Took a few years but I finally did it. I'm alone now and it is very

[yy4me]

lonely. My husband and I had talked about getting another kitty for some time, it had been several years since out last kitty died of kidney failure. Our first lived to be 12 and the second 14 years old and both came to us as strays. They were so much fun and companionship.

Yesterday my daughter convinced me to buy one of the strays taken in by a no-kill shelter nearby. This cat is so friendly. She is a spayed, year old stray. Still quite thin and a little skittish but that will pass. She has investigated every nook and cranny on my kitchen and den. I will keep her in 2 rooms while she gets used to me and to the house. As I type, she is on the desk, taping at the keyboard. Last night she slept on my chest as I was trying to read on the couch.

Somewhere I have my old toenail trimmers so I can clip the points on her nails. Seems she likes to claw the arm of my sofa and recliner. Done that before, no bid deal. Just have to get someone to hold the kitty.

Still no name. I don't care for the one the shelter gave her, it doesn't fit her personality.

If you'd like to see her,

http://www.palspeabody.com/currentCensus.html

Her current name is Priscilla, the 7th across in the the pictures.

IT is nice to have some company, I hope she is happy with me.
The shelter told me to feed her"
Blue Spa Select(canned) Turkey and Chicken along with dry Blue Spa Select Dry "Indoor" Chicken & Brown rice.
I will feed her the best I can but this stuff is really very expensive. $1.19 a can and $10.99 for the dry.
Anyone suggest a less expensive food for her? It would be helpful as I am on a Social Security budget and the kitty cost $150.00 to adopt. She is worth it but I have a feeling I can do better on the food. What can I get at my Grocery store that will be good for her and more reasonable?

Thanks for your help.

[glinda]

1. She is lovely.

Her face is really sweet. On food, I think if you feed good quality, in the long run it usually cuts down on Vet visits. Instinct is a good food or California Natural. Portion out the sizes so that she doesn't "free feed" and just give her portions of the canned. She will stay trim and healthier. I do suggest a water purifier (not water in plastic bottles) as the kidneys have to process all the chems from the tap water. Purer water may be a key to healthier animals in regards to kidneys. Congratulations on your pretty kitty!

[badgerpup]

2. Congrats on your new furbaby!

She'll tell you her name, never fear...;)

...and I feed my thundering horde Diamond Active Cat...
http://search.live.com/products/?q=diamond%20cat%20food&p1=%5bCommerceService+scenario%3d%22f%22%5d&wf=Commerce&FORM=Z8RE

One of the local ranch supply places special-orders it for me...cheaper than getting it at my vet, who also carries it.
It's a good quality food...low in ash, high in protein and taurine and all the good stuff, but a bit easier on the wallet (I'm on SSDI, so understand about budgets!).

I pay $18.99 for a 20lb bag...but I've got four owners cats, so the larger bag is more economical for me...and believe me, they do use it up before it goes stale!

They've all got bright eyes, shiny healthy coats, and lots of energy.

Had one cat who was 14 years old before he was killed, and he'd eaten this brand since he was almost a year old.
Misha had his first UTI at about 10 months, and the vet said that if he was starting with urinary troubles that young, then he'd certainly be having problems with his urinary tract when he got older.
I switched to Diamond...and Misha's first UTI was his last.
Any vet visits were about abcesses (he got into fights occasionally), shots, and a very occasional cold.

All this to 'splain why I'm satisfied with this brand...used it for a long time and had a very healthy cat. :thumbsup:

[and-justice-for-all]

3. thats one pretty kitty...nt

[BrklynLiberal]

4. She is very lovely...and I hope you have many happy and healthy years together.

[roody]

5. You can cook turkey, chicken, and brown rice as well.

Not that I do.

[grasswire]

6. congratulations

I'm glad to know that you have found a fuzzy companion for those lonely moments! Hooray!

[ginnyinWI]

7. my cats are thriving on ordinary canned food--

Canned Friskies is .77 for a 13 oz. can at Pet Smart. Also they have their own house brand, "Sophisticat" which is .74 for a 13 oz can. I buy the large cans because I have three cats and feed wet food almost exclusively.

I switched away from dry food a year ago, and it helped our obese 15 lb cat slim down to a healthy weight of about 9 lbs. This flies in the face of what the vets always say about wet food being fattening. Cats need a low carb diet to thrive, and any wet food will be lower carb than dry food and it is much more satisfying.

