Cat Lovers Thread

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
Okay, I was living with somebody who had two cats and a dog (a Yorkie). I have been there a year. Shortly after moving in, one of the cats which is an indoor/outdoor cat fell in love with me. I am officially owned by this cat now, and he sleeps with me every night. He waits for me to come home, and he runs up to me with his happy tail whenever he sees me. Im smitten, and I am very attached to him now. He ignores everyone else but me. The other cat is mostly an outdoor cat, but I think these cats sense that the house is in transition and that we are moving. The outdoor cat has also decided he owns me, and frequently they are both waiting for me when I get home. The two cats are friends and they at one time lived indoors. But the outdoor cat is passive and the indoor cat is the Alpha. Both are boy cats and fixed.

This is my dilemma:

I need to make them both 100% indoor cats. I have ordered a big cat tree for them:

41BzHN15BTL__SY450_.jpg

I am getting them a cat fountain and some cat grass, and I have done some research about how to make the outdoor cat transition back to indoors. My question is, how can I make this the least stressful for them, and will two cats be happy in a medium sized apartment where they cant go outside? Is this cruel? I have been told they will be just fine especially if I can create a fun indoor environment for them. Anybody got advice for me? One cat is about 8 years old, the other one is about 5 years old.
 
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shavedape

Well Known GateFan
I believe OMNI is our resident cat whisperer. :laughing:
 

Bluce Ree

Tech Admin / Council Member
Okay, I was living with somebody who had two cats and a dog (a Yorkie). I have been there a year. Shortly after moving in, one of the cats which is an indoor/outdoor cat fell in love with me. I am officially owned by this cat now, and he sleeps with me every night. He waits for me to come home, and he runs up to me with his happy tail whenever he sees me. Im smitten, and I am very attached to him now. He ignores everyone else but me. The other cat is mostly an outdoor cat, but I think these cats sense that the house is in transition and that we are moving. The outdoor cat has also decided he owns me, and frequently they are both waiting for me when I get home. The two cats are friends and they at one time lived indoors. But the outdoor cat is passive and the indoor cat is the Alpha. Both are boy cats and fixed.

This is my delimma:

I need to make them both 100% indoor cats. I have ordered a big cat tree for them:

View attachment 7608

I am getting them a cat fountain and some cat grass, and I have done some research about how to make the outdoor cat transition back to indoors. My question is, how can I make this the least stressful for them, and will two cats be happy in a medium sized apartment where they cant go outside? Is this cruel? I have been told they will be just fine especially if I can create a fun indoor environment for them. Anybody got advice for me? One cat is about 8 years old, the other one is about 5 years old.

If the cats are young, it won't be traumatic. Older cats may have a harder time adjusting but, to make the transition a smooth one, they'll need to see you around a lot. They'll explore but will stick close to you a lot during the first few weeks because you're the only thing familiar to them. Also, have them fixed if they aren't yet. Not only does it add years to their lives but it also will keep them from suffering in heat (i.e. the drive to mate). A fixed cat will have an easier time becoming an indoor cat. Indoor cats also live much longer lives.

Get a laser. Cats will happily chase that little red dot around and it easily entertains them. Oh, and get them catnip. It's like pot to them. It's hilarious watching them roll around in it. :D

The cat tree is a great idea as is the trickling fountain.

Does your new place have a balcony?
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
they will be fine.

Really? They have windows they can look out of for CatTV, and the cat tree pictured above will be here by Wednesday. :) I have never owned more than one cat. The last cat I loved was more than 15 years ago and I told myself I would never get another one because the loss was so painful. But here I am, with TWO of them now. Both "tuxedo" cats (black and white with balanced markings) One a Persian mix domestic longhair, and the other outdoor cat is a domestic shorthair with almost identical markings. But they are friends, not littermates. Both males, fixed and they don't fight but the older Alpha cat lords over resources like food and water. Now, their empire will be the inside of my apartment and hopefully centering on that new cat tree.

