SJ.com cat people, I humbly ask for your advice

[hockeybeat]

Due to circumstances, I am cat-sitting my sister's beautiful four year old long hair until November.

This is the first time I'm going to be responsible for something other than me. Is there any advice that you all can give me?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Just feed it, have water available when the cat wants it, and see that the feline knows where the litter box is and have it cleaned out pretty regularly.

Giving it a little attention when you can doesn't hurt, either. Good luck, HB.

 

[forever_town]

If the cat's anywhere from a bit stand-offish to outright scared of you, feeding it treats might allow you to bond with the cat.

Giving it attention is another sure bet.

 

[Songbird]

 

[forever_town]

 

[Written By Whiskey Bottle]

Advice:

Get a dog.

 

[mike311gd]

Is there anything YouTube cannot give us?

I like the boxing cat. Well, I suppose I like the cat who pounces on the boxing cat.

 

[Hustle]

Just feed it, have water available when the cat wants it, and see that the feline knows where the litter box is and have it cleaned out pretty regularly.

Giving it a little attention when you can doesn't hurt, either. Good luck, HB.

And attention doesn't have to mean petting. If there are toys laying around, find one that the cat is fond of and play with it.

If there aren't any toys around, head to PetSmart/Petco and find a mouse/bird on the end of a stick. Our cats loved them - they've kind of grown out of them - but it's more interactive than just a toy mouse.

 

[Chef]

Priceless.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

The hell? What is this, VH1 Popup Videos?

 

[Wenders]

And this is the problem I have. I have inherited a cat from a friend of mine in the past few weeks. The cat is used to being fed in the morning. I normally don't wake up until mid-afternoon. The cat expects feed at 8:30 in the morning and when she doesn't get it, he comes and nudges me with his head. Repeatedly. What I've learned to do is feed it half its ration of food a few hours before I hit the hay. Then the cat is fed and content and ready for bed when I am.

My cat is particularly fond of catnip. Get a bucket of the stuff. Many places also sell stuffed animals to put the catnip in so it doesn't get everywhere.

A scratching post is a must, unless you want your furniture to be ripped to hell.

My advice for the litter box: put it next to the toilet in the bathroom. That room already has enough smells coming out of it anyway. Then, when it's time to scoop, all you have to do is go two feet away and flush.

 

[sportschick]

Get an automatic feeder. Keeps the kitties from waking you up early.

Either that or make them grazers. I've got food out all day so they always have some.

Also, get a brush. Long-haired ones need to be brushed daily so they don't develop mats, which can be quite painful. It will also cut down on any shedding.

Also, get the stuff to treat hairballs, just in case. If it develops hairballs, use it for a week instead of the 2-3 days recommended. It will work better.

 

[luckyducky]

What sc said. ... I let mine graze all day long because I'm too lazy cheap to buy an automatic feeder.

Cat brushes are as little as five bucks or so. Definitely worth it to help with the shedding.

Also, buy a lint roller for yourself.

 

[Killick]

The toilet may not be a great suggestion, if you're using clumping litter. Supposed to be terrible on plumbing.

I highly recommend the catnip, tho. Get the little ankle-biter stoned, and you'll have a friend for life. Also, mine loves to chase the penlight beam in a darkened room. He just can't figure out how that damned spot ALWAYS gets away from him.

 

[sportschick]

Yea, clumping litter is not toilet safe.

In addition to cat nip, I'd suggest some of those little fur mice. Put them in the catnip for a day or two before giving them to the cat to play with. . . catly ecstasy will occur.

 

[Wenders]

The kind of litter I use is called Feline Pine. My incredibly organic friend who gave me the cat bought it because it's environmentally safe or something like that. But it doesn't clump, it just breaks down.

I would watch your cat for a few days before just allowing it to graze. I can't put out a bunch of food for my cat because he would just go and scarf it all down and then want more.

 

[whatwoulddamondo?]

my old roommate's cat would do the same -- binge eat (especially if he hadn't eaten enough that day) and then vomit.

so do be careful about that.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Shave it. Your sister will think it's a pretty good joke.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

 

[Flash]

Don't know what to do with a *****, eh?