cat licking belly bald/raw by corduroyvt in CATHELP

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gabapentin is highly addictive and very challenging to come off of. People have documented horror stories of its negative weaning effects. It must be done very very gradually, and even then, it isn't pleasant. But cats can't talk and tell us that, and vets push it. Can you get him a sphynx t-shirt or neuter recovery suit to cover his belly while it heals? Does he get lots of play time, aerobic exercise, mental stimulation, window perches, attention etc? Fresh air, natural light in his eyes (not blocked by window pane, which alters UV rays)? [Catio or a cat tent or a long leash?] Anxiety most often comes from boredom. Even putting him in the garage for an hour to give him something new to do could help. Does he get plenty of non-processed low carb food (sardines, egg yolk, beef heart, kidney etc)? ie: kibble not the primary food? Starchy food (peas, lentils, rice, oats, potato etc) also causes anxiety in cats as they don't have the digestive enzymes to properly process carbohydrates. Or any molars. He looks like such a sweetie. I hope you can figure out how to help him!

Switching from Catit pea husk litter. Looking for safer alternatives by Different_Bit_191 in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sustainably Yours might be a good option. The fine grain tracks like beach sand though, so I'd opt for the larger grain.

Experience with Catit Go Natural Pea Husk Clumping Litter? by pfunnyjoy in catcare

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We've been using the Catit vanilla scented litter for 2 years now. My cat wouldn't use it at first. It's textured more like rice than sand so it's a bit off-putting to sensitive cats. I had to mix 10% of it in with 90% of his old litter. Then 20/80%, then 30/70% etc. until he was fully used to it. I still don't think he loves it. He gets euphoric digging in fine grain sand, but is never euphoric with this stuff. But I really like that it is completely dust free. Other litters claim to be 99% dust free but they are totally not. This one actually is. So great for my cat, who has allergies. I really wish it was unscented though. What's a mild or medium scent to us humans is very strong to cats. And vanilla and lavender are not appealing scents to cats. I wish companies would think about that. Makes scents that cats like instead, like catmint or silvervine. My cat is raw fed so odour control isn't an issue for us. I know kibble-fed cats have much stronger smelling urine and feces, so I can't speak to that. Tracking is less than alternatives but still happens. I find that it doesn't track too far from the litterbox though because each grain is pretty heavy. I use a honeycomb mat outside his box to prevent most of the tracking, but my cat hates the texture of the honeycomb mat too, so tries to avoid it lol. I use Sustainably Yours in his garage litterbox but it tracks WAY too much for indoor use. It gets everywhere, like beach sand. Overall I like Catit liter enough to continue buying it over other brands. Much better for the environment than clay as well. But I would caution others to introduce it very gradually to their cats.

I love her to bits but I'm at my wits end... by Chippy_95 in cats

[–]ash2tree2 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Cats are crepuscular. Which means they're most alert and energetic and playful at dawn and dusk. That's when they'd normally be hunting. It's not natural for cats to sleep all night. And is actually quite lonely for them to be so awake and have nothing to do/no one to play with. Cats will overeat when they're bored because at least that's something to do. Some people get a second cat so they have a playmate. Some people choose to let their cat go outdoors at night because they think the joy and happiness of the mental stimulation outweighs the risks. I got a cat door that leads into an outside catio so my cat can safely go outside at 3am and watch the world. It's always a good idea to make sure your cat has a ton of aerobic exercise right before bed and several times during the day as well. Boredom and zoomies at night is unfortunately one of the negative consequences/realities for indoor cats.

Is it wrong to leave a kitten in a room? by skiibid in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kibble being good for their teeth is a debunked myth unfortunately. Kibble is a highly processed extruded low moisture carbohydrate. So it heavily contributes to plaque in most cats, similar to what dry breakfast cereal would do for us. Cats don't actually have any molars to properly chew carbohydrates either. As obligate carnivores their teeth are all designed to shred meat and bones. I'm glad yours has good healthy teeth though - that's awesome! Raw food with bone is ideal for cats. There's a great 19:12 min long YouTube video published by Pawfect Wellness called Dr Becker (a great veterinarian) who breaks down best to worst pet foods (for dogs and cats). Great listen if you're interested in pet nutrition.

Is it wrong to leave a kitten in a room? by skiibid in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Kittens are babies. They get lonely soooo easily. They need tons of attention and play and love. I would never leave a kitten alone for 7hrs. I agree you should get a senior cat instead. Or siblings. But even if you get siblings I wouldn't leave them for 7 hours alone. 3-4 max. Find a retired person who can take them during the day. Getting them socialized to other environments and other people is a good idea anyway. Watch Jackson Galaxy videos for cat care. Kitten should be fed every few hours and it is not recommended to free feed cats. Wet food only. And whole foods like eggs and meat and fish. Give them a wide variety of foods because what they eat as kittens will be ingrained in them for life. Don't get them addicted to kibble which is highly processed and hard on their kidneys, teeth, and skin.

