Newbie with Cat Adoption
 

Hi ---

My daughter (10) has been asking for a cat for about a year now. A few months into the 'ask', I told her that when she demonstrates greater responsibilities (her own duties/chores and proactively helping out with things not asked for) we can get her a cat.

Well she fulfilled her part --- now it's my turn to fulfill my end of the bargain.

We've been visiting the local (Pasadena, CA) Petsmart and looking at cats for adoption during weekends. We're also planning on visiting the local SPCA --- likely they will have more to choose from.

As a cat newbie, I'd like to ask this forum what I am in for and what to watch out for.

We're looking for kittens or young cats ---- a few months old up to say 2 yrs old. No special breed requirements. We do like the tuxedo or calico color patterns. Short hair is preferred.

Our house is mostly oak HW floor, lenoliam, and carpet in two rooms. I am concerned about cat scratching the HW floor and tearing up the nice living room couch.

With the above said --- what says the PPOT forum?

Thanks in advance!

We have 2 cats. Both are declawed up front. No vet around here will declaw all 4. They have scratched the leather furniture and the coffee table, but have not been able to scratch the hardwood floors. The cost of the destruction is outweighed by the companionship. Our 27 pound Maine Coon is awesome.

They won't scratch up the floor and unlikely to rip up the couch.

Enjoy. Cats are fun.

The cat shouldn't damage the flooring. With respect to the couch and chairs, get a scratching post, and encourage the cat to use it, by discouraging scratching elsewhere.

The best negative reinforcement is a plant mister/spray bottle, with the nozzle set to jet stream. Only use it when you catch them in the act. It will keep them away from the upholstery, and give them some exercise, as they run like hell when squirted.

Another method I've heard is to hang inflated balloons over the arm rests, above where they'd scratch. One claw in a balloon will also give them some exercise.

And by all means adopt from a shelter, as you'll save a life, and they'll love you for it. I think you'll find that they're great companions, and very self sufficient, read no walking or cleaning up after.

YMMV. Good luck!

Declawing a cat is like cutting off the ends of your fingers. There's no reason for them to scratch the floor -- i've never had a cat do that. And if you give them something that you clearly approve of their using to sharpen their claws, they will use that instead of your furniture.

And I second the notion of a shelter cat. An adult raised in a home is going to be easier to cope with than a kitten.

I have two Tuxedo's. They are pretty mellow. The Orange ones are almost dog like.

Have had 4 Calico's, they are "fiesty", tend to play rough which may be a turn off. Personally I like them a lot.

Length of hair is more of a maintenance issue. Long hair you need to groom regularly. Even short hairs can get matted. In terms of shedding, they are cats, long hair/short hair they all shed.

Scratching stuff. Kittens will do more often than adults. If you are looking at shelter cats, which I recommend, you may find one already declawed. The floors are not an issue, the couch may be depending on the material. Cat's will usually only claw stuff that they can dig into. They won't claw things like leather. They may claw the carpet depending on the pile, something like a berber will be attractive, plush or shag they will ignore. Get some scratching posts and place them around.

Cats bond with people at a young age. So an older cat that was raised by humans from a kitten will still be friendly. But like people they do have distinct personalities so there is no guarantee.

They will ruin your house with cat pee stink and litter dirt. No more cats in my house.

Our cats have every toy you could possibly purchase. Scratching posts, and scratching pads. They scratch the leather furniture when they jump up on the armrest because it is slippery. I'll buy new furniture before I'll cover up what I currently have. If I have to cover it, I'd just buy a POS couch and put a throw on it. Life's too short to worry about a few scratches on a couch.
Declawing is a humane way of allowing everyone to live together a little more peacefully.

Clean the boxes daily and throw a matt under the box to get the litter off their paws.

I've had 14 cats and as many as four at one time and never an issue while I know people with one cat that you can smell before you walk thru the front door. They clean their boxes once a week.

+1

How bad would your house smell if you only flushed once a week?

If you get a kitten, get a nail clipper. If you get a young one, you can train them to 'allow' you to clip their nails which will reduce damage to nil. It takes 5 minutes once a week. With an older cat, you may not have any success with this plan . . .

Ian

I know opinions are like a-holes. I like cats but would never have one that's confined to the inside. All the worries about scratching, urine and stink go away immediately if the cat has free reign of the yard. Yes, other issues come with that, like the cat's safety and your neighbor's good will, but I never would lock up the cat.

If you do let it roam, it may not what the adoption places want to hear. Then it may be a good idea to get a kitten from an individual.

Have fun.

G

Thanks for all the advice and personal experiences.

We are looking to adopt --- either at SPCA or at Petsmart.

We won't be doing any declawing. We'll accept any damage to house and furniture --- or accept not having a cat.

There are lots of wild animals here --- in the foothills (coyote, bears, wildcats, skunks, deers, raccoons, etc). So, we would keep the cat indoors. Plus, that also avoids cat bringing in fleas, bugs, ticks, etc.

Thanks again everyone! I will post update once we get the cat home.

'like' ;-)

We have two indoor-only cats. I won't let any of my cats outside in LA.

You're in Pasadena. Go here Home - Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

Problem solved.

DO NOT DECLAW!!!

Get a covered litter box, use clumping litter and scoop regularly. The house will not smell and they won't pee/poop anywhere but there.

They won't hurt the floors. They may go after the couch - depends on the cats. Get a scratching post and incentivize.

Get two cats instead of one. Consider getting siblings if they have been put up for adoption.

I've always adopted adults but I am not a kitten fan. Since you have a younger kid involved, they'll likely have the energy to deal with the kittens. Plural. Get two. They are awesome in pairs. Do not get two females though, either male and female or two males. Get them spayed/neutered (will be required from a shelter).

Did I mention this place? Home - Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

Cats are kittens for too short of a time. Your daughter should love playing with a kitten. If a kitten is young enough, it might poop on the floor or rug a few times but will go to a cat box almost instinctively. Cleaning cat box, water, & maybe a place to sleep are no brainers and should be done by your daughter as part of the bargain. You don't have to buy a bunch of scratching posts. One is usually enough unless you have a lot of cats. When my at was young and I would find her scratching on something I didn't want her to scratch on (I'd keep an eye out for it), I'd pick her up, stand her up at the scratching post, take her paws & move them up & down on the scratching post like she would when scratching on it. After a few times of doing that, she used the scratching post exclusively. Yes, I did get the arms of the leather couch scratched when she'd jump up on it, but that's life with a cat. If you start it on dry food, don't give it canned food as a treat. It will put it's nose up at at the dry food and try to only eat the wet food, but some cats will eat both.

We never do wet food. Good dry (we use Nutro Max) only.

Reminds me I need to scoop the litter box...

Toby was a wild cat, never had a home. Just look at that face :D he's my favorite family member.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1369890177.jpg

This is our experience with many cats over the years - all adopted from shelters or were strays that stayed for the duration. The key phrase to all the above posts is "it depends on the cat"....

Odd, no one mentioned the inevitable hairballs ?

Yes, dry food.

Wet food makes their poop stink more.