Litter Box Woes

A few months ago, my cat, Meeko, decided the carpeted rec room made a far better litter box than her own. At first, I was in denial: "We must have a leak in our basement," I told my husband. Then, "It's the humidity. We need a dehumidifier." But the unused litter box and the overwhelming smell soon disproved my theories.

I used an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of the odor, and had the carpet professionally cleaned. Luckily, there's a door to the room, and after posting a 2 X 2 foot sign advising everyone to keep the door closed, we usually remember to do so. After checking the Internet for inspiration, here are some of the other steps I've taken:

Removed the lid from her litter box -- it seemed to be freaking her out.
Moved the box
Stopped using the scented litter I sometimes purchased by mistake
Used "Kitty Litter Attractant" to lure her back
Closed every other freaking door in the house (just in case)

And I took her to the vet. There's nothing physically wrong with the cat, but the vet thought she might anxious, so has put her on anti-anxiety medication (although, after all this, I'm the one who really needs the drugs). My heart dropped at the thought of having to administer pills to Meeko, so I was delighted to discover the meds came in the form of a transdermal gel that I apply to the inside of her ear. I'm not sure if it's working as she just had her first dose last night.

This problem has consumed me. What if I can't change this new, unacceptable behaviour? And why the heck did she suddenly stop using her kitty litter box? I've always kept it clean -- to the point where the used litter makes my green bin too heavy for the the garbage men to lift. My husband thought Meeko might be lonely because I spent 4 or 5 days a week at the animal shelter. Perhaps Meeko smelled the other cats, despite the fact that I shower and change as soon as I get home. Who knows? Cats can be so sensitive to any change.

Now, I must go and make sure the last person to use the rec room remembered to close the door. And I may as well check the litter box while I'm down there, keeping my fingers crossed that she's using it and not some other, unprotected spot.

Meeko's a Couch Potato

My cat, Meeko, never really bothered with our old t.v. Every once in awhile, some movement on the screen might catch her eye, but she pretty much ignored it. That's all changed -- ever since we bought a plasma, Meeko's become addicted. I mean, we're wrestling her for the remote. She can become so wrapped up in a program, I'm almost afraid to change the channel. I feel guilty. Shouldn't I be encouraging her to go out and play ball hockey or something?

Vacationing and Pets

I can never truly enjoy my vacations to their fullest because I'm always stressed out about what to do with my cat, Meeko. The kennel didn't provide the human contact she needs, nor did staying home with daily visits from a neighbour (after arriving home after that particular trip, my cat peed in our luggage while I was removing the clothes, making her thoughts about being home alone pretty clear). Last year, my sister and her husband took care of Meeko. Although a near-perfect solution, it meant they couldn't go up to their cottage while we were away. This weekend, I had a great idea -- hire one of my friend's older daughters to live at our house when we go away next time. I hope she isn't allergic to cats.

Anyway, this got me thinking about vacationing and pets, and I found this wonderful website that lists pet friendly top ten lists. Here's just a a few:

Top Ten Pet Friendly Hotels

1) La Quinta Inns & Suites
2) Holiday Inn
3) Red Roof Inns
4) Candlewood Suites Hotels & Resorts
5) Motel 6
6) Studio 6
7) Howard Johnsons
8) Novotel
9) Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
10) Westin Hotels and Resorts


Top Ten Pet-Friendly Beaches

1) Fort DeSoto Beach, Florida
2) Dog Beach, California - Pet Friendly Rentals
3) Del Mar Beach San Diego, California
4) Cape San Blas, Florida
5) Carmel City Beach, California
6) Hunting Island, South Carolina
7) Fort Funston State Park, California
8) Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Oregon
9) Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, North Carolina
10) St. George Island, Florida


What do you do with your pet(s) when you go away? Do you stress as much as I do?

Scarface

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my cat, Meeko, had an injury on her cheek -- it was a bit red and looked like it was scabbing over. I couldn't imagine how she'd gotten it, but would keep an eye on it just to make sure it healed properly. A few days later, I spotted this on my kitchen floor. At first, I thought it was a gruesome bug, but discovered it was actually a gruesome chunk of Meeko. She'd obviously scratched the scab out. If you're into skin and fur, you might want to click on the photo to enlarge:



That's one for the scrapbook, isn't it?

So I took Meeko to the vet. She was prescribed antibiotics (which I stopped giving to her because the medication did awful things to her digestive system). Anyway, today, this is the look Meeko is sporting:




It's hard to tell if the fur will grow back. Luckily, she's not the least bit vain.

UPDATE: Meeko's tiny bald spot has grown in quite nicely.

Silly, Sleepy Kitties

Cats are usually so elegant and reserved, but sometimes they just can't be bothered with appearances. Because of her black fur, it's always difficult discerning Meeko's various body parts in a photo. You should see the live action when I venture downstairs in the dark -- and she's sleeping on the steps. Click on the picture if you'd like to get up close and personal. Although, to be honest, I don't believe I'd want to be checked out at such close quarters -- technology can be unkind.





While visiting friends at their cottage, I snapped this pic of their two cats, Artemis and Yogi, who are great pals. Arty (on the left) is the cat who wore the cone earlier this year. As you can see, his health has improved, and he's free of the dreaded device.

