Please help prospective novice cat owner - Me!

[shais_mom]

I know how you feel!! After I got my dog, Shaianne, and had her for about a year I decided I wanted to get a cat to share the love! I was going to get a kitty from a friend, but another friend had a cat that her Boyfriend (now husband) didn't like and wanted to find it another home. So I took her. I totally didn't know anything about having a cat let alone an indoor one!! That hadn't been around dogs!! But I bit the bullet and took her on what I thought was a temporary basis. Now there is no looking back. After she had been with me less than a month I knew she wasn't going back there to be abused.
I say go for the 2 kitties that way they will get used to the dog easier.
I certainly have never had indoor kittens either but I would definatley say whatever you did to puppy proof your house, do it again on a higher level to kitty proof it!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Chris H, I just want to say that adopting 2 cats is the way to go because then they'll always have a playmate. I also want to wish you good luck and hopefully congratulations. I'm sure that you'll make a wonderful cat mom.

[jenluckenbach]

Originally posted by moosmom
BTW, did you know that the average cat's care and feeding costs over $5,000 per year per cat?? And I've got 7!!!

I've got 13!!!

But I don't think it really comes out to that much. I did a year long "Study" a few years (and a few cats) ago, and I found it to cost only $15 per month per cat (so $180/year) not including neutering, because you do not do that every year, and not including emergency care, because they are not sick on a regular basis.

ChrisH , You are doing the best !!! Waw , 2 cats !! It is much better to take 2 cats instead of 1 ; I first got Maya ; a month ago I got Inka , and since then , Maya is much more active and that's healthier !!! Don't worry about being "novice" !! You will learn in no time . And hey , you have a huge "bunch" of Pettalkers ready to help you with everything .. !
You will enjoy it from day 1 !! Success !!

[Barbara]

ChrisH: there is not much advice to be added. I also think that there are some dogs that have been bred for hunting. And among these breds there are some personalities who cannot forget that.
My parents first dachshund, Amsel, was like that. Although she had been a pet dog all her life she tried to chase whatever moved, squirrel, deer (my parents live very close to the forest and sometimes deer came in the garden!) cats. (She never got one of them.)
Their actual dachshund, Amber, is 100% different. She has met our cats and even exchanged nosekissies with Filou (who is very courageous). Then the cats retired under the bed. Then she went searching them (just out of curiosity) and Tigris gave her a nose scratch. Ok: this can easily happen because at the end of the day the cats will rule and most of the dogs will accept that.
Now tell us about Suzi and Suki. Have you seen them now?

[smokey the elder]

Don't be worried about being a "cat virgin". They are very easy to take care of. Getting two teenaged kittens is a good way to start; they will entertain yourself and each other and gang up on the dog (j/k). Teenage cats can be rambunctious so watch out for plants, coat trees, curtains, and other hanging or dangly things. Other than that, enjoy!

[ChrisH]

Well, I went to see the two kittens/cats today (who were in fact called Sugar and Spice not Suki and Suzi) Anyway, they are really, really cute, both black and white, and maybe made even more cute by having those little lampshades on their heads to stop them picking at the stitches, they were so funny to watch, so friendly and mischievous too.
I talked a while to one of the staff there and she found out for me a bit more of their history. They came from a home with too many cats (no neutering done etc) and the owner could not cope with them all anymore and gave them, along with two other littermates to the rescue. It was a very busy household with a lot of coming and going with the kittens wandering in and out, mostly they think following the children about. The other two littermates were in the rescue too but they were going to new homes this weekend. I think Sugar and Spice are going to find a forever home very quickly. But not with me.
I feel sure that I wouldn`t be able to cope with them, really because they are so lively. I can just see those two and Bob winding each other up and running around having a fine old time, as for trying to keep them in....well, I have visions of having to go on cat patrol for two madcap cats each time I let Bob out or even opened the door. Oh, sure, they, and Bob I suspect, would be having great fun, while my already high blood pressure would be going off the scale! But the bottom line is I am sure I can`t give them the home they deserve or need.

I haven`t given up on having a cat though, oh, no! In fact someone will be doing a home visit within the week. I do have a cat in mind. Her name is Ebony, and as you may have guessed she is pure black with just a touch of white on her chest, and she is 31/2 years old. Her story is sad but only to common, she got pregnant and was dumped. She was neutered after the good homes were found for the kittens and she found, what was thought to be, her forever home back in June. Recently her new owner got a job abroad and couldn`t take Ebony, so she is back at the shelter.
I am not to sure about the indoor cat thing, if she would be happy with that, but I do know that her last owner, because there was a real busy road out back of where she lived, used to take her out back on a halter, so it follows that she must, at least recently, be used to being inside. How she would be with dogs raises a question mark, but I think that it is going to be that way anyway, whatever cat I look at. She didn`t object to being stroked or anything, but she is a bit standoffish and reserved but thats ok, she`s the boss! lol. Anyway, the jury is out right now, but I have to say that I have taken a real shine to her.

