looking at getting my first cat, looking for advice from DU's resident cat experts

[charlie and algernon]

So you know I babysat (catsat?) a cat for ten days and had to give her back to her owner last tuesday. When I first moved into this apartment, or rather basement of a three story house, the family of the house said no pets, which I agreed. That was 8 months ago. Well I told them about the cat I was baby sitting in Baltimore and they loved it. So I half-jokingly said I'd love to get a cat here and they were surprisingly all excited about it. They have a small Chihuahua which they said loves cats. But they also have a fence screen which I could use to keep the cat in the basement/apartment. they even have a litterbox I can use.

So, being this would be the first cat I'd own, I need all DU's cat knowledge. A shelter has a permenant section at the local petsmart that I may check out for cats.
Any good shelters around the Cheasapeake area of Maryland?

I know I'll need to get a scratching post, but do i need to do anything with wires? will cats chew the wires for the TV, computer, etc?
Should I make sure I get the cat on a saturday morning to make sure I have an entire weekend to bond with it or will it just get used to the surroundings when it's good and ready? Any good books I should read?

Thanks!

[LeftyMom]

1. Some cats will chew wires, but most don't.

They're not like rabbits where wire chewing is the normal expectation. Other than keeping fragile objects away from ledges and not leaving food out, you shouldn't really need to do much catproofing.

[Jamastiene]

2. The secret to truly bonding with cats is this:

Be kind to them, but do not pay a huge amount of attention to them at first. Talk to them a little and let them watch you set up their digs from wherever they are.

Let them initiate the bonding/getting close at first. In other words, let them approach you. Once they do interact with you, be nice to them. That's it.

Feed them, love them, pet them when they want to be petted and remember, once you bring them home, you are living with them... not the other way around. As long as you remember that they are in charge from that point on, you'll do just fine. :P

[fizzgig]

3. i think getting the cat on saturday is a good idea

but it will take a bit of time for it to adjust to it's new surroundings and might hide out for a bit. give it a bit of space and be quiet and gentle with it while it's adjusting. also, set up the cat box and food/water before you bring it home and show them to it when you return.

i would also suggest getting a few catnip toys for it and maybe one of those string-type toys with a feather or something at the end. playing with the cat should help with the bonding.

good luck

[charlie and algernon]

5. thanks

not about to get a cat this weekend as i only JUST found out I could get one, so it may be a couple weeks till I have the time and ability to get a cat. I also want to wait to make sure it's more than an impulse and everything is thought of.

[fizzgig]

10. waiting is a good idea

also, if the cat is going to be indoor-only, get a pair of nail clippers, they make some specifically for cats. the scratching post is a good idea, but the nails will still need to be clipped.

[charlie and algernon]

11. definitely going to be indoors only

Lots of houses nearby, but also a creek and lots of trees. definitely would get a scratching post, my parents had a cat when I was 5 and didn't get a scratching post and it scratched a hole in the bathroom wall.

[Withywindle]

4. Congratulations!

Kittens are cute but you're probably better off adopting an adult cat who's already litterbox trained and should be calmer and less delicate. You'd also be doing a good deed because the cute kittens usually get adopted first.

Some cats will chew wires, some won't. If the cat does things s/he shouldn't, a good way to discourage them (annoying to them but won't hurt them) is to spritz them with water - use a squirt gun or plant mister.

Some cats will chew plants. The shelter will probably give you a list of house plants that are poisonous to cats (ask if they don't)--if you have any of these you should get rid of them.

Getting the cat on a Saturday morning sounds like a good idea. The cat will also want to explore the new surroundings independently. Some cats take longer than others to feel confident enough to stop hiding, it's just a matter of personality. (Based on the way she acted at the shelter, I thought my Madimi would be a real scaredy-cat at first, but as soon as she realized she was in a real home and not a shelter cage she was all up in everything purring madly in about 10 minutes). Just make sure the cat knows where its litterbox, food and water dishes, bed, toys, etcetera are, the rest should take care of itself.

When you adopt at a shelter, they usually give you a session of advice and counseling and recommendations.

[fizzgig]

6. i forgot about the spray bottle

i've gotten plenty of use out of mine

[charlie and algernon]

9. good advice

I work monday-friday and counting drive time, will be out of the house from 8:30am-6pm. So i'm thinking giving it a whole two days of company before it gets days by itself would be good.

[TZ]

7. All good advice here.

I took in two feral kittens and they spent a great deal of time hiding at first. Which I let them do..I would coax them out to play with a toy for awhile and then let them hide till they felt comfortable...It worked well..my shy feral kitties, although still wary of strangers are very affectionate with me.

[charlie and algernon]

12. the cat I baby sat was VERY shy at first

she wouldn't come out from hiding for a couple days. But I would talk to her and she saw me bring her food so she eventually warmed up to me. By the end of the stint, she would come around looking for attention and play time.

[dembotoz]

8. pay attention to how they interact with you

if they are friendly now, perhaps they will be friendly later.

if they bite you--not a good sign.

[Haole Girl]

13. Some advice

Don't limit yourself to only small kittens. There are plenty of cats, already litter box trained and spayed/neutered who are a little older, too, waiting to be great companions.

