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Possibly getting a cat... 2 Q's
hoodie13
punch broRegistered User regular
punch broRegistered User regular
So the missus and i are moving to a larger apartment, and were thinking about getting a cat. We'll adopt if possible, and we'll be getting one as young as possible. My questions are these:
1) i have allergies to them, but in my minor experiences recently they haven't been too bad. If we get a short hair cat, approximately how bad will they be?
2) how much money are we looking to put into the animal in the first month, if we aren't being cheap?
1) i have allergies to them, but in my minor experiences recently they haven't been too bad. If we get a short hair cat, approximately how bad will they be?
2) how much money are we looking to put into the animal in the first month, if we aren't being cheap?
hoodie13 on
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Yay you are getting a kitty that is so awesome I need to congratulate your missus on talking you into it.
Now is the part where I actually contribute!
1. Allergies: no way of knowing how bad they'll be, I'm afraid. Get her to brush it regularly to keep dander and loose hair under control, and try not to let it lick you.
2. Expenses: I adopted Aleph this September, back when the dollar was pretty much at par. You can expect to pay somewhat less than this because shit is always more expensive in Canada, but...
Adoption fees: $150 (included spaying and vaccinations)
First vet visit: $75 (general check-up, feline leukemia virus test)
First batch of supplies: ~$125 (litter box, scoop, litter, food/water bowls, toys, food, bed)
Since then, I've probably spent another $100 on one-time items (cat tree, corner-mounted self-groomer, cat fountain, more toys). Her food runs me about $40 per month, I use Go! Natural grain-free dry food. Because you're living in the US, you can probably get everything you need for maybe $200-250 for the first month, depending on how high the adoption fees are and whether or not you can find a reasonably-priced vet.
I demand pictures once you get your kitty! Also, an awesome name is Ezekiel, because you could call him Zeke. Or maybe Belial, if you get one of those adorable little kittens that turn out to be raging dicks.
Allergies don't ever seem that bad when you're just visiting someone with cats. It's when the stuff starts building up in your pillows, couches, carpets and sinuses to the point where you can't just vacuum it out that they become horrible.
Also, an allergy is an overreaction to something. Having your own cats will either cause your allergies to go nutso all the time, or you will get used to your own cat (as even if you try to keep them out of rooms, their dander&fur will be all over clothes and in the air, anyway).
I've got to head out, but consider two cats. They're not much more work than a single cat, and two young cats that play together will typically be more sociable towards people as well as less needy -- they won't demand as much attention from you, or require as much playtime, because they'll have each other to wrestle with. Same gender is useful, and getting two males at a young age is actually really fun, because they tend to be less territorial than females. It's also cheaper to get them neutered, which you should do between age 3-5 months.
Second... TWO CATS?! It'll be tough wih just the one for now... Though you bring up good points.
I didn't know that the allergens were in the saliva. That's interesting. Anyone have cat allergies? Does Claritin help fight them off?
I've got another question or two, but not enough time right now...
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
Two cats might increase the amount of allergens, sure, but it's almost always best to have more than one cat. Otherwise your single cat is mopey and needy when you get home from work, since he or she is bored all day alone.
Hopefully you find something that'll help you with your allergies. I have some slight ones myself, but they aren't severe at all, and after I've been around a cat for a few weeks, they disappear. (And I have three cats now. :P)
But the thing is, I was more sensitive to cat #1 for the first month or so. I'd wash my hands after petting him, and I did feel a little stuffy sometimes. I'm not sure, though, if it was true allergies or if it was psychosomatic (or simply because it was late summer). Now that cats are in my life, they don't bug me.
Final BUT! I also did a lot of research into cat allergies and found a great many people who changed their cat's diet (for the better) and their own allergies went away. In many cases, the diet change was due to the cat actually being allergic to something in their food (since the cheap stuff is usually corn by-product flavored with meat), but still. So I figured "well, if it worked for these people, I might as well start my cat off with delicious food. I mean, if I was a cat I would want to eat delicious food."
Good food also has the side effect of fewer health problems over the long term (similar to you eating healthy food vs. eating twinkies every day), and it gives them a lot of energy. Holy crap does it give them energy.
