Reddit mentions: The best cat feeding & watering supplies

Your questions aren't silly! It's great that you're thinking about how you can make you both comfortable before you dive into a new situation. Always set yourself up for success! :)

> do I buy a litter box/food/scratch-post before I plan to bring a cat home?

That's generally a good idea, yes. Means less stress for both of you as you're scrambling to get everything ready for him. You might ask the shelter what food the cat has been eating, as cats can get an upset tummy when switching brands/types. Not a big deal, but he will have poops that are a bit stinkier/liquidier than normal poops. That should alleviate within the week. You can lessen the tummy troubles by doing a more gradual change, mixing the food he is currently on with the food he will be on more and more, until he is eating what you want him on. But you can honestly just do the change, too, and just deal with the sadpoops for a little while.

I suggest a couple of different scratching posts, if you have the space! Cats like having options, like a horizontal post and a vertical one. Cats also like being high up, so if you can swing a tall post with platforms, he will probably like that.

Get two litter boxes! A lot of people don't realize it, but the rule of thumb for number of litters you should have is NumberOfCats + 1. So, 1 cat + 1 = 2 boxes. Clean them often. Cats are very clean creatures (especially compared to dogs) and are MUCH more likely to have accidents when they feel they do not have a better option than peeing in your bed. That's not their fault. You wouldn't want to step on your own pee/poop either! If you have problems with litter getting kicked out of the box, a litter mat can be helpful.

> Do I need to buy a carrier for the cat?

Yep. You'll eventually need to take him to a vet in all likelihood, and a carrier will make that so much easier, as most cats despise the car. I recommend a hard carrier. The softer ones seem nicer in general, but the hard carriers are easier to clean out, and you never know how a cat will be in the car until... well. They're in it. One of our cats poops and pees every. single. time. So he always gets the hard carrier.

> Should I contact a vet before I get the cat?

The shelter might require you to have a vet already, so I'd probably at least pick one out from google search. They might require you to go get a checkup, but probably not. That's more of a rescue thing, I think. Most shelters have their own in-house vet, so it's not really necessary. Don't be afraid to contact the shelter if he seems to be coughing and wheezing. Upper respiratory infections are very common in shelter environments due to the crowded nature of them, but they are also very treatable, and the shelter will be able to give you medication for him.

> How do I train a cat?

Someone mentioned Jackson Galaxy, who I generally agree is pretty good for training if you have some problems. But most of the time, cats are pretty out-of-the-box ready pets. That is to say, if you have an environment that is good for cats (where you let them have some space, where you don't make a huge amount of loud noise, where they aren't prodded and poked at constantly), they generally don't need training. We've fostered tiny kittens that automatically knew how to use the litter box. We also have boy cats who were not fixed until well into adulthood and have never had problems spraying.
It's instinct to go in the box, especially once they're fixed and don't need to mark territory really.

> For those of you who own a cat/cats, any advice for this first-timer?

Give both of you time to get to know each other. Don't force it. He will come to you, given time and space, and you'll be able to cultivate a better relationship built on trust and mutual respect if he knows that you won't force him to do things that he doesn't want to do (especially at first--think about it like building a friendship with a person; you would trust your friends to do things that you would never trust a stranger to do, and it's the same for him).

Cooing and gentle words are generally pretty good for coaxing, as is letting him smell your hand/something that smells like you before you approach for pets. Think about it like introducing yourself. You wouldn't go up to someone you didn't know well and just touch them without at least saying hi.

Every cat I have ever known, male or female, fixed or not, will pee in a pile of anything if it is left long enough. They see it as 'trash,' and I think it just registers as litter. So, if you are the type to leave clothes on the floor... I would try to stop that.

Keep nails trimmed. Scratching posts are for sharpening nails, which is an instinct that they have to fulfill, and you're giving them an outlet for. Some people think it's for 'filing' the nails down, but it's not. It's for keeping them sharp enough to get prey. You'll have to trim them.

And this is just my own personal opinion, but... young--but not kitten--boy cats are best for first timers. I have one girl, and I absolutely adore her, but she is very high maintenance/prissy/touchy, whereas my three boys are all pretty chill. Each cat is different though, so obviously your mileage may vary! It's just something I've noticed in general in my time of owning and fostering cats, that boys are more laid back/forgiving than girls (and thus I think a little easier for a first timer). Young adults are also great for first timers because you have less accidents (though that's generally not a big concern anyway) and they're more able to be on their own for longer periods of time. Older adults/seniors are great too if you want a really, really chill, more stand-offish cat, or if you want a cat that you'll have for <10 years, but if you want a little more energy and time, a cat that's about 1-2 years old is a GREAT way to go.

Some toys that are great for cats include the classic laser pointer, the feather toy, catnip toys, and crinkle balls.

Cats prefer to drink away from where they eat, so place his food bowl and his water bowl apart from one another! Some cats also prefer running water to still water, so if you notice your cat likes drinking out of the faucet (or if you just want to spoil your cat like I spoil mine...) you can get a water fountain for him!

Finally, if it's not working out for some reason, like your personalities just don't mesh well... take him back. I know it sounds hard, but it's best for him if he is in an environment where he is understood and his needs are met. There's no sense in forcing both of you to be miserable. Some shelters let you do a foster-to-adopt sort of thing, where you sort of try each other out for a bit. I like this option, because you hope for the best, but it feels a little bit easier to tap out if you need to. Either way, there's no shame in tapping out. Sometimes things just don't work the way you thought they would.

Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to be as thorough as I could. My parents recently got their first cat, and it's been... an ordeal for them, getting used to it.
It's great that you have some experience with cats though, so I think you'll be fine! Seriously, cats are sort of the next level up from a goldfish as far as easiness. Should be fine.

I hope you and your new furbaby are super, super happy together! :)

Okay a few cat suggestions.

1. http://www.catgenie.com/ buy one of these. It will save you a LOT of scooping, and the soap cartridges it takes last a long time (months) and are cheaper than cat litter. Because this device uses a plumbing connection (water supply and drain) it flushes the cat waste down the drain so there is nothing to scoop or empty. Buy the normal retail unit, then sign up for the VIC program- over the course of a year they'll send you a ton of supplies, but it doesn't auto renew. The VIC supplies are cheaper than retail and work in the normal retail cat genie.
   
   
2. To litterbox train your cat, look up a product called Cat Attract spray. If you get the Cat Genie, DO NOT put the cat attract litter in it- it will clog and destroy the machine. Use the spray, or litterbox train the cat with a normal litterbox and then switch to something automatic.
   
   
3. Keep your cat inside. Inside cats live longer, healthier lives. However she should still have a collar and a microchip- cats can sometimes escape.
   
   
4. Learn to communicate with your cat. Cats do most of their communication through body language, not meows. Most domesticated cats adapt and use meows to communicate with humans to some degree, but if you learn to read the cat's body language that can be a big help. There are lots of resources on cat body language so I won't go into it much here. But a few tips- tail straight up plus long meow is a greeting when you get home, tail up generally indicates happy or curious, ears back plus cat/tail low to the ground equals pissed off. Staring straight at a cat can be a sign of hostility. However if you look at the cat and blink very slowly, sometimes the cat will return the sign- that is a sign of non-threatening familiarity. Same thing if a cat does it to you, do it back. Cats rub against things partially to scent-mark them- so the cat rubbing past your leg is partially an affectionate sign, and also marking you as part of the cat's property. If a cat rubs its face on you (especially your own face) that's a strong sign of approval, it's considering you to be part of its family. When a cat rolls over and exposes its belly this is a sign of trust, not necessarily and invitation for a belly rub. Some cats like the belly rub, some don't. If you want to try it, start at the top under the chin.
   
   
5. speaking of things cats like- scratching between the ears, rubbing around the ear sockets (there are a lot of little muscles in there which orient the ears), scratching lightly on the underside of the jaw and off to the sides below the cheeks. Some cats like having an ear lightly rubbed between two fingers. Right above the base of the tail is another good scratching place. Most cats would prefer having their legs and paws left alone.
   
   
6. Don't declaw your cat. Declawing in human equivalent is the same as tearing off the end of each finger at the last knuckle. Get a good scissor-type nail trimmer- petsmart has them in the dog aisle. The cat designed quick detector one doesn't work at all. DO NOT cut the 'quick'- the pink area inside the nail. That will hurt a lot and bleed. Nail trimming time should be when the cat is very tired and relaxed so she will sit still. Plenty of treats should be involved. It's not always possible to do all the nails at once, sometimes more than one session is required. If you absolutely must declaw your cat, only declaw the front paws. However a better solution is to get a good scratching post and reward the cat for using it. Get something fairly tall- cats like to stretch out when they scratch.
   
   
7. The more water your cat drinks, the better. Cats in the wild get most of their water in the meat they eat, so this is especially important if your cat eats dry food. This gadget works really well- cats instinctively know that running water is cleaner than stagnant water, so a bowl like this can encourage the cat to drink more. Proper hydration can prevent kidney and bladder issues.
   
   
8. It IS possible to train a cat. The difference is that unlike dogs, cats are not pack animals. With a dog, once you establish yourself as ahead of the dog in the pack order, the dog will naturally obey as long as it understands the command. Cats have no such compunction, so you have to train them that it's in their best interest to obey. Negative reinforcement doesn't work well with cats, positive rewards work much better. IE, if you want your cat to come to you when called, having a treat ready as a reward is more effective than punishing the cat who doesn't come. You can train your cat for 'OFF!' or some similar command- for a while, when you say OFF, if the cat doesn't move chase her off whatever she's on, then ignore her. You don't want to create the association that 'off' is the start of a fun hide and seek game.
   
   
9. If you need a punishment, a spray bottle full of water works nicely. It's totally harmless but cats don't like it. There are a handful of automated defense systems like static zapper mats and motion-detector compressed air spray things that work pretty well for training cats to stay off tables and stuff.
   
   
10. If the kitten gets low to the ground, looks at you, and starts wiggling her butt, prepare for a incoming kitty-missile.
    
    
11. Back on training- you can train the cat to not bite or use claws when playing. If you are playing with the cat and she gets a bit too rough, make a loud 'OUCH!' type sound, and end the play session (just walk away and ignore her). Then wash off your hands- any cat bite or scratch should be washed with soap and water.
    
    
12. All cats go through a phase where they bite all the time. The bites are generally soft play-bites that don't hurt.
    
    
13. Cats are smart. If you feed your cats by hand, they will usually figure out that rub against the leg + meow anxiously + be adorable = get food. Keep an eye out for when your cat is training you. Alternatively, get the cat an automatic feeder (only works well with dry food).
    
    
14. Keep your cat entertained. Get a bunch of balls and toys and stuff and leave them laying around. This is especially important if you only have one cat- two cats will entertain each other, one cat will be bored out of its mind when you are away. Many cats prefer toys that make noise of some kind. A cat tower is another good investment.
    
    Hope that helps!

Congratulations, you must be so excited!!!!

Well sounds like you are on the right path in terms of having done your research and be as prepared as you can be. Here are my tips as a fellow tiel owner:

First I want to say, bird owning is all about trial and error. Everything you read about is only dependent on how your bird reacts. The internet is a great place for recommendations and advice, but YOU have to be the expert now.

Checklist: Cage - small bar spacing, big enough for tiel to be comfortable
Food/Water Bowl - Get a few, you'll want to use different ones for different foods. I prefer metal over plastic because I find it easier to clean without any discoloring. I use these as food bowls (not a good option as water bowls): https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Homes-Pets-Stainless-Animals/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1494878762&sr=8-4&keywords=bird+food+bowls
Varied perches - Natural wood, conditioning and rope are the three top varieties you'll see recommended in different sizes and shapes. I personally cannot use the rope perches, because my little guy likes to eat the fuzz balls that form on it which is no good for him. But mine love the natural wood ones, especially ones that have bark they can chew as well as the natural wood rope ladder that I hang like a bridge.
Toys - varied colors and materials, you'll honestly just have to experiment as you get to know your new friend. Every bird is insanely different in what they like to play with. Two of mine like to shred paper and one is scared of it, so it just depends. A lot of my toys I get on amazon cause they are the cheapest I have found but I also try to make my own as well.
Mineral block/cuttle bone - again, there are different varieties and colors, just see what your friend likes. They are important though and you should have one.
Covering - I cover my tiels completely for bed because that's what they are used to and that's what they like, the back of their cage stays covered during the day too unless they are outside. I have read some that do not cover completely and leave a night light on.
Cleaning - cage should be cleaned every day. Different safe ways to clean it but I like to use DIY home stuff cause chemicals worry me (I have a sensitive breather in my flock). Poop off wipes are a great thing to have on hand. Food and water bowls should be emptied and cleaned daily.
First Aid Kit - Google and gather the different supplies now to create a bird first aid kit because you may think you don't need it but birds are so fragile and finding yourself without it could mean the difference between life and death. If you have an avian vet, ask if they have emergency hours or find one that does and keep their number on hand.
Training - It's important you bond with your bird and training is a great way to do that. There is the option of clicker training and you can find a book as well as plenty of online resources on that. Training also helps to keep your bird from having bad behaviors or habits which in turn protects them. Usually the first thing they learn is "step up".
Food - I use Harrisons mash and pellets following the dosage on the package, daily fresh veggies/fruits, nutriberries, avicakes and Safflower Gold seed (best mix I've found, read lots of people who use the same) as supplemental treats as well as table food like rice and eggs. My flock is also a big fan of Harrisons birdie bread.
Bathing - You can try getting a spray bottle and gently mist the bird in their cage. You can buy a suction cup perch for the shower and arrange them so the mist hits them (directly under the shower might not be good due to water pressure). They might bathe in the bathroom or kitchen sink. You could get a bigger bowl and use it in their cage that's separate from their water bowl. I have a bird that kind of hates baths but for some reason when I present wet veggies to her, she bathes in them. I've read birds should bathe every day (mine refuse) but it can be very helpful with the dander or when they are molting.

In regards to their dander, I definitely recommend either a vacuum or a sweet duster of sorts because it's just insane. They shake and you can see this poof of white dust/dander just come off of every part of them. Insane.

When I go to work, I leave light music on for them. I have built them playlists and have also found already made bird ones with calming music they seem to enjoy.


Lastly, try to have patience and approach everything with calm. It is very easy to get caught up in the little things which can make you miss out on a lot. When one mine was younger, he was standing in front of the mirror and sticking his tongue out. I had never seen behavior like this and immediately thought he was gagging or choking (its good to know all the possibilities) but I started freaking out and researching and going crazy thinking something was wrong when he was just being a silly bub. That's just to tell you to enjoy it as much as you can and try your hardest not to overreact. They are amazing pets and we don't deserve their love but they give it unconditionally anyways!

Have you considered placing him in another room for mealtimes? That way, your other cats can eat in peace.

You may want to consider portioning his meals using a timed feeder. I own a similar one, with an ice pack built in for wet food, available on Amazon as well. You can set it to dispense food up to 5 times per day. I’ve also heard that these are good for cats that eat too fast, as they have to “hunt” for their food little by little (alternatively, you can also hide his food in small portions around whatever room he eats in, inside puzzle feeders, etc). I think the food dispenser is probably easiest. The version I linked to above is $36, but I’m sure you can find it cheaper on OfferUp or eBay.

