Update On Gracie & A New Interactive Cat Toy
Below is the cat’s new interactive toy that arrived yesterday.
I am listening to Jim Brickman play the best of The Carpenters on his piano. It is called “Pure Carpenters.”
If you’re interested in checking out this CD, here it is.
I’ve played it so much I’ll probably wear it out. But then, it’s under $10 to have this delightful score of songs and I would readily purchase it again.
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Doctor Visit:
There was nothing remarkable about my scheduled doctor visit yesterday. We talked and then she ordered lab work, which I then went downstairs and took care of.
I’ve been going to Dr. Stafford for quite a few years, and I really feel confident in her.
I prefer a female internist. When I need something that I don’t need to visit her about, I just email her and she takes care of whatever I need.
Gracie:
Gracie is doing great.
Now if I could just get Ivy to stop being mean and hissing at her. I know it’s just the way of cats and there’s not much I can do about it.
Still, it hurts me that poor little Gracie is essentially being bullied by twice-as-big Ivy.
I try to “talk” to Ivy. Little does that help of course.
The male vet who saw Grace at the ER Pet Clinic called yesterday afternoon to check on Gracie, and I appreciated that. I told him she was much better.
Yesterday I ordered a new cat tree I think Ivy and Gracie might like. I’d been looking for some time for another cat tree and this is the one I finally chose from Chewys.
For some reason, their site won’t let me copy the image of the cat tree to show you.
Can you tell that I’m feeling guilty for what happened to Gracie?
Behavior Of Cats:
Ivy loved her big cat tower I got her a few years ago.
But since I moved she shows no interest in it. She got up on the cat tree the first week or so, and then seemed to abandon it. And I have it right in front of the bedroom patio door where she could see all the outdoor critters.
I haven’t seen Gracie play with the new wood interactive toy yet because Ivy has decided it’s hers. And hisses at Gracie if she goes near it.
Do you have this problem with your pets? If so, what is your strategy?
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An unremarkable visit with the doctor is always good news, isn’t it? Glad to hear that Gracie is doing great! It will be interesting to see which kitty dominates the cat tree!
There used to be a great show on Animal Planet called My Cat from Hell with a cat behaviorist named Jackson Galaxy. I learned a lot about cat behavior and possible solutions from this. I don’t know if you can still view it anywhere now – but he offered tons of great advice for cat owners. I hope Ivy and Gracie get more comfortable with each other as time goes on. They are both beautiful.
Sentry has a cat calming defuser , I thought of you when I saw this on Sentry,s website …If interested you might try Amazon…hope this helps.
The new cat tree looks great. Only…I ordered a smaller one for cat recently and it arrived……I assembled. It was smaller so I thought there couldn’t be much to it. Wrong! Took me the better part of an afternoon and it came out, well, sort of like it was supposed to. Thank goodness Katy isn’t picky and decided it was all right by her anyway😄
Also, I used to have two other cats, one male and one female. They got along fairly well together, but female hated at her females on sight. The male just liked and got along with everybody, human, canine or feline. Go figure!
I have doubts about my putting this cat tree together. Guess I’ll just get down on the floor when it comes and give it all I’ve got and try to keep Ivy from carrying away small parts, which she loves to do. She pilfers things like that and hides them.
Brenda, I have been traveling this past week. I am sorry about Ivy being ill, but also happy to hear that she is doing better. How wonderful to have a kind vet, it makes all of the visits easier knowing that someone who loves animals is caring for your pets. I hope Ivy and Gracie get along better. I have no advice because I have never had a cat but it sounds as if the other ladies have offered a lot of great advice.
It might have been easier if Gracie was a male. Oh well.
I’m so glad Gracie is doing much, much better. I wonder why Ivy is hissing at Gracie so much. I don’t know anything about cats so I can’t offer anything.
Enjoy your day, Brenda!
For one thing, Ivy can smell the smell of the ER clinic on her somehow.
Brenda
Look up side effects for catnip before ordering any and talk to that vet you had the other day for Gracie. There are bad side effects. I used it once a long time ago, and I will never again. Be careful, because you don’t know where it came from either.
I haven’t ordered any. Will check this out. Thanks.
I have a large russian blue had her for 3 years now. We got a 12 week old simiese kitten a month ago. The russian blue only hissed maybe 3x the first day. They get along great now and its only been a month. The older cats looks for the kitten all day long. I did get another cat condo so they would both have there own. Everything has worked out. They both sleep together. Glad to hear Gracie is doing better.
That was what I hoped for Ivy with Gracie. I read sometimes it takes a year for one cat to adapt to a new cat.
I love Jim Brickman piano music so beautiful. Happy New Week.
I could listen to him play piano all day.
