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#1
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
Hi, I'm hoping to become a cat owner soon, and I'm looking for some
advice in choosing my new cat or cats. I've never owned a cat before, but I'm an animal lover and I have kept dogs and rats in the past, so I'm aware of the commitment involved in keeping a pet. I live in a large three-bedroomed maisonette with sitting room and kitchen on the 1st floor (UK, so I mean one storey up), bedrooms on the 2nd floor and entrances to the front and back on the ground floor. To the front is a large driveway, and to the rear is a large walled garden. The major problem is that there's a busy road one garden away, but our next door neighbours keep an outdoor cat (and have done for years) with no problems. I live with my partner. We are both at work all day (although it's not far from home, so we could go call at home at lunchtime for the short term). There are no children or other pets in the house. As I see it, I have the following options:- 1. Get an adult indoor cat. 2. Get a kitten and keep it as an indoor cat (not sure if this is feasible when I'm out all day). 3. Get two kittens to keep as indoor cats (to keep each other company). 4. Get a cat or kitten and let it go out (but I'd be devastated if it got hit by traffic). 5. Forget getting a cat... (I'd really like one, but not if it's not in the best interests of the cat). It would be really helpful to hear what the experienced cat owners out there think. Thanks. |
#2
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
"Gabstar" wrote in message oups.com... Hi, I'm hoping to become a cat owner soon, and I'm looking for some advice in choosing my new cat or cats. I've never owned a cat before, but I'm an animal lover and I have kept dogs and rats in the past, so I'm aware of the commitment involved in keeping a pet. I live in a large three-bedroomed maisonette with sitting room and kitchen on the 1st floor (UK, so I mean one storey up), bedrooms on the 2nd floor and entrances to the front and back on the ground floor. To the front is a large driveway, and to the rear is a large walled garden. The major problem is that there's a busy road one garden away, but our next door neighbors keep an outdoor cat (and have done for years) with no problems. No problems that you know of the cat has been one lucky feline but an out door cat has a much shorter lifespan than an indoor cat which can live past 20 with easy and proper medical treatment I live with my partner. We are both at work all day (although it's not far from home, so we could go call at home at lunchtime for the short term). There are no children or other pets in the house. As I see it, I have the following options:- 1. Get an adult indoor cat. Doesn't actually has to be an adult cat but can be a juvenile cat a little older than a kitten about 6 to 7 months just never declaw unless medical necessary 2. Get a kitten and keep it as an indoor cat (not sure if this is feasible when I'm out all day). Very feasible You said it your self you live next to a busy road if you have an outdoor cat it might be lucky for a while but not for long with these a@@hole drivers out there plus evil neighbors too many things to name that could happen 3. Get two kittens to keep as indoor cats (to keep each other company). Excellent idea if you do this try to get litter mates they will get along the best just remember to get them vaccinated and neutered PLEASE 4. Get a cat or kitten and let it go out (but I'd be devastated if it got hit by traffic). No loving parent would do this next to a busy road I don't care what others will say about letting their cats out Unless you are in the UK where there is limited traffic and predators. There are man made predators and nature's predator that will take you cat's life in a heart beat 5. Forget getting a cat... (I'd really like one, but not if it's not in the best interests of the cat). This is for you to decide do you really want to be a pet owner you have several things to look at food cost, vet bills, maintance, the love factor. Plenty of people go to work all day and love their furballs at night there is nothing wrong with this. |
#3
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
In article .com,
Gabstar wrote: Hi, I'm hoping to become a cat owner soon, and I'm looking for some advice in choosing my new cat or cats. I've never owned a cat before, but I'm an animal lover and I have kept dogs and rats in the past, so I'm aware of the commitment involved in keeping a pet. I live in a large three-bedroomed maisonette with sitting room and kitchen on the 1st floor (UK, so I mean one storey up), bedrooms on the 2nd floor and entrances to the front and back on the ground floor. To the front is a large driveway, and to the rear is a large walled garden. The major problem is that there's a busy road one garden away, but our next door neighbours keep an outdoor cat (and have done for years) with no problems. I live with my partner. We are both at work all day (although it's not far from home, so we could go call at home at lunchtime for the short term). There are no children or other pets in the house. As I see it, I have the following options:- 1. Get an adult indoor cat. 2. Get a kitten and keep it as an indoor cat (not sure if this is feasible when I'm out all day). 3. Get two kittens to keep as indoor cats (to keep each other company). 4. Get a cat or kitten and let it go out (but I'd be devastated if it got hit by traffic). 5. Forget getting a cat... (I'd really like one, but not if it's not in the best interests of the cat). It would be really helpful to hear what the experienced cat owners out there think. Thanks. Hi My suggestion would be to adopt from your local shelter. The choice of kitten or adult is really a matter of your preference If you are going to leave it alone for much of the day it might not be a bad idea to get two to keep each other company if you have the space. Keep them indoors if you can. Some cats, like mine, prefer it and it is probably much safer for them. Have them fixed, even though they are not broken. When you are choosing the cat(s) allow them to choose you rather than picking one by appearance or breed. This will help insure that your new friend(s) have an attraction to you as well as the other way around. Have a vet look them over when you get them to make sure there are no problems. Obey every whim of your new master(s) Claude |
#4
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
Thanks for your helpful replies.
