Hi Everybody,
By now all of you guys know about my dolly. I have a few questions I try not to bother you because my baby does not have papers, but I have read so many post about what to feed what not to feed what litter to use and so on and so on. Untill I'm so confused. I'm not rich but I would like to try and give her the best food for her. I have had dolly to 2 vets and on Wednesday she is to be fixed but I can not afford the food at the vets office any Ideas on something that I can afford that would be good for her? And she only wants to eat the wet food and so I have been feeding her fancy fest like I feed my other cats then I read that it is a bad food it failed some kind of test. And on the litter I did not know that clumping litter (Tiddy Cat) would harm her so I ran out last night and bought the worlds best they are adjusting to it (not to happy with the change but I have mixed it to try and make the adjustment easy). But I do not like the smell of it. Any thing else that you would recommend. And last but not least when she is fixed do you think her attitude will change she is so lovable and sweet now I would not want her to change if you think that it will I do not think I will have her fixed. I have not been on here in a long time because my father passed away the first week of Dec. and then my son was shipped to afghanastan on the 20th of Dec. So I'm just now getting caught up on the post for those wonderful people who posted on my threads Thank you for the advice. As for the people pic thread U guys look great. Any advice on the 3 questions I would be greatfull.
Thanks
Jackie
Sorry to read of your father and know you must be concerned about, though proud of, your son.
I do not think you should be reluctant to ask questions - or give advice.
Do not feel you must spend to get the "best" food. The incremental benefits of these things are often marginal. Any food that meets AAFCO minimum standards has the ingredients known to be REQUIRED for health of your cat. You just need to decide how your budget fits with the quality of the food as you understand it. As for Fancy Feast, it is not really that inexpensive, but it is not a bad food either. There are just foods that are probably better (and one of our cats LOVES Fancy Feast and we feed it to him to keep his weight up). You can try to see what yours like that are "better" - and still at a reasonable cost.
On cost and convenience for example, we feed primarily Eukanuba, but we feel equally comfortable when feeding IAMS, which is a bit cheaper and a bit easier to find.
You can select foods that are "natural" in one way or another, or no grain, or are "human grade," etc. and are good foods. If you are convinced they may be better and you want to spend any extra for them, then get some, slowly introduce it, feed it for a while and see if you think it is making any difference.
The clumping litter risk is if the kitten eats it. However, regular clay litter is kitten safe and is a lot less expensive than World's Best - or any clumping litter. We use both clumping and clay litters, with the latter (and Feline Pine) for the kittens.
Most definitely spay her. She is MUCH more likely to have behavioral changes you will not be able to tolerate if you do not spay her. In addition, her health will be at risk, because if she gets pregnant that is a risk to her - and a challenge for you to raise and find homes for the kittens, and if she is whole and not bred, then she is at risk of things like ovarian cysts that can kill her.
Jackie - please don't feel that just because Dolly doesn't have papers that we don't welcome you here. I think all of us love all cats, and we are certainly glad to see Dolly and I think you're wonderful for taking her in.
Here's a question for JanH that also pertains to you, Jackie. At what age is using clumping litter not an issue with kittens? Dolly looks awfully big now - how old is she Jackie?
I am so sorry to hear about your father, and please thank your son for the job he is doing for our country. I pray that he remains safe and will be home soon.
It is not a size issue. It is when the "everything goes in the mouth" kitten stage is over - and that may be hard to be sure about. We find it makes most sense to just make the kitten to adult changes (adult food, clumping litter, automatic litter boxes) at one year of age, although using clumping litter may be safe some months before that.
Thank You JanH for the help. As far as I can tell she does not have any interest in eating the litter what concerned me is her feet are so fury that if they get wet and she licked them then she would ingest the litter if it stuck to the fur and I read where you said that it would build up in their system and that sent me straight to petsmart to buy the worlds best litter. Thank You for the kinds words about my father and my son. And she will be fixed on wednesday.
Thanks
Jackie
Thank You TeresaK for the kind words about my father and son. As for the prayers he needs everyone he can get it has been 4 weeks now and he has had the humv destoryed by bricks being thrown, been shot at and they blew up a tanker truck at the gate of the camp it injured 4 and killed one the only thing that saved him was he was in the lead of the convoy and the tanker was at the end. My dolly is such a comfort to me. The vet thinks she is 6 to 7 months old. I'm sorry I did not mean to imply that I felt unwelcome it just that I know to have a real ragdoll they need papers, but she has all the traits and thats good enough for me. lol. I do have one more question my dolly needs shoes her feet are so fury and I do not have carpet in my house poor baby slides every where do they sell ragdoll shoes? LOL
Thanks
jackie
Even without toe tufts, cats will slide. The pads are not built for traction on hard floors either.
Yes, kittens are also more likely to get wet feet and clean them by licking. Another signal to keep clumping away from the kitten. This foot wetting is also a kitten stage "thing."
I am so sorry to hear about your father, and please thank your son for the job he is doing for our country. I pray that he remains safe and will be home soon.
I have to raggies and no papers and papers wouldn`t make them any more precious to me. The forum has never mad me feel unwelcome in any way. I rescued one from shelter bound and the other from a rescue shelter.Papers are good if you want to breed. I love Jan,always so helpful. It`s like when I had a baby had to read a book from doctor Spock. Now I`m showing my age