I'm thinking of getting a cat when we move into our new place. My family has never owned an inside pet (we had a few hunting dogs, but my stepdad was in charge of those and I never really interacted with them), so I'm not really sure what's involved, or what I should consider before getting an animal.

I'm pretty sure that if I do get a kitty I want one from the Humane Society or the animal shelter. I hate thinking about animals being "destroyed" just because nobody wants them. But should I just get one cat? Two, so they can play with each other? Will they destroy my furniture? How hard are they to potty train? What kind of time investment am I looking at?

Tell me what I need to know, people. I don't want to take on the responsibility of caring for an animal until I know exactly what I'm in for.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Answers

I approve of having two cats, particularly if they're going to be kept inside. Chewing on each other (playfully) keeps them from chewing on everything else, plus they keep each other happy and loved if you're not home 24 hours a day. A lonely cat can get bored, and a bored cat is the most destructive force in the universe. Pick two from the same litter - not that it really matters. Kittens get along with everyone.

Will they destroy your furniture? Only if you don't train them. They *are* trainable, despite the stories - as trainable as dogs and children. Don't ever strike your kitten to get them not to do something... try using the "PSSST!" and squirtgun method. Works like a charm. And they litter train easily - all you have to do is put them in the box and gently dig with their front paws for them. They'll catch on almost immediately.

***DO NOT USE CLUMPING CAT LITTER IF YOU HAVE SMALL KITTENS*** They will eat a bit of it or get it in their mouths, and it has the same effect on their digestive system as if you had fed them concrete. They die. Fast. Very painfully.

You're looking at a time investment of at least 4 hours (8-10 when they're kittens) a day for the next 18 years. You can't leave town without providing for their care. You need to get them their shots and take care of their various ills. You need to kitten-proof your home (get all poisonous plants out of reach, make sure the kitten can't jump from object to object to get somewhere high up and precarious, get latches for cupboards with poisons or medicines in them, make sure they can't get outside until they're big enough to be able to deal with other animals, etc etc etc).

The payoff for hundreds of dollars and hours of your time? Two creatures who will love you to bits and be steadfast and true companions. They're affectionate, beautiful, intelligent (well, some of them... but even the dumb ones are cute as hell), and... well.. wonderful.

~SG~>

http://members.home.net/zobobaby/gambit.jpg see?? cute!

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Ooh, and one more thing - to get a better idea of what you're volunteering for, drop by a library and get out all the books on cat and kitten care that you can - preferably ones from later than 1980. Drop by a vetrinary office and ask them for pamphlets on kitten care. Go to your local SPCA or Humane Society and ask them, too. They won't mind taking the time, and they have a vested interest in seeing people treat animals well.

~SG~>

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I've never gotten more than one animal at a time.. so I can't help you on that subject. But, for some reason, when it comes to potty training.. my family seems to think that I am the gifted one. I trained the kitten I got the first day I had him. (Yeah, so maybe I am gifted in potty training) Generally, all you have to do is scratch their paws in the litter box, and they should take it from there. If that doesn't work, find some poop that didn't go in the box (I never said it was a pretty job) Pick it up.. (with a paper towel or something, please) and put it in the box, along with the cat, and scratch his paws. If that doesn't work.. I don't know, maybe your cat is a reject or something. hehe.. no, that should work. Always has for me. I also learned that a free kitten will set you back about $100 to start off with. You might want to get a toy or two.. but they like toilet paper rolls, plastic bags, and your feet much better. If kitty tends to have any bad habits (mine loved to bite, I think he liked the taste of blood) a quick spritz with a water bottle works wonders. Now I just hold it up and kitty freezes in his tracks. As far as time goes.. we have been really lucky with our animals.. they live much longer than anybody ever expects them to. I'm talking 18-19 years. All of our animals (dogs, cats, birds etc) have been that way so I have no idea what a normal life span would be. Watch out for crossed eyes.. its a sign that there was in-breeding somewhere along the line. Oh, and like bob barker says.. spay or nueter your pets. Control the pet population. Good luck with the new baby. :)

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Ooh, I was already going to go to the library, but I'd never have thought of picking up pamphlets from the SPCA and Humane Society. I plan to do a lot of reading before making my decision, as well as talking to friendly cat owners like you guys.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Jan, I think it's great that you want to adopt a cat from the Humane Society. That's where I got mine, and I love her to bits.

