LauraT7
02-15-2005, 10:06 PM
Hi -
I'm new to the board -
I have never had a cat before, though I am a longtime dog owner. We recently were 'adopted' by a stray ginger cat in our neighborhood who found shelter in our garage. After a month of feeding him and providing a warm bed in the garage, a really cold (below 0) spell convinced him to try and trust being inside the house.
Teal’c is a really smart kitty and has learned ( on his own) to use the doggy door to come in and out of the house - he now has free run of the house, and has not damaged or bothered anything inside. Teal’c potty's outside - either while he's prowling, or when the weather was severly cold and snowy - in the sand of the large dog run attached to the side of our house and protected from the elements. While he was very wary and easily startled at first - he warmed up to us pretty quickly. He comes in now looking as much for companionship and petting as much as for food and shelter. His quick turnaround in behavior makes me think that he was probably abandoned, and not a 'Born' feral cat.
With the help of a cat owner friend, we've guessed that he's about 2 yrs old, and appears to be in good physical shape and health. His pads are pink, but really tough and his coat is rough and VERY thick. He has (and continues to get) quite a few bites and scratches from fighting with other cats (? a guess, could be other animals or thorny brush?) esp on his ears, but they have really been minor scrapes and he heals very quickly. Since he spent more time indoors, and i suspect, because he has had more 'secure and safe' time, he has started looking better - cleaner, softer, better groomed. Having a 'safe place' to relax, he can probably let down his guard and have more time to attend to his grooming. He loves to have me rub him down with a towel when he comes in wet, and he's even let me clean his ears somewhat (they were FILTHY!) though they are much smaller than my dogs, and I can't get as far in with my big people fingers as i would like. I'm thinking I'll have the vet clean his ears good while he's asleep being fixed.
My questions have to do with having him neutered and what kind of care and medical attention is needed for a mostly 'outside' Cat?
It’s been a long time since I had a pet young enough to be ‘fixed’ – my last dog was from rescue and was neutered when I got him. When I get Teal’c neutered, am I going to have to keep him in for a few days? How long? Will I have to restrict his activity?
What kind of shots and vaccinations are necessary for a cat that is exposed to the outdoors? (Rabies, of course, but what else?)
Money is an issue- as I am currently unemployed and we just finished paying for 4 months of Chemo for our dog, Tristan, who died 3 weeks ago- I can find a way to do whatever is necessary, but if there are less expensive alternatives, I would be grateful for suggestions.
Lastly, we ARE ‘dog people’ and are currently looking for another dog. One concern with Teal’c being an ‘outside’ cat is that we had a bad flea problem 2 yrs ago in our area, and Teal’c would likely be exposed to them, even if the dog is given Sentinal or advantage, etc., and Teal'c would bring them back into the house. I'm not an anal housekeeper ( my house is VERY pet friendly - hair, noseprints and loose kibble are 'decorating accessories' in my house!) but those fleas were a nightmare of WORK to get rid of them completely. Is there something similar (flea treatment) for cats? Is heartworm a cat issue as well?
As I said, I’ve never been ‘owned’ by a cat – so I am pretty ignorant regarding any health issues. So is there anything else I need to know / ask about regarding the health care of a cat? Any suggestions or comments would be welcomed….
Laura
Photos - Teal'c being coaxed into my lap in the cold garage
and Teal'cs checking out the INSIDE of the house for the first time.
I'm new to the board -
I have never had a cat before, though I am a longtime dog owner. We recently were 'adopted' by a stray ginger cat in our neighborhood who found shelter in our garage. After a month of feeding him and providing a warm bed in the garage, a really cold (below 0) spell convinced him to try and trust being inside the house.
Teal’c is a really smart kitty and has learned ( on his own) to use the doggy door to come in and out of the house - he now has free run of the house, and has not damaged or bothered anything inside. Teal’c potty's outside - either while he's prowling, or when the weather was severly cold and snowy - in the sand of the large dog run attached to the side of our house and protected from the elements. While he was very wary and easily startled at first - he warmed up to us pretty quickly. He comes in now looking as much for companionship and petting as much as for food and shelter. His quick turnaround in behavior makes me think that he was probably abandoned, and not a 'Born' feral cat.
With the help of a cat owner friend, we've guessed that he's about 2 yrs old, and appears to be in good physical shape and health. His pads are pink, but really tough and his coat is rough and VERY thick. He has (and continues to get) quite a few bites and scratches from fighting with other cats (? a guess, could be other animals or thorny brush?) esp on his ears, but they have really been minor scrapes and he heals very quickly. Since he spent more time indoors, and i suspect, because he has had more 'secure and safe' time, he has started looking better - cleaner, softer, better groomed. Having a 'safe place' to relax, he can probably let down his guard and have more time to attend to his grooming. He loves to have me rub him down with a towel when he comes in wet, and he's even let me clean his ears somewhat (they were FILTHY!) though they are much smaller than my dogs, and I can't get as far in with my big people fingers as i would like. I'm thinking I'll have the vet clean his ears good while he's asleep being fixed.
My questions have to do with having him neutered and what kind of care and medical attention is needed for a mostly 'outside' Cat?
It’s been a long time since I had a pet young enough to be ‘fixed’ – my last dog was from rescue and was neutered when I got him. When I get Teal’c neutered, am I going to have to keep him in for a few days? How long? Will I have to restrict his activity?
What kind of shots and vaccinations are necessary for a cat that is exposed to the outdoors? (Rabies, of course, but what else?)
Money is an issue- as I am currently unemployed and we just finished paying for 4 months of Chemo for our dog, Tristan, who died 3 weeks ago- I can find a way to do whatever is necessary, but if there are less expensive alternatives, I would be grateful for suggestions.
Lastly, we ARE ‘dog people’ and are currently looking for another dog. One concern with Teal’c being an ‘outside’ cat is that we had a bad flea problem 2 yrs ago in our area, and Teal’c would likely be exposed to them, even if the dog is given Sentinal or advantage, etc., and Teal'c would bring them back into the house. I'm not an anal housekeeper ( my house is VERY pet friendly - hair, noseprints and loose kibble are 'decorating accessories' in my house!) but those fleas were a nightmare of WORK to get rid of them completely. Is there something similar (flea treatment) for cats? Is heartworm a cat issue as well?
As I said, I’ve never been ‘owned’ by a cat – so I am pretty ignorant regarding any health issues. So is there anything else I need to know / ask about regarding the health care of a cat? Any suggestions or comments would be welcomed….
Laura
Photos - Teal'c being coaxed into my lap in the cold garage
and Teal'cs checking out the INSIDE of the house for the first time.