The "What's on your mind?" Thread -2017

[arouetta]

Reciprocating saw is a Saws-all here. Those things are handy BUT they vibrate A TON so if you have elbow/wrist problems they won't make it easy on your arms-I have tendonitis in my rt elbow and those darn things make it act up..jigsaw is much smoother on your joints. I vote try it!

I remember Sawzall being a brand name.  Sorta like Tylenol and acetaminophen.

 

[arouetta]

 
Thanks Margret for the responses.  I was just venting some.  As the thread asked, that's what was on my mind...specifically the flea issue and "rabbit hole" treatments and remedies.  I neglected to mention that he stayed a night at the vet, in order to get an ultrasound first thing the following morning...mind you..his supposed guardian left him there without giving him the collar to wear.  I guess I was hoping for some nugget of wisdom, short'n sweet for a proven way of dealing with these horrible creatures, other than the norm of pesticides and such.  I've read thru the forums and the web today until I'm blue in the face (ie wanting to vegetate out).  He previously was an outdoor cat being neglected (having to rely on a sympathetic neighbor for food) and on the verge of abandonment.  Since he as been with me he has been an indoor cat, with the exception of three or so Houdini escape acts.  As one vet instructor states, even an hour outdoors makes any cat an outdoor cat.  Anyway, the bath moment is behind us now (a story in itself).  Thanks for the reminder on the DE.  I have been aware of it already...it's the silica though edible grade, still bothers me.  I need to do more research on it.  

Do you have carpeting?  I've found that with flea infestations, it doesn't matter how I treat the cats unless I treat the carpeting too.

 

[KatKnapper]

 
I use Revolution on my cats,  in the summer only on  two different occasions. They are indoor only so the only fleas that come in here I bring in on my pants and socks. Revolution will even get rid  of an infestation within a few days. If the cat goes outside it is advisable to use Revolution on a monthly basis.

I guess you could say I'm a "recovering" flea carrier.  Yes..that Revolution has been on my mind lately.  I will be asking his Vet about it specifically on my cat's upcoming visit in a few days.  Thanks for the tip.

 

[arouetta]

I wasn't afraid of the cats. Well, maybe the second one. (That was insane, and the stepmonster encouraged him.) For the third incident that wasn't even the first cat I pet. And the number must have come up, but I was mostly asleep and didn't open my eyes to look while I answered it, so--no idea.

Some cats are just mean.  It's like a hamster I had that bit just because a body part was presented and the exotic vet I took him to said that he suspected my hamster had a neurological condition making him bite like he did.

I knew a woman that swore up and down that her cat was defensive because the previous owners had abused it by trying to drown it.  However when pressed on the details, she had no clue who the previous owners were and no reliable information about them.  That cat was mean.  You walk by and despite having claws, you'd end up with her teeth in your rear.  Yeah, she liked to bite even though she wasn't declawed.  She would jump on tables, randomly pick a person and stare them down and the slightest twitch by the terrified person launched an attack that resulted in blood, primarily with teeth.  I'm not sure the cat was nearly killed in a horrible way as a kitten and even if she had been, she had been with that woman for years.  You'd think the trauma would have been distant enough for her to not attack anything moving all the time.

So yeah, you easily could have just had a streak of bad luck with mean cats.

As far as the number, landlines that have caller ID also have a log and all cell phones have a log.  Cycle through the previous calls and see what number you don't recognize.

 

[arouetta]

I lost it at work today, really bad.

The stupid NP screwed up my medicine and made me worse.  That's three different ones that are screwed up.  And today my husband told me that #4 is in bad failure too and while I disagree, I also know that I can trust his judgment if my perception of reality isn't true reality.  So I'll mention it when I see the new doctor.  In three weeks.  And allow for a few weeks for any adjustments to take effect.  So if the new doctor gets it right the first time (which I'm not holding my breath) I'll see an improvement in May, maybe.

And yeah, I lost it bad.  And I have to get it together by 2:30 tomorrow so I can walk back in cheerful and enthusiastic.  I don't know how the heck I'm going to manage that.

