Bit of advice re Charlie

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Charlie sounds wonderful but quite a handful 

Misa was 4 when I got him and I have watched over the last two years as he has learned so many new things. He was just like a giant kitten when he came here and didnt know most things. Today I watched him jumpind at flies in the garden and just having a great time. He is still quite innocent for a 6yr old cat but he has learnied meowmy manipulation now and has quite a vocabulary. Also ways of showing me what he wants me to do for him.

I am sure that Charlie will learn so many new things and will have a real purrrrrsonality of his own as he gets more in the know 

Its hard when you are grieving and I know this too but its cats like Misa and Charlie who are so greatful for a home, that help in the end.

[Maddiesmum]

Thanks for the info Helen.  I really don't want to get another cat, I didn't want one when Charlie landed on me as I am still really grieving for Dragan and had made up my mind not to have anymore pets at least for a while to give myself a break from the anxiety.  I have had 9 years altogether of caring for sick pets (mostly caused through old age, my dog was 17 when she went to the Bridge and two of my cats 18 and then Dragan was almost 17 and a half).  I had been dispensing meds and toing and froing from the vets for all this time and I really wanted some time to get over my grief and be free to holiday etc for a while.  However as you will know Charlie had different ideas but I truly don't want to get another one.

I think I have worked out that he is boisterous every other day, like a madman, and then the following day he is calmer and sleeps more.

So far as the food is concerned, I have tried him on all sorts of different things (my neighbour takes all the stuff he wont eat, she is an OAP with two cats and a dog so it helps her out) but he turns his nose up at everything other than Felix Good As It Looks and now he likes Gourmet Gold chicken and liver in gravy.

The vet is happy with his weight and I have now resorted to splitting his pouches in half in case it is just the "didn't used to know where my next meal came from so best eat all I can" mentality.  I think on Saturday and Sunday and a little of Monday I was in a very very down mood over Dragan and although I try not to make comparisons between him and Charlie I did.  Dragan was always a very very easy cat, he was loving and even when he played he never bit or scratched.  He had a lovely nature and I think sometimes Charlie's play can get overly aggressive and it shocked me.  He is a mischief maker and if he wants to play or have attention he will do anything (climb on the mantlepiece, knock over vases,) to make his point.  I am trying to remember he is still a baby and not be too hard on him but he is learning.  He has learned not to jump on the worktop near to the hob when I am putting his dinner out and he has learned the word "birdie".  He is starting to understand no too.  He is a bit like having a toddler I think.

Anyway I am finding it easier to cope with today.

[Tiggy's Mum]

He does sound pretty normal for a young cat, I was in the same boat as Tiggy was almost 19 when she left for the Bridge, the boys were a culture shock to say the least    I think a lot of it is down to personality, Lucas is much calmer than Riley and much better behaved despite them having an identical upbringing.  Do you think you might be able to consider a friend for Charlie?  I'm sure if Riley didn't have Lu to play with then he'd be even more demanding attention wise - in fact he'd be a nightmare!

As for the food, 6 pouches is a lot of food but if the vet is happy and Charlie isn't overweight then I guess that's all that matters.  Maybe you could try him on tins instead as 6 pouches a day must be very expensive.  I feed the boys Bozita (from Zooplus) which comes in cartons which are the equivalent of almost 4 pouches/one tin, it's got a high meat content which was my main concern and works out much more economical than feeding pouches.

[pappilon]

Hi Chrissie, i didnt send you the one i use cos i realized mine is for 7+ (Senior citizen) and Charlie is a young cat so i got you a pack for 1-6 years and they also do it in light one if Charlie likes them! Let me know .

[Maddiesmum]

Charlie absolutely refuses to eat any dry food.  I have tried loads of different ones and Pav is sending me a sample of some she uses.  He does like to graze and he does eat it all.  He weighs 4.46kg or did last Wednesday.  He is expensive!!!  I am glad to hear that his activity is not hyper as like I said previously it is a long time since I had a young cat and we had three together who used to play together whereas Charlie only has me.  I try to keep him busy and he does go out for about 3/4 hours during the day.  Tends to go out for a couple of hours in the morning, comes back in once during that time to check if I am here and to snatch a bite to eat.  Then he causes mayhem in the house until early afternoon when he repeats the morning routine.  He is indoors for the night at 4.30 as he never seems to want to venture out after that.  He has been sleeping a bit more today so I think he has a day of riotous behaviour and then a day to sleep some of it off. 

