any cat owners?

deadliftfan

This is mine.

ChasingKatie

Yay for adopting an adult cat!

springseternal

My Lord Byron:




and his brother Poe:




Both were originally foster kitties who never left. They were adults when I got them. I think it's wonderful that you are looking at an adult cat.

Have you considered volunteering for a local rescue group, instead of adopting at this point? If you get involved with fostering you'll have all the joys of the cat, plus some groups will pay for, or help pay for, expenses. The group I volunteer for now pays all vet care, plus food and litter, for any cat fostered for their rescue. The group I volunteered for a few years ago paid all vet care, but not day to day expenses.

If you find one that fits your lifestyle (like Byron and Poe did for mine), you can always adopt, but until then you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you're willingness to open your home is allowing an older cat to live in comfort and safety until that right home comes along.

Lyssa62

LOL funny a poster mentioned about the laying on the back thing....here you go. This is a DAILY requirement that I am to fulfill. She will lay like this for a minimum of a half hour and it takes about 15 minutes for my arm to regain feeling.





This along with pulling my hair and head butting seem to be a "welcoming" into the pride.

Smokey19

I have had indoor cats since I was 12 and I absolutely love them. They have all been declawed and spayed or neutered. They don't mess up anything and never go to the restroom outside of their box which has to be changed frequently. They are very well behaved and totally lovable. Right now I have a 10 1/2 yr. old female and she still plays. She has been held since the day she was born in my closet and is a total blessing to my husband and me. She likes to sit on your lap, but is fine sitting close to us. She repeats certain words with meows and is so smart. She follows orders and I plan on always having a cat in my house.

ashmorgstraws

I LOVE my cat. I found him in the backyard at my grandparent's house as a baby (probably 1-2 months old, not really sure). I've had him since July. Just got him fixed two weeks ago, and he's back to his normal self now! I definitely agree that some cats will get into things (rip things up and such), but if they're declawed, you should be safe!
Good luck on finding a nice cat! Some are great, some are not so great, so be selective!

stang_girl88

I have two cats (three dogs and a husband) and they drive me batty, but I do enjoy them. I refer to one of them as Satan in a fur coat (Dewey). They do entertain me when they arent sleeping, Dewey especially. He has quite the personality on him. If you live in an apartment, a cat is a good choice for a pet. If they tear up your furniture etc you can get Soft Paws for them. They are nail caps for your pets and work awesome, as long as you keep it up-about once a month or so (as they fall off) you have to replace them. If your cat starts pissing everywhere it could be a medical problem or you arent meeting his litter needs-not enough, or too much, doesnt like the smell or feel on their paws. Could be many other reasons too, but that is all I have learned from experience. Good luck with your kitty and I agree, the animal shelters are the way to go. All my pets have come from there

JenniBaby85

Cat's are an awesome choice for a low maintenance pet, I mean since they maintain themselves. Then the reward you for keeping them in the house by warming your lap and purring. Very soothing. Mine does claw though, some do more than others.

RunIntheMud

I have two children that LOVE animals. After much persuading by them, I looked into adopting cats. I watched the SPCA site for a cat that would stand out, as well as Craigslist. One day there was a post from an elderly disabled woman that could no longer care for her two cats. I spoke with her a couple times and decided that they were perfect for us, and after two months these little babies are definitely a part of our family. I was worried about the litter box, as well as them scratching things up. They have never had an accident, and all I have to do is show them a water bottle to get them to stop any bad behavior. She had them trained well.

My advice is if you adopt adult cats, give them time to get used to your house. My two (Matthew & Simone) hid whenever the kids were awake for the first month. They would slowly come out and sit near me, but not next to me. They did like to sleep with the kids, but only when they were asleep. (That picture is from the first week the cats came home. My daughter fell asleep on the couch and Simone snuggled in with her). Anyway, just let the cat(s) settle in to the house in their own way. That's my best advice.

verptwerp

This is Radar ...... someone dropped her off at the animal hospital I worked at ....... she was 3 weeks old & very sick ...... I took her home each evening to make sure she got food & medicine ....... my husband said "no way are we keeping a cat" ....... that was 12 years ago :laugh:

She's sitting next to me as I write this, with her head on the keyboard ....... she let's us know when she's hungry ...... or wants to be brushed ..... or wants to play with her toys ...... she is definitely the Princess in this house !

