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I want to get a kitten!
GirlPants
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I've decided that I want to get a cat. I've been browsing craigs list and it seems there are lots of kittens in need of a home. So my question is what should I do to prepare for this?
GirlPants on
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That said, kittens are adorable.
You'll need a litter tray and some good litter. A lot of people recommend clumping, but I heard rumours that little kittens can swallow it and get ill so I've avoided it.
Kitten food is important, don't just go straight for whatever (for one thing it makes then smell slightly better).
Don't spend hundreds on toys, they will, without a doubt, always prefer a ball of paper
If you're going to have a cat, be prepared to get all the shots and I would not let it roam the world outside. There's plenty for a cat to do indoors if you buy it toys and things, and outside pretty much all cats do is fight, fuck, shit and kill things. Two of those things aren't healthy, one of them is irrelevant due to being fixed, and one is something a litterbox can handle. I know people like giving their animals room to roam, if you like taking walks and want them outside, get a harness.
This this this. Don't get a cat from Craigslist. It may be tempting as it's cheaper, but in the long run it may end up costing you ($$$) more. Also, are you dead set on a kitten? You should look into an older animal as well. It might save you a lot of frustration to get a cat who is already litter trained and has an even disposition. That, and everyone wants kittens, so you may just be saving a cats life by adopting one who is a little bit older.
If you go with a kitten, I would recommend getting two. The two cats can play with each other, keep themselves company when no one is home, etc.
Nintendo Network ID: PhysiMarc
Pick one up from a shelter, avoid stores and craigslist (go to a store before the list... at least you can get a refund if you push hard enough when something goes wrong). Stay at one cat, do not pass go, do not become crazycatlady for the love of god it is not worth it.
This is not so good advice. For long term, especially if you are planning on being away or not having an hour or so to interact with your kitten every day, getting a pair (siblings work best) is a good call. They will entertain each other and play while also being warm pets. As it gets harder to introduce a second pet to a cat over time, starting early is a good way to ensure they will be social later on.
More than two and you enter pet hoarder territory. But two is actually a sound decision for cats.
Male cats, if neutered, generally make the more affectionate and playful cats. Females tend to be seclusive and more nocturnal. Do not have one neutered male and one uneutered male. If you are getting a pair, get them both neutered at the same time or spraying will occur.
Also, contrary to people thinking this sounds crazy, cats take quite well to walks if you get a shoulder harness. Unlike walking a dog, the purpose is not for crap but adventure, so get a long leash and be ready to pull them from bushes. If you take the time to do it, though, you get a very happy excited cat.
"Orkses never lose a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fightin so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!".
I wish I was joking, cats can be seclusive or attention grabbing all at the same time, and it's annoying to deal with sometimes. Assuming your two cats get along at all, which is always a possibility.
You'll also have a pretty good handle on a more mature cat's personality right off the bat. Don't be afraid to take a shy cat home either, the shelter can be a pretty freaky environment for cats and sometimes they just need to come out of their shell.
They're actually really great cats, now, though they chatter constantly and insist on doing things like, say, randomly jumping to the top of my shoulders. Wouldn't worry too much about a young cat being able to adapt properly provided you take good care of it.
Also, don't go spending hundreds on toys, because I can almost guarantee that the kitten's favourite toy will be a ball of paper or something like that. I do recommend ping-pong balls inside a box though. Hours of fun!
I can has cheezburger, yes?
Yes, that is a thing. People always forget, and I end up suffering for it.
You'll also need to spend a lot of time with them when they are young. They'll literally follow you around as if you are their mommy. For toys... laser pointers!!!
Finally... You'll cry when they die. You'll certainly outlive your pets. Prepare to have your hearts broken.
These or hairbands. My cat plays fetch with both, it's adorable.
On that note, don't declaw your cats.
My cats (the same ones who don't even bother with the laser pointer), won't even touch the nice rope scratching post I bought them. They do LOVE the cheap cardboard ones though. Like this...
http://www.petco.com/product/104528/PETCO-Cat-Double-Wide-Cardboard-Scratcher.aspx
Or like...
http://www.amazon.com/Slope-Cardboard-Scratching-Post-Catnip/dp/B004P0ZIR6/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1312789897&sr=8-18
Unless you live near a busy road, or somewhere that has dangerous animals I'd question this - especially if you've given them all the right vaccinations (plus worm tablets if they're hunters). And have a catflap I guess.
Busy roads are going to be the one thing that knocks life expectancy down, but once they do develop road sense they'll probably be fine if it's a quieter road. Admittedly we're in the UK, so there's no coyotes and the like but all of our cats have had access to the outdoors and reached about 15-20ish.
You're going to have to spend a lot of time with a kitten, and there's only about 2 weeks of them looking like a kitten rather than a small skinny cat. The 'proper' kittens you think of are going to be the ones who need to stay with mum. Pretty much as soon as they're weaned they turn into small cats. If you're working (and not from home or don't want to be disturbed all the time) don't get a kitten, you won't have enough time for them - get a young (2-3) adult cat.