As for fighting, Jackson Galaxy and Pam Johnson-Bennett have some great suggestions. Pam has a great reintroduction guide here. They also stress the importance of playing with your cat to get any excess energy or aggression out.

My guess for why he attacks the other cat may be some insecurity on his part about his status in the home. Do you have any cat trees, or high perches where he can sit? That may help him feel secure. Does he get to spend adequate time with you? I know it sounds silly, but some studies now show that cats view their owners in the same way that children view their parents, in contrast to dogs, who view their owners as pack leaders. Maybe your cat feels like the child who is always getting disciplined (however well-deserved it may be). In either case, reintroduction would likely be the first thing to try. It can take weeks, but it may be worth it for some peace in the home.

Another option is Feliway Multicat . It is a diffuser system (and I believe they have a spray version) designed for homes with multiple cats. The diffuser contains artificial pheromones designed to mimic the ones produced by a mother cat to calm her kittens. A friend of mine volunteers at a local shelter that utilizes these extensively to help keep the peace among their cats, and I know they’re quite popular in households with cats that don’t get along. It’s a pricey product and you may need multiple diffusers throughout your home for adequate reach, but again, you may find them cheaper elsewhere. Additionally, you can try placing them specifically where the two cats fight.

Good luck with everything. If you do choose to re-home your cat, the best thing would be to find him a loving home yourself, or at the very least, be sure you are looking at no-kill shelters (they often have waiting lists, by the way, so you’ll likely have to wait a bit - but it would save his life!) Be transparent about his issues and his need to be an only cat (in probably an adults-only home) so he can be placed where he’d be a good fit.

I hope it all works out for you and you can all live peacefully together!

Congrats on the MC!

I have two MCs....

1. Invest in a water fountain! Cats naturally don't drink enough water (which is why they tell u wet food is better to feed ur cat than dry food)
   
   https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Fountain-Drinking/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542680300&sr=1-5&keywords=platinum+water+fountain
   
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   Also, cats don't like their food and water in the same spot . I found my cats tend to drink way more water and it stays cleaner when they are in different areas. Previously i was cleaning their water daily because my silly cats were dropping their kibbles into the water, or their food was getting sugar ants.
   
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2. Your new baby will need a scratching post he/she can grow into. My boys use this one religiously (we have 3 posts scattered around the house) but this is their favorite because they can stretch all the way to the top. WARNING: its massive. its very sturdy and pretty wide so if u have a smaller place this may NOT be the post for you.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Homes-Pets-Scratching-Extra-Durable/dp/B00JEADDCO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1542679782&sr=8-9&keywords=cat+scratching+post+for+large+cats
   
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3. Food: my kitties were fed taste of the wild at the breeders, but I transitioned them to Orijen cat and Kitten Food. Extremely pricy but as far as dry food goes some of the best.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Orijen-Dry-Cat-Kitten-Food/dp/B01I3IBQG2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542680125&sr=1-4&keywords=orijen+cat+and+kitten+12
   
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4. Cat litter: My previous cats developed issues from the dust from clay based litters. We switched over to something more natural when i got these MCs...like walnut shells!
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Fresh-Multi-Cat-Quick-Clumping-Litter/dp/B00BPA12MO/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1542680260&sr=1-7&keywords=blue+litter
   
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5. Cat Shelves - If you have a blank wall i definitely recommend this! We had to tweak ours a little because the shelves we purchased were entirely too small for Maine Coons. And also had to add supporting brackets. Everyday its a fight on who gets the cat shelves! and if its in a common area, its definitely a way for them to be present and still in their own space up high.
   
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6. Pet insurance. If you can afford to get ur kitten Pet insurance I recommend this. Maine coons since they are a larger breed are prone to things like hip displaysia, HCM, and other genetic diseases. It makes caring for them a little easier as they get older. We use Healthy Paws Pet insurance for our two Maine Coons and i highly recommend them! I want to say as a kitten they started out between 10 and 20 dollars a month?
   
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   Everyone has given u a lot of wonderful advice here! Some of which i actually wish I knew when i was getting my babies! Good luck and enjoy your new kitten :)
   
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Okay, I have a few bits of advice for you.

First things first, I know it's hard to do emotionally, but you've got to stop leaving dry food out for your cats all day. I had a professor once who was a cat behaviorist and he put it like this, "People feed horses like they should feed cats, and cats like they should feed horses." Meaning that horses are grazers and should have food all day, not just at certain times of the day. On the opposing side, cats are hunters and should be fed only at certain times of day, and not have food out constantly (which should also help with weight management for your kitty darlings in general, since it's so important to keep them at a healthy weight as they get older anyway!) AND this SHOULD make your roomie's cat less interested in getting into your room-if he realizes there is no reward on the other side of the door.

ALSO-as far as your room-mate's cat goes, you're right, she shouldn't be giving him tastes. Not just for your sake and your kitties' sake, but for her own cat's sake as well. Human food can be bad for kitties for a number of reasons and it's safest just to keep him away from it. Not to mention, like you said, it teaches him bad manners.

Now here's the tough part. It may sound ridiculous but obviously you need to talk to your roomie about this situation, which is conflict and awkward and horrible to deal with, I know. I really recommend looking up and doing some reading today on how to talk to people while avoiding conflict. There's stuff all over the internet about it, and it's a bit too hard for me to explain. Basically, not only is it a good life skill to have, but obviously you want to be able to talk to her about it without her getting upset or feeling personally attacked. Because cats are like your children, and people can easily get offended when they feel their "parenting" is being criticized. So I really, really, really recommend looking up just some general communication tips so you can talk this over with her without it being awkward or confrontational.

Also, here are some things that MAY help if you mention when you're talking to her (disclaimer: I don't know her, so you may have to cherry-pick things here that you think would help convince her):
-I don't know if her cat is overweight, but I think it's important to mention that even though fat cats are adorable and wonderful and everything, it's really not in their best interests to be overweight; just as with humans. Having a healthier relationship with food will help keep him at a healthy weight and can really help him live longer, as well as save her money (him maintaining a healthy weight can really keep down diseases and other things that cost lots of money.)
-I'd suggest this cat get fed separately from his brother, and given a toy such as this one:

http://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/e96a_stimulo_cat_bowl.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/Aikiou-Stimulo-Activity-Center-Green/dp/B00D91CQMW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QE1JPXJM0J0SEXG885N


http://www.amazon.com/Northmate-Catch-Interactive-Feeder-Cats/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QE1JPXJM0J0SEXG885N

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fg-ec2.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fkolpakov%2Forangeslimcat._V398607070_.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPetsafe-SlimCat-Meal-Dispensing-Blue%2Fdp%2FB0018CG40O&h=475&w=425&tbnid=eW1exz5JYvZ6FM%3A&zoom=1&docid=ZJge0SV6zuaQ1M&ei=-OAnVPjaF4f4yAS13oCgDg&tbm=isch&ved=0CCwQMygOMA4&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1275&page=1&start=0&ndsp=20

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=gl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=VQZ0PRAGLUYB&coliid=I12NBLS87B4NXX

All of those are designed to slow a cat down while eating, while at the same time giving them the same mental stimulation that comes with play. This would make him eat slower, which is better for weight management as well as helping him to feel full and satisfied (if he ever does) and would keep him occupied enough for everyone else to finish eating before he could even think of getting to them. Not to mention it's fun for them! I don't know if you're willing to do this, but you could buy one of those options and give it to her as a gift, under the presumption that it is so he will leave his brother alone (I'm sure since they're both her children she probably doesn't like it when he bosses the brother around). It really is probably best to feed him alone, to prevent him from getting into anyone else's business and also would make life easier for your roomie, too.

Sorry about the book I just wrote.

I wouldn’t worry too much about them during the day, as long as they get to do some sort of activity at night like free roaming in the living room or bathroom, or getting access to some fun toys.


To keep them amused, I would recommend taking a look at this page: http://karasratworld.tumblr.com/post/75017549861/rat-toy-masterpost which features a lot of great ideas for cheap, do-it-yourself toys for rats that you can make. I find that my rats are generally not interested in the ferret and cat toys I buy them from the pet store. Same with stuffed animals I give them. Cheap toys that my rats enjoy include: small cardboard boxes that fit in their cage - I will open one end of the box and put the open end on the floor, so that the box is upside down. They love bringing in paper towels and fabric scraps into the box and making a nest. My rats also love paper bags. Big brown paper bags from the grocery store, or small brown paper bags for packing lunch. They will also treat it as a little ‘cave’ or ‘den’ and bring paper towels into it to shred into a comfortable, warm rat nest that they then sleep on. It’s really cute, and it’s cheap! These generally need to be thrown out after 1-2 days because they will be urinated on, and a rat sleeping inside a paper bag isn’t receiving terribly great ventilation and will probably be inhaling the ammonia from the urine. Tissue boxes are also much enjoyed by my rats. I rip out the clear plastic lining surrounding the tissue hole before giving it to them, so that they can’t accidentally eat any of it when they chew up the box. I also like to give my rats paper towel or toilet paper roll cores for them to chew on or curiously poke their head into. My baby rat used to be able to walk through them too!


My rat also enjoyed this toy. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H44R5K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It was recommended by another rat owner. It’s basically a toy with 3 holes, and you can turn the top half of the toy to control how many of these holes are open (1, 2, or all 3) and how big the openings are (half open, fully open, etc). You can put little treats in there. Treat recommendations include: home popped popcorn (microwave popcorn is covered in tons of unhealthy additives and flavorings), NON-sugary cereals, organic baby food “cereals” or puffs, sunflower seeds (in moderation!), maybe some sort of non-messy fruit like small blueberries. When I used to feed dry rat food to my rat, I would put the kibble bits into this toy and give it to her at night, so she had something to entertain herself with.


Other easy enrichment ideas include: nuts in shell. Just try to make sure they aren’t salted, and that they aren’t raw (unless soaked/sprouted). Brazil nuts in shell, peanuts in shell, pistachios, etc. They will have fun chewing off the shell to get the nut inside, and the chewing will allow them to wear down their teeth, which are always continuously growing. I want to say, however, that if your rats are sick with mycoplasma, you my want to avoid giving them nuts or seeds. Nuts and seeds are high in an amino acid called arginine, which has been said to trigger mycoplasma outbreaks. For this reason, my pink eyed white rat no longer gets sunflower seeds/nuts (but she gets plenty of other healthy treats!)


Regarding the sneezing:
Are you keeping them in a plastic storage container? With a lid of some sort? If so, the lack of ventilation may be contributing to the sneezing. Many rat fanatics are against keeping rats in glass tanks (the same ones used as fish aquariums), even if the top is covered in a wire mesh or open to the air, because they feel that having 4 solid walls hinders ventilation too much for it to be healthy. If you are keeping them in a bin with 4 solid walls (as opposed to in a wire cage where air flows through their 4 walls and ceiling easily), then their sneezing may be due to the lack of ventilation. More specifically, ammonia from their urine can irritate their respiratory systems. Pet rats are commonly said to have very sensitive respiratory systems, and unfortunately, rats are very prone to having a certain respiratory infection called mycoplasma. Mycoplasma is said to be so common in rats, that they every rat you come across will have it - UNLESS you specifically obtained a rat from a laboratory that was bred to be mycoplasma-free (a process which involves submersing the mother in an antiseptic and birthing her babies via sterile C-section, thereby sacrificing the mother’s life to keep her babies mycoplasma-free). A symptom to watch out for (aside from sneezing) is the buildup of a red substance on their face (especially around their eyes and nostrils) called porphyrin. Porphyrin is present in their mucus and saliva, and when a rat is sick with mycoplasma or stressed out, porphyrin buildup is commonly seen on their face. If you find this, I would recommend trying to get them into a better ventilated cage, cleaning their cage or changing their bedding more often (try to keep the amount of urine in the cage low by switching out towels more often, etc), giving them more fresh fruits and veggies (generally, if it’s a fruit/veggie that humans can eat raw, then female rats should be fine to have it too. Male rats should not be given citrus or mangos.)


I have two female rats - one is white with pink eyes. The other has black eyes and black and white fur. I notice that my pink-eyed-white wakes up and becomes active at 7:30pm, and is active all night until around 6am, when she becomes sleepy and goes to bed. When I stay home from work, she sleeps ALL day and the cage is super quiet until she wakes up at 7:30pm. My black eyed rat is a little younger, so she is more active, even during the daytime - but I am not sure if this difference is due to her youth or her eye color. (I specify their eye color because I have read that albino rats have a different REM sleep pattern. Source: http://www.ratbehavior.org/AlbinoPigmented.htm However, not all pink eyed whites are albino. Albino and pink eyed whites are not the same thing.) If your lady rats are anything like my pink eyed white, then they will likely be sleeping all day, so I would not worry about leaving them home. To further ease your concern, I want to say that I worked from home until I recently started having to go into the office for a 9-5 job, and I was also worried about my rats feeling neglected… until I learned their sleep patterns, and was able to confirm during my days off that my ratites are sleeping all day anyway. :)


To keep them entertained when they are awake, please consider trying some of the toy ideas in the website I linked above. It’s not my website, but I have definitely taken ideas from it that my rats enjoyed. The best toys are not necessarily the expensive ones or the ones that are time consuming to make. In my experience, my rats have enjoyed playing in things that would have gone into the garbage (boxes, paper bags, wrapping paper) more than the toys I bought them from the pet store.
If your rats are litter trained (which isn’t hard to do at all! but that’s a post for another day) and you have a spacious, rat proof bathroom where they cannot damage your items or escape, then a low effort way to exercise their bodies and minds may be to just leave their cage open in the bathroom, and throw some toys/boxes around the floor and let them explore. Maybe hide some food in there for them to find. Just be sure to rat proof the bathroom or remove things you don’t want them chewing on (toilet plunger, bottle of bleach toilet cleaner, bath rug, etc). Close the toilet seat so they don’t fall in.

Hi there, what a great contest! :)

My Sofie kitty is 2, so not quite a kitten anymore, but she is such a sweetie pie and loves to play!

I found this, and thought it was really cool! Sofie likes to drink fresh water the best (directly from the faucet) and this seems like a neat alternative!

As I said, Sofie loves to play and I know she would love this mouse toy on my For the Kitty wishlist. :)

Thanks so much, I hope you and your kitty have a wonderful Christmas!

Hi TurbinePoweredVagina, sorry to hear about your kitty. I hope some of this information will be able to help!

First off, good on you for introducing wet food back into his diet! I also suspect that the change to all dry is triggering these blockages. The number one issue concerning cats with urinary crystals water consumption. Cats naturally have a very low thirst drive (as they get virtually all water from their prey, which is ~70% water), and often will not drink until extremely dehydrated. So a transition from a primarily wet diet (70-80% moisture) to a primarily dry diet (~10%) moisture would undoubtedly cause your kitty to consume less water. In essence, a uretic dry food isn't going to do much more for your kitty than if he were eating a generic dry food, as he is likely chronically dehydrated.

