I Love Cats
Quote: DRichMy wife just spent 3 weeks on a farm in Montana that had 9 cats running around. I think I might be getting kittens soon.
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If as you claim your dogs eat wild outdoor animals those kittens won't last two weeks they probably won't last two days before the dogs kill them. They can't tell the difference between prey and pets. It's all food to them. Your best bet would be to adopt a fully grown cat but even then chances are good the dogs would kill it. Kittens won't have a chance. But what do I know, I've only kept multiple cats for over 40 years. I had two dogs during that time but they both came into the house as little puppies and they had to be trained to leave the cats alone. So everything turned out fine, training a full grown dog who's used to killing, almost impossible.
The other one I object to living with.
She is currently snuggling me after she had a disagreement with the 5 year old over whose legs got to be where.
Much friendlier than The Chonk (except when she isn't), and only about half the size.
Lousy mouser. Convinced freshly bathed humans are delicious, and need to be extensively tasted (unless movement would be required to bring tongue to bear).
Quote: Dieter
The other one I object to living with.
She is currently snuggling me after she had a disagreement with the 5 year old over whose legs got to be where.
Much friendlier than The Chonk (except when she isn't), and only about half the size.
Lousy mouser. Convinced freshly bathed humans are delicious, and need to be extensively tasted (unless movement would be required to bring tongue to bear).
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Why would you object, sounds like a nice cat with a lot of personality. The cats to object living with are mean cats, ones that fight all the time and ones that won't let you pick them up or pet them.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: Dieter
The other one I object to living with.
She is currently snuggling me after she had a disagreement with the 5 year old over whose legs got to be where.
Much friendlier than The Chonk (except when she isn't), and only about half the size.
Lousy mouser. Convinced freshly bathed humans are delicious, and need to be extensively tasted (unless movement would be required to bring tongue to bear).
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Why would you object, sounds like a nice cat with a lot of personality. The cats to object living with are mean cats, ones that fight all the time and ones that won't let you pick them up or pet them.
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The members of the household that want the cats are generally irresponsible, which means the rest of us end up walking and picking up after them. I've spent the last two months shampooing cat (?) pee out of the carpet (on and off), since the others couldn't be bothered. There have been auxiliary adventures, like chasing down whatever just got peed on when I hear that telltale scratch-scratch sound coming from someplace it shouldn't be. (Tiles by the door is a good answer, dangit.)
I am usually travelling too much to be a responsible pet-person.
I must contain my joy to the small victories won, namely no stinky, noisy birds, and the fact that I just removed The Chonk from my nightstand before he shoved everything onto the floor.
I have enough other sources of aggravation in my life; I don't specifically benefit from these two (despite them being warm and fuzzy).
Quote: Dieter
I have enough other sources of aggravation in my life; I don't specifically benefit from these two (despite them being warm and fuzzy).
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They sound like normal cats to me, and you do not sound like a cat person. At all. Everything you describe is what it's like living with cats, they do what they want, they're impossible to train except for the litter box you can train them to do that. But they're always going to get into stuff, they're always going to knock stuff off shelves, they're always going to get in your way, because they're constantly curious about everything. The parts of the house that my cats are allowed into, which is most of it, has nothing in it that I care about that they can destroy. Because they would destroy it. Basically I live in a cat house, and they let me live there. But there are constant source of entertainment for me and I love them dearly. They make me laugh dozens of times a day, and anytime I want to dopamine hit I just grab one and hug them and kiss them and makes me feel good. Totally different than having a dog. Cats have a calming effect on people, having cats around. They say it's so effective that even watching a video of cats can have the same effect on you. It's no accident that entire countries like Japan love cats. Istanbul Turkey is known as the Cat City because they've had hundreds of thousands of cats roaming their streets for thousands of years. People love them, people feed them, even the feral cats there are friendly. There's a reason for this, it's because cats make us feel good.
