You are all wonderful - thank you for your responses! This forum always amazes me. Bestyears - thanks for pointing out the hand feeding. I will do that for sure. I think one kitty is good for us with the dog but maybe once he passes, another kitty might be in order. I can see how people adopt mucltiple cats. They are so much easier than dogs. (But I adore my dog) :) Busybee - I did not know that about the purring. I hope she wasn't purring at the shelter because she was stressed although I am sure it is possible. She purrs when she eats and plays so I think that's a happy purr. Aunjen - how kind of you to adopt feral cats! I would want to love on them too. I agree that no matter her disposition, we will love her and it will be a rewarding relationship. Thank you. teacats - I will use all of your suggestions. Chijim - She is doing a lot better with my husband - I think it is going to be fine. I have had him feed her. He has taught her to drink water from the faucet. So, they're bonding. My 16 year old son is the next one who needs to feed her. Kiki - really good information - I am going to get her some treats today and start with the rewards immediately! It makes sense about the hands. She does let me pet her - when she's in the mood. I am really gentle with her and try to avoid sudden movements. I also pick her up when she lets me hoping that she will get used to it. I put her down right away once I sense she's had enough. HIIWTHI - more reassurance - thank you and thank you for the kind words. I'm glad I did too even if the adjustment takes a bit longer. There were beautiful cats at the shelter that had been there for 2 years. That would really be a tough adjustment! Thank you again. You have helped so much! Dawn

I agree with the other posters...If I were you,I'd find a new vet! Why put up with one who shrugs off your concerns? Worms can be dangerous and even kill a cat.Outside cats are at the highest risk for them. Does the cat appear to have a "pot belly" appearance? A swollen-like tubby belly despite maybe a lean body? That is a sign of worms. Although not the only sign. Worms can also effect people! Roundworms in general.Take extra care when cleaning the litter box~wear gloves. My cat got a tapeworm once from fleas (they swallow a flea that has tape worm larve on it) He seemed to want to sleep more and eat more.Then he had these little rice-looking segments coming out of his rear.Two shots and they were gone though. Roundworms are different though.They wont come out unless they are being killed.Once given the medication,you will see dead ones in your cats stools if she indeed has them.

What do you mean by "In a confined space without a bathroom he doesn't seem to be able to hold it for over an hour & when nervous he can hold it very well". Did you not supply him with a litter box in the confined space? And, why would the cat be nervous and how did you know he was? What's the household like? Is it a calm house where everyone accepts the cat? This sounds like a stressed cat who needs more litter boxes and a change in environment. Apologies if I'm wrong, but the post has signs of a troll.

I have had cats all of my life and now I have none. I don't want anymore because they might outlive me and I am enjoying the freedom of not having them to take care of. I never kept a box for my cats until we came to live in the burbs. My cats mostly wandered in and out at will. Even in the burbs I used to let my cats out and they used the box mainly in the winter time. You know that old adage about how if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is not true? Apply that to Febreeze. That stuff is scary! Really? It eliminates odors? Scary, scary, scary. I would never buy it, ever, in any form. One of my cats was doing really poorly with lots of hair loss, losing weight, and just all around bad health. I had been feeding him the Costco brand of wet food. Once I quit that, he turned around quite quickly. I think that stuff was bad, bad, bad. One thing about that litter, though, It seems that if this would be happening to enough cats that it would be a known issue. It seems that a vet might warn people about this. There is so much cat litter sold and so very many cats that it has to have happened before. It can't be an isolated experience. Did your vet directly attribute this blockage to the litter? It certainly seems like it plausible. That stuff is very hard to dissolve with water. I think that type of dirt is used to line livestock ponds with. What a lot of money people spend on kitty litter and kitty food! What an industry it is!