Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / Female cat peeing problem

Princess, there are several good suggestions above.  One thing I might add is the use of puppy training pads, or even better, the ones made for humans.  Someone (above) suggested covering the bed with plastic, this idea is kind of along the same lines... but these have plastic bottoms and absorbent tops.  I've found that the ones made for humans are bigger and more absorbent, less likely to leak.  Might be something you could try until you can address whatever is causing the issue.  The cause of the problem can also be explored through postings above.  Good luck! 

Topic: Fun / Cats in the Bathroom

I do that too (TYK)!!  I jump up on the shower bar and walk around, and I even lean over the edge into the shower and drink some water coming right out of the shower head!  Have you ever tasted warm water?  It's not bad, it helps me sleep at night!  Sometimes I lean out SO far, Mom's afraid I'll fall in, but I never have!  One time I fell out, but that was Mom's fault.  She opened the door and when I looked down and tried to put my paw on the door, there was nothing there!  I did a whole flip around the bar, like an Olympic gymnast!  I couldn't hold my position on top of the bar like they do though... but I DID stick the landing!  Mom thinks these antics are a sure $10,000 on AFV! 

Topic: Support And Suggestions / MCS running really slow

OK... that is not what I wrote... it just cut off the end of my message.  But good old Control C... I still have it!  This is what I actually wrote (if it'll post right).

So it didn't post right.  Third try.  I'm trying to add this to the end:

This (the message below) happens whenever I try to click on any other member's photo (ie, I can't go to anyone else's page), but somehow I got into the Forums with no trouble...

This may be unrelated to previous issues, as I'm getting this same message and having the same problems at MDS today. 

Today I'm having trouble getting anywhere, but it's not slow... I'm getting a big cat face in the middle of the screen with this message:

There was an error with your request.

Checked that you have entered the correct web address.

If the error continues, please send the URL/web address to support@mycatspace.com

Topic: Support And Suggestions / MCS running really slow

Today I'm having trouble getting anywhere, but it's not slow... I'm getting a big cat face in the middle of the screen with this message:

There was an error with your request.

Checked that you have entered the correct web address.

If the error continues, please send the URL/web address to support@mycatspace.com

This happens whenever I try to click on any other member's photo (ie, I can't go to anyone else's page), but somehow I got into the Forums with no trouble...

This may be unrelated to previous issues, as I'm getting this same message and having the same problems at MDS today. 

Topic: Support And Suggestions / MCS running really slow

That time after I hit Submit, it took a while, I got the proxy error, so I hit the back button, and see that my message has posted...

Topic: Support And Suggestions / MCS running really slow

See!  It just happened again.  I hit submit and I got the proxy error. 

I've had periodic trouble for a while... I'm generally only on between 7 and 3:30 weekdays.  One issue is simply trying to log in- I hit the log in button about 10 times and finally get the username and password boxes, then it's just really slow and will lock up and time out at any given point- often before I can even get to my profile.  It's the same thing that was happening at MDS.  It was periodic there also, until it got really bad, then it affected everyone.  But I was having smaller troubles like this long before it became a huge issue.  Occassionally I get the proxy error, occassionally I get a "page cannot be displayed" message, mostly it just quits and doesn't go anywhere...

Everytime I post a blog or message or whatever, I always try to remember to hit Control C before I hit Submit because the lock ups often happen when I'm trying to submit something, and then I lose it, so I copy it first because it's likely I'll have to try again.  This reply is the perfect example- good thing I Control C'ed it first, because this will be my 3rd attempt at submitting.

I'll try to pay closer attention to some of the messages I get and keep posting about it.

Topic: Support And Suggestions / MCS running really slow

Having all sorts of trouble navigating around... even worse than MDS.  Seems like this is a progressive thing- it keeps getting worse everyday.   Sorry pals... trying to get in touch, but it's driving me nuts.

Topic: Support And Suggestions / Help I have a stray pregnant cat!

