The Cat Club

[redhdlois]

This is a photo of the 8 week old female kitten that we found a month ago. She was outside in -20c, half frozen with what we found out later was a spiral fracture of her left front leg. We took her to the local humane society and they took her immediately to a local vet who decided to try to save her leg by inserting a pin into the leg and wiring some of the other bones and we all crossed our fingers. My DH and I talked back and forth for a couple of days and finally went to the society and applied to adopt her. We got the call to get her the next day and she is now running around the house and eating like crazy. The pin was removed 2 weeks after it was inserted. She will always have some numbness in that leg but she is managing well.

We had a vote with our family and friends and her name is "Elsa". She is affectionate and loving despite her rocky start.

Grey cats are my fave !! Congrats on your new addition !!

[Natalka]

@Tweets77 - Elsa is beautiful! Enjoy every crazy moment!

[Tweets77]

Thanks Natalka and redhdlois...she is a bundle of energy for awhile and then rests up for another round. Fortunately she sleeps well at night. Now I just have to learn how to trim her claws.

[Natalka]

Tweets, I use baby nail clippers - though of course you can use any. I hold the kitty like a baby laying down in the crook of my left arm, hold a paw and gently squeeze at each nail so it comes out - then ONLY cut the very tip off.
If you start doing it as a kitten, they get totally used to it.

[Tweets77]

Thanks Natalka for the information. I was worried about the amount to remove from her nails. Our last cat that we adopted 25 years ago, was declawed. I remember him shaking his front paws from time to time as if he was experiencing some numbness in his feet. Anyway, I guess I don't have to purchase the special trimmer from the pet store at $13.95?

[French Lady]

Well, my big Maine Coon Apollo is on a diet and hating it. He's naturally a big boy, but has been getting rounder. I checked it out and he's only supposed to be getting a half cup of dry and maybe a third of a can of wet food per day. He's been cut back and was miserable this morning. I just have to stand firm despite his whining.

[Natalka]

Thanks Natalka for the information. I was worried about the amount to remove from her nails. Our last cat that we adopted 25 years ago, was declawed. I remember him shaking his front paws from time to time as if he was experiencing some numbness in his feet. Anyway, I guess I don't have to purchase the special trimmer from the pet store at $13.95?

We had just heard from other cat owners that using that special nail trimmer just wasn't necessary.
We've had so many cats over the decades and I've always just taken the tips off with the nail clipper - just not even to the point where it starts to curve - taking off just the sharp point. I never ever go anywhere near the quick.

[Tweets77]

Now I just have to catch her sitting still!!!!

[Natalka]

^ Pick her up when she's sleeping!

[Tweets77]

Thankyou Natalka...I will attempt that. She was to the vet today for her last set of shots and was quite upset by the whole experience so I will let her sleep for now. The vet is quite happy with how she is progressing even with the residual numbness in her bad leg. He is amazed at how well she is moving in spite of it. Two weeks now until she is spayed.

[French Lady]

Grey cats are my fave !! Congrats on your new addition !!

I LOVE grey cats. My last cat, Alistair, was a blue grey. I lost him six years ago. I now have my giant Maine Coon Apollo.

[redhdlois]

I LOVE grey cats. My last cat, Alistair, was a blue grey. I lost him six years ago. I now have my giant Maine Coon Apollo.

[French Lady]

Love it. Thanks!

[Tweets77]

So I didn't know that cats can have a reaction to a rabies shot. Our little kitten stopped eating, drinking and generally even moving if it wasn't necessary. All she did was sleep. Then she started crying in extreme pain if you picked her up and started staggering if she needed to walk. Back to the vet, 3 shots and $74 later (+ 4 hours) and she is fine again. She needed to be rehydrated, get a shot for pain and a shot of Benedryl. That was not fun.

[Natalka]

Oh, awful she had to go through that; glad she's better.