Anyone own a cat??

[Plutes]

Hey all!

Jimmy and I are considering adopting a kitten/cat! We've always been 'dog' people, but can't have one, since we live in a condo. I know NOTHING about cats, so I had a few questions...

I'm trying to figure out if a male or female is better for us. Some things I've read online indicate that males are more affectionate, but I have friends with female cats who beg to differ...any opinions out there? We DEFINITELY want a cat that acts like a dog!

Also, I'm finding it VERY difficult to adopt just one kitty. All of my local shelters require you to take them in pairs. I really didn't want to take on two. Never having owned a cat, we want to make sure we can handle ONE, nevermind two! Yet, so many people are telling me one or two doesn't really make much of a difference. I'm also afraid that having two would make too much noise when they jump around playing - we DO have people living below us to consider!

Any opinions or advice you can share would be GREATLY appreciated!!

TIA!

 

[TMcDwyer]

We have two cats and they are both males, and both adopted from the State run shelters. They have less rules about adoption. Our younger cat is like a puppy and follows us around all the time. We adopted him from the "sick" kitty room at the shelter. Basically if an animal gets kennel cough then they are moved into an isolation type of room with other animals that have it too. (Like having a cold.) We chose to adopt from that room because I felt like al ot of people ignore them. Anyway...since he was ill we had to take him to our vet and get him better before the state would "fix" him. No big deal. This is the second time we have adopted a "sick" cat and both times they ended up being like puppies. My DH thinks it is because they felt terrible and as soon as they came to live with us they started to feel better. Let me know if you have any other questions. I am a cat person!

 

[dixiegirl]

DH and I currently have two kitties. They are wonderful. Cats have very distinctive personalities. One of ours is very affectionate - the other is affectionate but only when SHE wants it (we have no choice). LOL.

They are very easy to take care of - no bathing, no walks, etc. I grew up with dogs and am still a dog person but cats are much easier in a condo situation. If you are going to adopt 2, try to do it at the same time - it's much easier to introduce them to each other at the same time before anyone has time to claim territory.

They play but I do not think you would need to worry about the neighbors below.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Have you met Teresa?

 

[kamik86]

I have two cats but I did get mine seperately. Not even from the same shelter. Ours have no problem with taking 1 but you get a discount for taking more then one.

The reason for one at a time is the 3 year old was my first cat. My DH has always been a cat person so that helped though.

If your not used to cats you would probably be better off with an adult (well unless your used to puppies since the new challenges are the same, they are more likly to chew and scratch stuff, and more likely to eat something they shouldn't and puke all over making you a nice mess).

Neither of our cats (even the one we got 4 months old) have had any real litter box issues (you get the occasional poo just outside the box but never had issues with peeing on our bed or anything like that). Even introducing the two of them wasn't too bad (it tooks some work as they had to be seperate and brought together to meet a few times but it worked out).

Honestly I just say go for it and get a cat they are really easy so I'm sure you will be able to handle them if you can handle dogs. They have really been the easiest pets I have ever had to take care of in some ways (because I will admit when I was little and had fish I tended to forget to feed them, cats remind you by walking on you and meowing until you remember)

 

[Golf4food]

Each cat is different and each breed is different, just like with dogs. Some cat breeds are very affectionate, some are aggressive or standoffish, some are sweet, some are ambivalent, etc. You just don't have as much work to do with a cat - they are more self-sufficient than dogs, especially with food and litterbox. (Heck, you could even train a cat to use a toilet if you want.) Keep the litter box clean and they likely will never go outside of the box unless they have a problem.

We have two solid grey female cats - one is a year old, the other is two years old. The oldest is pretty affectionate, the young one only when she wants to be, but she's still sweet. The oldest is, as best we can tell, mostly American Burmese in breed, though she is mainly a mutt and was rescued from a feral colony. Her personality fits with the AB profile, however, including that she will play fetch. We have no idea what the young one is, but she's at least partly Asian based on her more pointed face.

If money were no object we would own pure breeds like a Savannah Cat or a Russian Blue.

There are plenty of sites out there to explain the breeds - read through them and figure out what sounds best for you and try to find one that matches. Some have special personalities (Siamese, for instance) or health concerns (Persian). Do you want long hair or short? (Unless you don't mind shed fur everywhere I'd go with short, but even those will often shed - just smaller hairs!) And talk to your local animal shelters - many times they will help walk you through the process if you have never owned one before.

