Newbie with a question! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Newbie with a question! :)
10
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 12:40pm

Hello there! I'm Jay and my DH have a family of "furkids", starting with Shayde (pronounced like lamp "shade"), a shelter rescue from kitten hood about 4 years ago. He's a tabby mix, beautiful, and very affectionate, though not comfortable around strangers. Then we added Vance (pronounced like "dance" with a "v" instead of a "d") to the mix. He's a "mutt" of a stray cat. We took him in when he was about 9 months old. To make a long story short, Vance came to us, very affectionate, malnurished, hairless, and bleeding from sores all over his body. Turns out he has an allergy to fleas - so we dropped some Advantage on him and made him our boy! That was about 2 years ago. Vance and Shayde at first didn't get along, but now they are brothers, playmates and good pals.

Now, about 2 months ago we added Clydas to the mix (pronounced "Clyde" "us", not "cleet-us")- a beautiful brindle boxer puppy. Shadye isn't a big fan of the puppy and growls when Clydas comes near, but he is getting accustomed to the puppy and we make sure he always has a couple safe places to hide when he needs some away time. Vance and the puppy get along famously, wrestling and chasing each other, but no hissing, growling or anything like that. Just playing. Both cats still have all their claws, so if they need to teach Clydas a lesson, they can.

We currently are renting a room from a friend of ours while we save up for our own place. Well - the time has come to make the move in the next month or so! :)

So - with all this in mind, I know the kitties are under a lot of stress. Our condo will be smaller than the house we're in now, but it will have a bedroom/petroom in it just for them! :) I plan on investing in a cool kitty condo and training Clydas to keep away from it. But with all this stress - I've thought about getting the kitty "Comfort Zone" for them. Has anyone tried this? Both Vance and Shayde are fixed males and adults, but it's supposed to help distressed cat's adjust. The first time we moved with just the cats, one hid under the bed for days. It'd like this to be smoother if we can do it.

Any tips?
~Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 1:27pm

*WELCOME* to Cats Jay!

Cat =^..^=
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 5:48pm

Hi Jay.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 5:51pm

Thanks for the feed back! Do you have any idea how Comfort Zone would effect a dog? I don't need an already energitic Boxer puppy even MORE energetic! :) Can I send pictures to someone with the ability to post them for me? If you're interested, please e-mail me through my profile! :)

~Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 5:56pm
Can you tell me more about Rescue Remedy? Any idea how this could effect a puppy (he often steals the cat's water)?
Does it work like a sedative or is it a calming agent? What's in it?
Sorry for having all the questions! :)
And - do they make it for dogs? He'll be hyper no matter what, but I'd like to mellow him out just a tad...
~Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

Avatar for spejf
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 7:00pm

Hi Jay,


Rescue Remedy is actually made for humans...its a flower essence formula meant to lessen the stress surrounding stuff like a move, a death or illness.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 7:16pm

Thanks Joan! :) That's all great info! That's pretty much how we handled things last time we moved - it's just complicated by a very energetic Boxer puppy this time! :) We moved them into the bathroom first, closed the door, finished our moving and opened it and let them explore at will.

But I might definately need some of that Rescue Remedy... FOR ME! LOL I'm such a worry wart (as you can probably tell). Where can I get it and about how much does it run?
~Jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

Avatar for spejf
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 9:01pm

Hi Jay,


It sounds like you have the move thing under control...I'm sure the puppy adds some stress, but I think you will be able to handle it.

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 12-18-2004 - 11:33am

The comfort zone won't work for you puppy, but there is one made for dogs.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2004
Mon, 12-20-2004 - 12:41pm

Thanks! I was just wondering if the female cat phermons would hyper up my pup even more! I've heard mixed reviews about the puppy comfort zone. I think I'll stick to the Rescue remmedy for him (and us).

As soon as I get some shots, I'll e-mail them! :) Thanks!
~jay

- J. Darling

Singehttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/JDarling/Headshots/Picture001.jpgr, Songwriter, Author for Celebr

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 12-20-2004 - 3:26pm

I didn't think the puppy would be bothered by the cat phermones, but I've never used the one for dogs. My dogs don't seem to be any different with the cat one, but they are adult dogs, not hyper puppies.


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