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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spoil my cat.

53 replies

HadABadDay2014 · 13/02/2014 21:02

I have never been an animal person, but DH and DC wanted a kitten. I agreed as long as the cat wasn't my responsibility.

I have feel head over heels for her. So much that I have finally been able to give up smoking ( well only a week early days) in order to buy her toys and make sure I am able to afford vets and treats.

I am still learning about being a responsible cat owner. I am unsure at times. Like wtf is catnip

OP posts:
WitchWay · 13/02/2014 21:35

The smell of olive wood strongly affects some cats - mine are worse with it than catmint - I've had to hide a lovely bowl in a cupboard because they wouldn't leave it alone & it was always full of cat drool - nice

babyicebean · 13/02/2014 21:36

Is there something in dreamies that is addictive? Ours goes ballistic for them and will sit crying in front of the cupboard where they are till he gets one.

redrubyindigo · 13/02/2014 21:38

Be careful with the dangling toys on a string that hang off scratching posts. They can get wrapped around a cats 'wrist'.

If your cat is off her food/having tablets try sprinkling a little goldfish food over it to tempt her.

Get her used to having her teeth brushed as a kitten, it will save a lot of money and heartache later. Give a her a chicken bone to gnaw and lick to keep her teeth healthy. Get her used to being brushed now as well. It is a lovely bonding session and helps if she needs to go the vet as she will be used to gentle handling and won't be scared.

My old gal is 12 and I am very jealous of your kitten!

umiaisha · 13/02/2014 21:39

Our cat spends hours playing with brightly coloured pipe cleaners!

Original poster
HadABadDay2014 · 13/02/2014 21:42

I have pipe cleaners.

Whoknows try it you have nothing to loose.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 13/02/2014 21:43

Does she luff you back? Dh gets ignored by our cat

Leonas · 13/02/2014 21:46

My DP was exactly the same - never had a car, wasn't fussed about them but it is now his pride and joy! A ball of tinfoil and a carrier bag are all the toys a kitten needs :)

Original poster
HadABadDay2014 · 13/02/2014 22:01

She doesn't love me I have to work for her affection.

OP posts:
rideyourbike · 13/02/2014 22:01

Best not use a carrier bag, high risk if suffocation, a paper bag would be perfect tho Smile

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 13/02/2014 22:02

I keep worrying about them hurting themselves playing with household objects, I found one with her head trapped through the handle of a carrier bag the other week. I really want to love them, hopefully I will in time. We've had a bad week this week, urination in random places, sickness, fleas, it's not always like this. It's nice reading about everyone else loving their cats, hoping some of it rubs off on me.

QueenOfTheSlipstream · 13/02/2014 22:06

No, not unreasonable at all. I LOVE mine and spoil her to bits. Second (and third and fourth) cardboard boxes, but will add she loves parcel tape too. Makes a great ball when rolled up and stick to her...drives her mad, in a good way. Just have to be careful she doesn't eat it!

Cats are lovely Smile.

HazeltheMcWitch · 13/02/2014 22:08

Newspapers!
No one has mentioned the joy that can be had from pouncing on an opened up newspaper, as all the bits of paper separate and slide about...

Original poster
HadABadDay2014 · 13/02/2014 22:08

If you didn't love them you wouldn't worry.

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 13/02/2014 22:33

True, I think a lot of the problem is that I'm a worrier and pet ownership is totally uncharted territory for me. The DCs love them and I'm sure I probably do deep down.

ForgettableTampon · 13/02/2014 22:39

ping pong ball

years ago Victoria Wines stuff was put in a big green sturdy paper bag - hours of fun for my kitties. The bag I mean, not the contents Grin

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 13/02/2014 22:43

My two like playing in one of those blue ikea bags, all crunchy and rustly.

Wolfiefan · 13/02/2014 22:43

A small foam ball. Bounced up the stairs and chased back down. (You throw. They chase!)
Big paper bag. Tickle the bottom!
A laptop
Anything you read
Piece of string

Treats?
Roast chicken
Coley cooked in microwave
Warm fleecy blanket on radiator hanger
Piece of wood in the garden to shred their claws on!

Furry beasts run my home!!

PiratesLifeForMe · 13/02/2014 22:59

Empty loo rolls, cotton buds, bathroom mat...pretty much anything I don't want her to get her paws on...all these things are awesome toys, right along with the shiny sparkly fish I got from tkmaxx. She has a lot of toys.

And I was the muppet saying 'ooooh no, the new kitten'll eat whatever I give her...if she's hungry, she'll eat'.

As it turns out, she now eats gourmet perle after a three month standoff after she decided she didn't like Felix after happily eating it for months. Now I think she's gone off gourmet perle and ill have to try & guess what she wants. I'm that cat-lady now.

And I'll do it, because despite everything I said, she's fricking adorable, I love her and even though she's a knob, she'll get whatever she wants. Eventually.

FFS.

PiratesLifeForMe · 13/02/2014 23:01

Oh and catnip does nothing for her, seriously can't imagine anything having the effect that cotton buds do. Each cat is different, see what works! :)

ComposHat · 13/02/2014 23:08

op your post could have been written by my wife. One time cat hater utterly converted by our rescue cat. To duch a degree that she went to sit on the floor so that cat could spread herself out on the sofa.

Cat nip seems to be something that only some cats go for. My parents' cats never bothered but our cat goes loopy for them. Earlirr this evening our normally sedate and matronly tortie was rolling around the floor in a state of drugged up bliss.

She is currently working on a prog-rock concept album.

The only toy she's gone in for in a big way is a laser pen. Hours of red dot fun.

AbbeyBartlet · 13/02/2014 23:48

She doesn't love me I have to work for her affection.

Poor OP - the first thing to know about having cats is that they love you loads but are able to manipulate you so that you do more and more to please them! The only thing you can do is go along with it and spoil them rotten! Grin

Kirk1 · 13/02/2014 23:53

I had a cat who would sleep in bed with me but you had to lie completely still or he'd pounce on your feet through the covers. I used to spend ages wriggling my feet about for him to chase!

When he wanted to sleep he would lie on my chest with his head under my chin. If I moved he would butt my chin with his head. He was big, black and fluffy and I adored him :)

Gormless · 14/02/2014 00:01

Glad you have discovered the joy of cat servitude OP! Cats are so much fun and very loving. However, I have not slept comfortably in years as we have two cats that sleep on the bed...as a result I end up contorting myself in all sorts of ways just to keep them comfortable!

JemimaJones · 14/02/2014 00:05

Awwww.....enjoy spoiling your cat. I had to have my 11 year old cat put down last Saturday and I miss him so very much. Sad

spidey66 · 14/02/2014 00:23

My cat loves tinned tuna and fresh peeled prawns as a treat. Small amounts only- too much salt in prawns, and mercury in tuna. But treat it like alcohol/ choklit/takeaways......fine in moderation.