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Samantha

(9,314 posts)

96. What happened within that first week

Sat Mar 2, 2013, 11:24 PM

Mar 2013

You need to prepare me. And thanks! Did they scratch up your furniture? I am looking now for one of those cat scratchers. I saw one I really liked for $12.00. I am going back to get it soon. Spent most of my disposable income earlier at a pet store for the shelter, the litter, and some food. I am on an extremely tight budget.

Sam

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I need some advice from people who are cat savvy (UPDATED WITH PICTURES) [View all] Samantha Mar 2013 OP

That cat is not necessarily an outdoor cat. Curmudgeoness Mar 2013 #1

I have been asking myself that question - how does one know? Samantha Mar 2013 #2

I'll tell you what I know. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #7

Wow, thanks for all the information Samantha Mar 2013 #11

You're welcome! That's a good sign that Nikita follows you on your walks. Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #18

This is another great post and you actually addressed what I have been worrying about Samantha Mar 2013 #48

Do not feed dog food to the cat. It is not good for them. Their requirements are TOTALLY Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #79

Four is a normal litter of kittens jmowreader Mar 2013 #114

Two horns of a uterus, one vagina. A bicornuate uterus. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #191

An outdoor-only cat often reacts strongly the first time they encounter winter is coming Mar 2013 #143

Well this is good to know Samantha Mar 2013 #146

Maybe, but that was probably just initial skittishness. n/t winter is coming Mar 2013 #147

I trapped a VERY pregnant cat on my street, and I could not take in any more... Lisa0825 Mar 2013 #4

I already have made up my mind about this Samantha Mar 2013 #13

I have had cats and dogs that were spayed without having litters Mojorabbit Mar 2013 #100

My doggie groomer's housemate gave me a pamphlet from the alleycat.org Saturday Samantha Mar 2013 #115

I do not have a box Samantha Mar 2013 #12

I was involved with a rescue group, and all of our cats started out as "outside cats". Lisa0825 Mar 2013 #3

You are the first person to tell me this, thank you Samantha Mar 2013 #14

I think it is more genetic then being "taught." Lisa0825 Mar 2013 #52

I started to worry at one point that maybe Big Grey was the father Samantha Mar 2013 #189

Yeah, we caught the Moby Dick of outside cats recently. aquart Mar 2013 #187

That is interesting Samantha Mar 2013 #188

Not daily. aquart Mar 2013 #190

I rescued my cat from outside and she wasn't friendly like yours. Rhiannon12866 Mar 2013 #37

I'm not an expert but I have experience with stray cats. hay rick Mar 2013 #5

You can bring the cat inside mythology Mar 2013 #6

Thank you - someone gave me some info today on "alley cats" Samantha Mar 2013 #15

I'm not an expert, but here's my 2 cents... AmyDeLune Mar 2013 #8

That shelter is extremely impressive Samantha Mar 2013 #16

If by "fixed" you mean spayed... AmyDeLune Mar 2013 #103

Oh and if you're really so inclined mythology Mar 2013 #9

That is too funny Samantha Mar 2013 #17

I recommend seeing a vet HeiressofBickworth Mar 2013 #10

Oh wow, I had no idea worms could make an animal swell up as if pregnant Samantha Mar 2013 #19

Yes, cats learn words! Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #22

Thank you for the info Samantha Mar 2013 #29

wet food is better for a cat's kidneys ZRT2209 Mar 2013 #20

That is what I was feeding her until someone told me it was bad for their teeth Samantha Mar 2013 #23

I mix dry with 840high Mar 2013 #28

pitiful owner RILib Mar 2013 #41

Thank you for telling me that Samantha Mar 2013 #49

I was told recently that a cat with a little nick in its ear ZRT2209 Mar 2013 #21

Now that is odd Samantha Mar 2013 #24

some info here ZRT2209 Mar 2013 #25

I read it and it was very helpful Samantha Mar 2013 #27

nick in ear RILib Mar 2013 #40

That is true. 840high Mar 2013 #26

I would say that this cat has adopted you. SheilaT Mar 2013 #30

I've adopted two senior cats yellerpup Mar 2013 #47

You are a very fine human being Samantha Mar 2013 #50

I love it when people tell me adoption stories that have happy endings Samantha Mar 2013 #91

Every single day I had her I was happy I took her in. SheilaT Mar 2013 #106

That is hilarious Samantha Mar 2013 #107

if she does have kittens... grasswire Mar 2013 #31

Now that would be the least of my problems Samantha Mar 2013 #32

oh it's really hard to give kittens away! grasswire Mar 2013 #34

Well if you see me featured on cable on Hoarder Samantha Mar 2013 #53

I would be tempted for a certain kind of orange kitty. grasswire Mar 2013 #59

I'll say Samantha Mar 2013 #85

funny story about your border collie! grasswire Mar 2013 #94

Maybe the cat wants to adopt your almost blind dog Duer 157099 Mar 2013 #33

You know, you could have something there Samantha Mar 2013 #55

Duer 157099 may be on to something. Here's a PBS program about cross-species animal friendships. Fridays Child Mar 2013 #35

