Whats The Biggest Challenges You Face As A Cat Owner?

[Josh Halber]

No, we don't schedule anything- they are cats, after all. It's just a matter of petting them, giving lap time, or just paying attention to them, and not letting one cat monopolize our time. As for entertaining, Burdock and Bashful are inseparable, Digger and Stretch play tag, while Prancer watches, and Miss Eleanor looks for the nearest unoccupied lap.

You bring up a good point. That's really cute though because it seems that they each have their own partner in crime haha

 

[Josh Halber]

Probably the biggest challenge is when we have to go out-of-town. We have a very dependable pet sitter but our sweet, affectionate cat is used to us being home and I'm sure does not understand where we are not there. It breaks my heart.

I feel your pain that's so tough because sometimes you wish they spoke English so you can explain that you're not ditching them

 

[Josh Halber]

Maybe this was a general question, and my answer is about a specific cat.

I have a cat that was never socialized properly. He wants to destroy all other cats. He is devoted to me, which was not an easy thing to achieve. But if I don't keep him isolated, there are many trips to the vet - and he is the one who has to be taken! He makes Seal a nervous wreck. Leonid put up with him for a few years, but now he has had it and he will face down and sometimes attack Diamond when I have them together. There were doubts about who was at fault at first, but now that I have had Diamond for 6 years, well, there is no longer any doubt. I have considered re-homing Diamond, but since he has a moderately expensive heart condition and some destructive habits, I'm not sure who would take him. And, as I mentioned, he is devoted to me. I fear it would break his heart to be re-homed. I hate keeping him isolated. I let him out for a 4-8 hours every day. But, of course, the other cats have to be put up during this time. I have tried him on prozac and elavil, which both worked for a while. But then it was back to his old ways.

Keeping Diamond happy and healthy is my biggest challenge.

I'm sorry to hear that Boris that is very tough to deal with...I'm trying to think of what could work. Is there any kind of trainer that could help? Maybe like a specialized training to get along with other cats better?

 

[Josh Halber]

My biggest challenge with the 8 cats that I had was getting them into a carrier and getting them to the vets. Now I only have one cat and he is part feral. I need to get him to the vet but I don't know how I am going to do it. He will let me pick him up but I don't know how I will be able to get him into a carrier.

That is a tough one to solve that has to overwhelming to handle. Do you have anyone who can assist you with this task?

 

[Josh Halber]

We have found the wrap-them-in-a-towel trick works about the best for us, and our cats all were once ferals.

That's a good idea I wonder if it could be done with so many cats though

 

[Josh Halber]

Going on trips. We don't live near family and don't have too many friends here so we always have to board them if we go somewhere. Sometimes I wish we could just go on an easy trip over the weekend. But never simple and always expensive with 3 cats. I used a sitter before but it gets a bit complicated so we just board. Last time when I went on vacation for a little over 2 weeks I spent around $800 on boarding for 2 of the cats. The other $400 or so my bf paid for since she is his cat.

I give you a lot of credit for really taking such good care of your kitties but I'm sure that must be a pain. Could I ask why it's complicated with a babysitter? (If you don't mind me asking)

 

[NY cat man]

That's a good idea I wonder if it could be done with so many cats though

Yes, it can. We do it each time we take the group to the vet's for regular check-ups. Because we take all 6, we get a group discount. The thing is, you just take one at a time, and don't wait 'til the last minute to get them in their carriers.

 

[kittyluv387]

I give you a lot of credit for really taking such good care of your kitties but I'm sure that must be a pain. Could I ask why it's complicated with a babysitter? (If you don't mind me asking)

Well we live in an apartment and they would need a fob to get in the building if it's before 9am. And they do very early morning feedings from prior experience. Another problem is the feeding itself. One of my cats Benny gets raw for breakfast and dinner because he gets diarrhea otherwise. Nemo and Skye eat canned in the morning and raw for dinner...Already this is complicated right?? Lol. Nemo has to eat by himself in the guest bedroom because the others will steal his food and he wouldn't fight for it. Benny and Skye eat side by side but you still need to watch them to make sure they don't steal each other's food. And this is weird but I didn't like coming home from a trip and having my place smell like old ladies. :/ It feels simpler to just send them off to boarding with their bags of food and instructions for each cat. At the cat boarding each cat would have their own space so I don't have to worry about anyone stealing food.

