05-22-2017, 11:23 AM
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#1
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Powerplay Quarterback
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New Cat Owner - Tips?
Greetings,
The SO and I have undertaken to acquire a cat for around-the-home companionship and general enjoyment. Said kitten hails from a rag doll breeder in town and will be coming in to our possession in late July more than likely (at which point he'll be a few months old I believe). I resisted getting a pet for a long time, and put up a valiant fight, but alas have finally succumb and am now deferring to the victor's wishes (she's lucky that he's pretty cute...).
The girlfriend has had a couple of cats throughout her life but it'll be a new thing for me, so I've elected to seek out wisdom at the Temple of CP on some of the ins and outs of feline fatherhood. We live in a townhouse with a hardwood main floor and a carpeted upstairs/staircase. One of my big sticking points going in was my assumption that the little guy will destroy everything we own, ruin the floor, eat the wiring connected to my PS4, urinate on all accessible material objects, etc.
I would appreciate any and all tips on things like:
a) preventing material damage
b) creating a great environment for a new kitten
c) feline food management
d) feline waste management
e) general feline management
Thanks a lot!
.
__________________
Is your cat doing singing?
Last edited by Max Cow Disease; 05-22-2017 at 02:29 PM.
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05-22-2017, 11:28 AM
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#2
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Posted the 6 millionth post!
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f) put it on Instagram and make him a star
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05-22-2017, 11:37 AM
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#3
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Franchise Player
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My ragdoll turns one year old tomorrow.
He won't ruin the floor or pee on things (at least once he has the litter box figured out), but he'll definitely eat wires and chew on stuff. You can prevent this by coating them in lemon juice, and getting chargers for things that have braided cords, like this.
Start with him in just one room rather than giving him freedom to roam the house, so he gets used to that for a couple of days. Also minimizes the likelihood of him peeing on things before he figures out where the litter box is.
Get him a couple of different types of scratching posts, carboard and carpet and hemp and see what he goes for. Unfortunately, this does not stop them from scratching other things. You can use double sided tape for that if you're really worried about it, but you can't really do that to the stairs.
Also make sure there are elevated places for him to go, which might be a cat tree. He will want to be up high.
Get a variety of toys and see what he likes to play with. Pretty much all cats like wand toys.
Mess around with his paws, ears and mouth as much as possible early on so he gets used to it. If it's a rag doll, this is easier.
Get good cat food. Origen is pretty good.
__________________
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Last edited by CorsiHockeyLeague; 05-22-2017 at 11:39 AM.
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05-22-2017, 11:44 AM
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#4
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Cowtown
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Cow Disease
Greetings,
The SO and I have undertaken to acquire a cat for around-the-home companionship and general enjoyment. Said kitten hails from a rag doll breeder in town and will be coming in to our possession in late July more than likely (at which point he'll be a few months old I believe). I resisted getting a pet for a long time, and put up a valiant fight, but alas have finally succumb and am now deferring to the victor's wishes (she's lucky that he's pretty cute...).
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We have 2 cats here and honestly they're more like furniture than a pet. The biggest difference is the couch doesn't walk on my face while I'm sleeping.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by oilboimcdavid
Eakins wasn't a bad coach, the team just had 2 bad years, they should've been more patient.
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05-22-2017, 11:52 AM
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#5
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Lifetime Suspension
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Get a scratching post. The taller the better so that when he is grown he is able to fully stretch when he scratches. Id suggest carpeted over the sisal style. Ive tried the sisal but cats always seem to prefer the carpeted variety.
Consider non-clumping litter as its healthier for the cat. Better yet, consider pine litter or another natural alternative.
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/litter-an...r-5212425.html
The pine is more expensive but its less dusty for your house and the cat itself.
In terms of damaging things, teach the kitten from a young age. Its hard to get rid of bad behavior once its learned. If you give your cat his/her own toys and play with him/her, then cat will be happy and content, thus much less likely to play with and destroy things that it shouldnt be touching.
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05-22-2017, 11:59 AM
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#6
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damn onions
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One thing you could do with cats is not get a cat.
Cats are evil. It's science. Once fully grown it will spend its' entire adult life plotting your demise.
