...because home doesn't happen overnight.

So we got a cat. And there’s a burning question that keeps coming up: WHERE DO YOU KEEP THE LITTER BOX?

cat paraphernalia - litter box

Next to the dryer, naturally. I chose the spot on a whim when we brought Cheetah home but it’s actually kinda perfect. It’s out of the way and the tile hides stray litter and allows for easy cleanup. For the first few days, I kept the curtain open so Cheetah could maneuver in and out easily. Recently, I started closing it almost all the way. Cheetah can get to the litter box but we don’t have to see it 24/7. It’s pretty inconspicuous.

We have this litter box. It’s nothing fancy. (Don’t tell my nine-year-old there are automatic litter boxes. Next thing you know, one will be on his Christmas list and then how will he ever learn the discipline of scooping cat poop? #lifeskills) But it fits the small space and, more importantly, it works. The litter mat is here. It helps to catch stray litter.

You may recall a rolling cart used to live next to the dryer. I moved it to a linen closet to make room for the litter box. NBD. (I also stash the catnip, lint rollers, Frontline and cat brush in the linen closet.) I’m able to keep a drying rack and our small ironing board next to the dryer. Cheetah doesn’t seem to mind. She is a domestic cat after all. I hope she takes up ironing soon.

cat paraphernalia - food  water

The food and water bowl is under the bench on the other side of the mudroom. Again, the tile is super easy to wipe down. The bowl has non-slip feet so it doesn’t slide around on the tile.

cat paraphernalia - storage

I store cat food and litter in the wardrobe next to the bench. I was advised to purchase this cat food and this litter. Apparently, cats can have issues with grains? Since I have no experience with cats whatsoever, I can’t really attest to how good these are. And after I bought the walnut-based litter I realized that anyone with a serious tree nut allergy can’t enter our home. (Luckily, we don’t know anyone with a tree nut allergy but who’s to say we never will?) But Cheetah is alive and we haven’t had any issues with odors so I’m not complaining. One of my biggest qualms with potentially owning a cat was the smell. So far, we haven’t had any odor issues. Fingers crossed we can keep it that way.

cat paraphernalia - stand

For the first two days, Cheetah mostly slept. I think she was traumatized. Or she was pretending to be a in bad dream where a toddler follows her every move. Then on day 3 she suddenly perked up and started scratching the sisal rug in the entry and climbing the screens on the french doors in the kitchen. (!) This sparked an intense “why is my cat scratching / climbing?” google search. (I told you I was oblivious.) Apparently, Cheetah needs to scratch / climb and I need to provide appropriate items for her to scratch / climb or she will find some herself. In desperation, I snatched up the least offensive cat stand I could find at my local pet store. I AM THAT LADY. I know I could make one just as good (if not better) but, again, the desperation. Quick! Before all the window screens are torn to shreds!

The bones are there. I figure I can tweak it when it starts looking even more hideous. Whatever. Cheetah loves it. When I catch her scratching / climbing something I don’t necessarily want her to scratch / climb, I pick her up and place her on the stand. Sometimes I spray it with a little catnip solution. Watch out! Psychedelic cat! Luckily, she hasn’t damaged anything but I don’t trust her 100%. We’re a work in progress over here.

(Also, this picture has me itching to paint those french doors a glossy black like the ones in the kitchen.)

cat paraphernalia - lounger

To redeem myself of the Carpet Tree purchase, I found this cardboard lounger. I actually love it and so does Cheetah. She scratches it and also sleeps on it. I like that it slips under the living room shelves and doesn’t take up a ton of space. The world needs more pet paraphernalia like this.

cat paraphernalia - fiddle leaf fig

There seems to be some controversy about cats and fiddle leaf figs. I’ve heard and read that FLF’s are and are not toxic to cats. Cheetah hasn’t paid much attention to the tree so far but I did rig it with some frightening cooling racks to discourage her. I AM THAT LADY, TOO. If I have to choose, I’ll find a new home for the tree – not the cat. (Which should tell you something about my feelings toward this kitten because I heart that tree so hard.)

cat paraphernalia - leather sofa

I can count on three fingers the number of times Cheetah has slept on the leather sofa. Just today, I caught her pawing at it (no damage was done) and I quickly sprayed some water her way. The spray didn’t touch her but it was enough to grab her attention. I set the spray bottle on the speaker box next to the sofa for the rest of the day and its presence was enough to keep her at bay. I’ll have to update you on the sofa’s condition in a few months. To be continued…

In general, I’m either freaking out about the cat or completely ignorant. I think it’s a good balance ;) I don’t expect perfection. I made no décor choices based on cat behavior so I can’t fret if something gets scratched. As much as I love creating a stylish home, I want it to be livable for our family – which now includes a cat. If we can’t live in it, what’s the point? That being said, I’m making every effort to teach Cheetah which items are (not) okay to scratch / climb. Fortunately, she seems to be catching on.

I titled this post “Phase 1” because I fully anticipate different or more cat paraphernalia entering our home. Things just got verrrrrry interesting over here, didn’t they? I shared the items we already have not as recommendations per se (although I really do love that cardboard lounger and the food bowl) but so you could see what we’re starting with and offer up any tips or advice. After reading all the wonderful comments on the previous post, I watched a video on how to clip cats’ claws at home and bought some trimmers. I AM ALSO THAT LADY. I can’t say I’m excited to cut Cheetah’s claws but we’ll figure it out.

If you made it this far and you’re a cat person, I hope you find my antics humorous and have wise words to share. Like, where does your cat sleep at night? Cheetah picks a different spot every night. Is this normal? If you’re not a cat person (like I was two weeks ago), I’m sorry and I hope you don’t think I’m too crazy. Also, I hope a snuggly kitten weasels its way into your life.

images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

130 Comments

19.September.2014

I’ve had great success with both of my kitties using double sided tape on furniture that they’ve taken a liking to scratch. For a while they loved the side of my sofa so I spread some double sided tape all along the side and they stopped! I took the tape off a while ago and no further issues!

Love all of the paraphernalia you got! My kitties also adore the cardboard lounge. If you want to really spoil her get one of those circulating filter water bowls. It provides fresh water that isn’t stagnant – both if my cats love it!

19.September.2014

What a cutie cheetah is! That cat food is really good! It also works out cheaper in the long run with buying more expensive food. There shouldn’t be a problem with odor if the litter box is scooped regularly. I have 2 cats & live in an apartment so I do it daily! Adding some baking soda to the litter helps a lot too! Arm & Hammer have a litter box deoderiser which is pretty good & cheap. As for scratching you can buy double sided tape at pet stores, it doesn’t damage fabrics! You stick it where they scratch and they don’t like the sticky feeling on their paws. Tin foil/aluminium foil creeps them out too so that can be used to stop them getting up on places where they shouldn’t :) good luck & enjoy the kitty!

19.September.2014

That’s all so great! Cheetah will settle into more of a routine sleeping space wise, she’s just trying out every single spot before she decides. As far as protecting your belongings, I’ve learned to leave some carefully planned empty space on all surfaces (like your gorgeous living room shelves). She’ll eventually want to explore all the way to the top, if you create the pathway you can prevent a mess later. Also, QUAKE museum putty, so awesome for keeping breakables in one place and one piece..

19.September.2014

Well done! I totally agree about the lac of stylish cat paraphernalia… I have two domestic cats and one big dog. And one scratched sofa… With our last cat we actually bought a small, round sisal mat just for the cat, and she totally loved it. This was instead of a scratch tree (is that the name?) and so much more stylish! We are actually looking for a new one for our present cats because that sofa badly needs to be changed…

Anyhow, you are doing a great jobt! Cats might be the easiest pets to attend to, the only thing that they can be a bit fussy about is the food. We always give them a combination of wet and dry food. The dry food are out all day, but the wet food are being served to them at the same time as the dog gets his grub. With a dry food only diet you need to make sure that Cheetah drinks a good amount of water. If she is fussy about the water bowl, try the tap. Yes, we have one of those cats at home ;)

Hugs from Sweden!

19.September.2014

This is why you have an awesome home design blog and I do not. I thought those cardboard loungers looked hideous all packaged up in the store – but you’ve got the eye! It looks great!

If you decide to try any other litters, check out pine pellets. After years of various litters, inhaling clay dust, and annoying automatic litter boxes, I landed on the pellets. It smells fantastic and there is zero tracking since it’s too big to stick to paws. The pellets gradually break apart as they absorb liquid. You just scoop out the poop and give the box a good stir. Twice a week I sift out the sawdust, keep the remaining whole pellets, and add in some new ones.

