Great news! (about my cat)

[princesss]

I posted recently that I''d adopted my lovely kitty Lola, but that I was still worried about BF''s allergy.

Well, he just left after spending 4 days in my apartment, and I''m thrilled to say that his allergies barely acted up. He sneezed a few times and was a little congested one morning, but he said it''s completely manageable. Giving her up was never going to be an option, but I was thinking I''d have to go buy the HEPA filters and keep her out of the bedroom (which would keep me up all night) and bathe her every other day and all sorts of things. But he''s been insistent that a) I get her (when I was debating not getting her due to his allergies) and that b) I let her go wherever makes her happy. He thought that since I adopted her and she makes me so happy/keeps me from being lonely that the least he could do for her was not ban her from any room that she likes.

AND (as if this weren''t enough!) I learned that she will use her cat bed, it was just in the wrong spot. Now that it''s in a place she likes, she''s been napping in it every day.

I know this all seems small and silly in the grand scheme of things, but it''s rock my socks off news in princesss-land.

 

[Cleopatra]

Awesome! I just posted in the other thread about kitties that a hepa filtered air purifier can do wonders for cat allergies. I have slight allergies with my kitty cat Cleo - but I have a hepa filtered air purifier in my bedroom that is ALWAYS on. Pre-purifier, I would wake up with headaches and sneezing constantly - since I got the air purifier, all allergy symptoms have disappeared! I highly suggest them! Especially for your bf!

 

[princesss]

I will probably get one once he moves down here, especially because he may be living with me while he gets on his feet. At least I''ll have one for the bedroom, but I''ve got a month or so before I need to do that (so I can focus on a dining room table).

 

[FireGoddess]

That''s awesome, and I''m happy to hear it.

I just wanted to mention that I believe there are dander wipes that you can use, for people that are concerned about actually bathing a cat to reduce allergies.

Isn''t it funny about the cat bed? Cats can be so finicky. Chloe used my bed as a scratching post for TEN YEARS. Apparently it took that long for me to buy the PROPER scratching post, which she immediately took to. None of the other 6 were suitable, apparently.

 

[princesss]

Date: 6/13/2008 4:37:01 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Isn''t it funny about the cat bed? Cats can be so finicky. Chloe used my bed as a scratching post for TEN YEARS. Apparently it took that long for me to buy the PROPER scratching post, which she immediately took to. None of the other 6 were suitable, apparently.

I''m having the issue with her scratching post right now. She was declawed by her previous owner, which I didn''t know when I bought her scratching post, so I think this one is too harsh on her little paws. However, she loves "scratching" the couch and the bed, so I think she likes something soft on her paws, but I have no idea what to get her. I wouldn''t worry about it, but I''d really like her to have good habits in case I ever have another animal. Every pair of animals I''ve ever met (including dog/cat combos) ends up with the same habits, and I really don''t feel like trying to teach an animal that what one can do, the other can''t. So I''m hoping if I get her into good habits now, there won''t be bad ones for any other animal to pick up.

Unfortunately, I think she''s in the process of teaching me how to conform to her expectations. I guess I''m very trainable.

 

[FireGoddess]

I know they say you shouldn''t buy one that''s solely carpeted (ie. without sisal rope on it) but perhaps that would be the best for her footpads? You could ''catnip it up'' to let her know its hers, as opposed to any other carpet in the house.

Unlike Chloe, when I rescued Holly (outdoor stray) all I had to do was start scratching the post in front of her, and she immediately understood and has only scratched the post since day one. Some cats are easier than others!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Try a cardboard ramp post. My cats with claws love it and my parents'' old lady who is declawed likes to use it as well. Since you can embed catnip in it, it really isn''t too hard