Sawyer

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Posts by Sawyer

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  60

  I am trying to understand my cat

  by Fisherman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like i said on a previous thread, this is my first cat.

  this cat always follows me around and demands to be petted all of the time.

  he wants to be carried all of the time.

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  Sawyer

  Fisherman,

  You have described a very active, social cat that loves his human! Which behavior are you trying to break with the water pistol? I re-read your posts, but I'm not sure. Also, how old is he?
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  60

  I am trying to understand my cat

  by Fisherman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like i said on a previous thread, this is my first cat.

  this cat always follows me around and demands to be petted all of the time.

  he wants to be carried all of the time.

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  Sawyer

  Wednesday,

  I would replace the fly swatter with a water pistol or water sprayer. Spray them when they are where you don't want them, or you see that "i'm about to jump up there" attitude. I usually try to spray them 'on the sly' when I can - looking at the monitor, shooting under my arm - lol - you get the picture. You're right, the fly swatter would make a good toy and I'm sure they think you are playing. I have that same problem with the computer area when one is already in my lap and another wants some affection. I try to make myself get up, displace the one from my lap, do something productive for a minute (like load the dishwasher), pet anyone that's around for a bit, then go back to the computer. It usually resolves itself that way.

  With your two girls and the hissing - the first thing I would look for is a health problem with one of them. It may be something as minor as a kidney/bladder infection, etc. but the other cat may be sensing it. If somebody stops using the litterbox all of a sudden (unless it's too dirty for their tastes) that's a definite health problem - usually kidney/bladder infection.

  When you feel they want you to choose between them, I wouldn't. Either ignore both, do what I mentioned earlier with the computer, or I would get in the floor and play with both of them. And I do mean, actually sit on the floor at their level - ha! Somebody may be feeling more neglected, for whatever reason, and that should help over time. On the other hand, there are simply some cats with a personality that makes them want to be the only cat. I really don't think that would be the case with yours, since they have been together for so long and are siblings. I currently have a female not related to two brothers. She would be perfectly happy with no other cats, but she she doesn't mind the boys being around and ignores them for the most part. She doesn't bother them and they have learned that she doesn't want to play with them. Sometimes she will hiss at them if she's in a mood. On occasion, I'll find them curled up together, but that's pretty rare.

  For anyone thinking of adding a second cat to the family, one of the things rescue groups do (or at least mine have) is to rate the cats/dogs while they are living at foster homes as to whether or not they refuse others, tolerate others, or want to be around others. We try to adopt the loner cats to the people who only want one cat when we can. Others are just social and they want the companionship.
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  60

  I am trying to understand my cat

  by Fisherman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like i said on a previous thread, this is my first cat.

  this cat always follows me around and demands to be petted all of the time.

  he wants to be carried all of the time.

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  2. 
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  Sawyer

  Quote: I am a little afraid of him when he is in the hunting mode. One time he grabbed my hand and arm with his front paws and used his back paws to kinda scratch my am moving his back paws up and down many times while he was grabbing me with his front claws and teeth, He ddint hurt me with his front paws and teeth but I felt a little scratched with his back paws. Why did he dod that playing or was he in a mood?

  Hi Fisherman,

  You nailed it - his hunting instincts were at play there. He captured your arm, then tried to 'gut' it with his back claws. (not really of course, he was playing) If you ever watch the nature shows with tigers, lions, etc. you will see that after they bring down their prey, they use their back feet to rip open the soft stomach area while holding the prey's neck with their front claws/teeth. Ok - enough of that grossness... I can't watch those shows anymore. lol But, your cat was playing when the instinct took over. When I see that one coming, I get my arm away quickly - those back claws are horrible. But then again, I don't often use just my hands for playing as they get older. There's always a toy involved.

  Also, I forgot to mention in my earlier novella, that cat's in the wild mark the trees with their scratching behavior. Other lions see the marked tree and know that territory belongs to another. The higher the marks, the bigger the cat, etc. etc. Indoor cats have more need to scratch, because part of that behavior is to shed the nail sheath. Outdoor cats tend to take care of that sheath on the rough outside areas. You might sometimes see what looks like a perfect claw shell. That's the nail sheath that was aggravating them.

  It is interesting that most cats seem to use paws only when playing, but I've had some that use the claws too, no matter what. As soon as the claws hit my skin, though, I take my hand away. I've had a couple learn from that, but some never do.
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  60

  I am trying to understand my cat

  by Fisherman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like i said on a previous thread, this is my first cat.

  this cat always follows me around and demands to be petted all of the time.

  he wants to be carried all of the time.

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  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sawyer

  "A cat cannot be trained by a human and will never respond to discipline of any sort, leashes......etc"

  Sorry, but you are very, very wrong. I have walked cats on leashes for more than 10 years. If they go outside, they are on a leash. All my cats have been trained where they can/cannot sit, jump, scratch, etc. It just takes a little investment of time upfront, and then you're done. That word NO and the water sprayers mentioned earlier are very important!

  I've never had a cat that's not trained. I wouldn't want one that wasn't. To keep your cat from scratching where he is not supposed to, you will have to get a scratching post or posts or objects that are for the cat alone to mark his territory. That's why they go back to the same spots, to mark territory. Some cats will naturally adopt the scratching post, but others will not. I think sometimes people expect the cat to realize that hey- I bought you a scratching post - don't you see it? Just like everything else, you have to teach them that the object is theirs to scratch at will. How else will a cat know that he is allowed to scratch on some things and not others?

  Get your scratching post. In my experience, those covered with sisal rope work tons better than the ones covered with carpet. And not the ones that are 'straight up' in design, get them on an incline or flat so the cat can stretch while scratching. Also the carpet ones are kinda like your carpet, your lazy boy, your couch, etc. Talk about confusion! At pet stores, they also have these ramps or mats made out of corrugated (sp?) cardboard. These work great and are cheap. I've never had a cat that doesn't like to scratch on those. They usually come with catnip - sprinkle some on to attract the cat to it. (some cats are not responsive to catnip). I once had a 4x4 piece of plain old wood that my two cats used for 20 years. When they died, I got rid of that eyesore and moved to the sisal rope/cardboard ramp combo.

  After you get your post, you'll have to be diligent. When you see the cat scratching where he isn't supposed to, pick up the cat, take him to the post, and move his front feet against the post. Some words of praise here don't hurt. (ha) It usually doesn't take very long to establish this pattern. If you have something that the cat is determined to scratch, take some double sided tape and cover the spot with that if you can, or a plastic tarp if needed for a while on the couch arm, etc. Cats hate sticky on their paws. I had to plaster my kitchen sink one time with double-sided tape! (I hate cats on tables, countertops, etc.)

  I only have indoor cats now. I used to let mine go in/out as they wanted. Several years ago, I brought indoors 2 cats that were feral. One had lived outdoors for 14 years, the other for 9 years. They were wild. (and incredibly easy to train, I might add. If I didn't sit on it, they didn't jump on it.) After having them indoors for a few months, taming them, training them, etc., one day I had the door propped open because I was moving some stuff outside. They both rounded the corner, looked outside and took off for the back of the house like little bullets. "I'm not going back out there" was the message I received from that! Also, we have coyotes everywhere now, and for me, it's easier to keep them healthy and I don't have the added worries. I have two shelter cats now that were adopted as kittens. They have never been outside and have no desire to go out. My other cat was rescued from a dumpster, so we do the leash in the summer months on special occasions. So I'm lucky in that respect.

  Oh - wanted to mention that after working with animal rescue groups for many years, a lot of cat rescues are declawed cats. Some cats are okay after declawing, but some also develop behavioural problems afterwards due to the pain or discomfort they are in. So, the owners give them up.

  Teach your cat - it's really not difficult, just very repetitive. Animal experts say that cats are harder to train than dogs, because they are smarter. I don't know about that, mileage varies, but it just takes time like other things that are worthwhile. It will pay off in the long run!

  Sorry for the small novel and Good Luck to you and your kitty!
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  60

  I am trying to understand my cat

  by Fisherman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  like i said on a previous thread, this is my first cat.

  this cat always follows me around and demands to be petted all of the time.

  he wants to be carried all of the time.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Sawyer

  To add just a bit to what Barbie Doll said:

  To teach your cat NO is one of the best things you can do. If the spray bottle isn't handy (spray bottle training works great) gently push the palm of your hand against their nose while saying NO. That's how the mother cat teaches them when they are young - she pushes against their face to keep them out of danger, etc, etc.

  After they learn the word NO, teaching them not to climb tabletops, countertops, and refrigerator tops becomes a piece of cake.

  And the person that said - don't use your hand as a toy - excellent advice. If you train them to play/attack your hand, they will learn that lesson well. When they are a kitten, it's fun and cute. When they are grown, not so much!
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  154

  Lies on Line...I always thought JWD was a forum for Honesty

  by restrangled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after finding this forum and being raised in the jw religion, i found jwd a refreshing place for honest feelings, fears, life experiences etc.. the history of the jw's was exposed, and those who lived any experience under this regime has been told by many members.. to be lied to by any forum member is insulting.

  i have over my past year and 1/2 come to love many posters.

  i realize many more have much longer time put in here.. i have been honest and exposed more of my self than i care to think about, but always kept in mind that others were doing the same and it was best for anyone new.. to lie on this forum to all of these members is horrible and i am questioning why i am so honest here.

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  Sawyer

  I lurv Outlaw! I'll be hiding on top of the saloon to help you out!!
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  150

  I love debating with Liberals

  by Junction-Guy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for some reason they just remind me of jehovah's witnesses.. .

  maybe someday i will have my own conservative talk show.

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  Sawyer

  "won't" is a contraction for will not - JK666 - at least in my dictionary. Maybe my dictionary speaks hickese?

  What frightens me is that people look at their tax refund and use that as a barometer. That's what republican 'tax breaks' are always about. Take more now, so I can give a little back later...they will think I gave them a tax break!!! And, they rarely do notice as evidenced by our thread starter. Scary.
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  3

  First Witness visit - Ever!

  by Sawyer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, i had my very first jw visit in my entire life today.

  (and i'm not what you would call young).

  the weird part is that they came into my workplace?

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  Sawyer

  Well, I had my very first JW visit in my entire life today. (and I'm not what you would call young). The weird part is that they came into my workplace? I was working at a sales counter in a strip mall checking in orders when she walked into the store. I saw the car drive up and a man was with her in the driver's seat, she got out and walked up to the counter. I glanced up, expecting to take an order, and saw the Watchtower heading on her magazines. I said 'oh, the Watchtower", lowered my head and kept on working.

  She said " oh, you're familiar with our magazines?" and I replied " well, I know that you are a JW". She said yes, and then proceeded to tell me about some of the interesting stories I could read in her magazines (for the life of me, I can't remember one 'interesting' word she said). I told her, I wasn't interested. She said she could leave the magazines with me if I thought I would be interested in reading them? I told her that I wouldn't be reading them, but she was more than welcome to leave them with me. (I was going to browse and then throw them away). She said that since I wasn't interested, she'd just take them with her. I wished her a good day, and she left. I noticed she was headed into the next store in the strip mall - I haven't had a chance to ask them about it yet.

  I debated asking her about some of her doctrine (based on things I have learned here), but I was really busy and was afraid another customer might come in to the store in the middle of her diatribe.

  How odd! Witnessing to strangers while they are working??

  Oh well - I've now had my first witness encounter.
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  10

  Grandparents and money schemes/scams

  by darkuncle29 in

  1. social
  2. family

  hi peoples, .

  do any of you have experience with your parents or grandparents getting hooked on money making scams, publisher's clearing house, or other "schemes" where people call and use high pressure sales tactics and manipulation to get you to buy there program?.

  i know this is not jw stuff, but to me, it pushes alot of the same buttons.

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  Sawyer

  While you are there, get his phone number added to the 'do not call list'. I don't think this helps with companies he may have accepted offers from in the past, but it should help cut down on any new companies. But still, it couldn't hurt.
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  28

  Here's a hint

  by Junction-Guy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you want people to live a good life to show that happiness is the best revenge, then why not put your words into action and reach out as a real live friend to someone local in your area.

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  Sawyer

  If it's your choice, right now, to not make friends and remain aloof then that's fine. That's your choice.

  If you can't look externally for those sources of happiness, then this would be a great time to work on your internal choice of happiness. Use this time productively and figure out what makes you tick. Then, be happy that you are making progress whether in small steps or large ones.