When looking for a canned food for your cats (and this applies to all cats, including healthy ones!), look out for a two important things:

• actual named protein source first and second on list of ingredients ("chicken" or "turkey" as opposed to "meat by-product")
  
• free of grains (rice, corn, wheat, etc)
  
  Cats are by design, obligate carnivores (teeth shape, short digestive tract to minimize bacteria in prey). They haven't lived with humans long enough to evolutionarily adapt to the consumption of high-carbohydrate diets, and thus, their bodies still lack the necessary enzymes to properly digest carbohydrates. Note that most dry foods are very high in carbs (30%+), due to the necessity of a starch to bond the kibble together. As a result, high-carb dry diets (upwards of 30% - 50% carbs) contribute to maldigestion, hairballs, obesity, kidney diseases, high blood sugar leading to feline diabetes, and chronic dehydration leading to urinary blockages.
  
  In terms of good common canned food brands, may I recommend Wellness (the 12.5 oz cans, look for the Grain Free yellow triangle) or EVO (13 oz cans)? The Wellness website often has promotions and will provide coupons for their products, and EVO offers a frequent buyers club, in which the 10th purchase is free. I find that buying the large cans in bulk (two boxes at a time) is enough to last my cat almost two months. They're pretty economical as the large cans (the EVO ones are $2.69 where I live, no doubt cheaper in the US) end up being around the same price if not cheaper than supermarket brands like Friskies or Fancy Feast, per gram. You should be able to find Wellness in big box pet stores like Petsmart and Petco, however EVO isn't as common and it might only be available in smaller or privately-run stores. If you're in a rush and need to get food fast, Fancy Feast actually isn't terrible; as their classic variety lacks grains and has named protein sources at the top of the ingredient list.
  
  As the main concern with a cat with urinary tract issues is water consumption, here are a couple things you can do to alleviate his condition:
  
  
• if your kitty is fascinated with running water, try getting him a pet fountain. The sound of running water encourages many cats to drink more.
  
• give him chicken broth, water from a tuna can, or a cat milk such as CatSip as treats
  
• add one or two tablespoons of water to his wet food each meal
  
  I leave you with some resources that you may find helpful:
  
  
• Feline Urinary Tract Health: Excellent feline nutrition website written by a veterinarian, very in-depth
  
• Feline-Nutrition.org: Library of interesting articles
  
• Forum for Cat Health/Nutrition: Knowledgeable people, can go to them for more advice
  
  tl;dr Cats naturally don't drink enough water so eating an all dry diet will cause dehydration and urinary blockages. Best solution is to switch to a primarily wet diet (grain free for optimum health), get a pet fountain, give tasty broth and lactose-free milk as treats, and add additional water to food during mealtimes.
  
  Hope this helped. Best of luck to you and your little guy!

Declawing is the same as surgically removing the last bone from each of your fingertips. Learn to keep the cat's nails trimmed correctly. Too short and if a cat's not used to it, they can't walk, run, or jump without wobbling until they grow back.

Not all cats like scratching posts -- mine prefers cardboard, but not the 'on-edge' cardboard cat scratchers, so my dad helped me add a wooden 'tray' to the top of the post in which I place flat squares of cardboard cut from boxes. She scratches and sleeps there, and sometimes just perches there to watch out the window. Don't get a carpet-covered scratching post or pad unless you want to teach your cat that scratching carpet is a good idea. =P

I have a Booda Dome for a litter box -- she still tracks some litter. I don't think there's a system out there that will keep cats from tracking any. Some litters are better than others. Covered litter boxes are nice for the humans, but not all cats will adapt to the flaps. Some litters are lower 'dust' than others, and this is better for cats' lungs and humans' alike. =)

Not all cats will respond to catnip or all types of toys. My cat is indifferent to laser pointers, and only likes the actual fur-covered realistic mice. She doesn't care for bell toys, but those little plastic springs drive her nuts (when she's in the mood). Her favorite toy is a wooden wobble 'bead' in which you can place catnip. Also a Da Bird Feather Cat Toy which you can make flutter to sound like a real bird. I'd suggest the non-collapsible one, as I'd suspect my cat would pull that apart. =P

Talk to your vet about what food(s) are actually good for your cat. From my research, you want to avoid bone meal products or and 'meal' products as they include ground bone which is hard on your cat's kidneys. Also avoid grains. Turkey is better than chicken; not all fish are terrible, but you have to consider mercury levels. You should consider only feeding your cat wet food, but this is more expensive, and difficult to manage with hurried schedules. Mine loves kibble and hates having to give that up, so I leave that out all the time and supplement with a big scoop of wet food at night. (These are the best quality, least expensive per-serving foods I've found.) A 6-lb. bag of kibble seems to last my cat ~3 months. At four days (servings) per can, the 12-pack of 12.5 oz. cans last about 1.5 months. You'll need two snap-on plastic can lids. My cat adores salmon as you may see. =P

Not all cats will like all types of cat beds.

Mine LOVES water (she literally demands 'cat showers') and she likes to play with the dripping tub faucet, so next I'm going to get a cat drinking fountain. Cats in general prefer 'fresh' or moving water, so mine always wants clean water in her bowl every time.

Because no one cat will like every toy or bed or litter box, you may have to buy more than one. Talk to your vet about what types to try and how to encourage a cat to like what you buy. I put catnip on my cat's things -- that seems to have worked, but not all cats respond to catnip.

I've enjoyed reading through everyone's responses and have added a ton of things to my cart/wishlist...

Amazon is my go-to for pretty much everything --- phone cases, screen protectors, batteries, cat food, random household things. Off the top of my head, my favorites:

• Lightning/micro-USB charging cable. I love that it can flip between the two charging ports; I can use one cable for my iPhone and Kindle, finally! We've replaced all of our electronic cables with these.
  
• My Kindle Voyage. Love, love, love it! It's always with me.
  
• Zinus SmartBase mattress frame. Sturdy, quiet, and super tall for underbed storage. Enough said!
  
• Packing cubes. These are soft-sided packing cubes, which is great for me since I can cram more things into them. I get so much more suitcase space back, and it helps keep things organized once I'm at a hotel.
  
• Stainless steel sink caddy. Sponges left in the sink drive me crazy! I like this one because it also has stands for scrubber brushes and the coordinating soap dispenser (which I also bought) fits nicely in the compartment.
  
• Programmable cat feeder. We've tried so, so many automatic feeders for our cats. The feeders either crap out or the cats figure out how to get it to dispense extra food. This one though --- it's been going strong for 2.5 years and the little jerkbags can't get their paws up the food chute; not that it matters, because portions are on a conveyor belt inside the feeder. You can set multiple feeding times, adjust portions for each meal, and it's super easy to refill thanks to the lid on top. We have a power adapter for it... the manufacturer didn't have the factory one listed at the time (it's separate) so we got a generic multi-purpose one that works.

Former veterinary nurse here. Everything you said is on point. As far as regular kitty maintenance, I cannot recommend a Litter Genie enough. It's definitely sold me on the concept, and if I ever have any babies, I'll definitely get one for them.

I will say though that timed feedings are a great idea if your cat will tolerate it, mostly because you end up knowing exactly how much kitty is eating. One of the first things to go when a cat is feeling unwell is their appetite, and they're notorious for masking symptoms until it's gotten bad. My sister has a cat in end-stage FIV right now for that very reason.

Oh, OP, by the way? If kitty is going to go outside AT ALL, you MUST do two things: parasite prevention and a microchip/FIV vaccine combo. Revolution is my personal favorite parasite prevention, as it's a monthly does and handles heartworms (yes, cats can get them), fleas, ticks, and most intestinal parasites. You have a ton of options, though. As for the FIV vaccine... Feline immunodeficiency virus behaves similarly to HIV/AIDS in humans. It's passed on through saliva, usually from deep bite wounds, as opposed to sharing a water bowl, but there is still some risk there. (This is probably how my sister's cat acquired the infection, as she spends a lot of time outside and has an ultra-nemesis cat that lives nearby.) The vaccine is effective, but it can cause a false positive result on a blood test. The only real solution is to have your kitty microchipped, which IMHO is something all kitties should have done. Here's the imaginary scenario which plays out all too often: Kitty is vaccinated for FIV but doesn't have a chip, gets picked up by animal control, get tested for FIV, and shows a false positive. Any cat that comes in the door with a positive FIV result is likely to be euthanized. However, the first thing anyone does these days is check for a microchip. If it's established that this cat has an owner, the medical workup will continue, but they can't just euthanize your cat anymore. It sucks and it sounds harsh, but it's the same thing as a puppy coming in with parvovirus.

As far as the rest of basic kitty care, a water fountain is definitely an excellent idea. We have one for our two cats and they L O V E it. It's cute and didn't cost very much, either. Here's a link: Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MWVmzbNH28CMW

This sounds ridiculous, but my cats learned to love their scratching posts because we would scratch them together. If one of them ever started to scratch the furniture, I'd go over to the Correct Scratcher™ and mimic scratching it, and they'd go bonkers running over to do it with me. It's pretty cute, tbh.

Wow my heart broke and also grew reading all this. Thank you so much for giving Pepe Le Pew (loved his name!) such a happy life. Roland sounds like he’s very happy with you and I’m so glad to hear he’s got such a loving parent! It takes a beautiful heart to want to do what you’re doing, and I think it’s just amazing. My condolences again friend.

If you don’t mind me asking, how do your cats drink water? I learned that cats don’t drink water often like dogs, and to help prevent kidney issues it’s recommended to get a cat fountain. They are pretty cheap, and I have noticed my cats drink SO MUCH more water now. You can find the one I use here

This is going to be fun. Across my multiple wishlists...

1.) Something that is grey.
Grey bedsheets.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain.
Pet water fountain.

3.) Something food related that is unusual.
Astronaut Ice Cream

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!)
This Bruins banner is for my BFF Becky. She loves the Bruins more than anything. Hockey is her obsession. I put it on my list to remind myself to get it for her at some point. It would make her happy.

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!
The Name of the Wind. Of everything I've read in the past 6 months, this one I devoured and have been desperate for the second book in (it's on my list to pick up this week, actually, if my paycheck EVER comes in).

Look, I hate... HATE... first person perspective. I see it as a sign of sloppy writing. However, this book had me SOLD on it. Kvothe is possibly one of my new favorite characters OF ALL TIME.

Avid reader doesn't even begin to describe me. I have my own library. I need books like air. And if I had to make a list of 100 books that were all I was allowed to have for the rest of my life, THIS WOULD BE ON IT.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
This kindle book

7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...)
The most interesting cat toy in the world

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.
This choker. Enough said.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?
The Breakfast Club Why? Because. It's a good movie. Whether you were the jock, the brain, the spoiled brat, the loser, or the troublemaker-- there's a character you can identify with, and it shows that whatever and whoever you are, you can get along with someone who isn't in your clique.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.
A Seed Vault

Everyone worries about fighting zombies.

Dumb. You see, when the zombies come, I'm holing up. A few weeks and if they are undead, they'll have rotted themselves to death. If they are fast moving, viral sumbitches, then they'll have likely ended up offing themselves through dehydration or whatever.

In any event, I'll wait them out. But then, I will need to rebuilt and eat.

(Besides, I have my trusty zombie-killing baseball bat, and a bow. Quiet. Efficient.)

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals.
This book on Aztec and Inca expansionism. I'm back in school, and my focus is Mesoamerican Studies. Eventual degrees, here I come!

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.
Zucchini seeds.

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?
A KitchenAid Mixer Why? I like to cook and bake. My mother has one that I used for years when I was a kid and still living with her. I'm 30 now. I remember she got it when I was like, 5. IT STILL WORKS. Over a dozen moves, being abused for holidays making bread and cookies and cakes, being used by my Dad (I swear, he looks at appliances and they break) and it STILL FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY.

I cannot think of a kitchen appliance that would be more useful.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box. EDIT A bread box is typically similar in size to a microwave.

This loft bed

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.
How about 7 somethings? A set of dice.

16.) Something that smells wonderful.
Italian Herb Bread Mix It smells good when you open the box. When it's mixed. While it's rising. While it bakes. After it bakes. As you've slathered butter on it and begin to nom.

17.) A (SFW) toy.
Hawkeye is so SFW I would bring him in to put on my desk.

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.
This book, of course.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.
Funko Tyrion Lannister because even a small man can cast a great shadow.

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand.
This.

No one will understand the magnificence of this plushie.

It is a rotund, cuddly, snuggly Cthulhu.

But Cthulhu does not cuddle. He does not care. When the stars are right, he will rise from the deeps and from his seat Ry'leh, devour his cultists-- and everyone else-- by the millions, and bring forth an end to all things.

But how can you deny his Elder God wrath? HOW?! Look at him, all squishy and warm and soft. Look at his little T-Rex arms, reaching out for your love and devotion. His eyes, his wiggly little face tentacles. YOU MUST SNUGGLE HIM.

fear cuts deeper than swords

What do we say to death? NOT TODAY.

First, I suggest listening to the vet :) Kittens grow quickly and are quite active so they need more calories per pound that an adult cat. If your vet thinks he'll grow into it, he probably will.

There are a few ways to tell if your cat's weight is appropriate for his size. You can apparently tell by feeling his ribs or the base of his tail to see how easy it is to feel bones. This seems like a pretty solid resource. I've had trouble with this method since I thought my cat was fine, but turns out she was just a bit overweight.

My cat is pretty much as grown as she'll be. So now I weigh her, which seems much more precise to me. It's tough to get your cat on a scale, but an easy way to do it is to pick him up and hold him while you're on the scale, and then weigh yourself alone and note the difference. It's not quite as exact as a scale made for cats, but it's got the benefits that 1) Your cat is more likely to sit still in your arms for a few seconds than in a scale you put him in every so often 2) it doesn't cost you any more money. It should be accurate enough for the purposes of monitoring weight changes as they can change by as much as 1lb without you noticing otherwise. It doesn't seem like a lot to a person, but for a cat 1lb can be a lot!

It's good that you're getting your cat on quality food. Again, as a kitten, personally I would not worry so much about the feeding pattern as long as it's consistent and he's getting what he needs. If you have a strong bond and he's vocal, there's a good chance he's going to whine for food a lot anyway (my cat makes the most pathetic sounds nearing feeding time, but she's perfectly healthy). I fed my cat 3 times a day as a kitten but now that she's grown she gets fed once in the morning and once in the evening. Unfortunately I can't leave any food for grazing since she'll just eat it all as soon as I fill the bowl.

Also, especially if you're feeding a lot of dry food, make sure you have water available for your cat and that he's drinking it. Cats naturally tend to get most of their water from their prey and have a low thirst drive. That doesn't exactly work when you're feeding them dry food so dehydration is a problem for some cats. They tend to like running water more than still water (you may notice he's interested by a running tap) so an inexpensive fountain like this one works for my cat.

Good luck, and I wish you and your new buddy a long healthy time together!