[blackcat]

smidgen was a complete maniac for the first few months (he has settled down a bit now, getting into the household routine). but I think it is just an age thing really - they're all mad. And Smidge still has his manic moments!

[dolcetta46]

Oliver, who is now almost 10 months, is just like Charlie, too, very, very playful to the extreme, if he is not asleep, he is either eating, meowing and following me about demanding a nibble, or bouncing off the wall.  He has an insatiable appetite too, and I am sure he would gladly eat 6 pouches a day and more if we let him but these days we must monitor the amount of his food more closely as his tummy is getting rather Homer Simpsonish.
He is a perfectly healthy and happy boy and Charlie does sound like one as well, keep him busy and well exercised and I don't think you have anything to worry about!!

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

He sounds a bit like Mosi and Riley who seem to be very active.

I was just going to say he sounds like Mosi - you beat me to it!  Mosi is a hyperactive little thing.  Some days he's almost normal (ie he will actually sleep some of the time) but he does have days when he's on the go for 17 or 18 hours without sleeping.  He's just a lively lad and still young (he's 2).  They do vary a lot in how active they are.  Some will sleep a lot more than others.  I guess Charlie is one of the less active ones!  Jaffa was similar when he was younger and will still be awake for hours on end sometimes, even though he's 10.  Personally, I think this idea of cats sleeping all the time is a myth 

As to the food - he'll be working off the calories no doubt.  6 pouches is a lot (does eat the whole lot?) as that will be close to 600 calories, but if he's not overweight then he's obviously working them off.  Bit tough on the finances though!

[bunglycat]

When i got Winston (4 years at the time) he ate for England too -same about 6 pouches and a few biscuits -but he got the runs on a few occasions -so i took him to the vet . He said it was too much food , so i said he seemed to be hungry a lot (no worms -been done ) , The vet told me to mix the food with a small amount of weetabix and it would fill him more -did that and he ate it and stopped having the runs and eating so much and now he has about 4 per day + persian 30 and James wellbeloved biscuits for supper.
You could try the weetabix mix-i thought he would turn his nose up at that -but he didn't !

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I reckon he dounds pretty normal and gorgeous.

I think he is definately making up for his lost kittenhood and he will slow down in time..........a long time 

He sounds a bit like Mosi and Riley who seem to be very active.

Franta is 14 yrs old but he can be up most of night and then after a short sleep be hassling for attention all day too. maybe some cats dont need as much sleep.

I would watch the quantity he eats cos 6 pouches a day sounds like an awful lot, does he have dry food too? if not I would start getting him some good quality dry food and leave that around for him but drop out two pouches of food.

Do you feed him on demand or is he a grazer like mine.

He is still avery young cat and think food issues are definately a throw back to him being hungry as a stray. Keep an eye on his weight and changes to diet do slowly.

You have only had him a very short time and I expect over the next 6 months he will settle and start to understand that this is his home and he doesnt have to compete for food, he will never be hungry again and play sessions are such fun and he wants more more more 

[Maddiesmum]

It's been a long time since I had a young cat.  I am beginning to wonder, though, if Charlie could be hyperactive.  He is on the go non-stop from morning til night (with maybe an hour's nap).  He is constantly on the look out for mischief and can get quite bitey.  Also he eats for England.  Some days he is having 6 pouches.  I spoke to the vet about this who said not to worry as he is burning the calories and maintaining the same weight.  I am wondering if this is a throwback to when he was straying and didn't know where his next meal was coming from? He is totally obsessed with his Da Bird and I make sure he has at least two long play sessions per day (hoping to tire him out - some chance) and will not, now look at any of his other toys.  Any ideas?