But the real secret about the pellets cat litter is that they are actually the same as horse bedding pine pellets sold at farm supply stores for about $6 for 40lbs.. The horse bedding pellets are slightly larger in diameter than a few of the cat pellet brands, which also makes it easier to sift.

Love the booby trapped plant! I’m sure you will see how effectively she can spring straight- up, two feet in the air when she knocks that rack over.:)

19.September.2014

Dana you need a new category for the blog – Pet stuff or something similar…I was laughing when I saw how you categorized the kitten post in ‘Budget Decor’ :)

19.September.2014

Hi Dana, I love your blog, house and cute family. It all just got better with the addition of Cheetah, she is so beautiful! I am a huge cat lover and have 3 fur babies myself.
My cats have several places they sleep,it changes on an almost daily basis which sometimes makes it tricky to find them, I like knowing where they are before I go to bed.They need a goodnight kiss. (Okay I need to give them a good night kiss).

All the best to the whole family.

Ana

19.September.2014

She is absolutely divine. I have 2 cats and I trim their nails and I totally recommend it as they don’t scratch anywhere near as much when I do. I think your family has basically just expanded which is a real joy, but the shedding does my head in so much that my next pet will be a poodle something that does not shed :) I also have a leather sofa and neither of them have ever looked at it as a scratching post(too busy sleeping on it). I have a theory that it has something to do with the sofas low legs. They can’t get under it, so they just haven’t thought about it – they can get under the arm chairs and give them grief.

19.September.2014

Don’t worry, you can just give the fig tree to me :)

19.September.2014

She’s adorable! Cats are such easy and fun pets to have! I’ve had cats my whole life and would reccomend a litter box with a cover that basically creates a box with a hole in front for her to go in and out. As she gets older, she might bury things more “enthusiastically” and the lid will keep most of that in the box instead of on your walls, dryer, and floors! We also use blue buffalo food for my dog and love it! Good luck!!

19.September.2014

Get Soft Paws for her. Pretty much any vet can put them on her, or you can. They’re like fake nails for cats and will keep her from doing damage when she scratches at things.

19.September.2014

This actually convinced me not to get a cat! I forgot about all the details, like litter boxes, and scratching posts. My husband thanks you!

19.September.2014

Cheetah is so photogenic! My cat (Norman) always refuses to look at the camera when I whip it out. Therefore all of his pictures are from when he is sleeping;) I’m sure Cheetah will eventually figure out where she wants to sleep at night. Mine sleeps in bed with me – he usually starts out cuddled into my chest and around my arm (his pillow), but then he eventually moves down to my feet. I bought a new couch recently and that is the first time he’s ever tried to scratch anything I own – I assume the newness made it appealing – but I used the water bottle trick and that seems to work great! I wish he liked scratching posts and such, but I’ve wasted money over the years on cardboard that he’s never touched. However, open a box from a new outdoor patio set and he will live in it (in the garage) like a fort! He also loves to knead…there is one throw blanket on the couch that I refer to as his blanket. I pull that out and he is all over it! Cat’s can be quirky, but oh so loveable;)

19.September.2014

I’m going to second the recommendation to get a cover for the litter box or one that she can jump in from the top. Our cats started kicking more litter out as they got older.

We have leather chairs, and keeping the names trimmed, especially those back nails, is so important for preventing damage. I’d recommend trimming every week, especially at the beginning. She might not like it at first, but she’ll learn to sit still for the trimming sessions. We currently have three permanent resident cats (which is about two too many) and three rescued foster kittens, so I’m trimming lots of cat nails every week!

19.September.2014

Our kitty was a stray and even though I grew up with cats, I didn’t want one at the time. She turned out to be the perfect cat for us. You can train a cat. We trained her to not jump up on counters. She know which chairs she can sleep on and which ones to stay off of (like the leather ones). I really liked (and so did she) the card board scratchers. However, I got tired of cleaning up 5 billion pieces of paper everyday when she was tearing it to shreds. It didn’t happen overnight, but it will. So I bought a sisal rug covered scratcher (Pet Smart) and its been great. One of the best cat toys ever, is just a plastic grocery bag tied into a tighted knotted ball. It’s light enough to bat around and they love the crinkle sound! Give it a try!

19.September.2014

If you are against declawing you should look into soft paw nail covers they work pretty good and are also cute. We just got a new kitten not long ago as well, and we just got him declawed, and it has been wonderful. No more scratching and climbing my furniture, and no more scratching my baby! I no that decline can be controversial, but it was the right choice for our family.

19.September.2014

I agree with the comment about Soft Paws. They saved our furniture/rugs. Start using them now while your cat is young though. Our young cat did just fine with them but our older cat was much more grumpy about having them put on and wearing them, I think because he had lived half his life without wearing them. They are fairly easy to put on the cat and come in fun colors. My kids like to coordinate the claw covers with each holiday. Also buy some Nature’s Miracle just to have on hand. It is the best thing I have found for neutralizing urine odors. Even if you are lucky and don’t have to deal with behavioral pee-outside-the-box issues, cats will often pee outside their box if they are sick or hurt as a way of letting you know there is a problem. I like to keep some Nature’s Miracle on hand just in case. Incidentally it also works well for cleaning up after potty training toddlers.

19.September.2014

Hi Dana,

Such a beautiful cat! It’s so funny to read about other cat “converts.” I was also a “dog person” until my 5 year old asked for only 1 thing from Santa……a cat. She asked Santa because she knew Mom and a Dad would never go for it. Needless to say, we have had a cat for several years and LOVE him. They are so affectionate and soothing, (most of the time). You will grow to love the purring…..:)

The cat tree is a great idea! We moved to a taller version (not exactly pretty though) because our cat loves higher spots. The water sprayer works great as well! No harm and pets need boundaries, too. You might look into “Soft paws.” I heard great things about them and wish I had started them at the kitten stage. Your daughter will get a kick out of them because they look like painted nails. In the long run, you may have trouble with that leather sofa. I have 2 leather recliners that have pin prick holes now. My cat never scratches it but when he jumps up there, his nails dig in. I do clip them but even clipped they aren’t exactly flat. In the end, we don’t care because he’s a family member. We’ll eventually replace them and throw blankets Provide an easy fix.

I have always used a basic litterbox as well. Mine is tucked away and if you keep it scooped every day, you’ll never smell it.

You might want to start thinking about “cat sitters” for your travel times. Cats do much better when they can stay in their own homes. We have someone come in every other day when we travel and our cat does great. He had a nightmare experience at a cat kennel once and stopped eating and drinking…..:(

FYI…..my sister went to College with you (Cara) and I love your blog. She told me about it awhile back and I’ve been hooked!

Take care!

19.September.2014

Adorable cat! I could just cuddle it all day!
I really recommend Worlds Best Cat Litter. Corn and really safe natural around kids and pets. You can flush it down the toilet!

19.September.2014

My kitty used to have all her claws. She only tore apart a really ugly chair that I didn’t like, so it was fine by me! When I had to move in with my parents for all of three months (we all thought it would be longer), they forced me to have her de-clawed. I wasn’t happy about it, but it was either that or get rid of her! Years later, Lluvy is doing just fine with only her back claws. She loves to spend her nights outside, but when she comes inside, she’s usually sleeping in a pile of laundry or next to my pillow on the bed.

19.September.2014

I am a cat-like dog person. ha! So we have two furry shih tzus (Ed and Toby). Ed is a cat in dog’s fur. So we have the best of both worlds.

19.September.2014

If you haven’t discovered it yet check out http://www.hauspanther.com/ There is a world of well designed cat furniture. I have a very cool cat tree from http://www.franklincatfurniture.com/ that I love and looks great!

19.September.2014

This might sound crazy cat lady-ish, but there is a show called My Cat from Hell with Jackson Galaxy. It is basically a cat whisperer who goes into homes that have bad-behavior cats. We have a cat, but he doesn’t really have bad behavior, he just scratched one of our chairs a lot. There were a LOT of tips in that show about cat likes, dislikes, tips, tricks, and suggestions (on everything from litter boxes to toys). After watching and learning certain cats LOVE getting up high (ours does) so we built a 6′ tall cat tree wrapped with rope, has carpeted shelves, stained trim, and is pretty awesome. It takes up a bit of space, but the cat climbs up the tree now instead of the chair and he loves being able to look out the window from the high perch. We put some work into it so it doesn’t look like an eye sore in our home and it is by far our cat’s favorite thing.