BTW, I've been lucky to work for 2 of the best veterinarians on the planet ....... they are caring & fair ...... they explain the options as gently as possible, even in times of great stress ........ we try to give estimates ahead of time ....... but let's face it, vet bills can add up quickly with lab work, surgery, medication, special food & round-the-clock care .....

Some people buy pet insurance that covers traumatic injury & illness ....... some people just keep their fingers crossed and hope for the best .......

Oooops, gotta go ...... Radar just headbutted me ...... that means the Princess wants something & I'd better go figure out what

Best of luck to you !

caldon4523

If you adopt an adult cat, you'll be able to get a good personality match, and you will gain an independent but rewarding pet who you will very quickly not be able to imagine being without. But do be prepared to become less house-proud, and change cat litter more often than you'd ideally be bothered to.

Very True. I have always had a cat. Adult cats have true personalities so you can see if you like them. A kitten's personality takes time to develop. I had one cat a few years ago who I really hated as a kitten and wanted to get rid of him. But I stuck with him and he became my all time favorite cat. He became a very affectionate kitty. He passed away in my arms.:sad:

nmtGurl

My 15.5 y/o Siamese passed away last week.

I've always been a dog person and was never interested in getting a cat. 15 yrs ago I got an Italian greyhound from a breeder and she ended up coming home with me. She was already 6 mo old and was born with respiratory problems, so no one wanted her. She pawed at my leg, I picked her up, she wrapped her paws around my neck, purred right in my ear and I caved. Never having cats before, I thought Siamese were supposed to be nasty and aloof. She was far from it. She acted like the dog. She came when called, waited at the door for us and talked to us when we came in. She was the most affectionate, sweet, most lovable cat I have ever known (and I still don't care for cats). She loved people, never ran from anything, never hissed at us or bit anyone. She didn't have front claws, so tearing anything up wasn't a problem, and she never had any accidents either. I'm so glad I chose to take her home that long ago, but I don't think I will ever find another like her.

The only down side was litter box cleaning. 3 yrs ago I got the best invention ever made...the Litter Robot. I wish I knew about this thing when I first got her and worth every penny. It's basically a ball that rotates and dumps the used litter in a drawer 7 minutes after the cat uses it. You change to bag once a week, the cat gets a fresh litter box every time they go and no more scooping.

This is what it looks like:

whierd

Ok, for those saying that cats are so trainable, please enlighten me. I've bought my cats the scratching posts, scratching mats, etc. They still dig the living hell out of my carpet, costing me a few grand every time I move to replace them. The pee thing I was exaggerating about. We only had a problem with that once when I brought in a second cat. Since then it has been all litter box.

It is really the whole digging up the carpet thing that annoys the hell out of me.

AimersBee

hey everybody. kind of random/OT but i am thinking about getting a cat. i have recently moved out of my parents home, into an apartment. i've always had dogs but i feel like a cat would better fit my lifestyle right now. i would be interested in adopting an adult cat rather than a kitten most likely. any words of wisdom? pros/cons that i should know about?

thanks ( :

in my life time my mom owned a lot of cats (i call her the cat lady)... right now she probably has around 8 cats... but growing up around cats my whole life (being around at least 50 cats / kittens.. lol yeah that many)... my experience is, when acquiring an adult cat they may not be litter trained, so you're taking a chance, also.. they may not be affectionate.. getting an adult cat not knowing if it was stray growing up or whatever is an issue.. so i'd say, if you're going to get one, get a kitten.. and make sure to see if it's friendly first..

50 cats is not having a pet, its a hoarding situation.

i said in my lifetime (including kittens they had).. all of our cats were inside and outside cats (since we have coyote's in the area, quite a few went missing, could of been someone grabbing them or getting hit by a car, etc).. at any given time we had around 4-5 cats.. i wouldn't say that's hoarding.. and now my mom has around 8 cats, again i wouldn't say that's hoarding when you have a 40 acre property with a huge house..

sho3girl

I adopted 2 burmese cats mother and daughter who were 6/7 years old at the time from cat protection. They're house cats (i live in a apartment too).