I think that if you've never had cats before, maybe you should start off with just one, depending on how much space you have. You can always get another. However, if you fall in love with two, by all means, go for it. Two cats are great, because they do keep each other company (I'm considering another one, too). Go to the Humane Society, and talk to them. Ask to interact with the cats, and see if you can find one with a personality that suits what you're looking for. Do you want a playful jester, or a cuddler?

The HS will require that you get the kitty fixed. This is a good idea. If you get a male cat, and he's unfixed, he will spray. A female will go into heat. That sucks, because all she will do is roll around on the floor and caterwaul. Also, the HS will ask you not to let him/her outside. The reason for that is so that Kitty doesn't get lost and wind up there again, and it also lowers their risk of contracting certain illnesses or getting into a fight.

I personally recommend getting an adult cat. My reasoning is that everyone wants kittens, but almost nobody adopts grown cats. Butterscotch was 2 when I got her. Also, full-grown cats are usually already trained, but if you do get a kitten, it's really not that hard to train it. When you get your new kitty (adult or kitten) home, have a litterbox prepared for her. Take the cat out of the carrier, and put her into the litter box. This will give her a starting point. Make sure she knows where her food and water is. Then just let her explore to her heart's delight. She will wander around, getting used to the neat smells of her new environment. Butterscotch was very purry and clingy when we first got her, and tended to stay in the same room as her people.

As for the furniture, get a scratching post. Cats love sisal or rope to sharpen their claws on. Don't let her get into the habit of scratching furniture. This may take a bit of work (I'm still working on getting Scotch to stop picking at the carpet!). My ex-roommate made Butterscotch a cool kitty condo. It was a large tube, cut down, with a plywood roof and floor. He covered it in carpeting (You can buy ends really cheap at a carpeting store), and stuck a 2x6 wrapped in rope down the side. Scotch and Monster (another cat that adopted us) loved the little house, and you can find designs all over the internet. I also recommend clipping and/or filing Kitty's claws. It's nicer to them than de-clawing, and although Scotch hates having it done, I find it worthwhile. It will save you a lot of cat scratches on your person.

As for food, try to avoid anything with high ash content. It's used as a filler, and it contributes to unrinary tract infections and fun stuff like that. My cat is eating Max Cat. What I did was I asked the vet for a bunch of samples, and I picked the one she liked the most. I also get her dried herring or salmon steaks for treats, and she yums them up. Don't feed the cat milk. They're lactose intolerant past kittenhood.

I urge you not to get a clumping clay litter. Yes, they are very easy to clean up, but they work by solidifying when they come into contact with moisture. Kitty will use her box, and get the clay on her paws. She will lick it off, ingesting some, where it will clump in her tummy. I know someone who lost a kitten to that. I've been testing some litters. I like one that's these little plastic beads. It works extremely well. I don't use it any more, though, because Scotch would knock it out of her box and chase it around. It drove me nuts, and I'm still picking it up. The one I liked the best was made from recycled newspaper.

Another thing you should get for your new kitty is TOYS!! My cat is spoiled. She has countless jingly-balls and catnip mice. She's a lazy bum, though, so I had to shop around before I found something she would play with. Do get her a kitty-kong. It's hard to describe, but trust me, cats love them. Also, see if she will wear a collar. Scotch wouldn't, but I have had cats that will. If you get her one, get a break-away collar. Also, teach her to walk on a leash. You can get special cat harnesses and leashes. Just be prepared for the cat to walk you. Don't bother getting her to follow you. I've never been able to get it to work. And don't worry if she eats grass. It helps with digestion. I grow cat-grass inside to give Scotch something to munch on, and she loves it. I also grow catnip.

Well, that's my treasure-trove of kitty knowledge. I am by no means an expert, and I wouldn't be suprised if someone corrected some of the stuff I wrote. But at least it gives you a starting point. But I totally think you should get a cat. They are so much fun, and the love they give you is amazing. There's nothing like getting kisses from a scratchy tongue, or having purry Kitty snuggle up to you at bedtime. And watching them play is so much fun!

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

I've always had dogs, cats, or both. I love them both, but tend to lean slightly more in favor of cats because of the walkies thing.

