The Chillout Zone (Off-Topic Thread)

Pumpkinseeds · 11-09-2013 6:58pm

I put Peppers new cushion bed in the safe room under the big clothes horse, thinking she'd have a bed with no other scent but hers on it. This was after I moved Felix's identical bed from that room to ours. Went upstairs to check something and Felix, wait for it, is in her new bed:rolleyes:, while Jazzy is enjoying his under the radiator. Will be heading off to try to catch her in half hour or so, don't know why I'm nervous:o

honerbright · 11-09-2013 8:23pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

Thanks, I was just thinking about your cats the other night, how are they, did the newcomer move in?

He wants to SO bad, you can tell. He's hanging around most of the day and sits at the front/back door/windows looking in but spooks when one's opened :rolleyes:. He came up about a foot away from my OH this evening at dinner time but was a bit nervous the whole time, thinking we might grab him. He's growing so big so fast, which is a relief because the vets said George so was small because of her illness. He's all skinny and lanky though but has a lovely shiny coat. I got a lovely shot of him chilling yesterday:

Hopefully by the time you read this, Pumpkinseeds, you'll have Pepper safely and soundly in your house!

Pumpkinseeds · 11-09-2013 9:04pm

He's stunning, Jazzy was that nervous for the best part of a year with us. Then one day he just said sod it I'm moving in and that was that, he's a lap monster now.

No success with Pepper, the box is too narrow at the bottom and she's too wary of it. It's heavy and she's very petite and I don't want to risk hurting her, especially since she lost her tail somehow and I don't know how or if she had any internal problems with that injury. We're not giving up though, our old travel crate has a big top opening and with a 2 person job we think we can wrangle her in. Almost had her tonight, only got a few small scratches this time(me not her):)

She was eating, well snatching cooked chicken out of my hand and dashing off after all of it so we haven't traumatised her. Couldn't have picked a worse night to do it. There was some sort of run going on and someone with a loudspeaker, then tons of traffic with soccer moms picking up their kids, I hadn't expected any of that and it didn't help. We'll try again tomorrow or Friday.

Whispered · 11-09-2013 9:31pm

Have you tried getting a trap from a local vet or rescue?

You could also use a dog crate. Feed pepper in it regularly then when you know she will go in and out without you near it, attach some twine to the door, looping it through the bar beside the door and stretching to the house, then when she goes in, you can pull the twine, closing the door and trapping her. You might need 2 or 3 lengths to make sure the door is shut tight enough to give you time to get there. I assisted with trapping a few ferals and that method worked very well. Although I did fear for my fingers picking the crate up!

Pumpkinseeds · 11-09-2013 9:59pm

Whispered wrote: »

Have you tried getting a trap from a local vet or rescue?

You could also use a dog crate. Feed pepper in it regularly then when you know she will go in and out without you near it, attach some twine to the door, looping it through the bar beside the door and stretching to the house, then when she goes in, you can pull the twine, closing the door and trapping her. You might need 2 or 3 lengths to make sure the door is shut tight enough to give you time to get there. I assisted with trapping a few ferals and that method worked very well. Although I did fear for my fingers picking the crate up!

The problem is a lot to do with where she is. While she's not feral the area is a little overgrown park/wood but it's very busy as it's on the edge of an apartment complex and a shortcut to a shopping centre so there's traffic and people all the time and she's very anxious. I wouldn't be able to get a quiet time to settle her. She is very wary of any box so I think the only thing I think will work is for me to grab her and my husband to zip the top of the crate shut. It's a big portable dog crate. Next time we'll try to catch her on a morning

toadfly · 12-09-2013 11:22am

Quick question to save me starting a thread but going to order a bag of Skinners for my mams dogs, she is feeding Burns and its mad dear. I can only find Salmon or Duck on Amazon. Is there a Chicken based one? Duck is £22, is that correct?

angeldaisy · 12-09-2013 11:39am

toadfly wrote: »

Quick question to save me starting a thread but going to order a bag of Skinners for my mams dogs, she is feeding Burns and its mad dear. I can only find Salmon or Duck on Amazon. Is there a Chicken based one? Duck is £22, is that correct?

