the same thing happened to us. our cat was on a dry food diet and ended up getting a urine track infection. He stayed with the vets as it got bad and didn't seem to be getting better. when we went to pick him up they told us that he was a sweet and loving cat and that we should start feeding him wet food. the Vets also told us he refused to eat even wet and that we should try again at home. So we bought the recommended wet food and tried to give it to him at home... but he refused to eat it. To this day i have never meet another cat that wont eat wet food.
@@FullxMoonxproduction My cat wouldn’t, so I ended up giving him smaller portions at a time and putting some water into it. He did better that way, and stopped having urinary tract infections. So if your cat is stubborn, try supplementing with water.
That they need the same freedom as us humans do. They need to go outside the house and should not be confined to indoors only. The need to be ' cat' and are not a 'toy' /' meant for human entertainment'. They have to be treated the same way as you would expect others to treat you.
A couple of observations: - A low sided box with a towel for bedding makes a great bed. I have one placed high up which my cat enjoys immensely. He sleeps in the box every night. - I trained my cat to go out in the morning and come back in the evening. He does all his business outside so I don't have to maintain a litter box. - My cat is a natural born killer. He brings home all sorts of critters some of which are still alive. It saddens me to see this but it is my cat being a cat.
My cats personality definitely changed A LOT over the years. He was a super sweet kitten, but after he was neutered he became a little grouchy and started biting people. My family wanted to get rid of him but I worked with him over the years and he got a lot better by the end! Once he moved with me to college and traveled the country with me more he basically just started sleeping under the covers and cuddling with me every night. He’d rest his head on my arm and would let me put my arm around him sometimes too lol. On our road trips to school he’d just chill in my lap. My little road trip buddy ! I knew he appreciated me taking him with me rather than leaving him with someone who didn’t know him as well as I did. The night before he passed away I knew he wasn’t feeling well and he crawled under the covers with me and pressed himself against me and it definitely felt like he was wanting my comfort. He was a wonderful cat even though he had a lot of biting issues, it was just overstimulation from people who just try to go in and constantly pet him. Cats get overstimulated! He rarely bit me by the end. Please don’t hit or yell at your cats if they’re trying to tell you to stop. Don’t give up on them because they just want love too and we can only control how we communicate with them and learn how they communicate with us. Rest In Peace Skyebee :( May 2020
4am wakeup calls by kitty! 😁 Put some dry food in a tupper bowl and seal it and keep it in the bedroom.when kitty wakes u up at 3am, remove cover. that's it!
I hadn’t realized how polite my cat is! I’ve been feeding her first thing in the morning for 11 years. She never wakes me up! But she’s usually in my bed staring at me when I wake, patiently waiting.
That's my husband's problem LOL. He gets up 5am every morning because he wanted time to himself and gaming before work, so cats are expected to be fed at 5am every morning lol
ikr? I was more interested in watching the cat than anything else hahaha! They look so cute when they stick their hind leg up in the air when they wash lol.
My one best tip is - read and prepare your space for the cat. A cat is not a toy or a decoration, it is a living being with needs and you can safe yourself a lot of trouble by first properly preparing than to get a cat on a whim cause it looked cute in the store window. I can't stress this enough because I see so many people not trying to understand their cats and later abandoning them and causing them so much mental pain. Cat are a responsibility but once you know the basics and you have the patience to train them- they're one of the best companions you could ever have ❤
adopting them on a whim and only to give them up later is sad. a cat isnt a phone or some decoration. its a living being and a lovely companion. Theyre sooo loving and caring. My cat even comforted me when i hit my back on the table ( sounds weird was stupid). Caring for him is relaxing especially when work gets though.
@@RobinH00D105 maybe. Sadly I don't remember clearly. He was either purring or meowing. He isn't a quiet cat. He is chatty, either meowing or purring. He even wakes people up in the middle of the night if his litterbox is too dirty for him too pee.
I agree big time with the last point. My Zoe was disgnosed with kidney disease at 15 and I spent every day worrying sick about when her last day would be. She managed to survive almost 6 years from then! When I think back now I wish I hadn't worried about 'the end' so much, and just relaxed and enjoyed my time with her more! RIP Zoe
How did you manage to make her live that long with kidney disease? My Goku didn't had kidney disease until she was 17 (got her tested), but when the disease appeared, in only two years it degenerated toward the four stage.
@@alicesacco9329 I put her on a renal diet, but eventually she stopped eating it and losing too much weight so I switched her back to her favourite supermarket wet foods and mixed in Ipakitine powder which is a phosphate binder, worked great but at the end stage nothing really is going to work. Strongly recommend Ipakitine and feeding a WET ONLY diet, ditch the 'renal' and 'k/d' diets if they refuse to eat as most cats with CKD die from issues relating to the weight loss, they have to eat as much as you can feed them. Low Protein is also BS from my research and experience, I don't listen to any vet that says a renal cat needs lower protein. Low phosphate is the big one to strive for which the powder sorts out and lets you keep feeding them their favourite foods :) Also to prevent kidney issues in the first place I've learnt now to avoid too much dry food at all in their younger years, more moisture the better. Wet food also helps prevent bladder issues, esp in males.
@@alicesacco9329 also check out catinfo.org/ and Jackson Galaxy videos about nutrition on TH-cam. Some vets think Dr Lisa Pierson is a kook but a lot of what she says makes sense and some other vets back her up. Too many vets IMO are in bed with Hills and Royal Canin, look at the ingredients in their dry foods. Primary ingredients are cereals, not meat. You can get better foods almost anywhere else
@@KoalaSnuggles Goku vomited renal. During late stage of the disease, she only ate certain food, and when I mixed food, she picked only her favourite peices of meat.
@@KoalaSnuggles Thanks for this information. My cat is 15 and was recently diagnosed with renal failure. He has kidney stones as well which is causing him constant UTIs and my vet said he'll have to be on antibiotics for the rest of his life to combat it (surgical removal is out of the option they said). I keep thinking every day is going to be his last, because he stopped eating renal diet as well. I'm currently on a mostly wet food diet, mixed with lots of water, ipakitine as well as some kallium binder I believe. He still gets dry food because he doesn't always eat his wet food and he needs to graze when I'm asleep. Maybe I should stop that, too... I'm amazed yours lived 6 more years though!
I work at animal hospital/daycare we have a cat that comes in that is 19 years old...the youngest person we have working there is 18 years old the cat is older than her
@@poshsims4016 Obviously she is finding it takes time to train you to the ways she likes, she will be less of a handful and more rewarding with cuddles etc when she has trained you just how she likes her human to be. 😸😸😸😸
our oldest cat (so far) passed just a few months shy of his 20th birthday. second oldest was 17 when she passed. i'm hoping my baby girl will be by my side for at least that long, and i'm doing everything i can to ensure she stays healthy.
@@AllAboutCatsYT What age should you start brushing your cat's teeth? I see a lot of video on brushing your cats teeth, but I can't find any information on when to start. My cat is 9 months old, should I start now? Thank you!
I really love the last tip you gave because that's currently me, always worrying about my cat and her behavior or health. I'm definitely being more conscious when I spend time with her to appreciate the moments we have and I love it. I think something I wish I'd known before getting a cat is to be patient with them. Cats can have such varying personalities and of course it takes time for them to trust you. You can't take things personal if a cat doesn't bond with you the second you meet and take them home. It takes time to build a connection and don't give up or feel discouraged if it isn't there right away! Some cats also do not show affection in the way that would be obvious to humans. For example, sleeping at the foot of your bed or blinking slowly back at you.
Yeah thats true. If cared well the cat will bond over time. It just needs patience and time. Our cat bonded with my brother way faster then me. But after some time he bonded with me too.
Love this video.. Wessy is almost 13? He doesn’t look a day over 4 years old lol.. I rescued my cat when he was 4 weeks old and next month he’ll be 1yr old I love him dearly.. will definitely look into harness training.
I was a cat guardian for 21 years, and I learned some new things in this video. While I'm not quite ready for a new pet, these will be kept in mind for when I am. Thanks for putting this out.
@@colleencatalano3547don't expect for the pain of losing your other beloved pet to be gone before you share your love & life with another feline. That tinge of pain is a sign of the true love you shared. And you are missing time & love you could be sharing with a wonderful new & different cat that will also be loving comfort.
My best advice for new cat guardians would be, if possible, adopt siblings or a bonded pair. I have six cats and four are related (grandma, mom and two brothers). The other two are “uncle” Oliver and baby Nyx. The related cats are all bonded, with the strongest bond being between the brothers. It is so nice to see the relationships between the cats and when I was surprised to find a stray 3 month old kitten, the kitten brothers immediately made her feel at home. Having one cat means that you’ll be their source of social interaction. Having two means that they will always have a pal (if they’re bonded). That’s just my two cents. Cats are VERY social animals. Anyone who says differently hasn’t spent time with a group of cats. Even though six is a lot of cats, I know that they’re all happy with me and their cat family.