These are not kittens, and the outdoor cat might have designs on escape the first day I move. But I am prepared with compressed air cans and spray bottles. Also somebody told me to place a rubber office chair mat with those spikey things face up where the door is because cats hate those on their paws. Have you moved with cats before? How long before they settle in? Here I am worried and I haven't even moved them yet!
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
If the cats are young, it won't be traumatic. Older cats may have a harder time adjusting but, to make the transition a smooth one, they'll need to see you around a lot. They'll explore but will stick close to you a lot during the first few weeks because you're the only thing familiar to them. Also, have them fixed if they aren't yet. Not only does it add years to their lives but it also will keep them from suffering in heat (i.e. the drive to mate). A fixed cat will have an easier time becoming an indoor cat. Indoor cats also live much longer lives.

Get a laser. Cats will happily chase that little red dot around and it easily entertains them. Oh, and get them catnip. It's like pot to them. It's hilarious watching them roll around in it. :D

The cat tree is a great idea as is the trickling fountain.

Does your new place have a balcony?

For the first time ever, NO. :( I am doing this in "economy mode" by choice because I have always been such a spendthrift before on my apartments. Especially now since I am making more money than I have in 30 years. Its a trade-off. The main reason the outdoor cat is coming with me is because he is already the indoor/outdoor cat's playmate. The Alpha cat is the one who has the closest bond with me, and he sleeps as close to me as possible every single night, sometimes right above my head on the pillow with his paw on my neck. If not there, then on the ottoman next to my bed. The other cat NEVER sleeps inside the house. But when he comes with me, he will be with the other cat all the time and they will both sleep inside. The few times my cat has seen me pet the other cat, he suddenly wants to go out or run away (jealousy). He wont be able to do that now.

Both cats are fixed, and both are older than 5 years.

BTW, I have the laser, and the older cat (my cat) is completely uninterested in it. I will start flicking it around and he looks directly at me and gives me his "AS IF!" stare. :smiley-laughing024:
 

OMNI

My avatar speaks for itself.
If the cats are young, it won't be traumatic. Older cats may have a harder time adjusting but, to make the transition a smooth one, they'll need to see you around a lot. They'll explore but will stick close to you a lot during the first few weeks because you're the only thing familiar to them. Also, have them fixed if they aren't yet. Not only does it add years to their lives but it also will keep them from suffering in heat (i.e. the drive to mate). A fixed cat will have an easier time becoming an indoor cat. Indoor cats also live much longer lives.

Get a laser. Cats will happily chase that little red dot around and it easily entertains them. Oh, and get them catnip. It's like pot to them. It's hilarious watching them roll around in it. :D

The cat tree is a great idea as is the trickling fountain.

Does your new place have a balcony?
yep good advice!

def get a laser pointer its the lazy mans cat toy but its also the absolutly best one you could ever ask for.

as for catnip our current cat hates it i dont know why but it does.. loves the laser pointer tho.
 

Bluce Ree

Tech Admin / Council Member
For the first time ever, NO. :( I am doing this in "economy mode" by choice because I have always been such a spendthrift before on my apartments. Especially now since I am making more money than I have in 30 years. Its a trade-off. The main reason the outdoor cat is coming with me is because he is already the indoor/outdoor cat's playmate. The Alpha cat is the one who has the closest bond with me, and he sleeps as close to me as possible every single night, sometimes right above my head on the pillow with his paw on my neck. If not there, then on the ottoman next to my bed. The other cat NEVER sleeps inside the house. But when he comes with me, he will be with the other cat all the time and they will both sleep inside. The few times my cat as seen me pet the other cat, he suddenly wants to go out or run away (jealousy). He wont be able to do that now.

Both cats are fixed, and both are older than 5 years.

They're still quite young, so, shouldn't be traumatic but they (either or both) will probably stick close to you and follow you around your new place a lot. The two cats will keep each other company when you're not there and will probably chase each other around like my two cats did.

