Category: Difficult Cats

Cat Conflicts

Cat Personality Issues

Winchester and Mr. Gray have swatting matches. Winchester wants to be the top cat on the totem pole, and so does Mr. Gray, as they both vie for my attention. Winchester also gets into swatting matches with Faith, Hilford, and Cali when she used to live in the other house. Winchester and Mr. Gray are also good friends, but Winchester and Mr. Gray both have to be in the limelight. Siamese cats also fight with other cats as Siamese always have to rule the roost. I had a purebred Siamese cat named Sugar, and she would fight the outdoor female cats, and the Toms would run off in fear when she chased after them. Sugar loved our pet parakeet, and another Siamese cat came into the house once and thought our pet bird might make a good lunch. Sugar attacked her, and fur flew until I finally got the intruder cat corraled. If your cats have the same personality type, there will be a few cat fights now and then as they have to ensure everyone in the house never forgets who the top cat is.

Female and Tom Cat Fights

Female catfights do not seem to get as intense as Tom Cat Fights. The female cats seem to have an absolute hissy cat fit. If they do not like another female, they will snarl and hiss, and generally, the newcomer cat will take off running. Tom cats want to be the King, so to speak, and they will fight tooth and nail to make sure they are the King of their KIngdom. I have seen Toms with part of their ear bitten off and scars on their face to prove their fighting abilities. Sometimes, three resident Toms will gang up on the newcomer, and he heads toward the hills in a hurry. Two female cats in the same household have never faired well for me, as one will generally act up and not let the other enter a room where I hand out my affection to my cats. I have had the best luck with one female cat and one or two males in my house.

Introduce A New Cat To Your Household Slowly

If you have an older senior cat over ten years old, I will not put a two-year-old cat in my home as they are rambunctious and too playful for your older cat to cope with, perhaps as they could get digestive issues or get hurt the young and mischievous cat. Some young cats might be okay with your older cat. I would observe the newcomer around your resident cat for at least two weeks; after that time, if there is no fighting, they should get along fine forever. Never subject an old cat to putting up with a rambunctious young cat that may be jumping on them and hurting them. Remember, someday you will be old, and how would you like it if some newcomer would move into your home and mistreat you? You would not allow it, so your cat should not have to put up with it either, as you should love and respect your senior feline friend. Cats can start peeing on your stove or your friend’s clothes if they disapprove of the newcomers in their home, including other cats and or dogs. Respect your loyal cat friends, and never do anything that may upset them unnecessarily.

Difficult Cats

In Memory Of Nicole

Nicole As A Kitten

Nicole was born an outdoor farm cat. She lived outdoors in a building with a heated and insulated house for pets, a small heater, and a heated water dish. Her parents were Onyx, my resident Tom cat, and Lizzie, a cat I had adopted. Lizzie and Onyx had four kittens: Conrad, Peter, Nicole, and her twin sister, who died at birth. They lived in the heated outdoor building until they were about six months old and became house cats. Nicole and her brothers did not like to be handled. Finally, Conrad tamed down, and he became one of my housecats. Nicole never really trusted humans her entire life. I cared for her and made sure she had all of her shots. Nicole enjoyed playing with her siblings, her mother’s tail, and various cat toys throughout the house. She was a very energetic kitten.

Nicole, As An Adult Cat

Nicole looked like a purebred British shorthair cat. She was a very long and lean cat. She took after the Siamese in her shape and build. She would always look at me from a distance as she was a very aloof cat. She would pose for the camera on occasion. Addi and Peter had five kittens, and Aunt Nicole was an excellent babysitter. Nicole would play with the kittens and had a lot of patience with them. She developed a cauliflower ear and lost part of her ear. I took her to my Vet, but nothing could be done to save the tip of her ear. Nicole did not like going to the Vet and would bite me or a friend. She meant business when she bit you. Nicole preferred to be left alone and do her own thing, which I did. I would give her cat treats, but she never learned that I did everything for her well-being.

Nicole As A Cat Getting Older

She lost fur on her ears and preferred to sleep in a heated cat building. I took her to my Vet, who gave her a physical. She had no fleas, so it must have been a skin allergy. She always got along fine with my other cats, and she would eat a little catnip now and then along with my other cats. She enjoyed it when I pampered her with Hartz Squeesables and Fancy Feast Little Soups. Nicole started to lose weight, and I gave her extra food. Nicole had recently begun to self-mutilate herself. She would have open wounds on her that bleed, and then they would heal up, and then she would start opening up the wounds again. I could not stand to see what she was doing to herself, so I made an appointment with my Vet to have her put to sleep. My Vet said I made the right decision. I could not have treated her because she would have bitten me, and I could not handle that repeatedly, and sometimes skin ointments do not help. I never want to see a cat of mine suffer unnecessarily. God bless Nicole with her cat family in heaven. She has her mother, father, sister, and many ancestors with her now.