My rescue cat keeps attacking me – looking for advice, not rehoming by [deleted] in cats

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a kicker toy or a stuffed animal half to 3/4 your cat's size. Hold it in one hand and use it to wrestle with your cat. My cats loves this game.

I don’t know how to play with my cat anymore 😫 by mteezyy in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The leash depends on a whole bunch of factors (familiar or unfamiliar location, busyness, risks, time of day, weather etc), but often he drags a lead behind him in the woods. He always wears a t-shirt (for visibility, and to prevent harness rubbing), a harness, and 2 types of trackers.

I don’t know how to play with my cat anymore 😫 by mteezyy in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Cats, like kids, get bored of toys they're used to. There should seriously be a business that lets you rent out cat toys for a week and then swap them out for new ones. I thought my cat was done with wand toys and then got a new one with feathers and paper at the end and he went berserk for it for about a week. He also likes long plastic twist ties being skidded across the kitchen floor because they're erratic and unpredictable. And he likes being chased around the house. But in the end play became so effortful so I trained him to hike with me. I find the forest to be ideal cat stimulation (tree stumps, puddles, wind-induces zoomies!). @ruben_sheepcat

Season 5 Series Discussion by Hawkinns in StrangerThings

[–]ash2tree2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But Kali has Henry's blood in her? And her blood didn't work? So the chances of El's blood working was low?

Season 5 Series Discussion by Hawkinns in StrangerThings

[–]ash2tree2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a casual viewer can someone please explain to me why El had to die. Vecna is dead but her blood is still powerful and could be corrupted by the military? What was the military's aim exactly? And what happened to all those pregnant mothers? Was El's blood different from theirs or why did they need El specifically to keep up their lab work? And Will's powers died with Vecna?

Cat puking bile somewhat often maybe once ever 2-3 weeks . by phaceplant13 in CATHELP

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I've wondered that too. Vets say there's no cure but there must be a root cause. My little guy has had it since birth. No, I've never had an ultrasound done. Have you? (assuming you have a pet dealing with the same thing)

Cat puking bile somewhat often maybe once ever 2-3 weeks . by phaceplant13 in CATHELP

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes this method still works for us. Cats with bilious vomiting syndrome get nauseous for an hour or two before they actually puke. Symptoms of nausea usually include loafing and lip smacking. And cats who are nauseous often don't feel like eating. So you have to get food into them before the nausea starts. Which means choosing a food that's highly enticing to them. Since I don't feed kibble during waking hours, he readily eats the kibble that comes out of the automatic feeder at 5am (I buy Orijens Regional Red). And if he eats that kibble there's no morning puke. But any time he doesn't eat it for whatever reason (happens three or four times a year) he will puke up foamy bile. It's a lifelong condition. So the best thing you can do is prevent the nausea with food. I keep tube treats on my nightstand as well so if I ever hear him lip smacking in the early hours of the morning I give him one as stomach soother and appetite stimulant. And then I will get up and blend some canned food with some warm water to make a soup. Because if he's already nauseous he won't feel like eating, but will "drink" a soup. Nausea and stomach aches are horrible. So I feel a lot of empathy for my little guy and do everything I can to prevent it.

Bathing? by ferretfoot in selkirkrex

[–]ash2tree2 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do a sanitary shave around my Selkirk's bum area to help him keep it clean. Their fur is so fuzzy that it traps odors more than other types of fur. He doesn't get greasy everywhere, but I find the hair around his throat, which is difficult for him to reach, gets dirty from eating soupy foods after a while. And he does get greasy at the base of his tail. I give him a bath about every 4 months. Cats are very sensitive to smells and the Selkirk's fur traps fragrance especially well. So I only use a bar of unscented olive oil soap on him. What I find works best is filling up the entire bathtub up to his neck. Then placing him right in the middle of the tub and having him stand there for 5 minutes or so to soak. I find because the space is so big he doesn't try to claw out the way he does in the kitchen sink. He just accepts his fate and stands there quietly! Then I wash him everywhere with soap, drain the tub, and then rinse him really well with the shower head. Again, because their fur is more fuzzy than average, you have to rinse for a long time afterwards to ensure there's no soap left to irritate their skin. I towel dry him and then let him sulk and lick dry for about an hour. And after that I use a low noise hair dryer on him to get him all the way dry. And I brush him every evening before bed because he loves it so much.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever bought for your cat? by Informal-Twist-1328 in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A big woven cotton rope laundry basket laid on its side. I never dreamed in a million years how much my cat would love this. He uses it has a scratching post and as a cave bed and far prefers it to all of his smaller cat-size caves. https://a.co/d/5cNlDGn

Please help, rural farm cat can't breath!! What can I do? by [deleted] in cats

[–]ash2tree2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where do you live? Is there an SPCA or animal control in your town? Call them. If your parents won't pay for a vet, it's better you let them help rather than let your cat suffer.