Always baffled me as a kid that people claimed cats to be "Solitary creatures". Grew up near a stray cat colony and was like "If they don't like company why do strays group together?". Cats aren't solitary, they're territorial. There's a big difference. If you're one of them they don't care too much. Bring a stranger or an unwelcome guest to their turf and they'll be mad, just like you'd be.
your last point about worrying about their health all the time really hit home for me. I lost my Ned in Jan 2020 and since then, I am constantly worrying about my other boy Clem non-stop and I think it really has effected me when all i do is worry instead of living in the moment. I will try and do a better job in the future with this and thanks as always for the insightful videos!
Hey Tim, sorry to hear about Ned...it makes sense that you'd find yourself worrying about Clem more now. I'm glad that this gave you some inspiration and wish you guys all the best!
I never worried about my oldest cat, Baby til I bought Felix home, and I'm always constantly worried about them both, because Felix bullies Baby when we're not home (which leads us to put Baby in bedroom with food, water and litter box safe away from him while we're not home.) On top of Felix's issue on using litterboxes but for my third cat, Im not even worried about him one bit and enjoy all moments we have with that little boy. Lately I've been worried about Baby due to her age, she just turned 19, and we seriously thought she was going to pass away during the surgery we attempt to help her be more comfortable, but she pulled through. Almost 2 weeks since the surgery and she's doing great. Living in the moment with her now!
That is so true - my sensitive cat was so shy and feral when I adopted him. 1 year later he started to sleep under my comforter and even on my lap :) he’s so sweet now. I’d say to feral cat owners: give them time and your efforts will pay off :)
I had a stray/feral cat that was scared and didn't like anyone but then one day when I was really upset (I had dumped my ex) and he just came up to me and comforted me. Like he knew how I was feeling. I named him Aulus and I couldn't convince my mom and step dad to bring him inside, even though I got him neutered, and one night neighborhood dogs came around and I never saw Aulus again
I wish I'd known that they sometimes can't adjust to moves at all. I had 2 cats who I'd hand-raised from 4 weeks old (Brutal). When I did this, and for the first 4 years of their life, I lived in a very quiet rural area. Very few neighbours, very few animals (Quite a few very scary roads, and a bird of prey sanctuary close by). They were indoor cats and loved just watching the outside world. We moved when my baby was 4 months old (Who they took so beautifully to). And then the problems came. Vet kept saying they were fine but they weren't - Peeing blood, coughing lots, sneezes etc. Finally went to another vet and they said it was stress, so bad at that point it was literally killing them. Our new place was right by a very busy bus stop, heavily popolated and LOTS of dogs all over the place. They heavily avoided windows and would freak out when they heard dogs barking etc. Eventually I had to rehome them to a family friend who lived in a very quiet place too and they improved in under a month. It was deviatating. And if I'd known that could happen I'd have looked at other locations; but I'd always been told that very little phases cats and they adjust easily to things like that. And had certainly never heard of a move making them that dangerously stressed! Tried for over a year to make adjustments for them but nothing was working, and at the point when we finally found a compitent vet, it felt very selfish to have kept them so long. Especially once they recovered so fast in a quieter home.
My cat Beverly was found by the neighborhood lids in a plastic bag in the dump with 3 other kittens, all dead. They brought her to me in a boy's baseball cap and asked me if I'd keep her. She was so tiny, her ears were translucent. She was my companion for 15 years.
THANK YOU for tip #10. Recently adopted a bonded pair and initially was an anxious wreck, worrying about if I'll do something wrong. You've helped me come down from that.
The things I've learned after being a cat guardian for 30 plus years. Cat adore patterns and if you find they've gotten into one they will be very resistant to changing it, so make sure any pattern they do develop is something that you can live with forever. Not all cats like vertical options, it's good to give it to them but don't expect them to want it. My cat, that I have now, prefer lurking under things so I make designated spaces for her that meet her needs. And every cat I have ever known gets cuddlier as they get older. I agree with all the points mentioned in the video.
Hey Mallory! I just adopted our new cat almost a week ago now, and in preparation I watched probably ALL your videos on this channel (and your articles) in the weeks leading up to adoption. I just want to say thank you so much for your honest reviews and calming demeanor. I felt so prepared! Looking forward to more content! xx
Charlotte, this was such a lovely comment to receive! Glad to hear that you felt well-prepared for your new kitty's arrival! Wishing you all the best. :)
My son bought me a kitty in November after I have been retired a year. (To full-time be a caregiver for a family member). Since a husband was a big fail . He felt I needed to look forward & love something/ someone less stressful . Ha! Love my Whiskers & all this time I did not know my head was cold. She is so sweet❤ to keep it warm by laying on it🙄
I feed my cats dry + wet food, however my cats drink A LOT of water from the various water fountains I have in my house. Its a pain to clean them, however they love it and I love my cats so yuppp
I love how simple and professional you talk ! Ive followed alot of ppl who are cat bloggers but i recently found you and i feel so trusted towards u and love the way u talk about really necessary information!
I think another great thing to know is not to declaw cats! Many owners think that is the solution to prevent a scratched up couch when in reality you could train them very easily to scratch their cat tree.
This video could not have been timed better. I am bringing home my first cat tomorrow. The last tip really helped me. I’m going to try to stay in the present and enjoy my new kitty as she is. Thank you Mallory!!
I’ve been a cat guardian and foster for rescues and one thing to try with kittens and teen cats is experiment with toys. See what they like. Use those toys to interact and bond with them. Another SUPER thing to use for bonding and gaining trust of skeptical or semi feral kittens is Churu tube treats. These things are a miracle! Cats go crazy for them and I simply say the word Churu and they come running! Even if sleeping they wake up and come running!
The last part definitely hit home for me, as I am still struggling with this 4 years later. IT subdued after the first year of owning my cat, but recently I had been doing my research about everything im doing wrong with my cat (feeding dry food, vaccinations, lack of dental cleanings etc) gave me EXTREME anxiety. I felt like I had such limited time with her and would worry all the time. I was very naive back then when I first adopted my cat and didnt realize that the "conventional way" of taking care of a cat may not be the way thats good for their overall health, and im slowly getting my cat to eat a better diet, and im always worrying if she used the litter box or not, she has asthma as well so that just makes it worse. But im so trying to live in the moment :(
I totally feel you. I know that there was wet food and dry food and I had no idea about what the pros and cons were to both. My fiancé and I just took in his moms cat (his parents are getting a divorce) and I never had a cat before and this cat is like FAT and so I'm gonna put him on a better diet and now I'm gonna look into wet food. It's only a trial run (we have a bunny too and we wanna see if he gets along with him) and I do like the cat a lot but we are still debating if he is a good fit for us, but I might as well give him the best life we can here.
I have two cats that can't eat any dry cat food because if they eat it, they start having asthma symptoms as whatever it is in dry food builds up in their systems. Feeding them stickly wet food alleviates the asthma greatly. (Grain free, gluten free) It may take a few weeks of strictly wet meat to see the difference it makes, but it worked for my two cats and saved a lot of vet/medication bills.
I like using thin cut (quick cooking) oats as litter. Totally safe for them to lick off their paws, very absorbant, and not perfumed. I have 12 cats and needed a solution that is both economical and healthy.
This was great. I had no clue about dental cleanings and certainly thought there would never be a day I needed to bathe Shorty. We have been cat parents for 3 months and our whole family loves her. She is the best cat!
The not worry one hit me. I have had my eldest cat for 2 years and just got 2 new kittens 4 months ago and I am CONSTANTLY worrying. It’s bad. I will spiral into anxiety about if they’re happy, if they’re hungry even after meals, if their health is okay, if I’m a bad guardian, it goes on and on and honestly it’s exhausting. I need to practice understanding that as long as I’m open to learning and do my best then my babies will be okay. Thank you for that
Came from the vet yesterday and learned that my fur daughter has a Urinary problem. Googling it made me so scared and cause me some anxiety, so the moment you said something about moisture and hydration, I paused and quickly changed her dry food into wet food.
Staying in the moment with my cats is so important for my health and theirs! I felt like I got every ounce of appreciation with them even though they both passed unexpectedly this year at 10 years old, which felt short.
Stay in the moment is such a valuable lesson to learn, and one I am still actively learning with my two right now. One of the things I wish I had known before adopting mine was that nonrecognition aggression is a real thing- that it exists, and how to handle it. It's been a really big part of our lives that we've had to navigate and are still trying to overcome. Both of my cats have chronic health conditions, which means not only am I constantly worried about their health and wellbeing, but we're back and forth to the vet a lot which means a lot of aggression and stress events are triggered, which causes them to fight, which can further complicate their chronic health issues, which can instigate more vet visits. Sometimes it's like we're living in a vicious cycle and it's really hard on all of us. Being able to control my own emotions and worries so they don't pick up on that, and just be present with them in the here and now, even if I am worried about their current state of health is a huge part of it. Right as I am typing this, I am facing the possibility of emergency surgery for one of them in a few days if the medication doesn't work, and this comes on the heels of a week long process of reintegration from the other one just coming back from the vet and getting over a course of antibiotics. I didn't know 7 years ago, when I adopted these two, that I would be faced with such huge, expensive, stressful, and difficult challenges. But that's the contract we sign when we take an animal into our homes. We protect them mentally, physically, and emotionally. We provide for them and give them a home. And in return they give us unconditional love and trust. It would have been nice if someone had forewarned me of how hard this path would be... but at the same time, if they had, I probably wouldn't have chosen to go down it. So in a way, I am glad I didn't know. They're worth it... no matter what.
