Cat Chat Feline Forum

We have awful harvest mites every year, I counted the bites on my own body and gave up at 70! But they do only hang around for about 6 weeks from the beginning of August, so yes, they should have gone by now. Some cats (and people) are more affected than others (they left my husband alone!). My two ...

Of 8 cats I’ve adopted from shelters over the years, somewhat shockingly I have only ever been home checked once. The others didn’t ask me anything about my experience, circumstances, type of cat I was looking for, local area, cat flaps, etc etc. In one case I took two long stay hard to home cats, s...

Glad to hear it came back up again. Best keep an eye out for stray bits of stringy stuff if he’s fond of eating it, or it could get expensive at the vet’s!

I agree, it’s really very early days. That’s quite a trauma to recover from, and I don’t care what people say, they do respond to such events at an emotional level. Give her lots of gentle love and reassurance to help her get through the adjustment and recovery phase. It is surprising that the vet l...

I’m pleased to hear his eye is improving. If he keeps doing this, I’m wondering whether his sight might not be too great to start with. My blind laddie Mitz kept injuring his eyes as he didn’t have a blink or swerve response if something was about to poke him in the eye, and he also ended up with bl...

Sorry for short reply, it’s late and I should be in bed(!) but it's very early days at the moment, you can’t force these things. Keep giving the resident cats lots of love and reassurance, but allow them their space to retreat to. You might want to try using a dog crate to put your newbie into for s...

If it’s only hissing rather than full on fighting, I would be inclined to let them sort it out between them. Give both somewhere to retreat to when they’ve had enough, be prepared to step in if things are getting a bit OTT, and just try to calm things down a bit. I tend to view hissing as a warning ...

So sorry to hear of the problems you’re having with Max’s eye, it sounds miserable. All I can suggest is that you continue with the vets treatments, it has healed up before, so it may do again. The silly boy just keeps re-injuring it. I've been through something similar with two of mine, but in our ...

The food you’re giving her is very rich. Have you tried something more bland, like boiled chicken or steamed white fish? Probably less fattening too. Also good quality dried foods, eg Royal. Canin for sensitive tums.

It’s hard to know whether the cleaning products are part of the problem, or indeed your own hormones, but my guess is that they may not be coping with your toddler being mobile around the house. When she was less mobile, the cats still had the rest of the house as their safe territory, but now they ...

I had this problem recently. Elsie is about 5 yrs old and has always been very friendly, even submissive, with previous male cats. When little Zig died very suddenly, we waited a few months then got Toby, who was about a year old, and also very sweet natured and very cat friendly. She went nuts! if ...

Hi Chloé, sorry you’ve not had any replies to your post, which suggests this isn’t a problem many of us have experienced. It must be distressing to watch, and you’re right to take him to the vet. I hope they can get to the bottom of this for you. Let us know how you get on.

You’re right to be cautious, it may be the beginning of cat flu, or an eye infection. Advise your friend that this kitty needs to see a vet, then see what the vet says.

That’s good progress, but remember to let him take it at his own pace, and let him hide as much as he wants to. You can’t force an animal to trust, it has to come from them learning that you are not a threat, which takes time and patience. Keep it up.

Just to say I agree with Kayks advice, and this is VERY early days yet. I often find rescue cats are on their “best behaviour” when they first move in, but after a few days the real adjustments begin as they learn about their new environment and co-habitees. Take it very slowly, and remember he’s no...

Good advice from fjm, just let her settle in at her own pace. It’s more fear of the strange and unknown than anything else, but once she learns this new place is her safe space, she’ll be fine.

Is he toileting elsewhere outside the tray, or just “holding it in”?

Honestly, I would keep her at home if you can. She will be far less stressed in her own home. I have a reciprocal cat sitting arrangement with a neighbour, we just pop in morning and evening (we each have two cats), and clean out litter tray once a day. If you use a clumping litter, it’s a 30 second...

Congratulations on sharing your hime with a rescue puss. To be honest I would just keep her in for a few weeks longer until you’re back from looking after your dad. It won’t do her any harm, she’ll be in familiar territory, you know she’ll be safe so you don’t have to worry and can concentrate on yo...

Sorry to hear about your troubles. It would be worth you referring this to the RSPCA, and asking them to contribute towards the costs as this does sound like a pre-existing condition that they should have addressed before releasing him for rehoming. However, it may be better for your puss if he stay...

I haven’t heard of this but it would be worth talking if through with the vet. It might mean that periodic bloods would be a good idea to check how they’re doing, so if there is an issue you can change her diet or even put her on meds. My Lily was on fortekor for years but I just hid it in a bit of ...

Hi, don't panic. 5 days is very very early days in this process. They had a promising start, it can just take a while for them to sort out the pecking order. They were both probably on their best behaviour to start with as it was so new, but now they're beginning to realise this is a permanent chang...

I agree, try wearing him out with interactive toys, so he can see you as an alternative source of entertainment rather than constantly winding up Haz. That will help him burn off some energy and give Haz some peace. I've had this with young boy cats and slightly older females, and it can drive them ...

My cats have had very different responses to losing a companion. Ranging from deep depression to apparent indifference. In each case I’ve always talked to them a lot about what’s happened, given them extra love and attention, and mourned with them. Quite often it has seemed that they were looking af...

So sorry to hear this, but at least it was peaceful and natural, in the comfort of his own home. But it’s still a big shock to find them, and they leave such a big hold on our lives when they go. RIP little one

I’m afraid she’s just being a cat. Most cat owners can relate to this. This explains why you often see cat owners agonising for hours in the cat food aisle in the supermarket over what their fluffy little darlings will deign to eat this week. It usually happens 2 days after you’ve done a massive bul...

Perhaps she's finally realised it's more comfortable than living outside? Or perhaps a new cat has moved into her territory and she feels safer inside? Or perhaps she's decided she likes being with you. Hard to tell with cats. Take it as a compliment though.

I used to use Worlds Best and it is really good, but changed to Cats Best which is cheaper and just as good. Slightly bigger grains, but clumps really well and keeps smells down. Tbh I don’t know why anyone uses non clumping, they smell terrible and you have to clean out the whole tray much more oft...

Wow, that was a baptism of fire for your new puss. Look at it from her viewpoint, she’s taken by someone she doesn’t know to a strange house, is put in a bowl of water and washed, then blow dried with a hairdryer, (both of which are unnatural and quite frightening for most cats and may have contribu...

I wonder if they're harvest mites? If so, they're seasonal, and should be gone in the next two weeks.