Getting a new kitty.

[meggie]

Hello Everyone.

I just got married and my new husband and I were thinking about adopting a cat.

I think we both have some reservations though, because he's a full time college student working part time, and I'm a part time college student working full time. I guess we are afraid we might not have enough time.

But, I really want a cat. It's been so long since I've had a pet, and they're so loving and affectionate.

Cats seem easy, but I know there's also alot of responsibility.

I wanted to adopt from the local animal shelter and get an older cat that's already been spayed or neutered. He wants a kitten.

I've always heard that male cats tend to run away from home alot. Is this true?

Another thing, we just bought some gorgeous new furniture and I'm a little afraid he or she might decide to use it as a scratching post.

I'm just looking for a little advice about being a cat owner before we actually adopt one.

[jason]

starting with a kitten might be a good idea in terms of not having to deal with a previous owners behavioral mistakes, but kittens are very active in their first 8months or so of life and thusly will demand more of your time/patience.

you mentioned running away, i would not recommend anything other than inside only so that should not be an issue.....i have not heard that male cats do this more often though, could be a myth.

about your furniture, if it comes down to it....do not shy away from a front declaw, i have done both of mine and it was needed in order to keep them in my house. they would try to claw at my screens and would get out. you can routinely clip the nails yourself at first to see if that is all you need to do (didnt in my case), but dont rule out declawing if it means keeping the cat or not.

good luck.

[Jodi]

We both work full time and because of that, we decided to adopt 2 kittens at the same time. This worked out well because then they each had the other to play with/cuddle with. They are best of friends!!! And having 2 isn't really that much more work/expensive than having just one.

Just something to think about....

[Raina]

Your post actually helped me out, too. In about a year I'm going to be moving down to my boyfriend's parent's house for awhile until we get our own place, and I was in a turmoil of whether to get my 3 declawed or not. They scratch a lot and I know they would scratch their nice furniture up and such. If they did that, I know my boyfriend's parents would be upset and would want me to give them away. But I also didn't want to have to declaw them without having to. I know that declawing is an easily debated topic, but I think it is something I'm going to have to do in order to keep them and from someone who knows a lot about cats, it feels nice to have some reassurance.

About your guys' situation, I would recommend getting a kitten, too. Most of the kittens at the animal shelters (at least one's I've been to) they have spayed for you. I would also recommend keeping it indoors. It will be much safer for the cat, as there are a lot of diseases they can get from other animals or they could get hit by a car. If you provide them with plenty of toys, they'll be just as happy. =)

[meggie]

I don't know. Declawing seems so mean, but I really don't know that much about how it affects the cat.

Is declawing really expensive? I don't want to do it if it is really terrible for the cat, but I also don't want my furniture ruined. Plus, we're renting an apartment, so we really can't afford for anything to be damaged.

[Traci]

Ideally, it's best to introduce a young kitten to regular nail-trimming and training them early on not to scratch the furniture (providing a couple sratching posts in strategic areas is also helpful....also, sisal scratching posts are usually more preferrable to cats than carpet posts)

Declaw - Nail-trimming

[jason]

I don't know. Declawing seems so mean, but I really don't know that much about how it affects the cat.

after some healing, cats are not affected behaviorally by it from my experience. it is not mean.

Is declawing really expensive? I don't want to do it if it is really terrible for the cat, but I also don't want my furniture ruined. Plus, we're renting an apartment, so we really can't afford for anything to be damaged.

not expensive, call about three vets in your area to get an average. try trimming first, stick with it as best you can and if it comes down to you giving the cat up or else, then a front declaw is warranted imo.

[Gosmo]

I work about 60 hours a week. Zima doesn't seem to do any damage(that I've found at least). They cat should be fine.

[FAWN]

HI!

I have two cats & both of them are declawed (front paws). I don't see any problems with them. They seems to be perfectly normal & they still scratching furnitures with their paws. They're happy! As long as we're happy & then they will be happy.

My male cat just declawed in January & for a month, he was in pain. But after that, he went back to his normally routine (chase my fiance's older female cat around the house).

About adopting a cat, I've learned one thing about cats - if you want to adopt a cat & you're working all the times. Make sure he/she has a companion (close or same age). But not all the cats loves companionship of other cats, my fiance's cat hates all the cats. She loves to be herself & with people. She hates my male cat so much! They can't even get along at all. But still we keep them separate as much as we can. She's picky on who she likes!!

Fawn

[Tambrey]

I have only ever had one cat declawed...and that was back in the mid 80's, and I swore I never would again...hopefully the way it is done is changed since then...back then, I did manage to find a vet who did not mutilate the front digits and just hack them off...but at the time, many vets just cut off to the first "knuckle"...

I train all of my cats, from as soon as their claws retract, to get used to what we call "clippy claws" ...I use a regular human toenail clipper (with a catch compartment in it so nails do not go flying and you find them later when you step on them!), it is easier to grip than a small fingernail one...and following the directions in the link for nail clipping mentioned above, we do this on a weekly or as needed basis...the cats actually enjoy getting it done and the one on one attention and cuddling they get on my lap while we are clipping...(I have 8 cats and 2 kittens, along with 4 dogs and a cockateil!)...

Gypsy, my oldest female, was a feral when I brought her in, and took longer...but she finally learned after she got a claw caught in the screen and tore it (bleeding and pain!) that clippy claws is a good thing to do and now she sits and purrrrs and even extends her claws for me to clip them, I only need to hold her paw to clip her nails...