I wish I had bubble bath.  Maybe I'll chill in front of a science documentary or history documentary before work.

 

[Margret]

 
Thanks Margret for the responses.  I was just venting some.  As the thread asked, that's what was on my mind...specifically the flea issue and "rabbit hole" treatments and remedies.  I neglected to mention that he stayed a night at the vet, in order to get an ultrasound first thing the following morning...mind you..his supposed guardian left him there without giving him the collar to wear.  I guess I was hoping for some nugget of wisdom, short'n sweet for a proven way of dealing with these horrible creatures, other than the norm of pesticides and such.  I've read thru the forums and the web today until I'm blue in the face (ie wanting to vegetate out).  He previously was an outdoor cat being neglected (having to rely on a sympathetic neighbor for food) and on the verge of abandonment.  Since he as been with me he has been an indoor cat, with the exception of three or so Houdini escape acts.  As one vet instructor states, even an hour outdoors makes any cat an outdoor cat.  Anyway, the bath moment is behind us now (a story in itself).  Thanks for the reminder on the DE.  I have been aware of it already...it's the silica though edible grade, still bothers me.  I need to do more research on it.  

You're welcome.

While diatomaceous earth is high in silica, silica isn't necessarily DE.  I suggest that you start with this article for research on it: https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/blog/what-is-diatomaceous-earth/.  It not only explains what it is, but also what makes the difference between food grade and other grades, and why people (or cats) might actually want to eat the stuff.  Now, this is a commercial website, a place that sells DE, so of course they're singing the praises of their brand.  I have no information to refute those praises, but you can probably get good, food grade DE elsewhere at a better price.  And I should mention that when using it to get rid of fleas you aren't feeding it to the cat, you're putting some in his fur, and probably brushing any excess out immediately.  The only reason to make it food grade is because the cat will ingest some of it while grooming.  But the cat isn't getting all that much, and it's a good deal safer than poisons.

I know what you mean about escapes -- Jasmine thinks of herself as an escape artist.  At this time of year she makes it as far as the front porch and says "Ooh, ich!  Cold!" and heads right back inside, but she still tries.  When the weather is good she gets frequent walks on a leash; she got a new harness for Christmas.  And when we take "walks" she wants to go as far as the back yard and sniff every blade of grass.  If we go to the front yard she tries to get away from any neighbors who want to admire her.  She may be a daring escape artist, but when it comes to bold explorer she falls a bit short.

Margret

 

[foxxycat]

well you can try it or not. Just don't make it dusty in the air. I just dipped my hands into the bag then run it against their arm pits/legs/base of tail where fleas hang out. I also use a flea comb and a cup of hot water with a drop of dish detergent Dawn. I dip the comb in there then comb the cat and rinse and repeat. the fleas fall off the comb into the water.  I know it's time consuming but these two methods work well as well as using Revolution. If you use revolution wait 2 days after the bath so that their oils on their skin comes back otherwise you are wasting money. Don't bath the cat afterwards either unless they have a reaction. Most cats jump out of your arms the second it drops on them due to the alcohol smell. I plan out a play session right after so they don't lick the spot.

 

[tallyollyopia]

 
No, cottonwood was just what was available.  I think I'll do that.  Considering that they caused the problem, they should be amenable to fixing it, for a small fee.  I'll have to get the number from Roger.  Thank you for the suggestion.

Margret

Hope it helps.

 
Some cats are just mean.  It's like a hamster I had that bit just because a body part was presented and the exotic vet I took him to said that he suspected my hamster had a neurological condition making him bite like he did.

I knew a woman that swore up and down that her cat was defensive because the previous owners had abused it by trying to drown it.  However when pressed on the details, she had no clue who the previous owners were and no reliable information about them.  That cat was mean.  You walk by and despite having claws, you'd end up with her teeth in your rear.  Yeah, she liked to bite even though she wasn't declawed.  She would jump on tables, randomly pick a person and stare them down and the slightest twitch by the terrified person launched an attack that resulted in blood, primarily with teeth.  I'm not sure the cat was nearly killed in a horrible way as a kitten and even if she had been, she had been with that woman for years.  You'd think the trauma would have been distant enough for her to not attack anything moving all the time.