I'm just not at a point in my life where I want to devote my time and energy to housing and amusing cats (or dogs, or fish, or pet spiders, or axolotls, or ... hopefully you get the idea).
It really sucks to find that The Chonk has peed all over my luggage in the early morning before I need to leave out for travel. I may have to go back to packing everything in plastic zippy bags (yes, really), although I do usually skip
the index cards.
I should clarify - I don't really object to the cats; I object to the inconveniences that being a responsible pet-person would impose on me at this time.
Every cat person I know has moments where they don't want a cat climbing on them and interrupting their reading, crossword, crochet, or what have you.
Quote: Dieter
Every cat person I know has moments where they don't want a cat climbing on them and interrupting their reading, crossword, crochet, or what have you.
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Oh I have times everyday where I'm inconvenienced by one of these idiots but it's a small thing. Never once in 40 years of keeping cats have I ever for one second thought I have to get rid of these guys. What you have to do is be smarter than they are. If they're peeing on your luggage put the luggage someplace where they can't do that. You have to constantly be thinking like a cat thinks and you have to outsmart them. Because it's worth it, I don't think you see that, but it's worth it. After a while outsmarting them becomes fun, it becomes part of the deal. Because in many ways it's you against them, that's a lot of the appeal. Cats are never subservient like dogs are, you have to find a way to live with them where you are both happy. Charles de Gaulle once said I've been around people and I've been around dogs, I prefer dogs. I say the same thing about cats. If you have a couple of cats you cannot be lonely it's not possible.
When my time is free, I tend to feel content, not bored.
If I got lonely or bored, then perhaps.
As is, I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze - for me.
The 5 year old likes waking up to kitty snuggles, but she's lousy at cat chores. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Quote: DieterI am often alone, but seldom lonely.
When my time is free, I tend to feel content, not bored.
If I got lonely or bored, then perhaps.
As is, I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze - for me.
The 5 year old likes waking up to kitty snuggles, but she's lousy at cat chores. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I'm never bored, I always have too much to do. And I wouldn't know if I'm ever lonely because I have so many cats and they would never let that happen. I used to have cats in my bedroom but not anymore too much of a hassle. I always look forward to getting up and going out into the house because I'm going to see the idiots and they are always glad to see me. Not all of them but enough of them. That's the thing about having so many cats, you can always depend on a couple of them being cooperative to what you want to do. At least a couple of them are always going to be entertaining all the time.
The duffel contents were fortunately sealed in plastic bags.
(Why is this filed under "I love cats"? They didn't get taken to the humane society shelter, that's why.)
Quote: DieterFound my laundry & duffel bags drenched in cat* pee this morning.
The duffel contents were fortunately sealed in plastic bags.
(Why is this filed under "I love cats"? They didn't get taken to the humane society shelter, that's why.)I think it's cat. The girls are mostly housebroken, and the smell is different.
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And they will continue to outsmart you if you let them. You sound like an intelligent guy, is that a ruse? Apparently your cats are smarter than you are. Take some time and cat proof your house it's not that difficult. Don't leave things out where they can get to it. Buy a plastic container that's on the large size and put things in it that you don't want them to pee on. In my house they like peeing on the bags of cat food because I buy 35 lb bags so I have a 60 gallon Rubbermaid trash can in my kitchen corner that I keep 60 lb of cat food in. They are not allowed in my bedroom. They are not allowed in the bathroom. Etc
Quote: DieterFound my laundry & duffel bags drenched in cat* pee this morning.
The duffel contents were fortunately sealed in plastic bags.
(Why is this filed under "I love cats"? They didn't get taken to the humane society shelter, that's why.)I think it's cat. The girls are mostly housebroken, and the smell is different.
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My wife's Maid of Honor for our wedding stayed with us the night before we flew to Hawaii for our wedding. Unbeknownst to her one of our cats peed on her bridemaid's dress and she didn't know it until we got to Hawaii for the wedding.
