for the cat owners out there

[freelili]

I have two eight month old hand reared kittens/cats. A friend bought my daughter a beautiful, red, half persian kitten, 'Ruby' around 6 weeks ago. As she is so friendly my daughter bought her a collar with a little engraved heart containing our contact details, now that she goes out. However, the older cats are terrified of her now, just because of this collar. They wouldnt even come for food this morning, I had to pick them up and take them to the food, shutting little Ruby out. Should I take the collar off or will the older cats get used to it. Cole is quite a large male but he ran up the curtains to escape this little tiny thing. She is having a ball chasing them but I dont want to stress Cole and Syra out. They are microchipped but not everyone will notice a cat round here as its so open and empty, there are also a few ferrals. Mostly she just goes out to say hello to the neighbours. My daughter would be so upset if she lost her and she saved up for this collar and tag.

Any advice?

[Sarah]

Hi Ya

I am not a cat owner but i do have a puppy and when we first got her she was scared of everything including going out in the garden but now we cant get her back in.... i am sure like most things they will get use to it. Have you thought about getting them one it might make them better

xx

[Skippy]

Sorry Lily, I can't help with this one. Harry has a collar and tag (mouse shaped!) but obviously he's our only cat.

[Julie]

Hi Lily - I think they'll get used to it - I wouldn't take the collar off Ruby just in case she does wander off.

I have 2 cats, Teide and Latchford - Latchford is afraid of any change but comes around eventually. I've had him since he was 3 weeks old (he's now 5)and he is so nervous.

[freelili]

Thanks guys

Cole is a nervous cat but is usually up for a challenge when it comes to other cats. I might get the two of them a collar, so they are all the same....... he wouldnt be scared of himself, would he? Its quite amusing actually, he has just flown up the stairs chased by this little red, jingle bells, ball of fluff. I dont know about cat behaviour at all, I am an accidental cat owner. My daughter loves ginger cats, and since we had to move her to the box room from a large bedroom to accomodate my autistic sons, my friend treated her to Ruby. She was over the moon and she loves and cares for Ruby so well.

[Julie]

would you believe I was absolutely petrified of cats when i was a kid - now I spend so much time worrying over our 2 its unbelievable. I read cat confidential to pick up tips - but other than that its learn as you go along. Bit like raising children eh lol

[Skippy]

I used to be more of a dog person, but I now prefer cats.

Lily, someone Dave knows put a collar on her cat and he was terrified - it had a little bell on it and he couldn't work out why there was a noise every time he moved, and he ended up standing by the sofa not moving! He got used to it eventually though!

[freelili]

I did buy Syra and Cole little collars when they were tiny but Cole got so depressed I took it off him. I think I might go into waterstones and see if I can find a book about cat behaviour. My lovely Auntie has just sent me a card with £25 pounds in it. I love my auntie so much but her writing, is scarifily the same as Moms.

I am going to take the bell off Ruby's, I know its good to stop them from killing birds but Ruby isnt the type of cat to put any effort into meeting her own needs, she could winge for England.

Swans Girl

When I was little I picked up a cat in our garden, he was just kind of sitting there. He promptly crapped all over me (must have been at the point of no return) and my Mom went mad, I never picked a cat up after that.

We inherited a cat when we moved here, BK and she had kittens last year but no milk so I hand reared her babies with a bottle and kept two of them, Cole and Syra. Ruby was a gift so I now have 4. I do love them though, even the evil BK.

[cat 1]

I've got 5 cats.I doubt it'll be a visual thing they're objecting too.But it might make a noise and any sound would make a cat suspicious.I'm sure they'll get re used to her new presentation.Cat

[Robbiecat]

Take the bell off the collar. It is probably the ringing that is upsetting Cole. Also, try to give Cole a space of his own that the kitten can't get to him in - especially if she won't leave him alone. Think about it from his POV, there is was enjoying a nice quiet life in his house, and then all of a sudden there is a mad lunatic tearaway disturbing his peace that he can't get away from. It's like having a rude hormonal 15 year old human teanager you don't know moving into your house and giving you grief 24/7.

When my latest cat, Lily, was a youngster she was a class A Mental Hoolikitten. She traumatised every cat in the house. Eventually we got into the routine of putting her to bed in the study with a litter box about 10pm every night so that the others could have quiet time. It seemed to ease the tension considerably, especially with my timid cat.

As for Collars, 4 of mine wear one, my 5th cat just can't deal with one, they stress her out far too much and frighten her.

Good luck - maybe give Ruby time out in your daughters room at bedtime every night.

RC

[freelili]

Thanks RC

I like the hoolikitten bit. I have taken the bell off the collar. They all got on fine before this collar thing, at the weekend. After I had taken the bell off I took cole up to her basket and he licked her. As soon as she moved he ran away. He has his box in my room, I close the door and left him alone. Ruby sleeps in Torias room at night and she goes to bed early so the others get the peace.

[angela18]

my cats have always had collars.. to give the birds a chance!! I remember once getting up to let them in one morning and some a******e had put a front paw through the collar on both and they were only young!! they were hopping around the garden (looked funny when I think about it now) I was mortified!!

[freelili]

ooh Ang I wouldnt be happy if someone did anything to my babies. I think it would bring out the thug in me...Never thought about owning a gun but you've got me thinking. I would kill the swines.

My Cole is much better today, I am not going to get him a collar, dont want to freak him out. I love him to bits, couldnt love him anymore but he is a misery sometimes.

[Skippy]

I feel the same as you Lily - if anyone hurt Harry I don't know if I could restrain myself.

Speaking of Harry, I bought him some catnip bubbles today thinking it might give him some exercise when he chased the bubbles. How wrong can I be - I blew some bubbles in his direction and he was scared! What a waste of a fiver!

[freelili]

Where did you get them from Skippy, I have heard that cat nip is supposed to make them high. I think Cole could do with cheering up, he is such a misery guts. Picked him up earlier and he had a right mard on him, gave him a piece of ham too.. He just looked and b*****ed off out of the window..

I have finally finished going to have some tea now, cleaned the house top to bottom cut the grass, you name it I done it. Fed the kids, lasagne, hate lasagne, so I will have some beans on toast now. People coming tomorrow staying over til Saturday.. some til Sunday,,, I will be knackered all next week. And Cole thinks he's got problems, I was up before 6 too.