Yes cat hair everywhere, yes clothing, and furniture got attacked would i give them up NEVER!

coliema

I have a cat, he doesn't chew apart my couches or rugs, but once in a while he hangs from my curtains, but he was pretty much raised by my dog. I've had him since he was very very young, someone just dropped him off . I love cats.

Charlie003

If the cat is 6 months it will be okay, older than that, watch its mannerism for a few minutes. If you buy them a scratch post generally that is all the use. Plus many cats are declawed.

Spiritwarrior3000

my cats are sweet i have 2 moggies there brother and sister

ladymiseryali

Ok, for those saying that cats are so trainable, please enlighten me. I've bought my cats the scratching posts, scratching mats, etc. They still dig the living hell out of my carpet, costing me a few grand every time I move to replace them. The pee thing I was exaggerating about. We only had a problem with that once when I brought in a second cat. Since then it has been all litter box.

It is really the whole digging up the carpet thing that annoys the hell out of me.

Well, you can clicker-train a cat like you would a dog. With cats, it's about positive reinforcement. You praise the cat and give them treats when they use the correct scratching apparatus. You ignore and give a sharp "NO" when they use the incorrect apparatus. You're telling the cat that if they do good, then good things happen. Here's a link on clicker training.

http://catcouncil.com/training/clickersheet.html

And if you want to learn more about retraining cats, I suggest you watch "My Cat From Hell" on Animal Planet. That show has taught me a lot about feline behavior and how to correct undesirable behavior.

Bentley2718

Don't do it. If they have claws they will tear up the carpet and furniture. If they don't have claws, they will pee on everything. Best case scenario, you get the smartest, most well behaved cat in the world? It still craps in your house.

I have six cats. That's right, six. Other than a strange penchant for yoga gear and foam rollers, my cats don't tear up anything besides their scratching posts. And they only pee in their litter boxes. Oh, and yes they "crap" in the house, but so do I.

To the OP. Cats are great, but please keep in mind that they do require love an attention, don't assume the are necessarily easier than a dog (although you don't have to walk them). If you are worried about scratching, you can (and should) give them things to scratch and they will generally scratch that rather than your other belongings. PLEASE do NOT declaw a cat. Declawing involves removing the digit (toe) up to the first joint. It is very painful and traumatic for the cat, and is associated with various behavioral (biting, peeing outside the litter box) and health (i.e. hip dysplasia) problems.

My recommendation is to get an adult cat, at least a year of age (18 months or older). A cat of two years of age is roughly equivalent to a person in their mid-20s, and like people in their mid-20s, their personalities are what they are going to be, so when you meet them, you know what they are like. Please do not believe people who tell you to get a kitten because you can determine their personalities, this is like adopting an infant and thinking you can determine their personality. Yes, there are some things you can do, but there are limits. Some cats are always going to be shy, some cats are always going to be loving while others will be more aloof--if you adopt an adult cat, you will have a much better idea what you are getting. Plus, if you are going to leave the cat alone for 8-10 hours a day while you are at work, a kitten will become bored and stressed without you--often leading to destructive behavior. In contrast, most adult cats will be fine on their own for 8-10 hours a day. Finally, please keep in mind that cats live 15+ years, so you are making a long-term commitment, if you don't think you are ready for this, please don't adopt a cat.

I will add, ALL of my cats have been strays at some time. All of them are rescues, either from shelters or directly from the streets, and with the exception of the two kittens I trapped (their mother was feral), all of them were adults when I adopted them. NONE of them have litter box problems. Even the feral kittens I have dealt with (the two I have now, plus others) did not have litter box problems, I showed them the box, put it an acceptable distance from their food (at least a couple of feet) and they used the box. Cats are by nature clean creatures who like to do their business in soft dirt-like substances. As long as you give them something CLEAN to relieve themselves in, and they are not stressed or ill, they will use that place.

Penny (the small grey tabby) and Fluffy (I didn't name him, a 13 pound Maine Coon Mix)



Lope (a Siamese tabby mix) and Charger (a diffuse orange tabby)


Two of my former fosters, Potter (the older kitten), and Eight.

Libby81

In my experience, male cats tend to be little more affectionate than females. More dog-like. In fact, I call one of mine my "puppycat." He listens better than the dog. For that matter... my other male plays fetch better than the dog. Some of my girls are very loving, but overall... the boys like attention more.