My cats are Sammy and Mittens! Sammy is the older cat at almost 8 years old and Mittens is only 3. My boyfriend got Sammy six months before he met me and we adopted Mittens together. Sammy is a grumpy old lady who's life revolves around meal time but she is also super cuddly and loveable. Mittens is like a picture perfect cat, she is always insanely adorable and posing, but she doesn't like to cuddle to much.

I would like an amazon gift card please because I am trying to save up for a drinking fountain for them. Mittens is prone to having a UTI and needs to be encouraged to drink more water.

I don't have a dog yet, but I plan on adopting one in the future. I bet your dogs would like this toy you stuff it with an empty water bottle instead of stuffing so they won't get stuffing everywhere and they love the krinkly noise it makes!

get a covered littler box... and get the arm and hammer double duty cat litter... it's the best I have come across so far to absorb odors...

also, you will probably have to promise her to clean the litter box all the time... if you decide to get multiple cats, you need at least one litter box per cat... plus one more if you get several cats... but that's a little down the line... gotta get the first one in the door first...

what you may have to do is just go out and get one... get a kitten because who the hell can resist their perpetual cuteness... she should fall in love instantly... but, if you don't want to take a chance of having her kill you and want her to be in on it, one thing to know, that I have experienced, when you get a kitten, the person who holds it on the ride home will become it's mom/dad (this may be theory, but it has happened with all our cats) so you may want to have a friend take you so the both of you can be there to play with it on the way home...

whatever you do, DON'T get a cat declawed... it's wrong and mean and needless if you have the proper scratching things for them to... well, scratch on... our cats like those disposable cardboard scratchers you see at the pet store...

you'll probably want a cat tree too... something where it has places to hide and a platform to get up above most of the action... if you have the tools and ability, you can even make your own out of wood and carpeting... cats will even scratch on those...

when you bring them home for the first time, open their carrier and let them come out at their own pace... don't force them out... and if they do bolt out and hide somewhere, let them stay hidden until they come out on their own... but have plenty of toys for them to choose from... I suggest one of these and one of these because our cats love them...

as for food, get the appropriate food for their age... preferably an indoor formula that helps with hairballs... because they WILL hork up hairballs regularly... be ready to clean those too... for water, I suggest one of these since cats love to drink from the faucets... so break that habit before it even starts so you're not here in three to six months asking about cats and drinking from the sink...

umm... that's all I can think of off the top of my head... I am by no means a professional, but just someone who cares about their cats (and I have a girlfriend so I am not a crazy cat guy)

any other questions, just ask... someone will be able to answer what I can't

TL;DR: none. it's a lot to read, but it's good info as far as I understand...

I have a puker. Things that really improved his pukeyness was a cat supplement that helps them with their gut. (Links below) Its advertised to help with poop issues, but will definitely help with puke issues as well.

You also need to make sure that there is NO grains in his/her food. Cats shouldn't have any grains in their food. Lots of cheap pet food use that as filler. Secondly, a lot of cheap food uses sub par ingredients. Check your cats food for chicken by product. It's bad for them. Its basically all the parts left over from taking the good stuff from the chicken. Wikipedia defines it as "It is made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs, but only contains feathers that are unavoidable in the processing of the poultry parts." Sounds pretty yucky, huh? You wouldn't eat it, so why should you feed it to your cat?
Crappy cat foods use a ton of fillers that are basically the equivalent to a bag of cheetos to humans.

Switch to a brand that is grain free and uses whole meats such as the wellness I linked below. Blue buffalo is also a good alternative. Do you feed your cat wet food? If not, try feeding a good wet food (Linked below). My cats love the core wellness wet food and really eating wet food is better than an all dry diet.

All this stuff is a little pricey, but its worth it in the long run. Taking him to the vet all the time is probably more expensive than switching to a better food. Do it slowly as well, like over a week or two.

Basically anything you can find in your grocery store's pet isle you shouldn't be feeding your pet. Its all junk. Even the "high end" purnia foods. Junk. I know purina makes a sensitive stomach formula for cats. I tried it and it didn't help my furry little puke machine at all. All these crappy foods don't really fill your cat up as much as a good food will so they will be hungrier more often because the quality of the food is just crap.

How I solved my cat puke problem was feeding them wet food in the morning and evening and leaving out a small bowl of dry food for them to snack on throughout the day. If your cat isn't really super hungry than they will eat a bit slower and that'll keep her from throwing up. Some cats don't handle the self regulating diet and instead just end up eating more food, so figure out if your cat(s) can handle grazing between wet food meals.

You can also try getting a cat water fountain and placing it somewhere separate from their water. Cats are weird and don't like their water near their food. Cats get most of their water from their food but having a flowing water source can really help them up their water intake. If cats don't get enough water they are prone to developing kidney and bladder problems. The Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain is really good. I have mine in my bathroom and my cats really enjoy playing with the water and getting their paws wet and licking them etc etc.

As for the stains, the stain remover I linked below is a god send. It's a good product that cleans up stains really well. It even does cat pee. I have light carpets and this stuff takes it right out and leaves no marks behind. It should even work on your old stains, you just have to leave it a little longer.

I know all this stuff adds up to a ton of money but its so worth it not to have to clean up cat puke all the time. I did a ton of research for my puke machine and he went from puking 3-4 times a week to puking maybe every 3 months and then its usually just a hairball. His coat also looked better and he was softer.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to help you figure this out and field any more questions about how I solved my cats puke problems.

Wellness


Core Wellness Wet Food


Stain Remover


[puke helper](
http://www.amazon.com/Purina-Fortiflora-Feline-Nutritional-Supplement/dp/B001650OE0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1368101518&sr=1-2&keywords=fortiflora)

Cat Nutritional Supplements

I am very sorry to hear about your family member. I hope you and your family have wonderful memories of them and that they were able to accomplish what they wanted to in life. I'm sure they were very loved by you and the fact that you celebrate their memory by giving is wonderful.

---

My highest priority items are this outdoor habitat and this pet fountain for my cat and this bag for myself.

I ask for items for my cat in every contest I enter, because I want her to be happy and I can't afford anything for her right now. Once I start working again I will be getting her everything on my list. But until then she is my priority!

The bag is something that I'd like to have because my current purse-thing is starting to wither. I also would prefer a cross-body strap because it would be better for my back. Also, it's pretty. :D

Sort my priorities Candroth, I BESEECH YOU.

• For future reference: for each cat you have, make sure to have +1 litter box for the total amount of cats you have. For instance, you have one right now? Try to have 2 if you have the space for it.
  
  
• Doggy bags have been great for us when cleaning our cat's litter contents (lol), but we also invested in a litter genie which is honestly the best purchase. This litter deodorizer comes at a close second.
  
  
• The Furminator is great for brushing, but some cats don't like it. Mine likes the Kong Brush, but we also tested out grooming mitts and fine tooth combs too. It completely depends on your little one.
  
  
• I've seen a few comments on r/pets about Blue Buffalo dry food being tied to more urine crystals, but I generally try to limit how much dry food I give my cat since she doesn't tend to go to her drinking fountain as often as we'd like.
  
  
• If you haven't already got a cat tree/scratchpost/tower, check out your local Marshalls or TJ Maxx. They have really great options and for much cheaper than some pet stores and they're usually assembled.
  
  

Some ideas that have worked for my anxious kitty who also didn’t like exercise:

Feliway brand pheromone spray and collar (or any of their other products). It helps the cats feel calm and humans can’t smell them. https://www.feliway.com/us

A timed auto feeder. My cat has harassed auto feeders instead of me, which is a nice break for me.

Indoor hunting feeder (like this brand https://docandphoebe.com/). It mixes exercise and play with food because the cat has to seek out where their food is hidden.

“Puzzle” feeders like this one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Interactive-Dispenser-Treats/dp/B003H44R5K. Like the hunting feeder, the cat will have to work at least a bit to get his food.

Lots of toys for exercise! I sew mini pillows (about the size of your palm) and fill them with catnip and crinkly paper in addition to normal polyester pillow stuffing. I hide them around the house for the cats to find. They love them and they’re very cheap to make with scrap fabric.

I’ve also introduced more rewards that aren’t food related. Our one cat (Spud) needed to lose quite a bit of weight. It was hard because I love to give him treats when he’s sweet. I started giving him bits of catnip, cat grass, toys, extra cuddles, and brushing him instead. He now has more things he associates with positive behavior that aren’t treats!

I wish you the best!!

Whatever you get, go for a ceramic or metal one. Theyre easier to clean than plastic, and last longer. I put my ceramic one in the dishwasher.

You do have to clean it regularly every 1 to 2 weeks, so get one with less awkward shaped pieces to clean.

I'm pretty sure all of them have this, but make sure it uses a good filter.

Honestly cat fountains are awesome and every owner should get one. Cats that eat dry food usually do not get enough water with a normal bowl since they instinctually avoid drinking from standing water (also, avoid putting the water next to their food). Also, you have to fill it up less! It's only a minute at most every day, but it's nice not having to worry about it.

Edit: I originally had this one (or one like it) and you can see from my recommendations above the issues I had with it https://www.chewy.com/drinkwell-platinum-pet-fountain-13/dp/48102?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Drinkwell&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoKzsBRC5ARIsAITcwXGTnem57Axg6L0moqegE58nIB1v2jwT6YttNSD-ryPTYB7L0l9PSxQaAm8TEALw_wcB

I now have this one and love it: PetSafe Drinkwell Pagoda Ceramic Dog and Cat Water Fountain, White, 70 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zG3IDbR8SK0P6

I totally hear you. Good luck! It's so stressful but worth it Our 3 yr old male kitty had crystals and was hopitalized for 4 days in December. He's great now and even happier than before, playing even more vigorously. I haven't read as many research papers as I'd like to about it but we kinda feel like stress and dehydration/dry food might have factored in though I know that there are cats with other urinary tract issues with different causes or prognosis. He loves drinking out of the tub and we had multiple foster cats/kittens getting in his life and added quite a bit of stress then most of them left but my husband got really ill, my parents visited, so there was even more home stress then he got blocked after a few weeks of me thinking he was marking due to the momma cat he hadn't liked but I think in reality was him having urinary issues.

Anyways, we buy the prescription Royal Canin food on Chewy.com but I am thinking of phasing him over to the over the counter Purina Pro Plan Urinary. He's happy now, plays even more, loves the tub water and his fountain. Got stainless steel to avoid kitty acne but keep it clean! I wish you the best and hope it's a smooth recovery and he makes it through! Ours was on anti spasm meds for awhile after and it took him some time to get back to normal due to the trauma of the catheter. He was dripping and acting quite weird but eventually got back to normal.

I had a cat that became like this because my father got so annoyed by her meows that he would feed her every time she meowed just to shut her up. It did not work, because she just became conditioned that meows = food, and so, by the end of her life, she was just constantly meowing.

If he is going to meow anyway, I would say that it is worth limiting his food. A few weeks of dramatics should eventually fade off as he learns that it will not work. Cats are very smart animals - smarter than dogs, in some ways. They are highly trainable.

You can also try one of the many devices on the market that require the cat to "work" for its food, e.g. this ball that lets out just a little food at a time. Start slowly cutting down on his food as you add more and more kibble or treats to this ball.

We taught our cat to do tricks. The first thing that we did was to teach him to sit, and so now he always does this (sits politely in front of his food bowl or by your chair) when he wants food.

It is also worth mentioning that dry food is actually more fattening and less healthy than canned food, so a partial switch may be in order.

Lastly, you can try switching to an automatic feeder, so that humans are removed almost entirely from the equation entirely. This may help to rewire his conditioning.

Anyhow, best of luck!

Edit: I want to add that skin conditions are pretty common in obese cats. They may not be able to reach all of their fur to keep it clean. Having unkempt fur and skin that he can't reach would be very, very uncomfortable for your cat, and may be part of what is making him so miserable. There are wipes on the market that would allow you to clean the affected area for him, or you could consider giving him a bath every once and a while (I know, I know, but it is possible to ease him into the process). You can also try giving him a little plain olive oil every once and a while. This is safe for cats, can be good for their skin and coats just like it is for humans, and they sometimes really like the flavor. My cat has some very dry and damaged paw pads from his prior life as a stray, and so we put this stuff on his paws every once and a while. He will also eat it mixed into his food.

I would definitely take the cat to the vet first off to make sure to get a good exam and that it is up to date with shots. Definitely get a litter box and litter. When it comes to feeding be sure to feed both dry and wet food. For food definitely look for food that has chicken as the main ingredient. I recently learned grain free is the best. As for water source I use a drinking fountain for my boys. (I got it on amazon and here is the link. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Tier-Pet-Fountain/dp/B0056ASTES/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1478818021&sr=1-5&keywords=drinkwell+pet+fountain) Definitely have a range of toys: from dancers, little balls, laser points, etc) Have treats when they do a good deed. Give him time to explore and let him come to you rather you force him to snuggle and cuddle, etc. Hope this helps and keep us posted and post pictures too!

NAH except for the cat. (I say this as a proud owner of a terror of a cat when he's hungry)

Just a suggestion, because I used to have this same problem: You can get one like this that lets you measure out each portion in advance and just opens that compartment: PetSafe 5 Meal Pet Feeder for Dogs and Cats - Food Dispenser - Portion Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SfNODb68GREPW

I have been using a similar one for probably five years now. My cat is super wily, so I had to weight it down with a two pound weight but it was totally worth it.

And my cat still super super loves me. He goes to eat in the morning while I sleep in then comes back into bed and cuddles with us. Good luck!

2 days? perfectly normal for many cats. as others have already said, you have nothing to worry about. I'm just going to echo what others have said: let him have hidey holes, and make sure there are accessible perches that are even higher than you so kitty can watch everything when he decides to come out.

Maybe every once in a while lay down near his hole, and lay down some treats, maybe in a little line from right near the entrance to right up next to you. Close your eyes, take a little nap or something, let him explore in his own good time. Then get up and leave after a while (15 minutes or more) if he hasn't come to you. But don't stare at him or watch him during this time. Do that every few days just to see how close to you he's come in eating the treats.

also, regarding water, i STRONGLY recommend this water fountain. it's great, easy to clean, doesn't need to be cleaned often, and most cats love it. healthier to have moving water too.

Wet food naturally has moisture so cats will drink less anyways.

After my cat had a urinary obstruction, I also switched to wet food. In addition, I add a little filtered water to their wet food to increase its moisture even more (like an 1/4 cup per can) and I got a pet fountain. The cats now have plenty of moisture in their diet, and while they do drink less than with wet food, I still see them playing with the fountain and licking water from their paws / drinking from it occasionally. I know you already have one, but I got this one and it's awesome and super easy to clean. Maybe it might be worth switching it up?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0037NKDSG/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W5GYSRYZ2RJ9ZNBFDFKT

Also, don't keep your water directly next to the food supply- cats have a natural instinct to find clean water, and avoid water sources near their killed prey to minimize contamination. Try moving the water further away and see if it helps!

I'm so glad your cat is alright!

I'm so sorry you're having to treat infections, it sounds like your cat has a more severe case! :( I am happy to tell you what has worked for us.

To cure this particular flare-up, we added water to her food for hydration and gave her some tuna (more pungent so she would eat it even with her nose clogged).