Tags Memories of my cats

Difficult Cats

Gifts

Gifts For Babies

I like to give them baby clothes and baby toys. I provide the parents with a gift certificate so they can buy what they need for the newborn.

Gifts For Young Children

Make sure you buy age-appropriate gifts. Never buy toys with parts that come off that a small one could shallow and possibly die from by doing so. Buy them a talking book so they can learn to read along with it. Buy small kids toys that they will learn something by playing with it. I would buy them books their Mother could read to them at night. As they got older, I purchased books I knew they were interested in, such as a book about horses. Kids like to play with toy cars, bouncing balls, and interactive toys. Stuffed animals are always a winner. I always preferred a stuffed toy cat. I loved playing with a spirograph that made drawings of circles in many different patterns. Toy ovens, soldiers, Tonka trucks, dolls, and more make good gifts. Try to learn what the child likes before buying a toy.

Buying A Gift For A Teenager

Buying gifts for teenagers can be very difficult. I would ask them what they might want. Gift certificates are your best choice so they can get what they want with them. Books are okay if they are on a subject that they like. I loved to read history books, and I still do today. Never buy clothes for a teenager since they are very fussy about what they will or will not wear. You could not go wrong with an Amazon gift certificate.

Buying Gifts For Adults

I think buying gifts for adults is the easiest. Buy a gift card to a local restaurant. If they are older, do not buy items that most people already have in their homes. Buy something everyone can use, such as a gas certificate, grocery store certificate, and many more. If the party you know lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility, buy them toiletries, food snacks, candy bars, etc. Take them out to eat at a nice restaurant or take them on an outing, drive around, see the sights, and have a cup of Java.

Buying Gifts For The Pets

Pet owners constantly need new toys and beds for their pets as the toys can get chewed up quickly or lost. I like the latest GPS trackers that they sell for pets. Plush dog and cat beds are a must-have item. My cats love cat hammocks, and they do wear out after a while, so they will appreciate a new one now and then. Pets love food treats, particularly wet kinds of canned or foil-packed food.

General Gifts For Tenants, Workers And More

Please give them a gift certificate to show them you appreciate what they have done for you. Leave a gift for your mail carrier in your mailbox, or give the FedEx, UPS, and other delivery people a fancy candy bar or more, depending on your budget. Happy gift-giving.

Tags children, gifts, pets, tips

Difficult Cats

Raising Hogs On A Farm In The 60’s

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 28, 2023
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We Had Feeder Pigs

I remember my Father making slop for the hogs, and oh, how they Dearly loved that mixture of grain and minerals. The hogs were Durocs, Hampshires, Chester Whites, and more. The pigs would chase each other around the buildings and have fun playing together. We had a culvert under the road where the hogs could run to the old-fashioned small pig buildings or back to the new hog house. One day, when I came home from school, two hogs escaped through a broken board by the creek. I threw some corn in the middle of the hog house floor and then rounded up the hogs. I got one pigback through the broken board. I fastened two boards together with nails since I could not find one long enough. I gathered the other pig and placed him in the middle of the hog house. My Father never did replace that board. He left it there for years. He was proud of my ingenuity. We had electric water throughs for them to drink from. We also had a mixer meal and made our feed for the hogs.

Sows And Piglets

We had sows and piglets in our old barn. We had hog dishes and a heated water container for them to drink out of in the winter months. It was tough to separate the piglets from the sows. The Mother pigs were very protective of their piglets. We put the Mother pig in the bucket of our tractor, had her piglets in front of her, and placed them all in their new locations. You cannot leave the piglets with their Mother too long, or she will accidentally roll over on some and kill them.

Alice And Jerry

They were two runt baby pigs that I raised. Alice was a Duroc, and Jerry was a Hampshire pig. They grew quickly with my care. They were in a container in our home until they got big enough to survive outdoors. I became very attached to them and had to take them to market, but I knew that farm animals were used to feed people. My Father gave me the money for them, and I put it in the bank.

Feeder Pigs That We Purchased That Had Been Eating Acorns

We purchased some feeder pigs from a friend. The pigs had been living in the woods eating acorns. The pigs were very lean, but it did not take long for them to fatten up, and we took them to market. I would ride with my Father to the market. I never went inside to see how the pigs were killed or butchered, which I am thankful for.

