Welcome to Sphynxlair! Connect with Sphynx owners & enthusiasts around the world!

GMPLAX23

Lairian
Joined
Aug 23, 2016
Messages
294
Points
81
Hi everyone
I am getting ready for my Kitten to come home and I am buying things for his homecoming! I don't want to get too overzealous. I have been looking at cat trees and travel carriers.

-Should I invest in a cat tree before he comes home? I'd like to see if he likes to climb UP before I choose a tree.

-As for travel carriers, I really love the sleepyPod (google them!) I think it works for the cat to be used to the bed of the carrier before it is covered. I also like how it is circular because cats are usually in a curved position with laying/relaxing/sleeping.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Help :) please!
:greedy::cat:(y)
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,086
Points
653
@GMPLAX23 hello and congrats on getting ready to bring your little one home. Please share photos and the name you chose. When is your Gotcha Day?

The pet carrier that I am extremely happy with and have them for my sphynx cats as well as my two dogs is the PetGear Brand. The one I have comes in three different sizes and it's not only a carrier with a shoulder strap, but it also can be worn crossbody, there is a handle if you only want to lift the carrier in one hand. It has wheels like a small piece of overnight luggage with a telescoping handle. There is a wheel cover built-in so when you put it in your car, your car stays clean if the wheels have mud or dirt on it from bad weather, etc. It is a car seat that easily attaches to the seatbelt in your car. You can lay it down and open a zipper and it becomes a bed. It's also a backpack with built-in (hidden) shoulder straps to be worn on both shoulders. There are a few pockets which can hold toys, snacks, a lead or anything. It comes in many different colors to choose from also.

PetGear 'I-GO2 Escort' Carrier (Up to 15 Pounds) | Overstock.com Shopping - The Best Deals on Cat Carriers


I purchased a small cat tree before bringing home my first sphynx. Honestly, I don't know a sphynx that doesn't like to climb! You don't have to purchase the very tall ones right now, but I suggest some sort of cat tree to begin with. I never got rid of my older, smaller ones, instead, I just add them up and put them near each other for more fun.
 

Pierre

Lairian
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
193
Points
61
@GMPLAX23 aww bet your super excited! you can most definitely get a cat tree beforehand. Like @GoldHazel i too got a small one before hand and then a larger one after about a week as I found one on offer. Don't be surprised if your kitty doesn't climb straight away, Pierre didn't go near his for the first couple days whilst he settled in, now, you can't get him off haha
 

Pierre

Lairian
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
193
Points
61
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
Just hanging around hahaha
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,086
Points
653
@GMPLAX23 @Pierre a lot of times when I purchase something new like new scratching posts especially, I spritz them with cat nip spray to attract the kitties. I've never had to do that with the any of the cat trees though. But it's always an option to attract your cat to a new cat tree or anything you want them to play with.
 

GMPLAX23

Lairian
Joined
Aug 23, 2016
Messages
294
Points
81
@Pierre thank you for the advice and photos! I think my kitty will look similar to yours :) he is all black. I'm trying to be patient but it's very difficult! I will look into getting a starter tree :ROFLMAO:
 

GMPLAX23

Lairian
Joined
Aug 23, 2016
Messages
294
Points
81
@GoldHazel your knowledge is awesome! Thank you for responding. I don't have an exact date for pick up so I have to stay patient (so hard!) As for names I am considering a few like Luca, Henry, Crucio & Nox.
Does the travel pack you sent a link to have a good response from your cats? Do they enjoy it?
I love the toy link. It is a very good source!
Can I ask... do you keep a collar on your cat in the house?
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20160825-125749.png
    Screenshot_20160825-125749.png
    65.8 KB · Views: 56

Pierre

Lairian
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
193
Points
61
@GMPLAX23 haha he's a lovable terror. Especially right now, I've just got in from work so it's stalk and pounce daddy at 10pm hahaha.
Oh that word... Patience! I had zero patience & im sure these guys on here remember how on the day I was due to pick Pierre up, I found out it would be ANOTHER 24 hours! I hated it and so did my wallet. I'd waited in all day to go collect him and when it got rearranged I went out and spent a fortune on more toys for him to keep myself occupied hahahaha
 