For trips longer than a few days I would just worry about the cats being unsupervised for majority of the day for so long.

My bf and I are lucky since our cats are not too shy and they adjust just fine to boarding. Nemo gets angry for a couple of days but he calms down once he realizes it's not an evil place. I am really not looking forward to boarding them for our 3 week Australia trip this year. My 2 cats will cost me about $1,100 to board.

 

[Boris Diamond]

I'm sorry to hear that Boris that is very tough to deal with...I'm trying to think of what could work. Is there any kind of trainer that could help? Maybe like a specialized training to get along with other cats better?

I have talked to a behaviorist on the phone. We had no success. The local emergency vet has a behaviorist in another branch 45 miles from here. He is expensive but that is my next move, though I am not optimistic. I suspect Diamond has some sort of mental difficulty. He's my kitty and I love him. So I will do what I can. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[posiepurrs]

I think it is saying goodbye when they cross the bridge. I worry all the time about that. A large part of my clowder is over 10 years old. Vacations are another challenge, but we finally have that worked out. I don't go on vacation if it involves being away overnight. We do day trips. I am just not comfortable leaving them or the dogs in the care of someone else. My daughter used to pet sit for us for short trips, but now she lives 100 miles away and has a senior rescue in ill health who hates other cats. I guess it is good that I hate traveling!!

 

[Purr-fect]

The joy greg and arnold bring into our lives is worth the challenges many times over. But it would be nice if a few things were easier.

Dealing with their fur shedding means lots of vacuuming and combing. Fur is often stuck to our clothes, coats, sheets, pillows. Its on my coffee cup right now. Just pulled a strand out of my mouth. And we comb them virtually every day. Sometimes twice a day.

Their fur matts very easily. Almost daily we have to cut a matt and tease it apart. If we leave this job for a couple of weeks, it becomes a major undertaking to get the cat's fur back to being tangle free.

Spending time outside with them makes me happy, but this is canada and its cold here in the winter. Cold doesnt bother the boys much, they want to go out and are dissapointed if they cant do so. They have a 2000 sq foot fenced enclosure, built just for them. Coyotes and foxes still get in, so I must sit with the cats. We are usually outside for about 2 hours daily. I cant get my other tasks done.

Going away is an issue. I dont want to board the cats as they would be frightened and upset. We pay someone to live in the house when we are away. Its not always easy to find someone trustworthy and available to do so.

Feeding can be a problem. They prefer dry food, but I want them to eat wet. I dont want to leave the wet food out all day, so they often get 4 or 5 small feedings daily. They know wet food is available at their demand, and they demand at their convienence. Often they will lay by their food dish, wait for me to serve them wet and then just get up and walk away. Its as if they are reminding me who is the boss.

But they are incredibly affectionate, cuddling, snuggling, sleeping with us, waiting at the front door when I come home. They wrestle together, chase each other, make me laugh, want to be around us and interact with us.

Its well worth it. Our lives would be less with out them.

 

[maggiedemi]

Often they will lay by their food dish, wait for me to serve them wet and then just get up and walk away.

The canned food must have tasted better 25 years ago. My childhood cats would cry and beg for it. Now my cats walk away.

 

[maggiedemi]

That's a great idea do you think they are as effective?

I'm sure it will be just as effective. Only problem is, most of the topical de-wormers are prescription only.

 

[aliceneko]

Since Toffee and Fudge were semi-feral, socialising them was the biggest and most important challenge; and we both successfully succeeded in that and one wouldn't have guessed they were from a feral background originally because they love affection and are completely happy with us (though are still very skittish around unfamiliar people, but we reckon they have some Siamese heritage and I read this was a Siamese trait).
Since then the other biggest challenge has been taking Toffee to the vet when he had an upset stomach, though that also seemed to go down well.

 

[MonaLyssa33]

Wanting to take more vacations but not wanting to leave my cats behind. I went to Florida last month and had my dad come and feed them in the morning and my brother at night, but it was an inconvenience for both of them and I felt bad about it.

