Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

paddypaws101

Well I am loving the Barney updates, he sounds like a real character and I do hope you decide to keep him permanently.
being owned by 5 fluffy-pantalooned mogs myself, I understand the potential repercussions of getting the food intake wrong so sympathise with you. Mine mostly eat raw these days (no, I am not being the food police! ) and I do know of a Persian breeder who posts over on PF, who has seen remarkable improvements in her cats since feeding raw.

meritaten

well, today hasn't been such a good day!

Barney wandering round disconsolately this morning, giving out occasional miows, which sounded rather like complaints? What my bed not soft enough enough? its memory foam and very comfortable. Son arrived which pleased Barney, but not son disappearing to work on his car.
more complaints! and breakfast was totally ignored. tried Bribery but he gobbled his treat and walked away.

gave Barney some lunch (a bit of pork from our joint) - the little Bu99er pointedly turned his nose up at it and sat in front of the treat cupboard!

OH took me up mums for a couple of hours, but when OH picked me up he told me that when he got back - there was a pile of cat poo in the bath!

I had cleaned out the litter tray this morning but I had kept a little of the cleanest old litter to put on top (I know this trick from my last cat - a newly cleaned litter tray is often regarded with suspicion).

but, to Barneys delight we had brought him his human sister to play with! (not the same one as last time - but her twin).
one happy cat who immediately dashed to the bathroom and pee'd in the litter tray............I wonder what he was planning to do with the pee he had been holding in??????????

I think he may have been missing the kids...........every morning this week except for today he has had a child to play with!

he is ignoring his supper though - I wonder if he has a 'fast day'?

edit - I felt Barney hadn't eaten enough today so tried a tin of 'Gourmet Gold beef'! wow - he has just eaten every scrap! now lets see how it affects his tummy!

These next two weeks my GS wont be coming for me to mind. his parents are on summer leave from work. I expect I will see him as they aren't going away. but, maybe not enough for the kiddie loving cat!
if this is how he reacts to 'no kids to play with'.................then perhaps he needs to be with a quiet family. We shall see.

OH was definitely NOT happy with the poo in the bath! I suspect he will withdraw lapsitting priviledges!

meritaten

paddypaws101 wrote: »

Well I am loving the Barney updates, he sounds like a real character and I do hope you decide to keep him permanently.
being owned by 5 fluffy-pantalooned mogs myself, I understand the potential repercussions of getting the food intake wrong so sympathise with you. Mine mostly eat raw these days (no, I am not being the food police! ) and I do know of a Persian breeder who posts over on PF, who has seen remarkable improvements in her cats since feeding raw.

Paddypaws - could I ask your advice on this?
I was thinking of giving him some 'raw' food - but am not sure of how to do this?
I have some lovely quality lamb mince in the freezer - could I just defrost some to give him?
or when I have some raw beef to cook for ourselves - is it ok to shave off some scraps for him?
I used to give my last cat the 'melt' from frozen raw meat (on the vets advice) - I assume this would be ok too?
he doesn't seem to like cooked chicken much - perhaps he would prefer raw?
I also assume that the diet shouldn't be completely raw! I don't want him to reject tinned/dried food he has previously enjoyed!
is once or twice a week ok to feed raw?

meritaten

I decided to investigate the 'red peke persian' on tinternet! Barney is a very typical example of the breed! beautiful by American standards.
but they aren't recognised as a breed over here because of the 'peke face' and health issues!
Barney doesn't seem to have breathing issues! I haven't even heard him snore and I sleep very lightly.

I have heard British bulldogs and Boxers with worse breathing issues!

Barney has the sweet nature of his breed - he is also very child friendly - extremely so! after just a week this cat has stolen my heart he is so affectionate and he IS intelligent!

arbroath_lass

meritaten wrote: »

there was a pile of cat poo in the bath!


he is ignoring his supper though - I wonder if he has a 'fast day'?

edit - I felt Barney hadn't eaten enough today so tried a tin of 'Gourmet Gold beef'! wow - he has just eaten every scrap! now lets see how it affects his tummy!