Great video! When I first saw the title and listened to your ‘credentials’ , I thought that this wouldn’t be a particularly accurate video but decided to watch it anyway. Cats have been in my life as long as I’ve been here. You’re spot on with your tips! The personality changes that occur when cats get beyond 5-6 years are amazing. I had a unfriendly kitten that was easily overstimulated and would bite if you didn’t read her warnings. Her name was Tasha (named after Bullwinkle’s Natasha!) When she was around 6 yrs old she changed and became one of the sweetest cats I’ve ever known. All your tips are great…. Moisture… variety… leash training, etc. Please keep making videos!
so glad you mentioned NOT TO FEED KIBBLE only a moist food, I am still at a COMPLETE LOSS that any Vet would recommend KIBBLE for any animal but especially for a cat because a cat is a feline from a desert and ONLY gets her water from her food thank you for the excellent video !
Is it okay to give both tho? Like wet food as the bulk and then some dry food on top. Just bc one of my cats is bigggg (Maine Coon) and the amount of wet food I have to go through to maintain her weight is just so expensive. So having dry food out for her as well helps me balance that. I always have fresh water out as well and they do drink from their water bowl. I’ve always done a mix of both. Mainly wet food and then dry food is just there to help manage and add extra calories and protein etc into their diet and... My cats like to snack here and there haha😭 I couldn’t imagine only giving dry food tho or that being the the bulk of their diet.
This was great, Mallory. Thank you for thinking deeper about issues that are much less commonly mentioned. As a suggestion for a new video, I would like to see one on dental care and different products. Thanks very much.
This was a great video Malory ! It shows somebody ( you ) speaking to people from the heart not off a teleprompter . Great info ( especially the brushing the teeth ) let's hope he lets me do it !!! Happy Valentine's Day ! Ciao
The last piece of advice made me feel sooo much better. I am adopting form a shelter soon, just cat-proofing my apartment meow 😸😺💗 Thank you so much for this advice!
Hi, Mallory... So glad I've happened upon your channel, here. Your number 10, being "In the moment" with your cat. So important. Thank you for this. Really looking forward to the rest of your videos...
Thank you for using the term "guardian". Also a big thank you for bringing up the "moisture rich" diet and its importance. Today I listed 3 male cats on Petfinder and all of them were brought to us because they had bouts of UTI and urinated out of the box. There needs to be more education on just how detrimental a dry food diet is. So many cats lose their homes due to this, and so many die, because of total blockage of the urinary tract or kidney disease.
i really needed to see the part about worry. i just adopted my ivy four days ago and absolutely hate leaving her alone. i worry that she will get into something and get hurt or worse. i worry so much to the point i hate leaving the apartment. i’m going to try to be more comfortable trusting her not to get herself into bad situations.
For me the most important thing is that cats get old, from the age of 18 upwards are expensive years. Insurance is often extremely expensive and because they are often under medical care it’s difficult to get. We spent at least £2k in vet bills on our 22 year old cat in his last 14 months and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The cat we lost before at 20 went quickly but was still having Kenalog injections and painkillers for arthritis. Thirteen is only middle aged, the only cat I’ve had not to pass at that age had an underlying heart condition the vet I had at that time was totally unaware of. Between my wife and I we have had 5 cats get over 20, my wife's oldest being 24. Enjoy every moment you have with your cat and as they get older modify their environment to make life easier for them. They can have a great quality of life if you put ramps in place, maybe carry them a bit more, play slower games, softer food, help with grooming after using the litter and a lot more visits to the vet.
I would say not to drive yourself crazy with all the choices of food out there. I researched and researched ad nauseam. My cat is 16 and is happily living a healthy life eating Fancy Feast wet food. You don't need to spend tons of money on food, unless you want to.
Yup I read up on that. It's a very good choice for your cat. Not to mention, purina is a very trust worthy brand: they've had no recalls with the brand.
The great thing about having a cat is that they are easier to take care of than a dog. My cat passed away a few years ago now, at the ripe ol' age of 21 years. I rescued her from a blizzard one stormy night...she had frost bitten paws and lost the end of her tail to frostbite. I named her Blizzard. I fed her a mix of high quality dry and wet food. She was an indoor cat but I trained her to be able to be on our back deck without going off of it. She loved to lay in the sun. I never brushed her teeth...and they were perfectly fine her whole life probably due to the types of food. I never gave her a bath and her coat was immaculate...except once when she was nailed by a skunk...and she was so dazed...the bath really didn't bother her at all...lol. Tomorrow, we are getting a new kitten, Gus. I hope we have a wonderful life together.
If so , could you name some of the most healthiest organic dry and wet foods ? & also is it fine for them to drink water from the sink or is there any other better inexpensive alternatives since most public water is contaminated?
I could not stop laughing because Wessy was bathing in the first part of the video! I had to watch it again and you touched on so many valid points! I love my cats and i am always concerned about their health and overall well being. I'm definitely going to take your advice about being in the moment and cherishing the time I spend with them.
Love this video. We bring our cats wherever we go. I can confirm rotating food choices helps make sure you can feed your cat when certain brands are out of stock. I'm also a huge fan of pine pellets - only $7 for a 40 lb bag if you look around.
Hi Malory, I am John. I have 2 cat since 10 years, unfortunately I lost one 3 weeks ago, from a cancer on the pancreas, even thought followed by a vet all year had 4 blood test? 5 visite on vet but they could never have done nothing for that kind of cancer. It is a huge gap in my life. My favourite topic it’s they personality change it defendly does! Take patience with your cat without to force him to do something it will not goes no where, respect the free will of your cat will reward you much. And after the bath I realise they were much comfortable when I wasn’t feeling the bath with a bit of water in their paws, since them I do with a bucket and a little cup to rinse him. They already came very dirty from they errances.
I use hardwood pellets instead of pine since they contain no oils or scent. I also spritz the pellets with water to soften the top layer of pellets for better "paw feel." I compost the resulting pellet powder.
I know what you mean about the worry. I don't have a cat, but my dog will turn 10 this year and I constantly think about how much time I have left with her. Just thinking about the idea that she won't be here one day makes me start crying. I stay in the moment with her like you suggested, but the thoughts just creep back in. Will continue to try. Really enjoyed your video. I would love to bring a cat into my home someday, so I'm starting to research about them now. I've never lived with a cat before. Thanks for your awesome video ! ❤
I appreciate your videos so much! I plan on getting a cat soon and your videos have been very informative. There are so many myths surrounding cats and it has been interesting learning new information about these sweet babies.
Thank you for answering so many of my questions . I have 4 for cats and I'm always looking for ways to be a better cat person to give my babies a happy , healthy life style .
I had a black and white female tux for 20 years. He was an indoor/outdoor cat for her first 10 years, then she was only allowed outside on a leash or a line connected to a clothesline for a few years. She had no trouble wearing a collar and didn't need training for the leash.
This is great! Very good information! Love the idea of mixing dry/wet food. Keeps it interesting for them, and varying textures helps keep them stimulated.
I’ll always remember growing up we had a male cat that was always so cold and not affectionate at all then he got really sick and almost passed away but don’t and my mom took such good care of him and when he got well again he was completely changed and was so friendly and loving always wanting cuddles. Little guys near death experience really changed him
We need more videos expanding on each of these points!!! I think another good one that I have come to learn is to not to play with your cat with your hand and use a toy to divert it (learned the hard way)
Great! So glad you made this video! I wish people getting cats would have access to this important information and all your videos. Most people don't know much or nothing about cats and they have to suffer for that ignorance. You have super easy to watch videos. Great style with not too lengthy videos, but you get in the important info in a narrowed down, simplified, easy to listen to calm voice, very organized in presentation. If I wasn't so tired I'd add more and say it better...lol! Sorry ...So happy you are so committed to helping people help their cats. Wonderful you!!
I miss having cats around. I now live in a flat and as I previously lived in a house with a garden, I could see my cats really loving going out, climbing up in trees, hunting, following us from a distance etc. Maybe training a cat to be walked with a leash might be the solution, but it seems to be a limited freedom compared with what they can enjoy when they're free to explore a territory. In the other hand, no more injury after hard cat fights. They really are felines and sometimes just want to crush their rival.