What a familiar story!  Half of the Cat Heads came from exactly such a situation.  LYK (Little Yellow Kitty) was our outdoor mother.  She got pregnant but we were in the early stages of our relationship so I didn't quite know what to do for her.  Unfortunately things didn't go so great, she ended up giving birth unexpectedly on my front steps and abandoned them, for me to find.  One was still alive, so, heartbroken and bawling, I rushed it to the vet but it passed that afternoon.  What could I have done differently?  Well, I was "lucky" enough to find out, twice more.  What I SHOULD have done at that point was figured out a way to afford getting her fixed, but like you, I was broke, so I went through 2 more litters of kittens before I finally got her fixed.  Both times went MUCH smoother than the first, largely because I'd developed more of a relationship with her by then, and she trusted me.  She started coming in the house, much to the chagrin of my 2 other indoor cats, but I allowed it for her safety.  She started pretty much living in there, rarely going out, until the babies were born, then she went back to her old self, not even wanting to come in.  But both litters were born under my bed and I didn't have a clue what to do, but I didn't need to- she took care of everything.  She cleaned them and fed them and got angry if I tried to interfere- so all I did was make sure she had food and water available close by, kept the other cats shut out of the bedroom for a few days, the babies grew up, I was able to give most to good homes, but 2 still live with me.  I didn't want her to do it in my house either, for the same reasons as you (2 cats set in their ways) so I tried to provide her with a nice dog house with blankets and stuff on the patio... great, but also great for raccoons and other critters that love to prey on baby kittens.  Not so great.  There's no way you can ensure the safety of the kittens without giving them shelter.  I can't remember how long cats stay pregnant- google it- cuz that's how much time you have to develop a trusting relationship with her.  If there's a room in the house you can get her used to going in, where she's out of the other cats way... LYK didn't want this to be a permanent fix- she was just looking for safety and she found it in my bedroom, so she willingly came in and stayed in, so she'd be there when the time came, then she moved back out.  The cat will have her babies wherever she chooses- if she doesn't have access to your house when the time comes, she'll go hide somewhere that she thinks is safe, and you may or may not ever see the babies and will just be left to wonder.  I'm not an expert and didn't have a clue either, but that was my experience with a very similar situation.  I also don't know if she can have shots while pregnant.  But what I've learned in the end is that I do love those 2 extra Cat Heads that I have living in my house now, but I've spent WAY more money raising them and feeding them than I would have if I'd just gotten LYK fixed in the first place.  There are lots of different programs that offer good deals on feral cats- check with your local shelter or vet.  Anyhow, I could write about this forever but I'm in a hurry, but let me know if you have any questions... like I said, I don't honestly know anything, but I've been there and am happy to share my experience.   

Topic: Fun / LAZERS LAZERS LAZERS!

And be careful not to shine it in their eyes too!  My cats love em also. 

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Amy has a problem

Awww... poor thing!  Yeah, she needs to get spayed.  I THINK you're right that you can't do it while she's in heat, but call the vet, go ahead and make her an appointment.  Tell them she's in heat now, how long should you wait to get it done.  I think you can make this happen pretty quick... in the meantime, keep her inside away from the boys!  I felt SO bad when I let one of my females go into heat also... she seemed so uncomfortable... I don't know what they're actually going through, but seeing her like that was all I needed to get on the phone and make an appointment.  Hang in there... she'll be OK!  But this will continue, off and on, until she gets fixed. 

Topic: Breeds Club / Ragdolls

Bandit must be a one of a kind beauty!  I never even heard of a Ragdoll!  Well, not since the days of Raggedy Ann and Andy anyway...

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Kitty Dandruff/ fur issues

I ended up taking Louie to the vet for a lump on her tail, which ended up being a benign cyst, and we talked her dandruff and fur problems while we were there- he gave me some stuff called Omega 3, which is fish oil, to put in her food... I've only been using it a couple weeks, it's maybe a little better, but he said it would take some time to really make a difference... since the vet recommended it, it might be worth trying- you can find it either at the vet or some pet stores. 

Topic: Advice, Training And Tips / Moving, should I take them all?

Hi Pals!  Well, it's time I get this figured out.  Moving is right around the corner... I know that I intend to take them all, so now I have to figure out HOW.  I will have to live trap Grammy.  She will have to visit the vet and get spayed on the way... that'll be a complication.  Will have to figure that out.

