Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Helen asks…

Is it me or is Humane Society Fucked up?

I just went into an animal shelter to adopt a kitten for christmas. I found this beautiful three-month old kitten that needed a home. I really like her and she seemed very playful, so I go to adopt her and the animal shelter denied my adoption because I said I would let my cat go outside if it wanted to. Then when I told them I would keep it indoors they said I was lying. Is it me or is that just completely fucked up?

ghkitten answers:

Most animal shelters will NOT adopt out to a home that plans to keep a cat outside. In the US, there’s something called a ‘leash law’. Basically, those laws state that whenever the animal is off your property it will be under control so that it doesn’t cause trouble for anyone else such as pooping in other peoples yards and so on. It is impossible to keep a cat in your own yard without a tall fence and a roof on it so the cat can’t climb out. That means that outdoor cats are breaking leash laws. Many animal shelters are run by municipal governments and are not allowed to adopt out to people who plan to break the law or are presently breaking the law. For instance, if the pet limit is 4 in your area, they aren’t legally allowed to adopt out a fifth animal to you. If the law is that all dogs and cats have rabies shots and be licensed and yours are not, then they cannot legally adopt out another pet to you..
Would you trust someone that changed their answer? If you were interviewing someone for a job and you asked them if they had retail experience and they said no, would you believe them if they stated they did have retail experience after you said it was necessary to the job? No, you wouldn’t, you would know they were lying to get the job.

Animal shelters also won’t adopt out animals for Christmas. They want you to get a pet because you’ve thought about it, researched it, considered how much it costs and reasonably expect to be able to keep the pet for life. It’s not like buying a sweater, a kitten is a living thing.

I wouldn’t have adopted a kitten out to you either. I would have referred you to information about local leash laws and suggested you wait until after the holiday season.. Kittens are a lot easier to adopt out then the adult cats that irresponsible people return when the novelty wears off. It’s better to get a kitten into a permanent home the first time around then to have to find the kitten another home when it’s returned as a full grown cat.

Richard asks…

My Kitten Poops and Pees ALOT! Will he grow out of this?

My 6 months old kitten eats and drinks like there is no tomorrow, worst of all, pees and poops like I’ve never seen before… I adopted him when he was only 3 months old, and he has ALWAYS been generous in bringing on the waste. 4-5 x poop and 5-6 times pee per day .

2 months back I bought my kitten directly from the adoption center to the vet for a well checkup and the vet said my kitten is healthy, got his poo checked and no worms or parasites.

I have another older cat which I adopted when she was only 4 months old, now that she is almost 2 years old, NEVER have I seen her behave like the kitten I have right now.

I am thinking maybe I should limit his food in take, but he is only a kitten, should I? My older cat for some reason has alot more self control when it comes to eating, that is why I never have such issues until now.

Will he grow out of this? Will he eat and poop less when he gets older?

ghkitten answers:

Stop feeding him purina beans…. Lol jk…. No i got my cat at 7 months and he was quite generous too…especially with the smell that came with it he didnt only pee and poo all the time he farted alot…baby kittens do eat alot and drink because they are growing trust me on that i asked my vet too.. Just as long as you cat is being generous to his liter and not your floor i wouldnt worry

Carol asks…

convince my parents to get an adorable kitten!!!?

So my chinchilla died last thursday…and my entire family was devastaded! I worked so hard in order to get her. Well we found two chinchillas that we are interested in and we are going to look at them tonight. But the other day we met a kitten up for adoption by a family we are very close to. The kittens ahdorable and i just love her! but there are a couple problems with getting a cat like my dads allergic and he would have to become immune, we would have to get it declawed (only the front claws) and my parents dont want to get the kitten AND the chinchillas! please help me find a way in order to help convince them to get the chinchilla and the cat!! <3<3 oh and we also have a very old dog that doesnt do much if that means anything. also the people we are getting it from one of the family members was allergic to cats but is now immune to them so….
please!!!!!!!!!!!1

ghkitten answers:

Simple. Your father is just jealous because he can see that your love for the kitten is more important to you than his state of health/allergy. Call him out on this and he will be forced to change his mind. Stupid parents! What do they know?

Laura asks…

Ways to fatten up my cat!?

I just adopted a one year old cat today from a adoption clinic. She is really skinny! I mean like you can feel every bone~! She had some kittens a while ago and so I’m thinking that’s what has gotten her skinny. I have fed her three things of wet food today and she keeps begging me for more. What about some kitten milk or something of human food? Thanks!

ghkitten answers:

Limit her food. You don’t want to put on too much weight to quickly. That’s hard on their bodies. I know she’s hard to look at and pet and you just want her fattened up immediately. Three cans of wet food in a day (the 5.5oz ones I assume?) are plenty for a day unless she’s a big-boned cat :) Leave a little dry food for her and that should be it for the day. If you give her too much she’ll probably throw it up anyway. Science Diet, Iams, and Purina are junk food. If you look at the ingredients you’ll see corn and by-products and possibly wheat. Those are useless or nearly useless so look for a food without those items in the ingredients. Taste of the Wild, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul are two good, reasonably priced foods. Other good foods are Wellness, Innova, Blue Buffalo, Premium Edge, Eagle Pack, California Natural, Natural Balance. You can check a local feed store to see if they carry any quality brands. Thanks giving an adult a second chance!

Joseph asks…

F.I.B. (?) in a kitten?

my son and his wife paid and adopted 2 kittens from Petsmarts adoption.
Luna is her name has been tested for everything..listless, eats and drinks little.
I asked if they tested for feline lekemia. They said yes.
They came back with F.I.B.. In all my 45 yrs plus with cats this is a new one to me. I feel that Petsmart gave them a bum kitten. Was ill the day after they brought it home and just never acted right. Now after 2 months Petsmart says your on your own.
Well my son had the baby kitty put down tonight. After 2 months of IV’s and shots and antibiotics. Nothing was working.

So what is F.I.B. ?

Thanks in advance..

ghkitten answers:

You mean FIP? Feline Infectious Peritonitis. They’re a deadly and dangerous virus that affect cats. Once they get it they’re guaranteed to die. They have to be put to sleep because it has no cure and they will ultimately suffer with swollen belly and diarrhea until they die. You said a kitten is put down so if you haven’t put down another kitten, it’s time for him to go because it’s very contagious and he already got it if he’s been around with other kitten. I’m very sorry. Your son can’t have another cats for more than 2 months until the viruses die off. He will have to sterilize their bowls and litterbox, and throw out the toys. Don’t adopt cats from this same Petsmart again they might have poor quality of care. My mom adopted 2 cats from Petsmart and they are fine and healthy. He should consider adopting at different place like good quality local shelter if he wants another kitten and MAKE SURE they are healthy enough and observe them before taking them home! He still have to take them to first vet visit to guarantee that they’re healthy.

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Sharon asks…

How do I introduce my new kitten to my older jealous cat?

How do I introduce my new kitten to my older jealous cat?
I’m getting a 4 month old kitten. I’m just not sure on how I should introduce my older cat to the new comer. My older cat tends to be jealous. He has lived in a household with other pets before ( 3 cats ad 2 dogs ) and didn’t have any serious problems there.
He had a companion ( who had to be given up for adoption sadly, due to relocation) which is why I’m getting the new kitten for company. But ever since he has been by himself, he hisses at other stray cats and even at my cousin’s dog. He never usually bothers unless Svetlana ( the dog) annoys him or chases him. So should I be concerned with the two getting along ?

ghkitten answers:

Cats need to be properly introduced to the new home, the new humans, and the existing cats if they are to get along well and not have problems.

Here’s how we introduce newcomers to our gang:

Cats need to be introduced very slowly.

First of all, we do not allow a new cat to have any contact with our other cats until a vet has given the new cat a clean bill of health. This includes tests for such things as FIP and Feline Leukemia.

Cats can be successfully introduced to each other regardless of their ages or sexes.

We have successfully added adult cats to our family containing both young and old cats as well as introducing very young kittens to the other cats.

It has to be done slowly. If you simply put them together, you will have behavioral problems the vast majority of times.

The new cat has to be given time to get used to you and the new environment – don’t try to introduce the new cat to the new home, to you, and to the other cats all at once. Do it in stages.

