ProfessorX Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Any cat owners here? I always wanted to have my own cat. I saw a cat for adoption (LINK 3rd one). isnt she cute :p . I think im ready to adopt one. I need some advice on how to keep a cat and what kind of supplies do i need for it.basically what a first time owner should know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 (edited) :laugh: You could look at a local Animal Shelter first; you'd have a good selection of very needy cats and kittens. Also many kittens listed in local papers free to good homes. I personaly suggest having 2 cats, if you can afford to and can handle 2 -- cats should have a playmate. Needed most is a good sized litter box. Some think the pine chips are better than the regular clay litter. Or you could get fancy with the electronic Litter Maid box -- expensive tho. Very important to keep the box clean ! I suggest having a selection of different foods, tuna, chicken, boxed cat foods. My cat loved ground beef as a treat. Cats tend to get picky, and you may have to try many things to keep kitty happy and interested. Not every cat likes milk, esp. if it's cold. Many cats like catnip as a treat also. Some simple small toy balls are a favorite of cats to keep entertained and get excercise. If you throw the ball for the cat, it will keep you excercised as well. Simple twine is fun for you and your cat to play with. Each cat has their own personality, so you may want to try different toys for them. Some sort of scratching post or pad is important, for the cat's sake and your furniture. I recommend a few scratching pads around the house. One gentle way to train a cat not to scratch the furniture, is to squirt them with plain water if you catch them scratching. Please avoid declawing, it is painful to the cat, and leaves them rather defenseless, if they get outdoors with other animals. An ID collar is probablly a good idea, should your cat get lost. I suggest giving them a decent bath every 3 weeks, but that is up to you. Flea collars and powders seem to be very annoying to cats. A good brush and comb for grooming kitty is a must. Most cats appreciate a daily gentle brushing. A large soft bed or pad that is just for kitty is a great idea, keep it near the heat, or a sunny spot. I suggest you buy a small book on cats and read all about them. These are not very expensive. Lastly, cats need lots of Love! Hug your cat daily ! :p Edited December 7, 2003 by Hum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdkaneda Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 don't adopt a cat, adopt a rat! if you live in a city with a lot of big stanky dumpsters, you can probably find one quicker than you can get to the SPCA office. they're a lot less picky about food, too! yet rat STILL rhymes with cat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aem4162 Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 amber looks adorable! make sure she stays inside and NEVER goes out. an indoor kitty makes a happy person. don't have her declawed - you're not ready for a cat if you're not ready to have your furniture roughed up. declawing is the same as having the the digit with your fingernail amputated x 10 and another 10 for your toes. food: try different stuff to see what she likes. ours like both dry and canned food. a can in the morning and again at night should do it, but test to make sure. give her a bit of a variety of foods. it sucks only eating prime entree. no milk unless you want a runny kitty. give her fresh water twice a day and maybe have a water bowl in another part of the house just for ****s and giggles. clean her litter box twice a day and make sure she knows that it's hers. we like the clumping litter. toys: catnip stuffed toys are cool. also get some sissel (sp?) scratchy toys - ask about them when you pick her up. kitties like to chase things and sometimes a wadded up piece of paper is more fun than anything else. don't get toys that are easily torn up and swallowed. our cats love their track ball - the ball rolls around in a track and can't be pulled out (but spike did it once) and there is a scratch pad in the center. make sure she has a place to sit so that she can look outside and sun herself. it's even better if there are a lot of birds where she sits because kitties love to chatter at them. ours like the toys that jingle and roll around. cats will also go out of their way to sit on a piece of paper that's on the floor. make sure she has beds to sleep in - a bed can be almost anything....several of ours love to sleep in the cardboard boxes from the friskies cans, but make sure she's comfy. she'll let you know what she likes. let her sleep with you if she wants. fleas: we hate collars. there is this flea stuff called revolution(?) that is great. you squirt like 2ccs or something between her shoulder blades and rub it in and the fleas will die. read the instructions. you'll have to do it maybe every month or so and if you can, get the industrial size big dog stuff - it's the same stuff but it's cheaper in the end. we don't like flea powder either but you might like to sprinkle it on the floor away from her food. accidents: she's gonna have them until she gets settled because she's marking her territory and moving into a new home is stressful. be patient and if she makes a spot her fave then put a litter box there. there is also this stuff to keep them from marking territories but the name slips my mind. play with her, hold her, pet her, stay away from ther belly if she doesn't like it being touched and just take your time getting to know her. you're cool for getting her from the shelter (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poind Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 **Tons** 'o good info already. Amber is "intact" (not spayed) so that may be a consideration (oh! just saw the