Pros of Cat Ownership:

No walkies when it is hot/cold/early/late/windy/inconvenient

Can leave town, once they are adults, for slightly longer periods of time than you can most other pets.

No leashes!

Lap full of love.

Purring.

Rapt adoration for you. (Somehow, earning a cat's love feels so SPECIAL.)

Cat toys are amusing and those feather-on-a-stick things are also good for human playtime activity (wink wink nudge nudge)

Warm fuzzy body curled up beside you on a cold night.

Headbutts.

You can train cats. Mine will stand on his hind legs and will speak. Some people train their cats to use the toilet.

If you get a cat a scratching post and toys, take the time to get a water pistol and don't ignore it so that it gets bored and fussy, it will most likely not be destructive to your things.

Smaller carriers are cheaper.

Most cat-related expenses are cheap after the initial expense (we were adopted by our cat, who is excellent, but getting him legal and up to code with the vet and paying an apartment fee ran about $300, $200 of which was the apartment fee).

Cats tend to clean themselves nicely, so they rarely need bathing.

Portability. If your cat isn't moving fast enough, you can pick him orher up and move them yourself.

Once you understand how a cat's brain works, you can avoid most of the most common behavioral problems. Once you understand how YOUR cat's brain works, you should have few, if any, unpleasant surprises as time goes on.

Cats are cool. Egyptians used to worship them. They haven;t forgotten. It's nice having a little god or goddess in the house looking after things for you.

Having an animal wandering around in your home is usually good feng shui and gets positive energy flow going.

Cats seem to know when you're most upset and will surprise you with displays of empathy when you least expect it.

Most cats are good judges of character. You'll know soon enough if yours is.

Our cat greets me at the door when I come home almost every day. It's nice to have something waiting for you and glad to see you when you get home.

Cons of Cat Ownership:

BEWARE OF CAT sign is totally non-threatening to burglars.

Might be given gifts of dead things.

Horking is bad. Most cats will hork unmentionable nasty spew over something you'd rather remain unspewn at least once. Perhaps in front of guests. Our cat is fairly good about not vomiting for sport. Petromalt to help prevent hairballs helps. You will have to brush (and brush and BRUSH and *BRUSH*) any cat with medium or long hair. The consequences are dire. Get a short-hair if you're not up to nightly brushing sessions.

Some cats get uppity to the point where they punish you for not obeying their wishes with pee and poo in places other than their designated pee/poo place. This is bad. Then again, some dogs do the same thing. Usually it can be curbed quickly.

Cats will gravitate to the person with a cat phobia, allergies, dislike of cats or all three. It's a rule. The person begging for them to come and be loved--the person cooing "kitty kitty" frantically and practically falling out of their chair to touch your cat--will be ignored and disdained.

Getting advice from online cat-centric resources (like rec.pets.cats* et al) will convince you that: all cat owners lose 100 IQ points and speak in pukesome baby talk, all cat owners are insane, and that owning a cat will somehow transmit these antisocial behaviors to YOU. Nothing could be further than the truth. (Though you will speak baby talk to your cat, and you might as well steel yourself to that fact, you will not be forced to share it with the world online.)

Cat food is stinky. Wet cat food is stinkier. Also--I'm telling you right now--do not start feeding your cat on a regular schedule. Mix it up a little. Feed them within a certain time frame, but not, say, precisely at 6:00 am. They have little watches hidden under their fur and will awaken you at precisely 6 AM for the rest of your life if you start a trend. They don't understand the concept of weekends or holidays. Also, don't start feeding them just one KIND of food. If they stop making it, you're screwed. Give your cat a variety unless the vet says otherwise. There you go: two oft-griped-about cat problems solved in one go. The cat will get used to being fed when you get up, and eating what you give him or her to eat without complaint. I've owned cats for 33 years, including my childhood, and you learn from experience eventually.

Bathing a cat, when necessary, usually requires full riot gear and a partner. Luckily it is rarely necessary and/or your vet or groomer can do it for you.

If you like to read or sew or type on the computer, guess who will want to be right there between your face and your hands? Your buddy the kitty.

Cat farts are deadly and the cat never confesses.