Also, the existing cat has to get used to the smell of the new cat.

We introduce cats by keeping the new cat in the back room for up to a month. My office is there as is my wife’s sewing table. There is a sofa and bookshelves.

We spend a lot of time with the new cat to get them used to us, the new environment and the new smells.

After they accept us with no problems, we put a screen door on the back room door frame and let everyone see each other for a week or so.

It may take a lot less time than a month to get to this point but we just take it slow and easy.

Once we judge it safe to do so, we let the new cats out into the house and chaperon the first encounters.

We’ve only ever had one problem introducing cats like this and that problem was resolved in a couple of weeks.

We’ve had 26 cats over the past 22 years and many of them were adults – 12 and older – when they joined our family.

We’ve also introduced several kittens, ranging from ages of 7 weeks to 4 or 5 months, to the rest of the crew with no problems.

You have to take it slow.

If you can’t put up a screen door, perhaps two baby gates, stacked one on top of the other, will close off the door but still allow the cats to see each other.

If you can’t use a screen door or baby gates, try letting the existing cat into the room with the new cat for a few minutes while you chaperon.

If things get bad, take the cat out of the room.

You just have to introduce cats slowly

There are cats who could be thrown together and become pals but they are few and far between.

Chris asks…

My cat is sad because his new mate?

Hi guys plz i need your help, i have a cat of 4 years old, he was a very happy cat until we bring a new mate (kitten) at the first day he didnt accept the kitten but at the next day i tought he accpet him, but he start to be sad very sad, his meow change and he eats just a little bit, i dont think he is in pain because everytime he see me with the kitten he hides and he didnt go out until i cheer him, im afraid that my cat is sad because he feels ignored or something like that, what should i do? do i have to give the kitten for adoption? or hwat u guys can recomend me, i dont wanna loose my cat he is part of my family and if i have to put away the new kitten well i have to do it, it sounds cruel but is the only thing i can think about it, Please HELP ME!!!

ghkitten answers:

Don’t give either up – make sure the older cat gets the same amount of love – and remember any adjustment takes time.

Daniel asks…

A kitten we were going to adopt at the shelter was put down?

My husband and I adopted a mama cat and her two kittens from the shelter near by. One was too small to get fixed (2 lbs) so we took him home. The other, his sister, was left behind to be spayed before we took her home. She was a little over 3 lbs.
When I went to the shelter today to pick her up, they said she didn’t make it through the surgery. The main adoption coordinator told me she reacted badly to the anesthesia. But the volunteer coordinator told me she made up a story, and that in fact the kitten’s intestines and inside’s were all out of whack and they put her down.
I am very frustrated and don’t understand why this happened. Should we have had the right to make the decision to put her down or not?
Why did the adoption coordinator lie to us? Does she know they did the wrong thing? What could have been wrong with the kitten?
This is very frustrating and we feel, in a way, we are the cause for her death.

ghkitten answers:

You are in no way the blame here at all. I would talk to the manager or the highest person on the employee list there. You should have been informed before they did anything and should have been your call if you had already adopted the kitten. Could have been many things wrong with her. And by the lie that was already told how do you know they are telling the truth about any of it and if and why she was put down. Contact someone high up and have your say and find out the real truth here. I would also demand her body be cremated and given to you to do what you wish with as it was your kitten. Shame on them but hats off to you for adopting and trying your best to do the right thing.

Donna asks…

Help Chronic Cat Diarrhea ?

I had two health cats that never had any serious problems for years; one cat was getting older so I decided to adopt a friend for the younger. I adopted a kitten from Pet Smart, which has had Chronic Diarrhea for five months!

The kitten has been diagnosed with coccicidia, Hook worms and Gardia. I have spent thousands of dollars for medications and vet bills, not to mention my litter bill is outrageous, due to having to thoroughly clean the box every time something is in it, carpet steam cleaning, wipes, you name it. The Marley fund which gave me the cats has decided to ignore my plight; the Marley fund was in a Pet Smart to put kittens up for adoption at my local store.

I have spent countless nights doing research and diligently have dealt with this situation for months. Putting aside from my personal frustrations, I am afraid I may lose one or both of my cats. I have appealed to pet smart for help, I was told this Kitten had been tested and de wormed, clearly I was lied to, but the bottom line is I consider the cat’s condition first and foremost no matter what the companies position and how much it disgusts me. I do not think many others would have gone through this ordeal for as long as I have, and I am not going to give up on them, but I am out of ideas, any and all advice would be useful.

They wont eat Yogurt or Pumpkin, I have added a powdered suplement to thier food to sold things up, it doesnt work, nuthing seem to work, help.

ghkitten answers:

Try to feed him less fish

mark k

Susan asks…

I found a kitten, I am willing to foster but looking for programs to help with vet bills and adoption?

I found a kitten I believe is 5-6 months old outside by my garage and my stray cat i call Mr.Tom saw him and almost attacked the kitten so i grabbed it up and brought it inside. It was very malnourished but i have had it for a week now and she has gained weight (now weighs 5 lbs) and looks very healthy now. I am willing to foster and pay for food and litter, But she needs to be checked by a vet and given all her shots and be spayed. I can’t afford it. I have to pay for 2 special needs dogs and another cat already. I was wondering if there were any programs that would be willing to help me with the vet bills and finding her a home. I am willing to fill out an application and do what i need to do to become a foster parent if need be, I wouldn’t mind it. I have already called my local humane society and they say they were full. And I have tapped out all my family and friends for adoptions.any help is appreciated

ghkitten answers:

You have to ask the right questions when calling places like that. The people that work there are usually overworked, underpaid, and are more interested in dealing with animals rather than people. Call your local animal shelter again, and ask them if they can help you with vet bills if you take care of the cat until they have an opening. We did that when we found a dog that had road rash, they gave us an allowance to take to the vet. Then we called around and found a vet to help the dog for the amount on the voucher.

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Lizzie asks…

We are getting a 6 month male. Neuter him before or after adoption?

We have a 5-6 yr old spayed female at home, adopted her 2 yrs ago. We are going to adopt a 6 month male kitten. We are getting him from a friend, so we can get him whenever we want. Should I get the current owner to get him neutered before we adopt him? Or should I neuter him a week or two after we adopt him? He is very skiddish and afraid of people. He’s deaf so he gets startled easily. I don’t want to traumatize him just after we get him but it might be hard on the current owner to get him fixed too (her husband is “making” her get rid of him). I don’t want him to spray or anything either. We’ll keep the two cats separated for a while and I will buy a Feliway plug-in to help calm nerves.

ghkitten answers:

Definitely get him neutered before you bring him home. It will be less of a transition for both him and for your resident cat.

Resident kitty will only have to deal with new “vet” smelling kitty once.

And new kitty will have one smooth fast transition. Vet then home. Instead of home and feeling safe… Then vet… Then back home and waiting to see if he’s going to take another trip.
Congrats on your new kitty!

PS… Don’t forget to add a few extra litter boxes to accommodate new kitty. Rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one. So that’s three total.

George asks…

Separating Kitten from new ‘friends’

I found a little kitten 2 weeks ago and have been caring for it with the intention to have it adopted by someone. I already have 2 cats, a 6yr old female and a 1 yr old male. The 1 yr old male and this little one (2 mths old) have become playmates. Im wondering how they will both handle it if i give up the little kitten for adoption. Has anyone faced this? Any advice from any cat experts, animal therapists or vets out there ? Thank you.
NB. I would like to keep the kitty but my landlord says 2 cats max.

ghkitten answers:

Kittens adapt well to new environments, It won’t be traumatic for him to leave his new friend. The older cat may seem a little confused about where his new friend has gone, He might walk around the house calling for him but he’ll be fine after a day or two. Give him (1yo) lot’s of attention after you re-home the kitten so he feels loved.

Donna asks…

I want to adopt a cat but I have many problems… cat experts?

I saw the cutest cat EVER in the pet store – she was up for adoption. I really wanted her; but my mom is not up for it. Also, I have a 1 year old golden retriever. I am not sure how to convince my mom to get the kitten. I also am not sure how the dog and cat will get along!

