To cat, or not to cat, that is the question...

[tangentgirl]

I'm not the world's biggest animal person. I like other people's cats for the most part (and sometimes their dogs, if they don't bite), I'm just a little hesitant to have something I have to take care of.

However, lately, I've been thinking about getting a cat. My bf, who I live with, travels for work quite a bit, and, to be honest, it gets pretty quiet around the house. I also work from home, so ditto. It might be nice to have a cat around.

Since there seem to be a lot of cat lovers here on TE, I thought I'd ask you a few questions.

1. Where do you keep the litter box? This is my biggest concern: I don't want my house to smell yucky.
1a. Does anyone use a fancy self-cleaning litter box? Do those things really work? I'm willing to invest.

2. Inside cat or outside cat? Inside cat probably gets to live longer, outside cat probably has more fun; I'm interested in opinions.

3. I'm noticing a lot of people feed their cats canned food. Is it actually better for the cats than dry food? I don't particularly like the smell of canned food (notice a theme?), but if dry food is really bad for the cat...

4. How do you pick a nice cat? I'd prefer a cat that purrs and snuggles to a cat that hisses and bites, please.

5. Is there a trick to keep the cats from destroying furniture? I would never declaw a cat, that's just cruel. (Even I know that, and I'm a pet moron.) Can you get their nails filed or something? Or will one of those cat playgrounds solve the problem?

Thanks in advance.

[pll]

#1 and furry critter smell prevents me from getting a cat. Anytime I visit someone with a pet, I can smell the pet in the house. I love cats and dogs, just not in my house!

[KnottedYet]

The cat is going to do everything you don't want it to do.

It will puke on your bed, pee on the carpet, shred your couch, climb the blinds, fling kitty litter everywhere, yowl when you're trying to sleep, get hair on everything, smell, scratch you, eat rubber bands and choke and hack for hours.

Be ready.

Get the cat you fall in love with, and you won't mind all that.

[Trek420]

4. No, no no, you're got it all wrong. The cat picks you. Go to your local shelter and let your future cat pick a nice human.

5. Yes, cat gyms, climbing walls etc really help.

[Possegal]

4. How do you pick a nice cat? I'd prefer a cat that purrs and snuggles to a cat that hisses and bites, please.

While in many ways, I think this is a bit of a crapshoot I would suggest adopting a cat that has been fostered. I've been very lucky as I had 2 cats that were huge snugglers/purrers and both came to me without any knowledge of what they were like.

In December I finally adopted 2 more (the others had died in 2006 and 2009) and I admit one reason I waited so long was a fear of not having cats as lovely and friendly and fun as the two I had. But I think by taking in two that were being fostered, at least then I had some idea of their personalities. The woman that was fostering them said they were lovely cats who sat on your lap and loved to be held and that they were great pets. Only one really purrs. The other doesn't even meow actually, she chirps more than anything. But they are exactly as I was told they would be - fun and friendly and cuddly.

Oh, and I would never say an outdoor cat has more fun. My cats have a BLAST and they do so without fear of being hit by a car, or attacked by another animal, or poisoned by neighbors who don't like cats. These two have never been outside at all. The other two spent a lot of time on my deck. These two will eventually as well but I'm not quite ready to try that with them. They have too much energy and although I have no hard proof of it, I'm pretty sure they can fly!

[indysteel]

I'll answer a few of your questions. We keep our boxes in the basement. We scoop at least once a day and clean and disinfect regularly. One of the things that keeps down the smell is good hydration so that their urine is less concentrated. And that's where canned food comes into play. Cats do not get enough moisture from dry food and often do not drink enough water to make up for that. Canned food is better on that regard. You can do even better byaking sure that the canned food is high in protein rather than carbs. Many cat foods, even those that are considered premium, are too heavy on the carbs. as for smell; you feed it to them and walk away. I don't leave it put for extended periods, so it's not an issue. Keep in mind that a cat's appetite is stimulated by smell.

I second the idea of a foster. You might be better off with an adult cat. I like my cats indoors. There are lots of ways to encourage play and to make their environment stimulating. They sleep a lot regardless.

[Owlie]

If you live with your BF, how does he feel about a cat?

[VeganBikeChick]

1. Where do you keep the litter box? This is my biggest concern: I don't want my house to smell yucky. Keep mine in the bathroom as I live in a studio...I put baking soda in the bottom before I add the litter and honestly, no one has noticed the smell. I also scoop it at least 3x/day.
1a. Does anyone use a fancy self-cleaning litter box? Do those things really work? I'm willing to invest. I've heard they can be a pain if poop gets stuck to the rake, making them not work as well.

2. Inside cat or outside cat? Inside cat probably gets to live longer, outside cat probably has more fun; I'm interested in opinions. Definitely inside, if you want your cat to have a long lifespan. They love all kinds of kitty toys, I've especially found the "fishing pole" toy with a dangling feather/stuffed toy really fun for them. Oh, and laser pointers!

3. I'm noticing a lot of people feed their cats canned food. Is it actually better for the cats than dry food? I don't particularly like the smell of canned food (notice a theme?), but if dry food is really bad for the cat...
It's definitely best to incorporate wet food into their diets. Dry only can lead to bladder stones, which can be VERY pricey to treat (ask me how I know!)

4. How do you pick a nice cat? I'd prefer a cat that purrs and snuggles to a cat that hisses and bites, please. Please consider a rescue cat! Mine were from a family that had a toddler who would chase after them all the time, so they're very laid back and not bothered by anything

5. Is there a trick to keep the cats from destroying furniture? I would never declaw a cat, that's just cruel. (Even I know that, and I'm a pet moron.) Can you get their nails filed or something? Or will one of those cat playgrounds solve the problem? Keep its nails trimmed with a nail scissors for cats, a couple times a month. The more you do it, the easier it is. And definitely a scratching post for scratching on. They also sell "softclaws" which are covers you can put over the cat's nails.