But I'm looking for advice... I'm worried about LYK and Grammy and how to introduce them to this new home.  There's this little shelter thing outside that I'm going to cut a hole in so they can get in and out and have a safe place, it'll be a garage type of atmosphere.  When we first get there, should I shut them inside so they know it's home?  I want to do that, but Grammy has NEVER been inside any sort of structure- I'm afraid she'll freak out.  How can I introduce them and make them realize this is home now?  I'm afraid the first time I let them out, I'll never see them again.  I could put LYK in the house and she'd be OK for a bit, but I'm just REALLY at a loss as to what to do with Grammy.  I've moved my indoor cats plenty of times, but have never attempted an outside cat, much less a wild outside cat. 

I am also VERY concerned about wildlife in the area where we'll be moving.  There have been recent mountain lion sightings in the area, and reports of hearing their "screams" at night.  There are warnings out to keep your pets in the house.

Is this REALLY a good idea for me to take them to this type of environment??  What can I do to keep them safe, when they just really don't want to be inside cats??  Could they ever be happy as garage cats?  Would they be safe being outside if they have a structure they can hide in when needed? 

I'm so excited about moving, our dreams are coming true, but the idea of moving these 2 has been weighing so heavy on my mind right from the very start.  It is, without question, the biggest challenge I'm facing with this move.  I'm not sure what kind of advice anyone could even offer that would make me feel better... so many things can go wrong... but if you've ever moved a strictly outside cat, I would love to hear about it. 

Topic: General / anyone else celebrate theyre cats birhtday?

Absolutely!  Your human baby might not remember their first birthday party, but do you celebrate anyway?  Sure!  My cats get a treat of wet food, sometimes even with a candle in it!  Granted, they won't blow it out, but they sure appreciate the gesture and know you're doing something nice for them!  It's fun for you too, and a great chance to bond with your pet!

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Louie's Lump- I'm WORRIED

So we went to the vet, and it was mostly good news!  He said that the lump is a benign cyst (sigh of relief!).  It has the potential to "fester" (sorry- I think that's a gross word!) and ooze and possibly cause an infection, but otherwise, it's not anything to worry about- keep an eye on it, and keep it clean if it starts to seem like it will open up.  The only way to get rid of it would be to operate, but he didn't think it was worth it to put her through sedation for just that, but if she was ever being sedated for another reason, it should be removed at the same time.  He was not in the least concerned that it could be cancer. 

So he went on and found a reason to sedate her!  He took a look at her back teeth, they were kinda brown and she had a pink line above them where they meet her gums.  He said they use a scale of 1 to 5 to measure how bad of a situation a pet's dental issues are, 1 meaning keep up the brushing, 5 meaning it's critical to get a professional cleaning.  He put her at a 3.5 to 4.  She is almost 11 years old and I've never brushed her teeth.  Apparently this type of problem can lead to kidney or heart issues later in life- caused by an infection- I can't regurgitate the word the vet used- but some sort of infection that can get into the body resulting from tooth decay and lead to bigger health problems.  So he recommended a professional cleaning, and if we do it, we'll get the cyst removed at the same time.  I walked out with an estimate for $500 for this work, and am undecided on when/if this will happen.  I'm sure I WANT to have it done, but that's a lot of money!  If you could share any experience you have along these lines, I would appreciate it... talk me into it, or tell me it's OK to hold off for a while... ???  Most of the cost is the sedation.  The cyst removal was line itemed for $58, and the cleaning was about that also. 

FYI- he said that generally pets under 3-4 years old don't typically face such dental problems.  Getting into the 5-7 range, you should be keeping a close eye on it.  Older than that, you definitely need to be paying attention.  Young or old, he recommended daily or weekly brushing (whatever you can do- anything is better than nothing!).  Apparently there are several different ways to do this, in his experience, the easiest is some sort of gauze pad with a pet dental cleaner on it that you just fold over your finger, and let the cat bite you.  Just kidding- the cat's not supposed to bite- but this sounds challenging to me- but is important.  I'm going to give it a shot with the younger Cat Heads.  

Sorry for rambling, but while we were there, we also discussed her dandruff and clumping issues.  He DID relate it back to her diet, which really surprised me, since this has only been happening for the past couple years and I've always fed her the same thing.  But great news!  I don't have to go spending a hundred bucks on a bag of food, instead, he gave me a supplement called Omega 3.  It's supposed to be good for their skin and coat, has essential oils, and "good" fat- the omega 3 or whatever it is you get out of salmon that's supposed to be so good for you.  It comes in a capsule that you poke a hole in, then empty the contents (it's oily) onto the food.  It's good for all of them, including the dog.  10 bucks for a bottle of 60 capsules... not so bad!  He also said to let her eat all the grass she wants, even though she ends up puking it up.  It's her desire to get fiber.  He didn't give me any supplements for this, but they do exist, but he said I could make up some tasty oats or something and add it to her food, then maybe she won't so strongly crave grass. 

