Cat breeding is an expensive undertaking both as far as the money it costs and the time it takes.
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First thing, if your cats have been tested positive for feline leukemia it is always important that another test be done to confirm this. No test is 100% accurate and for something as serious as feline leukemia, you want to be sure you have correct test results. Many cats can be infected and not show signs of illness. In some cases, this will remain the case and in others the virus will start to cause disease.
Your question about vaccines and your kitten being infected is a complicated one but I'll try to answer it as simply as I can. First, I hope each of your cats was tested before they received the vaccines. If they were not tested before vaccination, you cannot necessarily say the vaccines have failed, as they could have been positive before. This is why it is recommended ALL cats be tested for Feline Leukemia. And again, it is important to confirm that your cat and kitten are both truly positive for the virus. Back to vaccines, there are many reasons why a vaccine may not work. First of all, no vaccine is 100% effective. The vaccine could have been handled or stored inappropriately; it could have been administered inappropriately (too late, wrong manner, not boostered at the beginning of the series, etc.). In the case of your kitten, one possible cause of vaccine failure is interference from antibodies she received from her mother. If she still had antibodies from her mother’s milk, the vaccine is less likely to work (this is why we do repeated vaccines, weeks apart for our kittens).
I would talk to your veterinarian further about confirming your cat's leukemia status and if they are indeed positive, what options you have to keep them as healthy as possible. I hope all will go well for you and your cats.
During the manufacture of dry cat foods the ingredients are mixed together and cooked under pressure with steam and water. This cooking process is done to enhance the digestibility of the nutrients (protein, carbohydrate). The food is then sent through a drying oven at a specific temperature to dry the product to a low moisture content to prevent spoilage while the product is stored. If the product were over-cooked (or burned), the person feeding the product would definitely notice an off color or smell to the product. Usually a cat will refuse to eat a product that is over-cooked.
The manufacture of wet food is different in that the ingredients are mixed together (meat, minerals, vitamins, etc.) and then sealed in an aluminum can. This can is then cooked under pressure (process called retorting). This process is the same process used to manufacture and sterilize the foods humans buy that come in cans. This ensures that the product in the can is considered sterile as long as the can remains sealed. Once again, this sterilization process is done under prescribed conditions so the product in the can is cooked thoroughly to ensure the product still provides a highly digestible and nutritionally complete diet.
Frankly, I’d move the litter box out of the laundry room at least for the time being. Until Mickey accepts the new appliances--which may never happen--you’ll fight a losing battle trying to get him to use facilities next to something that flat-out scares him.
He may also have decided that the old litter box has something to do with the scary sounds/smells. So you may need to purchase a new litter box that has no negative associations, and set it up on the opposite side of the house. A product called Dr. Elsey’s Litter Attract works very well to lure these kitties back into good bathroom behavior, so you might purchase a small amount at a pet products store and sprinkle some of this on top of the regular litter Mickey already uses. Leave the old box where it is, keeping it very clean. With a choice in bathroom locations, Mickey may very well decide to return to the laundry room eventually. Good luck!
Please take Missy to the veterinarian for an evaluation. If he is over ten years of age, a host of health issues might be causing his change in behavior. Your veterinarian will know which tests to run, and they often include a full blood panel and urinalysis to rule out kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid issues and other concerns. Feline cognitive dysfunction (senility or “kitty Alzheimer’s”) most often affects cats fifteen years old or older, and can be diagnosed after ruling out other physical issues.
What a terrific question! I wish everyone took the time and effort to quiz prospective kitten sources.
Ask if the breeder has ever turned down a potential purchaser and if so, why? This can be a very GOOD indication of breeder responsibility. Responsible breeders likely will want to quiz you as well to make sure you can provide the best home for their babies.
Ask about the temperament of the parents--that can predict your kitten’s personality. Are the parents lap cats, or prefer to play? How do they react to strangers in the house? Siamese tend to bond most closely with their owners so it wouldn’t be surprising if they were not super-friendly to strangers. Also ask about the temperament of your kitten. It will vary from baby to baby even within the same litter.
You want kittens that have been “raised underfoot” as pets in the household, and handled a great deal by the breeder. That helps with socialization to people. Also, most of the responsible breeders I know prefer to keep kittens until they are at least 10-12 weeks old to ensure proper socialization, so any younger than this could be a red flag.
If the kitten is a purebred, is registration information available? When you don’t plan to show or breed, don’t be surprised if the breeder requires you to spay or neuter your kitten. Breeders also may stipulate in their contract what vaccines they recommend, and what medical procedures they frown on (such as declaw). You should ask for and receive medical history and to-date vaccinations for your kitten. Ask if the purchase price includes a health guarantee and what that might cover.
Also ask for references or testimonials from other satisfied kitten buyers. They may also be able to suggest questions to ask. Finally, ask if the breeder will be available to offer advice and help as the kitten matures.
It was my first day of summer vacation and I was asleep. I thought my Mom had already left for work, but all of a sudden, she barged in and dropped a greasy fur ball on my pillow.
To my surprise, it was a tiny kitten, smaller than my palm—probably not even old enough to be away from its mother.
