Cats

[Flames in 07]

a) like dogs there is a wide range of behavior across breeds. Do your homework on what breed you'd want. Some are dumb, some are quite smart, some are high maintainance, some are independant etc. It's a bit of a simplification but siamese, torti's and anything orange will be higher maintainance, and if it is white or black, and as a kitten is disproportionately big paws it will be a hunter and look to kill anything in sight, but will be quite relaxed around people and independent.

b) don't declaw them, it's not humane and a lazy thing to do. Just trim their nails and they are fine

c) don't let them outdoors on their own, for all the reasons noted above

d) the biggest trick with cats vs a dog is to teach it your are the boss, it's hard to develop a heirarchy with them, and probably impossible if you don't get a kitten. I figured out about 1 month in if you grab them by the scruff when you are looking to teach them something that helps.

[Boblobla]

I found a water gun in combination with the scruff of the neck to be a good tool. Cats HATE water and if every time they climb onto the table they get a squirt and/or picked up by the scruff of their neck they will learn to not like it.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

My next question. With dog breeds, there is SUCH a variation in behaviour and personality (ie a Lab is so different than a Jack Russell who is so different than a Great Dane or Husky). Does that same variation in breeds exist with cats?

Yup, though most cats fall under three very broad "breeds". Most cats in North America fall under the "Domestic" breed and really only vary by the length of their fur.

I would recommend you avoid ones with orange fur. And tabby's. Especially orange tabbys. Them have the devil in their souls...

[DAN0383]

Cats are awesome, I loved having them, we had a brown tabby and a orange tabby, the brown one would purr when you touched him then suddenly attack when it seemed he was happy, evil little one that was, he was a outdoor cat and eventually got ran over unfortunately. The orange tabby was the sweetest little kitty ever, in his whole 17 years he never bit or scratched anyone and would follow me around the house like a dog, it sucked so much putting him down. Remember one things with cats, you are not their owner, they own you. I unfortunately can't have any pets in my apartment otherwise I would probably have 2 of them, so good luck on getting your cat, they are a mixed bag, you never know if you are going to get a nice one or a complete psycho.

[OilersBaby]

im learning so much from this thread. im going to the shelter tomorrow. i have one more question..

Are there any indicators I should look for that might tell me it's going to be a good cat in terms of temperment when I first meet it? There are ways to tell with doggies......I need to learn about kitties!

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Lithium

Is the meow foundation still around?

Yep, and I'd highly recommend them. They are good - militant almost - at ensuring you get a cat that matches your lifestyle.

http://www.meowfoundation.com/bins/home.asp

And not all cats are good with other cats. Ours hisses at any other cat she smells and if we had two, I think we'd quickly end up with just one.

Our cat is home, 8 hrs a day with no problems and we leave her alone for a couple of days if we're away. We have timer boxes for her food so she doesn't power it all down at once. We've been told it's not uncommon for former strays to eat all the food they can because they get conditioned to not expect another meal for awhile. Of course, it could just be our cat is a remorseless eating machine....

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by llama64

Yup, though most cats fall under three very broad "breeds". Most cats in North America fall under the "Domestic" breed and really only vary by the length of their fur.

I would recommend you avoid ones with orange fur. And tabby's. Especially orange tabbys. Them have the devil in their souls...

What are the 3 broad breeds? And which are best for a beginner cat owner (though I've had 3 doggies)

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Yep, and I'd highly recommend them. They are good - militant almost - at ensuring you get a cat that matches your lifestyle.

http://www.meowfoundation.com/bins/home.asp

And not all cats are good with other cats. Ours hisses at any other cat she smells and if we had two, I think we'd quickly end up with just one.

Our cat is home, 8 hrs a day with no problems and we leave her alone for a couple of days if we're away. We have timer boxes for her food so she doesn't power it all down at once. We've been told it's not uncommon for former strays to eat all the food they can because they get conditioned to not expect another meal for awhile. Of course, it could just be our cat is a remorseless eating machine....

Meow Foundation looks awesome! What a great service to help cats who need new, loving homes. Unfortunately I don't live in Calgary, but thanks for sharing the website..other CPers looking for kitties might benefit from your postings

[Sainters7]

I've had a cat for 10 years now, great pets. My whole life I was always a dog person(and still am), never thought I'd ever got a cat. But then we got one and I'm so used to them now that when I'm around dogs, I actually find them kind of annoying in how much attention/time they demand(which is very unlike a laid back, independent cat).

