Asked our Grand Daughter to help find a kitten that might keep my DW company, entertained, and happy. We checked the local animal shelter and found about 20 kittens up for adoption. Narrowed it down to 3 and asked Raena, GD, to pick one she thought would be best choice. She picked a female with white chest, and leg boots under blalck body with brown, black, and white mixed on face. Carol finally got used to Kitty and they are now best friends. Claws a little sharp for Carol's thin skinned legs so might have to have her de-clawed. Carol just raves about how cute and sweet she is. Gave up on finding a name that Carol underswtood and just stayed with "Kitty" the KISS principle!!!!!.
I asked some of yall about maybe getting a small puppy and had a lot of recomendations but the paper training task scared me off. We have a big black cat and all the litter boxes, etc. but most of all it felt easiest for me. The miniture dogs would probably have been as good, if not better but the house training of a young puppy just seemed more that I could handle. "If it ain't a problem, don't make it one"
I will probably post a picture on Carol's Blog soon. bill
Great you've gotten a kitten, bill. They make great pets even when they're grown!
But no, don't have her declawed, bill. Learn to cut her claws. De-clawing would leave her totally defenseless if she were ever outside; she couldn't climb a tree. She might live as long as 20 years so she might outlive you and end up somewhere where she would be outside.
Look at this video: http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm
and go for it. If you really can't do it, there are sheaths on the nails, I think called softpaws that you can put on to protect Carol.
and I assume you'll have her neutered. Sounds like a beautiful calico!!
Yes, Bill, please don't declaw the kitten. If you start now while she's young, you can train her to let you cut them. Just like with a puppy, touch her feet and individual toes often, get her used to having them handled. If she's food motivated at all you could give her little bites of cat food while doing the claw trim job. You can probably even get a tech at the vet's office to give you a "demo" and help you the first couple of times if you are unsure.
Yes Bill, if the claw tips work, go for it. A cat is also very hard on your furniture and curtains. Our kitten claws were so sharp everybody was getting scratched. I never heard of softpaws but sounds great. Some people can clip the nails but I couldn't. I did take her to the Vet for clip a couple times.
What you can't learn on this site!!!!! I've been so nervous about my cat's claws, all the silk drapes & designer furniture. I am going to order these right away. My vet's office is closed now, I called to see if they would do it. But if they can't, there must be a vet here that can. I was going to take her to the vet once a week for her "manicure" but these last a lot longer. Question is, white to match her solid white fur, or clear. Seems clear would look more natural. Her nails grow fast, so I may have to replace them every 3 weeks, not the 4 - 6 that I read about on the web site.
Bill, glad you got a kitty, & glad that Carol adores her, even if she did steal my name. Thanks briegull for the tip, I'd never heard of such a thing.
The adoption fee was $50 but that included shots and neutering in Sept. Carol still gets concelrned when she takes a "dead looking" nap. She does not understand a playful kitten but does seen to be happy with her. I will look into the softpaws and GD says she will help me with regular clipping. Some extra work for me but I think it will be worth it. bill
If you can get her used to sleeping in your lap, you can slip it in in a commercial on the evening news! Not a big deal; the thing is that the instant she starts to squirm you let her loose instantly. Do NOT try to hold her down or you'll never get her accustomed to it.
Oh boy, I'm excited. Not only does my vet apply the soft claws, she sells them too. So Katrina has an appointment for a manicure on Friday, nails clipped, soft claws applied. Hope she adjusts to them, if not, it will be every week & 1/2 for a nail trim. I ordered the clear, but if she doesn't mind them, I'll get her pink next time, she thinks she is a princess.