PLEASE HELP!

ghkitten answers:

There are articles about how to introduce cat to dog on these sites:
learn about this, and a lot of interesting things at these GREAT sites:

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?ac… (go to the library of articles!)

http://www.cattraining.com/

http://www.perfectpaws.com/cpv.html…

Hope these are helpful

Michael asks…

Do you think that our family should adopt a Male or a Female Kitten from our local Petsmart Store?

HI, Today me and my brother went into a pet store called Pet Smart to see the Cats that they had for adoption and my mom and dad might let us pick out one of the Kittens that they had there. There were Male and Female Kittens at the store.

So, do you think that we should adopt a Male Kitten or a Female Kitten and is it a good Idea that we are adopting a Cat instead of getting one from a Cat Breeder?

Please Respond,

Thank You and GOD Bless!

ghkitten answers:

I recommend getting an adult cat. The kitten has a higher chance of being adopted than the adults, but the adults need homes just as bad. Plus you know what the adults look like and better how they act than a kitten. I personally like big long haired males the most- they are the most docile and relaxed from my experience.

Getting a rescue cat is almost always better than getting a cat from a breeder. Unless you are looking for something really specific or rare its better to rescue because you are saving a life and often rescued cats make the best pets.

Betty asks…

How can I get my kitten to wear her collar?

Hi, my kitten is 4 months old and she was a stray kitten brought in with her family to the adoption center. I have now had here for two weeks and I love her. The problem is she runs very very fast and it gives my mother quite a fright. I have also gotten a few bad scratches for when I couldn’t hear her coming towards me. I am ok with her speed but the rest of my family and any visitors we get are quite terrified. At the adoption center the cats didn’t wear collars so I know she won’t be used to it.

The collar I have for her is a safe one with a pull apart clip and a bell. However every time I put it on her she always thrashed around and tries to get it off. have checked and it’s definitely not tight for her.

How can I get her to stop thrashing around? and how can I teach her that the collar is a good thing?

Please Help~

ghkitten answers:

Put in on her when she is sleeping, Make sure it isn’t too tight. When she wakes up and tries to take it off, make sure you leave it on no matter what. Watch her and when she stops thrashing around give her a treat. Every time she tries to do this, give her a treat when she stops. She’ll learn. Eventually she’ll stop.

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Free

Ken asks…

free or low cost vet services for cat in los angeles?

is there anywhere where I can get free or low cost vet services in los angeles, for example near downtown, because I can’t travel too far at the moment. My kitten needs worming, flea treatment, and vaccines(yes im gonna spay her, but she is too young at the moment). I would really appreciate if you could give me an approximate of what these things would cost me. plus what other fees there are. Thank you.

ghkitten answers:

Here are some clinics in your area.

Http://www.rescueguide.com/lavets.html

http://www.samsimonfoundation.com/share/files/AdditionalResources.pdf

http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html

Lizzie asks…

Which dry cat food’s better?

Am trying to intro a meat based, grain free dry cat food for my cat, I am considering the following options:

1. Natural Balance Original Ultra™ Ultra-Premium Dry Cat Food

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/catformulas/UltCat.html

2. Serengeti Herbal Felid Diet

http://www.organics4yourpets.com/product.php?productid=118

3. EVO Cat and Kitten Food

http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1500

Which one of these would you guys suggest? Any better recommendations?
I am feeding my cat on a 70 wet/30dry diet. Just wanted to have a change of better diet since I saw many mentioned the grain and by product stuff isn’t good for cats. Heard Evo’s a high calorie food, would it cause any problem for my bit overweight cat? Thanks.

ghkitten answers:

EVO would be the highest quality out of those, so I’d recommend that one. I’d also recommend feeding wet instead of dry. The reason is, in the wild, cats normally get most of their water content directly from their prey items and drink very little. Domestic cats are no different, and because of the fact that they are designed to take in water with their meal, they have a very low thirst drive. Cats often just don’t drink enough. This leads to urinary tract infections and crystals. The bit about dry food being better for teeth is a myth and has not been proven in the least. Canned/wet food is better because it more closely mimics the cat’s natural diet. More on why canned food is best:
http://www.catinfo.org/ (Excellent cat nutrition information by a vet)

http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/canned_food.htm

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=whycatsneedcannedfood

Nancy asks…

Weaning a kitten, advice and wisdom please?

I am a proud owner of a four month old ragdoll kitten, she came from a breeder, she’s had all her vaccinations and microchip and is going to be desexed when she hits five and a half months. The only problem is, she doesn’t seem to have been weaned properly. When we got her we were baffled as to why she would not drink water, and eventually found she would only drink milk (lactose free kitten milk).

I spend all day with her, talk to her, play with her, feed her and offer her milk several times a day. She curls up next to me at night, follows me around all day, sleeps under my computer chair when I’m on the computer, and now she seems to have decided I’m her new mother. She has taken to doing the kneading feet kittens do to get milk from their mothers on my chest and stomach, and then starts looking for somewhere to get milk from me! I feel so sad for her.

I’ve raised many cats but I’ve never dealt with an unweaned kitten before, does anyone have any advice or wisdom to share? This is an important time for kitties and if it’s not done right I know they can have behavioural problems.

I’ve already started slowly watering down her milk so that eventually we can get her onto water, and I always leave water out for her to try. Anything else I should be doing? Thanks to you all :)

Inb4 trolls too, serious advice only please.

ghkitten answers:

Actually, you kitten IS weaned. She is eating solid food and drinking from a dish; she is not getting her sole nourishment from nursing, therefor she is weaned. Semantics aside, you have to remember that cats are master manipulators. They are like two year old kids. They will keep testing the boundaries to see what they can get away with, and if they meet any resistance they will try to out-stuborn you. I think she has decided she likes milk better than water. Your idea of watering it down is good. If you are feeding her mostly canned food, she is getting a good deal of her necessary water from that. I wouldn’t worry too much about her water intake. If you pull up some of the skin on her scruff and it goes right back down, she is not dehydrated. Are you giving her kitten milk replacement (like KMR) or the “treat” lactose free milk you buy in the little cartons in the grocery store? The first might be a little rich for her now if she’s getting a quality kitten formula canned or dry food. The second type is just for treats. You might also reduce how much you give her and how often, so that if she wants more to drink she will turn to the water. She might also be getting water from something like a dripping faucet. You might measure out how much water you put in her dish, and the next day remeasure it to see how much is gone (allowing for evaporation).

The kneading is something all contented cats do all their lives. I have a cat who when he is in my lap, will start sucking on my shirt. Is this what you’re describing? He was obviously weaned too young, and the sucking fulfills some unmet psychological need. I can try to get him to suck on something like a towel on my lap, and gradually move the towel off, like giving him a security blanket. But unless I can fulfill this psychological need, he will keep sucking on the fabric. If she is showing this cloth sucking behavior, you might get a nursing bottle and see if she will go back to this for a while, then gradually decrease this and see if the sucking behavior stops. Be careful because now that she’s older she can chew off and swallow the tip of the nipple. If the bottle works, you might see if giving her an empty bottle to use like a pacifier will satisfy her.

Thomas asks…

How do i convince my mom to get a kitten?

How do i convince my mom to get a kitten?
well my friend is offering a free grey kitten thats a girl shes named muffin my mom thinks the grow old and ugly and shed lots we (have a black cat) and she changes the litter box and stuff for it so she doesnt trust me help

ghkitten answers:

Honestly…suck up to her. Do all your chores, everything she says, take care of your current cat. Show her that you are responsible and that you can take care of another cat.

That’s basically what I did and I now have 3 cats and a dog.

Jenny asks…

How much will shots cost for my new kitten?

My friends cat is having kittens, and she said she would give me one for free. She isn’t paying for any vacinations. I need to know the basic shots and I would like to get the kitten spayed/neutered. I don’t want it micro chiped, because it will be an inside cat. I’m also not looking for any additional shots for it, i just want the required ones. It would also be helpful to know prices! Any information is helpful. Thanks!(:
I live in Iowa.

ghkitten answers:

Specific costs become impossible to predict, since costs vary even within a small area.

But the rule of thumb I give is that a female kitten through spaying costs about $500, and a male through neutering, about $400.

Getting the kitten free knocks off about $100. But usually for a typical adoption fee, some vet treatment has already been given.