So, in general, all is well with my little Missy Lu-Ass!!  Woo hoo!!

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Louie's Lump- I'm WORRIED

Quick update: I called the vet and they are getting her in this afternoon.  I also did some research and found that this can be anything from a cyst or swollen gland to a cancerous tumor.  Please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for my LuAss (that's her nickname). 

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Louie's Lump- I'm WORRIED

Hi pals.  I’m very worried about Louie.  She has a big lump on her tail, and I don’t know what it is!  Of course I automatically think the worst.  It’s about marble sized, and it’s hard.  It’s very close to her rear end, but it’s actually in her tail.  I hold her every single day and can’t believe I never noticed it, but her Dad said that he noticed it at least a month ago.  Now that I’ve noticed it, it seems huge and I feel awful about not noticing it.  It doesn’t seem to hurt her if I touch it, and her behavior seems to be normal.

I did recently post in the Forums about some concerns I have with her- she has dandruff and has been developing clumps in her fur.  I had kind of decided this was related to allergies of some sort.  I don’t know if there’s any possibility these issues are related to the lump, but in case there is, I wanted to note it.

Have you ever seen cats with lumps like this?  Are they generally benign tumors?  I’ve seen this in dogs, but not so familiar with it in cats.  Louie is almost 11 years old.  She’s been my baby forever and she’s never had any real health concerns, so this has me freaked out.  I am calling the vet as soon as they open, but until I can get her in, I was hoping maybe some of you can share what you might know.  Thanks!

(Forgive my cross post- I put this in a blog too, hoping I might get more answers)

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Kitty Dandruff/ fur issues

Carmen- would certainly be interested to hear what you're using! 

Tlambs- love the fish oil idea- I might give that a try before switching foods. 

My problem is that I'm feeding SIX cats, and they're all picky in their own way.  I actually have been switching their food back and forth between three types of Purina- the regular old Cat Chow, the indoor formula, and a "healthy" formula.  I know, I know... Purina... cheap and full of all the bad stuff, but I've tried other stuff and the little dudes just really seem to like it best!  Same thing with our dog- we buy a $50 bag of food and he won't touch it, but he scarfs down Purina Beneful.  Anyway, Louie is a strictly indoor cat.  I let her play on the back patio now and then, which she can't escape, but that's it.  Don't know if this means anything to anyone, but she's the reason I occassionally buy the indoor formula- she is OBSESSED with eating green.  That's why I let her on the patio- she has a little swimming pool full of grass that she likes to eat.  She also tries REALLY hard to escape everytime I open the door, and she bee-lines for a bite of grass.  I don't know what that means??  Why does she want grass so badly?

Tina- I do actually use low grade gas in my car!  LOL.  Back in Iowa I used to use the mid-grade because it had ethanol and was cheaper than the low grade, but here in California where gas is now over $4.00, it's low grade all the way!  But maybe that tells you something about me... I'm economical... Purina, low grade gas... I'm not broke, but there's no money tree in my back yard... I've tried some expensive stuff, but like I said, they just don't seem to like it as well, so it's really  hard for me to dish out that kind of money for something they don't even want... it's a tough balance I guess...

Thanks very much for all your advice... I'm learning a lot... please keep it coming if you have anything to add!  Thanks!

Julie

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Kitty Dandruff/ fur issues

Thanks Frito!  Boy, I hate to think of what an effort it would take to try to bathe Louie!  She's got a bit of an attitude as it is!  Probably would be a good idea to look into it though... I'm glad to know she's not alone!  Also glad to know it's probably not because she's getting old... I hate to think of her as old because she's my baby!  But allergies... that would be answer I can handle.  And it wouldn't surprise me out of Louie- she often seems like she's just annoyed- and allergies certainly are annoying.  It kinda bothers her when you touch her clumps or her back in the area of her tail, and she practically freaks out when I brush her- as if you're finally scratching that itch that's been bugging her her entire life.  Think how it would feel to live with a constant case of poison ivy that you can't scratch- it'd be miserable!  Gee, when I think about it, it's no wonder she has an attitude!  I almost can't tell if she loves being brushed or hates it, but I think she loves it.  Anyhow, you do have me thinking along the lines of allergies... its probably worth a visit to the vet, poor thing... after all this time I'm just now putting 2 and 2 together that she really is probably very annoyed!  And by more than just the presence of all the other cats in the house! 

