LAJennifer
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2005
- Messages
- 2,029
He is doing very well. He is getting a little chubby, so I have put him on a diet and he is NOT happy about it. I was free-feeding him, and I think he was just eating too much. Now, in the morning, he gets a small can of Fancy Feast Turkey & Giblets and 1/4 cup Nature''s Variety Prairie Chicken. In the evening he gets another 1/4 cup of the dry food.
I am amazed at how affectionate he has become - I thought it would take me at least 6 months to get to where we are now. I can completely "handle" him, though he doesn''t like being picked up off the ground (so I don''t do it). He loves to have his ears rubbed and his neck scratched. He is such a cutie - his eyes are Paul Newman blue. His coat is amazing and his eyes are nice and clear.
He is outside and semi-feral, so he does occasionally get into cat fights - however, I think he wins most of them. I''ve never seen bite marks, but everyday he has a new scratch. He has a lot of self esteem.
PROBLEMS:
1) He scratches himself more than usual. He doesn''t have fleas and is treated with Advantage topical. Maybe he itches from rolling around in the dirt, or maybe his cat scratch wounds itch. Is it possible he has a food allergy? He just scratches - though he doesn''t irritate his skin or fur.
2) His shelter is the crawl space under the building next door. Last week I noticed a handyman closing the crawl space holes. He didn''t close the main one, because he didn''t have a grate to fit the opening. I made him aware of Wellington''s presence and gave him my number. He will call me when he comes back to close the hole so we can make sure Wellington isn''t underneath. Also, he said he would make it so that it can be easily removed (not nailed or screwed in). City Inspectors were doing random checks a few weeks ago and cited the owner for the openings.
I placed a large carrier/kennel, with the front gate removed, next to the opening and placed Wellington''s towel in it. It took a few days, but every time I go out to see him he is hanging out in the carrier. I''m going to lean a large piece of plywood against the wall to enclose the carrier, so that he will have some more privacy and security once he can no longer go under the building.
3) I plan to bring him inside and make him an official member of our family - however I will be traveling for the first 3 weeks of June, so he has to stay outside until I return. I cannot risk bringing him in and then leaving him and my other 2 cats unsupervised for 3 weeks. A neighbor that he likes will be looking after him - but I know I''m going to worry myself silly while I''m gone.
Just a little update - any comments or "tips" are certainly appreciated (especially tips on integrating with Seth and Electra, and advice on making him an indoor kitty).
I am amazed at how affectionate he has become - I thought it would take me at least 6 months to get to where we are now. I can completely "handle" him, though he doesn''t like being picked up off the ground (so I don''t do it). He loves to have his ears rubbed and his neck scratched. He is such a cutie - his eyes are Paul Newman blue. His coat is amazing and his eyes are nice and clear.
He is outside and semi-feral, so he does occasionally get into cat fights - however, I think he wins most of them. I''ve never seen bite marks, but everyday he has a new scratch. He has a lot of self esteem.
PROBLEMS:
1) He scratches himself more than usual. He doesn''t have fleas and is treated with Advantage topical. Maybe he itches from rolling around in the dirt, or maybe his cat scratch wounds itch. Is it possible he has a food allergy? He just scratches - though he doesn''t irritate his skin or fur.
2) His shelter is the crawl space under the building next door. Last week I noticed a handyman closing the crawl space holes. He didn''t close the main one, because he didn''t have a grate to fit the opening. I made him aware of Wellington''s presence and gave him my number. He will call me when he comes back to close the hole so we can make sure Wellington isn''t underneath. Also, he said he would make it so that it can be easily removed (not nailed or screwed in). City Inspectors were doing random checks a few weeks ago and cited the owner for the openings.
I placed a large carrier/kennel, with the front gate removed, next to the opening and placed Wellington''s towel in it. It took a few days, but every time I go out to see him he is hanging out in the carrier. I''m going to lean a large piece of plywood against the wall to enclose the carrier, so that he will have some more privacy and security once he can no longer go under the building.
3) I plan to bring him inside and make him an official member of our family - however I will be traveling for the first 3 weeks of June, so he has to stay outside until I return. I cannot risk bringing him in and then leaving him and my other 2 cats unsupervised for 3 weeks. A neighbor that he likes will be looking after him - but I know I''m going to worry myself silly while I''m gone.
Just a little update - any comments or "tips" are certainly appreciated (especially tips on integrating with Seth and Electra, and advice on making him an indoor kitty).