And don't play with them with your hands. EVER.
If you are getting multiple cats, good. Just make sure one is a kitten. Two adult cats may never gel at all but if one is a kitten they will at least be comfortable with each other. Multiple cats will do a lot less damage (if indeed they do any at all).
I have no idea what the guy saying you have to potty train your cats is saying. I've never not had a cat my entire life and I've never potty trained any of them.
Declawing is bad. Clip your cats nails yourself, start early, it's hella easy.
Outside cats are a HUGE HUGE no no.
Dogs are a much, much, much bigger time investment and fae messier then a cat could ever be.
if you can afford it, raw meat is the way to go. Cats can't actually digest grains. If you wait too long tho the acclimation time your cats will go through will be hellish, pure meat poops when your cats aren't use to it smell horrendous and are HUGE. So yeah, Science Diet or nothing. Yes, the 40$ bag.
Rubbing a little cat nip on it seems to help.
Our outdoor cats lived probably 7-8 or so years. Our indoor cat? 15-17.
The toys, yeah, the bags of little mice are good. Little jingly balls get played with often. Sticks with feathers as well.
The toys that seemed to get ignored are scratching posts, and the things attached to them, catnip filled toys, etc. The little mice are played with the most from what I can tell from my own cats behaviors. Oh yeah, get a cover for your couches and chairs and anything that has foam or padding because they will absolutely destroy the shit out of them. And no spraying them, scenting it with a bad smell, using foil/tape, or putting a scratching post in the way will help.
When I did all that? They just scratched at a different part of the couch. Buy stock in a company that sells enzyme based cleaning products because they're the only thing that will get the smell of cat piss out of carpet.
I agree with the hairbands/rubber bands thing (they can swallow them), but what are you talking about with the second part? About the hands?
Again, true about don't skimp on the food, but a raw diet is extremely intensive and a little over the top. Get a GOOD dry food (and no, not Iams, go to a local pet food store and talk to them) and supplement it with a little wet (don't mix it in with the dry). There are also other good brands out there besides Science Diet. When he says $40 bag, that would be one HUGE bag of food. Expect to pay $15-$20 for the average sized one you would see in a supermarket. Metal or ceramic food/water dishes ONLY. Plastic can give them weird pimply things on their chins from rubbing against it. Wash the bowls out too really frequently. Especially the water one.
As for Bowen's post, don't worry, your cat is most likely not going to scratch and piss all over everything. I've had one of my cats for 6 years and the other for 1 and neither has ever done either of these things with a clean letterbox and a cardboard scratching "post" to keep them occupied. On that note, clean the letterbox EVERY DAY.
If you play wirth a kitten with your hands, they will always see hands as toys and get very bitey as they get older. It's a huge mistake and the one most repeated by new cat owners.
Yes, all raw meat diet is super-ultra intensive. It does work but I personally don't do it either. It's a huge pain in the ass.
Yes +1 to scratching posts. A good 6 foot carpet tree is the best idea.
Strange, never been an issue with any of the cats I've owned/lived with nor have I ever heard that.
Most of the rehoming centres here would prefer you to have a garden, though our houses tend to be a lot smaller than yours in general, and the RSPCA doesn't recognise there as being any difference either way other than noting that indoor cats have additional requirements (to stop them getting overweight and diabetic, or stressed and bored).
Obviously this will depend on where exactly you live; New York, next to a busy road or in a wolf-infested forest - then you might want to think about keeping your cats indoors. Otherwise, especially if you go out to work and have a back garden, then giving them access to the outside should be fine. Talk to your local vet about it, it might be because cats are more likely to be declawed (who mustn't go outside) in the US or that there is a smaller population of vaccinated cats that letting them outside is a risk.
There's no obvious wrong answer, (your local area not withstanding) but remember, especially if you are getting a kitten, your cat will hopefully live to around 20 and that you may struggle to give an indoor cat enough attention if you have kids.
As for diet, most of the vets here recommend dry food, it's a lot better for their teeth as it acts to clean them a bit. Ours haven't been able to kick the wet food habit and get in a huff whenever we've tried weening them off it. If you are willing to make the effort we found that raw food ended up being a lot cheaper than wet catfood. Our current cat isn't willing to wait for the mince to defrost though. If you're doing this, goes without saying to make sure you don't give them ham or bacon - cats have sensitive kidneys and really can't tolerate salt.
An adult cat and kitten is not really a good combination, whilst they are probably less likely to fight compared to two adult cats who have never met, the adult won't like the kitten and will still act threatened (if there's a kitten, there's probably a mother about somewhere) and will probably not want to play. Two kittens who can play with each other when you're out, or two adult cats who know each other (it's not uncommon for pairs to be rehomed together) is the best plan if you want two cats. Don't get a lone kitten if you go out to work, but an adult who might not mind as much being left to his own devices during the day would probably be best if your place isn't big enough for two cats.
My cats are great with it except Wonk always has to have a fresh new dump the SECOND the pan gets changed. I swear he has a second asshole that keeps a turd in reserve just for virgin cat litter.