Sounds like he's settled a bit and decided to see how much he could get away with! :rotfl:

Now he knows if he doesn't eat something Grandma will give him something better.

meritaten

as I said, 'he is intelligent'!

paddypaws101

meritaten...yes, yes and YES to the raw food questions.
Basically any scraps of whatever you are eating are fine for him....and the 'melt' has always been an eagerly awaited treat amongst my cats.
Some cats prefer one type of meat to another, or lightly cooked (releases the aroma) to completely raw at first. The guideline is that up to 20% of their overall food intake can safely be meat scraps without having to worry about the concept of balanced food (cats need bone and organs as well as meat if it is to form the main part of their diet)
if he loves his treats then you could try crushing one on top of some raw meat to tempt him.....and you don't need me to remind you not to let him get too hooked on those treats as they are generally full of carp.
have you tried him on Thrive treats? pretty pricey but all natural.

his_missus

arbroath_lass wrote: »

Sounds like he's settled a bit and decided to see how much he could get away with! :rotfl:

Now he knows if he doesn't eat something Grandma will give him something better.

Mine do this whenever they stay at my mum's. I'll come back off holiday and she'll say "Oh they didn't like the catfood you left (the stuff they eat at home happily) so I bought them...." or "I gave them some of our roast dinner".

My Scrappy has already settled into a new routine at "Grandma's" and the over grooming is easing already. I'm beginning to wonder whether they're planning on suggesting keeping him long term esp as two of my other cats have been attacked (not too badly this time) by the Tom.

At least poo in the bath is easier to clean up than poo on the carpet :rotfl:

Maybe Barney just needs a bit more attention than he was getting at home so enjoys time with the kids on a one to one basis.

meritaten

TY Paddypaws - its reassuring to know that I am thinking along the right track!
his missus - I am pleased that your Scrappy is settling down at Grandmas!

OkAy............ I have had a think about the poo in the bath (he did it again this morning, but OH admitted that he had cleaned it up using the anti-bac wipes meant for his litter tray - so as it smelled like his tray perhaps he thought it was acceptable. I have thoroughly cleaned the bath using Bio washing powder now. rinsed it thoroughly and hopefully it wont be smelling like his litter tray to him now!

I had a think about the poo in bath and why he may have done that. I wondered whether perhaps because my bathroom location for his litter tray is rather more open than the understairs one he is used to at home? perhaps the sides of the bath make him feel more private when toileting? he didn't seem to have a prob using it all week for both poos and pees.
I will try to obtain a large cardbox box to put the litter tray in and just leave one side open for entrance and exit. see if he feels more secure. meanwhile, I am getting plenty of exercise running up and down stairs to check the bathroom!
lol, Barney now chooses for himself a toy to play with from his 'toybox' (wicker basket which I keep under the side table). he seems to like a feather adorned ball which is still attached to the cardboard! he spent ten minutes earlier on trying to get it off!

he seems to like most of the tray or tiny tin 'gourmet' meals - ate all his lunch and I think I will just feed dry in the morning, he can graze on the leftovers.

he is looking much better - son still hasn't had time to show me how to transfer pics from the camera disk, so may be a couple more days before I can post more pics of the lovely Barney!

iammumtoone

I think you are right about privacy in the litter tray, cats seem to like this. I have one that has a lid on and a flap like this http://www.wilko.com/cat-litter+trays/savic-cat-o-net-cat-toilet-home/invt/0080180?VBMST=cat%20litter%20tray (only I have taken my flap off as it seemed to get in the way) however a cardboard box will be cheaper

I never knew cats could have the 'melt' off frozen meat I defrost alot of meat and will start feeding this to mine. Is it all meats or are there any you have to be careful off?

Looking forward to seeing the pictures.