Topic: Health, Diet And Vets / Kitty Dandruff/ fur issues

Louie has dandruff.  She's had it pretty much forever, but it seems to be worse lately.  She also has been developing clumps in her fur for the past year or so.  She seems to be kind of annoyed by them.  She's 11 years old.  Does anyone know of any correlation between aging and fur issues?  I generally just cut them out, but she hates that.

Any other ideas as to why she might be developing some fur issues?  She has short hair, but it's really thick.  When I brush her I can easily get several brush-fulls of hair out of her.  The clumping may just be a result of the thick hair, maybe she's getting lazy and not grooming herself like she used to? 

The dandruff may be more of a skin problem.  Any recommendations on how to deal with it?  The only allergy I know of in her is fleas, so I keep up with Advantage, no other known allergies.  I don't think fleas are her issue now- when that was the problem, she had sores on her back and lots of itching (never even had to give her Advantage till we moved to CA and it suddenly became a problem for her).  Know of any other potential causes for dandruff?

Thanks!

Topic: Support And Suggestions / kitty Kash

Aww... come on... have fun with it and leave it at that.  Not understanding what it's about and asking questions is one thing, but this is just complaining.... this site is intended for people that want to enjoy it.

Topic: Support And Suggestions / kitty cash

Well, I guess that's kind of what the Forums are for... a lot of us that spend WAY too much time playing on these sites know what's up and it's been a topic of discussion for a while, but for those that are new and just learning, you kind of have to just jump into the discussion or read some of the info in the forums to catch up.  As far as I know, nobody makes any money doing anything related to this site, so I never considered the possibility that there might be a monetary value on the gifts... it's just a fun "virtual" thing to share with "virtual" friends.  And whenever someone doesn't understand what's up or has questions, that's why the Forums exist- ask your questions, get your answers, and hopefully we all land on the same page!  Now that you've asked, someone has answered, therefore it IS written somewhere that they are virtual gifts, you just have to weed through some Forum discussions to figure that out.  If you would like to make a suggestion with regard to how these gifts are handled, Robert is always a good listener and he tries really hard to make this fun for everyone;  he even started a Forum discussion asking members to give him feedback and suggestions.  I take it for granted I guess... the gifts make sense to me because I've known about this little program from the start, but if it doesn't make sense or isn't clear to new users, I'm sure Robert would listen to suggestions regarding how to make it easier. 

Topic: General / kitty cash

Hey Jungle Cats!  If you think you have a Catspace addiction, you should see some of the stuff that goes on at Dogspace!!  There are gifts flying around all over the place!  It's a way to show your friends you appreciate them- our dog pal Olie has a few gifts, but some of the dogs over there have TONS of gifts!  And it's unreal how much time people spend on these sites- it's just so much fun!  Anyhow, TGEES, if you click on your kitty cash symbol at the top, you'll see where you have the option to buy gifts for your friends and leave a note with it.  Your friends will get online and see that you left them a present!  You'll get presents the same way- sometimes you get an automatic gift, like Olie got one from Robert for having more than 50 friends, but mostly, you'll just notice that it showed up and you can put your mouse over it to see who sent it!  It's not intended to be marketing or advertising or anything, it's just a fun thing to share between friends.

Topic: Support And Suggestions / 1st time cat owner

Glad you're headed to the vet... I've never heard of a cat with exceptionally bad breath!  I'd be interested to hear what's up if you find anything out!  

Topic: General / I GOT THE MUSIC WORKING!!!

I've avoided putting music on my page because of a slow internet connection so I don't really know anything about it, but this has been a big topic over on MyDogSpace.  If you haven't figured it out yet, you can probably go into the Forums over there and find some good advice.  I don't think you have to be a member to read the Forums.