thinking about getting a cat... GOT HIM!... FINALLY pictures :)

[LD]

Originally posted by Lady:
Might I suggest checking out petfinder.com? you can do a search of shelters in the area, and if they are on the web, you can see lists of their animals, usually with photos, ages, descriptions, etc. I know I placed the shelter I volunteer for on petfinder, and a lot of people seem to like to look that way. [img]smile.gif[/img] Just a thought. [img]smile.gif[/img]

yeah thats where I found this shelter, it's like 2 minutes down the road from me and I didn't even know
some of them cats seem so happy to just see people makes me want to take them all home

[FirebirdGT]

Originally posted by ellik:
you shouldnt have a problem with them spraying or anything once they are fixed. We had a stray male that lived on our porch for a while. He was still 'intact' and was incredibly friendly. Just when he played with your he could get a bit rough, but that is to be expected since he was used to catching his own meals.

Our female cat on the other hand is a real *****. very particular, very jealous, and is actually vengeful. She'll beat the crap out of the male for no reason other than he might get more attention. She despised me when I moved in with my wife. Took over 1 1/2 years for her to stop hissing every time I walked into the same room as her. now she loves me.

go to the shelter or wherever you plan on adopting and spend some time going from one cage to the next and see which cats respond to you. most of them will probably just lay there and stare at you, see if you find one that will come up and try to get your attention. Pick one based on its personality and response to you rather than on looks.

Male Tabby. Have had two over the years, but had to give them away for various reasons. Both were "Garfields", big and orange.

If it will be a house cat, you could have a vet remove the front claws, but NEVER the rear. First one I did, the second no.

Having had both dogs and cats, I prefer cats. For the same reason you are interested - low maintenance. My ex and I could leave them (we had two cats) home alone for days with no problem.

[ May 21, 2005, 11:18 AM: Message edited by: FirebirdGT ]

[LD]

Originally posted by FirebirdGT:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by ellik:
you shouldnt have a problem with them spraying or anything once they are fixed. We had a stray male that lived on our porch for a while. He was still 'intact' and was incredibly friendly. Just when he played with your he could get a bit rough, but that is to be expected since he was used to catching his own meals.

Our female cat on the other hand is a real *****. very particular, very jealous, and is actually vengeful. She'll beat the crap out of the male for no reason other than he might get more attention. She despised me when I moved in with my wife. Took over 1 1/2 years for her to stop hissing every time I walked into the same room as her. now she loves me.

go to the shelter or wherever you plan on adopting and spend some time going from one cage to the next and see which cats respond to you. most of them will probably just lay there and stare at you, see if you find one that will come up and try to get your attention. Pick one based on its personality and response to you rather than on looks.

Male Tabby. Have had two over the years, but had to give them away for various reasons. Both were "Garfields", big and orange.

If it will be a house cat, you could have a vet remove the front claws, but NEVER the rear.

Having had both dogs and cats, I prefer cats. For the same reason you are interested - low maintenance. My ex and I could leave them (we had two cats) home alone for days with no problem. </font>[/QUOTE]I talked with some people at the humane society, and unless it is already declawed then I am not going to mess with it
I will just clip his fingernails everytime I clip mine, kinda make a habit out of it so they never get sharp enough to tear up my furniture

[ellik]

many of the places you go into make you sign a form as part of the adoption saying that you promise not to have them declawed. Ive heard it does something wierd where they end up walking on their knuckles afterwards and can have problems with artheritis or something. Dont really remember exactly, but it wasnt supposed to be good. Just keep them clipped on a regular basis and get a little carpet covered scratching post for them. Will be fine.

Does your apt have a balcony? Our cats love to go outdoors and lounge in the sun. Never had a problem with them trying to jump down. They just like to get in a spot where they can watch what is going on. Never tried walking a cat. Thats a little much, I think.