We also purchased this moving water fountain. She slurps out of that thing where she wouldn't even look at her water bowl before. We also ran a humidifier for a while. She might have been on the up and up anyway, but all of this seemed to do the trick.

I mainly try to reduce her stress by keeping everything consistent, especially the kind of litter I use. If you're not already, do consider using a dust-free corn based litter like World's Best. Their lungs are smaller and the dust can really aggravate them.

Anitra's Vitamineral Mix is something you might want to look into as a wet food supplement. I considered using Feliway like one poster here suggested, but the price kind of kept me from pulling the trigger and we've been fortunate to not have another outbreak.

You might have known all of this already, in which case just ignore me, but I really hope your kitty gets feeling better. The Natural Cat is a book that really helped me after I first adopted. I don't agree with everything she prescribes and she's big on holistic treatments (avoiding the vet and medication as much as possible) but the lady knows her cats and I think everyone has something to learn. When nothing else has worked, it might be worth a shot! Take care!

weight control foods almost always suck, i'd completely ditch them.

you want a low carb food which is hard to find with dry. dry is usually 45% carbs or more which is why so many kitties are so overweight. the best low carb food i've found is Innova Evo which is around 7-8% carbs. it's expensive but it's also very high calorie so it WILL go further. i can vouch for how good this food is, i have had cats lose weight on it and have silky coats.

a great rule of thumb for adult cats is to feed 20 calories per 1 lb of ideal body weight. so if for example you want him to be 12 lbs, feed him 240 cal of food a day. chewy lists the nutritional info so you can figure out the exact measurement.

also he sounds a bit food obsessed so consider disassociating yourself with his meals. i would do this by using an auto feeder. this is the best one i've found and it's built like a tank so he won't be able to break into it. he'll quickly learn where his food comes from and maybe chill out on his humans a little :)

lastly boy cats being on an all dry diet does carry some health risks down the road. ensure he is drinking plenty of water. if you already haven't, consider a water fountain. and keep his water away from his food dish as some cats are picky about food smells + water.

We got this PetSafe Ceramic Fountain because one of our cats got a UTI and bladder stones.

It’s pricey AF, but worth it in our eyes. Our cats love drinking from it. They drink way more water now than they did when they just had bowls, which is keeping them both healthy (but especially the one who got the UTI). It’s also pretty easy to clean and has replaceable filters.

Not sure this is exactly the kind of thing you’ll want, and it’s right at that $50 cutoff, but I love this PetSafe feeder. It is battery operated and rotates through five vestibules. Works for either wet or dry food but I imagine wet would get rather crusty?? Anyway, we use it for weekends away because it’s perfect for covering two days with two feedings a day. You could easily refill it throughout the week though, to use it all the time. It’s especially helpful if you’re trying to only feed your pet a certain amount or monitor their food intake. The only downside is that it’s better for smaller animals probably—cats or smaller dogs. Or smaller food portions, anyway.

How often do you play with Finn? Does Finn have any type of routine with you in the evening?

Even though Finn has cat buddies, that doesn't mean he is entirely entertained by them 24/7. I would suggest dedicating a good 30 minutes to play time in the evenings, every day. Cats need to "hunt" every day. Finn sounds like he would really benefit from a cat toy like THIS.


Also, perhaps a different type of "watering hole". Cats like to think that they are drinking fresh water. Think about it like nature... cats in the wild tend to drink from bodies of water that are at least, slightly, moving. Still water breeds sickness. Maybe try THIS.

If those options don't work.. try the vet.

Of course I do! :-D We used the Drinkwell Platinum 360 and our cats love it! It's really sturdy, and a great thing about the stainless steel is that you can put it right in the dishwasher. I'm not a fan of the plastic ones, as they can sometimes harbor bacteria (even after cleaning) that can cause chin acne, and I find them harder to get clean. I think some of them are top-rack safe in the dishwasher, but the stainless steel ones can just go wherever you can fit them and get nice and clean. :)

Very similiar! You can find it [here!] (https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Design-Fountain-Softening-Cartridge/dp/B00CO527IC/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=catit+fountain&qid=1572796419&sr=8-5)

And [these] (https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Fountain-Replacement-Filters-Dispenser/dp/B0748H3GKN/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?keywords=catit+filter&pd_rd_i=B0748H3GKN&pd_rd_r=0aa67d04-ff09-4587-aff7-72bb77ce26f7&pd_rd_w=vhElM&pd_rd_wg=VgmWT&pf_rd_p=1cb3f32a-ccfd-479b-8a13-b22f56c942c6&pf_rd_r=K52HZ8PZ7PB3C8C6RJN0&psc=1&qid=1572796532) are the replacement filters I get, best quality I've found!

Edit: also, I've had it for 3 years and it still is great -- and when you clean it out, you should clean out the water pump thing too! Great fountain :)

Weasley looks like he could be a cat model! He needs to be on tv selling me cat food! He's so handsome!

If your cat likes to drink out of the faucet I would recommend saving up for one of These it's how we stopped our cat from drinking from the faucet, and allowed us to actually turn it off lol. It's the stream of running water they are attracted to. Our Voltron loves it, he drinks way more water now also. It is by far the best thing we have bought our cat, Drinkwell has all sorts of different fountains that have running streams that range in price and material (ceramic/stainless steel/plastic), we decided stainless because it looks nice.

Try a free-feeding puzzle feeder. My cat got to a chonking 16 pounds (which is large for her size). We purchased a Catit puzzle feeder and she lost the weight in a few months. And she’s maintained herself at a perfect (for her) weight of 8.5 lbs for over 2 years now. Because my girl is a natural borne ✨Diva✨ my husband was against it at first, but it’s cheap, so...what’s to lose? I spent a couple minutes poking my fingers in and knocking bits down to show her the idea and she took to it like a fish to water. We now have a second one, of a different style and different maker, that we put elsewhere in the house and fill with a different flavor/type of food. Both my cats love them. The idea is to prevent them from easily eating too much when bored and to make eating more stimulating, like a hunt.

They can eat as much as they want for as long as they want, but they have to earn every last kibble of it. My (former) fat cat seemed to live in front of the feeder at first - knocking food down most of her waking hours. But now it’s just a few times a day, and maybe a single tablespoon’s worth of food at a time.

This is another Catit puzzle feeder. They also have a variety of puzzle feeder toys - if you’re OK with bits of kibble all over the house. This is just one example.

(We actually just had to put our former chonker on a special renal diet. (She’s 18). We picked her favorite puzzle feeder and changed just it to the new, specialty food and left the normal food in the other. My two girls haven’t had a stitch of trouble telling which is which. I think the only downside - as they see it - is that they’ve lost the diversity of two feeders. (According to the stuff I’ve read, they recommend multiple feeders spaced around the house to engage their instinct to search out food.) But I’ll be damned if I’m going to have multiples for each type of food spaced around the house. After all, there’s only so much room in my house.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NIZAH6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share I think you could find it at PetSmart too

This is a great fountain because you can easily change how many spouts of water there are, a cat can either drink from the basin or lap up the streaming water (which my boys love to do) It is VERY easy to clean and take apart, you could even put most of it in the dishwasher if you wanted to. I've never had an issue w it causing more acne w my youngest cat, who is prone to get clusters on his chin since he doesn't really clean himself v well. He had more of it when I was just using ceramic bowls as water dishes actually.

As far as the acne on the chin, if your cat can't groom there and it seem to be bothering him, there are wipes and things you can get to help keep clean.

I would do the same, and change out my cats' water bowl each morning. They were particular about fresh water as well. And as soon as I got them a fountain, they started drinking from it A LOT more often. They loved it! Mine has a little charcoal filter in the intake, so it's been lasting pretty well. Cats really prefer moving water, which is why they love it so much. Mine specifically drink out of the mini waterfall part. Cats also usually like it better when their food and water are separated, in different spots.

My cat was super picky - fresh water every morning wasn't even good enough for him! I had a different fountain for a few years and recently got this one - stainless steel, and several options for water flow. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Multi-Pet-Stainless-Fountain/dp/B002SB91QS

It's super easy to take apart, just the cone and bowl, then the pump, spout, and tube connecting them. There's a filter around the pump to catch bigger things like fur and debris, and a charcoal filter just before the spout. It's pretty easy to clean, too.

As for hard water, my cat was spoiled - I would use filtered water from the fridge or gallon jugs at the grocery store.

Yeah, this seems pretty complicated as some others are saying as well. As a software dev myself, I often find DIY electronics have a much higher risk of failure because you forget about an odd scenario (ex. float switch failure) that eventually causes a huge headache (ex. flooded house).

Are you already using a controller for your tank? If not, I would just get one and upgrade it to eventually run auto-water changes. It of course will do much more as well all of which will help keep your tank stable and happy.

If you do have a controller, this can be done by using two equal strength pumps that put water in a tank water out at a set time every day/week.

Either way, having my 80 gallon in a small city apartment my GF is always on me about tank stuff being around the place. I bought this Dog food storage container as it holds about 12 gallons of water for my ATO. It also fits perfectly inside a cabinet from Ikea (couldn't find the link, sorry).

If you choose the DIY route, good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4

Its awesome. Only fill it about once every few days, and I clean it every week or so (though Ill admit sometimes I get too busy and forget).

It dismantles into bottom, middle, cover and the motor. The motor has a few little parts to be taken apart, but its all easily done and cleaned in about 5-10mins.

Ive had it for YEARS. Since 2010 I think. I thought it stopped working the other day, turned out the motor had just gunked up and I had not cleared it out well enough.

He loves it too. Better than him drinking out of the damned tub.

Oh and you cant see it, but i also have this
http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Planet-Programmable-Electronic-Feeder/dp/B00ATJSH4S/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1422348072&sr=1-1&keywords=animal+planet+pet+feeder

2 times a day, half a cup. Keeps him from chowing down and me from overfeeding him. I wipe it out when I refill it, but its pretty cool.

He does get antsy though and will start yelling for food about 2 hours before the thing goes off.

I have the Pioneer Raindrop fountain (here) for $30 and I use these filters. I only need to replace the filter once every one to two months. Totally worth it because of how much the cats love it, and it gives me peace of mind knowing that it's helping them stay healthy.

Our first cat, Roger (whom I originally bought the fountain for), was terrified of it at first. A month went by before he finally had the courage to drink from it, and then he quickly adored it. Unfortunately he passed away, and we adopted two kittens. Simon and Chloe instantly loved it as soon as we brought them home. So there's a chance she may hate it at first, but running water is very natural and appealing to cats. I think she would grow to like a fountain very quickly. :)

Obviously the solution is to just take your baby with you on your trip! :D

lol no I'm just kidding. I would recommend this one, or a style like it:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498146424&sr=8-2&keywords=automatic+cat+feeders
Since you'll have someone coming over every other day, they'll be able to refill the bowls. I like it because it works with wet food! But if your cat is too curious they might be able to pry open the door...Best of luck! And enjoy your vacation!

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-LeBistro-Portion-Automatic-Bleached/dp/B0016BVY2U/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1321641636&sr=1-2

Best thing EVER!

1. It has timers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (You can select, one, two or all three meals.)
   
2. It has an option for a power supply (which i think you have to purchase separately)... and battery back up
   
3. I would suggest keeping the bowl and the plastic part above where the food comes out clean. (I usually clean the plastic part above where the food comes out with an alcohol wipe. The reason for this is because it gets surprisingly dirty and i noticed one of my cats was getting some kitty acne above his eye. It cleared RIGHT up when i started keeping it clean about once a week. Same thing with the bowl part. I clean it about once a week with soap and water)
   
   I love this thing!
   
   

Just any higher quality soft food, to be honest. They will probably try to sell you on the Science Diet food that is supposedly formulated for urinary tract issues. A good quality soft food that isn't, say, friskies, offbrand, or fancy feast, will be good. Iams is pretty decent with their soft food, but it has been a while since I used that brand. As for water fountains, ones with removable carbon filters tend to work best. They do require thorough cleanings every now and then because cats saliva will always get into the water dish and cycled through so it eventually makes it dirty and a bit slimey. I use an old toothbrush to clean the harder to reach spots. Takes me about fifteen minutes every two weeks. This is with multiple cats, though. I'm not too sure how long you can go between cleanings for less than three cats.

This fountain is generally well-recommended and works decently. It has replaceable carbon filters so once they get pretty nasty you can just replace with a new one.

As for the methionine, if it ever comes to that, you can order it online, I believe. They sell it in some sort of meat flavored chewable tablets for cats, I believe. We crush them up and mix in with their soft food and that's that. It's not super expensive to order, either. My mom has always had a very limited budget and we have managed perfectly fine.

Honestly it's alright to keep feeding your cat some hard food, too, just read the ingredients beforehand. Ash is what you want to look out for. The main thing is to just introduce more moisture into your kitty's diet. We usually will mix a small handful of hard food with a can of wet food and feed them that way.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Stainless-Multi-Pet-Fountain/dp/B002SB91QS/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_20?th=1

This is unfortunately pretty pricey($65~) but it is the best fountain that my girlfriend and I have found. We got tired of buying $20 and $30 fountains and having them break after only a few months. This one has been going strong for well over a year now and it is as good as new.

There is a plastic version of it but I liked the idea of stainless over plastic as it won't hold tastes and is much more durable.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-360-Pet-Fountain/dp/B001NIZAH6?th=1

I got an answer for this! I too noticed a while back my cat loved drinking from the sink more than his bowl, and it turns out almost everyone who has a cat has the same issue!

So after some researching it turns out that cats are not fully domesticated (this is why they have such a strong need to hunt) and because of this they don’t drink water the same way dogs do.

A cat won’t want to drink water from a bowl, however if a cat hears running water it’ll kick start their instincts (just like when a cat sees a bird, something inside them clicks) and they’ll want to drink as much water as they can.

Without the sound of running water, a cat will get most of its water from wet food, because they will only drink when they are very thirsty. This is why it’s so common for cats to get kidney and bladder problems.

The best thing you can do is get a fountain for your cat.

There are some on amazon that very affordable, I use the catit water filter. I like it’s design and the way it uses it’s filters. You can also use it without filters, but if you make sure to clean out the water more often. Like once every day or so.

You’ll also have to keep an eye on the fountain, they’ll need to be cleaned often because if it it can get mold.

It’s a little bit more work, but it’s a HUGE difference. My cats drink so much water, it even reduced the stench of their urine.

Please consider doing this for your cat, and spreading the awareness. This alone can make your cat live so much longer and healthier.

cat fountain that I use

I also had to duct tape the bowl when we had that feeder. lol. Most cats are little shits that will figure out how to destroy anything you don't want them to mess with. Our cat is pretty well behaved but eventually she started messing with that feeder to the point where it had to go. There are zero issues with the new feeder due to the great design and quality of it.

That feeder I linked may be slightly cheaper somewhere else and it certainly costs way more than the other one but man, it has made all the difference. You have so much more control with the schedule and portions. I can feed her less food more frequently so her metabolism kicks into high gear. It's amazing what losing a pound does for a cat.