Bored Pigs

Once, all of our feeder pigs were jumping at one gate only, and they would have knocked it down eventually. I rounded up some corn from the grain bin and threw it on the concrete in several places, and they all calmed down, and that never happened again. Pigs will bite off each other tails if they are bored. We purchased some old bowling balls, and watching the pigs pushing them around with their snot and feet was fun. I liked to help take care of the livestock on our farm.

Difficult Cats

How to Find a Good New Home for Your Cat or Kittens

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date August 14, 2023
No Comments on How to Find a Good New Home for Your Cat or Kittens

If you are moving or your cat has kittens you cannot keep, finding a good and loving home for them is essential. I have put an ad under giveaways in my local newspaper. I mentioned that my Facebook page had kittens that needed a good home.

When the party comes to look at my cat or kittens, I must find a new home; I ask them if they have ever had a cat. If they say yes, I know they know something about caring for a cat. I watch my cats react to them while they are holding him. If my cat or kitten growls or hisses at them, I do not feel comfortable giving them my cat. I let my cat judge who they want to live with. If your cat feels uncomfortable with the party that has come to look at them, you better feel uncomfortable with them. Cats are excellent judges of character.

For all of the cats or kittens I have had to find a new home for, I call the party that has adopted them and ask how they are getting along. One woman told me she liked her cat so much that she had adopted it from me that she also had to get another cat. I also ask the people that have adopted my cat to send pictures of my cat to me, and then I can see how well my cat is coming along in his new home.

When you have to find a new home for your cat or kitten, let the newly adopted pet parent know what your cat likes to eat and what their favorite brand of cat litter is. I have also sent some cat food and litter home with my new pet parent. Tell your new pet parent to call you with any questions or concerns that they may have about their new cat. I also give them a copy of my cat’s vet records.

I hope you can find a kind and loving home for your cat if you have to move or can no longer keep your beloved cat for some reason.

Tags cats, Kittens

Difficult Cats

Doctoring Your Cat

I have had several cats that have gotten ear mites lately. I had to bring Faith to my Vet for ear mite treatment, and she clawed my Vet and his assistant, and they were both bleeding. My Vet put her in a bag, and she broke the snap off of the bag at the end of her treatment. Once she was back in my car, she looked like she was smiling because her ears felt much better. Mr. Gray needed an ear mite treatment, and I had a friend help me with his treatment. We had him captured in a net, but he was still trying to do cartwheels atop a cupboard to escape me. I managed to get both ears treated with my friend’s help finally. Today he was fine and thrilled, and he let me pat him and hold him this morning. Cali needs treatment for kidney failure, and she wiggles and manages to get the needle out. I had to start her medicine again.

Feliway Pheromone Spray

This spray works very well at getting upset cats calmed down. You can spray it on a towel in the container you have them in to take them to your Vet or for that long road trip. My Vet sprayed it on a towel in my pet carrier, and my cat calmed down ASAP. If you are moving soon, spray it on some of your cat’s favorite items in your home so the moving trip will not be as stressful for your feline friend. If your cat will be flying in an airplane, be sure to spray some in your carrier, as the sound of the plane alone will stress out your dear feline friend.

Feral Acting Cats That Are Your House Cat

Some of my cats act like feral cats, even though I have had them since they were born on my farm. Some cats never seem to warm up to 100%, no matter how well you treat and fuss over them. Nicole, alias Mrs. Finger, loves to bite your finger and watch your blood flow. She looks like a Russian Blue, but she is truly a touch me, not cat.

Bad Behavior

Some cats are bound and determined to jump on your countertop no matter what you try to do to deter them. Crunchy aluminum foil helps as they do not like the sound of it when they step on it. Placing handkerchiefs soaked in perfume discourages your cat from sleeping or sitting on your furniture. Never reward your cat for bad behavior by giving him a snack after misbehaving, as you do not want to reinforce bad behavior.

Be Patient With Your Feline Friend And Try To Figure Out What Is Annoying Him

Your cat may be sick, so he is acting out of character. Your cat may not like your new routine or wonder why you stopped Tuna Tuesday. If you bring a new cat or person into your home, your kitty may rebel by spraying things. Some bad behavior is justified if you stop giving your cat his favorite food or change kitty litter brands or items that have been moved around in your home, as cats do not like changes one little bit. Always give your cat the benefit of the doubt unless you can prove otherwise.