One cat seems to have become glued to you. If they're both indoor cats, eventually you'll wake up one morning to find them both sleeping next to you or even stuck up against you, especially on very cool evenings for warmth.
 

Bluce Ree

Tech Admin / Council Member
yep good advice!

def get a laser pointer its the lazy mans cat toy but its also the absolutly best one you could ever ask for.

as for catnip our current cat hates it i dont know why but it does.. loves the laser pointer tho.

Well, I guess even cats can be all stuck up and moral about cat-pot. :D
 

OMNI

My avatar speaks for itself.
Well, I guess even cats can be all stuck up and moral about cat-pot. :D
LOL yup, tho it loves the real thing tho everytime i blaze he comes and sits right next to me and wants me to blow smoke in his face.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
Just took these.

This is my "bonded" cat Siete. He is the 8 year old indoor cat who is also outdoor, and he is the Alpha of these two cats. HE IS HUGE. He is the one who sleeps with me every night. He waits outside and he gets dibs on any food or water, although I feed them both. LOVE this cat. Very vocal, very affectionate and very direct and demanding.:

Siete.jpg

This is Dante, with a much more passive demeanor, and he is also very affectionate. He is outdoor only, but he used to be indoor. He is a very sweet cat with a kitten's meow. Siete is like a little lion and is loud. This is Dante. He is the only one with the black dot on his nose, but both cats are very similar looking:

Dante.jpg

Siete was uninterested in the laser pointer. When I used it outside, Dante ran from it. Maybe it will be different when they are both in the house. :)

I really appreciate the comments you guys are giving me. Strangely, I am more concerned with the well-being of the cats than I am of MYSELF moving!
 

Bluce Ree

Tech Admin / Council Member
This is my "bonded" cat Siete. He is the 8 year old indoor cat who is also outdoor, and he is the Alpha of these two cats. HE IS HUGE. He is the one who sleeps with me every night. He waits outside and he gets dibs on any food or water, although I feed them both. LOVE this cat. Very vocal, very affectionate and very direct and demanding.:

View attachment 7609

This is Dante, with a much more passive demeanor, and he is also very affectionate. He is outdoor only, but he used to be indoor. He is a very sweet cat with a kitten's meow. Siete is like a little lion and is loud. This is Dante. He is the only one with the black dot on his nose, but both cats are very similar looking:

View attachment 7610

Siete was uninterested in the laser pointer. When I used it outside, Dante ran from it. Maybe it will be different when they are both in the house. :)

I really appreciate the comments you guys are giving me. Strangely, I am more concerned with the well-being of the cats than I am of MYSELF moving!

Yeah, that's how it starts when you become a cat person. :)
 

shavedape

Well Known GateFan
Oh this thread is about cats. My bad, I confused it with something else. :stupid:
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
Oh this thread is about cats. My bad, I confused it with something else. :stupid:

Burn the filth from your mind with fire! :excitement:
 

Illiterati

Council Member & Author
We're going to be moving on Monday, after we get back from a 4 day vacation, and will be moving the two of us humans, two dogs and two cats. We haven't had carpet in 3.5 years, so this should be interesting.

Hope everything goes well with your own move, OM1.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
We're going to be moving on Monday, after we get back from a 4 day vacation, and will be moving the two of us humans, two dogs and two cats. We haven't had carpet in 3.5 years, so this should be interesting.

Hope everything goes well with your own move, OM1.

Thanks! It has been crazy, because I have been paying double rent for this month. I had to come up with just over $5000 with all the deposit and first and last, plus the new Amarkat cat tree for the cats. I bought them a Drinkwell free-flow fountain yesterday, and the transport box. I will be finalizing my move this weekend. I decided to buy all new furniture, but I will have to wait until next payday. Spending too much money in such a short time!

