Is something wrong at the well, girl?

Charlie approves

In my house, this look means 90+ minutes not late with dinner. After that, every look at them prompts a lap around the room, under every obstacle, whining at max volume.

We call those “whisker balls” in our house, but I love peanut whiskers.

Fuzzy was a way-ay-ayy!

You did it wrong. Anya’s world is upside down with this intruder. “Just see what happens” is not healthy or safe. Accept that and move past it.

As another comment mentions, Jackson Galaxy has a good many videos on this topic, but the first priority should be the vet to check them out for a chip and health. Then watch the JG vids.

Remember: cat’s most important security is derived from familiar territory. Move even one piece of furniture and they need to reassess. A new un-neutered male is a direct threat to the territory and can cause many unwanted behaviors and stress on both cats.

I do not consent!!! 🙀

Hollywood magic! The chair back adds 7 pounds!

Luna’s pose would always get me taking photos. That said, I feel for Luna being so clearly overweight. 😥

Thank you! I wanted to provide a fun bio with his background because I always like learning about the kittays on here. I also thought some might wonder about his ear.

We love this photo.

Scritches are his favorite. (Big surprise, that…) He enjoyed.

Thanks! We call it polite pose. He does it a lot, and it usually looks far more… intentional

Thank you! We love our Charlie – though I’m the only human in the house that calls him by that name. My GF likes silly names, and calls him, “big boy,” pronounced, “beeg bwai,” on account of him being the biggest cat she’s ever had.

Fun fact: he may have condor or eagle in his bloodline, because his claws are the biggest, longest, thickest claws I’ve ever seen on a house cat.

Give your Charlie pets for us!

Thank you!

This is his “why are you still awake at 11pm” face

Mask and blaze! When I shared your comment, he squeaked in reply.

Boop’d

I don’t have any left and the vet is getting more from Mexico, but if I recall correctly, the vet said it has natural enzymes from fruits like papaya? I’m waiting for more, because I just can’t get Charlie to accept me brushing his teeth. Also, It’s possible the enzyme does nothing, and his current diet and the rope are what’s helping, but its so cheap, I don’t mind.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I haven’t seen your previous posts, but I can relate to some of what you are going through.

Our ten year old cat (former feral rescued at age 3+/-) has chronic inflamed gums and buildup on the gumline. In the US, we were quoted $700-$1600 (they said it would depend on a few variables) for twice-yearly cleaning, and said extraction would be the logical next step. We were shocked at that cost, and considered putting our cat down.

About six months later, we moved to Central America, and on our first vet visit, told them the situation. The vet examined his teeth, quoted us $35 for a simple cleaning and $15 for an enzyme we put in his water. No need for extraction. The vet was visibly angry at the proposal to remove his teeth, and especially the cost.

The day of the procedure (1 December), the vet allowed me to assist, and it took only about ten minutes. The whole room stank of bad kittay breath. Recovery from the sedative was hard to watch for the rest of the day, but the next few days he seemed much happier, even playing with his sister instead of being his usual grouch self.

A month ago he went in to treat a rash from an allergy, and he currently has zero problems on his teeth or gums. The vet thinks all he needs is for us to keep using the enzyme (which we’re lucky that he drinks water many times a day) and stay on top of it.

Now we no longer mind when Charlie licks us, and he doesn’t stink. He’s also more playful. We think his mouth always hurt, and made him moody. He loves to chew on natural fiber rope toys (for dogs) with his back teeth, which possibly help keep them clean. He bites so hard his teeth squeak and creak through the rope.

All that is to say that care in the US is crazy expensive, and pretty dismissive of alternative treatment options. It left us feeling like our options were to spend an ungodly amount of money or put our cat down. Surprisingly, even putting the cat down in the states would cost more than the cleaning procedure here in Belize.

Try training Kika to use the toilet? My Grandmother’s cat was the same way back in the 80’s, and my uncle (yup, he still lived at home in his forties) trained the cat to use their downstairs toilet. Problem solved.

Edit: we kids always tried to catch her doing it but never did, but wed see the evidence after the fact.

Its definitely awesome that your cat is scratching, and good you want to keep their claws trimmed. Sharp claws can get caught in fabrics, and hurt other pets.

Bad news! Scratching actually sharpens their claws and pulls the old nail sheaths off the new razor sharp claw beneath.

Good news! You can trim your cat’s claws for the price of a pair of clippers.

Just be patient and gentle and calm and they’ll get used to it. My formerly feral rescue cats sleep through it now after years of it. The first few times, I’d just clip as many as they’d calmly let me. Now the clippers are like the brush, and they purr.