Also, leaving them at home for the day is completely different from leaving a dog home alone all day. There's actually been alot of times where I've left my house in the morning and came back to discover my cat in the exact same spot(and position) as it was when I left. They're fine.

As for the outside thing, I'm more in the let them go outside mentality. But I guess it depends where you live. I live in a quiet, shady cul-de-sac, so I'm not concerned. Whereas if I lived on a busy street, I'd probably want to leave them in more. But if its a quiet neighbourhood, I just think you need to let them live their lives and have fun. And if something happens, unfortunately it happens. At least they enjoyed themselves. At the very least, put em on a long rope or leash and tie em to something in the backyard for an hour or two, so at least they can explore the yard.

Enjoy the new pet, I'm sure you'll love it!

[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!

[fatso]

Isn't there some kind of law against Greaser fans caring for small mammals? I'm calling the SPCA right now.

[CaramonLS]

The Meow foundation is the best place to go. We have 2 cats from them and they are both amazing.

You can find a cat there with just about any type of personality to fit your lifestyle and you can always bring it back if you don't find that is it the right one for you.

There are so many nice older cats too, which might be more laid back and what you are looking for - and you wont be playing any guessing games with their personality either, you'll know what you are getting.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

Meow Foundation looks awesome! What a great service to help cats who need new, loving homes. Unfortunately I don't live in Calgary

Try this, looks to be in SJ and seems to have a similar approach.

http://www.towncats.org/meet.html

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Try this, looks to be in SJ and seems to have a similar approach.

http://www.towncats.org/meet.html

Wow, thanks! I've looked at several kitty rescue sites, and this one seems to be the best one yet!

[spydermal]

When I was about 7-9 years old, my sister and I were playing at a local park when some lady got out of a car put a kitten in my hands and told me to give it a good home. I took the cat home, fed it some food and we waited for my dad to come home so we could decide what to do with it. Im now 22 and were still trying to figure out what to do with her, and now shes a fat little puring machine who likes to snore.

Also we have a 2nd cat we addopted from a farm and both cats go out side. My parents yard is hugh though and has a very low traffic flow. If I owned a cat in the city or a higher traffic area, it would be an indoor cat.

[OilersBaby]

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!

Thanks for this super informative post! My hubby and I have decided that we're going to get 2 kittys so they have a buddy and will keep each other company. A girl at my work has a cat who just had kitties. Im going to go visit them on Thursday and pick 2 out. I wont bring them home with me til July because they still need their momma cat.

So now my questions.....there are 2 male kitties and 1 female kitty to choose from. They are 2 months old. Is one gender better than the other in terms of temperment.

At what age do kittens get spayed/neutured. If I choose 1 boy and 1 girl kitten will the girl kitty get pregnant if I wait til whatever age you have to wait til to spay/neuter?

PLEASE HELP!

THANKS SO MUCH Everyone for all of your help!

[SteveToms]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

Thanks for this super informative post! My hubby and I have decided that we're going to get 2 kittys so they have a buddy and will keep each other company. A girl at my work has a cat who just had kitties. Im going to go visit them on Thursday and pick 2 out. I wont bring them home with me til July because they still need their momma cat.

So now my questions.....there are 2 male kitties and 1 female kitty to choose from. They are 2 months old. Is one gender better than the other in terms of temperment.

At what age do kittens get spayed/neutured. If I choose 1 boy and 1 girl kitten will the girl kitty get pregnant if I wait til whatever age you have to wait til to spay/neuter?

PLEASE HELP!

THANKS SO MUCH Everyone for all of your help!

Spay/Neuter
All MEOW cats are spayed or neutered prior to adoption;
All MEOW kittens are spayed or neutered by the age of 5 months

That should help

[Ro]

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Cat hair is a big issue, it gets everywhere and on every piece of clothing you own.

I have a old longhair who used to leave more than his fair share of wayward hair around my apartment and on my furniture. Then, at the suggestion of a friend, I bought a Furminator, and if I make sure to groom him with it a couple times a week minimum, no more pet hair. This thing is amazing, highly recommend it.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11228582&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eC at=BC|48025&N=4013930&Mo=8&No=2&Nr=P_CatalogName:B C&cat=48026&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=

There's still a little hair on my clothes and I notice it every once in a while- just buy 2 or 3 good lint brushes, keep one in your car and one near a mirror, and you're good to go.

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

That should help

thanks!!

[ZDogg]

I received this email once... so funny. Figured this is the appropriate thread to pass it on.

The Dog's Diary:

8:00 am Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary:

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously ######ed.

The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe ... for now.