Quote: DRichQuote: DieterFound my laundry & duffel bags drenched in cat* pee this morning.
The duffel contents were fortunately sealed in plastic bags.
(Why is this filed under "I love cats"? They didn't get taken to the humane society shelter, that's why.)I think it's cat. The girls are mostly housebroken, and the smell is different.
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My wife's Maid of Honor for our wedding stayed with us the night before we flew to Hawaii for our wedding. Unbeknownst to her one of our cats peed on her bridemaid's dress and she didn't know it until we got to Hawaii for the wedding.
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Once again the cat wins and the humans lose. Who's smarter here..
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DieterFound my laundry & duffel bags drenched in cat* pee this morning.
The duffel contents were fortunately sealed in plastic bags.
(Why is this filed under "I love cats"? They didn't get taken to the humane society shelter, that's why.)I think it's cat. The girls are mostly housebroken, and the smell is different.
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And they will continue to outsmart you if you let them. You sound like an intelligent guy, is that a ruse? Apparently your cats are smarter than you are. Take some time and cat proof your house it's not that difficult. Don't leave things out where they can get to it. Buy a plastic container that's on the large size and put things in it that you don't want them to pee on. In my house they like peeing on the bags of cat food because I buy 35 lb bags so I have a 60 gallon Rubbermaid trash can in my kitchen corner that I keep 60 lb of cat food in. They are not allowed in my bedroom. They are not allowed in the bathroom. Etc
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I'm not just fighting the cats.
I'm battling the girls who are fond of the fuzzy little brats, and want the cats in the bedrooms. (They preclude my solution, which is to get rid of the darn cats.)
I'm sure I'll get a chance to unpack the plastic bags and wash the soiled luggage with urine neutralizer. Again.
Quote: Dieter
I'm not just fighting the cats.
I'm battling the girls who are fond of the fuzzy little brats, and want the cats in the bedrooms. (They preclude my solution, which is to get rid of the darn cats.)
I'm sure I'll get a chance to unpack the plastic bags and wash the soiled luggage with urine neutralizer. Again.
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Meanwhile the cats are laughing at you behind your back and making fun of you.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: Dieter
I'm not just fighting the cats.
I'm battling the girls who are fond of the fuzzy little brats, and want the cats in the bedrooms. (They preclude my solution, which is to get rid of the darn cats.)
I'm sure I'll get a chance to unpack the plastic bags and wash the soiled luggage with urine neutralizer. Again.
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Meanwhile the cats are laughing at you behind your back and making fun of you.
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Not all of us are fortunate enough to live alone with the number of cats we wish - some of us are forced to cohabitate with humans who believe they're entitled to opinions on things.
Update: Only 70% of the duffel contents were plastic bagged. Laundering and repackaging.
This is what he looked ike 6 weeks ago
Quote: EvenBob
That is a cute cat
Quote: billryan
I was wondering why there are no shots of litter boxes, but they are about as useful as math.
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This design allows the loose bits of litter to fall off the "toe-beans" and back into the box when the cat climbs out. The lid is trivial to remove for cleaning.
All of the cat-owners I live with keep promising to toilet-train the cats, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for it.
Quote: DieterI get that. Yes, nice kitties are nice.
I'm just not at a point in my life where I want to devote my time and energy to housing and amusing cats (or dogs, or fish, or pet spiders, or axolotls, or ... hopefully you get the idea).
It really sucks to find that The Chonk has peed all over my luggage in the early morning before I need to leave out for travel. I may have to go back to packing everything in plastic zippy bags (yes, really), although I do usually skip
the index cards.
I should clarify - I don't really object to the cats; I object to the inconveniences that being a responsible pet-person would impose on me at this time.
Every cat person I know has moments where they don't want a cat climbing on them and interrupting their reading, crossword, crochet, or what have you.
