www.worldwise.com/catscratcher.html
http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_29730.shtml

The second link is a different brand, but it shows what they look like when they are open. It is my cats favorite thing to scratch on. Whenever I get a new one they fight over it. Sophie usually gets on it and wont let anyone near it for awhile.

posted 12-12-2003 09:30 AM         

I made Granvel do it, thinking that maybe Tom would get mad at him and come be my buddy...

SIlly cat, acted like nothing ever happend, didn't even wince!!!

Granvel layed down on the couch after supper and the cat layed on his chest, I walked up and tried to scratch him on the ears and he bit at me!!! Granvel thinks it's soo funny, I told him it wasn't and he thoughtthat maybe if I layed down he'd come snuggle up to me. Nope, he jumped down and followed Granvel into the bathroom.

I'm telling you, he's making me sooo mad!!!! Last night he escaped out of the bathroom, and had the full run of the house, He was good however, and I guess he can start staying out while we aren't home or at night.

posted 12-12-2003 10:52 AM         

For instance, ever since my cat was a kitten he loved it when I would get a long ribbon and drag it around the house. He would love to attack it. I also have tied his cat toys to it and he would chase that around. Just make sure to put the ribbon away when you are done with it. You don't want your kitten to choke on it or get tied up in it by accident.
Handsome also loves wadded up paper balls (not too small that he can choke on it). I throw the paper balls and Handsome just leaps after them. Then I throw it again. This could go on for a while until he's too tired.

Since your kitty likes boxes a lot you could also dangle things (from your hand) from the box and he can attack it from there.

Cats like a lot of people for different reasons, but I do know they warm up nicely to people that feed them and play with them.

posted 12-12-2003 11:57 AM         

Cats always seem to like the people who don't like them or are allergic to them. It's because the people who aren't fans of cats ignore the cats. Thus, the cat is interested in that person. I guess it's in their personalities.

Sometimes when I go up to my cats, they don't want much to do with me. But, when I am busy doing something else (like reading a book) they pester me until I give in and pet them.

Is it possible that the cat is turned off by you pursuing it? (And I don't mean that in a bad way because I annoy my cats sometimes by seeking them and wanting to pet them.)

Maybe if you acted non-chalant and laid back around the cat, he will approach you.

Just a possible idea.

posted 12-18-2003 11:30 AM         

He's getting better, he'll rub me occasionally, and meow at me when he's hungry.

Though he's started a nasty and annoying habbit. He seems to think Granvels chair is his potty space. He goes poo in the same spot every day right alongside of the recliner. Yet he always goes in his kitty litter box. Just one pile by the chari a day.

I've tried masking the smell of the floor with deoterizer, put a peice of carpet on the spot, foil on the spot and never the less, he goes again. One big pile in the same spot every day. I"ve just about had it. He's going to start to learn to go outside here shortly. THat way he can come in and out.

posted 12-20-2003 09:53 AM         

Also, my cat Handsome really likes a lot of litter in his box (around 4 inches worth). Some cats are very picky about that! lol

posted 12-22-2003 08:57 AM         

I'm serious, the cat is on my last nerve. I got this spray thats suposed to deter cats from the area....doesn't even phase him....

We moved the chair last night...so I guess I'll see if I have a present waiting for me in the same spot when I get home.....

posted 12-22-2003 05:51 PM         

If his poops are firm I don't think he's out to get you. Lol. Maybe, he's just having a hard time going from a stray kitty who can poop anywhere he likes to an indoor cat that is expected to poop in litter boxes.

Hang in there. I'm sure all of your hard work to try and train this little guy will pay off.

posted 12-24-2003 04:33 AM         

I also thought about that idea of going from stray to a home cat. You'd think since he was so young that he'd have adapted to that already, and not picked up the stray habbits as much.
I dunno. Granvels about to throw him out. I'm doing everything I can to keep him in! He's had so many second chances its not even funny.