So why so high? You want the kitten to have a health assessment, and that includes a fecal test for worms, and the initial FVRCP booster. And that often will run about $100. Then two more distemper boosters, since the first one is usually at 8 weeks; the second at 12-14 weeks, and the third one at spay/neuter time. And those will be done at routine vet visits, so perhaps another $100 for the two visits. Actual shots are only around $10-$15. Then, if required by law, a rabies vaccination after spay/neuter.

Those are the only two shots needed, and a test for worms is important, and treatment is inexpensive.

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Chris asks…

How do I convince my mom for a new kitten?

Okay, so I was at the mall seeing a movie and our local pet shelter was set up there trying to get pets adopted. I am in love with all animals and would adopt as many as I could without it getting too out of hand and all illegal.

I was just looking at the kittens and none really caught my eye, other then the fact they were in cages and playing with all the people, until I looked at a little tortoiseshell kitten missing her left eye. She was born 4/28 and has short fur. I have just fallen in love with this little girl and she had been hiding from a lot of people but played with me, I feel like it’s fate, my mother on the other hand doesn’t seem to think so and keeps saying no, she said our home is no place for a cat to live.(We live in my grandmother’s basement with 3bd and 1 ba) We have two cats atm, one is my little boy and his brother is my sister’s. Honestly, they are indoor cats because we move so much and i don’t want the to get lost. They are allowed in my room and my sisters and only upstairs if we are with them. They have toys, run around and(I think) live quite happily. My mom never really liked the cats because they had some destructive problems with her curtains as kittens. Another reason she says is because no one cleans their cat box, and yet I clean it every week…she has yet to notice.

I have tried many angles with her and have promised anything and all that stuff. The cat has a very good adoption price and is up-to-date with routine shots, house trained and spayed so we would only need to get her micro-chipped. I am in love with this little girl and know I can keep her happy and she has playmates and plenty of room to live, also I’m moving out in less then two years and can give my little boy, her(and if need be my little boy’s brother) a very good home and my mom would never have to see them again.

I know she has the final word but can someone help me fight for her? Because she is missing her eye I have a feeling not a lot of people(in my town at least) will want her.
:[ I have been begging her, i even cried…I’m almost ready for the cold shoulder and hunger strike….if I can hide food.
I only go rescue. I just can’t leave them in the little cages.

ghkitten answers:

Looking after a kitten is a HUGE responsibility, and the fact you already have 2 shows that your mum is more willing to have one than you think.
If you are desperate then you will have to give all your cats attention. Explain to her that nobody will have her, and you will take all the responsibility for her. Although I don’t agree with cats being kept inside, and due to the fact that you are moving can cause stress for cats.
Don’t whine at your mum, sit down and explain all the ‘cons’
Goodluck and I’m glad your going to the rescue centre to get her.
:)

Nancy asks…

I have a cat that just had her first litter. She sometimes appears to be trying to bite the kitten. Why?

I started feeding her when I found her outside. I noticed later that she was pregnant. I took her inside so that she could have her kittens in safety and so that I could socialize them for adoption. She only had one kitten out of two that lived. The kitten appears very healthy but every so often she appears to be trying to bite him and not in a way so that she could be trying to move him.
the kitten is just three days old;

ghkitten answers:

I would say that even though she doesn’t appear to be trying to move the kitten, that is probably actually what she is doing.

Donald asks…

Should I put my kitty up for adoption?

I rescued a cat last weekend from the middle of the street. I took him to the shelter, where they told me he was too small to be put up for adoption, so he would have to be fostered until then; otherwise, if I left him, he would likely be put to sleep. So I took him home and put him in the safest room of the house.

I would really like to keep him. Over the past few days, the kitty and I have bonded. The problem is, I am staying in my grandparents’ old home (kind of housesitting, if you will, while it slowly gets fixed up), which is really falling apart. Although I have always wanted a cat, I never planned to get one while living here, and I cannot afford to move out at this time.

Nobody lived in this house for two years while my grandparents were in rest homes, and I lived in a different town. I finally moved here after graduating, at the wishes of my mother and grandfather. Because nobody lived here for two years, the carpet is tearing (exposing a nice, hardwood floor), the paint is peeling, and everything is dusty, to the point to where if you clean it, you can’t tell it’s been cleaned. I’m afraid the cat is going to jump through one of those holes in the carpet and get stuck underneath it. There are so many holes that I can’t put a rug over it, yet there’s so much of it that I can’t just peel it (by myself, anyway). I’m also afraid that all of the dust is gonna bother the cat.

Another problem is that since it’s kitten season, all of the no-kill shelters in my area are full. I definitely don’t want to drop kitty off at a kill-shelter, as I don’t want to take the chance of him being put to sleep.

What should I do? Should I keep the kitty and clean my house up as best I could? Or should I try harder to find someone who can keep him?

ghkitten answers:

This all really depends on you. Do you think your cat would be happier in a different home? Is your bond strong enough for you to miss him a lot, or would you be able to pick yourself up pretty quickly? There are questions that you have to ask yourself; they will help you find the answer.

James asks…

How can I do this on my own!? I have to pay for everything for this cat and I’m 13!?

I’m hopefully getting a little kitten from RSPCA in about 8 days and even though it was my own decision (because I know if I didn’t decide this I have no chance of my nan letting me get a cat) to pay all the expenses for owning a kitten (Adoption fee, vet check-ups, food, litter, toys, scratching posts, ect) and I only have about $500! I know the adoption fee is $80 – $100 or so but is $400 enough to take care of a kitten? Plus I’ll be getting $10 as my allowance every week (I was getting this allowance before I even thought of getting a kitten, the allowance didn’t come when I decided to get a kitten) so maybe that can take care of the litter and a little treat or something but I’m just worried.. $400? Can it raise a cat for a bit less than a year? Then there’ll be Christmas and then a month later my birthday so from those two together I’ll on average (Not each, adding them both together) I’ll get about $1000 or so.. So anyway back to the point, can about $800 (The $400 that I have plus the $10 I get every week which adds up to about $500 a year then take away about $100 of that to spend on myself equals $800) dollars raise a kitten for a year?
I’m sorry Kristen I’m silly for mentioning that I actually also live with my dad, and he feeds me and takes care of me, it’s just my nans house.
To all the people thinking I have to pay for shots and nuetering ect; It costs $130 to get a nuetered, behaviour tested, check-up-ed 2 month old kitten from the RSPCA

And once again I remind everybody, I do actually live with my dad, and he has a good paying job, so if there is an emegency that I can’t cover, he will easily pay for it :)

ghkitten answers:

If you are needing to get your cat vaccinated and neutered you will need more money. Toys don’t cost too much at all. You get some cheap at walmart. If you go to like a Sams or CostCo and buy litter in bulk its cheaper, or start your kitty out on a cheap litter. We started our cat on expensive litter and when we tried to save money and change the kind we used, she flipped out and wouldn’t use it. $800 should be ok to raise a cat for a year but just be careful where you spend it. If you are ever in need of more money you can do odd jobs around the house, i babysit to pay for stuff, things like that. Considering it’s winter you could shovel driveways if the cold doesn’t bother you too much. Good luck! Oh and just for John, she has enough money! Just because she has to save a bit does NOT mean she shouldn’t get a cat! Having a cat will teach responsibility.

Sandra asks…

My cat is peeing and pooping everywhere.He was a stray had him 3 yrs.he used to occasionally now constantly.?