You will have cat fur on every item of clothing and piece of furniture you own from the day you bring the bundle of joy home until the sad day you are deprived of your cat's company. Deal.

All in all, cats ate good things.

More advice: Research which types you might prefer. Example: Siamese are very affectionate but loud / talky and a bit nutty. Breeds tend to have certain personality traits. I'd recommend not letting your cat get outside (outdoor cats on average live about 3 years if you're extremely lucky and are prone to nasty injuries, diseases, vermin and death...indoor cats for about 16 years and they can live for up to 25) and not declawing (makes them neurotic because they can't climb or defend themselves and is the equivalent of amputating the first knuckle off a human's finger).

The tip about clumping litter was an excellent one. Kittens, like babies, will taste and eat everything, including their litter. Also, no yarn balls. It's a cliche but kittens can strangle on the string. Avoid dropping rubber bands on the floor or putting tinsel on Christmas trees--cats play with and eat these things, and while it may be hialrious to see a cat walking around with a streamer out its hind end, their intestines can get lacerated by tinsel. Get a break- away collar so if they do get hung up on something, they won't choke, the collar will spring open instead.

Get them used to being in a carrier, riding in a cat and wearing a harness. My cat will ride peacefully in my car, in a harness on a towel, for five hours at a time. (The vet will probably not make house calls and will insist on a harness and/or a carrier.) If you get the cat to associate riding in the cat and the carrier and the harness with good things as well as the vet, you should have fewer problems down the road.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

It will sleep on your head. Just as you resign yourself to inevitable neck spasm, the damned thing will let out the Dreaded Cat Gas Of Unimaginable Horror, a situation only alleviated by the cat owner abandoning their own bed, leaving the cat in total comfort while you suffer all night on the lumpy couch. Sometimes the Horror is so great one has to move - nothing gets the stench of Cat Gas out of carpet, and it often blisters the finish on your walls and furniture. An uncle of mine got an unfortunate blast of Cat Gas of Unimaginable Horror right in the face once, and went immediately blind. Not a word a lie.

There is nothing finer than getting up in the middle of the night and padding down the hallway barefoot on the way to the toilet when - squish....something cold and lumpy and slimy squishes in between your toes. You have stepped in cat puke. Welcome to cat ownership.

Even better, maybe you will end up with a cat like mine. He is a ruminant. Gobbles up all the food in his dish, and then regurgitates it, waits a minute or two, then re-eats it all. Nothing kills my appetite faster than watching the cat eat puked up cat food.

OH wait, something kills my appetite faster. The cat box does. Owning a cat means scooping stinky poop every day for the next 18 years.

Cats are supposed to live longer if you own them in pairs. Best to just get one.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Kristin, you just described my puking cat named Fart. I am sitting at work, laughing to tears! It's hard to be low-key like this, but I forgive you for it! Have you figured out a way to stop the eat-and- puke problem? All I seem to be able to do is feed him no more than a few teaspoons of dry food at a time. And he won't eat the cat grass. He only likes the poisonous plants.

I had no problems having Fart's front claws removed. We had it done before he was four months old, and he's learned to defend himself with his back ones. Besides, he's an indoor cat, and I have leather furniture. This way, everybody's happy.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I've had the same cat for 12 years, her name is Zanda, she's a tabby. I rescued her from the Evil Dog Sadie (not really, but Zanda didn't know that - I was her hero), and kept her. Best thing I ever did.

Definitely go for a Humane Society cat or kitten - maybe someday pet stores won't exist anymore (ha - some sucker will keep buyin' em), or get it free from someone who says "FREE KITTENS!" in the paper. By the way - many branches of the Humane Society are now "no-kill" shelters, it depends on funding and space - you could call your HS and check.

My advice about getting one or two is opposite of Heather's - I say either get two right away, or just get one, and keep it at one until that one's gone. I would love nothing more than to get a brand new kitten, but I think that's cruel to cats who are used to being the only cat. Of course, every cat's personality is different and some cats might not care. Zanda LOVES being the only cat in our house, and as much as I want another, it would be for my own selfish reasons (I know she's not going to live forever), and it would be really hard on her. I watched my friend's cat turn into a mega-bitch when they got a 2nd kitten - they finally got rid of her because she was so mean and couldn't be trusted. After Zanda dies though, we're getting two kittens from the same litter.