We have pretty much decided to get a couple of kittens, but I'm still worried about leaving them on their own all day when we first get them. In particular, I read that until kittens are fully litter trained, you should leave them shut in a small room, close to their litter tray when you're not around to keep an eye on them. It seems a bit mean to me to leave them shut in a room all day while I'm at work until they catch on. What do you think? |
#5
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
In article .com,
"Gabstar" wrote: Thanks for your helpful replies. We have pretty much decided to get a couple of kittens, but I'm still worried about leaving them on their own all day when we first get them. In particular, I read that until kittens are fully litter trained, you should leave them shut in a small room, close to their litter tray when you're not around to keep an eye on them. It seems a bit mean to me to leave them shut in a room all day while I'm at work until they catch on. What do you think? Any cat will probably do better if it's introduced to a new space slowly. Starting with one room is a really good idea. Once they're comfortable playing with you in that one room (one or more days, even a week), then start introducing them to the other rooms. I'd carry them around so they could see everything before letting them totally loose -- or if you have a cage, put them in the cage and move it around so the sights and sounds will be familiar before they have to get upclose and personal with them. Priscilla |
#6
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
We have pretty much decided to get a couple of kittens, but I'm still
worried about leaving them on their own all day when we first get them. In particular, I read that until kittens are fully litter trained, you should leave them shut in a small room, close to their litter tray when you're not around to keep an eye on them. It seems a bit mean to me to leave them shut in a room all day while I'm at work until they catch But the room looks *very* big to a kitten so I don't think it's mean at all. Plus they'll have each other. Kittens are so curious and mischievious it's probably a good idea to do this unless you know for sure there is nothing they can get into: Make sure they have everything they need and they should be okay. If you do decide to leave them out while you're gone, some advice on things to not leave out: - String (one of mine ate some when she was a kitten and when she went to the bathroom some of it came out and she went running furiously around the room with it half in/half out; I foolishly pulled it which I later learned I wasn't supposed to do (in case it was wrapped around her intestines). - Put top down on toilet bowls - one of mine jumped in - Strings on blinds should be clipped in two if they make a loop (one of mine got his head in one and wrapped it around his neck - I found him that way as I was home, just in another room! Scary! - Watch when you open things like the dryer - they can jump in there after you pull out the clothes and you can accidently shut the door on them not knowing they're in there. Once when I was taking something out of the oven, my kitten got that funny look on her face they get when they're about to jump into something. I shut the door quickly - I think she was actually going to run and jump in the oven and it was hot! Kittens are crazy! and they hardly ever sleep. Be prepared to have your toes attacked and nibbled on when you're sleeping and running up and down the hallway at all hours. They also like to climb your legs like a scratch post and play with your hair (if it's long). On the plus side, they're also extremely funny to watch and cuddly when they're tired. What you will need most of all is patience; just remember, they will grow out of it eventually and settle down. But for some people, they are hard to handle. I used to volunteer at a shelter and there were sometimes exasperated phone calls from people asking when they calm down and even one who wanted to return them. But once they get older, you'll miss when they were crazy kittens (okay, maybe just a little). Anna PS I've never had 2 kittens at the same time - I think that's better - they'll tire each other out. That's what I should have done. -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#7
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
Oh, I should mention my kittens were only 3 weeks old (orphaned) 8 weeks old
and 10 weeks old. It's when they're really young like this that they're super crazy. I'd say any cat under 6 months old is quite active but more so at only a couple of months old. Anna -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#8
