20 Reasons A Cat Is The Best Investment You'll Ever Make

[Are_grits_groceries]

<snip>
9. When you belong to a cat, he'll take care of you..


10. ..Always

<snip>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/cat-best-investment_n_3876550.html

sigh.....

[Romulox]

1. Second picture is really touching. Thanks for sharing. :) nt

[dionysus]

2. damn straight!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. There's no better friend than a cat who loves you.

[grasswire]

4. my 92 year old aunt loves cats so much...

...that she won't eat catfish. This is the serious truth.

She had a brown tabby that she had to give up because he was a puker (some cats are) and she was at risk of slipping/falling. Broke her heart.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. unfortunately we had two male cats. Both were neutered but they were constantly spraying.

They ruined carpet in every rental house or apartment we were in. Both are gone now. I do miss them but do not miss the destroyed carpets.

[B Calm]

7. Male cats are nasty! We have a female and she is a lovable

ball of fur.

[Romulox]

9. Absolute bullshit. I have two neutered males for almost 20 years now. They are dolls. nt

[onehandle]

12. Ours too. nt

[Booster]

21. I have 3 & not 1 of them has ever "gone" in the house, nor scratched furniture. Perfect cats.

[lark]

84. Zoey and Basil are so awesome.

We call them Love Cats because they love each other, most people, and our 2 large dogs as well. It's really cute, they are all such good buddies. The male cat has never once sprayed in the house, maybe because we had him spayed early? Cats did scratch the furniture and climb the drapes when they were kittens, but the children strongly encouraged them in this, so I blame them, not the cats. Now that they are all adults, no problems at all.

[B Calm]

22. I guess your male cats are perfect.

[GoCubsGo]

49. Mine was, too.

He was as sweet as both of the females I have had. I miss him badly. The two boys I cat-sit are dolls, as well. My experience is that cats are "nasty" because they are either treated nasty, or were not socialized early enough (e.g., feral cats).

[Atman]

52. Lots of reasons.

We have one male and two females from the same litter of feral cats. We rescued them when they were only 3 weeks old -- they'd show up at our kitchen door every morning and sleep along the threshold for warmth. We "domesticated" them, and the male was wonderful...up until our son came home from college with his own little female kitty. As soon as she got here, one of the females turned into an outdoor cat again, and the male started marking his territory in the house. They were certainly never abused, and they had plenty of early socialization. The male just wants to be the boss. Our son's cat is tiny...three or four years old, still like a kitten. Super playful, hides behind things and jumps out at you, very friendly. And though she's 1/3 the size of the male, she beats him up all the time. It kinda sucks, because he was fine before she showed up.

[bettyellen]

70. this is common when you add a new cat. they are very territorial and need their own

spaces and need you to help enforce their little pecking order. New kitties spark jealousy very frequently. They also need a scheduled playtime to run the energy out of them, or they will expend it fighting each other. The show My Cat from Hell has some amazing tips on getting the wild ones to chill out. The play sessions have completely ended my cats' fights.

[NuclearDem]

11. My Grande just put you on The List

[Shrike47]

13. We have 2 males and they're sweeties. It's a matter of personality. Like humans.

[B Calm]

15. I have one male cat and he's one nasty boy. He'll spray the whole

damn house if I let him inside. He'll be gone for a couple days, then show up hungry, and have battle scars all over him. Right now he has a big gash on his neck from a cat fight.

[Brigid]

16. Is he neutered?

If not, see a vet right away.

[B Calm]

17. YES

[NuclearDem]

25. It's not necessarily a thing exclusive to male cats.

My boy cat is good about using the litterbox while the three female cats tend to spray and poop all over the rest of the house.

It's a territorial behavior. If they feel threatened or sense an intruder to their territory, they'll mark it defensively. That seems to be the case with my cats.

[LibGranny]

83. Maybe you need more than one litterbox. My sister had 3

indoor cats and also had 3 litter boxes - they used one exclusively for #2 and the other two boxes were for #1. The eldest cat trained the others as they came in to the household. Worked well for years. Cats are clean and want their "bathrooms" to be clean as well.

[Arugula Latte]

18. I've had many male kitties over the years and they didn't spray and weren't "nasty."

They were awesome, lovable members of the family.