We love our kitties and can't imagine life without them. Most dogs will love anything that will feed them or throw a ball. When you earn the love of a cat you have truly accomplished something worthwhile.

 

[mikelan6]

I have one Kitty - a female and we live in a condo as well. She's very sweet and loving and usually easy to take care of. I specifically asked for a de-clawed kitty when I adopted her from the shelter so I don't have problems with her scratching the furniture. However, she is VERY picky about a clean litter box. So much so, that I've had to replace my living room furniture because of "accidents." I'm not home during the day, so I started with a standard litter box. Then moved to a Littermaid. That worked well, but you get a little sand all over the place. I also tried the Cat Genie. That was a disaster. She used it ONCE - hence the new furniture. Now I am using the Scoop Free device, which uses crystal and that works pretty well for me. Oh ... I also tried to teach her to go in the toilet. That didn't work either.

When I first adopted Kitty, she went ALL OVER the condo smelling every inch. She knocked over some stuff - so be ready for that. She no longer does that, of course.

Good luck with your new baby!

 

[corky441]

I have had cats almost all of my entire adult life.

I've always had males - I personally find them more affectionate - but since I've always had "boys" i guess I'm biased.

I think getting two is a wise choice - they will keep each occupied and when you are away they'll be less apt to be "bad" kitties because they'll be too busy loving each other.

Also, after the initial kitten stage - they basically become "pillows that eat"

Good luck with your adoption

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

This is our little one, Cosette. Obviously, she's a female, and thinks she is either a dog or a human, depending on the day.

When I get home at night, she comes to the door to kiss me, and has mastered "sit", "stay" and "jump" on command.

You don't need two cats, nor do cats need to be adopted in pairs. When we went to pick up Cosi last summer, we specifically asked for an older cat, because they are harder to adopt. She was about 14 months when we took her home, and still has a little "kitty-ness" in her, but is full grown, and very loving.

 

[GAN]

We have 2 cats ....but really, does anyone ever really "own" a cat!

 

[Magpie]

Some cats do just fine as "only" cats, but in general I agree with the shelters - it's healthier for them to live in pairs. They can get skittish and anti-social when they're left alone too long. Wild/feral cats live in family groups, by choice.

Cats, because of their small size, do NOT make a ton of noise playing with each other. They also sleep most of the day. It's unlikely your neighbours will notice them chasing each other around in the middle of the night - though you might.

Having an only cat won't stop the "chasing around in the middle of the night" behavior, BTW. Cats play by themselves (or with dust bunnies, or flies, or shadows, or imaginary friends) just as frequently and enthusiastically as they play with each other.

Cats can be safely left alone for two or three days, assuming you've put out enough food and water for them. But they may be upset with you when you get back. One of our cats left a stinky "present" at my feet when I sat down to check the mail after getting back from a short trip. It was his charming way of saying, "Welcome home, you B****!"

Cats should be kept indoors, both for the safety of the local bird population, and for their own health. Outdoor cats live shorter lives and get more diseases. And nothing breaks your heart more than searching around the neighbourhood after a cat that's just been hit by a car and is gruesomely injured and too afraid to come close to anyone. That particular kitty died, horribly.

Cats are much lower maintenance than dogs, and just as affectionate in their own way.

Some cats like to steal shiny objects.

Some cats like to knock things over.

Some cats will do things they know they're not allowed to do, all the while staring at you, just to make you get up and chase them. (It's a game!)

Cats learn to use the litter box from their mothers. It's a rare cat who needs you to do anything more than show them the location of the box - and maybe put them in it once.

If you get a cat from the shelter, look for one that is friendly, but not too playful. You want a kitty who will rub up against the cage when you talk to it and purr when you poke your finger through to pet it. You don't really want a kitty that takes that as invitation to play with your finger, biting and nibbling. Some cats are highly excitable, and unless you're good with getting chewed and scratched, you may want to think twice about taking that kitty home. Also, steer clear of the cat hiding in the back of her cage, no matter how cute she might be. Look for a mellow, friendly cat.