Excellent advice! All things that have taken me over 30 years to learn and absorb with a number of cats over the years. The only other thing I would add is; 11) You never stop learning about your cats and always be prepared to be surprised by them. We are just about to adopt a couple of boys from the same litter who are 12 weeks old, the learning curve starts going up again, it's great fun! 😸😸😸
thank you so much for this video! i'm a new cat parent and i worry all the time that i'm not doing enough or the right things for my little guy. but this video has helped me relax :)
Great stuff M. #5 is totally true. My little lady used to sleep on the foot of the bed for a long time. One night I was sick and she came up and slept on my chest and stared at me while she purred.
Hello from Newfoundland! I highly recommend Feline Fresh clumping. It’s pine with guar gum as the clumping agent. It’s flushable, if you choose, or compostable. Even after many weeks it still smells like freshly sawn pine. I have 5 cats and will use nothing else!
Hey Malorie, first time watching your channel...really like your info- you clearly love cats...my first cat Mage (maggie) nearly made it to 20yrs . Took 7 years but now am gaurdian to 2 siblings... Learning loads ...Thankyou!
this whole video was so thoughtful, sweet and kind. If I ever become a cat guardian (i love that you used that word instead of 'owner'), i will absolutely be referring back to this video, thank you! :))
I would add “car training” as similar to the harness/leash training for the future. I would bring my cat Buck with me to my partner’s place, out to do quick chores or get drive thru food, to go pick up friends, etc. He would sit in the passenger seat with his harness on and genuinely enjoyed it! He didn’t associate the car with only going to the vet, which at the end of his life (when he had weekly vet visits) this was amazing. He actually liked the adventure/wasn’t traumatized by it. I see so many cats that are terrified of getting in the car, and it breaks my heart especially when they’re already sick! I’m going to try this with my new cat too even if he’s a bit shyer, so maybe just short desensitization trips in the car before his next vet visit. Obviously there is the risk of getting in a crash with the cat, but I feel the improvement to his quality of life overall (not leaving him at home for long periods, not afraid of the vet appts) was worth the risk.
I myself was glad that I did know all these things. Of course knowing would have made it more easy for me, but finding out myself is an experience between my first cat and me. Okay as a child we had cats, but the only thing I had to worry about was give my love to these cats. In the seventies and eighties the most shops only sold one procuct, but nog in much variaties. After our last family cat died, and I was living on my own... it took about 15 (?) years before my first cat walked in on the 4th of January 2012. I did efforts to find the owner... but nobody showed up. He was about 4 months old. The market for cat food was very different than back than. So my first instinct was... I love to eat (type of food)... but not every day, so I started to give my cat every day another species of (wet) food...and two types of dry food. And Poeshka (as ik called him) loved me (from the start). We moved about 4 times after we met, within 2, 5 years. But even if we just 2 or 3 days before, he always came back after he escaped. He always knew that he was safe on my shoulders, after playing often hide and seek. If I first touched him, he would lose, if he got om my back (when I was crawling) he won ! Yes if he got on to my back he was the winner (king of my castle). Of course I made him win al lot, but not always. ;) And therefore I am glad not to know all these things that you mentioned. Didn't Gandhi say that the road to knowledge is more important than reaching it? I don't know about that... but I'am so glad that I have gone this road with my own Poeshka together. He is about 11 years and 9 months now and still alive and kicking. I would not have know as half as much if I knew it from only reading. For me personally it is a road to knowledge between me and my first (own) cat! And he never left me, he still feels safe on my shoulders. and even trusts dogs as long as I am with him. So please "All about cats" I quess you had about the same experience. Don't wish you knew everything about cats before you addopted one, learning together with your own cat makes your bond with that cat so much stronger! Oh, and you do not need a leash for your cats (except you are living in the city). In many rural areas you can walk with your gets without a leash. I often take around the block with my remaining cats. That way we bond more. Unfortunatly 2 cats died, a mother cat and one of her cups between 2017 and 2020 , not because of an accident but from probably bad genes. They are being missed, I wish they still be here,
I like your idea of harness and leash training, which I have not yet done. Before starting with this, it is important to get flea treatment prevention! I live in an apartment high rise and I have no doubt there are fleas in the hallways and elevators because we are a pet friendly building. Your cat can still get fleas even being an indoor cat. It has happened to me twice!
I used pine litter for 3 years and then it got to a point where it didn’t matter how much I cleaned or changed the litter box, my apartment would smell like cat pee right when you walked in. It stopped working for us which is very weird... I switched the traditional for the first time about 2 months ago and kinda wish I had always used it. I have had zero problems with smell or it being a mess 3 cats 4 litter boxes
I'm trying to switch from traditional one, cause my baby boy( second cat) just keep dragging the clay litter everywhere and not we have 2 cats ,and 2 types of bathrooms a traditional one and a pine one and I don't wake up to a pockets of litter in my bedroom. But I too have a slight smell problem with the pine one, any tips are welcomed 🙄❤❤❤
I adopted my first cat, Chloe, last December. Before I adopted her I did a lot of research because I really didn't know anything about cats. i’ve always had dogs. At any rate, Chloe uses pine pellets for her litter. Smells better, cheaper, and easier to clean.
I love cats and this was a helpful video. The last cat I had I learned pretty quickly that there was no way I was going to get away with closing the bedroom door at night and keeping them out. So bear that in mind. But its nice to hear them purring as you go to sleep.
What is the most surprising and/or valuable thing you've learned during your time as a cat guardian? Tell us about it in the comments!
the same thing happened to us. our cat was on a dry food diet and ended up getting a urine track infection. He stayed with the vets as it got bad and didn't seem to be getting better. when we went to pick him up they told us that he was a sweet and loving cat and that we should start feeding him wet food. the Vets also told us he refused to eat even wet and that we should try again at home. So we bought the recommended wet food and tried to give it to him at home... but he refused to eat it. To this day i have never meet another cat that wont eat wet food.
@@FullxMoonxproduction My cat wouldn’t, so I ended up giving him smaller portions at a time and putting some water into it. He did better that way, and stopped having urinary tract infections. So if your cat is stubborn, try supplementing with water.
This one got lots of comments!
Nice!
That they need the same freedom as us humans do. They need to go outside the house and should not be confined to indoors only. The need to be ' cat' and are not a 'toy' /' meant for human entertainment'. They have to be treated the same way as you would expect others to treat you.
A couple of observations:
- A low sided box with a towel for bedding makes a great bed. I have one placed high up which my cat enjoys immensely. He sleeps in the box every night.
- I trained my cat to go out in the morning and come back in the evening. He does all his business outside so I don't have to maintain a litter box.
- My cat is a natural born killer. He brings home all sorts of critters some of which are still alive. It saddens me to see this but it is my cat being a cat.
26 things my cat wished he'd known before he got me.
That would be an interesting one!
lame
@@____-gy5mq?
What? WHAt?!! Waaa?!! Hahaha- Oprah’s signature comment- timeless!
@@deneballantine6816 You get a cat , aaaaannnndddd you get a cat, aaaaaannnnnd etc
My cats personality definitely changed A LOT over the years. He was a super sweet kitten, but after he was neutered he became a little grouchy and started biting people. My family wanted to get rid of him but I worked with him over the years and he got a lot better by the end! Once he moved with me to college and traveled the country with me more he basically just started sleeping under the covers and cuddling with me every night. He’d rest his head on my arm and would let me put my arm around him sometimes too lol. On our road trips to school he’d just chill in my lap. My little road trip buddy ! I knew he appreciated me taking him with me rather than leaving him with someone who didn’t know him as well as I did. The night before he passed away I knew he wasn’t feeling well and he crawled under the covers with me and pressed himself against me and it definitely felt like he was wanting my comfort. He was a wonderful cat even though he had a lot of biting issues, it was just overstimulation from people who just try to go in and constantly pet him. Cats get overstimulated! He rarely bit me by the end. Please don’t hit or yell at your cats if they’re trying to tell you to stop. Don’t give up on them because they just want love too and we can only control how we communicate with them and learn how they communicate with us.
Rest In Peace Skyebee :( May 2020
Aww, it sounds like you and Skyebee had a very close bond that evolved over the years. Thank you for sharing your experience and insights. :)
I'm in tears such a beautiful story😭❤️
rip kitty
You're going to make me cry! Your cat was lucky to have you! ❤
Was neutering the only surgery that was done at that time?! The biting sounds like a symptom of something else.
The only thing I'd add is to NOT get in the habit of early morning feeding or you'll never sleep in again.
Hahahahaha loterally
THIS!!!!
4am wakeup calls by kitty! 😁
Put some dry food in a tupper bowl and seal it and keep it in the bedroom.when kitty wakes u up at 3am, remove cover. that's it!
I hadn’t realized how polite my cat is! I’ve been feeding her first thing in the morning for 11 years. She never wakes me up! But she’s usually in my bed staring at me when I wake, patiently waiting.
That's my husband's problem LOL. He gets up 5am every morning because he wanted time to himself and gaming before work, so cats are expected to be fed at 5am every morning lol
4:00 "I thought it was pretty normal for a cat to have bad breath...". In the background cat is licking its butt.