[B Calm]

20. The adult male cat we have showed up at our door one day hungry. I fed it

and it stayed. It was an adult cat when I had him neutered, and I think he just won't let go of his nasty habits.

[Voice for Peace]

32. I have 3 male cats, all neutered. One is a long-time sprayer

and I think it's because his owner was always away,
so he became the property supervisor inside and
out. Keeping the territory marked is part of his work.
"Brother J"

We moved into a small house on his main property
so BroJ made sure our house smelled the way
it should. When he moved in with me, I already
had two very nice neutered male cats, neither were
sprayers.

After a few months, one of my boys figured out
how to do the spray thing. Now there are two.

I don't know how to stop it. FELIWAY helps a bit
as deterrent. Catching them in the act seems
to help for a while. I'm concerned people will
suspect me of meth manufacture. Sometimes
the whole property smells like cat piss.

[arikara]

44. I have a sprayer too

although not as bad as he used to be. He thinks he has to defend the house from any random cat that passes by a window. For awhile the odor got so bad that I was actually getting depressed then I found this recipe.

1 c hydrogen peroxide
1 tsp baking soda
1 drop of dish soap.

Mix gently and use in a spray bottle. Douse the pissy area good and let it dry. It will probably smell worse until its dry so don't be alarmed. If it still smells then spray it again. I've never had to treat an area more than that, it always works, and it hasn't wrecked anything.

Good luck

[LiberalEsto]

46. Thanks, I'll try that

I am so depressed about this cat situation.

[Voice for Peace]

60. I use an all natural enzyme spray

that completely eliminates the odors.. but doesn't stop the spraying.

Feliway and similar products are good for deterrent.

It's not super cheap but worth it for me.

[arikara]

65. I tried enzyme sprays too

Some just left the smell of perfumed cat piss, others just didn't do the trick. I think the peroxide works by breaking down the protein, maybe the baking soda takes care of the enzyme. At any rate I also use it for many other cleaning jobs such as the bathroom because its so cheap, effective
and nontoxic.

[Voice for Peace]

71. I meant to say thanks earlier for the recipe.. oversight.

I'm always looking for nontoxic ways to clean stuff.

[Voice for Peace]

61. I've been using an enzyme spray for the cleanup.. excellent.

but for two years I have been trying to convince these two
male cats that they are friends and don't need to have
indoor pissing contests. Maybe one day they'll get it.

Kitty # 3 so far oblivious.. fingers crossed.

[truedelphi]

63. If this recipe works, you should go into business. n/t

[WCLinolVir]

26. My male cat is very loving. A big sap.

I call him and he runs like Lassie. He lets us know how important we are to him. I do admit that some of the other cats don't like him.

[City Lights]

30. Males are not nasty!

We have six to dispute your claim!

[leftynyc]

33. I have two (brothers)

both neutered and both beyond fabulous.

[BlueJazz]

67. My Male cat is very nasty. He likes spraying on the girl next door.

[B Calm]

68. Damn, what do you have a LION? LOL

[MissB]

74. My female cat tears heads off of squirrels.

My male cat would rather cuddle than hunt.

[B Calm]

77. That's why I like female cats, they are better hunters. Better mousers too!!

[rl6214]

8. This is one reason I only have female animals

Two German Shepherds and one rescued feral kitty, and they all get along great.

[B Calm]

23. I have always liked female pets better than males. The best hunting dogs

I ever had were females. Female cats are better mousers too!

[trotsky]

31. Seems like males who are neutered later in life retain those bad habits.

We've never had any issues with our male cats, but they all have gotten neutered very young.

[LiberalEsto]

42. We have two 10-year-old neutered female sister cats. One pees all over the place.

She has destroyed the downstairs carpet as well as every small rug and bath mat she can get her ass onto. I've caught her peeing into a box of books. This has been going on for 3 or 4 years, possibly related to our getting a small friendly non-aggressive dog. However the dog and this cat will lick yogurt from a dish together with no conflicts, and sleep touching one another.

Yesterday I discovered that the cat had peed into my good Easy Spirit shoes, which go for $70 or more at department stores and $30 at Ross, and are the only shoes I can walk in anymore now that I'm in my 60s. $30 is stll a LOT of money to me. The pee also soaked into the wood floor under the shoes. I've been soaking the shoes in Advanced Nature's Miracle but they still reek and I have very little hope they can be salvaged.