And if you get a kitten, spend lots and lots of time carrying it around (gently) and petting it (gently) and discouraging it from biting and clawing (just put it down when it does this). The more you socialize your kitten, the friendlier it will be when it grows up. And the more time you spend together, the better chance you'll have of teaching it to obey commands or play games, like a dog. You can even train some kittens to walk on leash. One of my cats liked to play "fetch", and I was able to get another to climb ladders.

Good luck!

 

[TXYankee]

I currently have two male cats....or shall I say Forrest and Andy have a nice human couple! In the past I have always had one female cat at a time. Both the males and the females have been affectionate. The boys I have now were litter mates so they are true brothers. They seem to have a bond and love to play together. If I have to go out of town for a few days, a neighbor feeds them and cleans their box and I do not have to worry about them being lonley or turning into Bad Kitty because they amuse and love each other. When I had one kitty and would go out of town she would turn into Bad Kitty because she was bored.

If you adopt smart kitties you can train them to sit, beg, roll over, fetch...just like a dog. Look for an attentive and responsive kitty. Only one of my kitties did not learn tricks, Forrest. He is sweet and happy and kind and loving but not very bright.

I would not worry about the noise as most cats are rather quiet. I would avoid Siamese cats since they tend to be meow alot in an a high pitched voice.

Also be sure to get your cats fixed. This will make them much better pets when they are not looking for a date!. Remember, shelters are full of great kitties!

 

[MomofKatie]

If you want an affectionate, people oriented, "dog like" cat who won't mind being the only cat in the house, try a Siamese. We adopted from a wonderful site, www.siameserescue.org They list many of their cats as "must be only cat", so they are definitely willing to adopt out single cats.

 

[Plutes]

Have you met Teresa?

Duh! I never even thought about asking Teresa! I'll have to facebook her later!

Thanks for all the info, guys! We have already fallen in love with one little baby, and I've been emailing the shelter back and forth all morning. They, too, will only adopt out in pairs, so we're now considering that.

It's their jumping around that scares me. I have a friend with two female cats, and she says they make a lot of noise jumping off things, when they're playing. That's my concern. If the noise really wouldn't be any greater than Jimmy & I walking around the place, that's fine. But, anything more than that, and I KNOW my downstairs neighbor would be at my door in a flash. Then I don't know WHAT I would do!

So, it still remains to be seen...but, keep all the advice coming! Oh, and roomthreeseventeen, your Cosette is adorable!

**One more thing! And, please, no flaming here - remember I've never owned a cat! Is it really a big deal to get a kitten declawed? I've heard so many varying opinions - that it's cruel, some vets won't even do it - or conversely, that if you do it early enough, it's really not a big deal! I really think this would be a necessity as, like Mike, I don't particularly want any ruined furniture. More importantly, though, we'll be spending a lot of time with my parents and their puppy, and I wouldn't want to take a chance of her getting hurt!

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[lttlmc3]

I have a kitty! Her name is Daphne, but goes by Meow. I love her! Cats are really good for people who don't have as much time to devote to a pet than a dog and you still get the love. I still love my doggies, but its so funny how different she is from them!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Personally, I would not have a cat de-clawed. We've pretty much trained Cosette not to scratch things she shouldn't be scratching. Our only failure is bike tires. They are like crack to her.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Duh! I never even thought about asking Teresa! I'll have to facebook her later!

Thanks for all the info, guys! We have already fallen in love with one little baby, and I've been emailing the shelter back and forth all morning. They, too, will only adopt out in pairs, so we're now considering that.

It's their jumping around that scares me. I have a friend with two female cats, and she says they make a lot of noise jumping off things, when they're playing. That's my concern. If the noise really wouldn't be any greater than Jimmy & I walking around the place, that's fine. But, anything more than that, and I KNOW my downstairs neighbor would be at my door in a flash. Then I don't know WHAT I would do!

So, it still remains to be seen...but, keep all the advice coming! Oh, and roomthreeseventeen, your Cosette is adorable!

**One more thing! And, please, no flaming here - remember I've never owned a cat! Is it really a big deal to get a kitten declawed? I've heard so many varying opinions - that it's cruel, some vets won't even do it - or conversely, that if you do it early enough, it's really not a big deal! I really think this would be a necessity as, like Mike, I don't particularly want any ruined furniture. More importantly, though, we'll be spending a lot of time with my parents and their puppy, and I wouldn't want to take a chance of her getting hurt!

Thanks again for all the help!

