Kitten

LYILHA:

YAY!!!  So I got a kitten a couple days ago...a little lovey terror.  lol.  I have never had a cat so everything is kinda new to me. 

OHHHHHH!!  I am SO envious!!!  I've had cats all my life, until I married DH 7 years ago.  When I had to put my two previous cats asleep, it was during our dating period, and I couldn't justify getting another one when I was gone, spending time with DH before we married.

Now that we are together, he doesn't want ANY pets, let alone one that lives in the house.  I am hoping that some day I can change his mind.  I won't have ANY cat that is not a completely indoor cat, especially living in the mountains like I do.  Cats can die of so many things when they are allowed outside, and they can catch diseases from other cats.  Here in the mountains, they can also be killed by coyotes or other wild animals.  I have a friend who had outdoor-only cats (used as mousers), and she has already lost 4 cats in 3 years.

Have you taken Bones to the vet for a check-up?  (I love the name!!!)  It is always a good idea to take a newly-found pet to the vet to make sure it is healthy.  Then at that time, you can ask the vet what the best thing is that you can use for fleas.  I am sure he will recommend something that will be safe for kittens, and probably something you can buy over-the-counter. 

Kittens always get undefoot.  You will find that Bones will probably pounce at your ankles while he's hiding under your bed.  Ohhhhh, kittens are SO much fun!!!

I'm so jealous!  I love gray tabby cats!  If it has the "giraffe spots" like you describe, it may be more of a calico cat, because they have splotchy coloring with white, gray and brown, and sometimes black.  But if it is mostly striped, then it is most likely tabby as you described.

I can't WAIT to see a picture!

Congratulations!  Please give Bones a kiss for me, will you? 

Sherri

LYILHA:

did get him one of those corrigated cardboard scratching things the other day and it seems to work.  He hasn't really started sharpening his claws but I thought that it would be better to have something now than to discover later that we should have had one. 

Good idea!  You know what else you might do, is buy a supply of catnip.  You can get it at Petsmart.  Cats love to roll in catnip, they go nuts over it.  If you sprinkle some catnip leaves on the corrugated cardboard scratching post, he will know that it is there for HIM (or HER!).  When Bones smells it, sit back and enjoy the show! 

LYILHA:

Good idea with the baby shampoo too! 

If you decide to go the shampoo route, start conditioning your kitty to shampoos EARLY (i.e., frequently, and while still a kitten).  Historically cats absolutely hate water!  But if you get them accustomed to it when they are a kitten, you won't have a difficult time of it come bath time.

Awww...Sherri, I hate it that you can't get a kitty too!!!  I will send a few prayers your way that  you will be able to convince hubby to fold *hehe*.  Thanks again for all the advice...I am SO GLAD there are people out there that I can ask about this kinda stuff to...Bones has a pretty noob owner so far lol!!!  I am hoping to get to the store today to get some shampoo...lol...we shall see how he handles that!

I am sure he is a tabby...just has wierd coloring - he has the telling "M" on his forehead.  He might be part calico though.  Thing is his spots more remind me of a Bengal or something...(I looked it up).  Who knows...he's cute and sweet and thats what counts!

Thankfully my uncle worked for YEARS as a vet tech...so he knew he was healthy and all that biz.  lol...he even cleans out his cats ears and gets them all used to the flea comb and stuff.  My aunt and uncle had him for about a month before we got him.  They already have 5 cats and a mastiff...they said that another one was just not in the cards for them....but of course when they found him he was in danger and they didn't really wanna take him to the pound so they just kept him till the right person came around to take him.  ME!  =)

I will try to get pics ASAP!  I have a WHOLE LOT going on this weekend but I might just be able to get some pics in here for ya...just be patient with me.  hehee..

LYILHA:

I am sure he is a tabby...just has wierd coloring - he has the telling "M" on his forehead. 

Ahhhh yes!  The tell-tale M!  I agree, it's a tabby!!  You lucky devil you!

LYILHA:

Thankfully my uncle worked for YEARS as a vet tech...so he knew he was healthy and all that biz.  lol...he even cleans out his cats ears and gets them all used to the flea comb and stuff. 