I would give advice on picking out a cat, but... you really don't have any say in the matter. The cat chooses the owner, just like the wands in Harry Potter. I've never been able to pick out a cat. They always picked me.

I have two a girl and boy and I totally agree the boy is a LOT softer than the girl. He takes affection any which way it comes, whereas she likes to be in control. I say that and she is the one sat in my lap purring right now.

The Harry Potter anaology is right too. I think you'll know when you visit the shelter which one is meant to be yours

Bentley2718

Ok, for those saying that cats are so trainable, please enlighten me. I've bought my cats the scratching posts, scratching mats, etc. They still dig the living hell out of my carpet, costing me a few grand every time I move to replace them. The pee thing I was exaggerating about. We only had a problem with that once when I brought in a second cat. Since then it has been all litter box.

It is really the whole digging up the carpet thing that annoys the hell out of me.

Every time you see the cat scratching the carpet, put it on the scratching post--after a while, they usually get the point. Also, get it a variety of scratching surfaces--one of my cats loves a rope covered post, while another will only use corrugated cardboard scratchers that lay flat on the ground (picky, but whatever, he uses it, I'm happy). The one thing I personally will not give my cats is carpet covered scratchers, since I worry it would be confusing for them. On the other hand, if your cat really likes carpet, it might be worth a try. Also, if they scratch in one particular place, try putting their scratching post/mat/etc. there, they may scratch that instead. Another trick is to put some coins in a coffee can and shake it at them whenever you see them scratching the place they shouldn't be--the noise scares them. Oh, and you can also put tape over places they like to scratch, they sell special tape but I'm not sure it's really any different from masking tape.

Bentley2718

In my experience, male cats tend to be little more affectionate than females. More dog-like. In fact, I call one of mine my "puppycat." He listens better than the dog. For that matter... my other male plays fetch better than the dog. Some of my girls are very loving, but overall... the boys like attention more.

I would give advice on picking out a cat, but... you really don't have any say in the matter. The cat chooses the owner, just like the wands in Harry Potter. I've never been able to pick out a cat. They always picked me.

I have two a girl and boy and I totally agree the boy is a LOT softer than the girl. He takes affection any which way it comes, whereas she likes to be in control. I say that and she is the one sat in my lap purring right now.

The Harry Potter anaology is right too. I think you'll know when you visit the shelter which one is meant to be yours

This really depends on the cat. On average, male cats may be more affectionate, but personalities vary, just like with people. I know male cats who are very aloof and females who are love-bugs.

I do agree that the cat will choose you in many respects. Go to a shelter and meet the cats, when you meet the right cat, you will know.

smantha32

I have two cats, have had them for 10 years. I would say my biggest piece of advice is that you (or whoever is thinking of adopting a pet - not trying to be harsh to you specifically!) have to be completely prepared for the permanent responsibility, financially and time-wise. You are taking on the care of a living creature who will depend on you for everything, and you will be its entire world. You can't decide a year or two from now that your furniture or your carpet is more important than that animal if it gets sick and starts peeing on the corner, or gets bored because you don't have time for it and starts scratching the furniture. You have to commit to the fact that if a problem arises, you will do everything you can to solve it, and not just decide that it's too much trouble or hassle and dump the cat back at the shelter or euthanize it.

You have to make sure you can take care of any medical problems that arise, within a reasonable financial limit. I make sure I have enough money set aside for yearly exams and vaccines (can be up to $150) as well as other regular treatments that may arise (dewormers, antibiotics, etc). I also have a larger sum of money set aside in case of an emergency. Vet bills are not cheap, but contrary to what some people think, veterinarians are not out to make a quick buck off of you. Take a look at this article for an explanation of why vets charge what they do:
http://www.askavetquestion.com/why-are-vets-so-expensive.php

Cats are also a time commitment. They are not ornaments, and (most of them) don't just sleep on the sofa all day then wait to cuddle with you at night. They need mental stimulation and attention as well as physical activity. You also have to be willing to be patient with them if behavioural or medical problems arise. If they start peeing outside the litter box, it can be months of problem-solving and trying new things to solve the issue. If they get sick, you might have to give them medicine every day.

I love my cats, and they reward me every hour with their antics and affection. But I'm also aware of my responsibility to them, and I would never take their trust in me for granted.