I have not moved the cats yet. Siete knows I am preparing to move, and he has been staying very close to me the past few days. The outside cat seems to know something is up too. :) I have been telling them both that they are coming with me (as if they understand). I think they will be fine, when I was worried before. They will have each other during the day, and then they will have me every night when I come home. I am lucky that I have two 4-day weekends coming up, starting with this weekend. I can help them both adjust to the move. They will be helping me adjust too!

Got a question for ya...I have potted some cat greens in some clay pots. If you grow greens for them, how long before they sprout and grow into plants large enough for nibbling? I have the pots in a window where they will get plenty of light and have moistened the fresh potting soil. I was told it is MUCH cheaper to do it this way than to buy pre-sprouted cat grass or waste money on pre-seeded pods. Any experience with this? Also, how likely is it that the outdoor cat will panic and scratch the shit out of me when it comes time to put him in the transport box? He allows me to pick him up and pet him and hold him on my shoulder, and he is purring when I do that. Will he feel betrayed when I put him in the box? I plan to take him in the bathroom with the box and them shut the door so he cant escape, then put him in there. Im talking about Dante the outdoor cat. Siete wont like the box, but I dont think I will have trouble with him.
 

OMNI

My avatar speaks for itself.
Thanks! It has been crazy, because I have been paying double rent for this month. I had to come up with just over $5000 with all the deposit and first and last, plus the new Amarkat cat tree for the cats. I bought them a Drinkwell free-flow fountain yesterday, and the transport box. I will be finalizing my move this weekend. I decided to buy all new furniture, but I will have to wait until next payday. Spending too much money in such a short time!

I have not moved the cats yet. Siete knows I am preparing to move, and he has been staying very close to me the past few days. The outside cat seems to know something is up too. :) I have been telling them both that they are coming with me (as if they understand). I think they will be fine, when I was worried before. They will have each other during the day, and then they will have me every night when I come home. I am lucky that I have two 4-day weekends coming up, starting with this weekend. I can help them both adjust to the move. They will be helping me adjust too!

Got a question for ya...I have potted some cat greens in some clay pots. If you grow greens for them, how long before they sprout and grow into plants large enough for nibbling? I have the pots in a window where they will get plenty of light and have moistened the fresh potting soil. I was told it is MUCH cheaper to do it this way than to buy pre-sprouted cat grass or waste money on pre-seeded pods. Any experience with this? Also, how likely is it that the outdoor cat will panic and scratch the shit out of me when it comes time to put him in the transport box? He allows me to pick him up and pet him and hold him on my shoulder, and he is purring when I do that. Will he feel betrayed when I put him in the box? I plan to take him in the bathroom with the box and them shut the door so he cant escape, then put him in there. Im talking about Dante the outdoor cat. Siete wont like the box, but I dont think I will have trouble with him.
if its the same cat greens as the mrs uses for ours itll take less then 4 days.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
if its the same cat greens as the mrs uses for ours itll take less then 4 days.

Thanks bro! I bought seeds and clay pots. The seeds are these: http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Pet-H8001-Kitty-Herbs/dp/B0002DGJ0A and they are supposed to grow into something like this when they are sprouted and growing:

catgreens.jpg

The fountain I got them is way cool. Its a PetSmart fountain with a large reservoir:

120618C_pg9_v1_1a.JPG

The Amarkat cat tree looks EXACTLY like the picture on their website. Here it is in my new apartment:

20120925_182823.jpg

Took about 20 min to assemble, and is very sturdy. I am far less worried about my boys now. :) They will be just fine.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
LOL yup, tho it loves the real thing tho everytime i blaze he comes and sits right next to me and wants me to blow smoke in his face.

Siete has been doing that, but I did not put it together that he was trying to get a contact high until I noticed he only jumps up on my desk when Im blazing. :) After Im done, he jumps down and chills out on the ottoman next to me. So now, I will share it with him! I dont know how catnip affects either cat yet, since I have not tried it on them. But neither cat seems too thrilled about the laser toy. :(
 
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