Originally Posted by mtdjed (Post 2256386)

How old is the Cat with no teeth? And why did that happen?

Originally Posted by mtdjed (Post 2256386)

How old is the Cat with no teeth? And why did that happen?

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2255982)

Some cats don't, or can't, eat dry food. My cat has no teeth. She is fed three times every day. First thing in the morning, a snack mid-day, and last thing before bed. She can only eat pate, no shredded food.

Cats don't have a "natural" thirst drive. If a cat is eagerly drinking water, it's usually because a) you refuse to give her wet food and she is dehydrated enough to actually drink water or b) way past that point and already suffering from renal failure.

Some cats like drinking water, but most do not, and if you fed them only wet food, and put a water dish beside the food dish, would never drink from the water dish. It's not in their nature to do so.

Feeding a cat kibble is unhealthy. Cats are obligate carnivores; their digestive systems are not designed to handle dried pea protein or alfalfa or potato starch. They are also gluten intolerant and can't efficiently digest wheat or most other grains, including rice.

Most domestic cats that are fed kibble, eventually die of renal failure. That's not true in most domestic cats fed exclusively grain-free wet food or a raw food diet including organ meat.

By the time a cat is diagnosed with kidney failure, he has already likely been suffering for years. Cats don't express pain in the same way dogs or other pets do.

If someone says they need a cat sitter to come 2-3 times a day to feed them, then they are being a responsible cat-owner. If you think self-feeding dry food for a few days at a time is all that's needed, I hope you are someone else's domestic cat in your next life, so you can see just how cruel that is for yourself.

And for anyone who claims kibble is good for teeth - I suggest you try to clean your teeth by eating stale biscuits for the next month, and keep your toothbrush in the cabinet. Good luck with that.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2256610)

It is a genetic anomaly in some cats; some will get their adult teeth in but they come in soft and fall out. Others will lose their milk teeth and the adult teeth never come in. With mine, she never had half of her teeth, which caused difficulty eating, she had filled sinuses so had to breathe through her mouth, which caused decay in her remaining teeth, and those finally had to come out a couple of weeks ago. She's 10 years old, but she was half-toohttps://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2256610#thless from the time she was a couple of months old until then.

Domestic cats with dental issues is not uncommon or rare. Toothless domestic cats are less common, but still not rare.

Originally Posted by mtdjed (Post 2256790)

I recall that my grandfather had a farm. He always had cats around but they never had names other than descriptive. They never got dental or medical treatment. They were on their own and he let them forage for themselves. Some would disappear and new ones would show up.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2257403)

Other than fleas, ticks (and a traumatic paralysis that can come with certain diseases that ticks can give to cats and dogs), distemper, FPV, feline leukemia, mange, infections and death to the females if they breed too young and too often, and being prey of almost every predatorial animal in the vicinity, farm cats can live a long time in relative health. They don't forage though. They are predators, and will eat only other animals if they're outdoor cats. They chew on grasses as a method of settling their stomach or forcing regurgitation if they eat something that doesn't agree with their digestive system. Sort of how we eat a mint after dinner.

Originally Posted by gtraupman (Post 2255752)

What is the typical cost for a cat sitter to come to your house twice a day to feed and water your cats, clean litter box, etc.?

Originally Posted by kkingston57 (Post 2255896)

We pay $20 a day for two cats.

Originally Posted by GreySkies (Post 2258037)

I am currently renting in TV as I make a final decision on purchasing and becoming a FT resident when I retire later this year. When I do become FT in TV I will come with seven cats (Please no cat lady jokes, thank you…) All of them are rescuers under 2 years old. One cat requires seizure prevention meds 2 times a day.

For those posting their rates, what would be a daily rate for 2 daily visits, one early AM and the second early PM to feed, change/clean litter, play/interact/housesit for 1 hour min each visit?