[LD]

Originally posted by ellik:
many of the places you go into make you sign a form as part of the adoption saying that you promise not to have them declawed. Ive heard it does something wierd where they end up walking on their knuckles afterwards and can have problems with artheritis or something. Dont really remember exactly, but it wasnt supposed to be good. Just keep them clipped on a regular basis and get a little carpet covered scratching post for them. Will be fine.

Does your apt have a balcony? Our cats love to go outdoors and lounge in the sun. Never had a problem with them trying to jump down. They just like to get in a spot where they can watch what is going on. Never tried walking a cat. Thats a little much, I think.

yeah, I am not going to get it declawed
yes I do have a balcony
I would hope it would be smart enough to not take a dive over the balcony 3 floors up. I will probably take him out there with me and see how he acts first.
and about the walking a cat thing, since I live in an apartment I can't just let it go outside if it wants, so to make sure he gets some fresh air that might be the only way.

[ellik]

just open up your balcony for him as a treat from time to time. otherwise, just give him a spot to perch, like a cat-tree-house deal, or something where it can watch out the window. ours will jump up onto window sills and sit for hours watching whats going on outdoors. also, the more you have them outdoors, the more you have to be concerned about them contracting something that will require vet visits.

[kamelean]

there are some pet catalogs that sell a type of sheath to slip over the claws. they use some kind of non-toxic glue to keep them on. plus they come in colors. my buddy just put those on his cat, and they work great. if you decide to go that route, ask your vet first and get his profesional opinion.

[Skapimp]

dye it blue.

[shenanigans]

my girlfriend has always had cats...

They declawed all of them and no problems...


when she came to school she got a cat, and declawed him. He never had a problem, he was an indoor only cat. He is cool, he has a few bad habits nothing bad, my girlfriend named him eros(god of erotic love) we later got a black persian cat and named him Jagermeister, well for the drink and he really likes to hunt [img]smile.gif[/img]

They are both playful and starved for attention, you have to have them neutered or they spray, and I hear the smells like ***.

I was only around for jager as a kitten he naturally went ot the liter box.. never had a problem.

Eros, used to like to go in the literbox and piss on the wall peeing out instead of down... so I fixed that and made them a liter box, just a tall rubber maid container, with opening cut in the side. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Like said our cats were declawed and never had a problem and her old cats were declawed too... they lived to be like 15 years old, and no problems.


What woudl be ideal... get 2 kittens so they can play with each other when you are not around. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Petsmart toys... nothing. For a perch, just leave some blinds on a window sill up a little and the cats will sit up there and look down on the world. Kinda cool when you see them staring at you in the parking lot when you come home.

best toys... are a rope with a knot on the end and a $5 keychain laser pointer from a gas station. Or any toys with catnip in them.

and definitley get them form the SPCA, and shorthairs... are easier to maintain...

But it is fun when you shave a longhair.

[ellik]

Originally posted by shenanigans:
.....But it is fun when you shave a longhair.

leave the mane around the neck and a poof on the end of the tail, shave the rest. a friend of mine did that with her orange longhair.... looks EXACTLY like a miniature lion.

[LD]

Originally posted by shenanigans:
my girlfriend has always had cats...

They declawed all of them and no problems...


when she came to school she got a cat, and declawed him. He never had a problem, he was an indoor only cat. He is cool, he has a few bad habits nothing bad, my girlfriend named him eros(god of erotic love) we later got a black persian cat and named him Jagermeister, well for the drink and he really likes to hunt [img]smile.gif[/img]

They are both playful and starved for attention, you have to have them neutered or they spray, and I hear the smells like ***.

I was only around for jager as a kitten he naturally went ot the liter box.. never had a problem.

Eros, used to like to go in the literbox and piss on the wall peeing out instead of down... so I fixed that and made them a liter box, just a tall rubber maid container, with opening cut in the side. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Like said our cats were declawed and never had a problem and her old cats were declawed too... they lived to be like 15 years old, and no problems.


