I need to hear from kitty experts....

[peacebuzzard]

My neighbor is giving away a sweet spooked out kitten that lives under her house. She (the neighbor lady) has a history of revolving door pets, (that is a long story). Anyways, I told her I would take in Savannah, who she has fed for a year. It is time for her shots, and my guess is the lady doesn't want the expense, and she has a list of excuses as always.


This kitty has lived under her house for a year, The questions:

1. Do cats need a bath?

I am taking her for shots tomorrow, and would like to deodorize her, because I will be keeping her in my " under remodeling " office, so she can have some peace while she becomes accustomed to her new home. When I was a kid, I came down w/ ringworms, so I will have her checked for everything.

2. Do people allergic to cats contract ringworms, or is it a real worm?

I once contracted ringworm as a child, and have felt slightly allergic to cats since. Once Savannah gets used to her new home, I will let her roam outside again, since I am in the country and she is used to the outside from my neighbor lady, For now I will do the litter box thing, but eventually will have her own kitty door installed so she can roam in/out of the office area. I have a mouse problem here and I know Savannah is a good "mouser".

3. Also, how bad do cats shed?

My sister's cat sheds alot, and I have 4 dogs now and on my days off, I am constantly sweeping the floor and mopping up after them, which I don't mind, it is actually therapeutic, but I am concerned about the shedding on my office desk and computers. I know you computer owner/cat owners will have suggestions on this. My dogs have their own beds and blankets and w/ cats, I know they can just hop up anywhere.

[Lauri16]

1. Congrats on your new addition!

1. Yes, they need baths. How old is she? Sometimes if they're still fairly young, it's best to let the Vet do it.

2. Talk to the Vet. You don't have to be allergic to cats to contract ringworm. Most allergies to cats are to the dander

3. Yeah, they shed. Mostly when winter turns to spring. If she's used to the outdoors, she's going to fluff up more than a strictly indoor cat as the weather gets colder, which means when the warm weather comes around she'll shed more.

Enjoy Savannah! ,,,=^..^=,,,

P.S. I'm not an expert by any stretch, but I have been owned by many cats over the years! :D

[peacebuzzard]

2. Thanks. The plan is, vet and bath tomorrow

To help w/ the shedding problem, and Advantage for fleas,

I guess I am going to be looking for tips on the shedding....or is it just extra dusting? I am already used to the constant cleaning after pooches, so I am well trained.

[Lauri16]

3. Just like a dog,

keep brushing her, and the shedding should be minimal. You said she's a kitten, how old is she? Both Advantage and Frontline don't suggest using their flea drops until they're at least 5-6 months old.

[Warpy]

19. The bath will take care of external parasites

which I'm sure she's accumulated. You may have to deal with ear nites if she scratches her ears and shakes her head. There are some OTC drops that will do the trick, but don't expect the kitty to thank you for them. A flea collar will take care of any fleas on her head and face that escape the flea bath.

Ringworm is a fungus and it's contagious. The vet will tell you how to deal with it if she has it.

All cats shed, and the big molting season is in early summer. Bathing the kitty is a 3 ring circus and won't take care of shedding. Frequent brushing is the only way to keep cat hair from taking over your home.

Thank you for being generous and giving the kitty a home. I sincerely hope you've dropped a dime on the woman and informed all agencies in town that she has a "revolving pet" problem. They need to be aware that the adoptions are simply until the animal is no longer cute or does something wrong or she just wants to trade them in on a new one.

Cats that have been socialized around humans and then endured a period of being feral have one thing in common: they're grateful when we take them in. You're going to have a wonderful pet when she learns she can trust you.

[mike_c]

4. congratulations, and thanks...