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05-22-2017, 12:03 PM
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#7
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
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I have had a few different cat owners before and all are a little different. Just remember to do their chores like cleaning their littler box, feed them treats and giving them cat massage, and they will usually treat their human pets alright.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
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05-22-2017, 12:04 PM
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#8
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Calgary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Cow Disease
I would appreciate any and all tips on things like:
a) preventing material damage
b) creating a great environment for a new kitten
c) feline food management
d) feline waste management
e) general feline management
Thanks a lot!
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Irrelevant, cats do as they please with zero regard for the wishes of their human roommates. Seriously I'm not sure why we even named the cat, she responds to her name less than 5% of the time. She could be nameless and our interactions with her would not change.
Don't get me wrong, I love the cat, but they are not obedient in any meaningful way. They don't do anything they don't want to do.
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05-22-2017, 12:06 PM
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#9
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Franchise Player
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I have no great tips or insights other than the general warning that it is highly likely the cat will enjoy ripping at one of your chairs or pieces of furniture. Fortunately for the cat he does not like to rip at our leather couch, otherwise he would fall in to a household accident
There are different sprays that you can buy that cats are not supposed to like, but for our cat it has no impact.
My cat also has the annoying habit of not wanting to crap in the littler box, he will go close to the box, but generally not in it.
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If I do not come back avenge my death
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05-22-2017, 01:12 PM
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#10
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Scoring Winger
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Tip 1. Remove cat from premises.
Tip 2. Get a dog.
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05-22-2017, 01:22 PM
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#11
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Franchise Player
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Separate the cat from its Mother as soon as possible after birth. Then it won't learn all of the annoying cat things and you get a cuddly cat. You will also need to bottle feed it for weeks.
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05-22-2017, 01:25 PM
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#12
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: wearing raccoons for boots
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Get rid of all the black clothes you have. Replace them with clothes the same color as your cat.
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05-22-2017, 01:36 PM
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#13
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First Line Centre
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I have a ragdoll and he's the best pet I've ever had. I was never a cat person but he converted me
Not sure if all ragdolls are similar but mine is like a dog. Follows us everywhere, so friendly, playful, only meows when his food bowl is empty otherwise he's silent, he trained easily and is non-destructive. Make sure you get a scratching post though because mine likes to stretch and ragdolls are big and extremely strong
Whether you're a cat person or not I think a ragdoll is very easy to like. Only thing I don't love about him is the hair. Get a brush immediately lol
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05-22-2017, 01:57 PM
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#14
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Powerplay Quarterback
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wood
I have a ragdoll and he's the best pet I've ever had. I was never a cat person but he converted me
Not sure if all ragdolls are similar but mine is like a dog. Follows us everywhere, so friendly, playful, only meows when his food bowl is empty otherwise he's silent, he trained easily and is non-destructive. Make sure you get a scratching post though because mine likes to stretch and ragdolls are big and extremely strong
Whether you're a cat person or not I think a ragdoll is very easy to like. Only thing I don't love about him is the hair. Get a brush immediately lol
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This is what I've been hearing about the breed as well, and is one of the reasons I finally started to come around a bit after doing some research. Supposedly the males in particular are pretty affable and playful. Good to hear you've had a positive experience!
__________________
Is your cat doing singing?
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05-22-2017, 02:28 PM
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#15
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Powerplay Quarterback
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OP updated with photo of the animal.
__________________
Is your cat doing singing?
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05-22-2017, 02:28 PM
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#16
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Sector 7-G
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My honest tip? Get two cats. They will focus their destructive energies on their "brother", vs you or your furniture. And hopefully be more social.
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05-22-2017, 02:58 PM
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#18
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First Line Centre
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Would you like two more? I'm certain they'd all get along famously. I can deliver.
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05-22-2017, 03:40 PM
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#19
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Franchise Player
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Definitely a cat tree and lots of scratching posts/scratching boxes around the house.
Keep the cat indoors always!
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05-22-2017, 03:45 PM
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#20
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Behind Nikkor Glass
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Your house will smell like cat piss, even though you can no longer smell it...
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