Biography
Trico is a Shorthair, Domestic Tabby (possibly mixed). He was born on Oct. 14th, 2009. My partner and I have had Trico in our household for about 1.5 years now. Trico is a very chill indoor cat. He loves to hang out in our office while we're working, or in the living room while we're gaming. He is very well behaved; he never tries to jump onto your lap or your desk while you're doing something. He also never chews on anything inappropriately like wires. The only thing he scratches are his scratching post and his futon. He is litter box trained, and an overall very low maintenance cat.
Despite being an older cat, he still enjoys playtime. He loves hunting/chasing the laser pointer. He is also a fan of cat teaser toys like the fuzzy feathers and balls tied to the end of a string and rod. And of course, he loves catnip as an occasional treat. Sprinkle some catnip onto his scratching post and you’ll see him at his most energetic. Throughout most of the day, you can find Trico napping and grooming himself.
Some other things you should know about Trico is that he is quite shy when it comes to new people. You may find that it takes a few months for him to build trust and feel comfortable with you, but once he does, it’s worth it! We would recommend trying to hand feed him occasional treats, like bonito flakes as a reward for playing, and to hand brush him regularly once he feels comfortable enough with you. He likes rubbing his face against the brush.
As with many cats, Trico likes his personal space and alone time. Once he trusts you, he will alternate between doing his own thing and hanging out near you throughout the day. He’s very quiet and won’t meow or bother you unless he’s hungry. Once he feels really comfortable with you, he may chill next to you when you are sitting on your couch.
When we first adopted Trico, he was slightly overweight (about 13.5 lbs) and it took about a year to get him to about 11.5-12 lbs. If possible, it is best to trickle feed him (several smaller portions of food throughout the day), as he does not seem to be great at self-regulating how much he eats. He likes to eat both wet and dry food, but we have been feeding him more wet than dry since it’s healthier for his kidneys.
Regarding the litter box, Trico might have issues using it if there is a flap door keeping it closed. We always keep the flap door open to make it easy for him. He may decide not to use the litter box if it is too dirty, so we would recommend cleaning it at least every 2 to 3 days. Bathroom accidents have occurred only rarely, and usually as a result of stress.
We last took Trico to the vet in mid-June 2023. Fortunately, he is in great health overall and only had a minor asthma/bronchitis issue, which has been treated with antibiotics and steroids. He may need a repeat of the treatment if the issue flares back up again. Trico does not like to go out of his comfort zone, so the trip to the vet really stressed him out. For the future, we would recommend trying a sedative before having to take him for car rides anywhere.
That’s just about everything to know about Trico. If you feel that this adorable little guy is a good fit for you or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!