Cat Chat Feline Forum

He's home! We think he didn't appreciate R's grandsons. The older boy, in particular, is quite loud and has a habit of meowing at the cats and does a rather too convincing hiss. They left yesterday evening and, before leaving for the airport, R gave Foggy a quick call. He said he thought he heard an...

I'm sorry I haven't been around for ages, so feel a bit guilty not having contributed, but coming back asking for advice. First, a quick recap. We have two neutered male cats, brothers, Tiggy and Foggy, now 11 years old. We live in a very rural setting, surrounded by fields, few neighbours, far from...

Haven't been here for a very long time, so it's possible someone has already posted this. An alert concerning Armitage Flea Drops for Cats is circulating from a government news site. In short, a batch of flea and tick treatment for dogs was mislabelled as flea treatment for cats, and contains permet...

I would still get it done. Yes, I think I will. In fact, the government website doesn't even mention a health check any more, but some friends who left here after Christmas certainly took their two before departure. Needless to say, the vet isn't likely to turn away business, although he did tell u...

Hello everyone. It's ages since I last posted, so I'm pleased to still be seeing familiar usernames among regular posters. This is a really quick question, and one that I dare say that few people will have experience of, but here goes ... When I joined this forum (the original one), we were permanen...

Thanks, Janey. Those guidelines are useful but, as a regular cattery user, I find that since FAB stopped their accreditation scheme, it's more difficult to tell a good cattery from a not-so-good one - especially if a previously accredited cattery is under new management. And, although it's less than...

Hello all, long time since I've visited. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good cattery in (or very near) Manchester? We'll be bringing the boys over from Ireland with us as usual when we come in March. We will use our regular cattery in Hampshire for the majority of our stay, but we'll be s...

I seem to remember reading somewhere (here, probably :D ) that a lot of cats don't like the smell of new carpets - presumably because of something they're treated with. Does the new house have any recently fitted carpets? On that note, it could be new furniture, decorating smells or, as Lilynmitz po...

Are these patches also an indication of fleas? Perhaps they have appeared because she is trying to get rid of them? It could be either. Have you noticed any over-grooming behaviour? Tiggy used to nibble at his fur to the extent that he had completely bald back legs and stomach! Otherwise, it could ...

Could Fritz have hurt himself somewhere around the house? We had an issue with Foggy when he was very young, where he didn't want people to touch him. It turned out that he had broken a rib! :o Nothing in his behaviour gave anything away. It was only when he ran away and hid - resulting in us having...

Thanks, everybody. Sorry for not checking back for so long. I'll see if the local vet stocks Advocate, or if they'll give me a prescription.

We're back in Ireland and the cats are delighted at being able to roam free again after 8 weeks or so of lounging wistfully on sunny window sills in our French market town. Soooo ... we no longer have to treat pets for ticks before entering the country, so they missed getting a dose of Frontline Com...

I agree with the others. I'd be wary of organic pet food from a health shop. However, it is a mistake to think that your average high street vet has more than a cursory interest/understanding of feline nutrition. Their training in animal nutrition is quite generalistic and is often sponsored by the ...

I don't have experience with ferals and cannot offer any particular advice as to how to get your cat into a carrier. However, having tried a Calmivet (antihistamine) tranquiliser on one of my cats (who is good with carriers, but terrified of the vet) recently, I wouldn't recommend it. It took hours ...

Also, I am aware that if they are using reused litter, they are then treading dirty paws all over our house, sofa and bedding etc, which isn't very hygienic.Tray gets completely emptied twice a day, de-pooped or de-peed in between that and is sterilised! I agree with you about the treading of litte...

It got worse before it started to get better. Quite worrying, really. Even now, 9 hours later, Tiggy is brighter in himself and eating normally, if rather slower than usual, but still staggering about on wonky legs. :shock: Definitely wouldn't recommend Calmivet. It was given with the very best of i...

Quick update. All went well at the vet's and we are now back at home. Both cats were fine with their vaccinations, but I would be inclined to put this down to a new (and very gentle) vet and our taking a pocketful of nibbles to distract them with. I'm can't recommend Calmivet, I'm afraid. Nearly thr...

Thanks greenkitty. Piriton was suggested by a vet nurse in London, a few years back when Tiggy was overgrooming, but - as the advice didn't come directly from the vet - I never tried it. I'll give Calmivet a go today, as I find it quite upsetting to see Tiggy so distressed at the vet's. He is normal...

Hello all. What a nice fresh new website! Hopefully all our wisest cat chatters have transferred over. I've got to take our two boys in for their annual boosters on Tuesday. Since scratching one of the practice vets over a year ago, Tiggy now has a black mark against his record, warning that he can ...