Do Not Declaw. It does hurt. Sometimes causes permanent nerve damage. And if the adoption doesn't work out, the cat is limited to an Indoor Cat Only home (always recommended, but not as easy to find, unfortunately). Also, if a cat is declawed because of aggression, they'll just turn to biting...100 times worse.

If you wish to adopt a cat on the stipulation that it be declawed, I'd recommend not adopting a cat. Have you considered fish?

And no, this is not a flame. I perfectly well understand the desire to declaw...having lost furniture to the habits of my li'l angels. Provide alternative scratching posts (one of my cats love the standard carpet-covered styles, the other prefers a piece of junky unfinished pine wood furniture). But I strongly recommend avoiding declawing. I liken it to removing a child's fingertips because you don't like them picking at the wallpaper.

 

[Magpie]

Duh! I never even thought about asking Teresa! I'll have to facebook her later!

Thanks for all the info, guys! We have already fallen in love with one little baby, and I've been emailing the shelter back and forth all morning. They, too, will only adopt out in pairs, so we're now considering that.

It's their jumping around that scares me. I have a friend with two female cats, and she says they make a lot of noise jumping off things, when they're playing. That's my concern. If the noise really wouldn't be any greater than Jimmy & I walking around the place, that's fine. But, anything more than that, and I KNOW my downstairs neighbor would be at my door in a flash. Then I don't know WHAT I would do!

So, it still remains to be seen...but, keep all the advice coming! Oh, and roomthreeseventeen, your Cosette is adorable!

**One more thing! And, please, no flaming here - remember I've never owned a cat! Is it really a big deal to get a kitten declawed? I've heard so many varying opinions - that it's cruel, some vets won't even do it - or conversely, that if you do it early enough, it's really not a big deal! I really think this would be a necessity as, like Mike, I don't particularly want any ruined furniture. More importantly, though, we'll be spending a lot of time with my parents and their puppy, and I wouldn't want to take a chance of her getting hurt!

Thanks again for all the help!

A kitten jumping around is definitely not much louder than two adults walking around in shoes - maybe quieter. It's a sort of soft tumbling sound. Are your friends cats overweight? I have *one* cat that makes a fair bit of noise jumping off things, but she's quite obese. The other cats make almost no sound at all.

As for declawing... look at your fingers. When a cat is declawed they cut off the finger at the first joint. Early or late makes no difference - you've still shortened their fingers significantly.

You can save your furniture by training your cat. Provide a good scratching post and encourage your cat to use it. And for the first little while, keep a water bottle around and spray your cat the minute you see it start to scratch anything else. With some vigilance, you can soon ensure your cat will only scratch her post and nothing else.

As for keeping the puppy safe - if the puppy is playing too rough one good scratch will teach it to back off and won't hurt the puppy very much. But without claws, your kitten won't be able to protect herself, and could get hurt if the puppy overwhelms her, or decides to use her as a chew toy.

Cats who feel threatened generally hiss or growl in warning. If the threat doesn't go away, or if they feel cornered, they will then strike - once - and run. Cats don't usually go for a prolonged attack like dogs will, so there's little danger of a cat seriously injuring a dog, unless it accidentally hits an eye (never happened in my experience of owning both cats and dogs).

 

[Plutes]

Do Not Declaw. It does hurt. Sometimes causes permanent nerve damage.

This was my exact concern. As an animal lover, I would never want to willingly bring pain to ANY animal. My biggest concern is my parent's puppy. Again, never having owned a cat, I don't even know if this IS something I should be concerned about. Is it a realistic fear? I mean, if they got to playing, could the cat conceivably hurt the puppy? (She's just a little thing - 9 lbs). Or am I really reaching here???

 

[Plutes]

As for keeping the puppy safe - if the puppy is playing too rough one good scratch will teach it to back off and won't hurt the puppy very much. But without claws, your kitten won't be able to protect herself, and could get hurt if the puppy overwhelms her, or decides to use her as a chew toy.

Cats who feel threatened generally hiss or growl in warning. If the threat doesn't go away, or if they feel cornered, they will then strike - once - and run. Cats don't usually go for a prolonged attack like dogs will, so there's little danger of a cat seriously injuring a dog, unless it accidentally hits an eye (never happened in my experience of owning both cats and dogs).

Thanks for the info...definitely A LOT to still think about!