New Cat Mom Needs Help!

Hello! I am a new cat mom with some worries. I am having a hard time
leaving my cat Rudy (1.5 year old Tabby) at home while I am gone even
an hour. I think part of it is I am worried he will get into something
and get hurt or be lonely and decide to be overly snoopy. This is my
first cat ever and my husbands first in many years. He says everything
will be fine because we cat proofed, but I still worry about something
we missed! Help! I am going crazy! We have a lot of toys laying around
and a couch next to a window so he can peer out, but I still find
myself overly anxious leaving for even an hour!

Any suggestions?

On Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:23:09 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

Hello! I am a new cat mom with some worries. I am having a hard time
leaving my cat Rudy (1.5 year old Tabby) at home while I am gone even
an hour. I think part of it is I am worried he will get into something
and get hurt or be lonely and decide to be overly snoopy. This is my
first cat ever and my husbands first in many years. He says everything
will be fine because we cat proofed, but I still worry about something
we missed! Help! I am going crazy! We have a lot of toys laying around
and a couch next to a window so he can peer out, but I still find
myself overly anxious leaving for even an hour!

Any suggestions?

Nothing helpful. I was going to suggest cat-proofing but you've done
that. There was an article in The Onion a few years back spoofing a
cat owner who kept cancelling vacations because she couldn't leave her
cats. It was funny, but it wasn't really much of a spoof because I
have to force myself to leave and I worry about them when I'm gone. We
all do. This is even with a cat sitter coming in every day to feed and
check on them.

Oh. I do have one suggestion so Rudy won't be lonely. Get him another
cat to play with while your'e gone!

wrote

Hello! I am a new cat mom with some worries. I am having a hard time
leaving my cat Rudy (1.5 year old Tabby) at home while I am gone even
an hour. I think part of it is I am worried he will get into something
and get hurt or be lonely and decide to be overly snoopy. This is my
first cat ever and my husbands first in many years. He says everything
will be fine because we cat proofed, but I still worry about something

Any suggestions?

Yes, relax. This isn't a dog who has to be worried about to the same
levels. Sure, Rudy likes to have folks around, but he'll be fine while you
go shopping.

I gather he hasnt been with you long yet?

Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of cats! You're cat is in the
"adolesent" stage and has a lot of energy. Take care to keep things
like string, thread, rubber bands, plastic bags, and objects like
pins, needles, etc. out of reach. Also, here is a list of dangerous
plants for cats: http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html

As with children. keep chemicals, cleaners, and the like out of reach.
If your cat likes wires, buy clear plastic tubing, slit it open, and
place the wires inside the tube.

Do you have a cat tree? Many cats, especially energetic ones, love to
climb them, or perch on them. Also, you can rotate his toys so he
always has something "new" to play with. Try adding simple toys, like
wads of crumpled paper, ping pong balls, or a paper bag (no handles)
randomly.

Lastly, he will adjust to your schedule. Cats crave routine and will
adjust to when you're not at home. If you're concerned about him
getting into trouble, have a vigorous play session with him just
before you leave. You'll tire him out and he'll go to sleep while
you're away.

On Jan 30, 9:16*am, "Rene S." wrote:
Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of cats! You're cat is in the
"adolesent" stage and has a lot of energy. Take care to keep things
like string, thread, rubber bands, plastic bags, and objects like
pins, needles, etc. out of reach. Also, here is a list of dangerous
plants for cats:http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html

As with children. keep chemicals, cleaners, and the like out of reach.
If your cat likes wires, buy clear plastic tubing, slit it open, and
place the wires inside the tube.

Do you have a cat tree? Many cats, especially energetic ones, love to
climb them, or perch on them. Also, you can rotate his toys so he
always has something "new" to play with. Try adding simple toys, like
wads of crumpled paper, ping pong balls, or a paper bag (no handles)
randomly.

Lastly, he will adjust to your schedule. Cats crave routine and will
adjust to when you're not at home. If you're concerned about him
getting into trouble, have a vigorous play session with him just
before you leave. You'll tire him out and he'll go to sleep while
you're away.

If you ar that worried you can always put him with toys in a big cat
cage 4'X3' and 4' tall with shelves for jumping up and down.