Anyway, if you do decide to get a cat, see how it goes and strongly consider getting another. If you're allergic or you find it just to be "not your thing," it's easier to return 1 pet to the SPCA or breeder. After you're used to owning a cat, adding a 2nd is pretty cheap, as you just need 1 more litterbox and double the food -- they share toys and beds and all that. Having them play together and not moaning at your door all the time is nice, too.
Yes, and...sort of. I find it's a bit more subtle as opposed to, say, decongestants like Sudafed, where I can feel a dramatic effect.
I have 2 large, long-haired cats at the moment, and I get along okay, although I use a prescription nasal spray and Singulair on a daily basis. I think the allergies symptoms have moderated a bit since we first got them, but they certainly haven't gone away. Also, the cats are a breed (Siberian) that is supposedly lower in allergens, but i'm not really sure it's a huge difference compared to other cats i've been around.
I do find that doing a full vacuming at least once a week helps a lot also, including couches, chairs, blankets, etc.
Said kittahs:
Tasha:
Definately yes. We feed ours the premium Wellness food, and they have both stayed perfectly healthy so far....And lord, do they have plenty of energy to run around like maniacs.
Regular brushing can help with shedding everywhere, and the cat will love you for it. Also, play with the cat regularly. You'll be surprised what they can do if you endeavor to keep them mentally acute.
I've got an allergist but i haven't seen him in ages... I'll look him up.
Just out of curiousity... How stir crazy does a normal cat get after being in a house alone for 8 hours or so? Would we want a cage for the first few days? Or is that more a dog thing?
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
After being alone all day my cat will run around my feet and follow me around and meow and generally do anything she can to get attention from me. It's not really so bad, she calms down pretty soon.
I did have to leave her alone for about 3 days when I had to go out of town. My friend came and refilled her food and water on his way to work, but didn't have much time to play. When I came back I think all I heard for 2 hours was MEOWMEOWmeowMEmememeMEOW. Mow? Mew? Mememeeme? And when I tried to use the computer she forced her head under my hand :-P
That is the needy cat though. The other one doesn't like much human attention. She just looked at me when I walked through the door and seemed to say "So, I see you still have a key...."
I guess what I am trying to say is that your cats will vary...mine are at two extremes. But it isn't harmful leaving them at home for 8 hours like it is with a dog. Cats sleep most of the time anyway.
My cats have always spent the first few days just looking and smelling anything they can get to, to check out the new surroundings. I have never had a cat just go nuts or rampage around while left alone. I am sure its happened before.
WELL, THERE GOES THE CAT IDEA
No, seriously this is basically a gigantic bad habit of mine.
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
They like using the litter best in general, but if the box is too dirty some cats will find other places. It's not impossible, it's just a caution of things to keep an eye on(if you see kitty doing the telltale litter dig in the laundry put it in the litter box fast). And it's just some cats, not all cats.
I can say that our cats have not once done this in over 3 years so far, and I also have the bad habit of leaving dirty laundry all over the floor. Our girl, however, did decide to use our Sumo beanbag for that purpose several times (the feel of the pellets, I guess), but that's a little different.
As Thylacine said, if you keep your litter boxes scooped on a regular basis, you will greatly cut down on the chances of having this sort of problem.
You quickly become accustomed to *your* cats dander. You'll notice that you can rub your face into your cats, and things are fine. But two hours at a friends house will bring on the snuffles. I notice that I itch and sneeze more when they are molting, but that's about it.
I remember it took a couple of months to become used to them. But things are generally fine allergy-wise now
I have also had some experience with cats and dirty clothes piles. If their litter box is clean and they're not stressed out my piles of clothes are fine. If we move house, or introduce another cat into the house, then I keep things a bit cleaner as a precaution. It's been years since anything nasty happened to my clothes! (Other than a toy mouse or two -- which scared the hell out of the laundry lady! :P)
(That's why I ponied up the 300 bucks for a heavenly wonderful awesome Litter Robot.)
I'll also agree on the quality food is a must point. I found this site of particular interest with regards to what a cat actually needs vs what's put into most commercial cat foods. It does come off as a little militant crazy on occasion, but I still think there's valuable info in there.
About once a month he starts a sneezing fit and takes some OTC stuff, which clears it up. Day to day though he does not take anything for his allergies and the monthly-ish attack seems to co-incide more clearly with me doing some cleaning (dust I assume).
His pet allergies seem to actually have improved. This all seems highly anecdotal though. I think the answer is that we all are affected differently, and you may be lucky or unlucky.