Lol
ikr? I was more interested in watching the cat than anything else hahaha! They look so cute when they stick their hind leg up in the air when they wash lol.
Well that's terrifying now when a cat licks you and licks your face. D :
@@nickorange4881 luckily cats are not dogs, and don't feel like licking your face all too often lol
Seriously! Another reason a cat has bad breath.
My one best tip is - read and prepare your space for the cat. A cat is not a toy or a decoration, it is a living being with needs and you can safe yourself a lot of trouble by first properly preparing than to get a cat on a whim cause it looked cute in the store window.
I can't stress this enough because I see so many people not trying to understand their cats and later abandoning them and causing them so much mental pain. Cat are a responsibility but once you know the basics and you have the patience to train them- they're one of the best companions you could ever have ❤
I can’t imagine how sad my little guy would be if I gave him up.
adopting them on a whim and only to give them up later is sad. a cat isnt a phone or some decoration. its a living being and a lovely companion. Theyre sooo loving and caring. My cat even comforted me when i hit my back on the table ( sounds weird was stupid). Caring for him is relaxing especially when work gets though.
@@rumeysarumeysa4442 was he purring? he was probably trying to heal you lol
@@RobinH00D105 maybe. Sadly I don't remember clearly. He was either purring or meowing. He isn't a quiet cat. He is chatty, either meowing or purring. He even wakes people up in the middle of the night if his litterbox is too dirty for him too pee.
I agree big time with the last point. My Zoe was disgnosed with kidney disease at 15 and I spent every day worrying sick about when her last day would be. She managed to survive almost 6 years from then! When I think back now I wish I hadn't worried about 'the end' so much, and just relaxed and enjoyed my time with her more! RIP Zoe
How did you manage to make her live that long with kidney disease? My Goku didn't had kidney disease until she was 17 (got her tested), but when the disease appeared, in only two years it degenerated toward the four stage.
@@alicesacco9329 I put her on a renal diet, but eventually she stopped eating it and losing too much weight so I switched her back to her favourite supermarket wet foods and mixed in Ipakitine powder which is a phosphate binder, worked great but at the end stage nothing really is going to work. Strongly recommend Ipakitine and feeding a WET ONLY diet, ditch the 'renal' and 'k/d' diets if they refuse to eat as most cats with CKD die from issues relating to the weight loss, they have to eat as much as you can feed them.
Low Protein is also BS from my research and experience, I don't listen to any vet that says a renal cat needs lower protein. Low phosphate is the big one to strive for which the powder sorts out and lets you keep feeding them their favourite foods :) Also to prevent kidney issues in the first place I've learnt now to avoid too much dry food at all in their younger years, more moisture the better. Wet food also helps prevent bladder issues, esp in males.
@@alicesacco9329 also check out catinfo.org/ and Jackson Galaxy videos about nutrition on TH-cam. Some vets think Dr Lisa Pierson is a kook but a lot of what she says makes sense and some other vets back her up. Too many vets IMO are in bed with Hills and Royal Canin, look at the ingredients in their dry foods. Primary ingredients are cereals, not meat. You can get better foods almost anywhere else
@@KoalaSnuggles Goku vomited renal. During late stage of the disease, she only ate certain food, and when I mixed food, she picked only her favourite peices of meat.
@@KoalaSnuggles Thanks for this information. My cat is 15 and was recently diagnosed with renal failure. He has kidney stones as well which is causing him constant UTIs and my vet said he'll have to be on antibiotics for the rest of his life to combat it (surgical removal is out of the option they said). I keep thinking every day is going to be his last, because he stopped eating renal diet as well. I'm currently on a mostly wet food diet, mixed with lots of water, ipakitine as well as some kallium binder I believe. He still gets dry food because he doesn't always eat his wet food and he needs to graze when I'm asleep. Maybe I should stop that, too... I'm amazed yours lived 6 more years though!
Cats can live well into their late teens and people adopting should be prepared to make the long term commitment.
Yess i got mine in August & I want her for life!! She’s a handful though lol a snowshoe Siamese w blue eyes, very whiny!! So cute at times😂💜💜
I work at animal hospital/daycare we have a cat that comes in that is 19 years old...the youngest person we have working there is 18 years old the cat is older than her
@@poshsims4016 Obviously she is finding it takes time to train you to the ways she likes, she will be less of a handful and more rewarding with cuddles etc when she has trained you just how she likes her human to be. 😸😸😸😸
our oldest cat (so far) passed just a few months shy of his 20th birthday. second oldest was 17 when she passed. i'm hoping my baby girl will be by my side for at least that long, and i'm doing everything i can to ensure she stays healthy.
@@Isaidit247 reminds me of when i taught middle school...i told my students all the time, "my cats are literally older than y'all!"
I'd LOVE a video dedicated to cat dental products!
We'll consider it! Thank you.
@@AllAboutCatsYT yes this would be so useful!
@@AllAboutCatsYT What age should you start brushing your cat's teeth? I see a lot of video on brushing your cats teeth, but I can't find any information on when to start. My cat is 9 months old, should I start now? Thank you!
Seconded!
Feeding raw meaty bones is supposed to naturally clean cats' teeth. I've started doing this and am anxious to see the outcome.
I let my cat choose his food every morning 😊. I present him 3 different cans & he presses his face against the one he wants. It always goes well 😂😂
That’s adorable!
Are the cans opened? lol
If not, that could get expensive!
That’s so cute!! I’m definitely gonna try that!!
Ha ha I do the same thing.
I really love the last tip you gave because that's currently me, always worrying about my cat and her behavior or health. I'm definitely being more conscious when I spend time with her to appreciate the moments we have and I love it. I think something I wish I'd known before getting a cat is to be patient with them. Cats can have such varying personalities and of course it takes time for them to trust you. You can't take things personal if a cat doesn't bond with you the second you meet and take them home. It takes time to build a connection and don't give up or feel discouraged if it isn't there right away! Some cats also do not show affection in the way that would be obvious to humans. For example, sleeping at the foot of your bed or blinking slowly back at you.
Yeah thats true. If cared well the cat will bond over time. It just needs patience and time. Our cat bonded with my brother way faster then me. But after some time he bonded with me too.
Good advice!
I blink slowly at the cats I love. Or a lot of cats in general. It always helps them feel more trusting of me.
Love this video.. Wessy is almost 13? He doesn’t look a day over 4 years old lol.. I rescued my cat when he was 4 weeks old and next month he’ll be 1yr old I love him dearly.. will definitely look into harness training.
Thanks, Erica! And yes, I agree that Wessie looks quite youthful. We'll be coming out with a review of the best harnesses soon, so stay tuned. :)
I was a cat guardian for 21 years, and I learned some new things in this video. While I'm not quite ready for a new pet, these will be kept in mind for when I am. Thanks for putting this out.
I just lost my blind orange boy and I am not ready yet. It’s been 4 months. When do you know it’s time to adopt again?
@@colleencatalano3547 whenever youre ready
Hope you'll soon feel ready again & bring home 2 from a shelter.💗
@@colleencatalano3547don't expect for the pain of losing your other beloved pet to be gone before you share your love & life with another feline. That tinge of pain is a sign of the true love you shared. And you are missing time & love you could be sharing with a wonderful new & different cat that will also be loving comfort.
My best advice for new cat guardians would be, if possible, adopt siblings or a bonded pair. I have six cats and four are related (grandma, mom and two brothers). The other two are “uncle” Oliver and baby Nyx. The related cats are all bonded, with the strongest bond being between the brothers. It is so nice to see the relationships between the cats and when I was surprised to find a stray 3 month old kitten, the kitten brothers immediately made her feel at home. Having one cat means that you’ll be their source of social interaction. Having two means that they will always have a pal (if they’re bonded). That’s just my two cents. Cats are VERY social animals. Anyone who says differently hasn’t spent time with a group of cats. Even though six is a lot of cats, I know that they’re all happy with me and their cat family.
Always baffled me as a kid that people claimed cats to be "Solitary creatures". Grew up near a stray cat colony and was like "If they don't like company why do strays group together?". Cats aren't solitary, they're territorial. There's a big difference. If you're one of them they don't care too much. Bring a stranger or an unwelcome guest to their turf and they'll be mad, just like you'd be.
your last point about worrying about their health all the time really hit home for me. I lost my Ned in Jan 2020 and since then, I am constantly worrying about my other boy Clem non-stop and I think it really has effected me when all i do is worry instead of living in the moment. I will try and do a better job in the future with this and thanks as always for the insightful videos!
Hey Tim, sorry to hear about Ned...it makes sense that you'd find yourself worrying about Clem more now. I'm glad that this gave you some inspiration and wish you guys all the best!
I never worried about my oldest cat, Baby til I bought Felix home, and I'm always constantly worried about them both, because Felix bullies Baby when we're not home (which leads us to put Baby in bedroom with food, water and litter box safe away from him while we're not home.) On top of Felix's issue on using litterboxes but for my third cat, Im not even worried about him one bit and enjoy all moments we have with that little boy.