Cats *are* trainable - Zanda no longer hops up on the kitchen counter, kittens pretty much potty-train themselves. When you first get one, it helps to keep her in just one room of the house, with her food/water, litter box, and a soft place to sleep. Kittens are more difficult - if you're going to get one, get one when you'll be home for a week, or a really long weekend (like Thanksgiving). Never get a kitten one night, then go to work the next day, LOL. You will be AMAZED at what they get into. My cat is also leash-trained, but they're not like dogs, you can't really leave them tied up in the yard all day, they're not too bright and have a tendency to either hang themselves or wriggle out of the harness. Most harnesses are built so cats can wriggle free if there's an emergency. My cat loves her harness and leash. Some cats chew on stuff - my sister in law's cat eats everything (cords, paper, bows, etc.), and pukes stuff up daily. Zanda's never had a problem with it.

As far as breeds go, don't get a purebred - they're notorious for having medical problems and ZERO personality. One of my books says studies have been done on the most social and affectionate breeds of cats, and it turns out tabbies are the most social, talkative, and affectionate - I have found this to be true, I've never met a tabby I didn't want to take home with me. They're awesome with kids, and are usually pretty playful. Of course, a cat's breed doesn't guarantee a personality, but I'm just sayin'. We will ALWAYS have tabbies, forever and ever, amen. Oh - and we will also NEVER, EVER declaw our future cats. I got Zanda declawed, but I was 14 and didn't really know any better. Spaying/Neutering is a Good Thing though, LOL. Many Humane Societies spay/neuter cats upon entry, if they aren't already. It's smart to do this even if it will be an inside-only cat. Un-neutered males like to spray, and howl at night to go out tomcattin', and un-spayed females will go into heat and scream all night.

Get a few books, too - I have a couple great ones. One is called "How To Talk To Your Cat", another is "Cat Love". I have NO idea who the authors are or if they're still in print, but I've learned the most from these two books. "Cat Love" teaches you about leash training, introducing a new animal (or person!) into the household, clues to medical problems, how to brush your cat's teeth (Zanda LOVES tooth-brushing time now!), and how to do cat CPR.

Whew, I'm long-winded.. but I adore cats - they're interesting animals, they have such human-like personalities. They have good days & bad days, sometimes they're crabby, some days they're overly clingy, but when you earn a cat's loyalty and affection, they are so worth it. And a cat's purr when it's curled 'round your head or lying on your chest is probably the most soothing sound I know.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

When I got Dave he was a wonderful little bundle of delightful kittenish spunk, etc., who had me tearing my hair within two days, knocking stuff of shelves and whatnot. Good thing it was Memorial Day weekend or I'd have returned him immediately to the woman at work who gave him to me. I was thinking, "Nice, mellow, angst free, furry pet," which now, at the stately age of 11, he most definitely is. But the kitten months were very trying.

I now wish I'd gotten two at the same time, because Dave is old and set in his ways and will brook no rivals.

For the first few months of his life, I was able to drive Dave around in my car and often took him to visit my sister and her cats. Fun and delight ensued. Then I took him--by car--to the vet to be neutered. He's absolutely hated the car ever since.

Wet food stinks, is horribly expensive, and rots their teeth.

Dave's been an indoor-outdoor cat ever since he was neutered. Cat doors are very wonderful. He gets in the very occasional half-hearted fight and used to bring in lots of dead offerings, but has slowed down in his senior years.

Contrary to popular belief, you get less random flying fur around the place with a long haired cat than a short haired cat. This is not to say they shed less, but that the hair sort of sticks together and doesn't tend to go flying around as much.

Plus, they don't bark. I like that.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

It IS posible to get your cat to accept another kitty. DON'T do it the way my ex-boyfriend did it: Our second cat, Monster, came in the house one morning and stayed.

You have to introduce them to each other on neutral territory.

The upshot was that Monster and Scotch ended up being friends.