The maintenance mix has chicken and there is also a chicken one for sensitive tums.

toadfly · 12-09-2013 11:40am

angeldaisy wrote: »

The maintenance mix has chicken and there is also a chicken one for sensitive tums.

Would you have a link please? Are these "complete foods" or mixers?

angeldaisy · 12-09-2013 12:29pm

toadfly wrote: »

Would you have a link please? Are these "complete foods" or mixers?

I cant link from my phone im afraid, but if you put skinners into the amazon search function, you'll see them. Both are complete foods

tk123 · 12-09-2013 12:38pm

angeldaisy wrote: »

I cant link from my phone im afraid, but if you put skinners into the amazon search function, you'll see them. Both are complete foods

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_p_6_3?rh=n%3A340840031%2Ck%3Askinners+dog+food%2Cp_6%3AA3P5ROKL5A1OLE&keywords=skinners+dog+food&ie=UTF8&qid=1378985888&rnid=419151031

tk123 · 12-09-2013 2:01pm

Guys anyone with the prefect fit harness - how long did it take to ship? Ordered one for Lucy, Bailey and my friends dog lol

borderlinemeath · 12-09-2013 2:16pm

Dunno about the harness but I ordered stuff from their website and it was ordered on a Wednesday night and arrived on the following Monday morning. I don't recall getting a confirmation email that the stuff had shipped so I remember wondering myself.

SillyMangoX · 12-09-2013 2:44pm

Sprained my ankle tripping over a cat... I love them really...

Tranceypoo · 12-09-2013 3:47pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I get a few flying into the house every year:o. The panic with me is that they'll stun themselves flying into a window and the dogs will get them before I do. I have such a soft spot for my returning swallows, but totally get how people can get freaked out by birds flying at them.

But.. the poo is AWFUL. Under the two nests is just stinky. And every couple of days I go in and shovel up the dried poo, disinfect and clean and by evening time there's more...when it comes to this time of the year I'm sort of glad to see the back of them but then I'm delighted when they return in the spring and all is forgotten!

Yes I have to get the shovel to pick up the poo at the bottom of the drainpipe (ok, my husband does) plus poo on the paths all around the house. The thing is I think birds are lovely and beautiful and bats and butterflies etc, but it's the wings and the flapping, even typing the word makes me shiver, so I can't cope with them inside the house I go into meltdown!

tk123 · 12-09-2013 4:40pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Dunno about the harness but I ordered stuff from their website and it was ordered on a Wednesday night and arrived on the following Monday morning. I don't recall getting a confirmation email that the stuff had shipped so I remember wondering myself.

W00t! Well I just checked parcel motel and unless I've forgotten I've ordered something (which happens all the time:rolleyes::p) I think it's there so hopefully get it tonight! They 3 of them will be kitted out lol!

bluecherry74 · 12-09-2013 5:56pm

What colours did you get tk?

tk123 · 12-09-2013 9:55pm

bluecherry74 wrote: »

What colours did you get tk?

Pink for Lucy, blue for Bailey and obviously green was the only colour for the red setter lol!

No txt yet from parcel motel so mustn't be coming tonight

Update - they came

Bailey's fits fine but not sure about the puppy one - it fits her but there's no much growing space on the chest piece. She's too sleepy to try it on properly and get a good look lol!

Pumpkinseeds · 13-09-2013 12:47pm

Pepper is home

Well we managed to catch her this morning, thankfully. We got up at 5am and went to get her at 6.30am. She didn't resist too much, I think she was ready to come home with us, there's been a few ground frosts and the leaf cover is thinning out where she was. We got her in the top of the big soft crate.

She's in the safe room and has been giving me lots of head boops and purrs. She's just started shouting a few minutes ago and Toby and Jazzy are outside the door looking under at her. Felix isn't entirely sure what's going on, he's a bit subdued.

She's got a little fleece blanket on the window and she's loving watching all the birds and other activity. She's also got her igloo bed and cushion bed, as well as the carrier we brought her home in. It's a good thing I took the voile off that window:). She's made herself hoarse from talking. Jazzy is feeling very put out but that is his room and I suppose he has been turfed out of it, for now.

Will post pics when she's a bit more settled in:)

toadfly · 13-09-2013 12:51pm

Thanks TK and Angeldaisy I will order for her this evening. How long for delivery?