19.September.2014

I’m happy to hear about your kitten. I believe pets add a lot of warmth to a house, adding to the homey feel. Regarding the fig, I have had a fig tree for over 20 years (yes, the same plant and it’s over 8 ft tall!) and have had cats all that time. None of my cats have ever had issues from messing with it. If you find that she’s chewing on it, you can get an edible plant for her from a pet store and she should focus on that instead. The only problem we’ve ever had is digging in the soil of it. I just cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap to keep them out, then I just peel it back to water it.

19.September.2014

I have pet sat for 10+ years and had a cat in my life all of my life. At the moment I live in an 800 sq foot house with a great dane and a tabby named Tommy. The best litter I have found- least offensive smell before use and during- is the small spaces version of Tidy Cat. It also clumps nicely. It has to be the small spaces version, which of course i can never find in the extremely large plastic tubs. Clipping your kitties nails are great. I do my cat once every 2 weeks or so, generally just the front, but every once in awhile I’ll do the back feet too. Make sure you get your kitty microchipped. Cats have a funny way of sneaking out, even if they are indoor only. If she ever gets out it will lead to a much greater likelihood of her coming back to you. I will say that never let her outside unless you want her always trying to jet out. Good luck. I can never imagine my life with out my pets and it sounds like now you can’t either.

19.September.2014

Just get her front paws de-clawed, that’s what my parents did with all of our kitties and they were happy, healthy little pets. I know it is verrrryyyy controversial but our vet gave us pain meds and literally three hours after we brought our latest gem home she was playing and completely fine.

19.September.2014

So, you mentioned thinking your kitten was part Maine Coon. I don’t know how universal these facts are, but:

1. My Maine Coon mix talks. A lot. Loudly. More, as other cats were added to the household, he taught THEM to talk. It’s adorable and sweet and charming…until he wants you to feed him. Plus: I can hold conversations with my cat because half the time if you say something to him he will respond.

2. He is fascinated by water. Not being in water; this is not a swimming kitty. Rather, he likes moving water – faucets, fountains, etc. If you find your cat shares this trait, I highly recommend a cat fountain…or you can be a fool like me and turn on the faucet any time you are using the toilet. Now my kitty comes running when I need to use the euphemism.

3. He’s smart, but not clever. My cat can tell time to within 10 minutes of his schedule. He can open cabinets, master “treat dispensing toys” to give the most food with the least effort…and loves fire. Yeah. I had a candle burning. I turned back just as my cat pawed at the flame, then began licking his ouched paw. “Oh man,” I thought. “I’m sorry….but at least he won’t-” And then he did it again. Unattended candles may mean “not looked at candles.”

4. Keep in mind that cats will sometimes want to scratch to their full length. With a Maine Coon, that can be considerable. If you find your cat stops using a post and goes for taller objects/door frames/etc, consider getting a taller post, and make sure their favorite material (for my cat, sisal) goes all the way UP the post. Sisal bottoms and carpet tops do no good at all if your cat only loves sisal and is two feet long. :)

Congrats on the new friend! There aren’t many better acquisitions you can make if you want your house to feel like home.

19.September.2014

Dana, great cat post! I live in a tiny condo (550 sq ft), which makes having a cat challenging. Cats are pretty low maintenance as long as they have things to entertain themselves (as Cheetah does). Please do not get Cheetah declawed – it’s a barbaric process for them! Just keep her claws trimmed and have available scratching material.

I trim my cats’ claws with a regular nail clipper. Wrap the cat up in a blanket, pull out one paw, and trim the clear part of the nail (only the clear part). Start young and Cheetah will get used to it.

Hope that helps!

19.September.2014

For trimming nails, my husband holds our cat like a baby and I start trimming. Once he starts to wriggle, we let him down for a minute and give him a treat. Then, it’s back into my husband’s arms for round two. Also, we’ve found that most of the time we only need to trim his front nails. The back nails don’t sharpen nearly as fast. We used to give him about 5 or 6 treats per trimming, but now we’re down to 1 or 2. It’s crazy, but cats actually can be treat trained! We did the same thing when we were brushing him. He didn’t loooove it, so we gave him a treat every time he would lash at us or walk away. Soon after we started with the treats, he came to love being brushed. :) Best of luck with Cheetah and I can’t wait for more updates!

19.September.2014

Congratulations on the newest addition to the family, she looks like such a sweetheart!

I would suggest adding some more rope binding to the cat tree. I bought my cat Ezra a cat tree bound completely with rope, which was a little more expensive than some of the other options, but he absolutely adores it and nearly three years on he has never once scratched my furniture, carpet or rugs. I also agree with the suggestion of getting an enclosed litter tray. As Ezra has gotten older, his tendency to kick litter in all directions has become a little crazy and an enclosed litter tray really cuts down on the clean up. I would also suggest introducing fresh meat into her diet. Dry food is great, but many wet food brands have a lot of preservatives to ensure they last longer. Minced meat, chicken breasts, etc that we buy for our own meals are such better options – whether raw or cooked – and the cost per meal tends to be on par with wet food brands (well in Australia at least!). However, if you are going to introduce her to raw meat, I would start off with the a very small amount and increase the amount week by week. Kittens have such sensitive stomachs and any drastic change in diet can cause havoc.

Lastly, hold off on buying expensive toys! Despite buying a million different toys, my cats favourite things to play with is an empty paper bag and rolled up balls of paper.

Good luck!

19.September.2014

I am “not a cat person”, but I still really appreciated this post! My design and decor choices are certainly influenced by our Labrador, who is as much a part of the family as anyone else who shares our home. Even though I’m dying for a navy sofa, I can’t imagine forbidding her from lying up against the couch where we’re lounging (her blonde hair would be a nightmare on a dark color). Thanks for always having a real-life approach to your home! :)

19.September.2014

LL you might have just saved me. I have tried everything over the years and have never found a cat litter I like. I have an extremely sensitive nose and cannot stand fragrances added to standard clumping litter but the other litters like yesterday’s news, which I really liked but ended up being impossible to scoop so I had to throw it all out every week and the smell was not so great either. I’m totally trying the pine pellets! I hadn’t seen those!

19.September.2014

Congratulations on the newest member of the family! I grew up with cats in our house (including watching them give birth to kittens!). I also had cats for a few years when my kids were young. I think the key to having pets is not trusting them 100%. They’ll do things they’ve never done before. They’re unpredictable. They’re animals! But they can add an element to home/family life that I don’t think can be duplicated any other way. Enjoy! She’s precious. BTW, isn’t it amazing to see the different expressions they can make with their eyes?!

19.September.2014

Cheetah is gorgeous!

Just one quick tip, Dana: cats shed a lot and the best way to clean up the fur from pillows, conforters and such is to use a rubber glove. The ones we use to clean the toilet!! It works great with minumum effort!

:)

19.September.2014

Seconding the Soft Paws. We had a cat for 17 years that never did a lick of harm to anything. Then we got a new cat, and he took to his designated scratcher and nothing else. Then we got a kitten to keep him company (some cats need it, he did) and that little thing went to town on my chairs and carpets. Soft paws saves the day.

Also, look into the tidy cat Breeze litter system. You still need to scoop every day but the pellets are larger and don’t track around in their paws. And the tray for the liquid waste is a weekly change. I wish I’d found it sooner. So much easier.

Also, if you find you need the space back in the laundry area, consider installing a cat door to give the cat access to a closet or garage litter area. You have a garage off your room and could likely build a really great enclosed litter area (keeping the cat from having full garage access, but easy to open up and clean) that the cat accesses through an opening in that wall. If I had that I’d do that, for sure. You want litter to be far enough away that you don;t see it or smell it, but close enough that you remember to clean it.

19.September.2014

Thanks for the tips! We’ve already discovered Cheetah’s fondness for bags. We have one “toy” that my cousin sent home with us but she prefers the bags. Thank goodness they’re cheap and easy to come by!

19.September.2014

It’s funny. Our first pet was a boxer (she passed away a few years ago) and we often talked about her cat-like tendencies. I swear Cheetah is half-dog so it hasn’t been too different than having a dog for us.

19.September.2014

I was going to bring up the same thing about the water! My cat will only drink from a cup of fresh water by the sink. Strange, I know. A little electronic water fountain is a good option, too – I just don’t have an outlet that close to any of the floors in my house!

19.September.2014

Good to know!

19.September.2014

Soft Paws sounds like a great idea if Cheetah shows interest in scratching up the furniture. I appreciate the mention, guys!

