Molly's Update (from Oil & Water)

Dear Readers, You may remember Molly (the painfully shy and very sensitive feline) and her new, more resilient companion, Ivy, about whom I wrote in my entry Oil & Water (11/10/09).

Molly wrote to share her good news.

I've been in my sanctuary (my purrson's bedroom) for about a month now, surrounded by lovely music with the Feliway diffuser working its magic. Feliway is even helping Ivy settle down a little.

Ivy got into the room a few times when I was in bed with my purrson; she ate at my feeding area; and I didn't even react! When the door has been left ajar, I ventured into the sewing room across the hall a few times. My purrson takes me to the dining room where I sit on my favourite chair and she made me a partial tent to help me stay calm; and I stayed there for a few hours. I still gave a little hiss when Ivy went under the chair, even though I don't think Ivy even saw me.

My purrson put up a small tree that I used to sleep under last year. It has a garland right to the bottom and when I climbed under it, I am almost comletely hidden. At first I just never took my eyes off Ivy who was across the room sleeping. Now I can fall asleep under the tree - though when Ivy passes by I still hiss.

So I AM making progress. Thanks again for your help.

Dear Molly, You are doing such fine work. Just remember, slow and steady wins the race. And you ARE doing so very well. Congratulations and best wishes for the new year!

Cat's Use of Xmas Tree

Dear Readers,

My colleague, Mango, encourages all cats to participate in decorating their homes for the holiday season.

He provides inspiration to those of us who are hoping for a cat tree.

Until I can write more about cat trees and what you should look for in one that will grace your home, I thought you might enjoy what Mango has to offer. He can be a bit shy when he is in the spotlight, but he did want to indicate what prime viewing such a tree can offer. You can see how well you can use it for camouflage when engaged in ornithological activities!

With best wishes to you and yours throughout the holiday season and into the new year,
Precious Greyce

House of Poop! - Part 10 of Litterbox Blues

Dear Greyce, Our mom had five kittens. We were fostered for the local shelter until we were eight weeks old and then three of us were adopted into our current home. We are now six months old and live with three elder cats (ages 5, 7, and 10). The elders tend to ignore us.

We have three litterboxes: two in the basement and one upstairs. They all have unscented clay litter. One is deep and two are not. And they are cleaned every two days. We use all these boxes for peeing and especially favour the one by the furnace. As for pooping, sometimes we use them and sometimes we do not. Instead we go beside the furnace, behind the dryer or under the laundry shelf. And one of us (Pepper) likes to get into the bag in which the litter comes and poop there!

Our poop is pretty good most days (shaped like small cigars) but sometimes it is very runny.

We think all of this is quite fine. But our purrson is not amused. How can we get her to like having our poop all over the place?

Pepper, Bibs and Cali-who

A Pile of Poop - Part 9 of Litterbox Blues

Dear Greyce, I am an eight-year-old, very shy, longhair and for the last few months, I've had diarrhea. I poop just after I eat. My goldy-brown waste is liquid and very smelly - so smelly, in fact, that my purrson has put a room deodorizer in the room that houses my litterboxes. And sometimes I have gas when I poop.

I went to the vet (and I really don't like going there) who recommended I try some food for sensitive cats, sprinkled with Fortiflora. But that change in diet has made little difference.  

My male companion, Toby, and I share two big, open litterboxes located in the spare bedroom. While I poop in the litterboxes most of the time, every so often I also go outside the box - on the floor, the stairs, just elsewhere. To entice me back to using the box exclusively, my purrson has tried many different kinds of litter.

We don't know what to try next, Greyce. What do you suggest? Willow

Only On My Terms - The Aloof Cat and The Cuddly Human

Dear Greyce, I am a four-year old, female tabby and have been adopted by a purrson about two months ago. My home is quite fine except for one thing: My purrson is a cuddler and I am not! My prefurrence is to keep to myself and seek attention on my own terms. My purrson, however, has always had cuddly pets and expects me to submit to all sorts of handling. Case in point: I will let her pet me but she overdoes it and I have to snap at her or run away. Even worse, she took me to the vet for nail clipping and the fur really flew! Greyce, I like my new home - even my new purrson, but her habits are getting me down. What do you advise? An Anonymous Tabby

Puzzled by Poop - Part 8 of Litterbox Blues

Dear Greyce, I am a 13-year-old cat with chronic renal failure. I lived with an older couple who were around all day and gave me lots of attention. But they went to live in a seniors home. Then I was taken to a new home (their daughter's) and since she works all day I have been quite lonely. When she returns from work, I talk to her a lot and she gives me attention. I no longer have the strength to jump on and off things, so she has placed stools to help me get to where I need to go.

 

I have two, deep litter boxes with unscented litter which is scooped several times a day. I use them for peeing but now prefurr to poop on the carpet rather than in the box. When she discovered my deposits on the carpet, my purrson used to be angry with me. Now she is just puzzled and I can't explain it to her. Can you help me? Kitty

Putting One Paw Forward - Re-integrating the Pariah

Dear Greyce, You were so helpful to us (see Family Feuds, Thursday, Nov. 12/09), that we would like your advice on another problem. As you know, we are a rather large family gathered in one household: three, one-year-old youngsters plus both our parents; and then there is Grandma. Her name is Rosebud; she is five years old and what a purrson would call sweet and shy. For some time, we have been picking on her -- so much so that she moved outdoors. Of course, she asked for it because every time one of us came up to her, she would hiss and act scared. So brave cats that we are, we responded accordingly -- by attacking  her to put her in her place. Now she still hangs around in the yard -- which is over half an acre in size. (Sorry I don't know how many hectares that would be.) She just doesn't hang around with us. In fact, she is behaving just like our Grand Uncle (her brother) who, when faced with the arrival of a new cat, left the house except for occasional visits. 

Stimulating Ideas

Well Minoose, I've finally had a chance to continue our discussion of toys, etc. for the active cat in a single-cat household. Readers might remember that Minoose is a very indulged cat whose energy level gets a bit much a time for his purrson -- especially since she is a dog-convert and was quite surprised at how active a young cat could be.

Share and Share Alike

Hey Greyce, Getta load of this! My Mom, Cinny (a lovely tortoise shell) and moi (a black beauty) live together in a good home. We are fed the same food but on separate plates near one another. We each take one plate and then about halfway through the meal, we switch.

We were okay with this until we heard that our purrson thinks it's strange? Are we weird or what? Just have to be sure, Spot.