YAY!

[rosebee]

We're gonna get a kitty!! :)

She's a really cute small orange tabby named Maia that was a stray taken in by HTB's brother & sister-in-law. This new cat didn't get along with their existing 2 cats and a dog, so it's been living out in the shop. :(

Maia's been to the vet once already for her first round of kitten shots, but needs to go again for her second round and also to be spayed.

HTB & I are going to get all the necessary cat supplies next weekend, and then go pick up Maia from HTB's brother & SIL. Obviously, none of us want poor Maia to have to recover from being spayed while living in an unheated shop. (It has windows and a door so she's relatively safe anyway).

HTB & I went over to meet Maia this afternoon. She's SOOO friendly! She immediately let me start scratching her and she started purring and rolling around on her back, and it was SO cute!

I want to go out right away and get all the cat stuff so we can bring her home as soon as possible. But HTB & I both feel that the picking out of all the supplies and toys and things is something we should do together, and he just doesn't have the time to do all that tonight. So we're going to try to go get all that stuff next weekend. And then once we've got everything set up, we're going to go get Maia.

Here's the list of necessary stuff we've come up with so far.... those of you who already have cats, I'd *really* appreciate any advice you might have on what's good and what's not, and what's really important to have!


-Scratching post/pad
-food & water bowls (we want to get one of those water bowls you plug in and then it works like a fountain moving the water around all the time)
-food obviously (we plan to ask HTB's brother what they've been feeding Maia so far)
-some toys
-brush
-carrier (we're not sure whether the traditional hard-sided or soft-sided is better)
-Litter box, litter, & stuff
-nail trimmers
-teeth cleaning stuff?
-bathing stuff
-collar
-leash & harness?
-Climbing furniture


We've found a good place to put the litter box, and her food & water bowls. And we even have a nice spot near our living room window to put a climbing furniture thing that will let her look out and see the world (it over looks a nature area with lots of trees).

I think Maia will also really enjoy looking at the birds that come to the three birdfeeders we have hanging on our deck.

Comments

[crashcat.livejournal.com]

Me again. (I have tapioca for brains)
One more thing: I'd skip the collar. Without going into detail, cats can get stuck on things with their collar, and if you're not home... well, it can be bad. Very. So personally, I'd forego the collar. It's simply not necessary.

[crashcat.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm nuts. I'll try really hard to make this my last comment for now! So sorry...

There is a LOT of controversy surrounding vaccinations. They can make them extremely ill, causing everything from an immediate response of skin problems, vomiting, etc., to future issues such as cancer, etc. There's a ton of information out there on it... easy to find with a quick Google. If you decide to still get all the shots, I'd do three things:

1) Do NOT get the shots all together, in a cocktail form. It's asking a lot for their bodies to deal with all that at once! Get the shots separately. Any good vet will accommodate you in that.

2) Do NOT spay her at the same time as you get the shots. Again, VERY hard on the body's immune system. I had a cat who barely survived when it was done all at once. I'd never do it again.

3) If she's to be an indoor cat, not exposed to others, there is no need to get the shots on a yearly basis. Every 3 years should be plenty. If you're worried, you can run a yearly blood titre - this will show the level of a given antibody, and will help determine if a shot is needed or not. Much safer than shooting her full of something she doesn't need. Personally, my cats (all indoors, always) never get vaccinations - having come as strays, they already have a natural amount of immunity, simply from having been exposed to the world. I'm sure it could be argued against, but I believe the shots can do much more harm than good. But again, if you want to, every 3 years should be fine (again, not in "cocktail" form!). Most vets are good with this approach, since the debate in medical circles rages on - it's a (sort of) happy medium. If you do get the vaccinations, be prepared for her to feel like crap for a day or so (at least, barring anything worse).

[rosebee.livejournal.com]

I don't mind in the slightest! Thanks for all the fabulous info (& welcome BTW)! :)

I'm ADHD myself which means if I didn't write it down somewhere then it doesn't get remembered (& even then it's a toss up as to whether I'll misplace the written 'memory'). ;)