OM Backed Out

[AndrewP]

I've pretty much always had cats 2 at a time - sometimes 3. Never allowed out. My "girls" are about 7 or so now. Middle aged lady cats. They are indoor only cats and a great comfort to me on bad days. A nuisance some other days especially in the mornings when they are demanding to be fed because they are so starved that they can see part of the bottom of their bowl.

Some practical "cat dad" info. Siblings are best I've always felt. My girls are sisters and before that I had a brother/sister pair. If you have the room, get 2 litter boxes. When they are young cleaning the boxes daily is a good idea. I do mine twice a week and sometimes they can be a bit ripe in the summer.

For my litter boxes, I use clumping litter. I also take them and scrub them with dish soap and a stiff brush once a month and then spray them with an enzyme that eats the bacteria that can cause odours. It also works on any accidents they may have. One of my girls regularly pees over the edge of the box - her butt is higher than the sides.

Neutering is an absolute must. It not only eliminates the chance of extra kittens (I originally wrote unwanted) but it also calms them down and prevents spraying. I've always had the cats declawed. A lot of vets refuse to do this now and TBH I agree with them. It does mean a certain amount of random destruction and planning on what they are allowed to claw and helping teach them what is OK and what isn't.

I only feed my girls Purina Indoor cat food split between a morning and evening feeding. The crunchy kibbles help keep their teeth clean. They love getting brushed and a good brush is handy. Kittens may resist being brushed or be too "busy" having fun to sit still but eventually it will be something everyone will enjoy.

If you take a trip, they will be fine on their own for a few days. Just make sure they have lots of water and a full food bowl. My daughter has left her two alone for up to 3 or 4 days at a time.

Good luck Tad - and I'm happy to hear that you are adding some fur buddies to your life. They will add much joy, some laughter to your world.