If its a big concern, do fostering for a shelter before you adopt to see what happens. Just be honest with them, they are usually glad to have a volunteer even if it doesn't work and will respect that you want to make the right choice.
be forewarned it will suck for a good 2-3 months but tht is what allergy stuff is for. we also got a air filter for our bedroom and that helped.
Mine, too. My girl cat likes to drag fabric over her water dish, and the boy eats too fast, goes aside, and throws up on any clothes I leave on the floor.
The moral of the story is, every cat is different - potential effects on your allergies included - but they're all fucking weird.
Also - Save the rings off of Milk jugs. My cats will ignore a $3 toy but go crazy trying to dig a milk ring out from under a door.
Also - my cats play fetch.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
I have bad allergies. I take drugs that improve my daily condition from "sneezing and miserable all day" to "sneezing fits one or two times a day." If I go over to a friend's house where they have a cat, I can last about 5 hours there unless the house has just been cleaned.
So it depends on how bad your allergies are. There's no way I could live with an animal. If yours are better (i.e. if you don't take something like Claritin or Zyrtec every day) then you may be ok. A warning because I hear plenty of people say "oh yeah, I'm allergic to my cat," to which the response is usually "clearly not, since you can actually live with one!" If you have any friends with cats hang out at their houses and see how you feel. Just remember when living with one your clothes and everything are going to have dander on them, which is another factor as it follows you around.
Yeah, cats aren't as solitary as people might think. A companion is a smart move, especially if the owners are out for most of the day. If second kitty isn't an option, a fenced-in backyard with no chance of escape and a pet door to get in and out of the house might keep kitty occupied while you're gone.
Also anecdotally I've got two acquaintances (friend, and mother in law) who acquired two felines on the premise of them keeping each other company. In both cases, the cats ended up competing and picking on each other more than keeping each other company.
Multiple felines also means more money invested, and more complex situations to deal with if there's a problem. You may end up needing to feed them in seperate rooms if one cat is bullying the other over food, or one cat is a grazer, and the other one is snacking on their meal leading to becoming overweight. There may be litter box issues if one cat feels insecure, or is constantly denied access to a box by another more dominant feline.
If you do only get one cat, you just need to remember that you are totally responsible for providing for their social needs, and act accordingly.
We talked it over last night and I may go back to the allergist before we get the cat. Also, we'll be waiting until at least May so that we can be certain we can afford everything before jumping on the cat boat.
Thanks for all the help!
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
My wife is also allergic to just about everything under the sun per the report she got back after visiting the allergist, including cats. Her mother and sister have horrible cat allergies and tear up/sneeze/sniffle/begin to have breathing issues after an hour or 2 with cats, even with taking claritin or benadryl.
That said, we adopted 2 cats (because we wanted them to keep each other company like many have suggested already) about 1.5 years ago. My wife was taking claritin on a daily basis initially, but after about 6 weeks she was pretty much completely desensitized to the cats. These days our male cat can come sleep on her pillow, wrapped around her head for half the night, without provoking any kind of reaction whatsoever.
We have 2 cats and I have allergies. The first week was unpleasant, now it's no big deal. I'll take an antihistamine once in awhile and I make sure to wash my hands after petting them.
And for the love of Jebus, don't declaw.
You mean like some sort of chain-link dome? A cat is going to be able to jump over or climb up any fence a person would have.
Can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet. There's a reason it's illegal and considered animal cruelty in most of the civilized world.
so yea don't rule out 2 kittens, but if older you can probably jst get 1
if getting two i would get 1 of each sex, we have two males and had to deal with peeing/alpha issues for a while. it sucks.
also
As far as claws go, my mother had always been in the "omg if you don't declaw your cat it will gleefully shred everything in your house" camp, but when I got Alliecat I had already made a commitment not to declaw her based on what I had learned of the practice, and I haven't had a single problem with her scratching things she isn't supposed to scratch. She doesn't touch our clothes (except occasionally by mistake if her claws catch on them), she doesn't touch the leather couch. Of course, she also doesn't touch her scratching post - she prefers to use the unfinished wood at the foot of the bed, which is just fine. Or, oddly enough, our old Rock Band drum set. It makes her happy, and we have the Rock Band 2 drums now, so we let it slide.