BTW: Wendy, I thought that YOU had written the entry about the Cat Gas! That sounded so much like Fart! As for the cat grass, let him get used to it being there. Or put it next to the plant that he does like to munch on!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

If you're getting a cat for the first time, I would say don't get a kitten. Kitten training takes lots of energy and for the first year and a half cats are pesky little rat bastards that get into everything. Of course, they're cute, but adult cats are cute too. If you are going to get kittens and put a lot of time into training, there's a book called "Felinestein" that talks about little games you can play with your cats to make them smarter. But if you really want to rescue a cat, go for a slightly older one anyway. Cats that have been pets and then been given up are usually very grateful to be rescued and they will appreciate you for saving them from death. It's much harder to find families for them than for kittens. The no-kill shelter in my area has many 1-3 yr. old cats. Still young enough to be playful, but also old enough so you can see what kind of adult they're going to turn into. If you have a no-kill shelter in your area, see if they need cat-petting volunteers and spend a few weeks petting cats before you adopt one.

Cats potty train themselves most of the time. I adopted feral cats who were 6-8 months old, and they all learned to use the litter box immediately. Just pop them in the litter box once or twice, they figure out what it's for without much prompting. When you first bring them into a house, keep the cats and all their stuff together in one room, so they don't get lost looking for the litter box. Let them slowly fan out to the rest of the house when they feel comfortable.

I would say 2 cats is optimal. 2 males or 2 females may work better than one of each -- in my little menagerie, the male cat is always outcompeting the females for food and attention, and he pounds on them frequently.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Get two, the guilt with leaving one alone almost did me in! I had one boy for a year until I somewhat reluctantly got another. I thought my apartment was just to small but it's worked out fine and the guilt factor is much more dealable. They had a rough first couple weeks but now they have a ball together. My favorite is when the smaller cat plans a sneak attack, really funny.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

cats are the greatest! i've had mine, a tortoise-shell calico, for about three years now. i'll have to agree that the first year was tough. kittens are bad, but a lot of fun and fairly easy to train. getting a one- or two-year-old cat would be perfect timing, especially from a local shelter. i don't care what people say, cats *ARE* smarter than dogs and are just as much fun to be around.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

If you want two (and I'm in the two are better than one camp), many shelters have cages full of older cats who have been raised together and who want to stay together. Every time I go to Buddy Dog, there's at least one set. They tend to be older (usually they belong to the stereotypical old lady who had to go to the Home), but sweet and already trained. The mistake a lot of people make with cats is letting them decide who's going to live in your house. If you get a cat, and then decide to get another cat, the first cat WILL adjust. Not in a day. Not in a week. But eventually. My psycho wench Clydie was not happy when Puck came to live with us; now they get along fine. But if you get a girl cat and then want a second cat, get a boy; two girl cats can result in territory issues unless they come in at the same time, whereas fixed boys don't really care as long as you keep the food coming. If vomit bothers you, don't get a cat. They all do it, sometimes on your bed. Brush them, feed them anti-hairball remedy, do whatever, it will still happen occasionally, sometimes by accident, sometimes as punishment for some transgression of yours (at least it seems to correlate). They're worth every bit of trouble, though. I'm long-term catsitting two and own two, and I love them all, except at 6am on Sunday.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

First cat owner rule: There are no cons to owning a cat. Second cat owner rule: Cats are like potato chips--you can't have just one. Third cat owner rule: Every life needs nine cats.

No, honestly: As someone here suggested, rescue two older kitties from the Humane Society who've been turned in together. Most importantly, keep them indoors only. They won't get sick; they won't get fleas; they won't get into neighbors' yards, motor oil, antifreeze, or rat poison. Scooping a litterbox (or just emptying a container if you get yourself one of them fancy Littermaids) is a small price to pay in exchange for avoiding humongous vet bills.

My abc's, as usual.

The Semicolon; Confessions of a Grammar Queen

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Jan, since you live in the Seattle area, let me give you a little heads-up: King County Animal Shelters make you fill out a little adoption questionnaire before you get to take a kitty home. It's totally a great idea -- screens out the people who are just getting a kitty so they can stick firecrackers up its butt.