...from a cat lover who is absolutely heartsick over the number of neglected and abandoned cats out there. You're doing a wonderful thing that will repay you with enormous dividends once the new kitty becomes accustomed to you. Here are some more answers to your questions:

1. Baths-- this sort of depends on the cat and you, both. If you use a flea preventative like Advantage (and BTW, DO NOT be seduced by cheap imitations-- many of those are actually quite harmful to your cat) then you won't need to bathe for flea killing. Most cats do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean-- it's part of their small predator self preservation instinct to protect their coat and limit odors-- so bathing is USUALLY not necessary on that account. I say usually because some cats are worse than others in this respect. I have five and never bathe them. I doubt that they would let me.

The other reason for bathing has to do with your allergies. Keeping them washed will limit your allergic reactions because it decreases their dander release.

Since your new kitty has been living rough, she might be pretty dirty. Nonetheless, you should probably give her time to clean herself up before you plunk her in the bath, or as someone suggested above, let the vet wash her. It's going to be stressful for her, and stressing her while trying to introduce her to a new home is counter-productive.

2. Ringworm-- Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin, not a parasitic worm, actually. It's hard to imagine any connection between ringworm and your allergy to cats. I suspect that was just coincidence, although I suppose your allergy *might* have left you compromised and somewhat open to infection, but again, that's doubtful. It really does sound like a coincidence. Maybe that particular cat was the source of your fungal infection. At any rate, there is no general association between ringworm and cat allergies, so you should rest easy on that account.

3. Shedding-- Yes, cats shed. The amount depends to some extent on hair length. Short haired cats shed less than long haired cats, so if she's a shorthair you'll have less shedding to deal with. You can limit shedding by brushing her if she'll let you-- not all cats like a brush. That's one of the functions she performs when she grooms-- and the main reason she'll occasionally yak a hairball.

There's also an allergy connection here, too. Like you, I'm allergic to cats. I take allergy medicine daily-- not just for cat allergies-- and I find it necessary to keep my house well vacuumed, my bedding clean, and so on. As I type this I've got cat hairs clinging to my shirt. That's just a fact of life around my house! I use one of those lint brushes to deal with hair on the furniture and my clothes, wash my bedding often, and vacuum weekly. That usually does the trick.

Good on 'ya for taking in this kitty, and good luck with your new family member!

[dajoki]

5. you can let the vet

handle everything including bath. do not get it declawed, it's cruel!:-)

[friesianrider]

8. Ditto on the declawing...

And aside from the fact that it is very cruel for the cat, expensive, and has long-term problems (declawed cats are 40% more likely to have problems using their litter boxes as they get older), any cat that is outside for any length of time should ALWAYS have all four sets of claws intact.

[peacebuzzard]

6. Thanks all. She is actually at least a year old and I know about the

Advantage because of my dogs, Well, tomorrow is almost here and it will be a busy day. I will try to get some pictures sometime tomorrow to post. I can't wait to have a mouse vigilante in the house.
I would never declaw because she may want to scramble and ward off an enthusiastic chase by my beagle. He can be a harmless pest but I am sure after the first cat paw swipe, he will behave appropriately.

[friesianrider]

7. Awww...

1. Do cats need a bath?

I don't regularly bathe mine, but they are indoors. We only did a flea-bath type thing (waterless) but other than that really baths are not necessary. Please do not forget to get her spayed - it's the most important!

2. Do people allergic to cats contract ringworms, or is it a real worm? I once contracted ringworm as a child, and have felt slightly allergic to cats since. Once Savannah gets used to her new home, I will let her roam outside again, since I am in the country and she is used to the outside from my neighbor lady, For now I will do the litter box thing, but eventually will have her own kitty door installed so she can roam in/out of the office area. I have a mouse problem here and I know Savannah is a good "mouser".

I don't know the answer to that question. However, please remember that if she will be an indoor/outdoor cat that she must be fixed and also consider a "breakaway" collar and also consider microchipping her (FYI, a microchip if you didn't know of course is a teeny rice-line gadget which, when scanned by a special machine nearly all shelters have today, can trace back to you to reunite you and your kitty if ever lost!).

