| Paw Colors | Points |
|---|---|
| Grey | 0-49 |
| Red | 50-149 |
| Orange | 150-299 |
| Green | 300-599 |
| Magenta | 600-1499 |
| Purple | 1500-4999 |
| Blue | 5000-9999 |
| Brown | 10000-24999 |
| Black | 25000+ |
MauiCat's Profile
Expert Title: Expert Contributor
Paw Level: 84
Member Since: 3 / 28 / 2008
Years of Experience: 30
Specialty Categories: Adoption, Behavior, Cat Care, Cat Tales, Feeding, Health
Birth Date: 0 / 0 / 1968
Website: http://www.helium.com/user/show/317235
Degree: Journalism/English
About Me: I've been a pet lover and cat owner all my life. I took a crash course last year in pet health and nutrition when my 3 elderly cats fell ill during the pet food recalls. I currently have 1 rescue cat, 1 recently adopted ragdoll cat, and one elderly kitty (she's 17!).
Personal Interests: Reading, writing, writing, and more writing! My kids, my husband, my family - all are my hobby and keep me very busy. I currently have 3 cats, 4 parakeets, 1 Eastern box turtle, 3 hermit crabs and too many fish to count!! I love to garden, watch my husband's softball games, and watch cartoons with my kids.
- Maui - Tabby
- O'Malley - Tabby
- Clyde - Ragdoll
Cat Behavior
Remove some of the more dangerous things from her reach. You almost need to "cat proof" your house much like you do with a toddler. Most cats like to fling things to the floor and mess with things they shouldn't. I would purchase a cheap water spray bottle (plastic ones are available in the hairbrush section of the drug store) and squirt her sparingly when she attacks the drapes. Not too much but just a little to make her know you want her behavior to change. You will soon get her to the point where she'll just need to see the squirt bottle to stop her behavior. Young cats are notoriously wild. Don't wrestle with her at all. Just give her gentle pats and rubs to encourage calm behavior.
6 Answers | Asked By: gdpfsmc918 5
Cat Health
Some cats are just prone to eating quickly and vomiting as a result. However, I'm concerned in particular about the cat being skinny. First, she needs a trip to the vet. Simple blood work will indicate whether the cat is hyperthyroid, which sometimes causes an inability to gain weight. The blood test will also pinpoint any other problems that might be present. You should be feeding a high quality canned food. Start with about 1 tablespoon of food and mash it flat in the bottom of her dish. This will force her to eat slowly, rather than grabbing chunks of cat food and swallowing them whole. Do this multiple times during the day, if possible. She needs to learn to eat slowly. In addition, sometimes cats get blockages from hairballs. Talk to your vet about what you should use; whether a vet recommended hairball remedy or one available at the grocery. Mix it in with the cats food every few days to keep things moving. A very thin cat is almost always an indication of a problem. Please take the cat to the vet ASAP.
Cat Health
I had 2 elderly cats with thyroid problems. I didn't ever see this problem. An enlarged thyroid is a big concern. The thyroid regulates the hormones in the cat's body and also controls weight gain and loss, level of activity and a host of other things that makes your cat a happy and healthy animal. I strongly feel you need to act fast, get a good vet to be aggressive to improve the quality of the cat's life. It is miserable. If the thyroid is left uncared for, your cat will end up with even more problems, including but not limited to, kidney failure. That is not a pretty way for an animal to die.
Cat Feeding
What are you feeding? Chow is very high in carbohydrates which can make for a fat kitty. Canned food is much better for them, preferably a high quality canned food. Limit the cat's intake with small meals a few times a day as you wean the cat off chow. Forget free feeding in a chow bowl - your cat needs a set diet. Help kitty get some exercise by playing with him every night. Use a string or plastic bottle cap and play away! Any exercise is great for your kitty. As with humans, it stimulates the metabolism and helps them burn calories and fat.
10 Answers | Asked By: kittyandpuppie 18