Cat Emergency

On the weekend, I applied to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA ) to become a volunteer at our local shelter. I often visit the cats, bringing clean blankets and new toys, and patting as many as possible. On this visit, the patting took much longer than expected.

The shelter is experiencing a cat emergency. The enclosures are full, and there are 300 more cats in the back. Three hundred! Where are they coming from? There are a few kittens, but most are adults, and all were friendly and eager for attention.

I bought Meeko there four years ago when she was just a tiny kitten. They had named her 'Trouble', but she's been no trouble at all (although she did terrorize my other cat Chowder when she was alive). Meeko enjoys the company of people, yet she isn't keen on other cats. If she was, I'd be scooping up a few more from the shelter.

If you live in or near York Region, north of Toronto, please consider adopting one of these guys. They not only need a loving home and family, they deserve it.

Entertaining Your Cat

Some of the toys I've purchased for my cat have been a success. Others, like the one pictured below, have been a wash-out.

My cat, Meeko, will jump into into any undefended plastic or paper bag, but she won't venture into this--even when I toss in cat nip or treats. I've pretty much done everything but crawl inside the darn thing myself. But there is one form of entertainment that never fails to draw her in.

Chipmunks and squirrels.

Of course, I have to litter the outside sill with sunflower seeds. It's a small price to pay to keep the cat amused. Here she is, this past summer:


She thinks she's being sneaky, hoping to catch the chipmunk unaware while staying hidden below the window.

But sometimes, the temptation is too great and she throws caution to the wind.


These days, she waits eagerly by the window for the return of the warm weather and live entertainment.

My Cat's New Year's Resolutions

My cat, Meeko, wanted to share her New Year's resolutions with you:


Improve stalking technique - humans have caught on to my toe-nipping ways

Exercise more - try out that new cat toy the human was so excited about

Stop trying to catch the chipmunk through the protective glass shield

Don't automatically respond to the can opener when it's used - sometimes it's just tomatoes

Don't tease neighbour's dog through fence

Eat food from the bowl, not from the floor

Make sure my butt is inside the box when I use the litter

Stop staring down stairs to the dark basement with tail puffed up (especially when female human is home alone)

Stop batting small, shiny objects under fridge and stove

Don't climb Christmas tree or eat tinsel

Find out where humans hide the catnip


Happy Mew Year! Happy Mew Year! Happy Mew Year! Happy Mew Year! Happy Mew Year! Happy Mew Year! Happy Mew Year

Cat Trivia

I remember when my daughter first started feeding herself--what a mess. By the time she was finished eating spaghetti, the floor looked like it was covered in red shag. But honestly, she had nothing on my cat. Meeko lifts the food from her bowl, and eats from the floor. Sometimes, she even carries food into the family room--sort of like T.V. dinner for cats.

Although I'm sure Meeko gets a big kick out of watching me clean it up, I figured there must be other reasons for her behaviour. I've checked the Internet, and this is what I came up with:

Cats don't like their whiskers to touch the sides of a bowl.

I'll start giving her food in a larger dish, and report back. In my search for answers to this and other deep questions, I discovered that there's lots of weird and wonderful things about cats:

A cat doesn't meow at another cat.

I know this was true of my cat, Chowder. She saved that sound just for me--at 4:00 in the morning, when she was hungry and I was sleeping. I feel very special.

25% of cat owners blow dry their cat after a bath.

As amazed as I am by this fact, I'm more amazed that people even attempt giving their cat a bath. I tried this once, and discovered it would be far safer to fling myself into a pack of hungry lions.

A cat that bites you after you have rubbed his stomach, is probably biting out of pleasure, not anger.

This is good news--my cat must be deliriously happy.

To determine if your cat's collar fits properly, make sure you can slip two fingers under the collar, between the collar and your cat's neck.

I have a confession to make: I always check the collars of other people's cats. If I feel they're too tight, I loosen them when no one is looking. I feel a bit like a guardian angel, though if I was caught in the act, I'm sure the owners wouldn't agree.

What I'll Go Through For My Cat

The dried food I buy for my cat is called Performatrin Ultra: Slim Care Formula. It's great stuff (my cat told me so). I recommended it to my parents for their overweight, grouchy as hell cat. Within weeks, not only had their cat regained her girlish figure, she positively purred (Note: they had been using a vet-recommended brand).

As I said, it's great stuff. Unfortunately, in my area, Performatrin can be purchased at only one store. The employees are friendly and knowledgeable, and the store is well-stocked, but I dread going there to buy the food.

Why? Because they have caged kittens and cats up for adoption--right there, at the front of the store. There's no way I can avoid their furry paws reaching through the mesh, nor can I resist their sad eyes and pitiful meows (it's a wonder I don't come home with a package of food under one arm and a cat under the other).

Anyway, tonight I noticed that I only had a bit of Performatrin left. I've thought about asking my husband to go to the store for me, but he'd probably look at me like I'd lost the final bolt that was holding my mind together.

Wish me luck--I'm going back to the store tomorrow.

Click here for more information about this great cat food (would my cat lie to you?)

Best Cat Toy Ever

My cat, Meeko, has a basket full of toys--feathers, balls, and cat-nip filled goodies, but this "Birds of a Tether" from Hartz is her all-time favourite. She'll be walking through the room, spot the feathers dangling above the ball, then go into attack mode. The weighted ball stops the toy from falling over. Hours of fun. Okay, minutes.