3. Also, how bad do cats shed?

Well, they shed. No more or less than your dogs I'm sure. Our cats are indoor and always sleep near the computer and we've mever had any problems at all with the function or anything. You might try a little bed for the new kitty - ours use theirs. Or, one of those "kitty towers" you could maybe set in your office window will likely be so tempting she will hopefully not even bother with the desk while in that room.

Good Luck, and thank you for opening your home to a homeless kitty!

[peacebuzzard]

9. You are right about the microchip. I have been thinking of doing that

to all my critters. I will check into that. Even tho I have 6 ft fences, I travel alot, and you just never know what can happen.

[friesianrider]

10. Definitely...

As someone who has lost two "porch kitties" (outdoor strays I've had neutered and vet and feed) earlier this year, I would give ANYTHING to have microchipped them before they disappeared. It's not too awfully expensive, but because I have so many animals I've just been doing one every month or as I can afford it. Small investment for a little peace of mind that if your pet ever went missing and was picked up by a shelter, you've got an EXCELLENT chance of a reunion :)

[snickersnee]

11. if it's not too late to chip in...

i'd advise against trying to bathe a nervous unfamiliar cat what's been living under the deck - it might really freak out on you, which is bad both for your immediate well-being and the longer-term process of getting it to trust you. some cats REALLY hate water. leave it for the vet, who is a professional cat-bather, and whom it is inevitable that your cat will despise regardless.

good work and good luck!

[Lauri16]

12. Mine are tatooed

in their ears instead of the microchip.

[LisaL]

13. Is she spayed? Make sure to spay her if she is not.

I definitely would not give her a bath. Most cats don't like to be bathed, and she could scratch the hell out of you. Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm. If she doesn't have it, you won't catch it. Cats do shed. Is she longhair? They shed more.

[legally blonde]

14. I agree with everything stated above

1. Yes, but with a caveat. If you try to bath your cat and you end up completely soaked and the cat isn't, take her to the vet. You probably only need to bath a cat once a year or so.

2. You and your kitty could end up with ringworm. However, it's relatively easy to treat.

If your kitty is an indoor/outdoor kitty, you will end up with a variety of small animals as "gifts" on your doorstep from time to time. Hopefully they will be dead by the time you get them. My kitties are indoor only, so I've never had to deal with that problem. Maybe someone with outside kitties could give you advice on that issue.

3. Cats shed, but how much depends on the cat. I think that my short hair kitty sheds as much if not more than my long hair kitty. If Savannah lets you brush her, this will cut down on shedding. Also, giving her a bath gets rid of some of the hair--but don't give your cat a bath too often--their skin will get dry and irritated.

Edit--Good luck with your new kitty. If you ever need any more advice, check out the Pets Group--we LOVE talking about our pets! And, of course, pics are a requirement! :hi:

[astral]

15. I bathe my cat

My cat's a big fluffy Maine Coon Cat and I bathe him about once a year, and he struggles with me a bit about being bathed but never scratches or bites me over it.

I use a people shampoo/combo conditioner on him (Pantene Smooth & Sleek), and the only flea treatment he gets is brewer's yeast sprinkled on his food every morning. He has not had a single flea since I got him four years ago (adopted him as he'd been abandoned by a neighbor who moved away.)

He's an indoor-outdoor cat, i.e., no catbox but lives in a very safe place to let a cat outside.

I don't brush him as often as I should, but he generally sheds clumps of hair where he's been sitting grooming himself or where he sleeps regularly, he doesn't just shed hair all over the place.

Make sure your cat always has plenty of drinking water and change it often so it's clean.

It's a wonderful thing you're doing. Cats can become wonderful companions and they can also do fine without much attention, so how your cat turns out can depend alot on you.

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Most cats don't need a bath. They wash themselves, unlike dogs.