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
Anna via CatKB.com wrote:
.... Kittens are crazy! and they hardly ever sleep. Be prepared to have your toes attacked and nibbled on when you're sleeping and running up and down the hallway at all hours. They also like to climb your legs like a scratch post and play with your hair (if it's long). On the plus side, they're also extremely funny to watch and cuddly when they're tired. What you will need most of all is patience; just remember, they will grow out of it eventually and settle down. But for some people, they are hard to handle. I used to volunteer at a shelter and there were sometimes exasperated phone calls from people asking when they calm down and even one who wanted to return them. But once they get older, you'll miss when they were crazy kittens (okay, maybe just a little). They sleep during the day while Pinkie is out earning money for cat food, resting up for the noctural assault. Plan to play with them for about an hour every evening before you go to bed, if you want any sleep. HTH --Karen D. yep, get two kitties to keep each other company |
#9
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Advice for choosing cat / cats
Gabstar,
Get two kittens, preferably siblings - already used to each other. (It doesn't matter if they're both males provided you exercise discipline, reward them with a cat-biscuit everytime you catch them "being good" with each other.) When cats have had enough sleep they will let off energy in whatever way they can. A sole cat will focus on your furnishings: but two cats will play with each other. Note: spoilsport humans say "No!" every time cats wrestle, equating it to "fighting". Let them "fight". If you exercise good discipline and routine, you'll find them curled up beside each other sleeping 10 minutes after they've had a bout of wrestling! As for your busy road, you are just going to have to keep your fingers crossed. Do all you can not to accustom your cats to cars and engines. Cats are naturally wary of big moving vehicles. Keep them that way. For instance, don't be frightened to let them be scared by a car coming up your driveway. That way, they'll hopefully keep away from that busy road. However, I suggest you limit their outdoor time, even when they're grown. For the first six months, keep them inside. They'll learn this is home, the safety zone. After that take the kittens out for brief walks in your walled garden. React negatively if they seek to go beyond it, they'll get the message that you don't like it, but of course, they WILL venture afield anyway. Even when they're a year old and you start to let them have time outside unaccompanied, limit their outside time to a fixed period everyday. Cats LOVE routine. They'll respect it. It sounds like you're both out working each weekday, so when the cats are grown their outdoor adventure should start soon after you arrive home. But with dark evenings you'll have a bit of a problem. It'll be easier in the summer. Yes, some people keep their cats continually indoors, but if you do that you really do have a responsibility to go to considerable lengths to make your indoor environment a cat paradise. Firstly, keep no-go areas to a minimum. In our house just one of the two kitchen worksurfaces is completely no-go - when we're around (of course, they're up there in the middle of the night or when we're out). Our cats are allowed absolutely everywhere else in the house, even when guests are with us - a cat will jump up onto a sofa-back and then up onto a high bookshelf, peering down at the humans. If you give indoor cats this freedom to enjoy the indoors they'll be happy. Give them special structures too though: like a tree-trunk that goes from floor to ceiling, bound with sisal rope all the way up. Even if you clip your cats' claws each week (to minimise damage to you, them, and the furnishings) they'll still be able to whip up and down that tree trunk. Go further than this if you like and attach some horizontal planks high up: give them aerial walkways and things. By doing all this, your cats will be really fulfilled inside, and if you do it artistically it can all look very attractive! Lastly, treat a cat with discipline, respect, and LOVE and even the mangiest bad-tempered most-revolting-puss-in-the-shelter will transform into an absolutely loving creature that will be eager to snuggle under the duvet with you at night! Cats are wonderful creatures. We love ours to death and that love is returned dozens of times each day. Ellie. |
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