Thanks for all your positive remarks everybody.
I just love my fur babies, they are going to be really good for me.
It's official, the McKitties have taken over. They no longer just stay in the vicinity of their cat tree, they now occupy all corners of the room (and rooms), including under the tv unit and under the wood burner (when it's off!) and in the log basket. They race along the back of the sofas at break neck speed, fighting and swiping tinsel as they go. The dogs are now a mere obstacle. The progress and change is quite unbelievable. I can't believe I can't remember any of this wild behaviour from my cats from years ago!
After all my 'pre kitten' research, I thought just for interest you may want to know my findings in practice. What has amazed me is the choice available for everything now. God I sound like my granny.
It's over 30 years since I had my first cat and as I remember, there were just wood pellets or Catsan litter and that was it. Catsan was seen as the really 'advanced' litter. I can remember my mum buying it in a paper type bags in the Co-op!
I'm finding the OkoPlus CatsBest litter really good, no odours, great clumps which I bin in scented nappy bags. I did put it down the loo a couple of clumps at a time but the toilet blocked. The remaining clean litter in the box apparently lasts for ages. I'm glad I got covered litter trays too, they're a bit cumbersome but you get used to them. The hinged one from Zooplus is really good but I also have one with kittens on the side that has a top flap that lifts and is a good shape, higher at the back half for squirty boys.
I think I may actually have shares at Zooplus now and I kinda get the impression I'm not the only one!
I do apologise experienced cat people if this is very mundane, been there, got the tshirt for you, but you never know, you may have had a cat so long the litter tray has worn out and a wee Purrs review is just what you're looking for
Or conversely you may tell 'me' about a 'must have' item. I just thought a bit of light hearted banter concerning my kitties would be fun.
Oh and a wee special message for Pav, after seeing my posts you'll see there's a familiar theme running through the threads, I'm a bit of a blether (chatterbox). If there's something to be said, why say it in one word when you can do it in twenty! You see I don't sleep very well so I just chat away like you were sitting beside me with a hot chocolate and marsh mallows. The great thing about the internet of course is, one click and she's gone.
What else did I look at like someone obsessed? Ah yes, Food, oh my word, I just about had a break down choosing cat food. With cereal, without cereal, got Taurine, not got Taurine, with veg, without veg. Wet verses dry, jelly or gravy?? I was just about round the bend. Well I try to do my natural, Eco bit and I do believe in giving my pets as natural as possible combined with cost and convenience................but then comes along 'the actual cat', not remotely interested in any high meat content Elk in gravy and arrives on Asdas Tiger pouches full of cr*p and loves it! Another notch on the steep learning curve.
Another trauma was choosing a cat tree, do we really need one of those tacky fake fur covered monstrosities in our little cottage lounge? It's the food thing all over again. With or without hammock, beige fake fur or charcoal, sturdy enough for a Maine coone or just the job for your common or garden moggy out of last week's newspaper? We needed one to fit into a particular space, so lots of measuring was required and ofcourse the Mrs wanted an aesthetically pleasing one. So we are now the proud owners of a light beige, faux fur cat tree with, I kid you not, woven hyacinth baskets and lounging levels.
I'm sure I could have knocked it together with a bit of birch tree and some MDF!
Now I could start with another main notch on the steep learning curve.......the observation of poo. But I think we'll save that for another day, that's just a whole subject in itself! Plus look at the time, fat lot of good that sleeping tablet did, Mary will be given me a row for being on my iPad again.
Plus my mother is coming tomorrow to see Bonnie and Archie and "it's just not on to still be in your bed", "you should be up that beach getting fresh air in your lungs." I tell you, if I went up that beach just now I'd end up in Norway it's so bl**dy windy.
Thanks for your company, night x