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Peeing on things other than the cat litter is a no no. If this happens more than once the cat must go no matter how much one cares for it. When a cat starts peeing on things it's all but impossible to correct that behavior anymore.
Quote: rawtuffQuote: DieterI get that. Yes, nice kitties are nice.
I'm just not at a point in my life where I want to devote my time and energy to housing and amusing cats (or dogs, or fish, or pet spiders, or axolotls, or ... hopefully you get the idea).
It really sucks to find that The Chonk has peed all over my luggage in the early morning before I need to leave out for travel. I may have to go back to packing everything in plastic zippy bags (yes, really), although I do usually skip
the index cards.
I should clarify - I don't really object to the cats; I object to the inconveniences that being a responsible pet-person would impose on me at this time.
Every cat person I know has moments where they don't want a cat climbing on them and interrupting their reading, crossword, crochet, or what have you.
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Peeing on things other than the cat litter is a no no. If this happens more than once the cat must go no matter how much one cares for it. When a cat starts peeing on things it's all but impossible to correct that behavior anymore.
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(sigh) I didn't want them in the first place.
I get outvoted (outvetoed?) on these matters.
The household is currently babysitting dogs (labradors?) for the weekend. The dogs terrify the cats (and annoy me more than the cats do), so I'm on a basement couch (with the cats) while the dogs are in my bed.
Found my duffel bags soaked again a few days ago, although the bagged contents were fine. I have a feeling that the cats want the door left open so they can roam freely all night, where I want the door closed, to mute noise and block light.
Hopefully I get a clean bill of health soon and can flee this madhouse.
Quote: EvenBob
Very cute!
Quote: DieterQuote: rawtuffQuote: DieterI get that. Yes, nice kitties are nice.
I'm just not at a point in my life where I want to devote my time and energy to housing and amusing cats (or dogs, or fish, or pet spiders, or axolotls, or ... hopefully you get the idea).
It really sucks to find that The Chonk has peed all over my luggage in the early morning before I need to leave out for travel. I may have to go back to packing everything in plastic zippy bags (yes, really), although I do usually skip
the index cards.
I should clarify - I don't really object to the cats; I object to the inconveniences that being a responsible pet-person would impose on me at this time.
Every cat person I know has moments where they don't want a cat climbing on them and interrupting their reading, crossword, crochet, or what have you.
link to original post
Peeing on things other than the cat litter is a no no. If this happens more than once the cat must go no matter how much one cares for it. When a cat starts peeing on things it's all but impossible to correct that behavior anymore.
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(sigh) I didn't want them in the first place.
I get outvoted (outvetoed?) on these matters.
The household is currently babysitting dogs (labradors?) for the weekend. The dogs terrify the cats (and annoy me more than the cats do), so I'm on a basement couch (with the cats) while the dogs are in my bed.
Found my duffel bags soaked again a few days ago, although the bagged contents were fine. I have a feeling that the cats want the door left open so they can roam freely all night, where I want the door closed, to mute noise and block light.
Hopefully I get a clean bill of health soon and can flee this madhouse.
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A motion detector strategically set up, with whatever objects you need to narrow the scan area down can detect an animal moving into the same place, You don't want any area scanned except the problem area. $10-$20. Most portable can offer chimes and loud siren alarm for simple entry or intruder detection.
Can also help with keeping animals off kitchen counter or certain furniture. You can increase the effectiveness by putting a small mirror right behind it, so as the animal gets in the beam, it sees something moving (itself)
My wife and I used to be "cat people" -we had 3 cats - until we got a dog at the request of our younger daughter. The dog was a Havanese: small, intelligent, doesn't shed, great with people and other pets and desires to be around people almost all the time. Eventually, our cats got old and died and we now have 3 dogs. No profound moral here, but some of us who love cats have discovered that dogs (who are indeed more work) are even more rewarding.
Quote: gordonm888No profound moral here, but some of us who love cats have discovered that dogs (who are indeed more work) are even more rewarding.