I've had her thoroughly checked by the vet - blood tests, urine tests, etc. Nothing wrong. Hundreds of $$$ spent.

I didn't ask for these cats - my daughter rescued them from a shelter in 2003, when she was in college in another state, because she felt sorry for them. She then dumped them on me because she's very allergic to cats. (I've owned numerous cats in the past with no problems)

I am so sick of this cat's peeing that I wish I could get rid of her, if I could find anyone who wanted a 10-year-old cat with a bad peeing issue, who would take both her and her sister. I don't think I can face another 5 or more years of this.

[arikara]

45. See my post above for a recipe

good luck.

[curlyred]

75. Our male cat....

Is a found cat. Sixteen years ago he showed up at my mom's house. She couldn't have a cat but he stuck around until my daughter, then ten, showed up at my mom's. That cat took an instant liking to her and we wound up with another cat. Always thought he was a she. Many vet visits later found out otherwise. Had to apologize for that pink collar the poor fellow had to wear all that time.

No nasty habits there. I do think it has something to do with their age when fixed.

[rl6214]

6. I am a dog person but

My rescue feral kitty has bonded with me and holds a special place in my heart.

[RebelOne]

64. I am also a dog person and am not really a cat fancier,

but I probably would have saved a lot of money for an pest exterminator if I had a cat during a rat invasion last year.

[JHB]

10. Are there hypoallergenic varieties?

Otherwise, there's a leeeeetle impediment.

[TuxedoKat]

50. Some are less allergenic than others

I have a Siberian (light-colored female) for that reason. Supposedly light-colored females produce the least amount of the protein in their saliva that causes cat allergies.


http://www.petfinder.com/cats/living-with-your-cat/cats-for-allergy-sufferers/


http://www.pawnation.com/2013/06/05/10-hypoallergenic-cat-breeds/9

[Uncle Joe]

14. That's a heroic white cat risking its' life to save that person's arm from falling off

the window ledge.



Thanks for the thread, grits.

[Arugula Latte]

19. Cats are simply the best things on the planet.

They make life worth living.

[Arugula Latte]

24. Also, it doesn't surprise me that Stephen Colbert loves kitties.

Men who love cats are the best -- (in general) smarter, funnier, kinder, and more secure with themselves than the average bear, err, man.

[mockmonkey]

27. Female cat

My name is Candy

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

I've destroyed two toasters, 5 pillows, one 20 inch LG monitor and a 19 inch Sony HDTV by peeing on them.

Here's what I did to the liner under the box spring.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

How else am I supposed see out?

I intentionally mess with the boy cats so that when they go after me I can scream like a Banshee.

Try to get rid of me and you'll be "Doomed"

"DOOMED"

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

I keep the economy going and I haven't a care in the world.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

I don't have issues, the guy I own has BIG issues.

[liberal_at_heart]

28. I have no doubt once my daughter gets her own place she will have cats again. She loves their

spunky attitude. I like cats but I do think I'm done owning any.

[mockmonkey]

47. I went from 13 cats to 8

My Ex took 5 of them. I have no idea what they are up to. If Candy wasn't so cute I don't know if I could put up with her behavior.

I now have an even boy/girl ratio. The boys are much more social but I do like the girls more.

I went without cats for over 20 years now I swarmed by them

[Prism]

29. Meanwhile, my kitten is auditioning for a slasher film

Demon kitty found a gap in the headboard and enjoys murderous swiping, especially as we sleep.

She also threw my iPhone in the toilet yesterday.

Because she could.

[Le Taz Hot]

79. . . .

This made me laugh.

[xiamiam]

34. my cat, ella fitzgerald, takes care of me and I marvel everyday that she knows my every move

she is about 4 pounds of might and wonder..been with me 15 years and I love her with all my heart. She is smart and purrfect. .and always has been. It is amazing that she loves me so unconditionally and protectively.
thanks for posting.. you touched a soft spot

[JEB]

35. Get them fixed and de-clawed or

keep them inside.

[liberal_at_heart]

37. I took some veterinary assisting classes and after I learned what de-clawing is I vowed I would

never do that to a cat. It's like us chopping off the tip of our fingers. Makes me nauseous just thinking about it.