I am so glad to hear Gracie is back to her normal self! That was very nice of the vet to call you and check up on her. Hopefully, Ivy will share the cat tree, lol. I had no idea cat nip calmed cats down. I always thought it excited them and made them play all wild and crazy. I only ever had one cat at a time. My last one loved people, but not so much other cats. A fun toy to play with them is one of those little red lazer lights. They love chasing that little red dot all over the place. Lots of entertainment for me too, lol.
Well, there is a debate here about the catnip. So I’ll have to research this.
Brenda,
Go to your local garden center and get a catnip herb plant. They cost a couple of bucks. You can tend to it in a pot on your porch. That way you will know that it is just catnip…you can dry it yourself and sprinkle it where you would like. I agree with one of the other commentors, if you buy it you really don’t know what’s in it.
My cats enjoy both fresh and dried catnip.
I don’t know if this will help you or not, but I have had a lot of cats over the years. I’m in my 60s now. Whenever I introduced a new kitty or a cat I always made sure I spent equal or more time with the one that was already with me until things calmed down. Mine have always loved interactive toys, and I would get on the floor and play with them. If one of them hissed I wouldn’t raise my voice or act like something was wrong, but I would put my hand gently on them and say no. I never changed my voice to sound mad or harsh. I realize you may not be able to get on the floor to play but you can put the toy near your chair and encourage them. Praise Ivy a lot. You probably need to spend a lot more time with her on her terms. They’re like kids. Things have changed with the new kittie and a new apartment, and Ivy is struggling. She’s not mean she is letting you know that she’s hurting. It’s like a family who brings a new baby into the house. An older child sees that mom and dad are spending a whole lot of time with the baby when they used to get all the attention. They usually act out in some way, unless they are shown that they’re still loved too. I would just encourage positivity and gentleness with Ivy. Animals, as well as humans, pick up on the tone of a voice. Don’t get upset with her just be gentle and see things from her side. I hope this helps a little. You have two wonderful sweet furry kids, and I love hearing about both of them. Yes, Gracie is so sweet, but Ivy makes me smile too, because she has her own distinct personality, and she is smart. She’s letting you know things aren’t okay. You’ve got to love her for letting you know. Take care.
That’s really nice, Laurie. Good advice!
Great advice! Sometimes before I catch myself I say something to Ivy in a raised or negative voice and she puts her ears back and takes off. I will try hard to do what you said. Makes a lot of sense.
Appreciate the continued updates about Gracie and hearing that she’s recovering well! The vet from the ER Pet Clinic sounds like a gem and a real find. Always nice to have a backup doc/vet you trust & have confidence in.
Don’t stress yourself over Ivy hissing at Gracie. When you think about it, a LOT has happened in their world over the last few months.
Hopefully, Gracie & Ivy will respond to catnip. Or maybe only Ivy will be interested in the catnip, and if that’s the case, Ivy can chill out and Gracie will have some peace.
Two of the 3 cats I have love catnip (dried or fresh), and it does seem to chill the 2 out. I often think the youngest cat, who cares not a bit for catnip, is glad that the 2 older cats like it as the older 2 always seem to nap after having a bit of catnip.
Stay safe & well, Brenda.
I don’t know if I have any catnip so I’ll order some.
Brenda I had one cat that got very mean when he had catnip. I stopped using it because of that. He wouldn’t let any other cat near him. Just wanted you to be aware of it.
so glad Gracie is back to normal. I think it was very nice of the vet to call and inquire if she was feeling better.
I do love cats but they can be very mean to one another sometimes, I think what Robin suggested sounds good to try and bring Ivy and Gracie together. I I do hope it works.
That ER vet told me his real love was cats and horses.
I’ve had multiple cats over the decades. Two females together is often difficult. However, here’s some of the things that help.
Play with both of them together with one toy. I used one of those poles with feathers on the end of the string, and got both of them to play with it at the same time. It will take several times to achieve that, but it can really help them relax with each other. The other thing is to use catnip, especially on their favorite toys and even Ivy’s Tower. Catnip is calming, and I always get the freshly grown organic kind and sprinkle it out so that they can really smell it and roll in it and play in it and even eat it for some of them.
Thanks for the tip!
Brenda, thank you for your condolences. I can’t tell you how special you and your friends who comment on your blog are to me and I am sure to all of them also. Just reading what others are going through and how they handle situations is comforting. We knew Kaia was having problems with arthritis and dogs hide their illnesses but this renal failure kinda snuck up on us. Kaia was in my arms and my husband and I were the last faces she saw. Putting your pet to sleep is an act of love. Please do not feel guilty. We did not make them sick and not being able to get better. We will miss her terribly.
Cindy, I’m so sorry for your loss. We had to put our cat down years ago, and the vet was kind enough to let me hold her. I, too, was the last face she saw before she fell “asleep.” Its heartbreaking, but we do it because we love them.
Than you for your kind words Laura. You are so right we put her out of pain and it is the final act of love.