Daily pics are not needed, I will have a bedroom dedicated to the cats and will have 2 observation camera’s in the bedroom and other cameras throughout the house.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2255982)

Some cats don't, or can't, eat dry food. My cat has no teeth. She is fed three times every day. First thing in the morning, a snack mid-day, and last thing before bed. She can only eat pate, no shredded food.

Cats don't have a "natural" thirst drive. If a cat is eagerly drinking water, it's usually because a) you refuse to give her wet food and she is dehydrated enough to actually drink water or b) way past that point and already suffering from renal failure.

Some cats like drinking water, but most do not, and if you fed them only wet food, and put a water dish beside the food dish, would never drink from the water dish. It's not in their nature to do so.

Feeding a cat kibble is unhealthy. Cats are obligate carnivores; their digestive systems are not designed to handle dried pea protein or alfalfa or potato starch. They are also gluten intolerant and can't efficiently digest wheat or most other grains, including rice.

Most domestic cats that are fed kibble, eventually die of renal failure. That's not true in most domestic cats fed exclusively grain-free wet food or a raw food diet including organ meat.

By the time a cat is diagnosed with kidney failure, he has already likely been suffering for years. Cats don't express pain in the same way dogs or other pets do.

If someone says they need a cat sitter to come 2-3 times a day to feed them, then they are being a responsible cat-owner. If you think self-feeding dry food for a few days at a time is all that's needed, I hope you are someone else's domestic cat in your next life, so you can see just how cruel that is for yourself.

And for anyone who claims kibble is good for teeth - I suggest you try to clean your teeth by eating stale biscuits for the next month, and keep your toothbrush in the cabinet. Good luck with that.

Originally Posted by KatieRN (Post 2258207)

Do you have nothing better to do than rudely criticize someone when all they were doing was asking for help? It really isn't your business how someone takes care of their animals anyway. Some people aren't over the top when it comes to their pets. Try being kind instead of critical.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2258094)

I hope all 7 are strictly indoor cats. I also hope you understand, acknowledge, and agree to abide by the rule that you're only allowed 2 pets per household - so you won't be allowed to replace any, until you only have one left. And then, you can replace - one.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2258094)

I'd happily come to feed, water, clean the litter box, and spend some "human-pet quality time" with neighborhood cats. I wouldn't charge a thing. But you couldn't pay me enough to take responsibility for your 7 cats. Especially if one of the seven has daily medical needs. And if I had a cat with daily medical needs, I'd never leave her to strangers in the house.

Originally Posted by GreySkies (Post 2258037)

I am currently renting in TV as I make a final decision on purchasing and becoming a FT resident when I retire later this year. When I do become FT in TV I will come with seven cats (Please no cat lady jokes, thank you…) All of them are rescuers under 2 years old. One cat requires seizure prevention meds 2 times a day.

For those posting their rates, what would be a daily rate for 2 daily visits, one early AM and the second early PM to feed, change/clean litter, play/interact/housesit for 1 hour min each visit?

Daily pics are not needed, I will have a bedroom dedicated to the cats and will have 2 observation camera’s in the bedroom and other cameras throughout the house.

Originally Posted by GreySkies (Post 2265392)

Yes, all my cats are INDOOR ONLY Spaded and Neutered, full shots and micro-chipped.

As for the so called "rule" of the number of pets you say I need to abide by, the owner of the house I am renting has 3 small dogs, she has been a multi-unit owner in TV for over 10 years. Her neighbor, who has lived in TV full time for 8 years also has 4 (indoor only) cats and a saltwater tank with 15 coral fish. I am assuming this "2 pet only" rule you mention seems to be either flexible and/or not enforced.



Even at no charge, I would never have you near my cats anyway, your a complete stranger. As for the cat with daily medical needs, its only providing 1/2 a pill twice a day, vet has validated as long as dosage is given there should be no issues to prevent me traveling. I have never had any problems before with using a friendly, qualified and vet recommended home pet sitter, in fact most vets highly recommend using a home sitter instead of boarding. All previous siters I have used I have fully qualified and made sure the sitter and my cats get interaction time before I travel.