Lately I've been worried about Baby due to her age, she just turned 19, and we seriously thought she was going to pass away during the surgery we attempt to help her be more comfortable, but she pulled through. Almost 2 weeks since the surgery and she's doing great. Living in the moment with her now!
Lol at Wessie cleaning himself in the background. I'm so surprised he is almost 13! he looks so healthy :)
I know right? So cute Wessie is when he washes lol.
That is so true - my sensitive cat was so shy and feral when I adopted him. 1 year later he started to sleep under my comforter and even on my lap :) he’s so sweet now. I’d say to feral cat owners: give them time and your efforts will pay off :)
I had a stray/feral cat that was scared and didn't like anyone but then one day when I was really upset (I had dumped my ex) and he just came up to me and comforted me. Like he knew how I was feeling. I named him Aulus and I couldn't convince my mom and step dad to bring him inside, even though I got him neutered, and one night neighborhood dogs came around and I never saw Aulus again
I never really had a cat that actually liked me like he did, he was the best
Thank you for not just repeating the basic advice that everyone gives. This video was actually really helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
I wish I'd known that they sometimes can't adjust to moves at all. I had 2 cats who I'd hand-raised from 4 weeks old (Brutal). When I did this, and for the first 4 years of their life, I lived in a very quiet rural area. Very few neighbours, very few animals (Quite a few very scary roads, and a bird of prey sanctuary close by). They were indoor cats and loved just watching the outside world.
We moved when my baby was 4 months old (Who they took so beautifully to). And then the problems came. Vet kept saying they were fine but they weren't - Peeing blood, coughing lots, sneezes etc. Finally went to another vet and they said it was stress, so bad at that point it was literally killing them. Our new place was right by a very busy bus stop, heavily popolated and LOTS of dogs all over the place. They heavily avoided windows and would freak out when they heard dogs barking etc. Eventually I had to rehome them to a family friend who lived in a very quiet place too and they improved in under a month. It was deviatating. And if I'd known that could happen I'd have looked at other locations; but I'd always been told that very little phases cats and they adjust easily to things like that. And had certainly never heard of a move making them that dangerously stressed! Tried for over a year to make adjustments for them but nothing was working, and at the point when we finally found a compitent vet, it felt very selfish to have kept them so long. Especially once they recovered so fast in a quieter home.
Forest’s story is straight out of a fairy tale
Fairy Tail 🐈
And she has emerald eyes, green like the forest 🌳 🐈⬛
My cat Beverly was found by the neighborhood lids in a plastic bag in the dump with 3 other kittens, all dead. They brought her to me in a boy's baseball cap and asked me if I'd keep her. She was so tiny, her ears were translucent. She was my companion for 15 years.
She's like an secret unlockable side quest character in a video game and her presence boosts the whole team's stats haha!
@@soandysirable *her
I love how she says cat guardian instead of cat owner.
It just feels better to have them as a family member rather than a possession
THANK YOU for tip #10. Recently adopted a bonded pair and initially was an anxious wreck, worrying about if I'll do something wrong. You've helped me come down from that.
Your channel and site has been invaluable to me in raising our new kitten. Thank you for all the work you put into your research and reviews. :)
Thank you for your kind words! Glad to hear that we've been able to help.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Yes, your videos are very thorough. Thank you!
The things I've learned after being a cat guardian for 30 plus years. Cat adore patterns and if you find they've gotten into one they will be very resistant to changing it, so make sure any pattern they do develop is something that you can live with forever. Not all cats like vertical options, it's good to give it to them but don't expect them to want it. My cat, that I have now, prefer lurking under things so I make designated spaces for her that meet her needs. And every cat I have ever known gets cuddlier as they get older. I agree with all the points mentioned in the video.
Hey Mallory! I just adopted our new cat almost a week ago now, and in preparation I watched probably ALL your videos on this channel (and your articles) in the weeks leading up to adoption. I just want to say thank you so much for your honest reviews and calming demeanor. I felt so prepared! Looking forward to more content! xx
Charlotte, this was such a lovely comment to receive! Glad to hear that you felt well-prepared for your new kitty's arrival! Wishing you all the best. :)
My son bought me a kitty in November after I have been retired a year. (To full-time be a caregiver for a family member).
Since a husband was a big fail . He felt I needed to look forward & love something/ someone less stressful . Ha!
Love my Whiskers & all this time I did not know my head was cold. She is so sweet❤
to keep it warm by laying on it🙄
I feed my cats dry + wet food, however my cats drink A LOT of water from the various water fountains I have in my house. Its a pain to clean them, however they love it and I love my cats so yuppp
I loooooove the phrase "cat guardian". I hate using the word owner so thank you for enlightening me!
I love how simple and professional you talk ! Ive followed alot of ppl who are cat bloggers but i recently found you and i feel so trusted towards u and love the way u talk about really necessary information!
Thank you for the kind words and for subscribing-the support is much appreciated!
I think another great thing to know is not to declaw cats! Many owners think that is the solution to prevent a scratched up couch when in reality you could train them very easily to scratch their cat tree.
This video could not have been timed better. I am bringing home my first cat tomorrow. The last tip really helped me. I’m going to try to stay in the present and enjoy my new kitty as she is. Thank you Mallory!!
So glad it was well-timed for you, Elizabeth! All the best to you and your new kitty. :)
@@AllAboutCatsYT thank you!! Any advice on acclimating with a shy cat who wants to hide?
I’ve been a cat guardian and foster for rescues and one thing to try with kittens and teen cats is experiment with toys. See what they like. Use those toys to interact and bond with them. Another SUPER thing to use for bonding and gaining trust of skeptical or semi feral kittens is Churu tube treats. These things are a miracle! Cats go crazy for them and I simply say the word Churu and they come running! Even if sleeping they wake up and come running!
Kitty gogurt!
Kitty crack!
The last part definitely hit home for me, as I am still struggling with this 4 years later. IT subdued after the first year of owning my cat, but recently I had been doing my research about everything im doing wrong with my cat (feeding dry food, vaccinations, lack of dental cleanings etc) gave me EXTREME anxiety. I felt like I had such limited time with her and would worry all the time. I was very naive back then when I first adopted my cat and didnt realize that the "conventional way" of taking care of a cat may not be the way thats good for their overall health, and im slowly getting my cat to eat a better diet, and im always worrying if she used the litter box or not, she has asthma as well so that just makes it worse. But im so trying to live in the moment :(
I totally feel you. I know that there was wet food and dry food and I had no idea about what the pros and cons were to both. My fiancé and I just took in his moms cat (his parents are getting a divorce) and I never had a cat before and this cat is like FAT and so I'm gonna put him on a better diet and now I'm gonna look into wet food. It's only a trial run (we have a bunny too and we wanna see if he gets along with him) and I do like the cat a lot but we are still debating if he is a good fit for us, but I might as well give him the best life we can here.
A lot of this new info is kinda overwhelming to be honest lol
I have two cats that can't eat any dry cat food because if they eat it, they start having asthma symptoms as whatever it is in dry food builds up in their systems. Feeding them stickly wet food alleviates the asthma greatly. (Grain free, gluten free) It may take a few weeks of strictly wet meat to see the difference it makes, but it worked for my two cats and saved a lot of vet/medication bills.
I like using thin cut (quick cooking) oats as litter. Totally safe for them to lick off their paws, very absorbant, and not perfumed. I have 12 cats and needed a solution that is both economical and healthy.
Cats are absolutely magnificent animals! I'm totally in love with them.
This was great. I had no clue about dental cleanings and certainly thought there would never be a day I needed to bathe Shorty. We have been cat parents for 3 months and our whole family loves her. She is the best cat!
So glad you appreciated it! Good luck to you and Shorty!
The not worry one hit me. I have had my eldest cat for 2 years and just got 2 new kittens 4 months ago and I am CONSTANTLY worrying. It’s bad. I will spiral into anxiety about if they’re happy, if they’re hungry even after meals, if their health is okay, if I’m a bad guardian, it goes on and on and honestly it’s exhausting. I need to practice understanding that as long as I’m open to learning and do my best then my babies will be okay. Thank you for that
All the best, Sahl! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. :)
Me, too - something to work on...
Came from the vet yesterday and learned that my fur daughter has a Urinary problem. Googling it made me so scared and cause me some anxiety, so the moment you said something about moisture and hydration, I paused and quickly changed her dry food into wet food.
Urinary issues are so stressful! I hope everything works out for your fur daughter. Take care!
Staying in the moment with my cats is so important for my health and theirs! I felt like I got every ounce of appreciation with them even though they both passed unexpectedly this year at 10 years old, which felt short.