So yeah, you easily could have just had a streak of bad luck with mean cats.

As far as the number, landlines that have caller ID also have a log and all cell phones have a log.  Cycle through the previous calls and see what number you don't recognize.

Okay, break down time. I had a problem a couple of years ago when someone got hold of my cell number (probably from a job application or a resume) and gave it to his ex-girlfriends. For months  I was getting calls from women who thought I was taking their man (and didn't know about each other). My voicemail was flooded (and I learned some new vocabulary). Sometimes I still get calls from his exes (although most of them have caught on to the scheme), so just looking for an unknown number won't work. 

I'm thinking you're right about the streak of bad luck vicious cats, and that's what I thought at the time. I thought that no matter how much I wanted a cat I just wasn't meant to have one. (Imagine my surprise when Rose came into our lives.)

 
I lost it at work today, really bad.

The stupid NP screwed up my medicine and made me worse.  That's three different ones that are screwed up.  And today my husband told me that #4 is in bad failure too and while I disagree, I also know that I can trust his judgment if my perception of reality isn't true reality.  So I'll mention it when I see the new doctor.  In three weeks.  And allow for a few weeks for any adjustments to take effect.  So if the new doctor gets it right the first time (which I'm not holding my breath) I'll see an improvement in May, maybe.

And yeah, I lost it bad.  And I have to get it together by 2:30 tomorrow so I can walk back in cheerful and enthusiastic.  I don't know how the heck I'm going to manage that.

I wish I had bubble bath.  Maybe I'll chill in front of a science documentary or history documentary before work.

 I hope it works for you.

 

[KatKnapper]

 
Do you have carpeting?  I've found that with flea infestations, it doesn't matter how I treat the cats unless I treat the carpeting too.

Yes.. carpeting, cat bedding, cat perches, my computer chair, by bedroom.. my unfolded laundry, his stuff toys.  Yes, I am familiar with how they can survive and go dormant (like a shell or cocoon) into carpeting and such, waiting for the opportune time to spring back to life.  I have no indications of fleas in my carpeting, on myself (my skin is very sensitive to insect bites) or my bed where my beauty will occasionally sleep.  Still, have taken precautions to wash everything feasible and vacuum often.  I will be placing a flea trap to check for any near where my baby frequents and sleeps to see if they have set up camp inside my home.  I realize that it is near impossible to eradicate or prevent them from getting into my home, as they could be attaching themselves to my clothing twice a day when I feed a TNR cat (along with a stalker kitten) who resides outdoors.  My best hope is to safely make my cat a hostile environment for them, as it is his allergic reaction to their bites that concern me the most, plus the fact they could also be carriers of intestinal parasites.

 

[foxxycat]

Yay 10 more minutes and I am FREE until tomorrow...going to get in my truck and forget this place I work at. I have started emptying out my locker incase we come in the following day and doors are padlocked. I doubt that will happen BUT that would suck if I left my stuff I need here so I don't loose it. Gonna enjoy this early evening-try to go to the gym and put in a decent effort. Then grocery store=more veggies and meat. and less junk. Honeybee slept on my chest all night..woke up warm with her stretched out on top of me. She was trying to get me to let her out last night when I got home after 8. She wanted to prowl around in the dark! NOPE! NOPE! hahaha..looking into getting a cat carriage to walk her around the hills and farms. She likes to look around.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