Yes i took him in 3 yrs ago,covered in fleas.Took him the vet,all his shots etc.He would occassionally pee here and ther,which my husband and i tollerated.I would just clean up.I have always run a very clean immaculate household.We moved to another place after having him a year.He still peoceeded to do it.I already had 1 other cat from a kitten,he has never acted this way.We picked up another stray then moved again.Now the problem is so bad we are besides ourselves.The litter is cleaned everyday,2 trays.He has become more vocal and agitated ,he is doing it everywhere,including the kitchen worktops.I have to bleach constantly.He is a georgeous loving mancoon,which even walks on a leash.please anybody got any ideas or solutions .We are desperate,if we take him to a shelter there would be no problem for adoption.Apart from the problem he is the most loving laid back cat.The people would just throw him on the street.This is my biggest worry.All you pet owners,animal lovers,please please help !!! Please no stupid replies,genuine.Thanks tricky nicky.

ghkitten answers:

Maybe you cat its trying to tell you that its sick. My cat decided to do this everywhere, and it got worse and more often, finally he pees on my husbands foot ( which was hilarious) and we took him to the vet. ( his grandmother had him for 2 years before we did, we had him for about 3 months before we figured out what was going on). When we took him to the vet, we found out that he had a UTI, a really really bad one. It took two doses of medicine ( 10 days each) to clear it up. I would try taking him to the vet. And he never peed again :) , but we take him in every so often just to check up and make sure his UTI doesn’t come back. It was only about $100 for everything

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Free

James asks…

Does anyone know of a free/low cost clinic for pet care in Michigan?

I recently found out (today)that my 2 cats have worms. I’m a low income, single, working mom of 3 and can’t afford high vet bills. I don’t want to get rid of the cats (3 yrs) as we’ve had them since they were kittens and my kids are very attached but I can’t put off pet care!! HELP Please!! (The cats have “rice” like worms in their stool and pertruding from their anus’ – sorry so gross and detailed!)
Is there any kind of “home remedy” or over-the-counter medication that would be as effective as taking them to a vet?

ghkitten answers:

They have tape worms, and for future reference, so you don’t have to deal with this again, cats get tape worms from eating rodents, and ingesting fleas. But try talking to the humane society, the will probably know of somewhere you can go, or be able to help you themselves. You can also price shop, just call the clinics in your area, explain your situation, and ask them how much it will cost. I work at a vet clinic, and we try to work with people who don’t have a lot of money by cutting out things that are not needed at this point. And some clinics take payment plans. Good Luck, i hope this helps.

Some people talk about over the counter medications that you can get at the pet store, but i really have no idea if they work or not.

Ken asks…

How much does a fecal exam and deworming cost? (for my new kitten)?

Okay, a week ago my mom told me that a lady at her store (patty) has a cat that was having kittens and she was giving them away for free. I was always looking for free kittens and I thought that it would be perfect if I got one. My mom said that Patty didn’t plan the litter, and she was even willing to give the kittens away at 4-5 weeks! I was very surprised because Patty clearly didn’t read anything about kittens and I know that kittens SHOULD stay with their mom until about 8 weeks.
Then my brother bought me an excellent book called “Week by Week Your New Kitten” and it says everything you need to know about kittens…It also said that if you are planning to adopt a kitten from someone, and they are willing to give them away BEFORE 8 weeks, you should consider getting a kitten from a different place. But I already fell in love with one of Patty’s kittens because she brought them over so I could play with them, she said that the kittens were already eating DRY food, and litterbox…
…I was reading my book about kittens and then I read the vaccination schedule. It says that at THREE weeks (the kittens are now around 5, and still at Patty’s) you should get it a “Fecal Exam” and “Deworming”
How much money is a Fecal Exam?
and How much money is Deworming?

My mom told me that Patty NEVER got it dewormed!!!! But my mom said she got a kitten when she was younger who wasn’t dewormed at that age and later got it dewormed and it was fine, and lived a really long time until it got hit by a car…
anyways, Patty told me that she already has the kittens eating fry food and are litter trained, but I don’t know if they are fully weaned yet (stopped drinking their mother’s milk) …so what do you think about this situation? Is it okay to get my kitten dewormed at about 6,7,8 weeks? How much money is a fecal exam?
How much for deworming?

Proffessional answers PLEASE!im not trying to be rude but I really dont want anyone to just be guessing.

THANKS SOOO MUCH!!! <3

ghkitten answers:

You need an exam, vaccine, and fecal/deworming. Some vets will just worm a kitten without a fecal, assuming that pretty much all kittens have parasites.

It is about $25-40 for the exam, $12-18 for vaccine, and a fecal is $10-14. Worming could be anywhere from $5-15.

Kittens need a series of vaccines, so you need to go every month for a few months to complete the vaccine series.

This is why there is NO such thing as a FREE kitten/puppy.

Chris asks…

Vet recommendations for kitten food – when to switch?

I have 2 6 mo. male kittens (to be neutered next week), and one adult spayed female who is new to the family. The kittens are free-feeding on Royal Canin Kitten food. The new cat is on scheduled feedings of Purina Cat Chow Indoor formula (her old food). I want to switch her to Royal Canin Indoor.

The new kitty has an infection, so is isolated in my bathroom. The vet agreed that she should be switched to a better food. He also told me to switch the kittens to the same adult food ASAP. Every source I’ve seen has said that they should get kitten food until 1 year (on scheduled feedings after neutering). Is his suggestion unusual?
I asked this question before and got snide answers. Of course, I would usually listen to the vet, as a trained professional. That’s why I paid him $200 for 10 mins. of his time! But this guy is new to the practice, has never seen the kittens, and was rude and thoughtless during the exam. He kept mixing up the details of how long I’d had the new cat, how long I’d had the kittens, the age of the kittens, and whether any of the cats had ever been there before. He acted like I was getting uppity when I pointed out that all of the information he was asking about was already in the folder open next to him (I could actually read the notes from the kittens‘ previous exams from where I was standing). He just didn’t seem to care. I’m not sure whether I trust him.

Real answers only, please. Save your pathetic attempts at sarcasm for your friends.

ghkitten answers:

Hi,
I feed Royal Canin and I feed my babies the adult food after 3 months. I do this because of the food. Royal Canin is super high in protien and I found they had loose bowel movements. I did speak with a nutritionist about whether or not the food was complete and was assured that my babies would not suffer any way from changing to the adult. If you actually read and compare the RC adult to the kitten in many other brands it’s way more complete. Plus the quality of ingrediants is better as well. Don’t understand why anyone would be sarcastic about this very valid question. You must remember that all vets are not created equal and you should shop around for a nicer vet!

Donna asks…

will a kitten harm my rabbit?

Well I’m sure you all know I have a rabbit :) I would now like to know if cats and rabbits can get along

We have had my rabbit for about 2months and she has free run of the living room for about 2hours a day, for my boyfriend’s 21st birthday I was going to surprise him with a kitten (he loves cats) but I love my rabbit and the last thing I want to do is bring her any harm but as my sister is offering us a kitten for free it brings me to ask for advice; will a kitten harm my rabbit?

ghkitten answers:

Sometime they will do wrong things.So,it better to move them.

Put rabbits in a outdoor house.

Outdoor housing
The best outdoor cages are wire cages that have half the floor covered with a smooth hard surface, and the other half of the cage with open wire so that fecal matter can fall out of the cage. . If rabbits don’t have a safe place to hide, they may injure themselves trying to escape from the cage.
Outdoor cages should be equipped with plenty of food and fresh water as described above for Indoor rabbits. Adequate shade should be provided so that rabbits can escape the hot sun and cool themselves. Be sure to situate the cage so that it is an adequate shelter from excess heat, excess cold, rain, wind and snow.

Sandra asks…

isnt it wrong to feed kittens to a snake ?

okay my sister’s cat had kittens and she has been trying to find get homes for the kittnes but nobody wants them even though they’e free. but this guy contacted her and said he would give her $100 for thw whole litter becasue he wanted to feed them to his snake. she is actually thinking about it cause the cats would be off her hands and she would get money. i feel that is so wrong and sickening that someone could do that. dont you agree? how can i talk her out of this since she is actually considering it?

ghkitten answers:

Okay…that is just WRONG1

Suggest to your sister to take the kittens to a local SPCA. They will care for them until they are adopted.

My son had a snake and I found it difficult because the darn thing ate pinkies (newborn mice)-I could not watch it eat but that is nature.

I’m sure in the wild snakes eat anything they can get their mouths around, but purposely feeding it a kitten is just too much!

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Donna asks…

I’m looking for white long haired kitten in the UAE!?

I am looking to adopt a white long haired kitten (2-5 months-old).
Very experienced with cats and can provide a caring and healthy environment for the kitten.

I am not looking specifically for a pure-bred, just any white long haired kitten.
It also doesnt need to be vaccinated or spayed, I plan to take care of all the medical needs and the registering myself.

