Nrdsb4 - that’s interesting - I had to get rid of a cat after my second child was born. I never knew other people had problems like that. This cat starting fighting with my other cat (both males) as though he had never seen him before. The fighting was so bad I put them both the garage and they fought for three days. That’s when we know one (or both) had to go. We really weren’t sure what the problem was, the vet couldn’t even help. We thought we would have to get rid of both of them but we first got rid of the instigator and then the second cat’s personality changed and he became a much better pet then he had been before and we were able to keep him with no more problems.
Have not read all of this thread but have to say I am a cat lover. All of my kids, D1, S & D2 are cat lovers. D1 has a cat of her own.
D1 has brought her cat home for Christmas twice now and it has brought havoc on our home and our cat. Haha. No matter, cats are wonderful, loving and fun.
I’m enjoying the cat stories. Lergnom, happy to hear you’re hanging in there with the feral (though not so much anymore) kitty. It’s always nice to hear of a furry friend finding a protector.
How is Iggy doing these days?
^^^ Iggy is happily ensconced in his morning routine at the moment: making his rounds, sunning himself, claiming attention for some petting and food. It seems hard to believe that 5 months ago no one thought he’d be alive much longer. He’s due for his annual check-up about now. We’ll have his kidney values checked again. I imagine he still falls into chronic kidney failure levels as opposed to the acute kidney failure of August. However, he looks and seems to feel happy and healthy at the moment, so all’s good. Thank you for asking.
Good to hear about Iggy!
We bought a fluffy fake fur “nest” for our white kitty and put it in her favorite spot. I could not figure out why she would not sit in it until I finally noticed that the nest was not empty: the tortie jumped into it and quickly claimed it! Her fur blends so well with the fur material of the nest, you could not even see her! So we bought a different bed for the white cat, and let the tortie use the nest. Both kitties are happy nesters. 
The male cat does not care for fluffy beds. He took over Mr.B’s Stressless recliner.
Our feral cat is more relaxed today. Started sitting on my chair - evicting me last night - and spent much of the day on the chair next to mine. And was quieter. Also ate a little from the regular cat bowls, so the barriers about where she goes and what she does are breaking down. Spraying a little less. Maybe she’s marked everything. For a while, we were worried the cat had zero personality. Not that big an issue now.
Curious for those who know cats: If owners travel a lot, is it better to leave the cats home with a sitter every day or two, or better to find a sitter willing to house the cats in their home? Would the cats prefer their own territory… or more human company?
My cats definitely prefer their own territory/routines. I have someone check on them every day to make sure that food and water are okay and to clean out the litter box. Some cats might prefer some attention in the way of play or petting. Mine don’t but my daughter’s cats do better with with some one-on-one time.
My cats are completely indoor cats and very much creatures of habit. Just going in for their annual checkup sent two of them into a crazy stress induced spiral of illness. The Vet (who specializes only in cats) said it was not uncommon as many cats are very high strung. Three weeks later, with antibiotic injection, anti-nausea injection, B-12 injection, SQ fluids and special food they are finally back to their “normal” selves…
I always have someone come in when I am away on vacation to care for them in their own environment. I have the sitter come in twice a day to cater to my three clearly neurotic, high maintenance kitties! I can’t imagine my cats tolerating being in a strange environment coupled with strangers caring for them. Mine are also slow to warm up to visitors in my home …just my experience…your kitty may be more social?
We leave ours at home and a neighbor boy checks on her and feeds her. She’s a real people cat and would probably settle quite well in someone’s house if she was petted and given attention and if they had no other cats. She does not like to share her people.
Cats get stressed in unfamiliar places. A visit to the vet can leave their fur ruffled for days. I leave mine with a house sitter and auto feeders.
We took ours to Houston for 6 weeks when my husband was having chemoradiation. She was happy as a clam in the little apartment we rented. I think She enjoyed the smaller space and everyone being close by. Didn’t seem to bother her being in an unfamiliar place. She loves people. Doesn’t know a stranger. I think She thinks she’s a dog.
We left our cat at an unfamiliar place and she stopped eating and we had to take her right to vet when we picked her up. Never did that again. Always had someone come in. Cats bond to a place. The house is their territory in ways we can’t imagine.
IME, some cats are ok in unfamiliar places but only as long as their familiar people are with them and only if they get a chance to settle into the new place. And I guess some cats are more adaptable than others. When we were in temporary housing, my female cat suddenly flipped out at her littermate male cat. The vet speculated that his smell had changed due to the stress of the move. Eventually she calmed down at the sight of him and all is well again. Until I had to take him to the vet and we watched the same scenario play out. That visit to the vet does indeed ruffle the fur. I always leave mine at home with a cat sitter who stops in daily. The only time I boarded my cat was when my old cat had become too elderly and too fragile to be left alone with the youngsters.
What are automatic feeders? Are they for dry food or wet food? I like the idea. I have been leaving dry food our for free feeding in between the cat sitter visits (she gives them wet food).
I’m very happy to hear that Iggy is doing so well. That’s nice news. 
They are for dry food. We bought PetMate auto feeders because we have one cat that would not stop eating if we leave dry food out. She can eat a 25 pound bag in ine sitting. This way, all cats get their perfect portions for breakfast. Another benefit is that the cats do not bang on our bedroom door at 5 am begging to be fed. Instead, they sit by the feeders waiting for the feeding gods to dump out some dry chow.
Our cats rule the house. I think they are so elegant, like supermodels. They never look bad.
This video is a must for cat lovers, it captures what I love about them… sad cat diaries:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/sad-cat-diary-even-more-c_n_3248411.html
We would leave one cat with relatives who were musicians. Came to pick her up and couldn’t find her: she’d burrowed under a huge pile of music manuscript pages and was asleep.
My cat really likes to sit with people, why we travel she stays with my neighbor. We tried it once and the neighbor (who has 5 cats & with whom I had been discussing which is the best option) stated that clearly my kitty needs to be with people and it would be bad to leave her home with some one checking, another cat may prefer their own territory.
My cat is also kind of sensitive about being left. I may have posted this long ago on the thread, sorry if it is repetitive.
We went on a cruise for 10 days and my sis was supposed to house sit. The first night, she arrived and our utility room door was open. She was terrified and called the police. They checked the house and found nothing, but she just couldn’t get comfortable. She left and every day came and fed our cat. That cat had never been much of a scratcher, but she got so upset at being alone for that long that she shredded every single one of my 10 dining room chairs ( with the most expensive splurge I’d ever made on fabric).
I couldn’t bring myself to spend more money on those chairs. It took me until years later, when we put our house on the market, to finally get them recovered.