"James" wrote
If you ar that worried you can always put him with toys in a big cat
cage 4'X3' and 4' tall with shelves for jumping up and down.

James! You're still alive! I felt sure you must have frozen to death by now.

wrote in message
...
Hello! I am a new cat mom with some worries. I am having a hard time
leaving my cat Rudy (1.5 year old Tabby) at home while I am gone even
an hour. I think part of it is I am worried he will get into something
and get hurt or be lonely and decide to be overly snoopy. This is my
first cat ever and my husbands first in many years. He says everything
will be fine because we cat proofed, but I still worry about something
we missed! Help! I am going crazy! We have a lot of toys laying around
and a couch next to a window so he can peer out, but I still find
myself overly anxious leaving for even an hour!

Any suggestions?

This is really a replication of what the others have said, but it may ease
your mind to see that a number of us agree. First, relax! Cats do very
well on their own, as long as they have plenty of toys and nice places to
snuggle up. Have good, sturdy scratching posts handy, too. I have them in
every room except the bathrooms. My cats use them as scratching posts but
also climb them, and Duffy likes to "perch" on them. Second, a cat tree is
great for cats. Make sure it is tall and sturdy. It's best if you get one
with three or four beds or "levels" that your cat can use, and place it
beside a window where kitty can look outside. Third, you might want to
consider getting a kitty companion. Adopt one from an animal shelter; it
will save the life of another cat, give your resident cat a companion, and
bring pleasure to you. Incidentally, your cat probably spends a *large*
percentage of his time napping. That's one of the things cats do best!

Note: You said you have cat proofed. Be *very sure* when you do that to get
rid of (or securely place in inaccessible drawers) any ribbons, string,
rubber bands, paper clips, etc. Cats love to play with them, but they can
be deadly if swallowed. If you have any toys on the end of a rope, make
sure that they are out *only* when you are on the other end of the toy!

MaryL

On Jan 29, 10:23*pm, wrote:
Hello! I am a new cat mom with some worries. I am having a hard time
leaving my cat Rudy (1.5 year old Tabby) at home while I am gone even
an hour. I think part of it is I am worried he will get into something
and get hurt or be lonely and decide to be overly snoopy. This is my
first cat ever and my husbands first in many years. He says everything
will be fine because we cat proofed, but I still worry about something
we missed! Help! I am going crazy! We have a lot of toys laying around
and a couch next to a window so he can peer out, but I still find
myself overly anxious leaving for even an hour!

Any suggestions?

Thank you everyone for your help! I left today to get groceries and I
came back and he was snoozing on the bed, of course he was playing
with all his new toys I got him while I was out. I couldnt resist I
guess I just have to get used to the new guy being around.

On Jan 30, 12:37*pm, "cybercat" wrote:
"James" wrote

If you ar that worried you can always put him with toys in a big cat
cage 4'X3' and 4' tall with shelves for jumping up and down.

James! You're still alive! I felt sure you must have frozen to death by now.

I'm now used to waking at 50F as I turn off the heat at bed time.

MaryL wrote:

Note: You said you have cat proofed. Be *very sure* when you do that to
get rid of (or securely place in inaccessible drawers) any ribbons,
string, rubber bands, paper clips, etc. Cats love to play with them,
but they can be deadly if swallowed. If you have any toys on the end of
a rope, make sure that they are out *only* when you are on the other end
of the toy!

MaryL


I second this suggestion.

I am going through a bout of diagnosis with one of my cats right now. He
had been barfing, no eating or drinking, so we put him up at the vet on
IVs for a few days. We thought there might be an obstruction, because I
found a piece of chewed plastic from around the edge of a milk bottle.
Anyway, to diagnose it required x-rays and a barium series. If it turned
out to be an obstruction, surgery might have been required. just getting
to that point ran up a little over $1K. If surgery had been required, I
have no idea what more it would have cost. Not saying that cost is the
main thing, it's not - just that you should be very careful to truly
catproof, remove rubber bands, little pieces of just about anything, to
prevent what can be very serious. Not trying to scare you, but before I
found out it WASN'T an obstruction, I was kicking myself for letting
that piece of plastic slip through the cracks. I hope everyone else is
smarter than me!

In my case, still no diagnosis, cat will now eat a little, but is
lethargic and fevered, scheduled for a specialist Tuesday :-(