Cat Problems

[Blue Survivor]

@hodge I am glad that it is working out for you and your husband with the kittens and with Robert. I did work with animals for over 10 years, gosh do I miss it! That doesn't stop me from helping whenever I can though :)

 

[The Albatross]

@Blue Survivor - if you have any tips or suggestions about canines chewing through hoses, flex tubing, irrigation sprinkler heads (it's a Boxer/Staffordshire Terrier mix rescue - Ripley) could you please pass it along? He has chew toys but seems to enjoy digging just as much as chewing. New one on me, not sure how to redirect or stop the behavior. My mister and I are not sure what to do... He's between a year now and 14 months depending on which vet clinic we asked. He seems to not be interested in balls or Frisbees... but indoors (we strongly suspect him to have been apartment raised) there is no chewing behavior aside from his toys unless because of stormy weather he is in the Florida room for a few hours... last time he ate all the buttons off of their patio lounger/dog bed.

 

[Blue Survivor]

@The Albatross - it sounds like from Ripley's guesstimated age that he may be teething; but he would likely chew things inside the house as well if that were the case. The button eating could be Pica, where a person or animal just 'has' to eat something (or everything!) and often, but that's too common.

I think what you have here is a rescue that is a mix of two very energetic breeds, so it sounds like Ripley may like to keep busy/entertained. If you're not walking him twice a day I'd start there, but he may benefit (and so would your patio furniture and hoses) from agility courses. If you aren't familiar that's the obstacle course for dogs where they run through tunnels, up & down bridges, jump through hoops, etc. I'd look for 'agility courses for dogs' in your area. Some are even free. Normally I'd suggest Flyball too because Staffodshires have a high 'prey' drive where they like to chase small, fast moving things...but you said Ripley isn't too interested in balls or Frisbees so that may not be very fun for him.

As far as redirecting the chewing, there are rubbery 'tire' chew toys Ripley may enjoy chewing while he's outside. I'm thinking those are the most hose-like toys that he can bite into. I'd put one of those near the hoses and sprinklers and then when he chews the toy I'd make a big deal about it. "Good boy!" in an excited, happy tone and then give him some tasty treats. He'll get the idea. There are also 'puzzle' toys that you can stuff treats into like Kongs, balls, etc - those make him 'work' for a treat which may help him with his tendency to dig and eat things that he is not supposed to.

I think with more-than-usual physical activity and some tougher toys to chew with positive reinforcement that Ripley will stop eating your hoses and patio furniture in no time :)

 

[The Albatross]

Yay, worth a shot, thanks!

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

Felines are, by nature, solitary animals. If a new cat or kitten is introduced into the household, there will usually be tension for around a week or so, then it eases off slowly. Cats will always bicker and fight occasionally, regardless, because they are territorial. Spraying to mark territory is a big issue if you have more than one cat in your home. Cleaning the sprayed area with a mixture of white vinegar and water helps neutralize the odors fairly well, although your house can smell like a pickle jar. ha

 

[katz]

We had a similar problem when we rescued two kittens from an alley behind my husbands work. They were both very, very young, so we took them both in so they would be able to cope by having a familiar friend. One thing that I will tell you, if you do have to find a new home for the kittens--insist on keeping them together. Our two are inseparable.
We have a total of 5 cats. So, yes, I can assure you that they have a "pecking" order. We just recently lost our oldest one. :(
I have been watching all the others closely. The new "order" is still being established. We have noticed that everyone has their "area" that is theirs. We have one who never comes to the bedroom, and another "fraidy cat" that will always stay near the bedroom. When we brought the two newest ones home, we did the same thing as Joeylittle advised. We kept them in the other room, door closed. Then the older ones could smell them under the door and get used to the smell. We also did the blanket idea. It took a while but everyone gets along now.

 

[hodge]

Thanks for your thoughts, Katz. Our three get along very well now. It was quite an adjustment period, but I think Robert got tired of hissing at Woody, lol. They all sleep together on our bed at night, and all three play with each other. We never would have separated the two younger cats. They are very close.

I'm so sorry for your loss. We've lost three over the years. They are buried in our backyard, as is our late dog Misha (my avatar), a nice little corner, which I try to keep up with flowers in the summer.

 

[katz]

Thanks for your thoughts, Katz. Our three get along very well now. It was quite an adjustment period, but...

Robert and Woody? What wonderful names! I love the name Misha. My "babies" are Mindy, Kia, Karamel and Rhapsody (his brother) My old girl "Addley" died earlier this year. :( She was named after Irene Addler, from Sherlock Holmes. We also had "Watson" . He passed away a few years ago.
Cats are wonderful pets! I like how quiet they are--well, most of the time. LOL
It is so comforting to sit with them on my lap.

 

[hodge]

Aww, great names. I especially love Rhapsody as a name. Robert is named after the early 20th-century bluesman Robert Johnson, Woody, after Woody Guthrie. Misha was her name when I rescued her so I didn't change it even though it's the male version of Michael in Russian, lol. Our little girl cat Sonja got her name just because we like it.

 

[hodge]

There are photos of all of them on my media page.

 

[katz]

There are photos of all of them on my media page.

I once sent in a picture of the two boys. on a cat tree as kittens, to a contest. They won! They were featured in the news letter on line, along with the story of how we found them!
We once took a picture of Watson and Addley while they are playing ( 5-6 years ago). They are up on a carpeted block, with their front "arms/ paws" around each other. We sent the picture with the caption : "Should I lead or you?" We won 2nd place! The prize was a book of all the pictures that were entered in the contest. It was fun! I miss them both.

 

[hodge]

Awww, that's so cool. That photo sounds adorable!