I clicked on your link. The video is 53 minutes long. Samantha Mar 2013 #56

Congratulations. You have a cat union_maid Mar 2013 #36

Thank you so much for your words - I am already humbled Samantha Mar 2013 #57

It's a cat so it is probably planning something diabolical once she has your trust Demo_Chris Mar 2013 #38

That is Republicans who do that - not cats Samantha Mar 2013 #58

Bring her inside RILib Mar 2013 #39

thank you for the info but someone above said she might have worms or parasites Samantha Mar 2013 #60

There is no such thing as an "outdoor cat." Scootaloo Mar 2013 #42

You have gotten some excellent advice and I would like to add some BrotherIvan Mar 2013 #43

You are such a wonderful person to take the time to give me this info Samantha Mar 2013 #61

Thanks goes to you BrotherIvan Mar 2013 #70

Thank you for caring about this cat MadrasT Mar 2013 #44

Good on ya libodem Mar 2013 #45

I will be calling her Nikki for short Samantha Mar 2013 #62

Sorry that I posted and ran last night. Curmudgeoness Mar 2013 #46

I am very concerned about this Samantha Mar 2013 #63

I hate to tell you that you should ignore your neighbor, Curmudgeoness Mar 2013 #67

I agree - ignore your neighbor womanofthehills Mar 2013 #82

He said he participated in the roundup of all the cats that were let loose by the woman evicted Samantha Mar 2013 #119

your neighbor is clueless RILib Mar 2013 #150

Sorry I'm late to the discussion. dudeanddaphne Mar 2013 #51

Thank you so much - you specifically answered the food question Samantha Mar 2013 #64

A little late to this thread... LancetChick Mar 2013 #160

Thank you so much for the information Samantha Mar 2013 #165

It DOES seem like way too little to eat. LancetChick Mar 2013 #182

There is no litterbox except in the house Samantha Mar 2013 #183

It's possible, but not a sure thing. LancetChick Mar 2013 #185

Hello ~ dudeanddaphne. It's nice to see you here in the lounge. In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #71

Open the door!!! Sweet Freedom Mar 2013 #54

I am so tempted but don't push me over the line yet Samantha Mar 2013 #65

By "outside cat" I assume you mean feral WhoIsNumberNone Mar 2013 #66

take pics of the kitty and post them here tabbycat31 Mar 2013 #68

coming soon to a thread near you Samantha Mar 2013 #90

Nothing to add to all the terrific advice. Just a (((hug))) to you for your new kitty riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #69

Thanks for the hug (from all of us) but I need to get my confidence level up Samantha Mar 2013 #74

microchipped? RILib Mar 2013 #72

I never thought of that Samantha Mar 2013 #73

excellent reminder for all pet owners In_The_Wind Mar 2013 #109

Our cat was a stray "outdoor"cat - now is a totally indoor cat nadine_mn Mar 2013 #75

Cats pick their owners, and she chose you. bananas Mar 2013 #76

Thank you for all your information Samantha Mar 2013 #80

Is it possible the cat suffered frostbite on her ear Frosty1 Mar 2013 #83

You have hit on my exact problem Samantha Mar 2013 #87

While a marked cat may not be adoptable from an organization like paws or a shelter Frosty1 Mar 2013 #98

You are an absolute wealth of information Samantha Mar 2013 #99

Um Cats aren't people Frosty1 Mar 2013 #108

Thanks - I have really been wondering about that Samantha Mar 2013 #116

feline pneumonia RILib Mar 2013 #151

I haven't seen any signs except a little scratching Samantha Mar 2013 #154

feline equivalent of HIV infected. That can spread to humans and other animals Corgigal Mar 2013 #86

Thanks for all your info and I did learn from reading one of the links a poster supplied Samantha Mar 2013 #89

A cat used to come by my place, and I wasn't sure what its ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #77

That is the whole problem when people tell you not to feed a hungry animal Samantha Mar 2013 #92