 

[Josh Halber]

Yes, it can. We do it each time we take the group to the vet's for regular check-ups. Because we take all 6, we get a group discount. The thing is, you just take one at a time, and don't wait 'til the last minute to get them in their carriers.

that a good point. One at a time. And i never thought about getting a discount thats really smart

 

[Josh Halber]

Well we live in an apartment and they would need a fob to get in the building if it's before 9am. And they do very early morning feedings from prior experience. Another problem is the feeding itself. One of my cats Benny gets raw for breakfast and dinner because he gets diarrhea otherwise. Nemo and Skye eat canned in the morning and raw for dinner...Already this is complicated right?? Lol. Nemo has to eat by himself in the guest bedroom because the others will steal his food and he wouldn't fight for it. Benny and Skye eat side by side but you still need to watch them to make sure they don't steal each other's food. And this is weird but I didn't like coming home from a trip and having my place smell like old ladies. :/ It feels simpler to just send them off to boarding with their bags of food and instructions for each cat. At the cat boarding each cat would have their own space so I don't have to worry about anyone stealing food.

For trips longer than a few days I would just worry about the cats being unsupervised for majority of the day for so long.

My bf and I are lucky since our cats are not too shy and they adjust just fine to boarding. Nemo gets angry for a couple of days but he calms down once he realizes it's not an evil place. I am really not looking forward to boarding them for our 3 week Australia trip this year. My 2 cats will cost me about $1,100 to board.

That makes sense now why it can be a pain. Thats really sweet that yu take care of each cats needs so well. That is gonna cost a lot for sure. To bad its hard to find someone that would be passionate enough about cats enough to make sure that each of your cats needs are taken care of maybe like a family member or something. But again I give you credit for going to such lengths to make sure they are taken care of

 

[Josh Halber]

I have talked to a behaviorist on the phone. We had no success. The local emergency vet has a behaviorist in another branch 45 miles from here. He is expensive but that is my next move, though I am not optimistic. I suspect Diamond has some sort of mental difficulty. He's my kitty and I love him. So I will do what I can. Any suggestions appreciated.

thats awesome that you're looking into a solution for Diamond. I have faith that it will work out for you and Diamond...and I wish I had some other suggestions...I bet there are some really smart cat owners that would have some in the forums somewhere though.

 

[Josh Halber]

I think it is saying goodbye when they cross the bridge. I worry all the time about that. A large part of my clowder is over 10 years old. Vacations are another challenge, but we finally have that worked out. I don't go on vacation if it involves being away overnight. We do day trips. I am just not comfortable leaving them or the dogs in the care of someone else. My daughter used to pet sit for us for short trips, but now she lives 100 miles away and has a senior rescue in ill health who hates other cats. I guess it is good that I hate traveling!!

thats a great solution. day trips are fun to. And I guess you are lucky to hate traveling haha but its also a blessing to have more time with your kitties

 

[Josh Halber]

The joy greg and arnold bring into our lives is worth the challenges many times over. But it would be nice if a few things were easier.

Dealing with their fur shedding means lots of vacuuming and combing. Fur is often stuck to our clothes, coats, sheets, pillows. Its on my coffee cup right now. Just pulled a strand out of my mouth. And we comb them virtually every day. Sometimes twice a day.

Their fur matts very easily. Almost daily we have to cut a matt and tease it apart. If we leave this job for a couple of weeks, it becomes a major undertaking to get the cat's fur back to being tangle free.

Spending time outside with them makes me happy, but this is canada and its cold here in the winter. Cold doesnt bother the boys much, they want to go out and are dissapointed if they cant do so. They have a 2000 sq foot fenced enclosure, built just for them. Coyotes and foxes still get in, so I must sit with the cats. We are usually outside for about 2 hours daily. I cant get my other tasks done.

Going away is an issue. I dont want to board the cats as they would be frightened and upset. We pay someone to live in the house when we are away. Its not always easy to find someone trustworthy and available to do so.

Feeding can be a problem. They prefer dry food, but I want them to eat wet. I dont want to leave the wet food out all day, so they often get 4 or 5 small feedings daily. They know wet food is available at their demand, and they demand at their convienence. Often they will lay by their food dish, wait for me to serve them wet and then just get up and walk away. Its as if they are reminding me who is the boss.

But they are incredibly affectionate, cuddling, snuggling, sleeping with us, waiting at the front door when I come home. They wrestle together, chase each other, make me laugh, want to be around us and interact with us.

Its well worth it. Our lives would be less with out them.

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omg greg and arnold are the cutest but I can see where the fur everywhere could be some trouble hahah. And I feel for ya when it colds outside like that. But I think you summed it up best when you mentioned how its worth it. Thats the difference between cat lovers and other people..we see the powerful benefits our kitties bring us so its worth the work it takes