help needed: kitty trees and toys

[Tambrey]

We have a tree trunk for scratching as well...it was a mulberry tree, so the bark does not shred and peel off, and it has the nice little bumps that fruit bearing trees have...they love it!...it is about 4 feet tall so they can stretch out along it...

A higher quality kibble would be good for your kitties...they will get more of the nutrients they need and less "fillers" that are usually in lesser quality foods...and yes, there should be less litter box cleaning as well

I try to look at each cats claws at least once a week, and if they have a sharp tip, I clip the tip...we call it "Clippy Claws" and they know what it means and I most will sit in my lap quietly while I clip...one even extends her claws for me because she got caught in a screen once and ripped a claw (OUCH!) and since then has allowed me to clip and she enjoys it!

If he is having very runny stools, then he needs to see a vet...and if neihter has been seen it is agood idea to get them in and updated on shots, dewormed if necessary (take fresh stool samples from each), ears checked for mites and so forth...
I know you said money is tight, but you have taken these two babies in (Bless your hearts!) and they will need proper medical care now...most vets will work on a payment schedule or take post dated checks...ask around and see what you can find...

[birdsohio]

How did you disinfect the tree trunk to make sure there are no bugs/parasites in it? I read you should "bake" it, but I couldn't possibly fit a large piece of wood into our oven!
What food brand would you recommend? A breeder recommended Iams, but then someone else said something about Iams and animal cruelty... These kits have had Purina most of the time, and it doesn't seem to have worked too well for them.
The boy's stool is not runny, just a little soft. Not exactly sure how he manages to smear it all over his behind...
We were told they had their last shots less than a year ago. I would like to get them dewormed, just to be sure.
Will check around for vets!

Thanks again

[Tambrey]

I am fortunate in that I really do not get too many bugs in trees...and mulberry trees tend to be a fairly clean tree (except for when the birds eat the berries and leave deposits on the cars and sidewalks!!)
We had cut the tree down, and it had laid out in the sun for a few weeks before I brought it in...so I guess it dried naturally but was not out there long enoughf or bugs to take up residence in it...
Be careful what kind of tree you use as far as peeling messy barks and toxic to pets...If you have mulberry trees around there, I would recommend a good size trunk from it...ours is about 4 feet long, like I said, and I can both hnds around it and touch thumb tips and fingertips...get a good sturdy base, and I still have ours so it is propped in a corner, for more stability...
But I guess if you wanted to really get creative, a section of the tree with 2 or 3 good sturdy limbs, then attached to a VERY wide solid base, would work...then you could cover the base with a carpet remnant, use the base to attach additional cat toys to play with, and even a couple of beds...

I tend to prefer Eukanuba myself...but then, it is made by the same company that makes IAMS...or at least they are made at the same factory because the plant that makes the food is about 20 miles from my home!

I did some research online and while I found MANY sites against IAMS, I did find these links

I read through the main report as well as each site report...
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pa ... about_iams

But you can search and make your own decisions...

[birdsohio]

I'm guessing Eukanuba is more expensive than Iams...
The report you sent sounds pretty good. I actually wonder how much thruth there really is to most things online and to anything that has any politics to it or any benefit to anyone. I'll definitely give Iams a try - from what the nice breeder told us, it sounds like it's just what we need, and I'm hopeful it will at least take care of some of the litter and weight problems that these two have.
I just put some pics up of the kits on our little website. Please take a look when you get a chance! http://www.geocities.com/birdsohio

[Tambrey]

they are very pretty We have 3 black cats ourselves!!

I read about you just having two small litterboxes...If you have room, I like the sterlite underbed storage containers from Walmart...they are about 18x24 and just the right size to fit snuggly into most hiding places for cats to have privacy while doing their business...

I have a box on each floor of the house, and scoop often...on the main floor, in a corner of the kitchen, I have the box with scoopable litter and I use a LitterLocker to dump it into...I think they sell them at WalMart now too, otherwise I got mine at Target and another on eBay!
The one in the bathroom uses flushable scoopable litter and I love it...Arm & Hammer has one, but WalMart no longer carries it, so I am trying another one from 8in1 that they carry there, made from ground up corn cobs, but I cannot remember what it is called exactly...

[birdsohio]

Thank you!
I've thought of getting a couple of those huge storage containers from Walmart, but am not sure what size to go with! The boy weighs about 17lbs and is just huge. The girl is only about 9lbs and is very small and clean, so she isn't a problem at all. Do you just leave the top off on yours, or do you leave the top on but cut a hole into the front/side or the top?
I've never heard of LitterLocker but will definitely look for it! I started tossing the scooped litter into an empty plastic litter container.

Thanks so much!

[Traci]

Would be preferrable to feed them a higher quality diet.....Iams or Science Diet would be my recommendations (Eukanuba is slightly costlier than Iams, but they are under the same parent company). The controversy on Iams is totally unfounded, PETA had their hand in that and others have simply propogated the claims.

Nail trimming could be done once a month or so, depending on how fast the nails grow. Please be sure you're experienced in nail trimming, because you do not want to cut the "quick", this can cause pain and excessive bleeding.

Don't rely on word-of-mouth from a shelter or private party where you aquired your cats....if you were not given a copy of their previous vaccinations or even a health exam by a vet, then you can't assume they actually were examined or vaccinated. Any time one adopts a new kitten or cat should get them immediately to their own primary vet for a complete exam, deworming and testing/vaccinations accordingly by your vet. Don't deworm them yourself, and never apply over-the-counter flea medications either for that matter....your vet can treat appropriately as he deems necessary for worms or fleas, etc.

[Traci]

Forgot to mention, regarding vet exams, if you feel one is overweight, your vet will want to adress that, be sure you make an appointment for both of them promptly.

Also, just curious....in the pictures, is that indoor or outdoor tile? Do you allow your cats outside? If so, please don't...Indoors Only, please.

[Tambrey]

I do not even know where the lids to the boxes are!!...I just leave them topless for easier access for the cats, and for me to scoop the poop!

Sterlite is cheaper than Rubbermaid, so I got those...they are approximately 17x24 underbed storage container, so the sides are about 3-4 inches high...

Here is a link to the Litter Locker

[birdsohio]

The tile is indoors - it's a part of the basement that is unfinished (ie. uncovered). The kitties seem to prefer that part as it's cooler than the carpeted part.
Thanks for the link to the LitterLocker - it looks awesome! My shopping list is getting pretty long now... LOL