19.September.2014

I have to check out that electronic option! Our cats are actually using the tap for the sink in the laundry room, so yes they are allowed up on that bench :)

19.September.2014

My cat sleeps on the couch or ottoman at night, but wishes she could sleep in bed with us. She can’t because my boyfriend is a very tall and long-limbed man. Also, don’t be surprised when she gets the midnight crazies one night and darts full speed to nowhere in particular, meows loudly, and darts back. :)

19.September.2014

I always make it a point to fiddle with the cats’ paws when we are snuggling, especially when they are half asleep. Push on the pads of their feet to make the claws extend and retract and let them kneed your fingers (a nursing/comfort reaction) so they are used to you touching their paws and fiddling with their claws. That way when you want to trim their claws you just initiate a snuggling session and they barely notice that you are clipping away as you pet them.

19.September.2014

cheetah will probably start finding some “special” places to sleep. tobi (my cat) will either sleep on the foot of my bed, the hallway, or on some random cushion in the den.
some other random tips i’ve learned along the way: if she ever pees outside of her box it can be one of two things: her being temperamental (have there been any recent changes/stressors) and if it continues to happen it could be a UTI. hmmm…if she starts being vocal it could be for attention, you’ll learn the difference in her cries just like with babies. :) one other suggestion with furniture and her laying on it: leave a blanket/towel out there and move her to it a few times then she will get the hint that it is “her spot” and it makes it easy to thrown in the wash and protect the leather/fabric

hope that helps – and i can’t wait to see more of cheetah!

19.September.2014

We have two cats we got a couple of years apart, they are very playful and so far have been really great at using the cat tree. At the time I bought it, declared myself a true cat lady. Unfortunately both cats like different cat litters, they both are rescue cats and each home used a different litter, so now I have two different litter boxes in the basement in two different locations, sadly one location is the kids play area, I am at the moment trying to figure out how to hide it. Also this litter box has the wheat based litter and I find it doesn’t stop the smell as much as I would like.

Your cat is really cute, I would not be able to resist.

19.September.2014

Nine words: Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter
Seriously, check the reviews on Amazon. I’ve had cats my whole life and this was a total life-changer.

Also, start putting Cheetah in your lap now and “pretend” to clip her nails. It will be way easier later if she’s used to it now.

19.September.2014

My college roomie had a cat and she put these plastic claw covers on the nails that she always referred to as “Soft Claws.” She ordered them online and changed, replaced them every few months and then she never had to worry about our things getting scratched.

I’m so glad someone finally mentioned declawing – That is the best option (especially if done while she’s relatively young) to save all furniture & human skin from potiental kitty-claw-incidents; declaw the front & clip the back – that way if were to ever slip outside by accident, she’ll still have traction in case of “emergencies” to get away from danger. That was always the best solution for us… but they will still mimic the clawing action… which, to me, is cute.
Getting kitties declawed also spares you pants & skirts from claw picks when they’re doing their contented “paw-kneeding” action; no more pain = all pleasure! (so yeah, I’m a cat person…)

19.September.2014

I do not like Soft Paws, but I must be in the minority here. They fall off and the cats don’t seem to like them. To each their own!
Have fun with kitty!

19.September.2014

Declawing a cat is like removing the first knuckle on human fingers – it’s amputation. It’s traumatizing and totally unnecessary, and often results in a total change in the cat’s personality. Regular trimming and training your cat when young is simple and humane.

19.September.2014

Especially for a non-cat person, you are doing really well! Kudos!! If you ever do watch Jackson Galaxy in “My Cat From Hell” on Animal Planet, you will meet the stupidest pet owners in the world. I hope it’s really all make-believe.

I was glad to see a non-covered litter box (people like them, cats don’t). I’m just a little worried about the food and water being right next to a heating vent. As for filtered water fountains, my cat was too scared of the motor noise to ever drink from one, which defeats the purpose.

And I have to cast a vote for NOT declawing — EVER! One of my previous cats left some puncture marks in the arms of a leather sofa, but only because the leather was slippery underfoot. She preferred to scratch rough fabric. To this day, when I see the marks on the sofa, I think warm and teary thoughts of the best cat ever and wish she was still with me, marking up the whole house.

19.September.2014

hilarious that you have a cat tree…i just can’t bring myself to do that. thank goodness we have a sunroom that allows for window viewing. i leave out 2 tv trays that allow the cats to sit at the height of the windows and look out into the yard. oh the things we do for our pets!!
b

19.September.2014

Several people have mentioned a cat fountain… we have this one and LOVE IT. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L4XR3I?psc=1 It’s also fairly attractive and holds a good amount of water so you do not need to refill it constantly. We had to switch to this over a regular bowl because my cat kept dirtying his water by cleaning his feet in it!

I’m also going to chime in that declawing IS NOT the end of the world if you have to do it. I have two completely declawed cats and both of them are perfectly healthy and had absolutely no long term issues. In fact, both of them still love to stretch and sharpen their “claws” on anything and everything around the house. They seem to be unaware their claws are gone. My boy is very active and runs and jumps like normal. (And yes, I tried all the training methods before resorting to declawing. I have extremely stubborn cats.) Don’t let all the hype sway you. Do what’s best for your family.

And, for giggles, be sure to YouTube “Simon’s Cat”. Hilarious cartoon shorts that will soon become very applicable to your life as a cat owner. :)

19.September.2014

OH! And I forgot one thing. Cats seem to adore fleece blankets. If you want her to lay in a certain spot or need to protect a chair, just put a fleece there. We cover a dark brown chair we have with a fleece blanket – saves me from vacuuming the upholstery all the time and kitties love it!

19.September.2014

I haven’t read all of the comments, but I came to say that I think Sccccat! is a product you might like. It’s basically canned air with a motion detector on top and you can set it in places that the cat likes to get and deters them with a loud blast of air. I got one to use around the Christmas tree. Only downside is that it can scare the pee out of people in the house too.

And as for the litter box, I recently got an old base kitchen cabinet, cut a hole in the side, and got a piece of nice board to put on top as a litter box holder. I’m not done yet but I’ll send you the link when I blog about it. I’m quite pleased with it so far, and the cat is too! Enjoy your new gato!

She is SO CUTE! I want to give her kitty kisses!
I have a LOT of houseplants and two cats in my home. I will say that I do not allow anything that’s HIGHLY toxic in my house (no lilies! even just stepping in the pollen and licking their paws can kill a cat!), but beyond that, it’s only a problem if the cat is going near them. My cats have no interest in my fiddle leaf figs, but love to chew one of my yuccas, so the yucca had to go outside. Just try to keep an eye on her and you’ll get a better idea of whether she’s a chewer. If she isn’t, don’t worry too much!

19.September.2014

I really like the pine pellets too. They don’t do much for poop smells but I always just scoop that right away. But there’s no urine smell, ever. And it’s dirt cheap.

Oh, and please, please, please do not declaw her. I don’t want to get into an internet fight here, so I won’t say too much about it, but if you research it (which I’m sure you would if you were considering it), you’ll find some pretty horrifying things.

19.September.2014

I just love your blog and it makes me so happy to see that you’ve added a kitty to your clan! It’s a shame that there’s such a stigma around cats when in reality, if raised with love, they actually have many of the same personality traits as dogs – to a degree :) Our two cats come running to the door when we get home, sleep at the foot of our bed every night, come when called by name and even beg for food occasionally (okay, maybe more than occasionally). My husband was definitely not a cat person when I first suggested we get one and now he’s done a complete 180 and has no interest in ever getting a dog!

In terms of scratching, I see that a few others have suggested de-clawing. Please don’t consider this. I normally don’t get very preachy but it really is a very inhumane practice. It’s the equivalent of cutting off the first knuckle in a human, not just the fingernail, and can often cause big personality shifts in cats. Their claws are their first line of defense and without them, cats tend to become more on-guard/defensive/wary instead of cuddly and loveable. Some good resources: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRMip0Nngp8. I never knew so much about declawing until a friend clued me in to the process! If you begin cutting your cat’s nails when they’re young and do it regularly, you should have no issues. I recommend tackling it as a team – usually my husband will hold the cat, firmly so they don’t wriggle too much, and I’ll do the nail trimming. If you do it once a week or every other week, you’ll only need to cut the tips. Be sure you don’t cut too far back and accidentally hit the quick or they’ll bleed a little and it will hurt. Other than that, a spray bottle as worked just fine for us in training our cats where they shouldn’t be scratching.

As for litter, I recommend Swheat Scoop. It’s a wheat-based litter that our cats love and it doesn’t give off that typical “litter” smell like clay litter does. Clay litter is also really bad for the environment and your and your cat’s respiratory systems so I’d stay away from it altogether. There are so many better natural options that don’t smell as stinky!

Have fun with Cheetah, cats really are such wonderful family members :) You’ll love discovering her unique little personality and there’s really nothing better that kitty-cat snuggles at the end of long day!

19.September.2014

“I hope she takes up ironing soon.” – I laughed so hard.

I will caveat my comments with the note that I haven’t read all of the other comments, so I’m sorry if I’m repeating things. First, I wanted to say that it seems like you’re doing a great job so far! I’m so glad you’re using a non-clay litter; clay litter (and the strip-mining that produces it) is so horrible for the environment. We use the corn-based one (World’s Best) because it seems like our kitty likes it best, but any non-clay is great.

Second, I’m so glad you haven’t declawed Cheetah. Declawing cats is equivalent to ripping out nails up to the first knuckle, and is traumatizing to the cat.

I have some tips for cutting your cat’s nails. Use two people! I always hold our cat firmly with one hand, and push down on her toes (to get the nails to come out) with the other. My husband cuts the nails. KEY STEP: After each nail, give your cat a treat. Our cat actually starts purring when she sees the nail-cutters come out now. It’s crazy. Obviously, this will only work if Cheetah is treat-motivated.

19.September.2014

I totally agree with Jessica. Declawing is inhumane. Train and trim or Soft Paw it. We Soft Pawed it through the kitten phase until good scratching habits were established and now my cat is well mannered and ALL furniture is damage free!

19.September.2014

I wish I had time to read though all the responses, but since I don’t, I hope these random tidbits aren’t repetitive:

Catnip belongs to the same family as mint, and some cats have a strong affinity for mint as well — my mom once found her brother’s cat lapping up her mint tea.

If you’re worried about the fig tree, put out some other plants that will attract her instead — mint, cat grass, lemongrass are all favorites. Just be aware that mint grows like a weed and should always be planted in a container, not in the ground, if grown outside. Make sure the containers are sturdy and secure because she might just curl up right on top of the plant.

To help minimize shedding, you can get a wall-mounted brush. The ones I’ve seen screw on to the corner so cats can rub against it easily while walking past. The corner next to her litter box might be a great place for it because it might better contain the brushed off hair. I’ve also seen catdoors that look kind of like a carwash or bristled bootscraper if she does become interested in going outdoors.

I believe there’s more than one variety of cat that has an M on its forehead. If you’re really curious about what she is, you can get a genetic test.

If you don’t already read The Oatmeal, you should start. Lots of great cat strips: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cat_know

19.September.2014

Cheetah is adorable! I had a Maine Coone cat and they are absolutely the best. They are like living teddy bears! Great cat for children.

My cat absolutely love this scratch post: http://www.amazon.com/SmartCat-3832-Ultimate-Scratching-Post/dp/B000634MH8/ref=sr_1_1/179-8837460-3415508?ie=UTF8&qid=1411146799&sr=8-1&keywords=scratch+post

It is pretty modern and seems to blend in well. It has saved our furniture and she is so attached to it. We got the perch that slides on top and she sleeps there nearly every night. You could easily customize the pad on top of the perch to suit any aesthetic as well.

19.September.2014

We trim our cat’s claws and it is totally do-able! Especially if you start while she’s young and stay in the habit. We do ours every 2-3 weeks, and he is so used to it. He doesn’t love the experience, but he has learned that if he sits still it won’t take too long. Try holding her in your lap, on her back, so she can’t jump away. Even trimmed, he could still do some furniture damage if he got a mind to, but at least if he scratches one of us by accident it’s not so deadly. You’re better off doing behavioral-training type things and giving them alternative scratching places, to prevent furniture damage. (Trimming isn’t enough and declawing is very drastic and debatably inhumane.)

19.September.2014

Cords! I forgot about cords, many cats enjoy chewing little cords like to phones and laptops. My parents recently adopted two kittens and had to replace six cords total. They eventually put almost all of them in drawers and cabinets and for the remaining ones bought this:
http://www.amazon.com/Cord-Protector-Crittercord-Protect-Hazardous/dp/B0014H51DY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411147230&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+cord

19.September.2014

Dana,

Super excited for you guys – cats really can be lovely and it certainly looks like you have a star in Cheetah. I grew up with a lot of cats!!! My parents actually brought two back from Istanbul where they lived for 4 years before I was born. That was the beginning of many. I still can’t sleep unless my feet are covered from years of the cats thinking they were mice or some little critter in the bed and jumping on my toes in the middle of the night ;-)
Anyway on water – cats will pretty well never ever drink water by their food. Perfectly logical if you drink water close to your food source in the wild (aka dead animals) the water will quickly be contaminated. I used to keep a gorgeous open glass bowl beside the fireplace and filled every few days with fresh water and that was a winner. Having said that that was before I had toddlers…

Can’t wait to see the other amazing finds you make or create!

19.September.2014

Hearing about all the successful training / trimming / Soft Paw stories is so encouraging! I would like to keep Cheetah and my furniture ;) Trying out Soft Paws while teaching good habits sounds like a good idea. Thank you.

19.September.2014

I am not a cat person at all. I have had some bad experiences with cats and all good experiences with dogs. By the looks of it, you got the cat thing down for not being a cat person.

19.September.2014

Does the Sccccat! work with kids, too? Haha.

19.September.2014

Please, anyone and everyone, reconsider declawing….it’s definitely a last resort, desperate option….and, if, God forbid, you go that way, please get the best vet possible to do this major surgery.

Re litter and boxes – if Cheetah is happy with that box….yay!!! If there are any accidents, you might want to read up on cat behavior for box location suggestions and litter thoughts. Many cats hate having a box next to a washer/dryer/furnace. Nothing like peeing and having some machine roar to life next to you.

Most cat behaviorists will recommend one open box per cat, plus one (with the boxes in separate areas). Also, to scoop twice daily, ideally. At least daily, though. It’s also a great way to monitor health – if things change, you can describe those changes to the vet. One thing….if she ever seems to go to the box frequently and be unable to pee, call the vet (or e-vet) IMMEDIATELY. While more common in males, blockages can occur and it’s no time for waiting around. Get thee to the vet right away. Seriously – any good vet will make room for an immediate appointment in case of blockage. Make sure your vet tells you who the emergency vet contact is. Also, might want to look into pet insurance while she’s young.

I have great luck with the Dr. Elsey line of litter (the Cat Attract can be a godsend with some box issues). Of course, the first action if a cat has accidents is a vet visit to make sure there are no physical reasons.

And, I’m sure you’ve established a relationship with a local vet already. For some reason, people take dogs in for physicals far more than cats, but it’s really good to have at least an annual check up for younger cats, going to twice a year when they hit their senior years.

Cat fountains are great….I have a Drinkwell stainless 360 still going strong for two cats for over three years. And you can get an ‘after-market’ charcoal filter on Amazon that is very economical.

And, there are lots of books on cat behavior and health – your library probably has quite a few, as well as carrying the Cat Fancy magazine, and of course, Amazon has everything.

Also, please please please do not ever leave strings, rubber bands, yarn, etc. out and unattended. Cats can often swallow such items and it can lead to major health issues, surgery, or death.

Good luck, she’s beautiful and a great addition to your family.

19.September.2014

I can’t believe I have a cat tree in my house either. WHO AM I?

19.September.2014

Cheetah is adorbs and I am so glad you guys got her!! Mainly so that us cat people can talk cat to you :)

You’ve got alot of it figured out and the comments have been awesome so the only thing I want to add that has been an issue with our cat, Lily, decor-wise is her claws snagging fabrics when she is a) skitzing out b) making muffins or c) in her regular sleeping spots. Anything that has a larger weave to it is not allowed in cat territory. She loves to sit on pillows on our laps, sleeps on our bed, and makes muffins on throws over the back of the couch so in all of those areas, I have to watch what fabrics I use. Fleece blankets, microfiber, and quilts are fine, but not woven, crocheted, or linen, or ones, stuff like that. So if you choose to keep her clawed, keep an eye on what fabric she is on and if she’s snagging it, like your beloved Thrive chair in particular :/.

I’m glad you are using the spray bottle and distractions for her scratching. They can be trained as I have two girls who were ferals at one point who quickly learned what was theirs to scratch. PLEASE do not declaw. It is horrifically painful and can change that sweet temperament she has completely. I’ve had great luck with the double sided tape to train on the two pieces of furniture the cats originally liked to scratch. Never again have they touched them.

The trick for a smell free home is to clean out the litter box more than once a day. We have two boxes in my craft you and no one knows. I’ve actually had friends ask if the cats go outside because our house has no pet smell with 3 dogs and 2 cats. If you stay (or your son) stays on top of the litter box, you should never know you have a cat ;)

19.September.2014

this post made me smile! i love hearing how a non-cat person adjusts to life with a cat, i’ve always had cats so your perspective on cat ownership is really interesting. i think you’ve gotten really good advice on controlling the scratching (and i absolutely agree you should not consider de-clawing) but at the end of the day you might have to be okay with some scratched furniture. i think it keeps things in perspective personally, pristine furniture is nice but i’d much rather have all the good memories of the pets i grew up with and fully enjoy the ones i have now. good luck! cheetah is precious!

That is great advice on the fabric. The larger weave fabrics are cat magnets, which is why I don’t use any anymore. The only thing my cats ever destroyed had a textured fabric that must have felt JUST like a cat scratcher to them. Everything else in our house they pretty much ignore now.

19.September.2014

Love your blog and I love this new little addition to your family! You’ll sit down a few years from now and wonder what you did without your cat. I have two cats, who are both seven, and they still sleep somewhere different every night. Some mornings I wake up and they’re both in bed with me (my favorite thing ever), or one cat will be curled up at my feet, or they’re on the couch, or laying in the spare bedroom…it varies every day. Also, I’ve found that cats are either infatuated with plants (like my cats, unfortunately) or they couldn’t care less (my in-laws cats). Hopefully Cheetah will just ignore it. You may be new to this cat business, but you’re doing great!

19.September.2014

Get a really tall, sturdy, scratching post. It needs to be taller than the cat is long when she’s stretched out. And if she’s part Maine Coon, that’s probably going to be pretty tall. Also, if you are up for it, a raw / homemade food diet is better for cats since they have a low thirst drive. http://www.catinfo.org/ I’m too lazy to make it myself, but have a pet food deli in town I can buy it from. Or, I believe you can also buy frozen cat food in better pet food stores.

19.September.2014

Congrats on becoming a cat owner! I have always loved cats, but my husband had some bad kitty experiences when he was younger (he was only around declawed cats, who are much more likely to be biters) so when I brought home a stray orange tabby 4 years ago he was more than reluctant. It only took a few weeks for him to fall completely in love. :)

As far as finding more modern cat choices, I’ve found a ton of nice options on Etsy. I also second HausPanther! I have their freestanding scratch tower and while it’s pricey to start, I love that I can order the cardboard refills for pretty cheap. When he starts scratching at the sofa is when I know to order a refill. Our vet also recommended a water fountain to us because it encourages kitties to drink more water. We have the Catit Design Senses Fountain. I like it because it’s super easy to rinse out once a week or so. Our cat is super spoiled and while he does drink out of his fountain, he also loves to get drinks from the bathroom faucet. :)

We started with a regular litter box & litter but even with a mat (and our litter box being in the basement) I still started finding litter all over the house and it drove me crazy. We switched to the Breeze Litter box and I love it (http://www.tidycats.com/products/breeze). Every now and then he’ll kick a pellet out on the ground but they’re big, so it’s easy to just throw it back in. The only downside is it doesn’t have a cover. I scoop it out as needed and change the pad once a week.

Also, our kitty is indoor/outdoor (during the day only) so we do have a collar & tags on him and have him micro chipped. I think it’s great to have indoor only cats chipped too, just in case they make a break for the great outdoors to chase after a bird or squirrel. :)

Good luck with your new kitty – she is gorgeous!

19.September.2014

Hi!
We have a kitty and a leather couch too! One thing that I do to decrease the scratching without having to declaw the kitty, is trimming his nails every few weeks. It’s super easy and it DOES decrease the amount of scratching.
Plus it gets rid of the tiny hypodermic needles on the paws.
Declawing is harsh for a kitty. Not many people know it’s a amputation of part of their toes.

I love all that your doing for your new family member who is adorable by the way! Congrats on the new family member!

19.September.2014

Just wanted to echo another’s reccomendation for the Tidy Cats Breeze system. Z-e-r-o litter tracking will change your life! Haha

19.September.2014

We are trying to be as discrete with our dog gear. We just adopted a rescue and we try to pick stuff that “fits in.”

Have you seen these?
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/181903272424719553/

….and TJMaxx/Home Goods has some tolerable cat climbing towers. I saw one that even had a faux fur top….kitty chic!

19.September.2014

Thought you’d appreciate this article, “These cat houses are chicer than yours: Charity enlists architects from around the U.S. to design intricate outdoor dwellings for stray felines” I saw today:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2762976/These-cat-houses-chicer-Charity-enlists-architects-U-S-design-intricate-outdoor-dwellings-stray-felines.html\

19.September.2014

Such a great idea to hide the litterbox. I am hoping to find someway to do mine when I move to a new home.

19.September.2014

I think I’ve been a cat person since the day I’ve been born :)
That said, the best litter box I’ve ever used is a plain old Rubbermaid with a lid (some cats tend to pee against the wall of the box or over the side) just cut the opening hole about 6-8 inches up. Also much cheaper than a regular litter box. Do a web search, my brother in law has a cat tree that looks like a piece of art/sculpture. They are out there!
Right now we have 2 cats that sleep all over the place, including in bed. And the scratching usually is kept to the ‘cat scratcher, I haven’t had furniture ruined in ages. Right now their favorite is a small wood log we have for them.
Enjoy, it’s hard to stop with just one :)

19.September.2014

We de-clawed our cat Lily’s front paws and left the back claws it did not change her personality however it saved our sanity and likely hers. We worked with a great vet who walked us through the process and we discussed pros and cons. We love our cat but we also love our home and I saw the damage cats can do to furniture and I didn’t want to be stressed about the damage. We both work outside of the home during the day so couldn’t work with her daily to create good habits, you need to do what is right for your family.

19.September.2014

Soft Paws! They worked great for me! Here are my tips:
I chose bright pink. That way when one of the caps is shed, it is usually easily spotted. Everyone also thought I painted my cats nails. I put them on the front and back. I would put the glue in the tip, stradle the cat on the floor, gently apply pressure to the paws until the nail sticks out and slide the tip on. I would stradle my kitty applying just enough pressure so she couldn’t sneak away. I would also hold her in that spot to let the glue set. That’s what worked for my cat. Best of Luck!

19.September.2014

Have you heard of Soft Paw claw caps? They’re an awesome (and adorable) alternative to declawing, which is inhumane. It’s actually illegal in some countries. http://www.softpaws.com/?gclid=CMCGqvzL7sACFQGPaQodigIASw

19.September.2014

Good luck with the cat!…and all the advice that comes with having one…

19.September.2014

The nail cutting thing can be intimidating but if you love her up until she’s a total puddle of purring goo you can probably get at least 1 paw done while she’s blissed out in your lap. I grew up with cats and I always seemed to get tasked with kitty pedicures. After a while if you do it really regularly (I always did 2 paws at a time) it just becomes one of those things. Best of luck! Love her name

19.September.2014

Love that you have a cat! Now maybe I will let you find the stylish cat stuff for me. We have a hideous cat tree in my sons bedroom but we don’t have much choice. We have 3 cats and foster randomly and I’ve never thought of using the cookie rack to keep them away. As far as scratching goes, I have found that I need to keep their nails always cut (start doing it now weekly so she is used to it). Also, I have found that velvet and microfiber are best (West Elm has lots of vetvet and microfiber options). Declawing is horribly painful for them so I just try and find the best fabrics. When I want something kept nice I have to use throws over the arms. Cheetah is beautiful!! congrats.

19.September.2014

Cardboard scratches are great. Replace frequently. I zen out and let cats go to town on sisal carpets. Much cheaper than sofa. Water squirters are great. Double sided tape on any furniture they scratch. Replaced upholstery on 2 yr old Egg Chair. Repeat. Zen out. If the cats don’t get to it, the kids will. Life better with them, than without. It’s only stuff. Good luck with leather, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

19.September.2014

Please be careful when giving plastic bags to a cat. Cats love to chew on a variety of things, and some love the texture of plastic bags, and end up consuming bits of plastic. We just had to euthanize our daughter’s beloved cat because he would not stop eating plastic. He had two (extremely expensive) surgeries to remove quantities of impacted plastic bits in his small intestine in the last year. Not two weeks after the 2nd surgery he stopped eating once again and x-rays showed he had consumed plastic that caused a blockage. Buster was only 5 years old. Our vet said many cats will chew on found objects for their texture; unfortunately, plastic is not digestible.

20.September.2014

So after reading your blog for nearly two years, its the cat post that finally gets me to write in! I figured I could add some useful info this time as a long time cat owner. I would highly recommend trimming your kittens nails every other week. None of my many cats has ever scratched the furniture or rugs with their nails trimmed. They don’t mind it much once they are used to it. After all they sratch to keep their nails in control so you are sort of helping in that process. As for the nails covers, I can only imagine that I would hate having something glued to my nails and extrapolate that a sensory animal like a cat wouldn’t like it much either. Plus I’m cheap. ;-)

At the risk of offering TMI, here’s my quick break down of how to trim a cat’s claws. Wait until she is sleepy or relaxing somewhere. Sit behind her or put her on your lap facing away from you. Hold a paw firmly and squeeze her paw to extend the claws. On most cats you can clearly see the quick and avoid it and you don’t need to cut much off. I use regular human nail clippers which I think give me more control than the special pet clippers they sell. Their claws are flat on the sides and rounded on the top and bottom so turn the clippers to cut along the flatter edge, sort of perpendicular to how we cut human nails. I find it really helps to keep talking in a soothing voice the whole time, just about nonsense, etc so they know you are calm. You might only get a few done the first time, but a kitten will get used to it fast. You only have to do the front paws, they wear down the back without scratching. As the easiest, fastest, and cheapest solution, I’d give it a try anyway. Hope that helps.

20.September.2014

Except that I feel like a covered litter box is like humans having to use a porta potty. :( No thanks.

20.September.2014

It is now illegal to declaw in California and a lot of vets won’t do it. Also, cats that are declawed tend to have more little box issues. The best littler box for us was a large tote from target that we cut a larger rectangular hole in to. It has higher sides to prevent little issues but still low enough for the 10 year old to clean. That is a great chore item for kids. :)

20.September.2014

We have a pair of tabby brothers, gray and orange, who are now a year and a half old. They are polydactlys… which means they have extra toes on all their paws, and the front paws look like they have thumbs. We rescued them from a shelter when they were just 8 weeks old, and they are indoor cats ONLY, as all our past cats have been.
A couple notes on cat claws: think about de-clawing her front paws. Gasp! How cruel! People have many opinions when it comes to de-clawing indoor cats. For us, we felt it would be better to have our two kittens de-clawed because we did not want them scratching up everything in the house (past experience told us this would happen at some point) and we knew we would be upset by lots of scratching. And we knew we might sometimes lose our cool and yell at or spray the cats if they were scratching, which we felt was mean, maybe more mean than de-clawing. We had our two boy cats de-clawed when our vet said they were big enough, at 3 lbs. You can have a cat de-clawed at any age, once they weigh enough for the surgery to be safe, but the older they are, the more likely it will impact them mentally, not just physically. They tried using their front claws for maybe a week after the procedure, then forgot they ever had them. We kept their back claws because there is always a chance they can get out and we wanted them to have at least some defense should they need it, plus have a better tool for climbing a tree to hide, plus we were both cat owners our whole lives and knew that back claws really don’t do the same amount of damage as front claws when it comes to items in the home.
Before they were de-clawed, and when they were younger, we would cut their nails with regular human nail clippers. This is how our vet told us to take care of their claws. We kept up on nail trimming until they were about a year old. The easiest time to clip a cat’s nails is when he’s asleep. When one of our cats was all curled up in my lap sound asleep, I’d have my husband bring the clippers to me and I’d trim just as far as the vet showed us. After they turned a year old, they really took trimming into their own, erm, hands? They chomp on their back claws with their teeth and the claws aren’t razor sharp anymore.
I’m really interested in your experience with the cat litter box, mostly because we’re having cat litter issues now, so thank you for sharing! Our boys LOVE to kick litter all over the place so we’ve recently switched to a covered box system, but it is still pretty messy on the floor around their boxes.

20.September.2014

I’d like to add that we were also advised by our vet to de-claw their front extra toes at least, because polydactly nails can become ingrown or even curl around and grow back into the cat’s paw. We felt that if they were already having surgery for 2 extra nails on each paw, it would be no more traumatic for them to just de-claw the entire front foot. Yes, we know some feel it is inhumane, and we felt bad doing it, too. But in their case, being polydactyl, we were actually doing it in part because of a health/safety concern for the animal. Luckily, our vet has newer laser technology and our cats didn’t even need to get stitches. Please look into all of your options with claws!
And you might consider a trip to the vet for a check-up for kitty. It’s usually recommended to do this within a week of adopting a new furry family member.

20.September.2014

Maybe someone has already mentioned this but you buy a perennial plant called Cat Mint and plant it in the sun. (Not to be confused with Cat Nip plant which is a taller plant. Cat Mint is more mound-like and prettier, I think.) They’re available in nurseries in the spring. It’s easy to grow, spreads and has tiny purple flowers on it. Then you snip off a branch with leaves and give it to your cat. They love it! You can snip off lots of branches with leaves in the fall and put them in a brown paper bag in your freezer and then in the winter you’ll have some dried to give to your cat. You can sprinkle it on the floor where she’ll roll in it and eat it or sew a small bag to put it in where she’ll play with it. I think it helps aid their digestion when eating it in addition to making them feel so good!

20.September.2014

Cheetah is adorable. Kitten love brings so much joy to human life. :)

And my younger cat Neko sleeps on my head. Seriously. Our compromise is that he now has his own pillow just above mine, meaning he and my husband sleep nose to nose. I am that lady.

20.September.2014

Oh, and Blue Buffalo is a great food but be aware that she may not be able to tolerate grain free long-term. We learned the hard way (a hefty vet bill) that grain free can lead to chronic constipation and dehydration in some cats. A starch like potato or green peas can be a good alternative to corn/wheat if she turns out to be more of an omnivore.

20.September.2014

I got swept up with offering advice (it’s just so much fun to talk about kittens!), but your best resource is probably your vet. You don’t have to see the vet every time you go in, you can make just a technician appointment (much cheaper) to do things like trim nails and other small health checks. They are usually very willing to answer any and all questions (really, anything at all) over the phone as well, really. You pay them enough at every appointment, make sure you get your money’s worth! (From someone who worked in an animal hospital once upon a time)

20.September.2014

Technicians can also teach you how to do anything with Cheetah you might want to learn. We used to teach owners nail trimming, grooming, pill administering, flea topical administering, bandaging and first aid, even how to give subcutaneous fluids at home in cases of certain illnesses.

21.September.2014

Congrats on the new addition! I have a cat that exhibits a lot of dog-like qualities, and people often comment how sweet he is. I, too, feel like I won the kitty jackpot!
I try to use natural products for all my pets, and have really loved Premium Choice All Natural Clumping Cat Litter (http://tinyurl.com/ot5g4ko) – I would highly recommend it! We get it at our local Pet Supplies Plus. Although, I’m intrigued by the pellets another commenter mentioned and may have to check those out!

21.September.2014

I’d like to preface this with the fact that I don’t own cats – but my MIL has two. Apparently every Christmas they hide orange peels at the base of the Christmas tree to keep the cats out. Works great! (I am completely ignorant regarding cats, so I’m always surprised by the strange things that work with them!) Maybe that will help keep kitty away from the FLF?

So adorable! Your previous kitty post brought tears to my eyes, the way that animals first become part of a family just really warms my heart :)

21.September.2014

I am so thrilled to see this post. It is just wonderful to hear that you’re loving Cheetah and embracing cat paraphernalia!

21.September.2014

SO HAPPY FOR YOU! I was a non-cat person who became a cat person, and I am super excited to hear more about maintaining a beautiful home while keeping it cat friendly. The lounger looks great, btw. Congrats to Cheetah and to you guys!

21.September.2014

Someone may have already mentioned it, but pine pellets are a great litter option for controlling odor and mess (and you won’t have to worry about nut allergies!). You can buy them at pet stores at a big markup, but if you go to a farm supply store you can find them for dirt cheap. Here’s an example: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/tractor-supply-coreg%3B-pine-pellet-stall-bedding-40-lb. It’s not a clumping litter, so instead of scooping out clumps of pee you just have a shallow layer of pellets in the litter box and change it out every few days when they’re mostly disintegrated. You can scoop out the solid waste with a large-holed scoop. Switching to pine pellets has totally eliminated our odor issues!

22.September.2014

Holy cow I’ve owned cats my whole life and after reading all the comments I feel like I’ve missed so much! Growing up all of our cats were declawed (my mom did not know at the time that it was considered inhumane) and they were are very sweet and very well litter-trained. No behavioral issues whatsoever. That said, our current cats are not declawed because we did the research on it and learned what many people have already said here. Also I have always put the water bowl next to the food bowl and I have never experienced any of my cats avoiding it. Not sure if someone has mentioned it before but I always sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the litter box before putting the litter in and it helps to control odors. And balled up aluminum foil is the best toy ever because it is very lightweight but it holds its shape. I guess just make sure Cheetah doesn’t try to eat it or chew it but our cats never did. So excited for you and your new edition!