Also, since cats prefer running water to still water, she has been drinking tons of water since we got this- https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1480447163&sr=1-1&keywords=drinkwell+platinum

Works great but does need to be cleaned every week or two.

Not dog, but we have automatic feeders for our two cats and it’s been an absolute lifesaver! We originally got them to make things easier for pet sitters (one of our cats is on a special diet, gets over excited if not fed on time and vomits, AND is terrible at ad lib feeding. He literally eats until he can’t move; we tried it once and omg the diarrhea and labored breathing 🤦🏼‍♀️)
It can be programmed for as small as 1/8 cup and can do several times feedings throughout the day. They are battery powered (C or D, I can’t recall) and we haven’t had to change them in almost 2 years; though we will have to probably in the next month or so as it’s on it’s last bar.
I believe they are PetSafe brand and are about $135, but they have been worth every penny.
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dhlVCbFC2BFQK

Another note on water dishes: actually wash them with dish soap from time to time unless you want your cat drinking whatever's going to grow.

Water fountains like Drinkwell (my dad gifted me that model, but there are cheaper by even the same brand) are a great idea if you can swing it, though definitely not mandatory. Cats like running water and some may get into the habit of "demanding" you run the sink for them, so it's just a nice way to play into their instinct of seeking running water. These also need to be cleaned, but they're filtered.

Here's a list of the protein/fat/carb content of most commercially available wet foods for reference: http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Shoot for a carb content under 10%. It doesn't have to be super expensive--Fancy Feast classics (and kitten feast) are low carb. The calorie column of the chart could also help you find something that has more calories for their growing bodies without too much volume in their stomachs.

I bought an autofeeder that works with wet food, and it has been a lifesaver for making sure my cat gets smaller, more frequent meals even when I'm at work or sleeping. She tends to get sick if she eats too much at once or goes too long without eating. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/

Good luck; hope the little ones feel better soon!

I have this. Just got it not even two weeks ago. It is very, very easy to clean and stays cleaner than my old automatic waterer and much cleaner than a bowl. You can use it with or without a filter, it came with one and I plan to always use a filter but the filter does get mucky pretty quick.

The first day I had the fountain, my dog stuck his entire face in the bowl and the water stream.

I like it though. It's infinitely easier to clean than the old one I had.

Is getting him a companion an option? Our rabbits have become very content getting affection from each other, instead of obsessively demanding it from us when we're not available.

Wild rabbits maintain a range of 3-10 acres and live in social groups. This is what they're hardwired to want, so making them live solitary lives in small cages, with limited opportunities to forage and explore mean that we have smart little creatures who are lonely, bored, and full of energy. Factor in their crepuscular natures, and it's really a marvel that anybody with a pet rabbit gets to sleep at all.

Try to increase his exercise during the day and provide more stimulation to mimic what he'd get in a more natural habitat.

More run time and more exploration of new areas and spaces (even just rooms he's unfamiliar with) can give him much needed stimulation.

Increase his forage opportunities: If he gets pellets, try feeding them in a puzzle toy ([like this]{http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Egg-Cersizer-Meal-Dispensing-Cat/dp/B003H44R5K/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1417559491&sr=8-10&keywords=kibble+dispensing+toy}) so that he has to exert himself to get them. Similarly, we'll sometimes crumple the end of a cardboard tube, put pellets in, and then stuff the other side with crumpled paper or hay.

Getting up and feeding him to make him quiet down will only teach him that if he makes enough noise, he'll get what he wants.

Agree with everyone here. Got this for my cat when he was about 6 months. He didn't have a problem before but he always liked the shower water, so I figured I'd try it. He loves it so much he plays and splashes in it (but also drinks!). Highly recommended.

I have one of these in plastic, which isn't a bad idea if you aren't sure about it yet. http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1369948231&sr=1-3&keywords=pet+fountain

Jumping on your comment to say: My vets have advised me that the first ingredient in cat food should be some sort of whole meat - not a grain or meal (corn meal is popular) or vegetable. Cats are obligate carnivores and need to eat meat.

Also, if your cat won’t eat wet food (mine won’t, the tiny asshole) make doubly sure to provide water. Cats generally like their food and water sources to be separate, for some reason. I keep the litter box, food and water in three separate rooms. My cat is particular about his water fountain but really likes this one: Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B8YyDbEX56WVY

All this said but cats are super individual. They aren’t very good at adapting to new situations, so you have to meet them (more than) half way.

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_17

and the buns drink from the bowl part, the cat likes to drink from the running water streaming down. Our two buns are just little (~1.5kg?) but they seem to like it.

It does have a cord that you may have to protect, of course. The best part is the big reservoir on it, surprising how fast three small mammals go through water.

This is the one I have...

It has been working great for 3.5 years but has to be taken apart and cleaned with special brushes I had to get for it. (Otherwise there is gunk buildup in the nooks and crannies.) Every time I go to clean it I tell myself that I'm going to just throw it out and buy a model that's easier to clean. However, once I'm done with the nightmare, I just keep using it, "well, it still works fine."

I don't have an issue with a $45 pet gate. The pet gate in particular, if you read the post, is only an issue because my family members who have grown up on a farm and taken care of dozens of animals think I would be babying the cat by placing these protective measures. Since I am living in their house at the moment, it would be a little difficult to override, but not impossible. The first thing I am going to do upon getting the cat is indeed to bring it to the vet.

To give an example of what an appropriate expense is (to me), I've already bought this water bowl for her. It's $42, but I would be willing to do this to prevent her from getting UTIs or anything else associated from dehydration. No one would comment on it, because it's unobtrusive. The gate on the other hand, cordoning off places that people actually walk through, is going to bring me a lot of trouble. As I've already stated, it's trouble I'm willing to deal with. They are not unreasonable people, but there is a cultural difference.

All I am asking is what the best option in this type of situation seems to be, since most of the advice I've researched on the internet seems to be directed at adult or baby kittens; not 6 month old cats. (Somewhat in between?)

If she got sick, there would be no expenses spared. I am well within my means to support a cat.

Which other part of the story sounds like an unideal environment? Why do you feel that I am rushing it? I am genuinely concerned; please do not take these questions as a defensive retort.

Do you feel that based on what you read, I should not be adopting a cat at all?

The purpose of the original topic was to ask whether or not I should seclude the cat: if anything an answer to this question in particular would be deeply appreciated.

ALSO it just occurred to me, would a pet gate even keep in a six month old cat?

I've used the PetSafe Healthy Pet feeder for years for my cats, it's pretty solid and easy to program. My only complaint is that food seems to go stale or off in the plastic bin on it, I solved that by just leaving the food in the bag and putting that upside down. It was great for cats so I could dispense a little bit throughout the day to keep them from waking me up early or nagging. Only reason I'm switching is to go to a microchip feeder because my current two need separate bowls/diets.

If I had to replace the auto-feeder with another auto-feeder, though, I would probably upgrade to the PetSafe Smart Feed which has WiFi and a more solidly attached bowl. I've seen that one go on good sales for Black Friday and Prime Day in July.

If you're going to be out for long stretches of time every day, I would suggest not getting a kitten and instead looking for an older cat who is house trained and accustomed to being alone during the day.

As far as vacation is concerned your best bet is to find a friend/relative who will be willing to drop by your house once a day to put down food/clean litter/play with the kitty for a bit. If you are only heading off for a long weekend these things can easily be taken care of by using pet fountains, automated feeders, heck you can even get self cleaning litter trays. Any longer than that though and it's best to get someone to come round and take care of these things.

One more thing, whilst feeding you cat and providing litter may be reasonably cheap, vets bills can be INSANE. I would definitely recommend getting pet insurance.

That is a very nice fountain... Bonus that I think it's pretty ascetically pleasing for humans also. I plan on upgrading soon to a porcelain one... For now my two cats like this one as well...
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_2

My cat loved the sink, so I bought her a Drinkwell water fountain. It gives her a constant stream of running water. Some of the water fountains don't have a dripping stream (they have fresh water upwelling from the bottom). My cat LOVES this one. Best $30 I have ever spent. When I turn it off, she sits and stares at it until I turn it back on.

You guys look super nice today ;)

I would like this cat water fountain as gift one because my new kitten should be just about ready to move in about a week or maybe less!

For gift two, this strange plunger-looking washing device should come in handy in my new apartment as it doesn't have a washer/dryer. C'mon...gimme.

Thanks for the contest guys!

Congrats on your first cat! How old is he? How much would you say you're feeding him these days? I'm just wondering if he would be alright eating two small meals- perhaps you're still giving him more than he actually needs. Cats are pretty small, after all. The typical full grown cat only needs about a cup of food every day.

You could look into getting a second person involved so he's still getting small meals but that way one person doesn't have to constantly stop by to feed him. There's also toys you could buy that slowly dispense food while the cat plays with them, although if he's not particularly active he might not be interested in something like that. (Heres a link to one: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SlimCat-Meal-Dispensing-Blue/dp/B0018CG40O)
There are also food dispensers that run on a timer although they tend to be more expensive (https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=zg_bs_2975260011_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Q0W06AVHE8R6AMYAAV6H)

Hopefully one of these is able to help!

Here's the one I have and I've been very happy with it. There are plastic parts inside (the pump and its housing), but I wash everything about once a week or every other week and that takes care of any junk in there. The housing is dishwasher safe so that makes cleaning that part easy.

I bought these two fountains for my cats who were sink/faucet drinkers up to that point (I've noticed that they drink more water now, which is a good thing!):

https://www.chewy.com/drinkwell-multi-tier-pet-fountain/dp/48096

https://www.amazon.com/Catit-43742-Flower-Fountain/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1500244627&sr=1-2&keywords=catit+flower+fountain

Just a head's up to pass along in case your friend decides to buy one of these fountains: be sure to buy some filters since you need to change those about once or twice a month, depending on your muni water's quality.

Here's a good bargain on those replacement filters:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CO1NY5A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You also need to clean the fountain every couple of weeks or so to get rid of any debris, cat hair, "slime" etc that accumulated over time.

Have you thought about a water fountain? I got one because my dogs loves playing with her bowl but the fountain is almost impossible to tip. It's also helped some of her sloppy drinking habits, just because there is so much surface area for her the slop over (it is still on top of a yoga mat just in case). Also, the reason we got one is my friends cats have one and will only drink out of that. After being there a couple of hours, Soph doubled her water intake, so I got one straight away. I actually have the Big Dog one because I can't accurately judge sizes online and thought it couldn't be that big but it is massive! It solves to slop and tipping problem but unless Echo and Guinness are always drinking out of it, it might be a bit much (it is definitely too much for my 1 30 lb dog, haha)

MidWest Homes for Pets Snap'y Fit Stainless Steel Food Bowl / Pet Bowl, 10 oz. for Dogs, Cats, Small Animals https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mcVeAbPCVFH8B

I️ think this is what they were talking about with the first link. We got this for our puppy because she would always flip her bowl if she had to be left in her crate. It’s hard to tell in the picture but there’s two black plates on the screws that you would put on either side of whatever you’re fixing it to. Then obviously the wing nuts tighten it down. It works perfectly on the crate but you could probably fix it to something you already have like a table leg. Good luck!

We got a filtered flowing bowl. Aside from having to dig cat hair out of the pump (the enclosure is shit and pops open) it works well and all three of our cats like it

Edit: this is what we got

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EFVQDC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IeA2xbT98SYWH

Im pretty sure our cats live better than most people. Thats okay, i like them better than most people.

We have the catit fountain and my cats love it. My little girl was putting her paws in it within minutes and our boy was terrified. For a while, he would get close and then hiss at it. My roommate’s cat has had fountains before so he started drinking from it immediately. I spent some time dipping my finger in it and letting our boy lick the water off. Now, my cats love it. They prefer to drink from the fountain more than a dish of water. I use it without the yellow center of the flower after some trial - my cats like being able to drink where the water bubbles in the center and from the streams down the petals.

My local shelter has larger water fountains that look more like these. If your cats really like faucets they may like this better. The Catit isn’t very loud/splashy.

Haha, I know! Cats much prefer fresh water, so I'm thinking of it as more a preventative measure. They drink more water, and stay healthier?

I'm on mobile, but if you give me a second, I'll link to the one I bought! :)

Edit: This is the one I bought, and it appears to have gone down in price! Yay!

> As far as the rest of basic kitty care, a water fountain is definitely an excellent idea. We have one for our two cats and they L O V E it. It's cute and didn't cost very much, either. Here's a link: Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MWVmzbNH28CMW

Seconding this, it was absolutely worth the purchase. Running water is much, much better than stagnant, and the filter keeps it clean. The basic water bowls I bought before would always get incredibly gross, but this thing has been wonderful for my cat.

Here you go! https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG?th=1&psc=1
Just make sure you clean it regularly (once a week or at least biweekly) and change the filter at least twice a month and your cats will be happy 😸

Oh! I also have a somewhat elderly cat. No kidney problems yet, thank goodness, but I noticed she wasn't drinking as much water and it got me paranoid. I got her one of these guys. They have smaller versions as well, and I bought a big value pack of the filters, and it's lasted me a good long while (I can't remember exactly when I got it, sorry). Both my cats love it, and it's saved me a lot of time not having to fool with their water every day. I wash it once a week, and refill it every couple days.

Edit: It's a cat drinking fountain. I need to be more descriptive about my links. >.<

I have that one and this one.
If you can spring for the latter, it holds more water (even with the optional reservoir you can get for the former) and it is much easier to clean. You can buy a reusable filter for it and cheap charcoal from the fish section of the pet store and save quite a bit of money over time! My cats love both fountains.

They sell them at pretty much any pet store. They're not that expensive, either unless it's the really nice models.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2T3DW7SFWKRYVQW4JDXP

I basically got this one and it works great. Just replace the filter every month or so. Filters are like 10$ for a 3 pack.

I bought [this one](Catit Flower Fountain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4EDUzbK1CJR56) on Amazon for my cats. It's only $30 and surprisingly sturdy. It's really easy to take apart, clean, and put together, and my cats love it.

Word. I heard this about bought one of these for my kitty.

He absolutely loves it. He doesn't drink out of the dish on the bottom, he drinks out of the stream pouring out the top. He even plays with the water with his paw sometimes and it's adorable.

When we have to clean the device and it's in the dishwasher, he gets really vocal because he wants his water thing back. Spoiled kitty!

I have a cat, but the Pioneer Pet Big Max is nice. Way easier to clean than the Drinkwells, and they come ceramic and stainless steel which is lower on bacteria growth.

Here or here

Pioneer Pet Raindrop Ceramic Drinking Fountain for Pets, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LVJM4I/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Li9vub1RA9HKH

They have a stainless steel one also but I read the ceramic is easier to keep clean. I believe there's a larger one for dogs as well (or a larger number of cats) but for my two this size was plenty. Be aware there's a little bit of maintenance involved, replacement filters and cleaning, but I do think it's worth it. My kitties seem to drink lots more since I got it.

I use a 6' one mainly b/c my cat will try to eat the food, but from what I have heard they aren't really necessary.
Also if you are shopping for that type of thing consider this water bowl I LOVE it. I only have to change the water every couple of days and my boy likes to dink right from the fountain.
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Fountain-Multiple-Households/dp/B000FGIUV0

Pet lover pro-tip!