Well done that's great news, Pepper is one lucky girl.

tk123 · 13-09-2013 1:40pm

toadfly wrote: »

Thanks TK and Angeldaisy I will order for her this evening. How long for delivery?

Well done that's great news, Pepper is one lucky girl.

Amazon are pretty good for delivery - usually a few days and the delivery estimate they give is always spot on.

The stray dogs in work had puppies and they were taken to the rescue down the road. There's a big collection box in the canteen for 'the <company name> puppies' now with photos stuck on it etc

tk123 · 13-09-2013 7:20pm

Advise - is this harness to small or is it a 'pefect fit' lol? There's no room for adjustment on the chest piece and not sure if it's a bit snug on her? Very hard to get photos because she's sleepy and just wants to lie down!

anniehoo · 13-09-2013 7:37pm

It looks a bit "snug" alright on first glance...

bluecherry74 · 13-09-2013 8:17pm

It's definitely a tighter fit than mine. Maybe replace one of the pieces? Even if it's a bit loose she'll soon grow into it.

tk123 · 13-09-2013 8:34pm

Thanks guys - I've mailed photos back and asked them what they think. The ones for the two boys aren't tight like that at all.

boomerang · 13-09-2013 11:05pm

Looks a wee bit too snug to me too, tk123.

ferretone · 14-09-2013 1:12am

I agree with the other posters, tk123 - little tyke is growing as we type, and I'd class that a wee bit snug already. I'd get it changed before you end up with money wasted!

anniehoo · 14-09-2013 1:35pm

Woke up in great form, sun shining, coffee in hand and headed off to the local dog pound. Everything went downhill from there and I have gone from full on great form to the most thunderous mood ever in the space of 3 hours. I am absolutely fuming :mad::mad::mad::mad: I don't even know where to start I am so annoyed, so I either need to suck it up and snap out of it or stay in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

This country is beyond baffling,frustrating and downright cruel sometimes. *sigh*

tk123 · 14-09-2013 3:07pm

Teeheeheee I'm getting a new car!!

Pumpkinseeds · 14-09-2013 6:27pm

Well madam had a very vocal night last night, she's very happy to be upstairs in her safe room during the day but of course as soon as it starts to get dark, she's ready to go adventuring, and she spent most of the night shouting that at us:rolleyes::)

She used her litter tray, thankfully, and is such a little love bug, she loves to be with people and her whole little body quivers as she rubs herself off us when we sit on the floor with her. She rarely stops purring when we're with her. We've ordered a couple of pet gates from Amazon and next week we'll be able to leave the door open for her and the chaps to safely get to know each other, we'll have to fatten her up a bit to make sure she can't squeeze between the bars:D

She's a real daddy's girl and Mr P is infatuated with her, so much so that he's insisted that she be called Poppy. Poor cat, it's her 3rd and final name.

honerbright · 14-09-2013 6:52pm

So glad to hear she's settling in well! And Poppy's a great name if I say so myself

Pumpkinseeds · 14-09-2013 7:12pm

She's doing great, Jazzy, not so much. He's really upset about being ousted from his room. He wouldn't let us pet him yesterday but he's sleeping in our bed with us which he didn't do very often. We put his basket in our room but it's not the same.

She's a fiesty little thing, Felix and Toby poked a paw under the door yesterday, Toby got his slapped and hissed at, Felix got growled at:D Felix and Toby don't really seem too interested in her being upstairs and I doubt Jazzy would be either, if she wasn't in his room.

Whispered · 14-09-2013 9:31pm

So glad you caught her! picspicspicspicspicspicspicspicspics

What are you getting TK? We got a new car last week, well it's an old one, but new to us. It's an estate and Harley seems to be much happier getting in and out of it than he was into the back seat. Safer too and we can fit so much more it. Although the insurance doubled!

tk123 · 14-09-2013 9:52pm

Whispered wrote: »

What are you getting TK?

An ix35! Delighted! Possibly getting a free dog guard too - guy said he thought there were a couple in stock and he'd include it in the price. The guard is cool - it's mesh and goes from floor to ceiling so you can have the seats down and the guard is still in place.