If you have a kitten or know anyone from your friends or family who has a long hair kitten for adoption PLEASE let me know!!

Thanks in advance!
Btw I already checked the shelters and I didnt find any. Feline friends has but they charge a lot for the long haired cats.

ghkitten answers:

Feline friends do not charge a lot if you take into consideration that their cats for adoption are medical treated already.
My kitten had his first medical (spayed, vaccinated, dewurmed, etc.) last Sunday and the bill was AED 1.200. Next vaccination is in 2 weeks and there go a couple more Dirham. Where is the difference if you reimburse Feline friends for these costs or pay them yourself?

Put some “wanted” notes at the blackboards of Spinney’s and Abela’s and keep checking the Classifieds.
Good luck!

Laura asks…

How do I choose the right family for my cat?

A put up an ad in Craigslist due to the fact that we’re relocating across the country, to make a long story short hubby doesn’t want cats anymore because he’s become allergic.

Anyhow, suprisingly I got a lot of responses on Craigsist and I don’t know who to choose now. I was thinking I can do some sort of screening process.

Here are some of the responses:

1. Hello, if you still have your cat I would be very interested in him. I am an animal lover and would be able to give him a lot of attention and love that he deserves.
Thank-you

2. Hi there, I saw your add on craigslist and have been looking high and low for a Maine coon or mix that is good with dogs.I cant bealive I may have found one.I live in a single family with my dog Angus in the burbs of Worcester county. He is Half black lab and half american bulldog, I have been looking for a house mate for him for about 6 months. Could Sly be the one?If you could give me details on him I would really appreciate it.I thank you in advance for your timeMost humbly.

3. Does your cat still need a home. I am very interested. I have a dog who loves cats and all animals. I also have two sons 5 and 6 and they want a cat to add to our family badly. Please let me know if he is still available.

4. I am not looking for myself. But a elderly man who just lost his cat, but he can’t have a cat that is indoor only and not up to date on his or her shots and is the cat fixed or Neutered? Thanks

5. Hi, I was wondering if you still had this cute boy?! If so, could you get back to me. I am moving, and looking for a cat. I don’t want a kitten, as there are so many adult cats that need homes. I have a boston terrier that grew up with a cat and he went with me to work every day, ( I am a groomer) so he’s very socialized with cats and other dogs. Thanks for your time!

6.Hi, we were wondering if Sly was still looking for a good home? We are a family of 5 , with a home of our own. Big home but would keep him indoors. We live on a 3 acre wooded area but fear letting any cats out due to other animals out in the woods. Please let us know if he is still looking.

7. I was wondering if the cat was still available for adoption. I can be reached via e-mail if you have any questions about my living situation. I currently have another cat who gets along with other felines after a couple days of adjustment, and from how you’ve described your cat, I’m confident that they’d get along great, in addition to a loving home for him.

7. My boyfriend and I are moving into a small house and I want a big fat lovey cat!. We’ll be in by the first of the month.. not sure if you’ll still have him by then.
Thank you so much!

Oops I put 7 twice. It’s too early. heh
Yeah I don’t buy that my hubby is allergic either.. lol

ghkitten answers:

I like number 3 and number 5. I like number 3 because it’s a family and she seems genuine (this is of course only if your cat does well with kids) and I like number 5 because she seems like she knows what she’s talking about and she’s specifically looking for a grown cat which is nice.

Before you make your decision, make sure they’re going to be able to take him to the vet and that their living arrangements are right for him. Make sure they’re not going to do anything to him that you don’t approve of (letting him outside, removing dewclaws, having him declawed if you don’t approve of any of that.)

Also, charge a small rehoming fee, it will weed out the ones who don’t really care about your pet and the ones that just want to adopt him so they can sell him for a higher price.

If I could suggest, I wouldn’t adopt to number 4. It’s never a good idea to adopt to someone who is inquiring for someone else. Number 6 seems to have the cat’s safety in mind, but 5 people may be a little much for a grown cat to get accustomed to, depending on the cat. If your cat doesn’t get nervous and is sociable, maybe they would be best.

And under 0 circumstances would I ship an animal without meeting with the new owners first.

And don’t adopt to someone you can’t meet with first and see how they are around the cat. And be sure to ask any questions you can think of, and ask them if they mind keeping in touch with you for the first couple of months via email to make sure he’s adjusting.

I hope you find a safe, nice, loving home for your cat.

Maria asks…

PREGNANCY AND KITTY LITTER/POOP. PLEASE ANSWER! I NEED MANY ACCURATE ANSWERS.?

I went into a cat kennel. Its an adoption place with a room with cats in cages. I stayed in there for 20 MINS. The manager had soaped up the floors and washed them due to the cat poop and smell. The litter boxes were in the cages but baby kittens were covered in litter. I’m 3 months PREGNANT. CAN THE CAT LITTER AND THE SOAPY POOP ON THE FLOOR AFFECT MY BABY?? I NEED IMPORTANT ANSWERS NOT STUPID ONES!!

ghkitten answers:

There are mixed reports from doctors so unfortunately you will not get very accurate answered here but I’ll give you all the info I can. It is believed by some doctors that one type of bacteria present in cat litter (also in raw chicken) can cause miscarriage. Most say you have to ingest this bacteria (get it in your mouth and swallow it) in order for it to possibly cause miscarriage. If you washed your hands really well after contact with contaminated surfaced and didn’t touch your mouth or face untill you washed more than likely you are fine. There are some doctors who say there is no connection between miscarriage and the bacteria and that the claims have been over exaggerated. Bottom line though if you don’t feel anything changing in the next week you are probably safe but when in doubt get checked out. If you aren’t comfortable with wait and see there is nothing wrong with going to the dr now.

Lizzie asks…

kitten help?

Are there any adoption centers (for kittens) in northern Ohio? Plz help. My cat died three months ago and I am devastated. I need another cat. I am seriously depressed. HELP!!

ghkitten answers:

Hi there… First, I’d like to offer my condolences for the lost of your kitty.

Here is a list of all the animal shelters located in Ohio: http://www.animalshelter.org/shelters/Ohio.asp

Michael asks…

Do stray cats know…..?

when to turn on the charm? This little guy showed up on Saturday. It was freezing and there was snow. I don’t know how he survived Friday night. He’s just a kitten but he marched right up like he’d known me his whole life! Since then, he’s been in either my husband’s or my lap and hasn’t missed an opportunity to turn up the “awww factor”. It’s almost like he’s thinking this is his only chance and he better not blow it. Smokey did the same way when he showed up a few years ago. Very different from the ones I sprung from the pound. Do you think when strays get to a certain point when survival chances are getting slim, they know to work it and take a shot at a home? Or is that just dumb? Here’s my little guy all warm and happy and working it for the camera :)

new baby

I have him up for adoption. So far I’ve gotten 3 “but I can’t afford the adoption fee ($25), can you waive that” and 4 “he’ll make a great Christmas present for my (insert random family member)”. What is wrong with people?
Yeah, I thought he might be lost from the way he acted. I’ve done a neighborhood sweep and no one claimed him. He had either been neglected or on his own for awhile though. He had earmites and is skinny (the long fur hides it but you can feel every bone he has). I’d love to keep him but I have a houseful already. The no-kill shelter here allows foster homes to declaw so that’s out too.
Igdubya, actually, I’ve found my shorthairs shed more than my longhairs do!
LOL Delilah! I’m thinking of just putting in a cat door and hanging a neon welcome sign on the porch! I can just imagine all the cats telling this kitten “go over to that last house. She’ll hook you up”!

ghkitten answers:

Enjoy your new cat.

Bl

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Laura asks…

does anybody want an 8 1/2 week old kitten?

my cat recently had three kittens and we have one left that is available for adoption. it is a (female)grey tortoiseshell with adorable orange small markings and green eyes. it is very playful and energetic and is now ready for adoption. we live in Lakewood california if interested in coming to pick it up please e mail me at chris90806@yahoo.com we are asking 25$ re-homing fee

ghkitten answers:

If only i lived near you i would

Chris asks…

Not a purebreed and it cost $500 for what?

Ok I can understand breeders having kittens from purebred, show champion cats, 12 weeks old, all shots and wormed, one year health guarantee and it costs $500, $650. Plus the neutering/spaying is already done!

