My OperaCat care 101
Monday, April 21, 2008 4:23:43 AM
Cat's name
The cat's name is Senya (Сеня), this is the name he responds to (when he feels like responding at all).
Daily routine
A week day begins at 7:30 am, the litter pan gets cleaned up.
Cleaning the litter pan
Cleaning it a not just dumping the whole box: the cat litter we use is "Feline Pine"; when affected by cat's urine, it dissolves into a sort of powder, which is usually *NOT* on the surface: the cat habitually puts plenty of "untouched" (not turned into dist) pine fragments on top when "covering up". I try to separate the untouched parts from the dust and simply dump the dusty fragments (from underneath) into the toilet (the dust is perfectly flushable). The primary litter bag stands right next to the litter pan; its location has a purpose - not allowing the cat to sit on the narrow sides of the litter pan when using it - if he does sit on the narrow end he may very well tip the pan over. A reserve bag can be found right behind the restroom door. There is a deororand spray standing close by - it is not very effective, yet sometimes the smell is too much - I use it and turn on the ventilation in the restroom to make it bearable.
Morning meal
Morning meal is around 8 am, variations are possible.
If there is no prepared oatmeal, a new portion is made in the white round cat dish (deep). Boil some water and pour it into the dish; then mix it all with a fork. Cut and chop some canned fish into little pieces and them mix them with the oatmeal. Put a plastic cover (plastic cling wrap) on top and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before serving (too hot for the cat otherwise). Make sure the dish cools off where the cat cannot get it (but not in the fridge - bad for the oatmeal and for the fridge).
A standard portion (morning or evening) is slightly more than one third of the cat's dish (white with a green border). If there is still oatmeal left from the piror serving, mix it with the new portion.
Every second or third day the cat gets a raw egg with his breakfast - just crack an egg into the dish.
Sometimes, yet not more often than 2 days apart, cat food is served with the oatmeal (yet not mixed in). Just a handful is enough, provided there is still oatmeal in the dish.
The walk
The daily walk happens after 6 pm (the blue leash is on the hanger), usually lasts around 40 minutes, not that it has to - I just can hardly stand more that 40 minutes walking around in lousy weather.
Evening meal
Evening meal is around 9 pm, there is not much difference between it and the morning meal. If cat food or egg was served in the morning, it should definitely *not* be served in the evening. Senya also eats light crackers as a side dish, so it is another possibility in the appetizers section.
Water must be refilled when necessary.
Cat Food cravings
Senya usually gets cat-food cravings after having a portion of cat food: he starts getting really obnoxious demanding more cat food *right now*, regardless of whether his dish is full or empty. If there is no food at all in his dish, I put some in to make sure it *is* cat-food he demands. In order to let him know his demands are unreasonable, I tap my fingernail on his dish - showing him there is food in it he should finish first; Senya knows what I mean when I do it.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LIMIT CAT'S ACCESS TO CAT FOOD, HE KNOWS NO LIMIT WHEN EATING IT. It is also quite bad for his digestion (gives him diareah).
However, if the cat gets constipated, giving him a bit more cat food is OK.
Social life/lap time
Senya demands at least one hour of lap time every day. It becomes really importand close to the night time (10 pm - 12 am); he gets very upset of during this period he is not getting the full attention (when there are people in the house).
Sleep
From my observations, Senya sleeps (or at least looks dormant) between 12 pm and 3 pm and then from 11 pm till 4-5 am. He is definitely up by 5:30 - 6 am when he uses the litter box.
Treats
I give Senya raw meat or fish as little treats between his regular meals. I cut fish/meat in little pieces and give them one by one to the cat. Senya knows how to "serve" (get up on his hinder legs) for the meat. I buy "thin cut" sliced beef for Senya and myself.
The cat's name is Senya (Сеня), this is the name he responds to (when he feels like responding at all).
Daily routine
A week day begins at 7:30 am, the litter pan gets cleaned up.
Cleaning the litter pan
Cleaning it a not just dumping the whole box: the cat litter we use is "Feline Pine"; when affected by cat's urine, it dissolves into a sort of powder, which is usually *NOT* on the surface: the cat habitually puts plenty of "untouched" (not turned into dist) pine fragments on top when "covering up". I try to separate the untouched parts from the dust and simply dump the dusty fragments (from underneath) into the toilet (the dust is perfectly flushable). The primary litter bag stands right next to the litter pan; its location has a purpose - not allowing the cat to sit on the narrow sides of the litter pan when using it - if he does sit on the narrow end he may very well tip the pan over. A reserve bag can be found right behind the restroom door. There is a deororand spray standing close by - it is not very effective, yet sometimes the smell is too much - I use it and turn on the ventilation in the restroom to make it bearable.
Morning meal
Morning meal is around 8 am, variations are possible.
If there is no prepared oatmeal, a new portion is made in the white round cat dish (deep). Boil some water and pour it into the dish; then mix it all with a fork. Cut and chop some canned fish into little pieces and them mix them with the oatmeal. Put a plastic cover (plastic cling wrap) on top and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before serving (too hot for the cat otherwise). Make sure the dish cools off where the cat cannot get it (but not in the fridge - bad for the oatmeal and for the fridge).
A standard portion (morning or evening) is slightly more than one third of the cat's dish (white with a green border). If there is still oatmeal left from the piror serving, mix it with the new portion.
Every second or third day the cat gets a raw egg with his breakfast - just crack an egg into the dish.
Sometimes, yet not more often than 2 days apart, cat food is served with the oatmeal (yet not mixed in). Just a handful is enough, provided there is still oatmeal in the dish.
The walk
The daily walk happens after 6 pm (the blue leash is on the hanger), usually lasts around 40 minutes, not that it has to - I just can hardly stand more that 40 minutes walking around in lousy weather.
Evening meal
Evening meal is around 9 pm, there is not much difference between it and the morning meal. If cat food or egg was served in the morning, it should definitely *not* be served in the evening. Senya also eats light crackers as a side dish, so it is another possibility in the appetizers section.
Water must be refilled when necessary.
Cat Food cravings
Senya usually gets cat-food cravings after having a portion of cat food: he starts getting really obnoxious demanding more cat food *right now*, regardless of whether his dish is full or empty. If there is no food at all in his dish, I put some in to make sure it *is* cat-food he demands. In order to let him know his demands are unreasonable, I tap my fingernail on his dish - showing him there is food in it he should finish first; Senya knows what I mean when I do it.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LIMIT CAT'S ACCESS TO CAT FOOD, HE KNOWS NO LIMIT WHEN EATING IT. It is also quite bad for his digestion (gives him diareah).
However, if the cat gets constipated, giving him a bit more cat food is OK.
Social life/lap time
Senya demands at least one hour of lap time every day. It becomes really importand close to the night time (10 pm - 12 am); he gets very upset of during this period he is not getting the full attention (when there are people in the house).
Sleep
From my observations, Senya sleeps (or at least looks dormant) between 12 pm and 3 pm and then from 11 pm till 4-5 am. He is definitely up by 5:30 - 6 am when he uses the litter box.
Treats
I give Senya raw meat or fish as little treats between his regular meals. I cut fish/meat in little pieces and give them one by one to the cat. Senya knows how to "serve" (get up on his hinder legs) for the meat. I buy "thin cut" sliced beef for Senya and myself.