fee for her was already paid if you want to do so). Also unclear what shots she may have had / need. Probably a good sign she's coming from previous owners rather than being an outright stray, but you may want to find out why she's being given up. Depending on what you end up doing, do some research regarding appropriate diet (can vary by cat), and some cats do greatly benefit from those little running / filtered water things. Local pet stores can often have days where they "feature" pets from local animal shelters in-person, where you can have the chance to interact with multiple ones at once, and so on. If you can handle it, and if Amber seems like the type that gets along with other cats, I would find another comparable cat to keep her company, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 I personaly suggest having 2 cats, if you can afford to and can handle 2 -- cats should have a playmate. that only works if you have 2 kittens that are being raised together, if you get two mature cats and put them next to each other, the chances are that they are going to think that the other one is invading their territory. Don't adopt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfessorX Posted December 7, 2003 Author Share Posted December 7, 2003 wow thank you guys for all the great information. ill go to the shelter tommorow and see her. if there are other cat owners they can post some extra info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadishTM Veteran Posted December 7, 2003 Veteran Share Posted December 7, 2003 Awwwwww :happy:, glad to see your getting a cat mate - awesome animals (Y) .... I'm pretty sure Hum, Anita & Poind have covered all bases :yes:, so i'll just say that cats 0wn :woot: :wub: .... *Hugs his cat Felix :happy:* .... Radish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j005u Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Awwwww:happy:y:, glad to see your getting a cat mate - awesome animal(Y)Y) ....I'm pretty sure Hum, Anita & Poind have covered all base:yes:s:, so i'll just say that cats 0w:woot:t:wub:b: .... *Hugs his cat Feli:happy:y:* .... Radish? yeh they do 0wn i simply love them but im aller:(c:(( :( :cry:cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Awwwww:happy:y:, glad to see your getting a cat mate - awesome animal(Y)Y) ....I'm pretty sure Hum, Anita & Poind have covered all base:yes:s:, so i'll just say that cats 0w:woot:t:wub:b: .... *Hugs his cat Feli:happy:y:* .... Radish? Awww Radish has a cat. How cut:D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted December 7, 2003 Veteran Share Posted December 7, 2003 lots of people think dogs are cooler, but personally, i would much rather have a kitten. we will be getting one soon... oh yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eXclusive Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 lots of people think dogs are cooler, but personally, i would much rather have a kitten. we will be getting one soon... oh yes. So are you gonna send that dog to me ? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Nah i want the dawg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted December 7, 2003 Veteran Share Posted December 7, 2003 So are you gonna send that dog to me ? :laugh: thats my moms dog... so techincally, its not mine. i am getting a kitty soon though, that will be mine. i posted like you guys knew that onyx (my moms dog) was mine. sorry. :happy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eXclusive Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Well .. get her a fish ! I want the dog :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatnipOligarchy Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 i was gonna offer some info, but anita pretty much covered it all. cats need enrichment, so make sure to have plenty for it to play with. if you are able to get a 2nd cat, they really enjoy eachothers company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aem4162 Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 i forgot about a companion! duh! we've had cats come in at different times and either hit it off (tj and josie, baby and baby squeaky boy, baby and buster, etc) or just hate each other with a passion (miss scarlett and molly fluffybutt, baby squeaky boy and spanky, spike and speedy). it's different for every cat. we have the 2 divas (mellybelly and miss scarlett) who stay in my room because they fight with the others but melly is venturing out into the house more and standing up for herself. then again you'll bring a cat in like big dust who is loved by all. but then mama cat was happiest being the only cat...they're so different it makes my brain bounce. some people prefer getting a kitten to getting a mature cat. we've brought all ages into the house with varying results because of their personalities. you can't mold a cat's personality by getting it as a kitten. they develop it themselves and the most you can do is make sure that the cat is well taken care of. we had 4 kittens born behind the toilet to a feral mother (she snuck out and got away :cry:) - spanky, alfalfa, and buckwheat are various degrees of friendly yet darla is so aloof that we can't get near her...all were raised and treated the same yet ended up so different. i personally like the serenity and peacefulness of an adult cat, but i get goofy playing with a kitten. you'll have to decide what you're comfy with, and if ya have room maybe get 2 to be companions. i'm off to feed the kitties.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mm3h Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 I have 2 lovely kittens :) a friend for life :happy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aem4162 Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 I have 2 lovely kittens :) a friend for life :happy: pix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts