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Post by manicrose on Mar 5, 2015 15:48:13 GMT
Hi everyone thought I would start a thread to introduce my two new boys - Dexter and Ryan. My husband and I have adopted them from a Cats Protection branch. The adoption process hasn't been an easy one, as some of you may know from my other thread ( yourpetforums.co.uk/thread/6490/cat-heart-murmur). Its so great to finally have them home. I can't believe how well they are settling in - they follow us around like little shadows and love to curl up either on my lap or on the sofa. Ryan especially seems fascinated by whats going on outside and spends ages sat in the window watching the neighbours coming and going. They are about 3 years old and are Persian cross Ragdoll according to the info we were given. They are brothers and near enough identical. The only way to tell them apart is that Ryan has a small white spot under his chin and Dexter doesn't. Dexter seems a fraction bigger than Ryan although looking at their weight on the notes there is only about 100g in it. I used to keep pet rats for several years with their cages in the lounge. However, their short lifespan broke my heart, I would never get long enough with them. I always took them in as rescues so they would be a year or so old when they came to live with me. Once my last boy Kurt passed away I took the decision not to keep them anymore, even though they are amazing little creatures. Without them around the house has just felt so empty. My husband and I took the decision to get cats - he's always wanted black cats. We took the decision ages ago not to have children together and when we were preparing for the cats we went on a shopping spree at Pets At Home. We joked that most couples our age would be preparing for a new arrival by going to Mothercare, not a pet store! Anyway heres some pictures of them (ignore the odd looking fireplace, recently had the old one ripped out and am waiting for the new one to be fitted).     |
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Post by scallywag on Mar 5, 2015 17:21:52 GMT
Ooooo great photos, now be sure to keep us updated don't keep pics all to yourself LOL and join in the photo comps if you have the time / inkling  |
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Post by cia on Mar 5, 2015 17:26:56 GMT
Oh my - they are gorgeous. They certainly seem to happy in their new home. Lovely pictures and happy times ahead  |
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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 6, 2015 10:24:20 GMT
Ooooh lovely pictures, glad they are settling in so well. They look a lot like my Mieze (aka black cats with massive eyes and a slightly white chest haha). Haha, that is an odd fireplace indeed  |
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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 6, 2015 10:27:15 GMT
Re: your other thread - can you not let them outdoors once they have settled in if you have the spaces? Seems odd for the Cats Protection to say that they have to be kept indoors just because they were indoor cats previously. Cats who have been lifelong indoor cats can still have fun outdoors. Not a problem having them as indoor cats, just seems an odd thing for Cats Protection to say.
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Post by manicrose on Mar 6, 2015 14:22:30 GMT
Re: your other thread - can you not let them outdoors once they have settled in if you have the spaces? Seems odd for the Cats Protection to say that they have to be kept indoors just because they were indoor cats previously. Cats who have been lifelong indoor cats can still have fun outdoors. Not a problem having them as indoor cats, just seems an odd thing for Cats Protection to say. Would prefer them to be indoor cats but if they do show an interest in going outside then it's something I would consider but only once they are settled in. We did enquire about a couple of cats with the rspca but they wouldn't rehome to us because of our location. We live down a quiet road with very little traffic but there is a railway line close by (behind the houses on the other side of the road). Would need to be sure they weren't going to venture across there. |
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Post by tonib on Mar 8, 2015 14:33:39 GMT
Ryan & Dexter look lovely, great to have rehomed black cats as they so often get overlooked, manicrose. I'm sure we'll be hearing many stories of their antics as time goes by - they do seem to have settled well already. As to the going out, I think it really opes depend on the location & as you say the railway line is a potential risk & being boys they may well be inclined to wander further afield. The other option is to have a fully enclosed garden - there are companies that supply/fit cat-proofing to fences or else a cat run. But there is not problem with keeping them as indoor only cats if that suits you, especially as they are used to it. Also if you do have to give them medicines at regular times (maybe not now but possibly in the future given their medical history) then as indoor cats it will be easier to ensure they are around at the right time |
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Post by lotsofcats on Mar 9, 2015 10:00:05 GMT
Ryan and Dexter are gorgeous and look as if they have settled in well. 6 of my 7 cats are indoor cats and I have a large pen in the garden where they go for the day. Toffee, my ginger and white boy was a stray and is very streetwise and he goes in and out of the house all day long and then sleeps in the cats pen in the night - he wouldn't mix with the other cats - the 2 Maine Coons are boys and they don't like him - the rest are girls and have obviously fallen for his handsome face! Have you got a garden with enough room to make a cat pen or fully enclose it to make it cat-proof?
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Post by manicrose on Mar 9, 2015 12:07:08 GMT
Cat proofing the garden is definitely an option if the boys do show an interest in going out. However I'm looking to move next year and am reluctant to spend a lot of money on something I would have to leave behind. Any cat proofing option or cat run would need to be able to be something that could be taken with us and installed at the new home.
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Post by lotsofcats on Mar 9, 2015 12:38:17 GMT
There are small free standing cat pens available but I can understand you wanting to wait until you move and then see if the boys show an interest in going out. I look forward to hearing more about Ryan and Dexter.
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Post by manicrose on Mar 9, 2015 16:31:43 GMT
They are settling in so well apart from one thing...Dexter hates the Hoover! He goes and hides on top of the wall units in the kitchen and stays up there for ages afterwards. He was up there for 2 hours after I had finished hoovering today.
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Post by smilesbetter on Mar 9, 2015 17:09:08 GMT
Hahaha, my cats all hate the hoover, and my family dog Sasha has on,y just learned to like it after many, many years. In fact, I think my mum tried hoovering Sasha with it once now, she used to try to attack the hoover so a bit improvement. Can't see the cats ever getting that good though.
Maybe you could try giving him something delicious to eat while you hoover each time or right afterwards so that he is at least not hiding away for so long afterwards.
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Post by manicrose on Mar 9, 2015 19:40:39 GMT
Maybe you could try giving him something delicious to eat while you hoover each time or right afterwards so that he is at least not hiding away for so long afterwards. Will have to give that a try next time. Makes me feel awful when Dexter hides away like that. Ryan isn't that bothered by the Hoover. He keeps out the way but doesn't seem scared by it. Ryan is back to normal as soon as the Hoover is turned off. |
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Post by tonib on Mar 10, 2015 2:23:07 GMT
Our 2 boys avoid the hoover like the plague but the 2 girls are more accepting. Lexie watches with interest but keeps her distance but Penny waits until its almost to her bed & then moves - useful as she moults a lot & we have to hoover the fur out of her bed! |
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Post by lotsofcats on Mar 10, 2015 10:59:16 GMT
My cats are always out in the cat pen when the hoover is being used but I wouldn't be surprised if they were all frightened of it. If someone rings the doorbell my cats scatter in all directions.
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