In animal news Lucy's retriever genes are kicking in - she was in the water again today and retrieved sticks

She's also fascinated by birds lol

muddypaws · 14-09-2013 10:39pm

I met Hooked and Hugo today. Was in Maxi Zoo in Limerick, and heard a husky before I saw him, thought I heard someone say Hugo, and sure enough it was them. Lovely, vocal boy, and Hugo's quite loud as well :P

honerbright · 15-09-2013 9:14pm

Poppy vomited on one of the seats in the lounge yesterday so we took off the cover and washed it, but kept the bare cushion on the seat for the day covered with a smaller cushion because it's 'her' seat and she likes to lay there. Well, that was a mistake, came home today and the seat cushion has more craters than the moon from her either biting or digging at it :pac:. Salvageable at least, you can't even notice a thing now that the cover is back on.

Poor wee Sylbey is mad to come inside, just sits and stares in at us the whole time. He let me put my hand right up beside him while he ate his dinner yesterday, got a fright when I patted him but went straight back to eating and I didn't try again because I didn't want to push it. My OH seen him between out shed and a wall today, I wonder if that's where he lives.

Two other strays were by last night: Froggy, a massive black cat came by for food, his head is a bit to big for the food bowl so he sticks a paw in and scoops it into his mouth so fast it's like he thinks its his last meal and a new, small black cat that came by so I took a bowl out to him/her which was wolfed down. I'm gonna be so worried about all these kitties once winter comes properly

Pumpkinseeds · 15-09-2013 9:24pm

A bit of food and shelter will make a big difference to strays though. I do know what you mean about worrying about them though:( But one thing I've noticed over the years with strays is that if they're getting fed and don't look sick or needy, then they are more likely to be adopted by a neighbour. It's happened with us a few times.

Oscar our injured stray that refused to be trapped had taken to eating at my parents house, nearby to us, they have 2 black cats. He looks fantastic and seems to be living with new neighbours who have a cat of their own. He only nibbles when he visits them and seems to be settling into the area. I've only seen him a couple of times and it was at their house, so he's not doing that wide ranging that he used to do.

I'm going to make sure he gets neutered, by hook or by crook. It isn't cheap but it's the kindest option.

Cocolola · 16-09-2013 5:26pm

It would seem that there are a few female dogs at Ollie's daycare as he has now started squatting to pee

Or else he's just really clever and has figured out how to pee when it's windy without getting it all over himself.... but I doubt it!

tk123 · 16-09-2013 5:59pm

Cleaning the car out before it goes tomorrow and the amount of dog stuff that was in it!! 2 bags full to the brim now of treats, poo bags, leads/collar/harnesses I didn't even know were even in the car, doggy first aid kit, human first aid kit, etc etc and still have to take out vet bed(s), cover, guard and harness straps lol!

I spent WAY too much on a boot liner for the new car to try and keep it clean (old one had leather seats so it was easy - this one has cloth).

borderlinemeath · 16-09-2013 10:50pm

tk123 wrote: »

Cleaning the car out before it goes tomorrow and the amount of dog stuff that was in it!! 2 bags full to the brim now of treats, poo bags, leads/collar/harnesses I didn't even know were even in the car, doggy first aid kit, human first aid kit, etc etc and still have to take out vet bed(s), cover, guard and harness straps lol! I spent WAY too much on a boot liner for the new car to try and keep it clean (old one had leather seats so it was easy - this one has cloth).

I reckon you have a pet shop worth of stuff for the dogs! I'm always buying bits and bobs online and feeling guilty and then I think "Na TK would have waay more than me!":D

tk123 · 16-09-2013 11:02pm

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I reckon you have a pet shop worth of stuff for the dogs! I'm always buying bits and bobs online and feeling guilty and then I think "Na TK would have waay more than me!":D

Lol!

TBH Bailey likes plush things and ropes that last years so I might get him something new once or twice a year to swap something thats been wrecked from him holding/sucking it for hours and for Lucy all I've gotten is 3 different nylabone puppy chew/teethers...oh and I got them a kong snake each last month lol!

