You were all right.........

[McKenzie]

I should have listened to what you all said in my last post about taming my kitten. You were all right. I should have brought her inside like you said, or gave her away. I have learned a very valueable lesson.

It seems my kitten suffered the death of getting in my mom's truck's motor. I highly regret my decision of keeping her outside. No innocent kitten or cat deserves a thing like that to happen to them. It is all my fault it happened, all my fault. She was only 8 weeks old, she did not deserve this. It was the worst thing that could ever happen to a cat, I should be the one who was under that motor, not her.
I do want to get another cat soon.

I enjoy having kittens around, but I think I will work my way around getting an INSIDE only cat this summer. A hairless one, a Sphynx.

It will cost around $900, but I am getting a job this summer, as well as selling possessions on eBay to save up for one. My mom is reluctant to get one, but I think once I actually have the money in hand, she may change her mind.

Firstly, I have a question about litter boxes. I hear cats like to have two litter boxes, one for urinating, and one for deficating. Is this true?
Also, we have a trip to take to Florida this summer. If I have my cat by then, will she still use the litter box if we take it with us?
I hear all cats naturally use the litter box. Is training really that easy? And if you need to move a litter box somewhere different around the house, will it cause problems, like making the cat not go in the box at its new location?

Also, we are worried about the cat clawing up our furniture and carpet. We will NEVER declaw a cat, that is a sick thing to do to an animal. I was wondering how well the Soft Paws work? Can you clip the cat's nails and use the Soft Paws? Do they come off easily?

Also, how can you keep cats from chewing on furniture and your stuff? Will lots of toys help?

How long can cats stand being home alone? Our cat would at least be home alone for five days a week for around 4-5 hours.

Sorry I have so many questions. They are important things I must get answered before I consider even getting one. Thanks for your time.

[Traci]

Go to your local library or pet store and invest in several kitten and cat care books, read up on them, LONG before you even consider getting another kitty.

Whoever is selling a $900 spynx is taking you for all you're worth, and I think it would benefit you and your mom to sit down and have a good talk about so much of this. Having a cat (or any pet) is the same responsibility as having a child, your mom understands that, and the two of you need to discuss this throroughly before getting another cat at all.

[MA]

I would also suggest that you take about two weeks of your summer and volunteer at a cat shelter. Working with the cats will prove invaluable to your decision to own another one.

I am so sorry for that kitten, it was something along what I feared when I read how you were keeping it. I have heard these type of stories so many times, you wouldn't believe it. Always the person is so sorry for the accident but the damage has been done.

As for the allergies and working at a shelter, there are good allergy medicines over the counter that will keep them at bay. You said you learned a valuable lesson, but look at the cost.......

[kate & kobi]

hi McKenzie ... I'm so sorry about what happened to your kitten... **tears**. I know she's very happy now in kitty heaven, and she has lots of fur angels up there to take care of her. I'm sure she knows you loved her very much.

Please try not to blame yourself! You are not responsible for what happened ... no one is to blame. No one should judge you; hindsight is always 20/20 but it's best not to dwell on what we could have done differently, only learn what to do differently in the future.

I can tell you're already trying to learn about how to take care of a cat so here are answers to some of your questions:

- cats are usually very easy to train to use the litter box; they usually pick it up naturally and any cat that you get should already be litter-trained. some cats do prefer to have two boxes but most probably do fine with just one.

- cats don't usually like to travel, so taking a new cat on a car trip is probably not a good idea. i'd really wait until after your trip to get a cat ...

- softpaws are a great idea and i'm glad you're considering this - they stay on for about a month and you can learn to put them on yourself, as long as you train your kitty to accept you touching her paws.

- toys are a great help in preventing kitty from scratching in places she shouldn't. a big scratching post will help too. cats will do fine being alone during the day, though it would be best if you get a new kitty at the beginning of a long weekend so you can be with her as she's getting used to you.

also, make sure to check your shelters before shelling out $900! you might just find what you want, and you'd be saving a life, too.

your kitty is now an angel watching over you... now's the time to learn all you can before getting a new one. hang in there, okay?

(((hugs)))

kate

[McKenzie]

Thanks for your help and understand, everyone!

I have read up in some cat care books I have. I was wondering if shelters sometimes do get Sphynx cats in? I hear they are rare. There is a breeder around 25 minutes away from my house. I may get one from her. Me and my brothers may have allergies to cats. If I am in an enclosed area with one for a while, I tend to sneeze and get stuffy. But it may just be allergies. My brother says cats make him swell up and make his nose so stuffy he cannot breathe at all. I am hoping he will come along with us to take the "test cuddle" at the breeder's house. He is nearly 25, and will do anything to keep my mom from getting a house cat.
Me and my mom are going to discuss the house cat tomorrow. I am sure she would love having one. She is not what you call an animal lover, but she even cried about my kitten dieing. I cannot stop crying for her. I wish it never happened.........

Thanks again everyone for your replies!

[jason]

I have read up in some cat care books I have.

a quote from Traci about learning how to care and understand what a cat needs :

read up on them, LONG before you even consider getting another kitty

take more time with this, there will be loving animals for you for quite some time from now. there should not be haste in this matter, if there is....then you might just be thinking less of the animal and more of yourself (i see your still hurting, that is going to take some time too).

no one here is trying to whip you up over this, its just that we know this sort of thing takes some time and understanding to deal with properly....assuming you dont have outstanding issues like allegeries, etc....but you do, so it needs to be handled methodically and deliberatly to insure the health and happiness of your kitty (or even a hampster ).

so please, keep learning....before you take the 25 minute trip to pick up and care and love for another.

MA's advice was quite good, if its possible for you.

[Tina B and crew]

I am so sorry about the kitten What is done is done....no need to beat yourself up...I think you learned a valuable lesson.

As far as getting another cat...I can't add more than what others have. And I do agree that $900 is high. I have found some interesting articles on "hypoallergenic" cats and allergies. There really is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat. Read up on this before you make a final decision. As for cats that are less likely to cause problems, the Sphinx is not the only breed. Check out these links

http://www.allergystore.net/inet2.html

http://www.catsincanada.com/articles/allergies.html

http://www.messybeast.com/breeds.htm

You probably want to spend time with whatever breed it is you decide on...and while none are truly hypoallergenic some can cause fewer problems because they have less hair...while it isn't hair that most are allergic to, less shedding means less dander or salivia in the air.

Good look...be an informed caretaker of animals