Looks like I'm getting a cat...

[blueski]

A cage is a good way to get a kitten used to their litter box. We used a dog cage and made it sleep there the first week.You let it out to play and put him back in there every now and then too use the box. After a few days we gradually increased its territory with a baby gate. After a month, no more cage and it only once peed where it shouldn't have cuz the kids left it locked in their room.

And then sliver, you'd already have a dog cage so it would be pretty easy to bring a dog into your home!

[edslunch]

You're deluding yourself Sliver. I give you two week max before its sleeping with you.

My advice is put clear double sided tape on all obvious scratching areas (vertical corners on furniture). They try once and never again. Take it off in two weeks.

[blueski]

Originally Posted by edslunch

You're deluding yourself Sliver. I give you two week max before its sleeping with you.

My advice is put clear double sided tape on all obvious scratching areas (vertical corners on furniture). They try once and never again. Take it off in two weeks.

That's an interesting tip. We used glue on plastic cat nails. They come off now and then but work pretty well.

[Sliver]

Yeah we are going to get those glue on nails. We are buying all the crap we'll need tomorrow. That's a great tip on leaving it in the dog cage for the first bit, bluski. Plus I imagine we'll need a cage like that anyway for taking it to the vet so it won't be a waste. In a perfect world maybe the cat would like it in there and want to stay (like some dogs do at night and during the day).

[Suzles]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Hey guys. D-day is upon us. We pick up our cat in a week or so. As the day approaches, I'm getting nervous about having an animal in my home. I can't get out of this now, though.

I found some great cages at www.habitathaven.com (click on cat's den, then cat enclosures). They also sell this line of enclosures at a place in Calgary, apparently. Anyway, part of me thinks it's not the nicest thing to put a cat in a cage, then again when we went to the SPCA they keep all their cats in cages that are 10x crappier than these ones. Plus I could move the cage into my house, into the garage and even outside on nice days so that might even be better then having the cat couped up in my house 24/7 365.

Anybody have one of these? Is the cat happy?

The cages at the SPCA are temporary as the cats are frequently adopted so their stay there is not long. This is not a way for a cat to live permanently. It would, in fact, be cruel. There is no way your wife will allow that I'm hoping. My husband built a four tier 40 foot outside run attached from our kitchen window for our cats to play in and be safe but they have free access in and out. Perhaps that is something you could do?

[Sliver]

Did you see the link? The cages I'm talking about are really big. I just brought up the SPCA cages as a frame of reference for how large the ones I'm looking at will actually be. My wife is the one that found the link so she is definitely okay with exploring having a cage.

All domesticated animals are caged to some degree (let alone zoo animals) so I don't think this is total madness, although maybe a little unusual.

[blueski]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah we are going to get those glue on nails. We are buying all the crap we'll need tomorrow. That's a great tip on leaving it in the dog cage for the first bit, bluski. Plus I imagine we'll need a cage like that anyway for taking it to the vet so it won't be a waste. In a perfect world maybe the cat would like it in there and want to stay (like some dogs do at night and during the day).

Yeah it becomes their home where they can retreat too. Put a little blanket bed in there too as well as their food and water.

Once you start expanding their space, leave the door open of course. It will meow for its mom the first day or too, then stop as it gets used to the idea of a new family.

Yeah and too clarify, a small cage is only for transport or to care for them when they are really sick. Even a dog cage would be too small past a week. We just used it like I said, to give him his own home base and the gradually expand his territory over the span of a few weeks with the cage and baby gate. He slept locked in the cage for about two weeks with his roaming privileges slowly expanding.

I think you'll have a hard time keeping him in there anyway when you are at home.

Some cats ride fine in cars, others totally freak out. So it's nice to have a small cage our a couple of milk crates just in case.

[Ironhorse]

If you get the cat as a kitten, just get it used to having its nailed trimmed with a nail clipper (use a toe nail model, and cut from the side). We've always done that, and never had any issues. They usually lay in my lap and tolerate it while they are being trimmed - and they are Siamese!. Just be sure not to trim too close to the "quick", as that will draw blood and hurt.

[Yasa]

Don't waste your time with expensive cat food either. Most of them are actually really cheap filler by-product. Stick with a diet mainly consisting of eggs, rice krispies, and cranberry juice.

Also consider getting a muzzle or a feed bag. Cats love feed bags.

[Buff]

We got two cats. I'm not a cat person. I wished we didn't get them. Went to rescue a cat and wound up rescuing two. Now all I see is the damage cats do. They scratch our carpet and wreck it. They pee on things that the kids leave out. Nothing like stopping at Canadian Tire to buy your kid some new hockey gear on the way to his game...

I love the company of the cats but I'm a dog person and I wished we would have chosen to get a dog instead. I haven't had a dog that does so much damage as cats do.

[OutOfTheCube]

When I got a cat I just called up the SPCA and asked if they had any there that were declawed. Got a great 4 year old cat who was the nicest one anyone could ask for.

...but he would've had nothing to do with being caged up all day.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Buff

We got two cats. I'm not a cat person. I wished we didn't get them. Went to rescue a cat and wound up rescuing two. Now all I see is the damage cats do. They scratch our carpet and wreck it. They pee on things that the kids leave out. Nothing like stopping at Canadian Tire to buy your kid some new hockey gear on the way to his game...

I love the company of the cats but I'm a dog person and I wished we would have chosen to get a dog instead. I haven't had a dog that does so much damage as cats do.

Always had a dog growing up, never thought I'd like cats. Never had a rescue cat though. Always had (and still have) pure-bred Siamese (we used to show them, got them as kittens), and they are the most interactive, fun animals I've ever dealt with. They are like little dogs, interact with you (one plays fetch), play with you, cheer you up when your down, greet you at the door, and all that without the drooling and walking duties of a dog. Mine only wreck the scratching post. Haven't had an issue with them peeing on stuff - that is usually a sign of being unhappy with that person or associating something with bad experiences (not necessarily your kids' fault).

[Regular_John]

My wife and I both grew up with dogs, but our lifestyle/home size aren't really suited to dogs.

So three weeks ago we adopted a 1 year old tabby from the Calgary Humane society. Neither of us have had a cat before, but thus far she's been great actually. Not super affectionate, but she'll greet us when we get home and we can pick her up without much of a fight most of the time.

Honestly hasn't destroyed anything either, minus a bag of hamburger buns we left on the kitchen counter. Only thing she really scratches at that I wish she wouldn't is the carpeted stairs. But we're working on that.

[GGG]

Just to put your mind at ease when your cat uses it's litter box and then jumps on your counter it's getting pee and poo particles all over the place.

[Suzles]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Did you see the link? The cages I'm talking about are really big. I just brought up the SPCA cages as a frame of reference for how large the ones I'm looking at will actually be. My wife is the one that found the link so she is definitely okay with exploring having a cage.

All domesticated animals are caged to some degree (let alone zoo animals) so I don't think this is total madness, although maybe a little unusual.

I did see the link and I mostly saw big, fixed enclosures for safe, outside entertainment. You said you would be moving the cage from the garage to the garden and to the house so I could only presume how small and unsuitable this cage would be. Cats at the Humane Society do start to show signs of stress and bad behaviour (not using litter trays, etc) as a result of being kept confined. Once started this behaviour is hard to break.