Kitten or cat?

[Serena]

Don't worry, it will be a rescue.

Anyway, I'm getting my doggie a pet. A family friend rescues cats and is always trying to find homes for them. She fixes them, shots and all.
Anyway, she has a cat that loves dogs. It's older, house trained and everything.


But kittens are so cute.

Anyone with experience adopting an older cat, not old, just older?

 

[poohtown]

lol - read my post below I just posted. He was about 3-4 months old when we adopted him. Can't believe how big he has grown in just this short time.

If she has a cat that already gets along with dogs that might be the best. I forgot to add that the first introduction between H@!! cat and my big dog was interesting. My sweet pit was trying to smell the kitty and he clawed her face. He actually was hanging off my dogs nose while my dog was running around trying to get him loose. There was alot of blood! Now they are friends and my dog will even give 'trouble' a bath.

 

[Cruisin]

Out of 4 cats that we have had in the last 25 years, only one was a kitten when we got it.

The first one we "inherited" with our first house when we got married. They tried to move him but he kept coming back. He was 5 years old.

The next one was about 1 1/2 when we got her and had her for 10 years.

Of the 2 we have now the one was about 11/2 and the other one was just a little kitten.

Kittens are lots of fun but they are pretty wild for awhile. You have to watch everything from where you step to things left laying around.

We had to cover the back of our dining room chairs for many months after Mischief ran full tilt and jumped on the chair and got her head stuck in the slats on the back of the chair So we pinned towels on the backs of the chair ..... looked pretty strange for a while but at least she didn't strangle herself

So it depends on if you are willing to put up with the energy of the kitten or if you and your dog would prefer a little quieter cat.

 

[Pop Daddy]

anit all cats house trained, I didnt know you had to teach them

 

[Serena]

I don't know. The kittens I've had seemed to know what to do.

 

[mommytotwo]

We always get kittens because if we had gotten an older kitten/young cat, we wouldn't be able to train it with our dogs.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'd go with an adult cat. I know kittens are cute, but they are very hyper, and can be kind of destructive. Also, I think older cats tend to really appreciate getting a second chance at a family.

I took in a foster cat a few months ago and he was a sweety. We could not keep him but we took him because his old owner was just going to dump him at the pound (not a real shelter, even) and we ended up placing him with a sweet lady who now treats him like a baby!

But cat or kitten, whatever you decide, good for you!! Make sure to keep us posted. And post pics if you can!!

 

[Kitty 34]

Laurie we adopted an older cat once or I should say the cat adopted us. We called her Stray if that gives you any indication of who she was!! She was a sweet cat and we had her for two years before we had to put her to sleep. I still miss her.

 

[Serena]

I'm sorry Kitty. They do steal our hearts don't they.

Thank you all for the advice.

 

[Virgo10]

The Older Cat

I'm not so young or fair of face.
And there'll be times I want my space.
I might sleep more then be awake
But give me time... your heart I'll take.


I'm an older cat, my ways are set.
And you may wonder what you'll get.
But I'm calm and wise and you might find
That I can give you peace of mind.


I might be passive - not want to play
But before you know they'll come a day
When you're sad or down, I'll take my nap
And you'll find love sleeping on your lap.


I watch the youngsters leave their cage.
Their lives are new... an empty page.
But an older cat can teach you much.
And all I ask is a gentle touch.

Roberta

 

[HisEllyNelly]

We adopted a 5 year old cat last year and she is wonderful.We call her the old lady because she acts just like a little old lady. I would adopt the adult cat if you know it likes dogs, but if not I would go with a kitten so it would have an easier time adjusting to the doggie.Cats dont seem to accept change as well as they get older.

 

[Serena]

Roberta, that was a very nice poem.

 

[cvemom]

We've always had kittens until the beginning of the summer when a tailless stray showed up at our house. We call him strayboy and he's completely at home here. He has fit in well with the kittens and our other cat. The dogs even like him. Good luck with your choice.

 

[airhead]

puppy!!!

 

[SetzKitten]

We adopted a 4 year old tabby. Brought him into a house with a 13 and 2 year old cats, 7 newborn kittens, 2 dogs and 2 rabbits (all adopted). He did wonderfully and he was and always will be the best cat I ever got. Such a great personality and got along well with the other critters. I lost him to kidney failure just 3 years later. So, my vote is for a cat.

 

[katerkat]

I've done both - Wedge was a kitten and Tycho was a young adult (around 18 months old) when I adopted them. Tycho was definitely the easier adjustment! I adore kittens, but they can be really time consuming.

And don't worry about house training. I just showed them the box and all our cats/kittens knew exactly what to do.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'd go for the cat since you know it likes dogs. Actually, what I'd really do is to get one of each!

Tigger&Belle (the names of my two kitties)...I should add Magic and Sheena, my dogs names.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Go for the cat! Cats are always harder to place compared to kittens; besides, you know this one gets along with dogs already. Good luck!

 

[chrissyk]

I'd go with a grown cat. We adopted our 2 cats as kittens. The male was wild for a bit but then did eventually calm down. The female has just about put us over the edge, though. We were going to get a dog after we got her, but we realized that we had our hands full with her and we didn't have enough energy left for a dog. If you go with a full-grown cat, you can judge their activity level and personality and see if it will work for you. I wouldn't trade my cats for the world, but holy cow my female is a lot of work!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

So what are you going to do???

Know how to keep a fool in suspense?

T&B