Have any of you tried the pet water fountains? I have tried a few and really hate the plastic ones. For one, they are plastic. Two, the design is always such that they really need to be washed daily because they clog with pet fur really badly. Three, not easy to get in the dishwasher (some you can't get in the dishwasher at all).

A couple of months ago I can across this fountain on Amazon and decided to try it. And it's amazing! It's a really simple design so it goes together and comes apart in minutes. The design is such that it does not clog with pet fur the way the original ones did. And it goes in the dishwasher easily.

Highly recommend to my fellow pet lovers!

I bought this one because my cat is a jackass and likes to push his water bowls around. It's ceramic, so it's heavy and he can't move it no matter how hard he tries! Ha!

Between him, a fat-ass 20-pounder, another cat who weighs about 7 pounds, and a small dog, I have to refill it about every third day, which is less often than before I had the fountain. It makes a dreadful sucking noise when it goes empty, but other than that, it's awesome--I've been thinking of it as an alarm. Super easy to put together, even looks relatively nice considering what it is. I take it apart once every other week or so and wipe down all the components and I've never had a problem getting it back together.

My cats were very unfamiliar with the fountain at first, and just gave it the side eye as they walked past. But it didn't take long for them to get used to it. We did end up swapping the original one out for This one once they got a little taller, as one of my idgits likes to dab her paw in and watch the water drip off her fur. Unfortunately that resulted in a frequently clogged filter, as they are long haired. The new filter is designed differently so she can't do that as much, and whenever I check the water in the tank it is wonderfully clean and fresh looking with nary a hair to be seen, which I like.


We did find that we had to move the fountain a few feet away from the food, as someone was apparently getting a drink with food still in their mouth, which would drop into the water, get all boated and contaminated, and be gross. But just make sure the water is always fresh and topped off, and she'll get the hang of it soon enough.

Ooh, I love this! I have 4 cats. Here's a pic of my baby girl helping me write this response.

>We're looking to adopt a young (not kitten) shorthair cat.

This is great! Adults are much harder to home than kittens. If you're not home much, consider getting two. Some shelters have BOGO deals.

>We live in a decently-sized two-bedroom apartment in the middle of a big city. Tips for apartment life?

Set aside a corner for cat bed, cat scratching post, toys, etc. Also a corner in your bathroom for the litter box. They're a bit pricier than your run-of-the-mill cat furniture, but Molly and Friends makes the best cat furniture I've ever bought. It's sturdy and well-made, i.e. it won't fall apart with 4 cats scratching on it. Do some research on where your cat may like these things placed. Putting the furniture by a window is great - it's like kitty TV. Litterbox should be somewhere quiet, private, and with a hard floor, in case of accidents.

>We have money set aside for initial supplies (litter box/scoop, carrier, bowls, and brush), the shelter donation, food/litter subscriptions from Amazon, yearly vet visits, and some emergency money. (My cat at my parents' home has epilepsy and food allergies, so I made sure this was a priority.) Am I forgetting anything?

Collar, tags, microchipping. Also neutering if it isn't already done. Check with your landlord if you have to pay pet rent and/or a pet deposit. Some landlords may even add a pet clause holding you responsible for potential pet damages.

I would also consider a pet water fountain. Cats won't drink much water of their own volition, so they're often dehydrated, and they generally don't like stagnant water. I have this one - it's actually made for big dogs, but with 4 cats, it's the right size. I refill it daily.

I also use those poop bags that dog owners use for their walks, when I scoop the litterboxes daily. It could be considered an unnecessary expense, but I don't like to use grocery bags because I like to dispose of the used litter immediately rather than throwing away a 10% filled grocery bag (wasteful!) or holding onto the bag to fill it up (gross!).

>What's your opinion on declawing? We're not that concerned about damaged furniture but neither of us has experience clipping kitty toenails.

I think there's been enough already said in this thread. If you're worried about how to do it, I'm sure your vet can demonstrate and give you tips.

>Does anyone have any experience with travelling with a cat? My partner and I live a few hours from our parents, but we'd like to visit for a week or two over Christmas and can't really leave the cat in the apartment by itself. Will travelling that distance stress the cat out? And when we get there, will the cat adjust to being in a new environment for a week? We'd bring the litterbox and stuff obviously.

Probably. We had to drive 13 hours over 2 days recently to move, and it was miserable with 4 screaming cats in the back seat. I recommend Feliway wipes, sprays, and diffusers to bring the stress down to manageable levels. However, I'm more concerned that the stress will cause the cat to act out once you reach your destination, especially meeting stranger-cats (your parents). Can you get a petsitter, friend, or a cat boarding service?

My cat was not all that happy with a water dish but would drink because it was available...he's not the type to drink from a water glass.

I got him a pet fountain and he loves it. It filters and circulates water so it stays fresh and it keeps quite cool.

Maybe that would be a solution for your kitty? As to what your aunt said, I don't keep his fountain in a separate room from his food (they're in the same corner of my kitchen), and he doesn't seem to mind.

If you're going to stick with a bowl, I'd recommend using ceramic, stainless steel, or glass; cats don't tend to like plastic bowls.

My tabby is insanely pushy and vocal about getting food, and was really cutting into my slumber/sanity. I know it's possible to train cats to not do that, but good luck with that. The only real solution I know of is auto-feeders. Most of them suck and can easily be broken into by a smart/hungry cat, but there are a few good ones.

If you use dry food, get the Bistro. My girl is diabetic and can only do wet food, so I use the Qpets. Nearly every other feeder is defective in one way or another, but these two are great. Either way, just make sure the feeder itself is secured (I velcro to a wall).

After a while they'll learn that they get fed at precisely X o'clock by the robot, no matter how much they meow at the human, and mostly stop meowing.

Hey, thanks. I'd have never known to even look for that sub.

I'm lifting one of these with 10 gallons of wort in it. It's 14 x 14 x 20 inches and probably weighs over 80lbs when I'm moving it. It needs to stay upright.

The steps are four concrete steps leading straight into my apartment. It's nice and easy with two sets of hands, makes me think that a strap or device could help me manage the awkwardshape/crappy handles.

I'll repost this over to /r/moverporn later, that makes a ton of sense.

That's a good idea. I have this one. It works great, my puppies love it.

You need to listen to my advice here. Seriously, you really need to listen to a random stranger on the internet and do exactly what they tell you without question:

Buy this: http://amzn.com/B000L3XYZ4

You can thank me in two months via message after you realize how wonderful it is and how much your cat appreciates it. I have four cats and can go two weeks without having to change their food or water and they are happier with that arrangement than ever before. It's a win/win.

Daughter talked me into buying one of these things. Used bottled water, but it took a LOT to fill it, especially daily! The filter was not able to handle bio contaminants like giardia (1 micron). Chlorine doesn't kill the little bastards either, as it turns out. Resorted to just using regular water bowls, and refreshing as much as we can. Didn't matter. Silly cat just loves to always stick his feet in the dish before he drinks, no matter what. Help! Send duct tape. 😂

I have this one. My mom bought it a few years ago for her senior chocolate lab and chihuahua. Both loved it. Once her lab passed she gave it to me for my GSP puppy. We've had it for over a year. Actually just had to buy a replacement reservoir (sister's lab ran into it while playing. It cracked and duct tape can only hold so well for so long). I usually rinse it out once a week and then do a deep clean every few weeks.

I'm a huge fan of it. If I had just a regular bowl, I'd have to refill it multiple times a day. With the fountain, I have to refill every couple of days.

Here are three kitty drinking-fountains I saw:

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-Pet-Fountain-Fluid/dp/B001TY5D6C

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EFVQDC/

Hope that's useful; best wishes to your cat!

One of my cats does this, the other doesn't. We kept the regular water bowl but got them a Drinkwell Platinum and they both love it and drink more. The vet encouraged us getting this anyway because the one who smacks at the water was having problems with not getting enough water in his diet and therefore was getting UTIs. This seems to be better overall for their health. My boyfriend's Mom also got her cats this one and they won't go near it. I guess it depends on your kitty.

Here's the link for the one we got:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GEWHNS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the feeder I have. I was terrified to buy any feeder because they all have mixed reviews, but this one has worked perfectly since the day that I bought it. The con is that the tray is plastic which I don't prefer to feed in. Also, I like to feed on plates so as not to irritate my cat's whiskers, and the tray is more of a deep triangle-y bowl. Worth it though. I also feed my cats in separate rooms. If that doesn't work, try feeding between a baby gate, or maybe feed one in a carrier but in the same room.

My lil guy (Cheeto) had UTIs and the vet said he had to go on a specific diet and be forced pills to help and he would have to go on that diet for life. Well 3 weeks later and after all the pills and diet change he wasn't any better, but we noticed that he wasn't really drinking and he wasn't eating as much wet food, especially with the new diet which was all hard food. Got the following water fountains and all our cats love them (3 different cats, but only the one had UTI problems).

https://www.amazon.com/Catit-Flower-Fountain-Drinking-Triple-Action/dp/B0146QXOB0

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Water-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4/

Take your pick on water fountain, one cat each has a favorite!

My Siberians both seem to like their Drinkwell Platinum fountain. I really like it because it has a large tank and it's easy to clean!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000L3XYZ4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I store mine in a Vittles Vault. Airtight, keeps pests away, easy to open, easy to clean. Keeps food fresh. You should be able to find something similar on Amazon or at your local pet store.

I have 3 cats. There was a stray cat running around my neighborhood and we decided to bring her in and take care of her. Apparently she was pregnant. She had 5 babies and we kept 2 from the litter. Anyway, here are a couple random pics of them. They're my little babies 😍 My cats would love this!

I only have the one cat, however, I've had this one for years. It runs on 4 C batteries (which I've only ever changed once) and you can program it for one or more feedings per day. It also says it's good for both wet and dry food, though I've only tried it with dry because I feed her a 1/2 can every night and the dry is for mid-day snacking. They're not too expensive assuming you'd need a few at least but I love this thing and I can vouch that it's worked well for years.

PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TsQCzb19VFYXD

Get this one, I have it and fucking love it. Easy to clean too.

I've got this tiny fountain, and my cats generally don't spill a drop as long as I keep it clean.

God forbid a floof of fur gets in there, though, then they go mad trying to "fish" it out... but that's about the only problem I've run into. They both really love drinking from it, probably the single best investment I've made for my cats.

Perhaps something about the tap water is off-putting.

Have you considered a fountain type water bowl?

It has a charcoal filter to help eliminate funny smells and tastes from tap water, helps the water taste fresher by keeping it circulating, and sometimes they will be attracted by the sound of running water.

My last dog drank noticeably more water after I made the switch.

You posted a picture of your pet, so here's your standard "your pet is in dire medical straits" post :]

My cat used to drink out of my water cups all the time, even though I had a bowl out for her. She eventually got a urinary stone, which was the result of both feeding her too much meat (changes the pH of her urine) and not drinking enough water. I changed her diet, but also got her a waterfall bowl. Cat's really prefer running water, which from an evolutionary standpoint would be safer to drink than stagnant, still water. Once I put out the waterfall bowl she took to it instantly, and stopped drinking out of my cups. Even putting medical conditions aside, it's just a nice treat for your pet! Thought you might find this info useful.

We have the Vittles Vault 50 lb Storage Container and we are able to stuff a 28.6 lb Orijen Six Fish kibble bag into it.

To give you more info, Orijen makes really stiff bags that come vacuum sealed as a giant brick until you open it.

It definitely takes some effort and elbow grease to fit the bag into the container. But that's mostly because you're trying to fit a long rectangular shape into a smaller circular hole. It's difficult, but doable.

If you want to fit 30 lbs of kibble (bag and all) in, I really recommend you getting a Vittles container that's bigger than the 40 lb size.

Seconding the water fountain. Running water is infinitely more attractive to cats. One with a charcoal filter is even better. This is what we have. If you live in a place with horrible water, use filtered stuff from a Brita pitcher or bottled.

Mine loves the taste of ice, as well (yes, it has a taste). I plunk ice cubes in his bowl on hot days. He runs right over and slurps away.

Don't keep the water next to the food bowl. For some reason, cats don't like that! As /u/libcrypto says, several bowls out at strategic locations will help with this.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_a.6oDbFM1NB93


This is the one I've had for two years now. It's worked out really well for my cats but my only gripe with it is that it's not the easiest to clean, and you do have to fully clean it from time to time. Otherwise, the motor gets really sludgy and dirty. With you having just one cat, you shouldn't have to do it too often though. I have 4 cats who all love drinking out of it.

Thanks :) Amazon! ww.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063446M/ should help fix someone's little bird-soup problem, haha.

My cat would love to know how to break into her auto feeder ... But it's been foolproof for that chonk so far.

PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder, Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder, Smartphone App for iPhone and Android https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYP317/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j5JODbA7XTR1X

I also recommend a cat fountain. We got our kitties

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Pagoda-Ceramic-Fountain/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=17GPADNI1FRW7&keywords=pagoda%2Bcat%2Bfountain&qid=1550231265&s=gateway&sprefix=pagoda%2B&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&th=1

We like it because the whole thing comes apart and is dishwasher safe. You can buy off brand filters on Amazon too which are significantly cheaper than the drink well brand.

I love water fountains for my cats. Cats have difficulty judging where the water's surface is if it isn't moving. This is why he splashes.

I have this one, and I love it. I wish it was ceramic, though.

When the pump on my old Drinkwell went out, I switched over to the 360. My kitties like it much better and it's easier to clean. It does have a larger footprint, but it's very good for multiple pet homes.

Same here, but I got mine (and her two other feline housemates) the Drinkwell Platinum because I thought it looked the most like a faucet, ha. She was scared of it for a few days because she's a weirdo but she loves it now :)

My little jerk face boy Tesla loves flipping water bowls over for fun. I got this for the cage. Then I will fill little plastic bowls full of water on the floor of my shower and let him go nuts for fun. Bathrooms are one of the easiest rooms to ferret-proof. I let mine run wild while I'm taking my morning shower.

The filters are meant to be changed periodically, just like filters in anything else. Some people just rinse the filter off and stick it back in the fountain, and then wonder why it has science experiments growing in it. You can back flush it a couple of times, but then it's time to change it.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Stainless-Fountain-Raindrop/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1348170912&sr=1-4&keywords=cat+fountain

That one works well for our cats, although only one of them likes the running water. The other drinks from the bowl. We wash it once a week or so and do filter maintenance once a month. Works fine.

(Husband)

PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder, Smartphone, 24-Cups, Wi-Fi Enabled App for iPhone and Android, Award Winning Pet Feeder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WYP317/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yIsTCbRAYS6XC

Cats like fresh, moving water. We got ours this water fountain and while she still splashes at it a bit she has yet to knock it over since it's pretty heavy. Before we bought the fountain I had her dish in a big shallow storage box so if she did spill the water it didn't spread out all over the floor. Or like the other suggestion: place a few bowls around the house.