 
Been reading on how to treat my cat for a minor flea infestation or a gang of persistent fleas.  He's asleep so I can't vent to him right now.  So it's your lucky moment.  Looking at this thread since the start of the year, you folks got lots to say, about whatever one wants to say.  You'll have to forgive me for at times my southern genes tend to surface after decades away.  I have exhausted all the brain power and attention that I can muster today, in finding a good method do deal with my cat's apparent flea reinfestation that is not toxic or uses a pesticide.  He is once again showing signs of flea bite skin allergy (scabs and lesions) starting at the base of his tail.  The wearing of a Seresto Cat collar seemed to be working better than a circus snake charmer.  Because of a chronic vomiting problem he has, that I fear began shortly after I removed him from his outdoor life, I became paranoid of any and everything I have done thus far in providing a healthy well-balanced life for him.  I then suspected the collar, and upon reading up on its ingredients I noted that they all use small amounts of pesticides.  Even the flea shampoo I pulled out to use today, I discovered also has pesticides.

After all, he was a "free" cat.  I fed and befriended him.  I felt pity and took him into my home out of the rain.  Took him to get a check-up, shots and a flea fix a couple days later.  At the present, I have spent over $1600 in a span of just four months for this "free" cat.  Vet wants to do a biopsy for nearly $2000 for the vomiting.  I thought, 0.o  yeah sure.  He means the world to me.  All that I have done, I would do it all over again double, without so much as a flinch.

So you see, this flea thing, the pesticides, and all the useless misinformation on the web have me wanting to "veg out" at the moment.  Some say you can drown fleas.  Yet some science buff posted a study, showing for sure, you can if you submerge them for like 24 hours.  Best I can churn from all the web reading is that the borax in common dish detergent affects a flea's body in a bad way leading to its death.  A vet who has seen the harmful effects of pesticide-based flea shampoos recommended avoiding them altogether and using a soothing oatmeal shampoo bath followed up 24 hours later with a vet prescribed effective topical treatment.

I can see and feel that my little baby is discomforted by these ever increasing scabs and lesions.  He has the beautiful fur coat of a "Wegie or Skogkatt."  It is like running your fingers through a three-inch thick luxurious mink coat...then you feel the scabs and lesions. EWWW!!  (as he turns and looks at you)  "Why are you hurting me?? Don't touch them, please!"

I'm done reading flea stuff for a while.  Far too much other cat well-being stuff that I need to read and digest.  Done venting too. Thank you for being here, as I'm sure you are forever vigilant and ready to give a listening ear, an open heart'n mind, or a nugget of well-earned wisdom.  

Dawn Original works well as a flea shampoo, IF you can bathe your cat.  Mine tends to send me to the ER when I try.  It's demoralizing to hear the nurse say, "Tried to give the cat a bath again, did you?"  This is the thread that I started after a horrible infestation:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/310291/aaaargggggggggggg-its-fleas

I got some good information from our members!  Best of luck getting rid of the little heathens.

 

[Alicia88]

Wow; you guys have gotten on the wrong end of some less than friendly cats.  I've never met a cat who didn't like me.  Some have taken some time to warm up to me, but we've always ended up friends.  I think the dog bite when I was a kid is the main reason I'm not a huge fan of small dogs.  Still, I deserved it.  I was 4 and dumb.  He was eating my cat's food and I told him "no" and he didn't listen so I hit him with a stick.  He was just defending himself.  Either way, I'm more of a cat person.  I don't dislike dogs, but they require so much more work - and training!  I'm no good at training dogs.  Plus, no matter how frequently they're bathed, they still have that dog smell.  And I have a very sensitive nose.

I've been worried about how Murphy will get along without me when I fly to Texas next week.  He snuggles me, not John.  But I think my worries are invalid.

Murphy and John.jpg

• Alicia88
• Feb 26, 2017

I picked up an extra shift today.  If I can't pick anything up Monday or Tuesday, this is my last day of work before my trip.

I completely understand the flea battle.  I've noticed Mickey scratching a bit again so I think the fight may be starting back up.  They never go outside so the fleas must come in on our clothes or something.  Or the neighbor's dog brings them into the building after her potty breaks and they find their way to my kitties.

