Paradox, how are the kitties and you doing? Are Bianca's eyes improved any?
Interested folks hope you can give us an update on your precious pair of cats!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens
Buying a Kitten for my birthday: TIPS PLEASE!
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Sorry for not keeping you anxious, with Christmas coming up, everything is so busy so I couldn't get on lately.
I've tried to look around the net for a personalized ID collar, but couldn't find any Aussie stores?
Bianca's eyes are actually healing somewhat however, unfortunately, Bella's relationship with Bianca has barely grew, their feelings are mutual - disdain.
I hope they make progress in the future.On the other hand, how is the jolly season for everyone?
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Paradox, most pet supply stores have a machine where you can pick the size and shape of ID tag you want, you type in the info to appear on the tag, and it etches and dispenses it to you right there. At least such machines are commonly found in such chain stores as Petsmart and Petco here in the U.S. Maybe you could find something like that where you are.
Wonderful to hear that Bianca's eyes are improving. That is great news.
As to Bella's disdain, eh, it just takes longer with some cats than others. Truthfully, as long as Bella isn't abusing Bianca and you are enjoying both kitties and both are reasonably content and loving with you, then don't push it. They will sort things out in their own time. As much as you want them to be good friends sometimes it just takes a fair amount of time for that to happen.
When my Tigger was introduced to an existing cat, Thomas, in the household many years ago, they were flat out enemies for almost three months and then finally became very close buddies who played together and snuggled tightly together all the time. So don't give up hope for Bella and Bianca.
Hope all the busy doings leading up to Christmas are fun and pleasant and that you are enjoying your school holidays.
Here on the TDK list, we had a bit of fun earlier today imagining how our cats would decorate a Christmas tree. All sorts of fun ideas were suggested such as bubble lights the cats can stare at, sprigs of fresh catnip, peacock feathers, strings of cat treats, dangling shoelaces, bells from cat collars, rumpled wrapping paper under the tree to hide and pounce in, etc.
Presents are always nice. Having one's family and their love and having one's pets and their love is better. Enjoy the love, family and feline, and may you have many blessings.
It's okay to be busy. We know you have other things to do than spend all your time hanging out with a crowd that is mostly women, many of us middle aged or so. But we do enjoy hearing from you and updates on how you are doing and how the kitties are doing. Please be sure to drop by every few weeks, if you can, even after school starts again, and keep us posted on how Bianca grows and Bella adjusts.
And we're interested to know what the vet says about Bianca once you are able to finally get her in to see the vet.
How well does Bianca appear to be seeing now that her eyes are improving? And does she still appear to be deaf?
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The collar dispensing thing seems pretty nifty and convenient but I've never seen such a thing here in Australia, or Sydney at least!
Hmm, they're both still 'stalking each other' and slapping one another although at times, it almost seems playful, I'm not sure.
On the same note, Bianca is so damn cheeky! She's been climbing around the Christmas tree and pulling down decorations and she won't stop, but it's cute.I don't mind hanging around you guys 'cause all of you are so...affectionate, caring and welcoming, a unique bunch, a change from teenagers haha.
There's barely any pus coming out of her eye now so that's a good sign and she seems to have better eye-sight, as with her hearing, I'm not exactly sure. She doesn't respond to whistles or loud noises as alert as Bella is, and when Bella hisses at her just a cm away, she doesn't even seem to notice.
Also, Bella seems to be growing so rapidly now, weighing in at 3.2kg already and her long coat seems to add to her size. I'm pretty sure her growth will be on-going until at least 2 to 3 years of age as that's what I've been told, Ragdolls are quite large domestic cats.Don't worry, I'll be sure to update you all, although I'm going off on a 'holiday' or 'vacation' known in the USA for the Christmas period so I won't be able to reply in the following weeks.
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'Almost playful' is good! Playful will be better and the day when Bella starts to lick Bianca clean will be the best! Of course, if they're anything like my Libs and Jasper, Bella will then jump on Bianca and Bianca will start bunny kicking Bella and then they'll start chasing each other round the house but that's standard for kitties!
Of course Bianca won't stop, Christmas is a kitten's favourite time of year, lol. Just make sure she doesn't manage to get her paws on any tinsel, but if she does, and she swallows any tinsel, and you see a bit hanging out of either end of her, DON'T PULL. It could cut her insides. Get her to a vet.