I'm sorry about your two kitties, but I'm glad that you feel that you got every ounce of appreciation out of your time with them.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Thank you so very much. I learned how to stay in the moment, at least for short periods of time.😊
Stay in the moment is such a valuable lesson to learn, and one I am still actively learning with my two right now. One of the things I wish I had known before adopting mine was that nonrecognition aggression is a real thing- that it exists, and how to handle it. It's been a really big part of our lives that we've had to navigate and are still trying to overcome. Both of my cats have chronic health conditions, which means not only am I constantly worried about their health and wellbeing, but we're back and forth to the vet a lot which means a lot of aggression and stress events are triggered, which causes them to fight, which can further complicate their chronic health issues, which can instigate more vet visits. Sometimes it's like we're living in a vicious cycle and it's really hard on all of us. Being able to control my own emotions and worries so they don't pick up on that, and just be present with them in the here and now, even if I am worried about their current state of health is a huge part of it. Right as I am typing this, I am facing the possibility of emergency surgery for one of them in a few days if the medication doesn't work, and this comes on the heels of a week long process of reintegration from the other one just coming back from the vet and getting over a course of antibiotics.
I didn't know 7 years ago, when I adopted these two, that I would be faced with such huge, expensive, stressful, and difficult challenges. But that's the contract we sign when we take an animal into our homes. We protect them mentally, physically, and emotionally. We provide for them and give them a home. And in return they give us unconditional love and trust. It would have been nice if someone had forewarned me of how hard this path would be... but at the same time, if they had, I probably wouldn't have chosen to go down it. So in a way, I am glad I didn't know. They're worth it... no matter what.
Great video! When I first saw the title and listened to your ‘credentials’ , I thought that this wouldn’t be a particularly accurate video but decided to watch it anyway. Cats have been in my life as long as I’ve been here. You’re spot on with your tips! The personality changes that occur when cats get beyond 5-6 years are amazing. I had a unfriendly kitten that was easily overstimulated and would bite if you didn’t read her warnings. Her name was Tasha (named after Bullwinkle’s Natasha!) When she was around 6 yrs old she changed and became one of the sweetest cats I’ve ever known. All your tips are great…. Moisture… variety… leash training, etc. Please keep making videos!
Thank you. Glad to have earned your respect with these "things", and it's a pleasure to hear about your experience. 🙂
so glad you mentioned NOT TO FEED KIBBLE only a moist food, I am still at a COMPLETE LOSS that any Vet would recommend KIBBLE for any animal but especially for a cat because a cat is a feline from a desert and ONLY gets her water from her food thank you for the excellent video !
Is it okay to give both tho? Like wet food as the bulk and then some dry food on top. Just bc one of my cats is bigggg (Maine Coon) and the amount of wet food I have to go through to maintain her weight is just so expensive. So having dry food out for her as well helps me balance that. I always have fresh water out as well and they do drink from their water bowl. I’ve always done a mix of both. Mainly wet food and then dry food is just there to help manage and add extra calories and protein etc into their diet and... My cats like to snack here and there haha😭 I couldn’t imagine only giving dry food tho or that being the the bulk of their diet.
This is so authentic than 90% of the other videos on yt great content keep it up!
i absolutely love how you broke this video down to make it easier! thank you sm!!
Glad you appreciate it, Clarisa!
I really enjoy the way you talk. It's very calm and soothing.
Thank you for all your hard work. It is truly appreciated. 🖤
I love how you said “cat guardian” instead of “cat owner” because you can’t own a cat even if you adopt or buy them.
Personally, I'm a cat parent.
“Cat butler” is more accurate in my case
I am my cat's human. 🥰😺
The cat won’t get offended, it’s ok
But you can lease them with an option to buy :)
I don't even own a cat ( Hopefully I will one day ), but the dedication to care for them the way you do just makes this precious. :)
This was great, Mallory. Thank you for thinking deeper about issues that are much less commonly mentioned. As a suggestion for a new video, I would like to see one on dental care and different products. Thanks very much.
Thank you for the feedback, Sven. I've noted your suggestion for a future video.
This was a great video Malory !
It shows somebody ( you ) speaking to people from the heart not off a teleprompter . Great info ( especially the brushing the teeth ) let's hope he lets me do it !!! Happy Valentine's Day ! Ciao
Thank you!
I also love your story about how you acquired Forrest.
The last piece of advice made me feel sooo much better. I am adopting form a shelter soon, just cat-proofing my apartment meow 😸😺💗
Thank you so much for this advice!
Best tip ever is #10! So true! Thank you for sharing these tips. You're an invaluable help to so many people.
Sometimes a change of location makes a difference in cattitude because the cat feels more or less in control. They want to be secure.
Hi, Mallory...
So glad I've happened upon your channel, here.
Your number 10, being "In the moment" with your cat. So important. Thank you for this.
Really looking forward to the rest of your videos...
Thank you for using the term "guardian". Also a big thank you for bringing up the "moisture rich" diet and its importance. Today I listed 3 male cats on Petfinder and all of them were brought to us because they had bouts of UTI and urinated out of the box. There needs to be more education on just how detrimental a dry food diet is. So many cats lose their homes due to this, and so many die, because of total blockage of the urinary tract or kidney disease.
i really needed to see the part about worry. i just adopted my ivy four days ago and absolutely hate leaving her alone. i worry that she will get into something and get hurt or worse. i worry so much to the point i hate leaving the apartment. i’m going to try to be more comfortable trusting her not to get herself into bad situations.
For me the most important thing is that cats get old, from the age of 18 upwards are expensive years. Insurance is often extremely expensive and because they are often under medical care it’s difficult to get. We spent at least £2k in vet bills on our 22 year old cat in his last 14 months and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The cat we lost before at 20 went quickly but was still having Kenalog injections and painkillers for arthritis.
Thirteen is only middle aged, the only cat I’ve had not to pass at that age had an underlying heart condition the vet I had at that time was totally unaware of. Between my wife and I we have had 5 cats get over 20, my wife's oldest being 24. Enjoy every moment you have with your cat and as they get older modify their environment to make life easier for them. They can have a great quality of life if you put ramps in place, maybe carry them a bit more, play slower games, softer food, help with grooming after using the litter and a lot more visits to the vet.
Thank you for this video. I hope you the list never stop. The information you share is most appreciated❤
I love how organized your videos are. Keep it up! :)
This is one of the best and most informative cat videos I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing your experiences! I’m currently a furparent of two 💛
I would say not to drive yourself crazy with all the choices of food out there. I researched and researched ad nauseam. My cat is 16 and is happily living a healthy life eating Fancy Feast wet food. You don't need to spend tons of money on food, unless you want to.
Yup I read up on that. It's a very good choice for your cat. Not to mention, purina is a very trust worthy brand: they've had no recalls with the brand.
@@danibaie actually they have had recalls, check mallorys review on it
Fancy Feast Gourmet is a MUCH better food.
The great thing about having a cat is that they are easier to take care of than a dog. My cat passed away a few years ago now, at the ripe ol' age of 21 years. I rescued her from a blizzard one stormy night...she had frost bitten paws and lost the end of her tail to frostbite. I named her Blizzard. I fed her a mix of high quality dry and wet food. She was an indoor cat but I trained her to be able to be on our back deck without going off of it. She loved to lay in the sun. I never brushed her teeth...and they were perfectly fine her whole life probably due to the types of food. I never gave her a bath and her coat was immaculate...except once when she was nailed by a skunk...and she was so dazed...the bath really didn't bother her at all...lol.
Tomorrow, we are getting a new kitten, Gus. I hope we have a wonderful life together.
If so , could you name some of the most healthiest organic dry and wet foods ? & also is it fine for them to drink water from the sink or is there any other better inexpensive alternatives since most public water is contaminated?
Nailed skunk..means what..bad
I could not stop laughing because Wessy was bathing in the first part of the video! I had to watch it again and you touched on so many valid points! I love my cats and i am always concerned about their health and overall well being. I'm definitely going to take your advice about being in the moment and cherishing the time I spend with them.
Awww, thank you! I'm glad that you got a kick out of Wessie in the background. Glad you're here. :)
Love your channel. Food, litter, toys and more, all your advice has been accurate and helpful.
Love this video. We bring our cats wherever we go. I can confirm rotating food choices helps make sure you can feed your cat when certain brands are out of stock. I'm also a huge fan of pine pellets - only $7 for a 40 lb bag if you look around.
Hi Malory, I am John. I have 2 cat since 10 years, unfortunately I lost one 3 weeks ago, from a cancer on the pancreas, even thought followed by a vet all year had 4 blood test? 5 visite on vet but they could never have done nothing for that kind of cancer. It is a huge gap in my life.
My favourite topic it’s they personality change it defendly does! Take patience with your cat without to force him to do something it will not goes no where, respect the free will of your cat will reward you much. And after the bath I realise they were much comfortable when I wasn’t feeling the bath with a bit of water in their paws, since them I do with a bucket and a little cup to rinse him. They already came very dirty from they errances.
I use hardwood pellets instead of pine since they contain no oils or scent. I also spritz the pellets with water to soften the top layer of pellets for better "paw feel." I compost the resulting pellet powder.
