Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like she is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area). First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this? Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or injure her? She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now, I don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger? P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before. Powered by Linux 2.6.31.6-166 Fedora 12 In rotation: Pacific Ocean Blue (D. Wilson) 2.6.31.5-0.1 OpenSUSE 11.2 "Hug your cat today" 2.6.24-16 Mint Elyssa

The probiotics didn't help after a week - made her a bit worse. Broke down and ordered a case of Wellness canned - chicken. Here's hoping. First feeding in an hour and a half. I'm praying for no vomiting and/or abnormal BMs. Otherwise I hope I like the taste because someone will have to eat all of that ~$30 cat food! I'd love, after the past six months, to have a reliably available food she can eat with no problems. I've sure tried. "When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil." - Max Lerner

So, right at the point I was posting in a different group about the emergency vet we'd have to go to, Meep had an acute cystitis attack and there I was 20 minutes later, when I should have been in bed. Why oh why do they never get sick during business hours? Got her painkiller shot, and another to give her in the AM, so she's feeling better but I'm a wreck. Long story short I brought a yearling colt home a week ago, he was sick with various things (like bringing home a rescue), and just today he's finally seemed to turn the corner. And now Meep's sick again. And, if the emergency vet's scale is correct, she's lost 1/4# in two weeks! I think it's wrong, she doesn't have that much to lose, and she's been eating better with the new meds she's been on. She hasn't had an attack like this in years (crystals and blood in her urine), and I've been doing all the right things; I thought we were past this. It's simple stress - hubby's packing a bunch of stuff to move to our retirement home, and I'm sure Meep thinks we're moving again (she knows the symptoms). We're not, but we can't tell her that. It came on fast, too. I cleaned her box at 5, she's been fine all evening and checked it when we noticed she was in pain (around 9:30pm), and she had used it. But she was still trying to pee on paper all over the house, poor thing! I think I'm going to go cry myself to sleep now. jmc

With the vet's approval, Milo is going to become an indoor-outdoor cat starting a few weeks from now. So of course I'll be applying Frontline. The local Petsmart wants $60 for Frontline or, rather, that's the price marked on an empty shelf. I expect I can do much better by ordering on line, but I don't want to have shipping charges eat into my savings, so I'm thinking of buying say a year's supply. My question is, what kind of shelf life does it have? It would be a false economy to buy a year's worth and then find six months later that the stuff no longer works. Please understand, I'm asking about shelf life. I know that once it's applied to the cat you're supposed to repeat it every month. Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA [link] Shikata ga nai...

Hello, All my females have ratty tails, and the males sport tails of grandeur to match their overall stature. Maybe farmers shouldnot go into breeding of kitties. Ihave done breeding all my life: this means I started out with my parents who practiced, recessive-gene breeding of GermanShepherds: for short legs, pure, silver coloring w/blackish saddle and muzzle, bony structure, BitBull instinct, intelligence, uncanny hearing and unbridled loyalty and obedience to his master, originally designed by Herr VonStephanits, of the original GermanShepherd, which had been wiped out due to money-mongering hucksters, Since leaving home, I went into general truck farming, and of course continued the breeding (I wound up with top-o-the-blood-lines of both East and West cost: (Female out of BJ=91s Kennels and male out of Traveler=92s Way=92s Grand Champion of that year I purchased him, my male, Traveler=91s Way Dandy)). However, Farm breeding soon became the order of the day, and in farm breeding as in the GermanShepherd breeding, the first and foremost, hard and died-in-the-wool rule, along with the general rules, always worked fine. Not so with kittles. When I read about a woman that took 28 years to get her breed, I said, ohsht, at my age, , ihave only 28 months, I better hurry . . . Now ithas been about 3 years . . . And low and behold iam still alive (: Kitties are full of surprises. I finally got a sweet, gentile, loving, bushy-tailed kitty but, as if she were a male, she tries to spray on the walls (but it puddles on the floor), thus must be caged or housed in an outbuilding, comes into heat but doesnot seem to breed, or does closet-breeding, which means she doesnot get pregnant. Now ihave a new one (youwillnot believe this one; her beauty is incredible, and my heart=91s desire (she is small w/short legs and a cute, little mouth. She looks like a fuzzy, plush toy)), however she is a crazy, who has a feral personality. She is sweet as sugar, wants loving and cuddling, but without closeness and touching . . . Yeah-shur . . . figure that one out . . . maybe when she matures shewill be normal . . . HA . . . not with my luck. Her mate=92s-to-be appearance is the same (without the silver dust) as she, but lets you cuddle him, and is like a dog (fuzzy TeddyBear's short body looks like a little, black Chow Dog): always at your foot with every step from room to room; even up and down the steps, weather it be to the cellar or the second floor bedrooms. In spite of =93her=94 I suspect I will get something out of them, because of him . . . if they breed . . .and . . . if he is capable . . . and . . . if she can get pregnant . . . and . . . if they both live . . . past the Anthrax and whipworm this Fall . . . and all the other worms, diseases and Chinese feed, between the Fall seasons. . . and if I, with my failing health, and encroaching age, donot falter, no, not for even one second. Ohwell, so much for the ratty tails. Gotta march on. One of these days (if warm weather ever gets here (Erie, Pa, we had snow Mother=91s Day, and, in California, a granddaughter jumped off a bridge, 60 feet into the water below w/2 other crazy girls (all in the hospital))) unless the grave gets us first, I will get you a picture of the incredibly-beautiful CrazyCat. Truly Truth will set you free, according to Jesus in John 8:32

Available at the local megastore here. Just started using it. If you have been around grain silos, you might notice a strong distinct odor from the corn, but it goes away. Seems to do a good job. Does not clump as hard as clay. Probably not nearly as much dust, but I cannot imagine how anything can be as dusty as clay litter. Much lighter. They say it absorbs twice the liquid, but I doubt it. Will update later, especially if it turns out to be unsatisfactory.