She may well be deaf but I think you would still be wise to get her to a vet to check her eyes before you guys leave for your holidays.
We don't have collar-dispensing things here in New Zealand either. Amazing, the technology and cat and kitty paraphernalia they have in the States :)
Have a wonderful Christmas with your girls, and a marvellous New Year and a fabulous holiday!
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Aha, almost playful stalking and slapping is only a step away from truly playful stalking and tussling!
Wish you could get Bianca into the vet to get something for that eye. The longer it is infected and oozing pus the worse it is long term for her developing eyesight.
Ragdolls are lovely cats with very laid back dispositions. Once she reaches her full adult size Bella is going to be even more stunning than she already is. It's wonderful you found and were able to bring her home.
I think Bianca will grow up to be an equally lovely cat in her own right with her own distinct personality. And I still think she and Bella will eventually become close. It just takes time and perhaps Bianca outgrowing the early kitten stage.
Where are you going on vacation, if I may ask? And who will be taking care of the cats while you are gone? Will you be boarding them somewhere or have someone come to the house each day to feed them, give them fresh water, and tidy their litter tray?
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Hey, marketers have figured out that we Americans are daft enough to spend inordinate amounts on all sorts of luxuries for our cats. The rest of the world thinks pets are animals. We goofy Americans think they are our four legged children. (Well, they are! LOL)
I have to ask, for those of you in Australia and New Zealand, what are typical Christmas decorations, foods, and celebrations?
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Oh yes, pouncing, tussling, bunny kicks, wild romping games of tag, all are perfect kitty play! Hope Bella and Bianca reach that point very soon.
I agree with Jcat that it would be good to get Bianca's eyes looked at sooner rather than later, especially if you are going to be gone for awhile. You don't want the infection in her eyes flaring up and/or spreading without you there to notice. And, while you're gone, you won't be able to keep treating her eyes with the tea treatment you've been using. Surely there is a vet somewhere within reasonable distance you can see since your regular vet is out of service due to health issues???
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What Marnet said, tee hee. Marnet I'm assuming it's green gunky stuff rather than actual pus because I'm sure if there were actual pus, there would be other signs, such as the third eye coming over and the eye being closed or semi-closed most of the time. But still best to get it looked at, Paradox, and Marnet is right, better to go to another vet rather than none at all, just this time.
Marnet, NZ Christmas food varies depending on whether you are a die-hard traditionalist (like my English mum) and are determined to serve the traditional turkey (or chicken or lamb) roast dinner with roast vegetables and gravy and Christmas cake etc in the height of summer, or whether you go to the beach and barbecue (although in Wellington it's usually rainy on Christmas Day, just to be perverse) or whether you are sensible and go the summer food and salad way. Typical Chrissy decorations used to be the same in NZ as everywhere else -- i.e. totally incongruous snow scenes and red-breasted robins etc (the NZ robin is, believe it or not, black and very very endangered) but these days we are doing better with more appropriate South Pacific and summer themes. The New Zealand 'Christmas tree' is the pohutukawa, which is a seaside tree with beautiful red blooms. It comes out at this time of year and if it comes out early, we are supposed to be in for a long summer :)
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Wow, sounds neat! I admit, having lived all my life in the U.S., I have trouble imagining what a summertime Christmas is like. Each year we see news footage of sunbathers at the beach in Australia for Christmas Day. I'm sure it must seem funny sometimes to have all the Currier and Ives type depictions of snowy Christmas in the middle of summertime! :)
Edit: Scurrying to Google to look up a photo of your red blossomed tree!
Edit: Oh wow, what a gorgeous tree! Dark green leaves with silvery underside and red blossoms that come out just before Christmas and last through January, the entire Christmas season. No wonder it is NZ's Christmas tree!!! :)
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It is very pretty, Marnet, and it grows very very tall, often on the ends of cliffs. There is one at the very top of the North Island, at Cape Reinga, just at the point where the cliff at the end of the island meets the sea, and Maori legend says that the souls of the dead make their way up there then plunge off the tree and dive into the ocean to travel to the afterlife.
On a more prosaic note, I always wanted to have one in my garden but they grow so enormous and their favourite pastime is to invade all your water and sewage pipes and break them, so not such a good idea, lol.
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