They ask questions like, are there any kids in the house where the cat will live? Will the cat be an indoor or outdoor cat (from what I can gather, answering "indoor" is the best way to go, even if you do decide to let the cat out once in a while)? What will you do if you have to go out of town for a while? Who else lives in the house? Are there any other pets there already? What will you do if you're forced to move out of your current residence into a place that does not accept cats (I said "I wouldn't. And if I HAD to, I'd let the cat stay with my grandmother who won't let the cat out")? Blah blah blah. They also make you get the cat spayed/neutered if it's not already. They've got a clinic that will do it there if you don't have a vet that will do it. Total cost for a cat at the animal shelter is somewhere around $60, neutering and pet license included. At least, that's what it was last year. : )

Oh, and those animal shelter cats can be deceptive little bastards. We picked out our kitty because she was the only kitty who wasn't freaked out by all the noise in the shelter, so we figured she'd be all low-key and stuff. Boy, were we wrong. That cat sprang fully formed from the gates of Hell.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I need to disagree (politely) with two of the things said here.

1. all medium and long haired cats shed a ton so you have to brush the time.

My kitty, Katchoo, is long haired, and I brush her maybe once every few days, when I am bored, and she wants playtime. She is blue (that's grey for you non-pet breeding folks), but there's not a bit of cat hair in my apartment. I never dust, I vacuum maybe once every other week and I don't own a lint brush. Quite simply, Katchoo sheds very very little.

The reason for this is because she has no undercoat. Its the damn persians that gave all long haired cats a bad rap. Persians, himalayens and burmese as well, I believe, are all long hared breeds that have an undercoat. The undercoat is shorter, softer, finer hair that is closer to the body to keep them warm. It needs to be brushed twice, daily, or else it gets matted.

However, cats without an undercoat, don't need to be brushed nearly as often.

2. Purebreeds have no personality and are more likely to get ill.

Another misconception, in my opinion. Purebreeds that are out of hand and not regulated may be more likely to fall to disease, however, when a breed is carefully monitored there should be no problem. Most cat breeds have a governing body that will quicky and effectively take cats with bad genes out of the breeding pool. Even aside from that, if you are looking to own a purebred cat, you should check the credentials of your breeder - don't look in the classifieds of your local paper - look in the classified of Cat Fancy Magazine, check with the governing body for the breed, and look online - there is a WEALTH Of information. You should also learn as much as you can about the breed, so you know what to look for when you go to pick up your kitten.

Personality. My Katchoo is a purebred RagaMuffin, and I assure you, she has LOADS of personality. Oodles and oodles. She pounces imaginary bugs, stalks the carpet lint and tries to arch her back and puff out her fur and look as menacing as possible when I have been on the computer too long. She dashes about the apartment like a creature possesed, only to fall in a heap of purring fuzz and quickly regain composure with a dignified bathing. She naps on my glass desktop and will try to swat at my fingers through the glass. she chases and bites her tail, attacks my bras if I am careless enough to leave them in the laundy basket and is scared of the sounds my vinyl pants make. she answers to Katchoo, and Kitten-butt.

The RagaMuffin breed is among the most healthy, and largest breeds, and the age the slowest. Katchoo will remain entrenched in kittenhood for about 4 years. At full size she may weigh as much as 15lbs and not be overweight (more for males). The only breed large is the Maine Coon. RagaMuffins are offsoots from the Ragdoll breed - which decided it wanted to breed for color - seal points, flames, lilacs and so forth- like the siamese. A portion of the breeders didn't agree, so they started their own breed - the RagaMuffin - to breed for personality and temperment.

The Rag breeds are widely considered to be the most affectionate. The are named Rag for their tendency to go limp in your arms - and Katchoo does just that. I can cradle her like a baby, or hold her completely upside down, and she doesn't complain, just lays there, purring away. They are long haired, low - no shedding and soft -pawed. I've never had to scold or discipline Katchoo for scratching anything - furniture or myself - and I've never seen her use the sisal scratching post we got her.

The only possible negative side to her breed is that she can never be an outdoor cat - since the RagaMuffin breed is bred for personality (as described by breed "lovable dispositions and sweet expressions"), she has little in the way of self preservation instinct. IE, just about any cat could kick her ass. But I don;t plan on ever letting her outdoors, so no loss.

I got a purebred because I had never before owned a cat, and I wanted to know as much as I could about what I was getting into. Every resource I saw said basically, with a domestic you never know. I wanted to make sure that I got an animal that would not be harmed by my lifestyle - meaning, I didn't want a hyper kitten that would hate my relaxed home style, no kids, lots of reading, computer time - nor did I want an animal that would flip out if I were gone for a few days. Purebred resources and definitive personality traits allowed me to have some knowledge about what I was getting into.

you can see Katchoo here : http://www.tangerinegirl.com/glances/ glance142.html

And some good resources are here: on RagaMuffins

http://www.catteryrow.com/ragagroup/

On all things cat-related

http://www.i-love-cats.com/

A well informed consumer....