Tags Cats with Cattitude

Difficult Cats

Cats Can Be Very Moody At Times

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date June 26, 2023
No Comments on Cats Can Be Very Moody At Times

Winchester

Winchester is a gorgeous yellow and white neutered male cat. He can be calm and relaxed for days and then gets very moody. He will try to attack my leg if I do not let him outdoors. He does not get outside when he exhibits that type of behavior. Today and let him outdoors, he smelled a wild animal’s urine mark. He tried to claw and bite me, thinking I was a wild animal. I had to place something around his neck and then grab him by the nap of his neck to get him back to the safety of the house. Something triggers bad behavior in pets, so be prepared for the unexpected. He gets mad when I put him back indoors and fights with a cat sitting by the door. If a cat is naughty, never give him a reward or a treat. Tell your pet no and do let him out until he exhibits the appropriate behavior.

Sugar

Sugar was a purebred Siamese cat that was my first house cat. She was raised in a house with a parakeet, so she liked birds. She would sit by the parakeet we had and listen to him sing. She had moody spells where she would start to stare at your face. I would then place her on the floor so she would not attack my face. She never did attack my face, but she looked like she would if she could get by with it. She was jealous that my Mother was working on genealogy instead of paying attention to her. When we left the room, she tore pieces of her papers off and the corner of a brand-new road atlas.

Cats Have A Reason For Their Odd Behavior, And it Is Our Responsibility To Figure Out What It Is

Your cat could be bored or feel threatened by something or someone new to your household. Cats do not like any changes whatsoever. Cats can exhibit lousy behavior when changes happen in your home. If you add a new pet to your home, your old pet will be very jealous of the new pet. Make introductions very slowly and have a door in between them, to begin with. They can sniff and smell each other through the crack at the bottom of the door. Quick introductions will be disastrous, and one pet may get hurt or injured. I had a cat that liked mice. He lived in a Vets office until I adopted him. I am sure the Vet trained him not to eat the small rodents that were people’s pets. Some cats never seem to warm up to you, even if you raised them as kittens. It could be the perfume you wear or your particular smell, or something that happened to them in kittenhood before you took them into your home. Always give your cat second and more chances for a cattitude adjustment. We all have bad days, and certain things set us off, also. I hope you and your cat will get along in purrfect harmony for many years.

Difficult Cats

Spiritual Renewal

Renew Your Connection To God

After Easter gives you something to think about with your connection to God. Have you been lucky and do not think about what God has done for you in the past? It is easy to keep sliding along when things are going your way and not give enough thought to what God does for you every single day of your life. When young and healthy, we feel invincible and do not put much thought into spiritual renewing with God. When a significant health issue disrupts our life and daily routine, we pray to God to help heal us and strengthen us again. Sometimes it takes a considerable problem of some type to renew our spiritual connection to God and get us back on the right path in life.

A Near-Death Experience

A near-death experience will make you see life with a whole different outlook. The person used to be shy and reserved, and after a near-death experience, they were very talkative and could communicate easily with anyone. While this person was between life and death, they asked God if they could return and be a lay minister. They came back, and they did become a lay minister, and there is not one single day that goes by that they do not thank God for the gift of life. Life is to be lived and loved and to help spread God’s good works to everyone you meet. Hi -Ways.

If You Do Not Like How You Act Change How You Act

Are you quick to anger and burst into a rage over almost anything? If you are that person, people will try to avoid you with the negative energy you put out there for people to see. I you act like a turtle with your head stuck in a shell, people will wonder about you and likely avoid you. Do you have a crusty old shell like a beetle? If you shed that shell, treat people with kindness, respect, and compassion, and present yourself as God would want you to? A person that puts out positive vibes draws positive people their way, and a person who does not get rid of negativity draws negativity toward them.

Reevaluate Your Life

Easter is a time of renewal and a time to reevaluate your life. It is never too late to make yourself into a better person. If you think your soul is drifting away, do not let that happen, for the Devil is waiting for souls not connected to God. Do God’s will while on Earth and help as many people as possible with your time. Pray to God every night when things and hard for you, and God will answer you if you listen, for he is your Lord and Savior. Pray for forgiveness when you sin and truly repent of the sin. Carry on in a way that will help God and everyone. Keep your soul ready when our Lord and Savior return for judgment day.

Tags Inspirations with Laura

Difficult Cats

Various Cat Personalities

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date May 16, 2022
No Comments on Various Cat Personalities

The Aloof Cat

Some cats like to run and hide and be left alone. Your cat may be annoyed or angry when you try to interact with them. I have one cat I have had for nine years, and finally, he will sit on my lap and let me pat him on his head. I have one female cat that growls and hisses at me if I try to hold her, and I have had her since she was born. I let her do her own thing, and then we get along just fine. Some cats are one-person cats, and their loyalty goes to that person.