Although most of the cats in there are reserved, most will go to their new homes this weekend and new ones come in, the cat I wrote about in my first post, Clover, is still there. I felt so sorry for her because after I left yesterday someone had said they wanted her, then while I was there today, the person phoned up and said she didn`t want her after all. Poor Clover, she is such a sweet and loving cat, I hope she won`t be long in finding that new home.

Thank you all so much for your advice, help and encouragement. Be sure that I am going to carry on needing it too, with whatever kitty I choose!

[2kitties]

yay! for Chris, Suki and Suzi! Don't be afraid, the cats will help you through it all.
I adopted a single but within 5 months, I had a second. Two is MUCH better than one. Many people consider cats to be solitary animals that like to be alone. That isn't really the case. Socialized cat will do much better in a set.

Consider these two: They have already lived as siblings for 8 months. That, to me, is very different than separating at 3 months. They are already a set. Oh how much fun you'll have.

You'll need to establish a relationship with a vet to finish their shots, etc. So take some of his or her literature and read up on the internet. Really, kitties are easy. All they need is food, water, lots of love, and complete and total control over their owners. No problem!!

[Pam]

Chris it sounds like Ebony has made her claim on you. When I recently went to the shelter with my daughter she was there with the idea of getting either a solid black or gray cat (her husband's suggestion). Well as we passed by all of the cages a little solid white girl kept sticking her paws out of the bars and meowing. It was like she was saying "pick me! pick me!" To make a long story short, Dandy (as she is known now), short for DandyLion, has a forever home with my daughter. I think it is wonderful that you are thinking of adopting a mommy cat. It always makes me sad when the kittens and puppies get adopted right away but the mommies remain. Keep us posted!!

[jenluckenbach]

Never feel guilty in not picking a particular cat, after all it is a life long commitment. Adopting older cats is just as rewarding, if not more so , then adopting kittens. You may still find a pair. Either ones that have been together or ones that don't even know each other. I have adopted 3 "pairs", two pairs never even met each other before coming home with me. Don't rush, you will know when it is right. It is actually a GOOG thing that most of the animals are spoken for. There will always be more (fortunately for you yet unfortunate for them....if you know what I mean)
Keep us posted.....I want to know when you decide!!!

[Vermontcat]

Ebony and Clover both sound like lovely cats. I think it would be better for you as a first time cat owner to get an older, calmer cat rather than a couple of active kittens. I think Bob would probably adjust better to one cat close in age to him that is more independent and less demanding of your time than he is.
Now you need to decide which is more important, a dog loving cat or an indoor loving cat, or maybe you will find a third cat at the shelter who is both of these things.
Keep us posted on which one you decide on.

[Miss Meow]

Good luck whatever you decide Chris. You will know when the timing and cat/s are right for you and your home. I hope you can get one or two though, they're great animals to have around

[rosethecopycat]

Thanks jenluckenbach and Cataholic- you save me a lot of time typing.

Chris H. let me just add:
You may let them swap scents first. Let the dog smell something of the cats, such as a blanket or a pile of fur, first, even before they come home. This works well when bringing new babies into housholds with pets.

Also, I'm sure you already know this but,
Please get them all their shots and please make sure they are spayed or neutered.

It is so nice to have two kitties. This is the first time I've ever had two, and they need each others company so much.

Best of Luck!

[Nomilynn]

I just wanted to add that making an outdoor cat into an indoor one isn't all that bad, especially if there is anohter cat in the house to keep him or her company. Tilly was six months old when I got her, and had been a stray so she was very used to being outside. But when I brought her home she didn't mind because she had Bassett to play with! (Nutmeg wasn't here at the time). My mom also had a stray that showed up at a year. He still tries to get out sometimes but he understands what "NO! GET BACK" means so he doesn't try to get out that much at all. In fact, all four of my mom's cats are outdoor cats made indoor! Just make sure there is lots of places to look outside - maybe have a bird feeder out a window to keep the kitty entertained, and lots of furniture and stuff so they have places to exercise. I think two cats are better for indoor because they chase each other around, therefore getting more exercise. I hope all this rambling makes sense.. I just finished a take home exam and I'm a bit fried!!!

[Barbara]

I agree with Jen: You'll know when you meet the right ones. And the'll tell you, too. Read Jen's stories how she met her furkids. All the adjustment problems (dog, outdoors) will solve easier than you suspect.
And I have recently read that pets at home even can lower the blood pressure! (No joke). I think it is because they are so much fun. Never a day without LOL with cats. They are so comical.
So good luck.