What to do?

**wayne0214** · 10-02-2002, 09:23 AM

Jen. you are so correct. since most of their pooping occurs within a half-hour of their feeding, I will try to clean out her litter box, 2 to 3 times daily and see it that is acceptable to her.

............wayne

**krazyaboutkatz** · 10-03-2002, 12:23 AM

I'm so glad that you now know what the problem is. The solution could take some time though. Good luck.

**Cataholic** · 10-03-2002, 09:44 AM

After reading the above, I am convinced I need to move out of my house, into a little shed, and convert my entire first floor to a giant litter box! Isn't it funny that dogs will poop almost anywhere? Yet cats "need" either coverage, a certain surface, a certain level of clean, their own box...CATS! Can't live without them, can't live without them...he he he.. I have six (not counting porch cat) cats and four boxes, and scoop twice a day. That seems to do the trick for my herd, thank goodness!!! I do have to work sometimes felines...

**wayne0214** · 10-04-2002, 09:04 AM

Apparently, the calling from Cookie is caused by wanting attention. Every time she calls out, I will go and find out what she wants. I know now, because she will position herself so I can easily pick her up. So far she is the only cat who will do this for me. Usually they keep waking, so I have to "chase" them first.

Yesterday, I placed all of my "pooping kitties" including Otis, Nightshade, Littlebit, and my female Russian Blue kitten, Katrina, in the service porch with a clean litterbox. They got out at feeding time, and came to sleep with me on the bed last night. This has revealed several things: that their litter box must be kept clean at all times, and that they are aware of their sickness, and feel left out when I isolate them like that. I will not isolate them any more when they are sick. This morning, they are all around my keyboard, resting everywhere, as I opened up the windows and let in the Autumn's breezy cool air. Nickolai, my Russian Blue male kitten, continually curls up in my lap, regardless of where I am or what I am doing. And not a sound from Cookie.

**jenluckenbach** · 10-04-2002, 01:52 PM

I do not know how long you have owned cats, so without any offense meant I say ""I think you are getting the idea"

**wayne0214** · 10-04-2002, 05:14 PM

jen, although I have alway been partial to cats, I have not taken a special interest in them until about 2 years ago. It was a part Abyssinian that caught my attention. From there it has been an on-hands learning experience, with a lot of help from Pet Talk.

.................wayne

**jenluckenbach** · 10-04-2002, 06:48 PM

Well, I have had cats my entire "adult" life, say about 20 years. I was not allowed to have house pets at my parents, although we did have outside cats (A practice I no longer like- personally). So along with that, and grooming cats/dogs for 15 years, and a close alliance with my vet, I have ,let's say, an understanding of the species. Maybe I was a cat in another life ! I can't imagine life without cats.
Well leave it to me to ramble on

**wayne0214** · 10-06-2002, 02:17 PM

Jen, even though I am retired, the learning experience with my furkids is interesting. At least it keeps me up and moving around the house. Sometimes, especially when any of them are sick, I wish I had a "helping hand" in dealing with them.

...........wayne

**jenluckenbach** · 10-06-2002, 06:41 PM

Well, wayne, you do. We are all here for you.
By the way, how did you manage to get 12 cats in such a short time (you said about 2 years experience, right?) I built up rather slowly, myself.
P.S. I think we digress from the subject of the thread. Oh well, you started it so I guess it's ok.

**wayne0214** · 10-07-2002, 06:40 AM

jen, all of my furkids are rescues and native born kittens, I left a few of them in Calif. when I came to Kansas mostly because of a request from those who I worked with, and also that those left behind would not get along with the others. I am very selective about taking in cats because as it is, none of them, that I have now, fight each other. This old house is large enough for all of them.

my experience with cats began over 6 years ago, when a Torbie stray showed up at my door in central Calif. and she had kittens. Many of them fell victim to coyote attacks, It wasn't until that I got tired of losing many of my favorits that I began keeping them inside my small quarters there. I made escape places for them but if you are familiar with the hunting practices of coyotes, many of my furkids did not have time to escape. One of my rooms in this 77-year old house is as large as the entire living quarters in central Calif.

.........wayne

**jenluckenbach** · 10-07-2002, 07:00 AM

Yes I always worry that the next one will be a trouble maker, but so far so good.
I am glad you started to bring the kitties inside. Much better that way, don't you think? I can't imagine not having cats, and now, at 11 cats, I can't imagine life without MULTIPLE cats.

**wayne0214** · 10-07-2002, 07:37 AM

jen, yesterday when I put out the Science Diet kitten food, all of them came and scarfed it all up. Since they were all together, that the bulk of them would fill a bushel basket. Even though 13 furkids sounds like a lot, they are not really that big, and do not occcupy much space.

..............wayne

**Cataholic** · 10-07-2002, 12:18 PM

Wayne, when someone comments that I have six cats, I point out that all of them added up together- space and weight wise- still hardly amounts to one dog!!!! What justifying cat lovers must do???