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

well, you can see her here:

http://www.tangerinegirl.com/glances/ glance142.html

without that space between the glances/ and the glance142.html, that is.

I have no idea what happened there, which is probably a good indication that it is time to go to bed. Katchoo probably wants to sleep on my head by now (Which is entirely true....if not your head, your neck.)

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

Having owned (been owned by?) one cat, and then two cats, I have to say that having two cats is *by far* the better answer. My first cat, Fat Cat, was a sweetheart, but, now that I look back on it, lonely as hell.

After she died, my husband talked me in to getting two cats. I was reluctant, but the vet kept insisting that they're no more trouble than one. And she was right.

Murphy and Ally are the best of friends, and I swear that they're not any more work than Fat Cat was. They're very happy together, and I will never again own just one cat. The one drawback of having two, though, is that they're noticeably less affectionate than just one cat. I mean, M & A are very sweet and friendly, but Fat Cat went out of her way to be a lap cat, sleep on the bed with us, etc. It was nice and all, but I get horrible guilt pangs any time I think of how she was left alone in our apartment for eight, ten, twelve hours at a time all by herself.

Definitely get two cats.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

Well, I'm still undecided until I do some more research at the Humane Society and the library, but I am pretty sure that:

1. If I do get cats, I want two.
2. I will seriously consider getting older kitties that nobody wants because they're not cute lil' kittens anymore.
3. I will not let them outside.

I still have to talk the SO and the landlord into this, and I'm not sure about it myself, but we'll see. My boyfriend was sort of scarred by an experience he had living in a house with three cats which were not taken care of properly or trained properly. He says he's willing to consider a cat, but it'll take him time to get used to the idea, considering his previous cat experience. And the landlord is a friend of ours, so maybe I can sweet-talk him into it.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

Hi Jan, you should read this article also: " The Truth About Cats". You will find it in the "Articles" section of this web site: www.petrene.com I love my cat Petros and he found me as a kitten ( no bother to train, he only went to the toilet on the floor once, and that was only because i dadn't bought the kitty litter yet - wasn't sure yet whether i would keep him...) Don't let yourself be scared off by the horror stories...

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

Now I want another cat. Damn you people! (In a nice way)

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

Wow. Because of this thread I just found out that my cat is a Ragamuffin. I read the post above and thought "Hm, that kind of cat sounds like a good companion breed for Fitz (my cat)" so I went to the website, and realized that my cat IS a Ragamuffin, or half at least. He's cuddly and large and goes limp when I pick him up.

I decided against getting a second cat because my boyfriend and I both work from home, so we're always around. He's (the cat, that is) very clingy, though not terribly physically affectionate. He has to be in the same room as us, or exactly in between rooms if we're seperated. I love him to death, I'm so glad I adopted him.

My only cat owning advice is to spend a lot of time playing with your cat and giving it attention. Fitz is very vocal, and if he's feeling ignored he'll certainly let us know. I spend about four hours a day just playing and talking to him. Rather than being on my lap all the time, he's just always right next to me, spending time with me, and I love that.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

I have the perfect cat for you! If you live near Houston, TX you can e-mail me and I will give you more details. My husband and I are about to move and we can't take our cat (Crusty) with us. We can't stand the thought of taking him to a shelter. He is extremly playful and at one time he could fetch but I think he has outgrown that for now. He is a talker and will keep anyone company for hours with his meows. I swear, sometimes I think he is human. Let me know!

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2000

Ok, since there are mostly women in this forum, now's my chance to ask a question. Something I've always wondered about. What's the deal with women and cats??? It seems like every woman has to own at least two or three of them. I don't get it. What is the attraction anyway?

Is it for companionship? No, that can't be it. If so, a dog or a goldfish would do the job. Is there some special link between women and cats? Personally, I hate cats worse than anything, which may go far to explain my status as a perpetual bachelor.

Any enlightenment would be appreciated. Thanks!

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2000