Collars etc I've always donated them once we're not using them anymore so they're being used instead of sitting idle. The lead and harnes in the car must be 2 or 3 years old so assumed they were long gone!

muddypaws · 17-09-2013 12:26am

The husky I'm fostering that had a fractured hip, back leg and broken toes on his front leg unfortunately had to have his back leg amputated on Friday. He came home today, and was delighted when I opened the van door and he saw that he was 'home'. Hopefully he'll recover quickly now, and learn to run around on 3 legs.

DBB · 17-09-2013 12:33am

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I reckon you have a pet shop worth of stuff for the dogs! I'm always buying bits and bobs online and feeling guilty and then I think "Na TK would have waay more than me!":D

Jeez, don't knock it!
TK is my "go to" woman when I'm thinking of buying ANY new product for the dogs

borderlinemeath · 17-09-2013 9:01am

DBB wrote: »

Jeez, don't knock it!
TK is my "go to" woman when I'm thinking of buying ANY new product for the dogs

Oh definitely, the unofficial road tester for the forum by default!

tk123 · 17-09-2013 9:09am

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Oh definitely, the unofficial road tester for the forum by default!

lol! Oops my course is only started and I'm already dossing

!!

baby and crumble · 18-09-2013 1:53pm

I wrote a while back that Isabella was having some fur loss and we brought her to the vet who suggested that it was anxiety related to her environment. Well we moved her cage into the hall (less traffic and less outside noise from the street) and already her hair is getting much better! Looks like she's not picking at it half as much, which is brilliant. She's definitely slowing down though, she takes ages to come out of her bed in the evenings, and seems a bit 'stiff' when she does. Poor thing. But hey, so long as she's comfortable... Need to make sure she has enough heat when the winter comes in though...

Pumpkinseeds · 18-09-2013 6:08pm

My 3 male cats are quite tall and I'd noticed over the past month that they'd been doing a lot of lip smacking and a bit of reguritation, especially Toby. I read something about it possibly being excess stomach acid and that raising the food bowls might help, well it has made a huge difference. I raised the bowls a week ago and there's been no more incidents of lip smacking or regurgitating food. I just put the bowls on plastic plant pots, about the size of a mug.

If anyone else is having simillar issues with their cats it might be worth a try, of course nothing beats a proper vet check in case there is a serious underlying illness.

maggiepip · 18-09-2013 7:21pm

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

My 3 male cats are quite tall and I'd noticed over the past month that they'd been doing a lot of lip smacking and a bit of reguritation, especially Toby. I read something about it possibly being excess stomach acid and that raising the food bowls might help, well it has made a huge difference. I raised the bowls a week ago and there's been no more incidents of lip smacking or regurgitating food. I just put the bowls on plastic plant pots, about the size of a mug.

If anyone else is having simillar issues with their cats it might be worth a try, of course nothing beats a proper vet check in case there is a serious underlying illness.

Thats very interesting because one of my cats will sometimes regurgitate her wet food straight back up - I think its because she eats it too fast (never does it with the dry). Worth a try to raise the bowls if it may help with regurgitation:-)

honerbright · 18-09-2013 9:09pm

Sylby, our stray, has learnt to knock on the window to call Poppy over for playtime:

Still no joy catching him at all, but he's still spending most of his time staring in at us. Doesn't mind us through the glass. I put my hand on the glass today and he rested his paw on my hand through the glass which was super lovely.
Basically, this is how he spends his days, sitting, staring all pressed up against the window; the sooner he decides to be brave and come in the better:

He's putting on weight from his 2+ meals a day + treats from us which is great to see. He's looking really healthy.

Pumpkinseeds · 18-09-2013 9:31pm

Ahh he's so gorgeous, they both are. I read somewhere that cats feel more comfortable when they're ignored. Maybe if you ignore him when the door is open he'd feel more daring about coming in. The weather is getting colder so he's probably going to make a break for the indoors soon. Mine are virtually glued to the fire and radiators. Felix sits in front of the fireplace and looks at it and then at us repeatedly when he wants it lit:D

honerbright · 18-09-2013 9:35pm

He does tend to be a bit braver when I ignore him - I often leave the front door open and sit on the stairs and read something and he'll cautiously come in. He made it about 2 meters in yesterday when my OH was throwing treats to him, which is a bit of a record. It's just a matter of getting the door shut once he is in :P

The Chillout Zone (Off-Topic Thread)

Comments