A Moose in Love wrote:
> On Oct 18, 7:21 pm, Cheryl > wrote:
>> On 10/18/2011 6:28 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>>> I asked this question elsewhere but got no answer. But I know there
>>> are a lot of cat people so I thought I would ask here.
>>
>>> My deceased cat, Maui never messed with my Christmas tree. Of
>>> course for
>>> the first many years of her life, I only had a wall tree. I wasn't
>>> much
>>> into putting up a tree or taking it down and many years we went to
>>> my in-law's house in another state for Christmas.
>>
>>> When my daughter was born, I decided she needed a tree. Had a real
>>> one that first year and artificial ones after. First a little one
>>> then big ones. I only used unbreakable ornaments until she was 4. I
>>> have some antique ornaments and we collect a lot that look like
>>> animals, flowers and other fancy things. I'm not so much into the
>>> plain ones.
>>
>>> Well, Maui never bothered the tree at all. Or the presents for that
>>> matter. But she is gone now.
>>
>>> Our two new cats are mom and baby. Mom just turned three and baby
>>> is one. Mom is somewhat curious but not that bad. Baby however just
>>> had a growth spurt and can now climb to new heights. She is into
>>> anything and
>>> everything. Because I make jewelry, I have some retail type racks
>>> for earrings and necklaces on my dresser. She was up there this
>>> morning batting the jewelry around. She also found the three little
>>> pumpkins that I bought for my daughter. They were in a net bag. She
>>> had the bag in her mouth and was dragging it around trying to get
>>> the pumpkins out. Mom seemed
>>> fascinated with the pumpkins as well and liked to sniff them.
>>
>>> So I got to thinking... What might they do to a Christmas tree? The
>>> thoughts weren't good. So I told my daughter we would not put up
>>> our tree this year. Got a new one last year. Tall and slim. Pale
>>> pink with dark
>>> pink lights. Very pretty and goes well with our selection of
>>> ornaments.
>>> But I had visions of the baby climbing it, biting at the lights and
>>> batting at the ornaments. Daughter didn't think the wall tree would
>>> be safe either because where we put it on the wall is a place they
>>> could easily reach if they got into the window.
>>
>>> So... I found a two foot high sliver tree with white lights and
>>> small plastic balls at Target. It's a little pathetic looking but
>>> seemingly unbreakable and festive. I bought it. Figured it would be
>>> easy enough to pick up and take elsewhere if the cats start biting
>>> the lights.
>>
>>> But do you think I will ever be able to have a real tree again?
>>> Will the baby outgrow her curiosity? Are you able to put up a tree
>>> with real glass ornaments? I know she would try to eat tinsel. So I
>>> wouldn't use that.
>>> She did eat a piece of pink Easter grass. No clue where she got
>>> that from. But she did eat it and puked it. People have told me to
>>> hang the tree from the ceiling but I haven't a clue how to do that.
>>> And when I ask them what they mean by hanging it they just look at
>>> me like I am an idiot. One person said she just used a macram�
>>> plant hanger. I thought perhaps she meant that she was using one of
>>> those maybe foot high real decorated trees. But she said she had a
>>> really big one. That wouldn't work here anyway because I
>>> have low ceilings. I would have to have like an 8 inch tree hung
>>> close to the ceiling for them not to get to it. They can both jump
>>> really high. I
>>> am beginning to think that Maui was in some way abnormal. She just
>>> never jumped on things at all.
>>
>> I didn't put up a tree for several years for a few reasons, and one
>> was young cats in the house. Last year I put one up and I do hang it
>> from the ceiling. It just means put a hook in the ceiling (a hook
>> you hang on the back of a bathroom door for a bathrobe works) and
>> tie some fishing line or other fine string around the top of the
>> tree, and the other end around the hook. The tree still reaches the
>> floor and is in a tree base. It prevents them from knocking it over.
>> I hang unbreakable ornaments where they can be reached by curious
>> cats, but be careful with the hooks. It doesn't stop from finding an
>> ornament from higher up on the floor now and then.
>
> I'm just curious, what's involved in having a cat as a pet. I live in
> the city, and think that dogs should be unchained and running free.
> However cats, it doesn't seem to hurt them that they are cooped up
> inside for many days.
> How much are vets fees, do they shed, etc. The only experience I have
> are with cats that lived on our farm, and ran around outside. I don't
> want to declaw them, but is that necessary? etc.

Declawing a cat means to amputate their toes. Not something I would *ever*
do. However if the claws get too long and sharp, the very tips can be
clipped just like we clip our own nails. The baby lets us do this. Mom
does not. Groomers will do it for a fee. And the vet will do it when they
are in there.

Cats certainly can shed. All cats will do it to some extent seasonally.
They get a thicker winter coat and when Spring comes, it will shed off.
Maui had sort of a mixed coat. Very thick hair, shorter on her back and
long fur on the tummy. At times she could shed quite a lot. These cats are
suspected to be part Siamese. They have very short, sparse hair and so far
seem to shed very little if any. Long haired cats require daily brushing
and some breeds such as Persians require eye cleaning as well. Cats usually
do not need baths.

My cats never go outdoors. I had to sign papers that I would not allow them
outdoors. It can be dangerous to let a cat out in this area. We live on a
street that can be busy at times and there are wild animals in the area.
Many people do let their cats run wild but I won't do this. If I get enough
money though, I will have built an enclosure in the backyard so the cats can
go out in it on nice days. We do have an area that is currently a kid's
playground but since my daughter is older it is no longer being used. This
would be a good place to put a cat enclosure.

Vet bills really do vary depending on why the cat is going to the vet. And
they can vary from vet to vet. Sometimes there are mobile vets who go from
place to place giving shots. This can be very inexpensive. You can also
get inexpensive shots at various pet stores. And some stores now offer
veterinary services for less. Some vets treat cats only. We just go to a
regular vet.

When Maui developed a growth on her eye it was about $1,000 to have it
removed. I only remember that price because she had the operation mere days
before she had to be put to sleep from kidney failure. Because her kidneys
and thyroid were bad, she had to go to the vet frequently and her meds were
not cheap. But she was nearly 18 when she died so she had a long life.

She also had to have her teeth descaled and have some tooth extractions.
You can get toothbrushes and paste for cats but she would never let me brush
her teeth. Our current baby has let us brush a few teeth at a time. In
fact she seems to enjoy the toothbrush. Her mom, not so much. So I feed
them dental treats once in a while that are supposed to help.