http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ Daily Kitten Chat Forum Topic: little kitten Q's en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:13:41 +0000 http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440755 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:40:45 +0000 curious kitty 440755@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thank you </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440750 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:30:25 +0000 eleniki 440750@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Here are two more very relevant recent threads, CK:</p> <p><a href="http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20276" rel="nofollow">http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20276</a><br /> <a href="http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20416" rel="nofollow">http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20416</a> </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440745 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:18:31 +0000 eleniki 440745@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Leeny is right when she says that some of us have very, very strong feelings about declawing (illegal in Europe, where I live, anyway) so I too will not specifically discuss it. I have two kits and I clip both of their claws with great success and no problems or anxiety on their parts. I ordered a special cat clippers online, and it is much more suitable to their claw shapes than a human nail clippers, I think. I do it about once a month, and I would go as far as to say that we all enjoy it, as I make it into a stroking/bonding thing, so they feel that it is part of a special cuddling activity. I do the same with brushing (I have one of those rubber massage brushes with the soft ended prongs - my long-haired girl LOVES being brushed, and they get SO much under-hair out, the fluff-pile practically mews and runs away afterwards!).<br /> I have a low opinion of all the big commercial cat-food brands, and would not feed my cats Science Diet, particularly as they, like many pet-food companies, are implicated in animal experiments in the name of pet nutrition (money, more like). Many of these products have a low meat/high cereal content, which is exactly the opposite of what felines need. I am not very familiar with what brands are available in the US, but I am sure many other TDKers will advise. I think I have read that Wellness is quite good. Basically you are looking for a wet food with a high meat/taurine content. Wet is best, as it hydrates your kitty without the need for him to drink copious amounts of water, which he should do if his diet is primarily dry. Mixing wet and dry creates bacteria, so, best not to do it. Dry food is also very high in carbohydrates, which makes for weight issues as well as health issues later on, as explained here:<br /> <a href="http://www.blakkatz.com/dryfood.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.blakkatz.com/dryfood.html</a></p> <p>I have just embarked on a raw food diet with my two kits, and so far, though time-consuming in its preparation, they have taken to it like ducklings to water. I am looking forward to the health benefits for them, and the reduced vet visits. Here is a TDK thread that will be of interest to you:</p> <p><a href="http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20550" rel="nofollow">http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20550</a></p> <p>Hope this is of some help. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440728 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:58:21 +0000 curious kitty 440728@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Oh I also wanted to ask we are feeding him science diet for kittens wet n try food mixed together. He seems to like that. Is this a good choice of food?? </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440726 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:56:42 +0000 curious kitty 440726@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>We tried that we got him one of those sticks with the attachments at the end you can change out and he loves the feathers one but he didnt really go for the post but hopefully he will grow into liking the post at least. Time will tell. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440720 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:50:58 +0000 Siobhan 440720@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Play with a piece of string over the scratcher as an enticement :-) </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440710 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:42:53 +0000 curious kitty 440710@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Ahhh i get the tandem clipping now, good idea. Yeah he's tiny and adorable and as a way of looking at you with that face of innocence after hes clawed you up. Hes still a bit apprehensive but for the most part really warmed up to us. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440706 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:39:42 +0000 curious kitty 440706@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Yeah we went out and bought him a scratching post which he doesnt use and a little kitty cube that he just seems to like tipping over so that the hole is on the ground and he can't get in it. He's so funny sometimes. He seems to like to get in the wires by the tv doesnt really attack them but just likes to sit in the middle of them. How do we get him to stay away from them short of covering them with towels? </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440704 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:38:18 +0000 Siobhan 440704@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>You can start clipping claws a little later in life, but your kitty has to really love and trust you, and you have to be -very- gentle and maybe only do a couple if the kitty fusses. :-)</p> <p>Eight weeks old...such fun with a Baby in the House(tm). Enjoy the time, trying as it can be sometimes...they are kittens for such a short time! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440701 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:35:57 +0000 Leeny 440701@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Does it mean having someone hold the kitty while someone else clips the claws?</p> <p>OK, 2P, we were typing at the same time. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440700 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:35:41 +0000 2 Popoki 440700@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Tandem clipping is having one person hold the cat while the second person clips the nails.<br /> I can only do that when MF (man friend) is visiting. Otherwise I need to find a time when they are sleepy. My cats were 2 and 1 when they came to me so I didn't have the benefit of starting them as kitties.</p> <p>There was a post a long while back about using clothes pins on the scruff to settle the kitty while clipping. I have not tried it.... but believe it's something to work up to. Don't know that I could find that thread any more. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440695 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:33:03 +0000 curious kitty 440695@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>What is tandem clipping?? Im never had a cat before so its still very new n i just wanna keep the little rugrat happy while hes attacking me and the furniture. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440694 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:32:46 +0000 Siobhan 440694@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Welcome, CK!</p> <p>I do what Lainey does, and clip my kitties' claws. There are special clippers for it, I found mine at my favorite pet store for $4.99. They don't crush the nail the way human nail clippers do.</p> <p>Start young, yes! I do it by myself, even though Hermes is quite big (25 pounds or so) and he's hard to manipulate sometimes. I start with the back ones, those are the hardest (lol).</p> <p>Lots of soothing words, missing the quick, and lots of pets and treats afterwards lessens the trauma for Kitty. Sometimes if you do this when they're very sleepy and purring from being petted by you, the kitty may not even stop purring! I've had this experience with both Hermes and Tansey before, although not very often.</p> <p>Scratching posts are wonderful. Kitties normally want to scratch things, and you can encourage "good scratching" by providing one for her and encouraging her to use it by dangling a string/toy over the scratcher. Nature will take over (lol). Later you can maybe put a little catnip on it and watch the fun. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440693 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:32:36 +0000 Leeny 440693@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>It's really not that hard, CK, especially when you get them used to it while they're very young, like Lainey said. That's how I keep my kitties' claws under control. The quick isn't hard to avoid if you concentrate on just clipping off the tiny sharp end. I've never had the opportunity to start clipping claws when a cat was very small, but if they're exposed to it at this age, they'll grow to accept it as part of life. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440687 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:30:26 +0000 2 Popoki 440687@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Welcome CK! I understand your apprehension in clipping the claws. Once, and only once, did I clip too close. It was only one nail, but it took a while for my cat to trust me.<br /> I, too, find tandem clipping easiest. Well, for one of my cats anyway. The other is much more elusive ! I need to trim one or two at a time while she is sleeping and before she realizes what I'm doing! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440683 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:28:15 +0000 curious kitty 440683@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>yeah im afrad to do it myself id rather have a vet do it </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440680 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:26:42 +0000 Jetta and Boo Boo's Mom 440680@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Welcome CK and congrats on your new baby! In keeping with KittenMaster's rules I won't talk about your issue but do want to say that now, while he is young, is a good time to get him used to having his nails clipped. Personally i find tandem works best. I have someone hold my babies and I hold the paws and press down which extrudes the nails. I use a nailcipper made for cata and snip away, careful to avoid the quick (there is blood there and will hurt the cat if it's cut). If done routinely as well as having him trained to use a scratching post will help things alot. Again, welcome to our family and we can't wait to see pictures of your new addition! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440679 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:25:42 +0000 curious kitty 440679@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>I do apoloogize for posting that I did read the rules after i posted unfortunately. I am sorry I didnt mean to start anything innapropiate. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440676 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:18:35 +0000 Leeny 440676@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Hi, CK, and welcome to TDK.</p> <p>I've never used Soft Paws, but other TDKers have, and have had good results with them. Your kitty is, I think, still a little small for them, but they do come in kitten size. The resident shop cat at our local pet store wears them and does well with them.</p> <p>Just so you'll know in the future, The Kittenmaster, who is the site maintainer, has some rules for posts (you can read them by clicking on the pink box at the top of the topic list). One of the rules is that we're not allowed to discuss declawing on this site. People have strong feelings about it, and some of the discussions have gotten very angry. That's not the kind of thing KM wants on this site, so he doesn't want the subject addressed. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/20669#post-440661 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:50:33 +0000 curious kitty 440661@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Hi<br /> We adopted a tiny 8 wk old kitten from the humane society Fri and we love him so much already. He hasn't yet gotten his first set of shots b/c he isnt up to weight yet. Little rugrat only weighs 1.4 lbs. I was wondering, we were looking at getting him declawed, but that was before i really looking into how exactly they do it n im not so sure i want him declawed based on the process. I saw the website for the soft paws, and was wondering if anyone uses them and what they think. </p>