The Fickle Cat

Several cats seem to have different personalities every other day. One of my female cats will let me pet her one day, and the next day, she will growl and hiss and slap me silly with her front paws. Fickle cats want affection only on their terms. If you accidentally step on your cat’s tail, he may try to bite your leg for several days after the incident occurred. Cats do not forgive easily and will immediately let you know that.

The Cat With A Harness On

Some cats do not like to have a harness on at all. With that harness on, some cats will lie down and act like death is imminent. I have had several cats who loved to walk around with a harness and a lead rope on. If I do not control them, they could run off and get killed by a coyote or other wild animal.

The Cat That Knows When They Are Going To The Vet

Catching a cat, you will bring to your Vet can be quite the ordeal. Your cat will do its best to evade being seen or captured. I have had to use a fishnet to capture some of them. One day it took 1 hour to catch my male cat, which is nine years old. I finally got the net over him in my kitchen, and then when he arrived at my Vet, he got his distemper shot. His brother ran around in the Vets office before walking back into his cage alone. I found one of my house cats hiding in the shower, thinking I would not see him there. My one female cat, that is 11 years old will bite your finger to avoid going to the Vet, but she ends up there in the end.

Cats That Demand All Things On Their Terms

I discovered that male cats make for better lap cats than female cats. The females will stay on your lap for a while, then jump off and do their own thing. Never try to hold onto a cat that does not wish to be saved, as they will hate being held more and more. If a cat does not want to play a cat game with you, leave him alone until he is ready to play. Fickle and aloof cats remain that way for most or all of their nine lives.

The Loving And Perfect Cat Personality

My cat Kohl that died recently, was the perfect cat. He always had an even personality and was very polite, loving, and kind. He was nice to everyone he met. I have had many cats over the years with beautiful characters and ones with up-and-down personalities, and I have loved all of them.

Tags Benefits of Having a Cat, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Difficult Cats

Shopping In Sheffield, Iowa

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date November 15, 2021
No Comments on Shopping In Sheffield, Iowa

Peachy Keehn Boutique

I was very impressed when I walked in the door at Peachy Keehn Boutique. Her Boutique is gorgeous and nicely arranged. I was greeted by the owner when I walked in. I noticed a nice thick flannel shirt and tried on several of them until I found the one that best fit. I have worn the shirt several times; it is lovely and cozy. Most stores have thin flannel shirts that do not keep you warm. Peachy Keehn Boutique buys top-quality merchandise for sale at affordable prices. She had shoes, jewelry, scarves, jeans, and much more for sale in her store. Her Boutique has excellent lighting, and there is something that everyone would like to own and wear in her Boutique. I will be a regular customer at her lovely Boutique.

Forever Yours

It is a flower and gift shop. I have purchased many things from Forever Yours over the years. I like their coffee packets and chai tea packets. They are delicious and make for a nice drink to warm you up or give you an extra energy boost in your day. I purchased a lovely woodpecker bird that I have sitting on top of my desk. The store’s owner is amiable; if you want something she does not have, she will order it for you if possible. She sells lovely garden stones with sayings on them. Her flower arrangements are beautiful. She has a lot of Christmas items for sale in her store and many other terrific gift items.

Block 10

I love having coffee and lunch at Block 10. I generally bring home a Belgium Cream filled donut covered with chocolate to eat at another time. I love to eat a turkey wrap that they have with avocados and cheese in the center of it. I had potato soup the other day, just like Grandma’s homemade potato soup. I buy their dill-flavored mustard, soup mixes, and there pretzels. I have enjoyed eating away at a big block of their fudge. They have a gift store, clothing, antiques, baking dishes, and much more upstairs above their restaurant.

Antique Store

The antique store is the cleanest antique store I have ever been in. I purchased a toy from my past there. It was a small handheld hand mixer made of metal, and the whisk still worked perfectly. If you want or collect antiques, this is the perfect store. They have every antique imaginable in their fine antique store. They have lovely antique furniture and so much more.

Other Stores

I like to look around in the pharmacy. I purchased an ink pen and a comb, and various gift items. There are so many excellent and outstanding stores to shop in. Spend an afternoon shopping in Sheffield, Iowa. I love small-town shopping; it is delightful, and all the store people made it extra special.

Tags Small town shopping, tips, Travel