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Included with my cats I've also had a dog for 27 of the last 30 years. My last dog was a Bichon who was lovable and affectionate and lived to be 17. He was adorable and I loved him to death but he was also a giant pain in the ass because he always wanted something. Dogs always want something and cats seldom do. When I leave the house none of the cats are even aware I'm leaving, the dog always 100% of the time had to go with me. The dogs have to be let outside so they can go to the bathroom, cats never do. I'm not saying I love cats more than dogs, but cats are a seldom a pain in the ass and dogs almost always are. Sometimes you don't even realize it until the dog goes away eventually and it feels like you've been let out of prison. I'll never have another one, it's just not worth it to me. It's like having a two-year-old child that never grows up.
Quote: Dieter
The household is currently babysitting dogs (labradors?) for the weekend. The dogs terrify the cats (and annoy me more than the cats do), so I'm on a basement couch (with the cats) while the dogs are in my bed.
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Update:
The dogs have gone back to sister-in-law's.
The cats are beginning to venture back upstairs. (They don't like the vacuum cleaner. Ran it around upstairs, to collect the hair(s) of the dog(s), and then downstairs to startle the cats into heading upstairs.)
The "crazy quotient" is returning to a more usual level. I'm trying to keep my luggage simultaneously accessible and defended.
Still not authorized to take the cats to the lake for "swimming lessons" or to the pound for rehoming.
The "nerd alert" bags are working absolutely great.
I started bagging years ago for volumetric compression and mudpuddle resilience, but I'm enjoying the new benefits.
Quote: Dieter
Still not authorized to take the cats to the lake for "swimming lessons" or to the pound for rehoming.
The "nerd alert" bags are working absolutely great.
I started bagging years ago for volumetric compression and mudpuddle resilience, but I'm enjoying the new benefits.
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Would you clarify what we are looking at? I don't know what a "nerd alert" bag is, though I am familiar with the appearance of a pool of urine.
Quote: gordonm888Quote: Dieter
Still not authorized to take the cats to the lake for "swimming lessons" or to the pound for rehoming.
The "nerd alert" bags are working absolutely great.
I started bagging years ago for volumetric compression and mudpuddle resilience, but I'm enjoying the new benefits.
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Would you clarify what we are looking at? I don't know what a "nerd alert" bag is, though I am familiar with the appearance of a pool of urine.
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These happen to have vacuum hose attachment points, so I can use atmospheric pressure to compress the packed clothing, as well as protecting it from... contaminants.
The culprit is suspected to be to cute little black one that snuggles me with very pointy feet.
Quote: Dieter
The culprit is suspected to be to cute little black one that snuggles me with very pointy feet.
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They make an aerosol spray that keeps cats off things because it's offensive to them. You can't smell it but they can. Get some and spray your problem areas and they'll stay away. Problem solved. You don't even need to do it a lot, just once in awhile and the residual spray will keep them away. But then you'll have nothing to complain about..
Quote: EvenBobQuote: Dieter
The culprit is suspected to be to cute little black one that snuggles me with very pointy feet.
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They make an aerosol spray that keeps cats off things because it's offensive to them. You can't smell it but they can. Get some and spray your problem areas and they'll stay away. Problem solved. You don't even need to do it a lot, just once in awhile and the residual spray will keep them away. But then you'll have nothing to complain about..
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I've sprayed feline repellent in that spot at least 4 times over the past 7 weeks.
... and again just now.
Complaining about the little jerks does seem to bring a bit of joy, so here's another round:
She climbs on my belly and does the "making biscuits" move with her bony little paws for several minutes, until she's tenderized me enough to settle in for a nap. At the first sign of me moving, she tends to leap off, nailing me with a claw about 20% of the time.
There are three girls in the house. She does not seem to do the "making biscuits" attack on any of them - perhaps they are adequately squishy. She also tends not to draw blood when leaping off of them.
Maybe it's a sisterhood thing.