Good Luck in your decision!

[smilingcat]

Hi tangentgirl,

Cats will throw up on occasion on places that you don't want. It's not on a tile floor, not on an old rug you are ready to throw away. Most will scratch furniture. Some don't surprisingly.

Owning a cat has good sides too. They keep you entertained, they keep themselves entertained and they love you.

The best place to adopt a cat is from a rescue group/foster. Ask questions to the foster and they can help you narrow down the choices. If you want a lap cat, tell them that you want a cat that likes to sleep in your lap.

In Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach area, check with P.A.C.T group. They show their cat at Petco on PCH on Saturday and occasionally on Sunday . Another group is PurrfectPartners. They show their cats on Saturday and Sunday at Centinella Feed and Pet store also on PCH and Beryl St.

If you decide to adopt a cat from Purrfect Partners, send me an e-mail and tell me who the foster is. And I can tell you more. Like any service, some are better than others. Purrfect Partner was the group I helped and fostered maybe 30 bottle fed kittens or more.

I've adopted an "adult" cat from PACT and he has turned out to be a great laid back cat. He is the alpha. Doesn't scratch furniture, rarely do I find him on the counter top. Pretty clean with his litter box (doesn't kick s*&t out of the box). Likes lot of soft scratches and loves to sleep in my lap. He has been with me for 11 years now. I also know Peggy the founder of the group. They are really good too.

Both group will require a home check. And they prefer that your cat be indoor only. Outdoor is really too dangerous for the cat. Cat will not mind being indoor only. Keep a cat nip toy around, a scratching post and maybe a climbing tree with a platform at the top so he has a perch to look down.

[Eden]

My cats are indoors only - I love them too much to risk them outside.... too many kitties disappear around here - traffic, raccoons, coyote, nasty neighbors... I don't necessarily think that being outdoors is all "fun" for them either... it's stressful, they have to worry about other animals and patrolling their territory, they fight ... Give them toys and sunny warm places to sleep and indoor cats are very happy - especially if they have the companionship of another cat.

I also have the litter boxes (two cats- multiple boxes) in the basement. If you are right next to them and they need scooping you can smell them, but they don't stink up the house. I use wheat litter.

My cats are on a canned only diet. I feed them small amounts 3 times a day. Food doesn't last long enough to stink...

How to pick one- they show their personalities pretty readily - even at the shelter. Some come in scared and can be worked with, but the cranky, hissy, growling are unlikely to turn into sweet lap cats in your home, nor are the ones who are super sweet in the shelter likely to change too much either.

and yes Knot is right - any pet will at times be bad, smell bad, puke or pee on something, wake you at 3am and be a general pain, but if you love them it doesn't matter. If you can't imagine ever being able to get over that don't get a pet.

[jessmarimba]

You're getting good answers for everything, but I just wanted to chime in as far as canned cat food goes.

You're probably thinking of the cheaper stuff that looks like vomit and smells about as good. There's canned cat food now - and not much more expensive - that looks like what you'd pour out of a people can of stew/soup. It doesn't smell like anything but whatever food it is - chicken, beef, whatever. The extra cost is worth it for ingredients I can visually identify and for food that doesn't make me want to be sick.

Also for your last question - I think they make rubber tips you can put on cats claws, but as long as they have scratching posts they generally leave furniture alone. If they don't, a squirt bottle can work wonders. Mine love those little cardboard scratchers and they both learned pretty quickly not to scratch the couch.

[Owlie]

Also for your last question - I think they make rubber tips you can put on cats claws, but as long as they have scratching posts they generally leave furniture alone. If they don't, a squirt bottle can work wonders. Mine love those little cardboard scratchers and they both learned pretty quickly not to scratch the couch.

I don't know. DBF's cat, despite being supplied with scratching posts aplenty (and a squirt bottle), much preferred the afghan that was a gift from a family friend. Once he destroyed it, he went back to the scratching post...
Strange creature.

[tangentgirl]

Thanks for all the good answers. It's definitely a big decision, and this is helpful.

I'm definitely open to a foster.

I forgot they also throw up on stuff.

A basement sounds like perfect place for the kitty box! Alas, they don't make houses with basements in these parts.

Didn't think about the idea that they might be scared outside, that it might be more stressful than fun for them. Selfishly, I figured a cat smell might keep the evil skunks away.

Also the points about the canned food having better hydration are good. Bladder stones sound expensive and sad.

The bf is somewhat open to a cat and has the same concerns I do. He has to be on board for it to happen.

Rubber tips for claws? That sounds kinda hilarious. And good too.

Smilingcat, thanks for the info, I'll hit you up if we talk to the Purrfect Partners folks. I see their cat adoptions at that Centinela Feed store all the time, it's part of what put the idea in my head. I might have to change grocery stores.

[malkin]

I nip the sharp tips off the kitty's claws with a normal nail clipper.

Our new (since about May) kitty has learned to come when we call his name so he can be outside when we are. We supervise him only slightly less than we would a toddler human.

He's a long haired beastie, so managing his grooming is new for us.
Brush, comb, shave the backside... let me know if there's anything else.

So far with this guy, we're fans of the pine pelleted litter and covered boxes. We have one box upstairs in the bathroom and one downstairs in the mud room.

Previously we had one of the "self cleaning" ones. The self cleaning part kept the kitty happy and the stuff was out of is space, but the smell remains and you have to empty the container frequently.

[KnottedYet]

Selfishly, I figured a cat smell might keep the evil skunks away.

Skunks and raccoons eat cats.