22.September.2014

Can you tell me where your Iron board is from? I like how it stows away. Would you email me a response. I don’t get notified with a response. d_mandujano @ yahoo.com

22.September.2014

I second this – move the water away from the food, at a good distance. You don’t want your cat developing an aversion to water which will translate to kidney problems.

Also, you want a high-quality, grain-free, wet cat food (found at independent pet supply shops, not grocery stores or big-box pet stores).

http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/why-cats-need-canned-food-2/

22.September.2014

I agree with Jessica and Stephanie — respectfully, please do not declaw. I know some people do this with the very best of intentions, but it really is a cruel procedure that can leave the cat in chronic pain for many years (or in some cases, from what I’ve heard, a lifetime). My aunt is a huge “cat person” and made the decision to get one of her kitties declawed, and said she later regretted it deeply. The kitty was never the same after and walked differently due to the chronic pain.

To be honest, leather couches can be tough with cats (my parents have leather furniture and have always had cats) but it’s possible. My husband and I now just avoid leather furniture just in case (only because it’d be easy to get a cat snag even accidentally), which is worth it for us. But, to protect the great-looking couch that you have, trimming the nails will help a ton as will training with a spray bottle as needed.

It sounds like you’re doing a wonderful job with Cheetah! She’s a lucky kitty. And you’re a lucky family to have found her. :-)

22.September.2014

I was so excited to read everyone’s kitty tips. Being married with no kids equals a tiny cat that gets elevated to princess status in my house. I hadn’t planned to comment but was discouraged to see so many folks promoting declawing. Cats are so sweet natured and are absolutely smart enough to learn not to scratch. It just takes a little TLC. To anyone reading this, please consider reading about declawing before putting your sweet pet through that procedure.

That aside, I wish you would come photograph my Mittens, Dana! Cheetah is lucky to have such a good photographer showcasing her :)

22.September.2014

Just curious since the litterbox is next to the washer and dryer…has she used it yet while the washer or dryer was running? Sometimes loud noises near their litterbox will deter a cat from using it. It just depends on the cat. They usually like their privacy when in there. Just wondering if this has occurred yet.

Hooded vs. not hooded litterboxes: this depends on the cat. Some cats are very picky about which kind they like! I have a large Maine Coon who likes his privacy, so I have a jumbo hooded litterbox for him. He likes it, the door is cut out, so odors aren’t trapped, and I clean it every day. He’s also a BIG digger, and covers his business completely, so the hood helps keep the litter inside. But I know a cat who REFUSED to switch to a hooded box, and would go right in front of it in protest! I know another cat that wouldn’t urinate and defecate in the same box! So basically, just pay attention to the signals she gives you. You’ll know what she prefers. :)

22.September.2014

You must watch Jackson Galaxy’s youtube channel and his tv show “My Cat From Hell”, lots of nice tips ;)

23.September.2014

I noticed in your last post that someone suggested to you that Cheetah looked to be part Maine Coon and I agree. I have a Maine Coon mix and he looks similar to yours.

I’m not sure if you’ve done a vet visit yet but Maine Coon’s are notorious for having heart problems (specifically, heart murmurs) so it’s important to get her checked out soon! They usually are benign or will dissipate over the years but it’s good to know about so you can keep an eye out for problems.

My little guy had a murmur when he was little but at his last check up (he’s two years old) the murmur was barely detectable.

23.September.2014

Cheetah doesn’t seem to mind a running dryer or washer. The litter box at my cousin’s house (where Cheetah lived for a few weeks before we got her) was next to the dryer so I think that helped. She’s used to it, I guess!

23.September.2014

Yes, we’ve had Cheetah to the vet. She’s healthy! The vet seems to think she is at least part Maine Coon. He’s guessing she will double in size by the time it’s all said and done. She won’t be little for long!

23.September.2014

Just sent you an email! It’s a Michael Graves design for Target in case anyone else is reading this and wondering the same thing. I bought it a few years ago when I discovered we didn’t have a good spot for a full-sized board.

23.September.2014

So far, having the water next to the food doesn’t deter Cheetah at all! Good idea about the baking soda. I think I’ll add that the next time I change out the litter.

23.September.2014

They can get used to a lot if you start them as a baby. Glad it’s working out for you! She sure is a cutie. :)

23.September.2014

I haven’t allowed myself to search cat paraphernalia on pinterest yet. Saving it for a rainy day. Haha! That tree looks awesome!

23.September.2014

Confession: it’s Layne’s job to clean the litter box but when he’s at school, I go behind him and do it again. Because I’m paranoid about odors developing. We have no plans to declaw. I’ll definitely look into the double-sided tape or Soft Paws if necessary but, so far, a little spray of water is doing the trick!

23.September.2014

Anytime you have a cardboard box (it doesn’t matter what size) from something you purchased or an Amazon delivery box, put it out for her. I know they aren’t the most decor worthy cat toys, but it will keep her busy and entertained and contained (i.e. off your furniture) for hours if not days. I do this every time I get a box. I just toss it in the recycling anytime I’m expecting company or need for my house to look put together. Google “cats in boxes” to see how popular this cat “toy” is :)

23.September.2014

Congrats on the new family member! You will soon discover (if you haven’t already) how much delight a cat can bring. And it sounds like you’re doing really well, despite the lack of experience!

One thing to keep in mind is safe spaces for your little Cheetah to go. Usually one low place to hide in and one high space to watch from (per room she occupies) are enough, whether she’s skittish of visitors or needs a break from her loving family. ;) My cat much prefers to sleep on top of the backs of sofas and chairs so that all she has to do to survey her territory is open one lazy eye, lol.

Others have suggested playing with her paws to get her used to it for trimming, and that definitely helps. I would also recommend getting her accustomed to being brushed, as well. If she’s half Maine Coon, she’ll need regular brushing (and it helps cut down on the shedding everywhere, too).

I look forward to hearing more stories about her!

01.October.2014

Your kitty is sooo cute! I personally used Feline Pine with my cat and it really helped with the odor.

01.October.2014

Hello, I’m new to your blog! I love cats and your Cheetah is adorable! Kittens need a lot of play time. The cat tree and scratcher are excellent, but she also needs plenty of small toys. My cats love any kind of feather or furry thing that hangs from a stick. They also really like small things that they can “hunt” and carry around in their mouths (balls, toy mice, my hair ties!). I do not recommend using the laser pointer toys. Cats go nuts over them, but there is no physical reward which can sometimes lead to anxiety (I kid you not).

Blue Buffalo is a great cat food, but I would like to also suggest Dr. Hill’s Science Diet. I fed my siamese cat Blue Buffalo for years, but when I brought a new kitten home it didn’t sit well with her. She was very gassy and had diarreah. My vet said Blue Buffalo can be “too rich” for some cats and suggested the Science Diet instead. I switched food and the kitten was all better within a week! You might try each food out for a while and see if it makes a difference in Cheetah’s litter box.
Congratulations on your new addition and good luck!

02.October.2014

Such gorgeous pictures of your kitty and house. You’re home continues to be an inspiration to me. Our two cats were around before we had expensive rugs and furniture. I was a ‘crazy lady’ like you. I was fearful to leave them home with the furniture unguarded! I found keeping a good, movable scratching board near the most tempting sites handy. Also scissors.. When they decided to “stretch and pluck” your rugs, just give the plucked spot a trim and it looks like new. For sleeping, our cats have a room (until the room is needed for kids) at night because they’ll try to wake us up at ungodly hours by banging on the door. Hopefully lovely Cheetah has better manners!

02.October.2014

Fun blog! Cheetah is adorable. My cat is a mix of Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll. We tried to free feed her as a kitten but she has no self-control. She’s an indoor only cat, so we have to work hard at keeping her active and not over feeding. I swore I’d never have a cat tree but for the sake of the furniture and window treatments, we have two! Just about every room in our house has a cardboard circle for scratching. I just get the cardboard inserts for the turbo scratcher (ugly plastic toy cats love) and leave them around the house. We have a very large hooded litterbox but I took the flap door off. I scoop once or twice a day and wash the litterbox out with baking soda once a month. When our cat was a kitten we fed her dry food but in order to better control her calories we now feed her wet food. Not as much poop in the litterbox but clumping litter is a must! Have fun!

10.January.2015

We cover the dirt of our house plants with river rocks. Works wonders for deterring the kitty, added bonus, you can keeps your pots and pans in the kitchen!

12.March.2015

[…] time I turned around Mabrey was trying to clean it or throwing random stuff in it. Originally, I placed the litter box on the floor next to the dryer but that spot was a little too accessible for a two-year-old. I googled a bunch of hidden litter […]