But a mixed breed and it costs $500? Come on now. In the paper you see persian/himalayan mixes, or maine coon/ragdolls and they costs $500?? What for they aren’t even purebreeds, what’s up with that?

I refuse to pay that much money when I could to a shelter and find a mixed breed cat that might be that same breed and pay a $65 adoption fee…

What do you think, or why do they do that?
the goldenddoodles are diff, I mean hypoallergenic plus for allergy sufferers, but then again they could just get a poodle, they don’t shed….

ghkitten answers:

As long as people keep buying them, people will keep selling them. I totally agree with you. I also dislike seeing someone selling “doll-faced Persians” (Persians without the breed standard flat face) for several hundred dollars. I adopted a purebred Persian from a shelter for $20! I also have a purebred Exotic Shorthair and a Ragamuffin – both from shelters and both adopted as adults. We get LOTS of purebred cats at the shelter I volunteer with. We also have a few Persians, had a pair of Siamese not long ago, Maine Coons, Scottish Fold – you name it. Anyone buying cats for several hundred dollars from the paper is a moron when there’s lots of purebreds and mixes at shelters.

Worse, though, are all these bloody “hybrid” dogs. I saw a “Yitsu” and a “Shorkie” in the Seattle Times one day. One was a “Yorkie/Shih Tzu” and the other a “Shih Tzu/Yorkie” :-/ I also saw a dog that was one third this, one third that, one third something else – for TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS! But again, it’s all about supply and demand. Too many Americans want something “trendy” even if it means shelter animals are dying because these designer mutts are taking homes from them.

Sharon asks…

Sims 2 Pets: Puppies and kittens?

If my cat or dog has babies and I sell them will they be in the adoption bin for one of my other families to adopt? Thanks

ghkitten answers:

Yes, they will be. You can also sell them directly to your neighbours.

David asks…

Catching a pregnant feral cat, is this OK ?

I plan to trap a pregnant feral cat living underneath a building. I plan to take her to my house and have her there living in a huge crate until she gives birth to the kittens and the kittens are more than 6 weeks old.
Is this a right thing to do ? Can a feral cat adapt to live in a huge crate for 2 months ? after she’s done with the kittens, I want to vaccinate her, sterilize her and return her to her former place, kittens go for adoption.

ghkitten answers:

Probably very bad for a cat to be in a crate for two months. She doesn’t know how long it’s going to be and might think it’s forever. It’s probably very bad for her. And she doesn’t want her kittens taken from her either. Not a good idea. You can wait till she rejects them. And she can live in the whole house and not just a crate.

Donna asks…

My cat is at the local humane society sick with kennel cough. How long will it take for her to get over it?

I recently adopted a 2 month old kitten, Juliet from the local humane society. I was supposed to pick her up 24hours after the adoption was finalized, but then they called and said that she was sick with the kennel cough. How long will it take for her to get over her cough? Will it still be contagious to my two dogs(5), my cat(17) and my rabbit(2) at home?

ghkitten answers:

Kennel cough is extremely contagious, which is likely why the humane society is holding your cat until it passes. It’s caused by bacteria, so they’re probably treating her with antibiotics. Make sure you ask if they’re certain your kitten is healthy before you bring her home.

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Free

Linda asks…

Please help me..I have 4 female cats who need to be fixed…Please help! they are all in heat!!?

We have two female cats who are 3 and 4. One is fixed and the other needs to be. Almost a year ago, my brother found 3 kittens at work by themselves and we told him to bring them home. We raised them. got them their shots and they are wonderful. I didn’t want to just leave them to die. However, they are over 6 months and I swear they go into heat like every week!! if its not one its the other!! Our house burnt down last year and we are tight on money. I am afraid my cats may be in pain when they are in heat because they do this aweful meow noise and keep placing their asses in the air.. To get all 4 fixed at a vet is over $300 a cat! I am sorry we can’t do that..Is there anyone I can call to see if they do it for less? I heard some places do it for free to avoid more kittens being born..Please help!!

ghkitten answers:

Oh dear. $300 is a lot for a vet to charge. I’m not sure of your location; however, if you have a local animal shelter, many times they give a discounted rate for low income families. You should call your local animal shelter and explain your situation. I’m sure that there is a shelter near you that would be willing to help – as you say, they do not want to shelter any more kittens than necessary.

Robert asks…

What is the best clumping litter and order free?

I have a 17 week old spay’d kitten and we use Arm and Hammer super scoop. I hate it. It doesn’t clump well and I have to clean the box 2xs a day in order for it not to smell. A 14lbs box last me one week.

I need advice on a good cat litter. Please Help!

ghkitten answers:

Fresh step with deodorizg crystals works the best, i got an older cat and tried it all. Can’t even tell i have a cat

Donald asks…

How do I convince my parents to let me have a baby ragdoll kitten?

Hi,
I love animals more than anything. We have a dog but my friends cat had kittens and she is selling them for free! they are so flufffy and cute and nice. I always take very good care of animals and my parents know that, but how do I convince them to get a cat if there IS a way.
to the first few smart *** people: A)I am as responsible B)and I never said “selling” C) and NO they did not “refuse” they said they’d think about it AND I am asking for answers NOT questions.

thank you.

ghkitten answers:

Your remind them how well you have taken care of the dog, and how you’ll pay for all the food

Carol asks…

10 Day Old Kittens Question?

I’m going out of town tomorrow for 3 days and wondering what’s best to do with My Mommy cat and her 7 new kittens.
Mommy cat has been doing everything perfect…like textbook style! Since birth, all 7 have been thriving and very healthy and growing rapidly! My cat has been constantly nursing them, cleaning their little bottoms, and so forth. I have just been letting her do her thing, and they are gaining weight everyday, and just beginning to open their little eyes. I give her free range of a huge bowl of dry kitten food, and then her favorite brands of wet food also daily. She eats a lot and is getting many calories.

Question:
Should I be boarding them for these 3 days? I feel that would put stress on her and her kittens…I was just going to have a friend come over each day and check in on everything and change Mommy cat’s food and water, and then change the babies blankets.
What is the better thing to do?

ghkitten answers:

Get your friend to come over. Kennels can cause stress and sometimes the workers are abusive. Make sure your friend knows where the food, blankets, litter, is in your house.
Hope I helped!

Chris asks…

Ten Day old Kittens!!?

I’m going out of town tomorrow for 3 days and wondering what’s best to do with My Mommy cat and her 7 new kittens.
Mommy cat has been doing everything perfect…like textbook style! Since birth, all 7 have been thriving and very healthy and growing rapidly! My cat has been constantly nursing them, cleaning their little bottoms, and so forth. I have just been letting her do her thing, and they are gaining weight everyday, and just beginning to open their little eyes. I give her free range of a huge bowl of dry kitten food, and then her favorite brands of wet food also daily. She eats a lot and is getting many calories.

Question:
Should I be boarding them for these 3 days? I feel that would put stress on her and her kittens…I was just going to have a friend come over each day and check in on everything and change Mommy cat’s food and water, and then change the babies blankets.
What is the better thing to do?

ghkitten answers:

Definitely have a friend come over. It will stress her out to be moved from where she knows is home, she will probably miss you while you are gone, but having her in familiar surroundings is the best thing you can do for her, as long as she has food and water at all times.
You are doing great with the kittens! Keep doing what your doing and they will grow up to be big and round and fluffy and the sweetest things on the planet. Good luck and God bless!

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Your Questions About Kittens And Cats For Adoption

Helen asks…

Have you ever influenced someone to adopt a cat?

I was at my local pet supply store yesterday buying food for my cats and dogs. I just recently started shopping at this place because they have a bigger selection of high quality food then the place I was shopping at before. So, they had an adorable little black kitten for adoption there. A woman walked in while I was playing with the kitten and she said that her kids really want a puppy but she thinks that it’ll be a lot of work. So I suggested to her to adopt the kitten because generally, kittens are not as difficult to take care of as puppies are. She was concerned about the cat scratching and asked if I think that she should declaw the cat. I explained to her how terrible declawing is and all of the problems that it could cause the cat. She agreed and thanked me for educating her about it. She also asked me about food. I showed her how to read the ingredients on the bag and how to tell what’s good and what’s bad. Long story short, she ended up adopting the kitten. I was so happy that I was able to educate someone enough into wanting to adopt a cat and how to care for it properly.

