Quote Originally Posted by jenluckenbach
First I need to laugh (at myself) because when you said you have a 2 1/2 year old, who couldn't come along, I thought you meant a CAT!
Me too!

If you don't get a lot of responses this weekend, its because of the holiday. Things are typically slow around here during holiday time.

I would most definately describe your lifestyle and what type of cat you're looking for. If you are a busy family always on the run, please tell them because a needy cat would be a bad fit for your family. But if you're homebodies, then a very needy cat would thrive with you and your family. Also, do you want an energetic cat, or one thats very quiet? Consider an adult cat -- babies and kittens sound like a good thing but in reality it causes a lot of stress and additional hard work.... I've seen it where the baby FEARS the kitten because the kitten does what comes naturally.

Consider how much time you have for grooming and general maintance. Long haired cats require much more brushing than short, and also need a professional groomer ot shave them down in hot weather. They get tangles and mats very easily, and you need to brush a few times a week. Not all long hairs like to be brushed, so it can be a fight. Long haired cats also tend to get poo stuck to the base of their tails. Are you willing to trim nails? If not, look for one already declawed. Please don't declaw and adult cat that has its nails in tact - it can cause some litterbox and biting issues.

hmmm... what else? I'm sure I'll think of more