My mom had found it in the middle of an intersection, where cars barely missed hitting it. I carefully washed her and shampooed her in the kitchen sink.
While washing her, I started to like her more and more and we decided to name her Roxy.
It took two weeks for Roxy to recover. She bumped her head a lot and she missed her litter box even more. I had to clean a lot of accidents around my house. But in the end it was all worth it, because Roxy was the best cat I could ever ask for. And it was one of the best summers I could ever hope for.
We brought our cat home at four-months old and fed it Purina® Kitten Chow® brand Kitten Food.
When I switched to a different brand he did not like it. He got sick to his stomach a week after switching brands, so we switched back. Today Snuggles is grown up and eats Naturals Plus Vitamins and Minerals from Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food and is strong and healthy.
You cat lovers will LOVE this! Florie is all-black, shiny and sleek. Not even a year old, she now weighs close to 20 pounds—SHE IS A MONSTER. And SO adorable.
Still a kitten, Florie is very active and playful. Playful? Heck, sometimes I feel like I need body armor! She also evidently thinks it too much trouble to WALK from spot-to-spot in the living room. So she flies. Literally. She routinely sails over fans, tables, etc. to get from the sofa to the chair.
Not long ago, she was by the window. I was watching TV. Suddenly, this black STREAK went flashing by. And all of a sudden, she was on the sofa. Florie had covered 20 feet in ONE JUMP. I think she amazed even herself, for she sat there a moment, looking around, as if saying, "Now... how did I get over here?"
Equally as funny, at night when I go to bed, she does a little dance over the covers, plunks herself down at my side, lays her head on my shoulder and throws her paw across my chest.
Florie is one fabulous feline!
We see many, many cats like this who just do not like to be seen by the veterinarian. I agree with you that a total physical is very important so I applaud you for trying to get this done. Unfortunately, sedatives at home can be tricky - first getting it into her and then also if she is upset she may override the effects.
If the trouble is physically getting there, you can do a couple things. Place her carrier out a week or two before the visit. Throw her toys in there, give her treats or feed her in there so she is used to going in and out of it. It often helps to use a larger carrier rather than a smaller one. If this does not work and you have to assist Kati into her carrier - try to isolate her to a small area with no hiding places (like a bathroom) an hour or so before you leave. I often suggest that you use a large towel to cuddle her and cover her head as you put her in the carrier. Do this carefully (be extremely careful you do not get bit) and calmly (she will pick up on your stress). It may be easier to back her into the carrier or turn it up on its end and lower her rear in. You could also consider a top-loading carrier. This all requires a little tough love...remember 5 or 10 minutes of trauma in the context of her entire life is not that much.
A couple suggestions regarding the veterinarian. For cats that have some anxiousness with going to the vet...it often helps to have an early morning appointment or one right after lunch. This minimizes the chance you may have a long wait that could stress Kati out. I also suggest you find a veterinarian who has experience dealing with temperamental cats. Many veterinarians are intimidated by a cat that acts out. Cat only practices are often a good option, as they deal with only cats and see many strong feline personalities (don't forget I am biased on this issue since I have always worked in cat-only clinics).
I hope this information helps. In many cases, the stress you feel surrounding the visit is more than Kati likely feels. But because it is so important, keep trying!
Congratulations on your new fluffy boy. Maine Coon cats are wonderful companions, usually quite affectionate and gregarious. Not all cats like to sleep cuddled up with each other--or with their humans. Maybe it’s due to all that fur making them too hot. My cat Seren has never enjoyed sleeping with us, although on very cold winter days she will sometimes deign to lap-sit for a while.
Purring is very individual. Kittens from the same litter can vary greatly in their purr-power. Some cats purr in deference to others, including humans, and this boy may simply be a confident cat who doesn’t feel the need. So when he does purr, treasure that even more since he’s not an “indiscriminate” purr machine!
The pose you describe--what I call “elevator butt”--typically is offered as an affectionate greeting. Cats often assume this position to invite a friendly stroking hand or scratch at the base of the tail. Cats also often throw themselves at owner’s feet and roll as a greeting display. I’d say you’ve got nothing to worry about in the affection department with this fella.
Finally, the question of adding another cat to the household should be considered carefully. Since he came from a home with many other cats, if he got along well with them, he likely would do well with a feline companion. But choose another cat not just to satisfy him--because there’s no guarantee the kitty you pick will tickle his fancy.
How interesting. We can’t imagine how different scents affect our cats. When you work out, likely your body gives off a very different type of aroma that your cat finds attractive. Human feet, as you know, sometimes produce quite a different, pungent scent that even people can detect.
Since emptying the laundry developed relatively recently, though, that raises my antennae. It may be that your body chemistry has changed somewhat, perhaps due to diet, deodorant, laundry soap or some other recent change, and this prompts the cat’s new attraction. While it’s probably something of no concern, if you aren’t able to identify something specific that may have changed in the past several months, I’d urge you to have the cat examined to rule out a health issue. And I’d also urge YOU to also have a physical, to make sure the cat’s not “alerting” to some hidden health issue.