What woudl be ideal... get 2 kittens so they can play with each other when you are not around. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Petsmart toys... nothing. For a perch, just leave some blinds on a window sill up a little and the cats will sit up there and look down on the world. Kinda cool when you see them staring at you in the parking lot when you come home.

best toys... are a rope with a knot on the end and a $5 keychain laser pointer from a gas station. Or any toys with catnip in them.

and definitley get them form the SPCA, and shorthairs... are easier to maintain...

But it is fun when you shave a longhair.

yeah, unless it's already done I will leave them alone (claws)
the humane society said keep them trimmed and they can't puncture the furniture. If it becomes a problem and I can't get him to quit then I will hack off half his hand, otherwise let sleeping dogs lie
I think having a laser pointer for a cat is just as entertaining for the owner as it is the cat [img]smile.gif[/img]

and

Originally posted by Skapimp:
dye it blue.

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] you're sick

[Shelley]

I have had pets all of my life. I've been through several dogs - 3 at home since I was born and 4 when I lived with my grandparents for a while (they had 4 poodles and a cat). James and I have a male tabby now. He is very mild mannered and friendly. He is 7 years old and we've had him for about 6 months. My best friend gave him to me and I think we are about to take his sister in too.

Male cats are definately better. They tend to like a multitude of people rather than just one person. I recommend a hooded litter pan or a self sifting one. We use the cheap-o Walmart brand litter. It works just as well as Tidy Cats and the expensive litters. Once I switched from the walmart stuff to a brand name and it completely changed the cats mood.

Our car will also only eat Meow Mix. We bought a 25lb bag from Sams Club for 8 dollars. Sams Club is the way to go for bulk items thats for sure!

The best toy we ever got the cat was a free toy mouse that came from the groomers and a $2 ball of yarn. It will entertain him for hours!

I definately recommend a male cat. Tabby's are great, they don't shed too much. His shedding is heavy now but we got a good brush and brush him daily.

He's great for a pick me up, loves outside, cuddling, and playing. And he sleeps in our bed everynight and all day long.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...58_52_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...58_50_full.jpg

Oh! And the cat is only declawed in the front. This is my recommendation just incase they ever get loose they still have a line of defense.

[kamelean]

link 1
link 2

[LD]

I was going to wait until the middle of July when I didn't have car expenses, but I said screw it.
I wasn't going to get a kitten, said screw that too [img]smile.gif[/img]
My aunt helped me pick him out, she's really good with that stuff. He is absolutely adorable. Very good natured cat. I have like 50 pictures of him, but I have to get the cords for my digital camera and upload them. He is Grey with black tiger stripes, grey eyes, all four paws are white and he has a white chest. He plays really well by himself, but when I walk in the door from work he is def ready to see me. I have to watch my step because he is constantly walking in and out of my feet trying to say hi to me. He will randomly climb up on my chest and put his nose right on my lips, its the cutest thing. I bought food and litter ahead of time. When I brought him home I took him to the bathroom and patted the litter and left him alone, 2 seconds later he was in the litter box playing with the litter. The first night I had him I held him in my lap and clipped his nails. He actually fell asleep while I was doing it, so I shouldn't have a pronlem there. I will start giving him biweekly baths to get him used to it as a kitten so he doesnt fight as much later on. I was actually really worried about him for a little bit because everytime he went to the bathroom he would cry really loud. I gave him some moist cat food, and when I woke up in the morning he had taken like 15 dumps. I think he was a little constipated! Hopefully he worked it out. I will be taking him to the vet next week, I asked my buddy (who has a cat) where he goes, so I know where to go now at least. He will start out the night sleeping in my bed with me, but when I wake up in the morning he will be out in the dining room sleeping on one of the chairs. Whatever, as long as he is happy. We are getting along really good so I am pretty happy with the whole experience.
Thank you guys sooo much for all the help. I will be printing this thread and looking here first if I ever have cat troubles [img]smile.gif[/img]
I will get these pics up next week probably and post them up
thanks again, it made this process much easier, and I was alot better prepared.

PS I named him Jefferson [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ June 03, 2005, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: LD ]

[ellik]

congrats on finding you new friend. Im sure you will enjoy each others company.