Vanity - Question about cats

[goodnesswins]

Your cat sounds like ours...he was dropped into our yard by his feral mom at about 6-7 weeks....bonded with my husband....runs to the door to greet him when he comes home from work, or even from being gone for awhile...(even when he’s had food)...they wrestle like brothers, and nap together....he’s the best cat we’ve ever had. (Although, he can get mean with me because I do NOT fight with him...he shredded my arm once, early on.) And, he’s still got his blanky that he drags around when we leave him alone. (3 years now).

[ConorMacNessa]

A pair of rescues:



Rorschach, a Calico, showed up on our doorstep one winter morning in the 90's. We found Paris on the Westie rescue site. Paris was a puppy who was either turned out or lost and was out in the wild for a year or so. The picture was taken in 2002, shortly before Rorschach's death. Paris stayed with us for six more years before his passage. They both gave us much joy during the time they were with us.

We now have three rescue cats and one Silky Terrier that we purchased from a breeder. We are very much in favor of rescues, but here in the People's Republic, it is almost as expensive to rescue a cat or dog as to buy one outright.



EAGLES UP! Sunday 13 October 2013 at 0900 – WWII Memorial on the National Mall!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Nepeta]

As a cat novice, I strongly urge you to get a pair of short-hair rescue cats, preferably litter mates who have been neutered and socialized to like people.

Since you are a cat novice, although long haired cats are wonderful, you may not be enchanted with the accumulating hair. I loved my Maine Coon kittehs, but their hair was amazing.

Cats have a few weeks during kittenhood when they MUST learn to like and trust humans. If this fails to happen, they'll never be as closely bonded as you might like. Since you have never raised kittens, I urge you to acquire kittehs that are old enough to have been thoroughly socialized. They will still bounce and play and be more entertaining than most tv.

Why not a particular breed? Most breeds (with the exception of Maine Coons and some others) have a narrow genetic base and may have health problems as a result. Ordinary kittehs of no pedigree, unless they come from an inbred colony of cats, will almost always be very healthy.

Be prepared to cat-proof your living space. Many indoor plants are toxic to cats. String, yarn, etc., may be swallowed and twisted around in the gut, requiring surgery for removal. Get household chemicals out of reach. Do not give kittehs even small doses of human medications--Tylenol is toxic to them, for example.

Cats are obligate carnivores. Feed kittehs a meat based diet, NOT a grain based one as most dry foods are. Cats do not handle carbohydrates the way dogs can, and tend to develop diabetes. Diabetes is not a death sentence for cats; I kept one alive for years with insulin injections and proper diet, but best to try to avoid the problem completely. www.felinediabetes.com

De-flea any cat you acquire before bringing it inside. I suspect flea eggs are immortal, and their hatchings are difficult to eliminate.

Consider strongly keeping your cats indoors ALL THE TIME. They will live longer, be healthier, and they will not die a horrifying, painful death by a wild animal or under a car. Make your living space a playground, and they will reward you with years of entertainment and devotion. Mine "help" me with most things that I do.

[pluvmantelo]

A Snowshoe cat showed up in the backyard one day. Wife and I took her in. Best kitteh evah!

[GILTN1stborn]

Yup, Maine coon. LOW MAINTENANCE, smart, loyal, very quiet.

[puppypusher]

I would reccomend getting a cat from an animal rescue group.Because their are so many,they tend to euthanise them more often.

Cats are very independent but they don’t need a lot of care just a good home and someome to care for their minor needs.

[faithhopecharity]

Consider if you can get two kittens and raise them together do they have company when you’re not available And they’re loads of fun to watch playing together !

[jmacusa]

‘’ Main Coon’’ Beautiful cats but that lush fur can be a magnet for a matted coat.

[Mastador1]

Cats aren’t as smart as people think.

They eat,they poop,they sleep.

Maybe they are smarter than you think. They get us to feed them, clean up their poop and give them a place to sleep.