Pierre

Lairian
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
193
Points
61
My intention was to have no collar. Only maybe for vet visits etc. However my other half got him one and since he's had no problems with it, its stayed on. Plus having a bell is great as I now have warning before he pounces me hahaha! Seen as we put him in his cat pen at the moment when we go out I'm happy for the collar to stay. If it got to the point where he roamed free whilst we were out I'd either take it off or get one of them that unclip if they got caught (more for my peace of mind)
 

Catzzzmeow

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Messages
35,019
Points
673
@Pierre We have 2 senior cats and when we got the girls we needed the older men to know "trouble" was coming lol. We found the bells on the collars very helpful in making sure we knew where they were and less likely to step on them. Funny, but often both wear matching collars, but walk and play differently (get into trouble as well) and by the bell and how it shakes we know who to blame...lol. Even in the litter box. We always buy break away collars and when we put them on we always pull up on them when attaching to insure they truly break away. We had one that did not and I am so thankful I tested it. These guys are crazy and weird stuff can happen. Better safe than sorry.


Patti
 

Pierre

Lairian
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
193
Points
61
@Catzzzmeow breakaway! That's the word I was looking for haha. Ha that's awesome, the bell definitely helps doesn't it, no more sneaking up on me, I'm ready for him haha. Yes definitely a good idea to test them! I've actually looking for one now. I'm not to concerned with his current one but only because he's never alone but for my peace of mind I'll definitely be changing it over once I have one. Better to be safe than sorry :)
 

GMPLAX23

Lairian
Joined
Aug 23, 2016
Messages
294
Points
81
@Pierre @Catzzzmeow yup breakaway was always the plan. Do you have your cats microchipped? I'm undecided :/
I'm so ready to bring him home! Ahhhhh
From the picture you can see he is a mischief maker!
And I am very thankful for this community to ask these questions!
 

Attachments

  • 20160821_132404.jpg
    20160821_132404.jpg
    69.6 KB · Views: 67

Pierre

Lairian
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
193
Points
61
@GMPLAX23 yes I had Pierre microchipped. Is he neutered? A lot on here suggest having both done at the same time. I wasn't able to as he was a rescue cat and was all ready booked in for neutering before we got him. But it didn't affect him at all, he had a tiny scab for about a week and it's all healed and disappeared :)
 

Catzzzmeow

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Messages
35,019
Points
673
@GMPLAX23 you have to be so excited. We added 2 kittens to the family when our 9 year old rescue passed. The girls are 6 months apart and will turn 4 in the next several months. We are experienced Sphynx people, but getting a kitten is beyond exciting and we felt like newbies alI over again. I look at our 13 year old naked everyday and just feel so blessed. We chose not to micro chip. It is a very personal choice and even our breeder shared some of hers are and some are not. From the beginning we established it is a no go zone by the doors. I totally understand there is a risk one can slip out unnoticed. I just am not comfortable doing it as I would not chip a child or myself. It can be a hot topic like declawing, litter choice and food. Just trust your gut.

Patti
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,086
Points
653
@GoldHazel your knowledge is awesome! Thank you for responding. I don't have an exact date for pick up so I have to stay patient (so hard!) As for names I am considering a few like Luca, Henry, Crucio & Nox.
Does the travel pack you sent a link to have a good response from your cats? Do they enjoy it?
I love the toy link. It is a very good source!
Can I ask... do you keep a collar on your cat in the house?

@GMPLAX23 thank you for the compliment. :)
Yes, waiting for your baby to come home is very difficult. LOL
I like all those names you have in mind. Wow, that pic of him made me melt. He's too stinkin' cute.
All my sphynx and my two dogs like that carrying case a lot. Never has anyone ever complained except most of the sphynx don't like the car rides to the vet. They cry. :( But just along the car isn't moving and once we get to our destination, no crying. In the winter, I put a sweater on the sphynx if they have to go to the vet. In the carrier I have their blanket and if it's really very cold out, I'll add one of their sacks to help keep them really warm and shield them completely from the wind.

Each and every time I was waiting for a baby sphynx to join the family, I went out and bought a breakaway, safe cat collar and ordered a pet tag with their name and my phone number, etc. At the beginning, everyone wore their collars as when I had furry cats (my entire life), each furry cat always wore the same type of safe collar and had an I.D. tag as well.