This.

People who think animals are toys there to entertain them, then don't want to really be responsible for them, should never have animals.

PRMinx

I just got two kittens (see pic!). They are Maine Coons - a whole lot of fun and very, very sweet boys. I'm already in love.

Scratching is a concern, but I won't declaw. I have scratching stuff for them and, if they don't learn, you can always get them soft paws. Soft Paws are rubber tips that slide on their claws - kind of like acrylic tips for cats - and they allow for full use of the claws and paw. Very humane. You can get them at PetSmart.

icimani

Also, cat people tend to wind up cat crazy.

And yes, I have two cats. I'd get rid of them if I had the heart to do it.

LOL :laugh:

AmyFett

Don't do it. If they have claws they will tear up the carpet and furniture. If they don't have claws, they will pee on everything. Best case scenario, you get the smartest, most well behaved cat in the world? It still craps in your house.

I have four cats and two of them since they were born. They don't rip things up and they're pushing 6 months now. Worst thing i've dealt with with my cats, when my older two were kittens, they climbed the Christmas tree and almost hanged themselves by garland. Also, it's unnecessary to declaw cats. Just cruel.

Bentley2718

If you will be living in an apartment and gone all day a cat would be better than a dog for sure. But I remember when we did that years ago, the cat would sleep all day then keep us awake at night! It was really annoying. I'd make sure that you play with it a lot so it gets some sort of exercise.
Also, don't get one if you can't handle hair on everything, hairballs, stained carpet from hairballs, puke, pee, shredded furniture, changing the litterbox, vet bills, etc.
We have one now that has been banned to the porch for those reasons. She has a heated bed and a heated water bowl and we do let her in once in a while, but it's only when she can be supervised every single minute! She also howls like a dying, sick animal (she's not sick, vet says shes fine) and it really sounds creepy. I feel sorry for my neighbors since I can hear her a block away. lol I'd give her away but I know that whoever takes her would end up kicking her outside where she'd be in more danger or they would have her put down.

I'd howl like I was sick if someone locked me out on a porch, especially if it was someplace cold enough that I needed a heated water bowl. And not everyone would do that to a cat, no matter how annoying or messy.

Bentley2718

I have two cats, have had them for 10 years. I would say my biggest piece of advice is that you (or whoever is thinking of adopting a pet - not trying to be harsh to you specifically!) have to be completely prepared for the permanent responsibility, financially and time-wise. You are taking on the care of a living creature who will depend on you for everything, and you will be its entire world. You can't decide a year or two from now that your furniture or your carpet is more important than that animal if it gets sick and starts peeing on the corner, or gets bored because you don't have time for it and starts scratching the furniture. You have to commit to the fact that if a problem arises, you will do everything you can to solve it, and not just decide that it's too much trouble or hassle and dump the cat back at the shelter or euthanize it.

You have to make sure you can take care of any medical problems that arise, within a reasonable financial limit. I make sure I have enough money set aside for yearly exams and vaccines (can be up to $150) as well as other regular treatments that may arise (dewormers, antibiotics, etc). I also have a larger sum of money set aside in case of an emergency. Vet bills are not cheap, but contrary to what some people think, veterinarians are not out to make a quick buck off of you. Take a look at this article for an explanation of why vets charge what they do:
http://www.askavetquestion.com/why-are-vets-so-expensive.php

Cats are also a time commitment. They are not ornaments, and (most of them) don't just sleep on the sofa all day then wait to cuddle with you at night. They need mental stimulation and attention as well as physical activity. You also have to be willing to be patient with them if behavioural or medical problems arise. If they start peeing outside the litter box, it can be months of problem-solving and trying new things to solve the issue. If they get sick, you might have to give them medicine every day.

I love my cats, and they reward me every hour with their antics and affection. But I'm also aware of my responsibility to them, and I would never take their trust in me for granted.

This.

People who think animals are toys there to entertain them, then don't want to really be responsible for them, should never have animals.

Very well said!

enigmachik

I have had my cat for 12 years. He is the sweetest, most loving little guy. He never scratches furniture. I also trained him to go to the bathroom outside so I almost never have to clean the litterbox. I keep one in the house for emergencies, but he uses it less than once a month. It's wonderful. Cats are great pets.