The Very Eventful Lives of the Excellent Cats

[TheShellBeach]

Calling all cats and their overworked slaves - join us as we grudgingly accept that every day is National Cat Day as far as our moggies are concerned.

A silly question about drinking fountains! Do you leave them plugged in all night and when you're out?
I don't know where I'd put one as the dog is shut in downstairs when I go out, and there wouldn't be space for one by the plug in the hall so it would mean having one upstairs in a bedroom. Would it overflow and leak through the floor to the room beneath?

When I used a fountain I left it on all the time. It can't overflow, because it's a set amount of water in the bowl, just circulating.

The only time that mine leak is when I overfill them. The older one gets noisy as the water levels get lower so if your sleep is easily disturbed then I wouldn't have it in your room or too close by. I leave them on all the time even though I turn most plugs off. Touch wood, they have been perfectly safe so far!

Hmm, I'll have to give it some thought as my sleep can be quite disturbed - usually by the dog getting under the duvet and then back out when she gets too hot, and the occasional cat scrap.

@Papergirl1968 - we turn ours on for Sybil on demand. We don't leave it on all the time and definitely not overnight.

Sadly, Agatha cat has not been well recently. A trip to the vets has confirmed that she's "ok", but very scared. She won't go outside unless I supervise, will only use her 2 litter trays and is being clingy. For other cats this may be normal, but she's half Bengal, half Savanna and wholly uncontrollable. I don't know the source of the problem, but suspect a combination of fireworks and "strange" cats around. Plus the local foxes. 🤷 She is spending most of her days shouting at me because I am not allowed to give her any human food. No cheese. No ham! And no chicken!!! She is very angry.

Photo of her using me as a drying station when she got wet. She will overcome her anger for a heated throw...

Photo didn't attach. Trying again.

Do you find the sound of running water soothing or distracting, @Papergirl1968 ? That will make a difference to where you can put it, too. I had Petsafe's Drinkwell Pagoda. It's fairly big - it'd take up too much room for a bench or table - but it's heavy ceramic, they wouldn't be able to knock it over. Not cheap, mind, and there's the ongoing cost of replacement filters. They come in packs of two and four (the charcoal and foam ones) and each lasts about a month depending on how many cats are using the fountain.

She's "tiny" according to my friends, but just over 4kg on the scales..

4kg isn't big! Phoebe's 4kg and she's a little cat, people think she's half grown. She's nine! 😸

Mine are 4kg and 4.7kg. They are small cats.

Our old boy was 7.5kg.

I had good news for Phoebe today. I'd been worried she was developing kidney disease, but a blood test showed not only that the best marker for early detection is normal, but the other two markers have improved since August, when she had a blood test for other issues. Presumably her blood pressure meds are helping!

Oh @Catsmere what wonderful news about Phoebe! I’m so pleased for you both 🥰 (Balanchine was diagnosed with early stage - genetic - kidney disease when he was 5 & while over 6 years later it’s still early stage & managed by diet [renal dry food then normal wet food with Pronefra] it is just an endless worry 💔 So I truly couldn’t be happier you’ve had good news about Phoebe 💕 [Balanchine is happy for her too])

@ShoutyCatSlave did your vet discuss destressors such as pheromone diffusers with you? A plug in diffuser in the commonly occupied rooms like Feliway, then a natural food additive like Zylkene, can really help.

She does have a feliway at the moment, and I've ordered the ultimate version to see if it's any better. We've got some food additives from the vet, but I think that's to help her tum... She seemed a bit better this morning and wanted to play.

Back to the vets and £37 lighter, just to be told to keep an eye on him, especially for excessive weeing. He seems fine and I’m not entirely sure he had a problem in the first place. Best to err on the side of caution, I guess. New cat carrier and special food on the way. I’ll give the fountain some thought. Running water might make me want to wee all night myself!

Evening all. Haven't been on for a few days (unbelievably, I was banned by mistake on Saturday and only reinstated today) but I have been reading the thread.

Anyway, here I am. Mr SB and I have been busy helping DS2 with his move. It's gone really well. Yay!

I'm so glad he's here, and he is really happy and relaxed. His horrible father hasn't even texted him to ask him where he is.

I'm glad all the cats on the thread are okay, notwithstanding some terrible vet bills.

Linney is fine and has just gone out with Picard to have a nose round the village.

Oh no ShellBeach, how outrageous that you were banned by mistake! Did Linney's unbearable cuteness cause a massive server collapse at MNHQ?

Glad DS is settling in, Shell.
Banned by mistake?! How?!

There has to a story behind this.
Come on Shell fess up 🤣

Thank you @TheBalletCats ! Yes, I was worried, partly because I wouldn't be able to put her on a renal diet - she's already on anallergenic food for her (maybe) IBD.

Endless worry is right, and don't we have enough of that even when they don't have serious conditions?

Phoebe sends kisses to you and the boys! (She's a big kisser. Any chin in the vicinity needs her attention.)

Glad everything went well @TheShellBeach !

Banned by mistake? What did you do, mention cat poo while the poo troll was on a return visit?

Thank goodness you are back Shell and it is brilliant that your son's move has gone so well. It sounds ideal that he is nearby but has a secure place of his own. I am imagining Linney and Picard slouching out like a pair of teenage boys, hoping you won't stop them and ask where they are going.

Glad to read that Phoebe's kidney results have improved. Re the water fountain debate, my friends' cat has a water fountain. I cat sit for her sometimes and it is a very stupid design. You have to dismantle the whole thing to replace the water. She doesn't really use it and prefers a puddle or a saucer for pot plants so it might be worth checking whether any designs seem to get better reviews. Reviews from the humans I mean, not the cats, Papergirl1968!

My other friends' cat just has a bowl of water kept in the sitting room away from his food. If he sees you changing it, he gives you a look like a Victorian lady checking that the servant has cleaned the grate properly. He does use it though.

Dismantle it to replace the water? Blimey, @nettie434 , what a daft design! Mine has to be dismantled to scrub all the bits, but that's a weekly thing, not daily.

I love the image of cats reading reviews, though, and maybe debating with their humans about which one to get ...

Look, someone's following the conversation!

A message for Phoebe: You are looking lovely!