 

[KatKnapper]

 

[arouetta]

I don't know if this will help any, but I put my hand on the scruff area but not actually scruff them, I gently but firmly push down.  That actually gives my cats an illusion of free movement which seems to help keep them vaguely calm.  Yet having my hand there also enables me to keep control of them as they move about and turn circles and stuff.  I really only have to actually grab them when they get their claws on the edge of whatever surface I'm bathing them on as they will pull as hard as they can to get free once they feel they have their claws dug in.  I have also found that while having my showerhead on a hose is nice for me, I actually keep better control by bathing them in the kitchen sink.  I don't fill it with water, I simply leave the faucet running during the entire bath.  If your sink has a sprayer, it works just as well as the showerhead on a hose for rinsing.  Otherwise a big drinking glass will work.  My cats range from 12 lbs skin and bones to 15 lbs of solid muscle so my advice isn't geared towards teeny little kitties.

If you do use the kitchen sink, don't have ANYTHING on the counter.  I made the mistake of thinking the toaster 3 feet away was too far to worry about.  That's how Midway tried to assassinate me during the bath, he pulled it in.

 

[raina21]

I'm sitting on the couch watching TV and Tesla is curled up on my lap- giving himself a bath haha.

Edit: he jumped off my lap and now he's burrowed under my blanket, curled around my feet [emoji]128568[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji]. Boy have I missed being home and being able to relax with my fur babies. [emoji]128513[/emoji] I've been working so much lately I never have time to just relax anymore.

 

[tallyollyopia]

Oh man. I hope it all helps.

I'm sitting on the couch watching TV and Tesla is curled up on my lap- giving himself a bath haha.

Edit: he jumped off my lap and now he's burrowed under my blanket, curled around my feet [emoji]128568[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji]. Boy have I missed being home and being able to relax with my fur babies. [emoji]128513[/emoji] I've been working so much lately I never have time to just relax anymore.

Congrats on being home again! 

 

[foxxycat]

I don't know if this will help any, but I put my hand on the scruff area but not actually scruff them, I gently but firmly push down.  That actually gives my cats an illusion of free movement which seems to help keep them vaguely calm.  Yet having my hand there also enables me to keep control of them as they move about and turn circles and stuff.  I really only have to actually grab them when they get their claws on the edge of whatever surface I'm bathing them on as they will pull as hard as they can to get free once they feel they have their claws dug in.  I have also found that while having my showerhead on a hose is nice for me, I actually keep better control by bathing them in the kitchen sink.  I don't fill it with water, I simply leave the faucet running during the entire bath.  If your sink has a sprayer, it works just as well as the showerhead on a hose for rinsing.  Otherwise a big drinking glass will work.  My cats range from 12 lbs skin and bones to 15 lbs of solid muscle so my advice isn't geared towards teeny little kitties.

If you do use the kitchen sink, don't have ANYTHING on the counter.  I made the mistake of thinking the toaster 3 feet away was too far to worry about.  That's how Midway tried to assassinate me during the bath, he pulled it in.

If you have an old bath matt-put that in the kitchen sink-gives them something to hang on to. and yes nothing on the counter. Honeybee doesn't like baths but she puts up with it. The trick is to get the cat used to the faucet running. Everyday have it on and pick them up and carry them in the room with the water running. Get them used to those noises. Also when using running water-make the water hit the back of your hand and not their fur-they don't understand that we don't mean them harm.

Honeybee didn't mind the bath if I used the bathmat in the sink-I lay it across the middle section=I have a double sink. And she actually didn't mind the water out of the faucet-she liked it! She just didn't like the sound it makes. She meows a lot and she also only has about 10 min window where she puts up with it then tries like heck to get out. I also placed my hand in front of her chest-that seemed to hold her in. But either way works. The fleas hate soap. You will see those buggers crawl onto their head=get yourself a flea comb nearby and try to comb them out and have glass of soapy water to dunk the flea comb in. And make sure you put the heat up in the room. They get cold easily. Lots of towels. Nothing on the counters. Wear an old winter jean jacket=it's claw proof.