[xrmusn]

Worse yet, they are tough. Pressure cook those things!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Eventually EVERYTHING tastes like chicken....

I can not honestly say that I have never eaten Cat, Dog, Rat, Horse, Mouse etc etc...

When you buy ‘Mystery Meat(?)’ on a Stick’ on the streets of Olangapo or Bangkok etc, the seller probably has no idea what is on that ‘stick’....

But, using the old, ‘With enough hot sauce, a Pile of Horse Apples, could be eaten in a pinch’...the BBQ’d wonders of the street corners were always ‘good’.

Now, I will admit ALCOHOL was more than likely involved. (well most of the time).

[xrmusn]

Worse yet, they are tough. Pressure cook those things!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Eventually EVERYTHING tastes like chicken....

I can not honestly say that I have never eaten Cat, Dog, Rat, Horse, Mouse etc etc...

When you buy ‘Mystery Meat(?)’ on a Stick’ on the streets of Olangapo or Bangkok etc, the seller probably has no idea what is on that ‘stick’....

But, using the old, ‘With enough hot sauce, a Pile of Horse Apples, could be eaten in a pinch’...the BBQ’d wonders of the street corners were always ‘good’.

Now, I will admit ALCOHOL was more than likely involved. (well most of the time).

[JRandomFreeper]

Catz are cool. Here is one of mine, getting ready to nap in a coffin.

/johnny

[KittenClaws]

My best advise is do not go for the expectations of breed.

I once went to the “pound” and while looking at a cute Persian kitty, the ugly grey cat in the next cage yowled demanding attention.

He really was ugly, this skinny, dull coated, older kitten.

When I got him home, I found he had a broken leg, cost me money I didn't have.

18 years later, I lost him. Best companion, best cat, I ever had. BTW, turned out he was a Russian Blue.

[Shimmer1]

Perdogg, I certainly don’t think liking and/or wanting a cat casts any aspersions on your character. !!!! :)

[djf]

Mixed breeds are much better genetic-wise.

In dogs, Dalmatians tend to have hearing problems. Large Golden Retrievers tend to have lower back and hip problems.
Other breeds have a high likelihood of certain blood-borne diseases.

A mixed breed would probably be healthier, live longer, cost less in vet bills, and in general not be as high-maintenance as a purebred.

[Maurice Tift]

  I have a porch with pet screening and keep a cat tree house there. I recommend the pet screening because it lets you keep your cat (or cats) safe and they can still go out and get some fresh air and lounge around in the sunlight.
Booger the cat on the porch

note to self: pick up pet hair roller at grocery store

[Zeneta]

I’ve grown up with both cats and dogs.

Pets, yes.

I’ve had indoor cats that literally acted like dogs. Demanding attention and generally being very loving, but complete slobs.

I’ve had outdoor cats that tend to be extremely independent and take pride in showing off their latest catch.

Dogs, on the other hand tend to be much more consistent in their desire to please.

There is a difference.

[jmacusa]

When you take in a dog and feed it and care for it thinks, “Wow! “You do all this for me? “You must be a god. You do the same for a cat and it thinks, You do all this for me?’ “I must be a god’’.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

The first cat I ever remember my family owning was a Siamese. I stumbled across a couple pictures of her recently while combing through my parents’ photo collection (my wife and I are putting together a slide show for Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary party). She was a pretty kitty. As I recall, she ran away after we left her with some friends while we were on vacation.

My tortoiseshell kitty, the one who used to live in our yard but now lives in the house with us, has had a few litters I know of, and all of them had at least one kitten with a colorpoint coat. Between that and the fact that she’s talkative and has a similar build, I can’t help wondering if she’s got a little Siamese in her...

[madison10]

Ragamuffin. Newer breed, long hair, but as friendly, loyal and human-tuned as a dog. They are so congenial and trusting that they really should not be let outdoors.

My sister has one and he is a sweet character.