With the sphynx's oils, I found that the nylon collars were getting more and more difficult for me to clean on bath day. Then I purchased leather collars, which did seem a bit better, but still were getting all gunked up with their oils. I was getting to the point where I was considering taking their collars off while in the house and only putting it on them when they went to the vet for neuter/spay surgery, etc. But then my oldest sphynx at six months old got a baby brother and whenever he felt like it, he would decided that he didn't want the collar on his little brother and he'd pull and pull and pull ... practically choking the baby until the collar broke away for safety! Then he stopped doing that...and started again a long time later. I took all collars off all of them and they don't wear them anymore.

I never have to worry about hearing the bells to know where they are because for the most part, they are always very nearby my side. If I don't see them, all I have to do is call their names or call out what time it is: "Who wants snack?", "Bedtime, let's go up!" and they all come running.

Only one of my two dogs is microchipped because I got her that way from her breeder. Only one of my sphynx cats is microchipped because someone else was supposed to get him from the breeder and she paid to have him microchipped, but then she changed her mind and didn't take him. So I took him and didn't have to pay for his microchip. BUT, when I got my other dog years ago, I had a long talk with my vet about microchipping as I thought I wanted it for her. Right around that time, there was information out there about microchipping not being healthy for your pet as it could cause cancer. To make a long story short, my vet discouraged me from getting my pet microchipped. He said everything possible and answered me in a long, drawn out round about way without coming out and saying that it can cause cancer, he totally discouraged me from microchipping.

My experience tells me that when people see a cat outside, most of the time they assume the cat is either a stray or an indoor/outdoor cat and they just go about their business and forget about the cat. Even if the cat is wearing a collar, they just assume it's an indoor/outdoor cat. Most people don't go out of their way to catch up with a cat outside and call the number of the I.D. tag or take it to a vet or shelter to see if it's microchipped.

With that being said, yes, of course, lost cats have been returned to their owners for wearing an I.D. tag or being microchipped. And too many people aren't honest as well and when they see a pure bred cat, they may think they've hit the jackpot and keep your kitty.

I'm just answering your microchip question with a bit more detail than anyone may want to hear. The decision is always up to you and nobody else.
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,086
Points
653
I bought catty stacks. The neat thing is you can arrange them however you want and you can add more. I bought a set of 4 from petsmart but they were only available online, not in the store.
Designer Cat Houses. Economical, Eco-friendly, Configurable CATTY STACKS.

@Condo commando those boxes look cool! I don't know a cat that wouldn't love them, let alone a sphynx cat! The only thing is, I would be wasting my time and money purchasing those for my house as I have chewers here. No doubt, they would chew it apart on Day #1 and I'd be losing my mind with tiny, colored cardboard pieces all over the house. LOL If you don't experience that, then that's terrific as they look like a ton of fun for a cat to play with.
 

GMPLAX23

Lairian
Joined
Aug 23, 2016
Messages
294
Points
81
Hi guys! I don't know if it will tell you I updated or not. I went and got some things for my boy! I have a nice cat tree, a crinkle tunnel and a blue velvet breakaway collar (I love it). Still haven't figured a name out though. He won't be coming to live with me until mid October (I am guessing because of his age... when should kittens go to new homes?)
I have a cute food dish too. Did I tell you I made him a no sew fleece blanket? He is so spoiled already LOL
 

Catzzzmeow

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Messages
35,019
Points
673
@GMPLAX23 It is in the best interest of the kitten and most reputable breeders will not release a kitten until,they are 12-15 weeks old. They need to have their immune-systems strengthened and it is critical to be with their mom until minimal 12 weeks of age. If your breeder offers earlier, I would suggest resisting the urge...let them get the natural care from mom. It can save you in vet bills and behavioral issues down the road. Great question by the way!!!

Patti

PS if you are worried they will not be tiny at 12-15 weeks, put those worries aside. They are still very tiny in size but stronger in health by 12-15 weeks and that is what matters the most.
 

GMPLAX23

Lairian
Joined
Aug 23, 2016
Messages
294
Points
81
I definately started getting ready too early! I won't be bringing him home until November if I wait 15 weeks! Man this is so hard.
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,086
Points
653
@GMPLAX23 13 weeks is the usual. No matter how long you have to wait for these precious little loves, it's way too long. Be patient, good things come to those who wait. Keep yourself busy here and shopping for your new arrival. :)
 
Back
Top