I know what you mean about the worry. I don't have a cat, but my dog will turn 10 this year and I constantly think about how much time I have left with her. Just thinking about the idea that she won't be here one day makes me start crying. I stay in the moment with her like you suggested, but the thoughts just creep back in. Will continue to try. Really enjoyed your video. I would love to bring a cat into my home someday, so I'm starting to research about them now. I've never lived with a cat before. Thanks for your awesome video ! ❤
Incredibly valuable insights that aren't usually mentioned elsewhere! Thank you
I appreciate your videos so much! I plan on getting a cat soon and your videos have been very informative. There are so many myths surrounding cats and it has been interesting learning new information about these sweet babies.
Definitely needed to hear that last tip. Love your blog and channel!! You have helped me so much as a new cat guardian in the past year.
Thank you for talking about the 10th point. Having grown attached to my feral cats, it's just the point I wanted to hear. ❤
Thank you for answering so many of my questions . I have 4 for cats and I'm always looking for ways to be a better cat person to give my babies a happy , healthy life style .
Thanks for being here! :)
I had a black and white female tux for 20 years. He was an indoor/outdoor cat for her first 10 years, then she was only allowed outside on a leash or a line connected to a clothesline for a few years. She had no trouble wearing a collar and didn't need training for the leash.
This is great! Very good information! Love the idea of mixing dry/wet food. Keeps it interesting for them, and varying textures helps keep them stimulated.
I’ll always remember growing up we had a male cat that was always so cold and not affectionate at all then he got really sick and almost passed away but don’t and my mom took such good care of him and when he got well again he was completely changed and was so friendly and loving always wanting cuddles. Little guys near death experience really changed him
Thanks a lot for all the informative videos about cats. They've been so helpful for us.
Glad you like them!
We need more videos expanding on each of these points!!! I think another good one that I have come to learn is to not to play with your cat with your hand and use a toy to divert it (learned the hard way)
This is the best video...ever!!!!! YOU DID SO WELL!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you, Riya!
Great! So glad you made this video! I wish people getting cats would have access to this important information and all your videos. Most people don't know much or nothing about cats and they have to suffer for that ignorance. You have super easy to watch videos. Great style with not too lengthy videos, but you get in the important info in a narrowed down, simplified, easy to listen to calm voice, very organized in presentation. If I wasn't so tired I'd add more and say it better...lol! Sorry ...So happy you are so committed to helping people help their cats. Wonderful you!!
I miss having cats around. I now live in a flat and as I previously lived in a house with a garden, I could see my cats really loving going out, climbing up in trees, hunting, following us from a distance etc. Maybe training a cat to be walked with a leash might be the solution, but it seems to be a limited freedom compared with what they can enjoy when they're free to explore a territory. In the other hand, no more injury after hard cat fights. They really are felines and sometimes just want to crush their rival.
Excellent advice! All things that have taken me over 30 years to learn and absorb with a number of cats over the years. The only other thing I would add is; 11) You never stop learning about your cats and always be prepared to be surprised by them. We are just about to adopt a couple of boys from the same litter who are 12 weeks old, the learning curve starts going up again, it's great fun! 😸😸😸
Thank you for stopping by!
thank you so much for this video! i'm a new cat parent and i worry all the time that i'm not doing enough or the right things for my little guy. but this video has helped me relax :)
Great stuff M.
#5 is totally true.
My little lady used to sleep on the foot of the bed for a long time.
One night I was sick and she came up and slept on my chest and stared at me while she purred.
Hello from Newfoundland! I highly recommend Feline Fresh clumping. It’s pine with guar gum as the clumping agent. It’s flushable, if you choose, or compostable. Even after many weeks it still smells like freshly sawn pine. I have 5 cats and will use nothing else!
Thanks for the recommendation, Gern!
Hey Malorie, first time watching your channel...really like your info- you clearly love cats...my first cat Mage (maggie) nearly made it to 20yrs . Took 7 years but now am gaurdian to 2 siblings...
Learning loads ...Thankyou!
this whole video was so thoughtful, sweet and kind. If I ever become a cat guardian (i love that you used that word instead of 'owner'), i will absolutely be referring back to this video, thank you! :))
I would add “car training” as similar to the harness/leash training for the future. I would bring my cat Buck with me to my partner’s place, out to do quick chores or get drive thru food, to go pick up friends, etc. He would sit in the passenger seat with his harness on and genuinely enjoyed it! He didn’t associate the car with only going to the vet, which at the end of his life (when he had weekly vet visits) this was amazing. He actually liked the adventure/wasn’t traumatized by it. I see so many cats that are terrified of getting in the car, and it breaks my heart especially when they’re already sick!
I’m going to try this with my new cat too even if he’s a bit shyer, so maybe just short desensitization trips in the car before his next vet visit.
Obviously there is the risk of getting in a crash with the cat, but I feel the improvement to his quality of life overall (not leaving him at home for long periods, not afraid of the vet appts) was worth the risk.
I myself was glad that I did know all these things. Of course knowing would have made it more easy for me, but finding out myself is an experience between my first cat and me.
Okay as a child we had cats, but the only thing I had to worry about was give my love to these cats. In the seventies and eighties the most shops only sold one procuct, but nog in much variaties.
After our last family cat died, and I was living on my own... it took about 15 (?) years before my first cat walked in on the 4th of January 2012. I did efforts to find the owner... but nobody showed up. He was about 4 months old.
The market for cat food was very different than back than. So my first instinct was... I love to eat (type of food)... but not every day, so I started to give my cat every day another species of (wet) food...and two types of dry food. And Poeshka (as ik called him) loved me (from the start).
We moved about 4 times after we met, within 2, 5 years. But even if we just 2 or 3 days before, he always came back after he escaped. He always knew that he was safe on my shoulders, after playing often hide and seek. If I first touched him, he would lose, if he got om my back (when I was crawling) he won ! Yes if he got on to my back he was the winner (king of my castle).
Of course I made him win al lot, but not always. ;)
And therefore I am glad not to know all these things that you mentioned. Didn't Gandhi say that the road to knowledge is more important than reaching it? I don't know about that... but I'am so glad that I have gone this road with my own Poeshka together.
He is about 11 years and 9 months now and still alive and kicking.
I would not have know as half as much if I knew it from only reading.
For me personally it is a road to knowledge between me and my first (own) cat! And he never left me, he still feels safe on my shoulders. and even trusts dogs as long as I am with him.
So please "All about cats" I quess you had about the same experience. Don't wish you knew everything about cats before you addopted one, learning together with your own cat makes your bond with that cat so much stronger!
Oh, and you do not need a leash for your cats (except you are living in the city). In many rural areas you can walk with your gets without a leash. I often take around the block with my remaining cats. That way we bond more.
Unfortunatly 2 cats died, a mother cat and one of her cups between 2017 and 2020 , not because of an accident but from probably bad genes. They are being missed, I wish they still be here,
I like your idea of harness and leash training, which I have not yet done. Before starting with this, it is important to get flea treatment prevention! I live in an apartment high rise and I have no doubt there are fleas in the hallways and elevators because we are a pet friendly building. Your cat can still get fleas even being an indoor cat. It has happened to me twice!
Great point!
I used pine litter for 3 years and then it got to a point where it didn’t matter how much I cleaned or changed the litter box, my apartment would smell like cat pee right when you walked in. It stopped working for us which is very weird...
I switched the traditional for the first time about 2 months ago and kinda wish I had always used it. I have had zero problems with smell or it being a mess
3 cats 4 litter boxes
I'm trying to switch from traditional one, cause my baby boy( second cat) just keep dragging the clay litter everywhere and not we have 2 cats ,and 2 types of bathrooms a traditional one and a pine one and I don't wake up to a pockets of litter in my bedroom.
But I too have a slight smell problem with the pine one, any tips are welcomed 🙄❤❤❤
Thanks
Thank you SO much! The support is hugely appreciated.
I would love a video about your feeding routine with your cat! (what brands do you feed your cat, proteins, etc!)
Thanks! We'll consider it.
This is a fantastic intro video. The points raised about a cat's diet is top notch advice. Thank you for posting.
I adopted my first cat, Chloe, last December. Before I adopted her I did a lot of research because I really didn't know anything about cats. i’ve always had dogs. At any rate, Chloe uses pine pellets for her litter. Smells better, cheaper, and easier to clean.
I haven’t tried those, but my cat likes the pretty litter sand. I don’t know why anyone gets clay. It’s awful.
Great video! Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for the notes! I really appreicate you brought up the no.10. still workin on it
I like the honesty in this video and great info😻
OMG I MISSED THE NOTIFICATION TO SO MANY OF YOUR VIDEOS IM SO SAD
And I've missed you!! We've been changing up our schedule a little bit, so I'm glad you were able to make it to this one. :)
You can still catch up on all the videos
I love cats and this was a helpful video. The last cat I had I learned pretty quickly that there was no way I was going to get away with closing the bedroom door at night and keeping them out. So bear that in mind. But its nice to hear them purring as you go to sleep.