Nicolette

02/04/2024 - Nicolette is an elegant, sensitive, loving cat with exquisite manners. She can be a bit reserved until she gets to know you. But then – with the help of a few kind words and kitty treats – she’ll be your friend forever. She’s extremely well-mannered. She never jumps up onto counters or tables. She grooms herself fastidiously and always uses the litterbox. She sheds very little. She’s never aggressive. She’s sociable but never clingy. She won’t scratch your furniture. Buy her a flat-on-the-floor cardboard scratching box, put a few cat treats on it, and she’ll use it. (Nicolette is very treat-oriented. She’ll do almost anything to get a treat.) Like all sensitive, civilized creatures, Nicolette is easily startled if something unexpected happens. She prefers softer voices to louder voices. Until she gets used to her new home, she might be easily startled, and then she’ll race away to hide in her “safe place” – usually under something -- but a quick rattle of the treat bag will soon bring her out again. Be patient with her… it won’t take long for her to realize that she’s in a safe place and there’s no longer any danger. Nicolette loves to play! Her favorite playtime is after mealtime. She likes string and ribbon and little rattly mouse toys. She’s very interested in rubber bands, but she should never be allowed to play with rubber bands or hair ties, because she might swallow them. She responds to catnip, but she isn’t interested in laser- pointer toys. Until she’s sure of your friendship, it’s best to move slowly and calmly. Treats will help! She likes being petted, but make sure she sees your hand coming. She’s never aggressive or fearful, but as we mentioned, she is easily startled. If you lie down on the sofa or sit in a comfy chair, she’ll come and lie next to you. Before long, she’ll be in your lap, and you’ll be rewarded with the most delicate of purrs. She’s not a fussy eater. We think she experienced starvation in the past, so she can be anxious about food. It’s best to feed her on a regular schedule, so she knows when her next meal is coming. In foster care, we taught her to be calm at mealtime by teaching her to “sit” before the dish was put down on the floor. (Just say the word “sit” and make a downward gesture with your hand. She will sit and wait for the dish to be put onto the floor.) Canned food is better than dry food, but she’ll eat anything. Don’t feed her too much at once; about a third of a can at one time is plenty. When you’re feeding her, move slowly and calmly. She doesn’t drink water very often, so it’s a good idea to add a bit of water to her food. Feed her on a flat dish, not in a bowl. What else about food? Oddly, cold food seems to upset her stomach, so it’s best not to refrigerate her food. She’ll eat dry food, but she tends to wolf it down… and then it might come right back up. She tolerates being picked up, but she much prefers to have her feet on the ground. She’s not interested in leaving the house. If someone arrives – even someone she knows -- she might run and hide … but after a few moments, she’ll come back. She’s quiet all night and doesn’t roam around the house. She likes a regular schedule. Currently, she wakes at 7:00 am and waits patiently to be fed, but she will readily adapt to your household schedule. She knows what the word “no” means. She should not be in a household with small children. [No information about her ability to get along with dogs. She should not be in a household with other cats because of her FHV1 status.] FHV1 Nicolette has FHV1 or Feline Herpes Virus. This virus causes different symptoms for different cats, but for Nicolette, it manifests itself as swelling and weepiness of the right eye. Nicolette carries this virus in her system. There is no permanent cure, but the virus stays inactive with the right treatment. For Nicolette, this means that she must be given two Famcyclovir tablets every day. Luckily, she does not mind the taste of the tablets when they are well-crushed into powder and mixed into her food. Give her the tablets one in the morning and then one at dinner time. If the virus begins to show symptoms in Nicolette’s eye, you will notice weepiness and a bit of swelling. This event responds well to Ofloxacin eye drops. Apply one drop to the eye twice a day until the swelling subsides. FHV1 is not contagious to humans or dogs. However, it is very contagious to other cats, and so Nicolette will have to be the only cat in the household. With proper management, FHV1 cats will live long, healthy lives.