Birthday present to myself!

[princesss]

Well, my birthday was on Wednesday, and I went out and picked my present up today. I hadn''t intended on doing it quite this soon (I was going to wait a few more weeks) but it was love at first sight.

The name the shelter used was London, but I''m not sure if I''m going to keep that. She''s 5 or 6 years old, and quite the lovely lady. I got her from the shelter and couldn''t be more in love. I gave her a chance to get comfortable with one little space, but I left the door open and she walked right out and wandered around. She''s making herself very comfortable, which thrills me.

I''ve been waiting for a cat of my own for 16 years, and I''m super excited I finally got her.

 

[princesss]

...

 

[Kaleigh]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! London is such a beautiful cat, love her eyes. So glad you rescued her, she looks like such a love!!! Enjoy her!!!

 

[LegacyGirl]

Happy B-day!! What a sweetie! Sooo pretty.

 

[Steel]

I love her. What a wonderful cat. (ps I am delighted she is a rescue cat, thank you and well done for taking her in!)

She is such a regal beauty.

ps. As far as a name, I do not love London for her. How about Catherine? and Cathy or Cat

for short. I could imagine her being a Catherine.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Happy Birthday and congratulations on your kitty! She''s very pretty and looks like she''s bound to be well-cultured with all the books she''s planning to read there

 

[princesss]

Date: 5/24/2008 7:21:54 PM
Author: Steel
I love her. What a wonderful cat. (ps I am delighted she is a rescue cat, thank you and well done for taking her in!)


She is such a regal beauty.


ps. As far as a name, I do not love London for her. How about Catherine? and Cathy or Cat

for short. I could imagine her being a Catherine.

I just love rescue animals. While I understand the desire to get an animal from a breeder, I think that often you get better pets when you rescue. I was looking at all the kittens they had (there were around 20 kittens!), and I turned around and saw my kitty and that was that. I ran home, got money, bought food, litter, and everything the nice people at PetSmart said I''d need, and got back to the shelter as soon as I could. I think we were just meant to be.

The only thing that upsets me is that her previous owners declawed her front paws and it just makes me so mad thinking about my poor cat suffering through that.

She is also the only creature on Earth who seems to love my books as much as I do. She''s making herself quite comfortable back in the bookshelf.

 

[Ice Princess Cristy]

She''s so beautiful! I love cats, they have such great personalities!!!!! Gosh... naming is one of the hardest parts. I usually have to wait a few days and watch before I can name.... so you can imagine my struggle when I had to name my 2 kids before they were even born

How fantastic and happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Catmom]

Awww, what a fantastic birthday present!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!

 

[zoebartlett]

She''s beautiful! Happy birthday -- what a nice present to give to yourself!

 

[AmberGretchen]

What a beautiful kitty!! Your story of how you found her was so heartwarming - I actually teared up a little bit just reading it. I love that you rescued her, and I can see why you fell in love - she is just gorgeous, and she looks like such a little love!

I don''t know why, but she looks like she should be named Lady to me - that was the name that popped into my head as soon as I opened the thread and saw her pictures.

But I''m sure whatever name she ends up with, you couldn''t possibly love her any more than you already do. I waited many years to get a kitty of my own (and now have three

) and they bring such incredible joy and love to your life. Congratulations, and I can''t wait to see more pictures and hear what name you''ve picked as you and your lovely new family member settle in together

 

[Babyblue033]

What a BEAUTIFUL lady! Congratulations on your new baby and how wonderful that you adopted her from the shelter!

It makes me so happy to see people adopting older cats, especially now because it''s a kitten season and there are so many kittens out there and older cats get completely overlooked. I''m sure you''ll have many many happy years with your gorgeous baby and please keep us posted n what you decide to name her.

And I agree with AmberGretchen, she looks like a "Lady" to me too

 

[Kaleigh]

Another vote her for Lady. She''s regal, loves her literature. She''s a classy lady for sure!!!

 

[iheartscience]

She''s absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations! I have 3 rescued kitty babies and I love them so so much! I love her spot behind your books-my newest rescued baby Ophelia (I''ve had her for about a year and a half) loves to do the same thing in my bookshelves! I think they love the books because they''re so smart!

I also am not crazy about the name London for her (tell her no offense!)...it''s so boyish and she''s clearly a beautiful lady! Something more dignified and ladylike seems better!

 

[darling]

She really is lovely. Enjoy!

 

[wolftress]

Oh she is just adorable! We recently adopted another cat (we now have three) and he was exactly the same. The minute we opened the door of the cat carrier, he just walked out and made himself at home. He has settled in very nicely and gives us all the head bonks and snuggles we could ever want. I''m sure your gorgeous lady will be very happy with you. Oh and another vote from me for the name Lady!

 

[Deelight]

Awww she is beautiful I like the name lady as well she definitely has a way about her

 

[IrishBreakfast]

Oh she is beautiful! Congrats on your new baby and happy birthday!

 

[Lorelei]

She is GORGEOUS, it was meant to be!!!!!!!!!!!! You did a wonderful thing in giving her a loving home, may the two of you enjoy many many happy years together!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chiquitapet]

What a beautiful and elegant kitty you have there! Happy birthday! I like your story about how your two found each other.

I got my boy kitty from a rescue shelter as well and it felt very satisfying giving him home after he was found in a box thrown out in the street.

 

[princesss]

Well, she picked her name last night. She''s Lola. I kept trying out names, and she just gave me the weirdest looks. However, when I said, "Lola" she perked right up, came up to me and started purring. So Lola it is. (Honestly, it wouldn''t have been my first choice, but she really likes it.)

Thank you for all the good wishes. She''s adjusted so well already. She''s a very vocal lady, so getting to sleep was a little hard. When I woke up, though, she was sound asleep in the bookshelf.

Also, I have a question for all of the cat owners here. Lola was declawed before I got her. I didn''t know this when I got her a scratching post, though. Should I keep it? I''m leaning towards yes just so that if she does still feel like scratching she has a place for it. And how do I make a bed seem appealing to a cat? I got her one so that she''d have someplace soft and comfy to sleep, but it''s been totally ignored.

 

[Ice Princess Cristy]

Date: 5/25/2008 9:28:41 AM
Author: princesss
Well, she picked her name last night. She''s Lola. I kept trying out names, and she just gave me the weirdest looks. However, when I said, ''Lola'' she perked right up, came up to me and started purring. So Lola it is. (Honestly, it wouldn''t have been my first choice, but she really likes it.)

Thank you for all the good wishes. She''s adjusted so well already. She''s a very vocal lady, so getting to sleep was a little hard. When I woke up, though, she was sound asleep in the bookshelf.

Also, I have a question for all of the cat owners here. Lola was declawed before I got her. I didn''t know this when I got her a scratching post, though. Should I keep it? I''m leaning towards yes just so that if she does still feel like scratching she has a place for it. And how do I make a bed seem appealing to a cat? I got her one so that she''d have someplace soft and comfy to sleep, but it''s been totally ignored.

Lola is perfect then! Yah!!!

Scratching post is still ok, they still will simulate the scratching motion... and it could be self soothing, so that''s fine.
We have a cat bed and ours NEVER uses it! He prefers our real bed or my son''s bunk bed. I did put it in the sunlight by the window, but that still didn''t help. Friends told me that they either use them or don''t. Good luck!

 

[Steel]

"I have a question for all of the cat owners here. Lola was declawed before I got her. I didn''t know this when I got her a scratching post, though. Should I keep it? I''m leaning towards yes just so that if she does still feel like scratching she has a place for it. And how do I make a bed seem appealing to a cat? I got her one so that she''d have someplace soft and comfy to sleep, but it''s been totally ignored. "

Everybody will have a different answer for this because all moggies are unique. God bless pussy cats!

Anyway, I bought two cat beds an open soft bed and a covered bed - a bit like a fluffy pleather tent! I call it their cat cave (like batman in his bat cave). Well over time the cat will go where he or she pleases and nobody can stop them - short of a squirty water gun

. In order to introduce our cats to the bed and cat cave i placed their toys from the day into the bed so that they knew it was theirs to use. Eventually it became a toy store area so they knew where their toys were and i could keep the house tidy. When they want to sleep in their beds they move the toys out or sleep on top of them

. The closed in bed is great for privacy for a cat. Especially when they are sick our boy and girl love to climb in the cat cave and be safe.

Another top tip is to put a worn shirt or soft item of clothing into their bed so it will smell of mommy. Especially good if you do not want to have Lola on the bed with you at night.

I love cats, they are the best and I am sure you and lola will be the best of friends.

Another tip is to spend time with her. I mean when you have a few moments sit or lay beside her. Do not go to touch her, but let her come to you if she wants to. Say nice things to her and bond like that. I found even with the most stand offish of cat in the worst mood they cannot resist a soothing voice and will come to you for petting. If they come to you then they will not tire of petting but if you always go to them then they may want some space!