[Atman]

53. Agreed -- declawing is cruel.

Lots of vets won't even do it.

[JEB]

56. Declawing is cruel but,

so is sitting under the birdfeeder killing native songbirds for sport.

[Atman]

57. A declawed cat should never be outside.

They cannot defend themselves. Their primary defense mechanisms are their claws, both for slashing and scurrying up trees out of harms way.

[JEB]

59. My point is a cat with claws should never be outside.

Cats are natural bird killers and can wreak havoc on local bird populations. Give the vast number of cats .... They do make fine pets, but should be confined indoors for their own protection and the protection of native birds.

[Warpy]

80. Then you want a dead cat.

Most vets won't declaw a cat. There are now alternatives like Soft Paws. However, a cat without its claws is defenseless.

I understand sentimentality over songbirds. I keep my own furry friends indoors. However, sending a small animal outdoors utterly defenseless is cruel beyond belief and something only a monster would want to do to a companion animal.

The best thing you can do for cats is to spay or neuter and keep indoors.

[JEB]

82. "The best thing you can do for cats is to spay or neuter and keep indoors."

That is exactly the point I was trying to make.

[curlyred]

76. Our best mouser has no front claws.

Two cats with full sets, and the old guy with no front claws is the one that catches mice. Go figure.

[ChazInAz]

36. Picture #10

Yeah!
I've always had cats. In my next life, I want to come back as one of my own cats.
Right now, I have two. Natsha Krospina I, Empress Of All The Cats, is an enormous (15 lbs), cobby Munchkin. Under her long black hair, she's built like a bulldog. Solid muscle and a a bulldog's stubborn attitude.
Hastur The Unspeakable is her exact opposite in every way. He's a neutered Savannah cat, who considers every living thing to be his best buddy, and will demonstrate that opinion at every opportunity. This annoys Natasha. Despite being male and part wildcat, Hastur is the happiest and most loving cat I've ever lived with. His amiable presence helped fill the gaping hole in my life when my wife passed away.

[iandhr]

38. I am more of a dog person.

[pansypoo53219]

39. the humane society should keep kittens + baby puppies at nursing homes to get handled.

i was at a nursing home + a nurse had brought in a 8 week or so kitten. needed to know the sex, i guess i am good at that. my cosmo had a GIRL collar at the pound. REALLY???? but i would carry it to perked up residents. when my grandma held my mom's new kitten when she had parkison's. THERAPY!

[joeybee12]

41. They should...you hear of adoption agencies looking for volunteers to help socialize

kittens...they should just bring them over to nursing homes for a few days...all the kittens really need is some touching and hands, and they'll get it that way quick enough.

[joeybee12]

40. Only 20?

Cats are wonderful....

[dballance]

43. Awesome! Thanks for posting.

I don't think I can express how happy it makes me when one of my cats caresses my face with their paws. It's such a show of love!

[benld74]

48. Yup-yup!

[tabbycat31]

51. I miss being owned by a cat

I was owned by one from 1989-2011 when Tabby passed away and I haven't had a cat since.

I have a serious case of kitten fever right now and am seriously contemplating one, but I have to settle in my new city first.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

54. I have two babies and they are the best thing that has ever happened to me...

They light up my life.

[MotherPetrie]

55. K&R Kitties are the best!

[SheilaT]

58. Cats sit on your lap and purr.

Nothing a dog does is as sweet.

I've told my sons that if I get to the point where I need to be in a nursing home, make sure I'm in one that has resident cats.

[shenmue]

62. Sweet!

I like all animals, but kittehs are really neat.

[Hutzpa]

66. Dude, I can't help but giggle everytime I see

your sig line.

[Heywood J]

69. Yes, but after a while,

they would end up eating better than I do...

[samplegirl]

72. I rarely miss a chance to post in a Kitty thread

Meet the King of my castle.......Silas....a.k.a. Sugarbear!
The more I know people the more I love my cat that's for sure!!!! He's a mellow lap loving bundle of love. 13 years old.
Love him 24/7

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[Liberal_in_LA]

73. awwww so cute

[Prophet 451]

78. My therapist has whiskers

Our two have done more for my mental state than all the meds I take.

[grahamhgreen]

81. LOL “I have lived with several Zen masters -- all of them cats.” - Eckhart Tolle