Feliway pheromone comfort spray for the carrier bananas Mar 2013 #78

very happy nikita found you! hopemountain Mar 2013 #81

I love these nice stories Samantha Mar 2013 #93

The woman in the pet store is so very, very wrong union_maid Mar 2013 #84

That;s how I ended up 840high Mar 2013 #88

What happened within that first week Samantha Mar 2013 #96

Well, yes union_maid Mar 2013 #104

There was some hissing and 840high Mar 2013 #113

Thank you for this story Samantha Mar 2013 #95

cats lostcat Mar 2013 #97

lol - absolutely!! patricia92243 Mar 2013 #101

She will hide those kittens. Festivito Mar 2013 #102

You are right, I am smitten Samantha Mar 2013 #105

If you make a warm comfy secluded place for her TexasBushwhacker Mar 2013 #122

I missed this post but you have an excellent idea Samantha Mar 2013 #169

They say I have to enter a subject. dudeanddaphne Mar 2013 #110

I don't have answers to your questions because I just do not know Samantha Mar 2013 #112

Good morning -- here are some pictures Nikita and Cheyenne wanted to send you Samantha Mar 2013 #111

Very Nice Frosty1 Mar 2013 #117

The pictures do not do Nikita justice Samantha Mar 2013 #118

if you delete the "th_" Kali Mar 2013 #121

I've never seen the notch that large when a vet marks the ears on a feral riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #138

I've seen large notches, like the top 1/4 of the ear. RILib Mar 2013 #153

It looks very similar to the V notch another poster illustrated in this thread Samantha Mar 2013 #155

A ragged notch would be very atypical if done by a vet. Pretty unlikely if you ask me riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #159

The events of today Samantha Mar 2013 #162

Thank you, I have never seen her stomach Samantha Mar 2013 #166

All the tipped ears I've seen kurtzapril4 Mar 2013 #120

She will not let anyone else near her, even the PAWS lady Samantha Mar 2013 #123

Keep us updated. 840high Mar 2013 #124

Hi Samantha kurtzapril4 Mar 2013 #134

ah, I did not know that Kali Mar 2013 #125

I have not read all your answers but here is something from experiences MuseRider Mar 2013 #126

Something not mentioned OxQQme Mar 2013 #127

Interesting. MuseRider Mar 2013 #129

That is what I don't understand as well Samantha Mar 2013 #130

Sounds to me like MuseRider Mar 2013 #131

My favorite cat in the world found us... WCGreen Mar 2013 #128

YAY! MuseRider Mar 2013 #132

Thank you, MuseRider Samantha Mar 2013 #133

Thank you for helping her! Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #135

I always buy a big litter box MuseRider Mar 2013 #136

We are expecting a storm tonight -- starts late Samantha Mar 2013 #140

Let her in... sibelian Mar 2013 #137

I think I got close to the name rule Samantha Mar 2013 #139

hey Samantha, you've done a great job with Nikita Flaxbee Mar 2013 #141

Hi Flaxbee -- we are having a bad weather today in DC Samantha Mar 2013 #142

I'm about 60 miles west of DC Flaxbee Mar 2013 #149

Two things (and thank you for your continuing help) Samantha Mar 2013 #163

She absolutely can be an indoor cat again. Flaxbee Mar 2013 #172

I have been sitting down on the porch the last two days Samantha Mar 2013 #174

Her health is priority number one -- so getting her her shots, seeing if she's Flaxbee Mar 2013 #181

I re-read your post today in this storm Samantha Mar 2013 #148

Ha, see, you knew the rule already! sibelian Mar 2013 #144

Thank you for sharing this smiley information Samantha Mar 2013 #145

when you get her to the vet RILib Mar 2013 #152

A problem has developed that I do not know how to handle Samantha Mar 2013 #156

If you have a hungry large feral out there RILib Mar 2013 #157

I agree with this. If the feral begins to challenge Nikita while you are also standing on the porch riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #158

I went out on the porch stoop, food in one hand, pop up umbrella in another Samantha Mar 2013 #164

The grey cat is just hungry. I would 840high Mar 2013 #173

Well, he might be "looking for love" too Samantha Mar 2013 #175

When you're feeding her put 840high Mar 2013 #178

The latest update - maybe you could comment Samantha Mar 2013 #168

IMO, Nikita's history matters naught. You can only proceed from here. riderinthestorm Mar 2013 #171

Thank you for all the encouragement Samantha Mar 2013 #180

All the nicks on my strays 840high Mar 2013 #177

That is what I am worried about Samantha Mar 2013 #161

That's how I got my stray in. I left the door open... Honeycombe8 Mar 2013 #170

I've taken in strays BainsBane Mar 2013 #167

We've brought in so-called feral cats. Usually their choice. aquart Mar 2013 #176

When I first saw her, that is what I thought -- someone dumped her Samantha Mar 2013 #179

Really typical behavior. Bonded just to you. aquart Mar 2013 #184

Wow, that is amazing Samantha Mar 2013 #186

Get yourself a spray bottle and fill it with water. dudeanddaphne Mar 2013 #192

I am sorry I didn't reply to this post, but it is quite encouraging Samantha Mar 2013 #193