But, if this poor kitty has been living under a house, she might need one, initially. But cats sure don't like it. The only cats that I have known that have ever had baths were my co-worker's pure white one, who did get dirty, and my beloved Rhiannon, who I had to bathe, myself. She developed Horner's syndrome, a paralysis on the left side of her face, so I had to feed her using a syringe, which worked well, but she still got messy, because she was blind in her left eye. That's the only time I was ever grateful that she had been declawed.;(

I know nothing about worms, since my cats never had any. This is something to discuss with your vet. However, all of my pets, cats and dogs, get their regular inoculations, which include worming. I'm still questioning the need for this. But all of my cats have been strictly indoor. I just feel that it is too dangerous out there, for them, and I certainly wouldn't let my dogs run loose, and they're much bigger. Also, Rhiannon was declawed, but I didn't even let my last beloved kitty, who I finally managed to rescue from outside, run loose. And she sure didn't mind. She's had enough of life on the run and was content to observe life outside from the safety of a bay window.
:scared:

As for shedding, it depends on the cat. Most don't, much, in my experience. My dogs shed much more. And it also depends on whether the cat is long or short haired. I recently learned, after the fact, that I was not bothered by Rhiannon, but was by my rescued kitty, was because Rhiannon was long-haired and Catlin was short-haired, and the dander is different. I am not allergic to long-haired cats. Who could have known?:shrug:

Anyway, kudos to you, for taking in an animal who needs a good home. All of my guys have been rescue, as well. As for the difference between cats and dogs, having had both, cats are so much user-friendly! Take my word for it! They mostly need food, water and playtime! But, of course, I still have two dogs. I love them all. Wishing you all the best with this, and please let us know how it's going.:-)

Rhiannon:hug:

[Robeson]

17. Good for you.....

...We have a cat now that has been a stray in the neighborhood who is currently at the vets for assorted ailments due to being a stray. We get him Wedsnesday to bring him into his new home. We can't wait!

Bravo for you. You are doing a great thing.

[peacebuzzard]

18. Well, I am off to the neighbors to get the kitty now,

and then to the vet's! Today is bath day for everyone.(w/ pure and innocent soap) Advantage for everyone, earlier was heartworm treatment for the "kids" (4 rescue dogs). I will be busy. See you all later. ! :hi:

[Patiod]

20. Hello to another cat amateur (like myself)!

:hi:

Welcome to an alien world, my friend. Those who have lived their whole lives in Dog World are sure in for...well, a treat I guess.

It's kind of like having a good child, and then your second turns out to be a really attractive sociopath.

[davsand]

21. Ringworm is a fungus and has nothing to do with allergies.

Think of ringworm like an animal equal to Jock Itch. They use the same topical stuff to treat it (Miconozol) on pets and humans. They can treat Ringworm with one of the oral flea treatments, (I can't remember which it is) it might be Frontline??? Your vet will know. All I remember about it was it had to be fed to the cat with a fatty food and they kept him over night to give it to him.

IF the cat has it, it could spread to the dogs, so it is a good idea to have the vet check for it. Since you had it as a kid, you most likely will not get it again, however, so that is good news--eh?

Just to make you feel really happy, my vet checked over our cat before it came home from the Humane Society. Cat (Chaucer) got a clean bill of health. The vet at the Humane Society checked over the cat before he came home with us--again--clean bill of health.

Two weeks later, I get a call from the pre-school telling me that Material Girl has Ringworm, please come get her because it is contagious. Sure enough, on her tummy (HOW they saw it, I have NO idea) is the telltale round welt with the white center.

In a panic, I take the poor kid to the Pediatrician. Doc says, "Yep, sure is ringworm! I bet she got it from the new cat."

We go home and inspect the cat. Yep, there it is on his side, a nice BIG patch of scale under the hair. We call the vet and take the cat over.

Vet looks at the cat and says, "Yep, he sure does have ringworm. I bet he got it from the child."

We never DID establish where, exactly, the ringworm came from, but the cat got a spot shaved and treated. The kid got treated, and everybody was hairy and ringworm free within a month.

:)

Congrats on the new cat!


Laura