Another good one is Trader Joe's "Tuna for Cats". It's a real treat for my cats since that store isn't nearby.

You can fix the scratching problem by putting double stick tape on the couch, and also buying one of those cardboard scratch boxes. They come with a little bag of catnip and most cats love them. Cats want to scratch, so give them a permissible place to do it.

[yy4me]

8. Love your suggestion about the double stick tape, I have some

and will attach it to the areas she seems to like.

As to the food, this devil is eating like a horse. I know she needs to put some weight on but I hope she grows out of the full can AM & PM. The rescue people told me she would be demanding a lot of food for a while but at a dollar average per can,($14.00 a week) she is putting me in the poor house in short order.

My other kitties, who lived to be 12 and 14 thrived on a variety of brand name grocery store cat foods. The trend toward designer foods hadn't taken effect yet. I am going to the grocery store tomorrow to see what my options are. I have bought Iams, Wellness,Max Cat Gourmet,Blue Spa Select, Merrick and Weruva from the pet stores but I have to find acceptable options.
The only thing she did not like is the Merrick Turducken---smart cat! I leave a few dry pellets for her to munch during the day. When she gains another pound or 2 she goes to half a can (5 oz) Am & PM

I bought her a scratch box and she has a scratching post too. Now is she will stop the biting. I've received some good advice from DUers about how to stop that.

[yy4me]

9. Just got back from the grocery store for more cat food, bought

an assortment of stuff including Friskies. The grocery store offers far more options than Petsmart.
At 2 5 oz cans a day, my dollar goes a greater distance. I will vary her options until I find what she really likes, save the labels and buy more of the same when I go back. The designer cat food is out of my league. My other kitties did well on offerings from the national regular-pet-food companies.

Thanks for your advice.

[Lorien]

10. Iams and Eukanuba are "designer" brands, but many USDA brands are

anything but "designer"' they're real food as opposed to food industry waste products: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=4388&mesg_id=4388 There are a few less expensive USDA brands like "chicken soup for the kitten lover's soul". Sometimes you can find better prices at small locally owned pet supply stores (ours is MUCH cheaper than PetCo or PetSmart) and farm/ feed stores. Friskies contains corn products which are linked to diabetes and hyperthyroid disease in cats. The waste products found in grocery store ("feed grade") foods are also suspected as a cause for the huge rise in kidney disease and cancers among both dogs and cats.

[yy4me]

11. Yikes , when I read that article from your link, I almost barfed.

I had no idea. I guess I better do some research into what regular cat food brands are acceptable. I will admit, I did not know of the horror of what was defined in that information.

I'm going to google around tonight and see what info I can find. Thanks for the link.

[CountAllVotes]

12. I still swear by Life's Abundance

I'll have to post pictures of my other cat so you can see how fabulous he looks.

It is high grade food and the canned food is organic chicken. My cats don't like canned food and eat the dry food only.

Cost = $120.00 for a 5 month supply. Feeds all three cats and none of them have been sick/ill.

I know what is in the food. You can even send questions to them about their food and they'll answer specifics.

I'm very glad that our friends have now have each other! :D I agree, don't feed her junk/garbage food. It really is not healthy.

:dem:

[CountAllVotes]

13. here he is

He is now 8 years old and I got him from a no-kill shelter. He was thin and sickly when I got him. I did not realize he is a Flame Point Siamese and seems to be a purebred best I can tell.

He weighs close to 20 lbs. now and he is HUGE in size.

He's a nice enough guy when he wants to be and he loves playing with little Jules the Munchkin.

If you look at his coat you'll see how beautiful it is. All three of my cats are in similar condition.

:)

[spooky3]

15. what a beauty!

There's no better feeling in the world than seeing a poor, thin, sickly abandoned creature thrive with your loving care. All the love they give back is further icing on the cake.

[ginnyinWI]

16. I keep going back to Petsmart because their Friskies is cheaper

than my grocery store--about 20 cents cheaper per can! And that adds up. But of course that's this area. I don't know why my grocery store inflated its cat food prices so much. It happened when gas got so expensive--but of course now they keep the prices the same. :(

[Neecy]

14. What a sweet little face!

She's just adorable - and you're a hero for giving her a great home.