Floey was only able to bath if I used bowls of water in the tub. I couldn't turn the faucet on. For her I used old nitted gloves=put the gloves in the water-then pet the cat with the damp mittens/gloves=this also gets them used to being wet. Floey was a good girl. We had a 10 minute window=I would use the wet gloves-get her good and soaked=lather up then use a cup and dip it ito the big bowls of warm water and rinse. I had at the time about 3 big plastic bowls that were like 3 or 4 quart sized. I had just enough water for her. She was actually quite well behaved. I held her by the front of her as she kept trying to climb out of the tub. I shut the bathroom door and run the heat (forced hot air-nice and toasty) or if it's summer time don't run the ac. I only had to bath her a few times the many years I had her. She hated brushings and I would just line the bathroom floor with towels and let her groom herself dry and have the heat vents aimed at her to blow dry her. She didn't tolerate the blow dryer at all.

 

[foxden]

Margret
Re:cat tree
I've used each of the types of saws you've discussed. A jigsaw (saber-saw) cannot cut past the blade depth. The tip is not designed to "plunge" into deeper wood. A jigsaw is very useful to cut curved lines in lumber that is thinner than the cut depth. You can also use a jigsaw to cut an "inside" hole in a piece of flat board (like a window) if you drill a hole first to insert the saw blade.
A circular saw can be dangerous, but you can use it to cut wood that is deeper than the blade. There is a base plate with a cutout for the blade. Keeping the base plate flat on the wood helps to keep the cut straight. If the wood is thicker than the blade depth, you turn the wood and cut from the other side. If the wood is more than 4-5" thick, you would need to cut off the center part with some type of hand saw. If the wood is thicker than the saw cut, you need to ensure the wood does not "bind" or pinch the blade, as this will cause kickback,or could break the blade and result in an extremely dangerous situation
A reciprocating saw has several types and sizes of blades available. We use our recip. saw to cut up branches that fall from our trees frequently. This saw works best if the blade is longer than the thickness of the wood you are cutting. The recip saw can "buck" around in your hands, and takes a bit of practice. We cut branches either by going straight through smaller branches, but we tend to cut larger branches by cutting from several directions. You can flip the wood around,or hold the saw to cut the backside of the branch.

I believe you will want to be cutting flat pieces of wood like plywood along with the salvaged branches. The jigsaw or the circular saw will give nice cuts in plywood or particle board, but a recip saw is harder to control and is less likely to provide clean cuts in flat stock. There are fine-cut blades available, but this saw does jump in your hands, and I think it would be difficult to cut a clean, straight line.

You might want to buy a hand saw to cut your branch, like a hacksaw or rip saw (ask at the hardware store), and get a jigsaw or circular saw to cut the flat stock (shelves and platforms) for your cat tree.

You need to avoid "binding" the blade in any case. At best, the saw motor could overheat, and at worst, the blade could break and become a projectile.
You always want to wear safety glasses and ear plugs while running power tools. Safety glasses are a must for any wood cutting activity

Hope this helps.

 

[arouetta]

@Margret
Re:cat tree
I've used each of the types of saws you've discussed. A jigsaw (saber-saw) cannot cut past the blade depth. The tip is not designed to "plunge" into deeper wood. A jigsaw is very useful to cut curved lines in lumber that is thinner than the cut depth. You can also use a jigsaw to cut an "inside" hole in a piece of flat board (like a window) if you drill a hole first to insert the saw blade.
A circular saw can be dangerous, but you can use it to cut wood that is deeper than the blade. There is a base plate with a cutout for the blade. Keeping the base plate flat on the wood helps to keep the cut straight. If the wood is thicker than the blade depth, you turn the wood and cut from the other side. If the wood is more than 4-5" thick, you would need to cut off the center part with some type of hand saw. If the wood is thicker than the saw cut, you need to ensure the wood does not "bind" or pinch the blade, as this will cause kickback,or could break the blade and result in an extremely dangerous situation
A reciprocating saw has several types and sizes of blades available. We use our recip. saw to cut up branches that fall from our trees frequently. This saw works best if the blade is longer than the thickness of the wood you are cutting. The recip saw can "buck" around in your hands, and takes a bit of practice. We cut branches either by going straight through smaller branches, but we tend to cut larger branches by cutting from several directions. You can flip the wood around,or hold the saw to cut the backside of the branch.