Yes, get the basic 7 gallon brew bucket. Drill a hole in the lid with their drill bit. Add the bulkhead. Add a TC to ball lock gas post. Now you can do closed transfers.

I also love my Tilt and TiltPi running on a Pi Zero.

With all that cash you won't mind a large grain storage bin perfect for 50 pound grain sacks.

You can break down your pound bags of hops into smaller bags with a vacuum sealer.

Try an RO system and upgrade it with a 14 gallon pressure tank (can't find the link).

You NEED these truffles
This pet fountain is pretty spectacular
A genius who loves you and wants you to be warm invented these ear muffs

For those of you who don't want to DIY: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Raindrop-Drinking-Fountain/dp/B005LVJM4I/ref=sr_1_17?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1454175913&sr=1-17&keywords=cat+fountain

Easy to clean, has optional carbon filter, cat loves it, although it took him 2 weeks to start drinking directly from the fountain and not the bowl part.

For those of you who don't want to DIY: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Raindrop-Drinking-Fountain/dp/B005LVJM4I/ref=sr_1_17?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1454175913&sr=1-17&keywords=cat+fountain

Easy to clean, has optional carbon filter, cat loves it, although it took him 2 weeks to start drinking directly from the fountain and not the bowl part.

ESH. You because even though your heart is in the right place, this is wasteful and a great way to get your cat used to only getting water from the shower and refusing it in any other form. Your husband because even though he's right that this is wasteful, it doesn't seem like he's open to other methods of dealing with this issue, since you said he refuses to get another cat and threw out the fountain you tried after a few days.

Try a different fountain. https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Fountain-Filtered-BPA-Free/dp/B001NIZAH6 is the one I have; It comes with five spout options so maybe if you switched them up regularly, it'd hold her interest longer.

This might help; my puppy used to knock her water bowl over in her crate as well until I got this bowl. It's secures very tightly, so they can't tip it over with their noses. :)

I switched my cat to a metal water fountain with a little charcoal filter and she loves it! My cat drinks at least 10x more than she ever did before. I clean it once a week and have had no issues with water build up and it's really easy to clean. My weird cat likes to drink with her paws so the fountain gets gross
fast, but if you have a normal cat you could probably clean it even less. This is the filter I have -- Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Fountain Raindrop Design , 60oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037NKDSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eE5TBb4RFSS8S

I'd be slightly cautious giving strangers from the internet full access to your home. I could tell you I or many other strangers would be happy to help someone out in need but it's hard to filter out the potential a-holes. If you have someone do it for you make sure you have their ID information and maybe some references.

This place is fairly close to where you live and runs about $13.75+ per day. There are probably also some competing services if you shop around.

Also, depending on exactly how long you'll be gone you can look into an automatic cat feeder, I have one myself that feeds my cat exact amounts twice a day as well as a long lasting water supply. The only thing to be cautions of is depending on how long you'll be gone your cat may have some anxiety about the lack of interaction. When I was out of the country for about 3 weeks I had a friend of mine swing in as often as he could to maintain a presence which made a big difference.

I got one of these for my kitties. It was a GoldBox deal a while back (years ago), but now it will run you about $35. Keeps the water circulating, which they like, and it won't mess with your job :)

I avoid plastic. It can cause cat acne, and a plastic fountain will never really be clean. I used to have a white ceramic one but it was hard to keep clean. I switched over to this and love it.

This one I have is the best and really cheap! Had it for a yr and still going strong :

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0146QXOB0/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_qShzCbZS47G4Y

Hi, I'm interested in getting a cat fountain (never knew any of this before!). I found two that might be what you're describing, what do you recommend? Thanks for the information!

https://www.amazon.ca/Catit-Design-Senses-Fountain-Softening/dp/B00CO527IC

https://www.amazon.com/Catit-43742-Flower-Fountain/dp/B0146QXOB0

We have this fountain for our cats: http://www.amazon.com/Catit-Design-Fountain-Softening-Cartridge/dp/B00CO527IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1413468457&sr=1-1&keywords=catit+fountain

It only has a low gurgle/bubble, so it's not like falling water. The sides stay relatively still and the bubble of water doesn't spurt very high from the top so it may be something that is attractive enough, but not too animate.

Not my video, but this is what it looks like in action.

Watch out for shit like this though.

Every night as I use the bathroom I run the water in the bathtub for a bit so my cats can have a drink from the faucet. They love it. Would recommend this to anyone who doesn't have a dedicated cat fountain.

EDIT: This is the fountain I personally own though, would also recommend. Keep your kitties hydrated

Yes! I’ve got this one. It’s easy to clean and my cats can’t knock it over (which they used to do with plastic dishes.)

I've owned a few different cat fountains now. My cat has refused to drink from standing water since she was a kitten. She prefers running tap water but that felt wasteful.

The biggest issue with cat fountains, without question, is cleaning them. Every single cat fountain for sale is probably going to be decent out of the box. Some are louder and some are quieter but they all do about the same shit.

You may already have thought about this, but you need to actually scrub the hell out of the fountain once a week. Slime/scum builds quickly on the pumps inlet and the charcoal filters can only do so much. Once you let it get dirty, it's way harder to clean.

I'd personally recommend this fountain. Cat Fountain
if only because it's the easiest one to clean that I've found so far.

If you're set on building one, just make sure you can take it apart. Fully. I have to take my pump apart once per month to clean it. Anything you seal had better be air and water tight, otherwise you'll be better off leaving the connection loose.

I second the pet fountain - you may want to get a ceramic or stainless steel one instead of plastic, however, as plastic can easily harbor bacteria and can lead to outbreaks of "cat acne". I have this fountain:

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Fountain-Ceramic-Capacity/dp/B00BD3UN8C/ref=sr_1_12?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1495836250&sr=1-12&keywords=cat+fountain

It's pricier, but worth the investment.


BTW - your kitty is a "Domestic Shorthair" - this is a catch-all term that basically covers all non-pedigreed cats of a certain fur length (the other terms are Domestic Longhair and Domestic Mediumhair, for long- and medium-furred cats, respectively). This basically means a moggy/"mutt" cat. Unless you know for certain a cat is a specific breed, with a pedigree from a breeder, they are referred to as "Domestic (fur length)hairs".


Tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed (it is the stripy pattern you see in a lot of cats). Your girl would be called "bicolor" or "tuxedo" in terms of coat color/pattern.

I bought an automatic feeder for my cats years ago when they were eating all their food at once and then bugging me for more. I like this one because you can set it to feed them when you want to up to five times a day. So long as you measure the amount of food in each dish you shouldn't have to worry about over feeding them. Now my cats can tell time, and the only time they whine at me for food is when I forget to refill the dish. It wouldn't work for wet food very well, but it's great for dry food.

Is he lethargic? Is he eating his wet food? If neither, then I agree with the other commenters to not worry.

I also agree with the suggestion to get a fountain. Here's the one we purchased. Both my cats love it and drink so much more since purchasing it last year. One of the cats just stared at it for about a week before trying it, but now loves it.

I use this one for dry food, works great :) I've had it for 2-3 years now! It holds five meals.

We used to have a Drinkwell Platinum, and our cats were OK with it. Then we switched to this Catit Fountain the the kittehs really loved it!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146QXOB0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got my cats this model. They can't get enough of it.

I like it better than the "waterfall" style fountains because its higher up off the ground and doesn't get gunked up as easy with dust and stray cat hair and such.

We use this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJOOI/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_sgl5xbGD5G65M which works pretty great. I can't see your dog getting into that.

http://www.amazon.com/pet-supplies/dp/B00063446M

I bought my Charlie a ceramic version of this and he drinks water now like all the time, even when its near his food bowl. He also likes to touch the stream with his paw, it fascinates him.

You could try something like this that clips on to the kennel - this one doesn't look particularly secure but something with good attachments shouldn't be too flippable or spillable.

Edit - here's one that's designed just for that spill-proof purpose! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012GS73S/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000GDZ0GK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0A6HMY62YFZWPN6SQE5B

Put down the lid. They have lids that close slowly and don't slam, makes it easier to do every time. I have a Catit fountain that all my cats have loved. Catit Design Senses Fountain with Water Softening Cartridge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO527IC/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_DRfSub13B6WJN

I haven't done links here before, so fingers crossed this works!

We bought this one from Amazon and it's been great. We've got 3 cats, 2 small dogs, and a parrot who all drink from this. (The parrot doesn't have to, but prefers this to water at his cage.) I fill it up about every other day, and thoroughly clean it once a month.

PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Multi-Pet Stainless Steel Dog and Cat Fountain - Filtered Water - 128 oz. Water Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SB91QS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MBsODbXFWP9KK

They like to drink running water because it is more likely to be fresh. Also, they tend to not drink out of bowls near their food source because in the wild the water would have been contaminated. Get one of these and the cat will be in heaven.

http://www.amazon.com/pet-supplies/dp/B00063446M

I've had great luck with this fountain. Well made, quiet, adjustable flow and the filters are inexpensive. http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain/dp/B000L3XYZ4

They deserve to be spoiled :)

This is the fountain I'm using, been working great so far.

amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000L3XYZ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1535908889&sr=8-5&keywords=petsafe+water+fountain&dpPl=1&dpID=41Nw134kqpL&ref=plSrch

A water fountain that circulates the water might help so that she can see the water moving. It seems like that would address why she is drawn to it after she sees it refilled.

I've had a good experience with this one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00063446M/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1526973104&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=cat+fountain&psc=1


It’s for cats and dogs but they love it!

I'm not sure how much support you're getting for raising a blind dog, but you might consider getting him some Doggles. Since he can't see where he's going, Doggles will protect his eyes from getting scratched by branches or sticks on walks. Another good idea is a fountain for him to drink from, since he'll be able to hear where the water is.

The Catit Flower Fountain. It looks nice, and my cats love it.

She might like a cat water fountain. My girls love theirs!

My 3 love it. I have the PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain, I highly recommend it

Not sure the exact one we have as my brother was the one who purchased it, can look when I get home. Ours allows you to schedule 1-3 times per day (custom times for each) and customizable amounts in increments of a quarter of a cup per feeding. Its got a fairly big tank of food that probably holds 2-3 weeks worth. EDIT: looks like it might be this one: www.amazon.com/LeBistro-Portion-Control-Automatic-pounds/dp/B0016BVY2U.

We did have to super glue a small plastic cover to it to make the hole where the food comes thin enough that he couldn't stick his paw up it and force food out.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Platinum-Fountain-Drinking/dp/B000L3XYZ4

I have one. Clean it every 2-4 weeks, refill it every few days and you're golden. My cats love it. Also healthier for them since they drink more water.

From the article:
http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?p=3023
"Furiosa’s Cat Feeder" Quinn Dunki | BLONDIHACKS (21st December 2016)
>The trick is to be smarter than the animal with a brain the size of a walnut

>[...]

>This made picking up the machine inconvenient enough that she switched tactics. Her next move was to lie on her back in the bowl, and stick her paw up the chute. She could paw the conveyor belt itself, getting it to move. This was very effective, netting an extra meal or more.

---
YouTube information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKV1kmaY3qQ
"IMG 6581" Blondie B | YouTube.com (Dec 19, 2016)

---
Actor:
Sprocket H.G. Shopcat

• little eight pound body
  
• undeterred
  
• tiny feline choppers
  
  versus:
  [the PetSafe programmable automated feeder](https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Healthy-Simply-12-Meal-Automatic/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ "PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder")^(amazon.com)
  
  
• programmed to feed
  

Petsafe autofeeder. I'm super pleased with it.

This thing has been awesome for me:

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Pet Feeder, Dispenses Dog Food or Cat Food, Digital Clock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIXRB6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OlPKBb320Q1TG

My 8yr old cat will take any opportunity to drink from the faucet and just passed a complete physical with flying colors. You might try something like this just to keep it happy.

Still, if you are worried, you should take it in for a checkup.

I tried treat balls similar to these:
meal ball
treat egg

He thought those were ok but he really loves when I put the treats somewhere he can put his whole arm in (I don't know why) like this:
mouse maze

He gets really into it and will dive bomb the maze and shove his arms as deep inside as he can. It slides around on the floor with him. The larger holes means some pieces come out very easily but enough get stuck/move around that he spends 20min+ trying to get every last piece out. He even uses his paws to cup pieces and lift them out.

Some cats like a water fountain. My cat prefers the mini culligan bottles, but to each their own.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001NIZAH6/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1479957906&sr=8-8&keywords=cat+water+fountain

Also, I haven't seen anyone mention a collar or harness. If you get a collar make sure it's a breakaway. I'm a fan of personalized IDs that attach to a collar with the cat's name and your cell.

We tried many different kinds before finally finding this one, http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Drinkwell-Stainless-Multi-Pet-Fountain/dp/B002SB91QS/ref=zg_bs_2975263011_14
It's the easiest to clean, and has lots of adjustability. Highly recommended.

My cat would do that as well and I did some research that some cats are super finicky about drinking "fresh" running water. Bought one of these and took care of the problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-Platinum-Pet-Fountain-168oz/dp/B000L3XYZ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1406385483&sr=1-2&keywords=pet+fountain

Which one is it? I've found 3 that look like yours.

Cat Water Fountain Stainless Steel, Intelligent Auto Power Off Pump

Catit Flower Fountain: 3L Cat Water Fountain with Triple-Action Filter

Vekonn Water Fountain

When I first adopted my cat, she got really sick, vomited foam, and started to act lethargic. I called the vet and he said that she was probably dehydrated - that she had probably learned to stay away from standing water during her days as a stray, and to turn the tap on and see if she'd drink.

I couldn't coax her out from under the table to bring her to the sink, so I crawled under there with her and slowly poured water from one bowl into another as she slowly lapped from the stream between them. After an hour of that, she stood up and crawled into my lap. Best buds ever since :)

I bought one of these the next day, and she loves it!

Some cats are more vocal than others. Both of mine will yowl loudly when they find a particular toy (a fuzzy crinkle ball sets them both off, as does a catnip mouse). Usually these toys end up under a sofa for a week or two but if they find it they run around with it in their mouth yowling. If this wakes me up, I have to take the toy away and hide it so they quiet down.

If your cat is wailing for food / to be fed, then I HIGHLY recommend getting [a PetSafe cat feeder] (https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Meal-Automatic-Pet-Feeder/dp/B000GEWHNS/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1496432458&sr=8-6&keywords=cat+feeder). I have had one of these things for YEARS and I've rarely had to replace the D batteries. It has five 1-cup dry-food compartments that I have set to rotate at 6:15am. The cats hear it rotate and run for breakfast, leaving me alone. They know not to bother me for food.

They are grazers so I have it rotate just once per day, but you can set it up to rotate 2 or 3 times per day if you want to dole out food in smaller portions. Then you are associated with play and cuddles and the cat(s) learn not to cry to you for food. It really works!

EDIT: I should add that I sometimes give them snacks or wet food to supplement the dry, but never when they are around / crying or begging for food. They get excited when they hear the sound of the wet food dishes coming out of the cupboard, but they never pester me for it, because it isn't something that happens every day.

haha that's adorable. They were both like OMG it's over THERE.

I have this one for mine and they just go nuts with it.