Originally Posted by Finner
Hey OilersBaby, I'll try to give you what information I have.
I had all dogs growing up, until about 6 months ago when i got one cat, and then a second one a few months after that. I never got kittens, i got two older cats (about 5-6 months) from the humane society. I have a boy and girl. The boy is a cuddler, very vocal, follows you around everywhere trying to get patted and played with. The girl is far more aloof (except at 5 am) , but way way smarter.
Cats are great animals, they are clean, low upkeep, fairly quiet, and they keep wonderful company. They are excited to see you come home the same as a dog, just less likely to listen.
In terms of temperment and breed, i'd probably just stick to the regular domestic mutt breed. They come in all different temperments and looks, including as mentioned above, short, medium, or long hair. Most cats are short, however remember with longer hair you do need to brush it as the cat can't always keep it clean for itself.
The humane society or somewhere that has a large variety of cats you can look at is great for finding a cat that has a personality you like. If you are going to get a cat and want to be able to choose a personality then DON'T get a kitten. All kittens are the same, and you won't be able to figure out if they are cuddly or aloof or whatever until they are older. A good idea is to get two cats. It is not hard to take care of two cats vs one. Just maybe clean the litter box often. And they wear eachother out playing and are often hilarious together. And if you do decide to get a single cat make sure it is an older cat (over 1 year old) because if you get one younger and it does not have a "buddy" it will likely end up being a scared, nervous, undersocialized cat.
When you are picking out your cat, look for one that approaches you in its cage, tries to get patted, and seems playful. Remember when you get the one on one time with them, they may not seem as friendly and wanting pats because they are nervous or excited being in a new location.
I am hugely against declawing. It is illegal in many many countries because it is considered in humane. Many cats have serious chronic pain for the rest of there lives after the procedure. If them scratching is that huge of an issue, cover the arm of your couch with a blanket and they stop. You can also buy spray and such that they don't like the smell of and they won't scratch.
Hope this helps!
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