Try to play with her from now. If you wait till later she may not be interested, being an older moggie. a feather on a piece of string or even string is a great toy. Try to find out what treats she likes too. Our cats hate each other''s treats so it can be hard to find the right ones. But when you do it is a great incentive for the cat to do the right thing. Both of our cats will come to us immediately they hear their treat box being shaken! It is great when you are runnign to work and hope you have not locked the cat in the laundry etc.

I am sure you will be a great cat mommy.

 

[Steel]

Declawing:

It breaks my heart to think of a cat being declawed. My Henry sometimes comes home with his claws chipped and i wonder if he did not have his claws would he have come home safely today? He has never once destroyed a piece of furniture. He has always had a scratching post and we never had to teach him to use it. Our mitten is still less than a year and i have the scratch marks to prove it. So what? We taught her to use the post early on and have never had an issue with furniture scratching. She likes to play hard sometimes and I go to work looking like i got my hand caught in a wilderbeast but i love her. She is a cat, cats have claws. End of.


Oh, if lola does hurt you at all , scream and cry like a baby. It really works! Mitten used to scratch me badly from time to time then about 6 months ago I started to cry and show her the bit she had hurt and she became more careful. She rarely plays roughly now.


I wonder if cats feel impotent not having claws? That makes me sad. I know that there is the theory of you cannot miss what you do not have but I do not subscribe to that. Bless.

It makes me smile to see mitten scrape at the floor beside her food when she wants to save some cat milk or chicken. I did not teach her to do that. I doubt her mother did because her mother was sick so we had to take her early but she knows - instinctivly - to do it.

Cats = claws.

As far a lola goes she is an older cat and i am sure she is used to it by now. Keep the scratching post and show her how to use it. Bring her over to it and be interested in it. Scratch it yourself with your nails and exclaim how nice it is. Gently hold her and use a paw to make a light scratching motion on the post and make the same excited comment. Do it a few times and she will get the hang of it. I am sure it is instinct.

 

[bee*]

awww she''s beautiful!!

 

[princesss]

It makes me so mad when people declaw their cats. The lady at the shelter made a comment about how "lucky" I was that Lola had been declawed. I would much rather have some scratch marks on me or my furniture than have had somebody do that to my poor cat.

She seemed to take some interest when I was demonstrating on the scratching post, so we''ll see.

Thanks for the tip on getting her to come to me. She''s actually starting to come when I say her name. I think she''s already starting to realize just how much love she''s going to be getting. (Can you tell I adore this cat?)

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Happy Birthday! She''s lovely!!!!

 

[BigDiamonds]

Happy birthday and congratulations!

Lola is gorgeous!

We trained our cat to sleep in his bed by waiting until he fell asleep, then gently picking him and placing him in his bed. If we would pet him and talk to him quietly for a few minutes, he would just crash out again. After a few times of that, he started climbing into it by himself when he was tired. Of course, then he got big enough that he couldn''t sprawl out in the bed, and now he won''t sleep in it. So really, it''s always up to them in the end.

 

[2Artists]

Happy Birthday! I think that it is so wonderful that you gave Lola a loving home and a wonderful new name of her choosing to match. That is seriously awesome that you let her pick out her own name! It''s like a fresh start for her new life with you. Like a cat witness protection program. I remember I once heard that animals dig when you sing a song with their name in it because it gives them positive associations with their name rather than associating their name with getting scolded and learning to dislike it. She is a gorgeous girl and her eyes are just mesmerizing.

 

[disneybride]

Congratulations and happy birthday!! Is she a Russian Blue or a DSH? She looks like she has a touch of Russian Blue in her!

We currently have two rescue kitties. I grew up with cats my entire life until I moved in with my fiance. After a few years of prodding we finally adopted our kitty Gus at the end of January. He's 10 years old and the most gentle moose cat ever. He's HUGE - about 17 lbs, but he's a big puddle of love. He's very personable - meows at the sink to inform us he wants it turned out, plops himself in front of the food closet when he's hungry, and purrs like crazy when he gets a little attention. He has really been a bright spot for my FI and I. FI was never a cat person but he absolutely loves Gus, so much so that we adopted a one-year-old girl kitten a few weeks later! You really don't know what you've missed out on until you get a cat. They really change your life in little ways that you can't put your finger on, and the happiness and fulfillment are more than words. I hope your little one settles in soon.