I believe you will want to be cutting flat pieces of wood like plywood along with the salvaged branches. The jigsaw or the circular saw will give nice cuts in plywood or particle board, but a recip saw is harder to control and is less likely to provide clean cuts in flat stock. There are fine-cut blades available, but this saw does jump in your hands, and I think it would be difficult to cut a clean, straight line.

You might want to buy a hand saw to cut your branch, like a hacksaw or rip saw (ask at the hardware store), and get a jigsaw or circular saw to cut the flat stock (shelves and platforms) for your cat tree.

You need to avoid "binding" the blade in any case. At best, the saw motor could overheat, and at worst, the blade could break and become a projectile.
You always want to wear safety glasses and ear plugs while running power tools. Safety glasses are a must for any wood cutting activity

Hope this helps.

Someone said that tools could be rented.  Another possibility that would be safer than a circular saw would be a mitre saw.

 

[Margret]

@Margret
Re:cat tree
I've used each of the types of saws you've discussed. A jigsaw (saber-saw) cannot cut past the blade depth. The tip is not designed to "plunge" into deeper wood. A jigsaw is very useful to cut curved lines in lumber that is thinner than the cut depth. You can also use a jigsaw to cut an "inside" hole in a piece of flat board (like a window) if you drill a hole first to insert the saw blade.
A circular saw can be dangerous, but you can use it to cut wood that is deeper than the blade. There is a base plate with a cutout for the blade. Keeping the base plate flat on the wood helps to keep the cut straight. If the wood is thicker than the blade depth, you turn the wood and cut from the other side. If the wood is more than 4-5" thick, you would need to cut off the center part with some type of hand saw. If the wood is thicker than the saw cut, you need to ensure the wood does not "bind" or pinch the blade, as this will cause kickback,or could break the blade and result in an extremely dangerous situation
A reciprocating saw has several types and sizes of blades available. We use our recip. saw to cut up branches that fall from our trees frequently. This saw works best if the blade is longer than the thickness of the wood you are cutting. The recip saw can "buck" around in your hands, and takes a bit of practice. We cut branches either by going straight through smaller branches, but we tend to cut larger branches by cutting from several directions. You can flip the wood around,or hold the saw to cut the backside of the branch.

I believe you will want to be cutting flat pieces of wood like plywood along with the salvaged branches. The jigsaw or the circular saw will give nice cuts in plywood or particle board, but a recip saw is harder to control and is less likely to provide clean cuts in flat stock. There are fine-cut blades available, but this saw does jump in your hands, and I think it would be difficult to cut a clean, straight line.

You might want to buy a hand saw to cut your branch, like a hacksaw or rip saw (ask at the hardware store), and get a jigsaw or circular saw to cut the flat stock (shelves and platforms) for your cat tree.

You need to avoid "binding" the blade in any case. At best, the saw motor could overheat, and at worst, the blade could break and become a projectile.
You always want to wear safety glasses and ear plugs while running power tools. Safety glasses are a must for any wood cutting activity

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

This pretty much matches the conclusions I had already reached, except for the hand saw.  I've tried using a hand saw, and I can't hold it straight and keep it from binding.  With an electric saw, I can.  Hence the desire for a big enough jigsaw to handle the branches.

I've had safety glasses (actually more like a pull-down plastic face shield, which works better over my glasses) for decades, and I keep ear plugs in my purse at all times in case I want to go to a movie

.  The theaters turn the sound way up, and I can't enjoy the movie without ear plugs.

Speaking of movies, I hear there was a bit of a kerfluffle at the Oscars last night.  I checked it out on YouTube; looks like everyone handled it with grace.

Margret