To ensure your cat lives a healthy life:

1. Always keep their shots current

2. Don't feed them table scraps

3. Don't feed your kitten/cat milk (it's a myth that milk is good for cats)

4. Give them lots of love and attention.

Enjoy! If you have more specific questions, you know you can always ask people here in the Lounge.

Some links for you, too:

http://www.catkb.com

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums

http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=30

[charlie and algernon]

15. my time at work may keep me from a small kitten

I would be away from at least 8:30-6, so it might be better if got an already trained independent cat.

[Haole Girl]

16. Sounds like a plan

Oh, and please remember to post pics when you bring your furry friend home! :hi:

[charlie and algernon]

17. haha, of course!

I'm looking at the weekend of the 20th as a possible date to get a cat, or the next weekend I have completely open.

[hippywife]

14. Skip the scratching post.

This is much better:

http://shopping.canoe.ca/shop/product--catId_1001589__locale_en__productId_3296612.html

It comes with a little bag of catnip, too. Even tho they're only cardboard, they last for years, and they are totally disposable and biodegradable. Our cats love, love, love them. I gave one to a friend and so do her cats.

If it is a kitten, I'm going to contradict advice above and tell you to hold and cuddle it. Make it feel secure. I recently adopted two free kitties and did that and they now love to cuddle up in my lap or with me at night when I go to bed.

Enjoy! Kitties are the bestest. :hi:

[charlie and algernon]

18. i saw that at a pet store

if they work, I may get it.

[hippywife]

20. They do.

Our older cat immediately stopped scratching elsewhere after we put this down with a little catnip in it. It works best, I think, placed in a corner so it can't scoot around too much.

[Sanity Claws]

19. Great suggestions!

I just wanted to add a couple of things.
My cats love their scatching posts. They have sisal rope around the part that they scratch and carpeting on top for them to lie on. It's like their own furniture -- no one else is going to sit on it and take it away from them.
Sisal rope scratching post is better than fully carpeted because you don't want them to think it's okay to scratch on the rugs or carpets in the house.

As for when to pick up the kitty, some shelters require that the animal be neutered/spayed before it goes home. So if you select an intact kitty on Saturday, you may not be able to bring up home until Tuesday or Wednesday. Of course, if the cat is already neutered or spayed, you would be able to bring it home that same day. Yeah!! Just remember to have everything ready at home, in case you do that.

Congratulations, to our new mom- or pop-to-be.

[charlie and algernon]

22. i checked the adoption center at Petsmart

they automatically spay, nueter, and give the first round of shots to all their cats. All i would need to do would be to fill out a few forms, pay the fee and the cat is mine. I'm of course going to look at other places, but the Petsmart seems most convient, and the kittens seemed pretty healthy and energetic.

[montanto]

21. more advice

1. Get two cats!!

2. Get boy cats. I've had many cats and been around many more. In my experience girl cats are crankier. Get them neutered for sure, because male cats may spray. Neutered they will be the sweetest cats ever (except when they try to kill each other at 5:00a.m.)

3. Keep their claws clipped, but be careful. The part of their claw closest to the toe, about 1/3 of the length of the claw, has blood vessels and nerves in it. If you clip this you will hurt the cat (and he may hurt you in return).

4. Another poster said keep contact to a minimum. I have always had success this way: when you get home track the cat down, sit in a comfy chair and put the cat on your chest. Pet him for ten minutes or so. He gets the attention plus the feel of your heart, plus the scent of you. Cats have great senses but most people don't take the time to understand them. My cats can hear a stranger approaching my house from 100 feet away. They know the people they like by smell and the sound of their footsteps.

5. Feed them good food. If you can afford to have a cat at all you can afford Science Diet, Iams, or one of the other high quality foods.

6. Different cats like different things to scratch. You may have to experiment. I have one cat that wants a carpeted scratcher, and the other likes the rope scratcher. They both claw the trees around the yard.

7. I've never seen a cat chew wires.

8. Bonding takes more than a weekend. Don't be disappointed if the cat doesn't sleep on your head by the third night.

9. Cats are just small people in fur coats. You have to treat them that way. You have to earn their trust before they will be your constant companion.

[Critters2]

23. Most cats won't chew. But if it should, go to a pet supply place and get Bitter Apple.

You rub or spray it where they chew. It tastes bad, and will stop the chewing.

I think getting it on a weekend is a good idea. Also leave lots of toys, and make sure it can look out a window or two. They LOVE to look out windows. You might consider getting a window perch like these:

[hippywife]

24. I second the suggestion

to get two cats if the landlord would allow it. They keep each other company and are so much fun to watch play together.



And girls are not cranky. These two are wonderfully loving. Boy cats can sometimes have a tendency to spray, even after their fixed. Not something you want to deal with, nor would your landlord appreciate it.

[charlie and algernon]

25. don't know if i can afford two cats

still need to figure out if I can even afford one. The landlord does have a chihuhua, I'd have to see if they get along first of course, but it wouldn't be alone.

[applegrove]

26. If you get a kitten let it sleep in your arms. That is a great way to bond with a kitten.

And don't let it use your hands as a toy. Only toys are toys okay!