Been away for too long, meet the new Kid: Billy

[lucho]

That would give me nightmares....I caged in my entire patio with welded wire panels because I had to escape proof those screens or Id have a nervous breakdown worrying about it,it's really nice to not have to babysit constantly when they go outside to the patio---- even Timmy went through the cat door onto the patio and my only concern was getting him back inside( which was not too difficult after all)

At first, we thought he might be up to soething similar, but we then noticed that he'll just sit there for up to an hour at a time just looking. He never tried to do more than that, he just enjoys watching the world. Our main worry was and still is that at some point he's not going to be able to get his head back out of the netting. That's going to be real fun.. .

 

[Kwik]

At first, we thought he might be up to soething similar, but we then noticed that he'll just sit there for up to an hour at a time just looking. He never tried to do more than that, he just enjoys watching the world. Our main worry was and still is that at some point he's not going to be able to get his head back out of the netting. That's going to be real fun.. .

Yes, I agree -Id be very concerned about him choking himself if for some reason he was spooked and wasn't able to get his head out....I put clear acrylic panels 3 ft high at my old house where I used netting before I screened in a big patio I had because the cats would stick there heads out as far as they could while lying down- it worked very well

2x4s 6ft apart to brace and secure them and my cousin did his lower half of his patio with privacy lattice because he has a little Yorkie that kept knocking his screens out- inexpensive solution

My cousin made me a hallway partition and door with that privacy lattice- you can see it here
Escape Proofing your home!

You might want to post photos of your netting there for someone to see how to close in an open area?

 

[lucho]

We're not too worried about him choking, but there is a very real concern that he might (very probably) tear up the netting in the process. It is very expensive here in Rio to replace the netting.

 

[lucho]

Nine months now, and Billy is still a lanky kid. He's getting stronger and more sure footed- we were used to Pantera and Pimenta's precision agility, so Billy's slips and falls are new (it's a result of Billy trying to run around corners and jump onto shelves like Pantera and Pimenta, but he's still very young and lacks their experience and physical development). He's certainly got courage: he's still Bonzai Billy

Another thing is his developing personality. Billy tries hard to snarl and be a fierce perdator like Pantera, but it's already clear that he lacks her aggression (but he's got no lack of courage,he still tries hard to get both of them to play and wrestle). When he really wants something- nearly always food- he turns on the charm.

 

[neely]

Thanks for the update on Billy. He's so handsome.

 

[lucho]

Billy is ten months old now; he's still growing but gaining little weight*- despite the photos he's still a long and lanky teen (he scrunches up in the photos, making him look more robust). Very likely he's about begin a growth spurt, given his absolutely bottomless stomach.

The other thing we've noticed is that Billy doesn't like hot weather. We had never seen a kitten panting outside of strenuous exercise We bought a chill mat and all three drink lots of water, so he seems to be ok. But still odd

*his weight continues right at 3kg, or just over six and a half pounds. And all three were dewormed about a month ago, as a preventative measure

 

[lucho]

Forgot to post these two photos

 

[neely]

The other thing we've noticed is that Billy doesn't like hot weather.

Me too! Billy's a smart boy. He has beautiful eyes, such a nice looking kitty.

 

[lucho]

The most recent photos of Billy, taken today

 

[mani]

He's growing into such a handsome boy!
Have you checked his ribs?. It's really unlikely as you would have noticed, but panting can happen if a kitten/cat is flat-chested.

 

[lucho]

He's growing into such a handsome boy!
Have you checked his ribs?. It's really unlikely as you would have noticed, but panting can happen if a kitten/cat is flat-chested.

His ribs are normal, he only pants when it's really hot- he and Pantera both are relieved that the heatwave is over for now ( no panting )

 

[lucho]

Billy as of yesterday

 

[lucho]

Billy is now 18 months old; much has happened here- which is why I've been absent, no time to post- and Billy has learned a lot, none of which is good. I will post the details in another post, but the short form is this: we took in a cat that lives in front of our building that was severely injured so he could recover. He made a full recovery, but it took six weeks. That month and a half was stressful for everybody. The cat, an unneutered tom named Zeca, had to be isolated from the others to minimize conflict. Billy ,somewhat predictably, was very aggressive with the strange cat and tried to fight him every chance he could (hence the need to keep them physically separated). Now that Zeca is gone Billy has reverted back to his playful kitten self.