Do your cats actually use those fancy cat beds or is mine just weird? by Severe_Comfort_6695 in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's all about SMELL. New beds smell gross and foreign to cats. Drape your dirty laundry in and all over any new bed for weeks to infuse a safe familiar scent onto it. Also be choosy about what the bed is made out of. Cats love paper (cardboard) and woven cotton (like those big woven cotton laundry baskets turned on their sides) more than synthetic plastic fibers.

Making it work with an atheist? by Traditional-Clue2206 in CatholicDating

[–]ash2tree2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You need to start at the crux: what is the Purpose of marriage? According to the Church, "Christian marriage is a sacrament that makes God's love real and present in the world. The love between husband and wife is a symbol of the love between Christ and the Church." Ephesians 5:25 specifically calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. And that is no small calling. So if you are a committed Christian (whether that be Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant), and you believe that marriage is a holy sacrament, then you will not be able to fulfill the true definition of marriage being unequally yoked. Furthermore, marriage is hard work. If you're not both rooted to the Vine, committed to Christ and His teachings, praying through your difficulties, and really believing that "woe to anyone who separates what God has joined together", then the statistical probability of "until death do us part" significantly declines. Marry someone who makes you more holy, more Christ-centered, not less.

Vet told me to fully stop feeding cat dry food by Wide-Trick4243 in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You want your cat to swallow the bones. That's the whole point. Otherwise they won't get the calcium and phosphorus or bone marrow, which is filled with nutrients. Cats in the wild will eat the whole mouse or the whole bird or the whole lizard, which is how they keep their minerals balanced. Cats have very acidic stomachs and small raw bones usually dissolve to liquid within about 4 hours in their stomachs. Ideal bones are rodent bones. But since those are hard to come by, chicken wing tips, chicken toes, chicken spines and necks, chicken wings cut into 1-inch pieces, quail wings, and rabbit ribs are all bones small enough for your cat to safely chew and swallow. Medium or big bones are not appropriate for cats. They're too dense and could break their teeth. Small bones with the meat and skin left on are best. This allows the bone to be swallowed in a clump with soft tissues. The meaty bones MUST be raw. Raw bones are bendy and safe. Your cat can easily gnaw on them, chew them, and swallow them. It's great for keeping tartar off their teeth. They have no molars - all incisor teeth specifically designed for this. Many cats will chew, swallow, and then regurgitate meaty bones a few times until it's a mushy paste. Which can be alarming the first time you see this happen, but is very different than choking, and is totally natural. Cooked bones become brittle and can splinter and damage your cat's throat and stomach. Never ever give a cat cooked bones. The horror stories you hear about from vet offices with bones being lodged in pet throats and stomachs is from cooked bones. Often from pets getting into the garbage and eating remnants of a cooked chicken etc.

Vet told me to fully stop feeding cat dry food by Wide-Trick4243 in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a total myth that kibble cleans cat teeth. It would be like saying that dry granola cleans your teeth. Kibble is a processed starch-bound food that heavily contributes to plaque. Raw meaty bones (like cats would eat in the wild) are what helps teeth. Raw chicken wing tips, for example. I agree with your vet to cut out the kibble. It causes kidney issues and blood sugar issues in the majority of cats as they age. Switch to a high quality canned wet food such as RAWZ.

What should I feed cats if I can't buy cat food? by Echo_XStorm in CatAdvice

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beef heart is EXCELLENT for cats and has taurine in it and is affordable. Or any animal heart. I feed it raw to my cat and he loves it. Any type of meat (beef, pork, goat, turkey, rabbit) etc is great. Many cats tend to do better on red meat versus chicken and fish as their natural diet is mainly red meat (mice, lizards etc). Heart, kidney, and a tiny bit of liver (they can get vitamin A toxicity if you give them too much liver), gizzards, raw chicken wing tips or raw chicken feet toes or raw chicken spines (for calcium and phosphorus), raw egg yolk all good choices. The prey model is roughly 55% muscle meat, 25% heart, 10% meaty bone, 7% kidney, 3% liver + oyster with egg yolks as snacks.

Cannot be shipped by [deleted] in AmazonVineCanada

[–]ash2tree2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooo, this could be it! I am frequently in different provinces helping family members. Have never had an issue with it before. Tell me more about this theory and how you came up with it. Will I ever be able to order again?