Hello, How to read Bar Codes With all the food and pet products now coming from China , it is best to make sure you read labels at the grocery store and especially Walmart when buying food products. Many products no longer show where they were made, only give where the distributor is located. It is important to read the bar code to track it's origin. How to read Bar Codes ... interesting! This is really interesting. GREAT WAY TO "BUY USA & CANADA AND NOT FROM CHINA!! This may be useful to know when grocery shopping, if it's a concern to you. The whole world is afraid of China-made "black hearted goods". Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or China ? If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690, 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA . 471 is Made in Taiwan This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves. Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "MADE IN CHINA ", so they don't show from which country it is made. However, you may now refer to the barcode, remember if the first 3 digits are: 690-692 ... then it is MADE IN CHINA . 00 - 09 ... USA & CANADA 30 - 37 ... FRANCE 40 - 44 ... GERMANY 47 ... Taiwan 49 ... JAPAN 50 ... UK BUY USA & CANADIAN MADE by watching for "0" at the beginning of the number. BUY AMERICAN THE JOB YOU SAVE MAYBE YOUR OWN.. Truth will set you free, according to Jesus in John 8:32

Vet called me back today she was very nice asked what potting soil I used, looked it up for me said it's supposed to be non-toxic and like someone said here they may be lacking something in their diet not likely though given I only use band name cat food even told thier vet maybe once a month they get 1/4 of spoonful of yougurt (they love it) she said not a problem, did they ack when eating grass (indoor guys) she suggested using more catnip and there a product out you put in the siol that will deter them from eating it, costs $11 right now I can't afford it but even in NY State I thnk safely put that one plant outside on my balconey only other plants I have are catci (sp) ensoul thanks

I have an 18 / 19 years old indoor only tortie that weighs about 5 pounds. She weighed about 4 when we had her spayed (Female) after having kittens when she was about 3 years old. She eats well and has no problem with the litter box. She pees and poops fine. I can not feel her ribs or bones but she just looks skinny and always has. I pick her up and it is like picking up a feather. The other 4 all are in their mid teens weight wise and from 9 to 11 years old. She runs and jumps and plays with toys though not like when she was younger. Now when she walks it is like watching an 80 year old human walk compared to a teenagers walk. If interested a pic of her is at or She goes to vet and was checked and found everything within normal range about a year ago. They have 3 types of dry food available all the time with Royal Canin indoor mature 27 in the room where she spends most of her time and Friskies Feline Favorites and then a different dry each month (This month Purina Pro Plan hairball formula) so they can have a variety. Then twice a day they get a can of Fancy Feast grilled and a can of Fancy Feast Gourmet for 5 cats. I am looking for something I can feed her that might put a little meat on Kitty (Her name). At her age I kind of give her what she likes at times even if some think it might not be real good for her. Like couple nights ago I gave the five a small can of people tuna. I do that maybe once a month for a treat or I will get a 10 piece chicken nuggets at Mickey Dee's for them but no sauce :-} . Thanks for any suggestions.

Hello, i've been thinking recently about getting a cat, but i stay in a second floor flat, and just want a few tips and ideas about keeping a house cat. I want to make sure that he/she has a good time, not just feels like its whole life is based in 3 rooms,

Momo, my cat, is sneezing and acting like he is trying to get rid of something in his throat/nostrils. The vet took an X-ray of his lungs and chest and found "shadows" around them, and concluded that there is infection. So now my cat is on medication from the vet but isn't getting better (or may be not getting better fast enough). He has been on antibiotics for a week. Now the vet has given him another kind of antibiotics plus an expectorant but I feel he is as clueless as I am about what is happening. Anyone has had similar cat problems? What could be happening?

two males, Moe & Rudy (brothers) indor & nutered...first I had to get rid all of my plants because thye were eating the plants then I found they didn't bother my cati and succlents...then my grandaughters who's only 5 asked why Moe was eating dirt, then today I find Rudy eating the dirt..it'd the dirt from my potted plants ensoul

x-posted to alt.pets.cats, free.uk.pets.cats, rec.pets.cats.health+behav (follow-ups set to rec.pets.cats.health+behav) Hello A question demonstrating rather a lot of ignorance - sorry - but in the case of neutered males in some animals, the various biological processes of coming into season still apply. This makes me wonder: does the same hold true for pet cats? Background: our 3 year old spayed Tabby is acting quite frisky and has been doing so for the last couple of weeks since spring has arrived here in England. We notice two unusual (and possibly concerning) symptoms which have also appeared: 1) A small amount of blood has been seen coming from her rear end - possiblya symptom of constipation 2) She seems to produce small round droppings, without noticing, at random -whereas she normally goes to the toilet outside and digs a hole etc. etc. In this latter case she seems to deposit these small poos around the house without noticing. They are very dry - almost like the dry pellets she's fed on but as if several are compacted together. We're off to the vets here in England on Friday but would like to gather some background thoughts beforehand./ thanks for any pointers, experiences etc.

If you live in or near Bergen or Passaic County, NJ or southern Rockland County, NY and you're interested in fostering cats and kittens, please email me. We're in desperate need of foster homes. We're filled to the rafters with cats (literally) and all our fosterers are doubled, tripled, and quadrupled-up- and kitten season is just beginning! If you only interested in fostering adult or young adult cats - no problem. We're loaded with adult and young adult "economic surrenders" Thanks, Phil

Our cat loves iceberg lettuce. But only if it's served cold covered in thousand island dressing with a couple of saltine crackers on the side. We know he constantly tries to mimic our behavior, but this is kind of ridicules. Anybody else's cat like lettuce?