How lucky you are to have a vet tech in the family!  That gives me some relief, I agree that your uncle can probably tell if your new family member is healthy or not.  I'm married to a nurse, so I get medical advice I don't have to pay for also!

I'll wait patiently for you to post a picture! 

Did you give Bones a kiss for me like I asked you to? 

Sherri, sure did give him kisses from ya!  And I got a chance to get photos...so for your viewing pleasure...here he is:

The last pic gives you an idea of his coloring on his sides...different huh?

 Look at the sleeping little angel,  Thanks, for sharing "Bones" with us.

When I lived on a farm, we put "Brewers Yeast" in the cat food.  The girls thought they were indoor cats as long as I was at work.

Now you can buy Brewers Yeast in  tablet form in the pet section of wal mart.

Brewers Yeast, keeps Mosquitos,Flea and Ticks off your "Precious Little Darling." they also love the taste.

 PS.Don't forget to read the labels on floor cleaners. (Can't remember which one) I think it was the "Swifter"??anyway one of them isn't pet safe.

We switched to cleaning floors with white vinegar to be safe for our dog.

Kelly - he might be half tabby and half spotted ...

I know my mum used to have one like that when I was little - and she got kittens with a spotted pattern male .... and the kittens came out like that ... kinda "undesided" ...

 Oh did I forget to say he is adorable ? well he is ... =)

 What a cute little furbaby!

Start getting him used to the bath idea...start with the sink first. My cat has no problems with bathtime...shes used to it. Sits in the water all nice and calm. Anyway...I use Cloudstar "buddy wash" with citronella and lavendar for the dog and the cat...anti flea and mosquito all natural organic goodness (6.99 at petsmart). I would read the labels though since your little one is still a baby. I would also suggest some flea power for your carpet, you shake it on and leave it for 24 hours and vaccuum it up (8.99 at the organic pet store)

Yes they get underfoot. Even fully grown cats. Mine has an obsession with shoes, she would get inside and sleep in them as a kitten, and almost got squished a few times. Now she is too big so she sleeps either on them, sorta in them, or on the shoe rack.

Have fun with your new baby!

I love his tummy! please rub it for me. He is adorable.

Courtney

LYILHA:

The last pic gives you an idea of his coloring on his sides...different huh?

Bones is beautiful. Reminds me of a female cat my first ex-husband and I had. She was that beautiful grey tabby color, just like Bones (love the name). We called her Rugg Ratt or Ruggy for short. Sweet and loveable!

Mary,

I was going to suggest Brewer's Yeast, too! Fleas hate the stuff!

BTW - what are you doing in DEMING? Looking for Billy the Kid?? <LOL>

Deb

 Awww... he's such a CUTIE!  I've seen tabbies with those swirling patterns... trying to remember what they call that type of marking.... eh, can't think of it. ANyway, it's my FAVORITE, though ALL kitties are beautiful.  Thanks for the photos!

Lois

Kelley, Bones is adorable!  

I've had a few cats in my life and have enjoyed almost all of them (okay, there were a couple who drove me crazy....)  and loved every one of them.  I love dogs too, actually I'm really a dog person more than a cat person but there's a narrow difference in that. 

My thoughts about the fleas are that a bath is definitely good.  It is really a good idea to start cats getting used to being bathed while they're young, even at that Bones might not like this much now or when he's older, cats typically don't like baths at all x=but a regular bath will do a lot to keep the fleas down.  Frontline is good, there are other similar products that are also good though I'm not familiar with most of them.  I think Advantage is another one but I'm not sure...the vet can recommend something and tell you why one is better than another.  They're all expensive.  What I wouldn't do is use one of the brands from Walmart because they're nowhere near as good or as safe and are almost as expensive too.  None of these will be inexpensive so the choice for me always was which one will give the most benefit for the least amount of money. Also, some states have programs for helping people get their pets neutered or spayed through the department of agriculture.

Do cats get underfoot?  Yup.  Routinely.  Lifelong habit.  Some like biting toes too.    Climbing into drawers and cupboards is another cat favorite, or any small space for that matter. 

Good luck with him Kelley, he's a sweetie!

Pam