So, the problem? Billy has always been a fast learner, and in this case he learned the wrong lessons:
1) Fighting. Zeca is a very experienced veteran when it comes to fighting, while Billy had no real experience. So,Zeca easily dealt with Billy in the first fights. But Billy was not in the least bit discouraged,and kept it up. When he finally stopped trying to fight Zeca and behave the older cat attacked him. So, now Billy thinks that fighting is the only way male cats interact
2)Fighting style: We've seen it before, when Zeca fights he rears up on his hindlegs to fight, looking for all the world like a Muay Thai stance. It's won him many fights against much larger cats ( and many dogs, for that matter...). Billy, lacking actual fighting experience, went straight down the middle, head first. So Zeca quickly gave Billy a couple of cuts on the nose. What did Billy learn from this? That going in headfirst works (in his worldview) to get right up in the other's face. He doesn't care one bit about protecting the head; in the last fight he did rear up on his hindlegs like Zeca does (fast learner...) , but he still thinks the only defense is a strong offense
3) Outside world: Billy now knows that there are other cats, both male and female, outside the apartment. He already knew this from seeing it all on the balcony, but now that he has firsthand contact he constantly cries to go out. He can't of course, but he stubbornly continues crying to be let out. I have put a leash on him and let him leave the apartment a little. He hates the leash, but it does seem to help a little

Other than that, Billy continues to grow without gaining much weight. He is now a bit taller and longer than Pimenta although nowhere near her size. He'll probably begin soon to bulk up; he is already quite strong, much more than his lanky build would suggest. He still adores running, but is still easily distracted

Enough talk, here's some pics

 

[Kwik]

Billy is now 18 months old; much has happened here- which is why I've been absent, no time to post- and Billy has learned a lot, none of which is good. I will post the details in another post, but the short form is this: we took in a cat that lives in front of our building that was severely injured so he could recover. He made a full recovery, but it took six weeks. That month and a half was stressful for everybody. The cat, an unneutered tom named Zeca, had to be isolated from the others to minimize conflict. Billy ,somewhat predictably, was very aggressive with the strange cat and tried to fight him every chance he could (hence the need to keep them physically separated). Now that Zeca is gone Billy has reverted back to his playful kitten self.

So, the problem? Billy has always been a fast learner, and in this case he learned the wrong lessons:
1) Fighting. Zeca is a very experienced veteran when it comes to fighting, while Billy had no real experience. So,Zeca easily dealt with Billy in the first fights. But Billy was not in the least bit discouraged,and kept it up. When he finally stopped trying to fight Zeca and behave the older cat attacked him. So, now Billy thinks that fighting is the only way male cats interact
2)Fighting style: We've seen it before, when Zeca fights he rears up on his hindlegs to fight, looking for all the world like a Muay Thai stance. It's won him many fights against much larger cats ( and many dogs, for that matter...). Billy, lacking actual fighting experience, went straight down the middle, head first. So Zeca quickly gave Billy a couple of cuts on the nose. What did Billy learn from this? That going in headfirst works (in his worldview) to get right up in the other's face. He doesn't care one bit about protecting the head; in the last fight he did rear up on his hindlegs like Zeca does (fast learner...) , but he still thinks the only defense is a strong offense
3) Outside world: Billy now knows that there are other cats, both male and female, outside the apartment. He already knew this from seeing it all on the balcony, but now that he has firsthand contact he constantly cries to go out. He can't of course, but he stubbornly continues crying to be let out. I have put a leash on him and let him leave the apartment a little. He hates the leash, but it does seem to help a little

Other than that, Billy continues to grow without gaining much weight. He is now a bit taller and longer than Pimenta although nowhere near her size. He'll probably begin soon to bulk up; he is already quite strong, much more than his lanky build would suggest. He still adores running, but is still easily distracted

Enough talk, here's some pics

He is as adorable as ever only longer n taller- such a handsome Billy boy

I had no clue who Zeca was in the cow cats thread- now I know so never mind the question- lol

Who took Zeca?

 

[lucho]

*Who took Zeca?*

Unfortunately no one, he's back to living in front of our building and the neighboring properties. We'd like to find someone to adopt him, but as an older cat he faces an uphill battle in the best of cases