Has this ever happened to you?

ghkitten answers:

Yes – because for the past twenty years I’ve volunteered with shelters and have placed several hundred animals with new owners. I tend to steer people away from the kittens and encourage to adopt the adult cats since I have three adopted as adults and realized how great adult cats are. Have you thought about volunteering at a shelter as an adoption counselor? If you’re good talking to people and educated about cat care, nutrition, etc. You’d probably do great and make a lot of happy endings for shelter cats.

I’ve actually been at pet stores and also told people not to buy a kitten from there since they come from mills. And they sell them unaltered. One store I hadn’t been to before was selling domestic shorthairs for $150 – with NOTHING included. A store clerk actually told me to leave when she saw me give someone a card from the shelter. I took the $50 or so of stuff I was buying, handed it to her and did just that LOL I told her I didn’t realize they sold kittens and puppies and wouldn’t support a store that worked with puppy/kitten mills.

Sharon asks…

Puppie Mills, the horror they represent, and how does it differ from the Woman at PetSmart?

I go to my local PetSmart, which is a good store for Pet needs and is not affiliated with the woman who sits and judges people who come to adopt her animals, or the animals she is showing off for adoption. I’ve watched this woman and others in Animal Shelters with their cats and dogs in cages, as she judges people who have owned animals in the past, but don’t believe they should be treated as she believes they should. After all they allow the animals out of the house, cats are natural born predators, who love the outside, but stay close to home and want to be in the house as well, so people let them, and they are turned down for adoption of any of her animals. She would rather let a kitten grow into a cat in a cage under her watchful eye, than give that kitten a home with loving people who’s last cat lived to the ripe old age of 16 and all the other animals they had before, lived to an old age as well. Not good enough says the lady at PetSmart. Her animals won’t be adopted till aged
Wow, guess you are all telling me. But, then again, you don’t know me and no I’m not talking about myself when I say I have seen people rejected by the lady at PetSmart who adopts out pets, or not. I don’t get my animals from shelters or Puppy Mills. I don’t have to, I get them from friends, whom of which I know the backround of my animals, and they haven’t been abused. I don’t force my cats outside, I live by a woods, and have had cats and dogs all my life. None of which have ever died before thier time, in fights, ran over by cars, or poisoning by neighbors. They have all lived full and free lives, and it’s their choice as to whether they go outside or not. And guess what? They are neutered and declawed, and my woods is full of racoons and other wild life. I found out years ago that my cat who used to fight with the racoons and come home ripped up, I had him declawed, which I did in order to make him an indoor cat, he wouldn’t stay in, but he didn’t fight anymore. no problems.
Maybe like people, not all cats are the same, and maybe you can’t just lump them into indoor, or outdoor based on your own priorities, but give them a choice and allow them to decide for themselves. Granted there are people who don’t care about their cats and leave them to fend for themselves, but I wasn’t speaking about those people and I don’t appreciate being told that letting my cats decide for themselves if they want to be lazy, indoor, no excercise fat cats, with nothing better to do but watch me go in and out the door, or if they want to go out and enjoy the outdoors and romp and play, makes me an uncaring person who knows no one but people who throw away kittens when they grow up and become cats. I and my friends prefer cats, and do not allow them out until they have reached 1 year old, so kittens are great, but when they are cats, they are greater.

ghkitten answers:

Cats are natural born predators, who love the outside, but stay close to home ….

Fact : Cats are also prey to other predators (wild animals), victim to automobiles, unhappy neighbors, people with cruel intentions and susceptible to contagious diseases. Cats, esp, unfixed male cats get into territorial fights and they roam around impregnating other unfixed female, leading to more unwanted litters.

Cats do not always stay close to home. There are many missing cats on the street, cats who lost their way home and catnapping is real.

You may view the lady with colored lenses but the truth is, she is only doing the best to her ability to ensure all the cats go to a save home, where they are protected and cared for.

Sandra asks…

Is buying items other than animals at pet shops contributing to kitten/puppy mills and pet overpopulation?

Is buying kitty litter or rabbit food from petco or petsmart or other places also bad as buying a real cat or dog from a pet store, which gets animals from puppy/kitty mills? I don’t want to support pet stores and mills, so which are good places to shop for pet items that doesn’t support puppy mills and kitty mills? Also, why can’t pet stores sell or promote animals from shelters/rescues rather than puppy mills? That way, they can do checks, adoption papers, screening, etc to avoid pet overpopulation?

ghkitten answers:

I do not buy items from stores that sell puppies, kittens, or rabbits. Here in maine we have pet quarters which is an awesome store with a knowledgeable staff & they do not sell any of the above. Beyond that i work to make sure everyone knows about the mills & the terrible heartbreak that can come from buying an animal from a pet shop. Buy from a reputable breeder! If you must have a breed. I firmly believe that the best pets are mixed breeds & there are too many animals put to death in shelters to justify purchasing a pet. There are lots of pure breds available in shelters….

Laura asks…

What would you do with stray cat with an upper respiratory infection?

I had this cat as a healthy cat and brought it to the APF, who had her fixed and vaccinated, and put her up for addoption after about 2 weeks. I visited as i was donating some time and cat food, and saw that she was sneezing and looked ill. I took her home the next day as they said they would probably euthanize since they did not have room for sick cats, to separate them from the others.

There is an emergency vet that sees stays for free, so I think that I will take her there. She lost weight while at the shelter. I had had her for 8 weeks, finding her with kittens. The kittens are almost ready for adoption and are healthy, so I am keeping them separate. She meows quite a bit if left alone, as I keep her by herself to not infect the other cats in the house and the kittens. I think the separation was stressful for her and she got sick as cats will do in stressful situations. I have already treated her for an eye infection, perhaps part of this has come back.

I cannot afford to pay too much for her care should she need a lot, although I can pay for medicine for this cold. I will try to keep her until she recovers, since there are not a lot of places that would take a cat in this condition and care for her. It is miserable to think that she was kept in a cage for a whole two weeks no wonder she got sick.

Any thoughts on this. I am concerned about any further bills, and whether she will continue to be sick. There are things like calcivirus she could have I understand, and I am not sure that the vet will test for this. How adoptable do you think she is should she have this condition?

I already have four cats and am disabled and don’t think I should be taking on any more cats permanently. Any thoughts???

ghkitten answers:

Upper respiratory infections are common in both strays and cats in shelters. They usually get over them just fine. Most are viral, some get secondary bacterial infections that respond to antibiotics. If not treating with antibiotics, I find lysine to be helpful. An adult cat can have 500 mg a day, crushed into canned food. As you noted, some of these can be permanent, but even then a cat will live a mostly normal life. During stressful times these cats may have flare ups but most of the time you’d never know they are carrying the bug for life.

The shelter in my area has a foster program for these cats. They are returned to the shelter when they are healthy and can be adopted. In my experience, between my own adopted cat coming from the shelter with URI and the fosters I’ve had, most vets don’t bother testing for anything. They just treat with the options mentioned above, either lysine or an antibiotic. I suppose if that didn’t work testing would be the next step to see if the kitty has one of the less common causes of those symptoms.

Good luck! Whether you keep the kitty or turn her over for adoption, you’ve done well for her.

Mandy asks…

Is it possible for cats to bleed when they are in heat?

I’ve researched this a lot, and nothing I read mentioned blood, but my cat was suppose to have been fixed when she was a kitten (I didn’t own her then) but since I’ve got her a few times a year (and longer over the summer) she is extra affectionate and leaves blood spots all over the place. I’ve always assumed she was in heat but when I rounded up her records to take her to the vet (to get her fixed) I saw the Humane Society’s letter stating adoption included sterilization. So now I’m concerned that she’s not in heat, but something else is wrong. I have an appointment with the vet but can’t get in to see him until the end of next month. I just want some ideas as to what is going on before then. Thanks for any info you can provide!

ghkitten answers:

Cats whether spayed or not do NOT bleed when in heat. I would take a trip to the vet to find out the problem. It maybe a UTI or something else all together. Whatever this is nothing to do with her being in heat.

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