I want a cat but have some ?'s

[ILoveKittens]

Hi everyone. I have been going to the animal shelter and looking and petting and just playing with the cats there any chance I get. I really want to adopt a cat but before I just jump into it I am just trying to figure out some things so any help with the questions below would be great.

1. Is it healthy for a cat to stay completely inside? I live in the country with foxes and raccoons and all kinds of other animals that could hurt a cat so if I get one it has to stay totally inside.

2. Do you guys recommend only adopting young kittens? Everytime I go to the shelter I am drawn to the older cats. But my friend told me that I should not adopt a older cat because it has already learned bad habits. But I just really love older cats for some reason!

3. I have read that a wet/dry food mix is best, which of each are best for a kitten and which are best for an older cat?

4. The cat/kitten I get will already have its shots and be spay/neutered before I leave the shelter with it but I read about pet insurance. Is this something that is really helpful? I know that cats need regular shots and rabies shots but I am just worried about emergencies. If you think pet insurance is important which company do you recommend?

5. Are cats good companions? I am home almost everyday all day and am looking for a companion animal.

6. Will a cat/kitten be ok living as a single animal or do cats need other cats?

7. Please don't think I am stupid but is it true once you show a cat its litter box it always goes in it? A few people have told me this and I find it kind of hard to believe.

8. Lastly do you think that a cat would be ok with a large staircase? I have a large staircase in my house and my bedroom-bathroom-office is upstairs would a cat be ok with a large flight of stairs?


I am sorry for all the questions. I am just trying to find out if a cat is right for me. I really want a cat but I don't want to make a choice that won't be good for a cat. So I am learning everything first and then hopefully getting a cat. Anything I didn't ask but you think would be important I would also love to know!

[silverbook]

1. It is safer for a cat to be indoor only. There are several dangers such as the ones you listed, as well as others such as disease. You also have the option of harness training a cat, so that you can walk them outside. Some cats adapt to a harness better than others. This way the cat is indoor except for supervised outdoor time.

2. Your friend is wrong. When you adopt a pet you should be seeking one that has the personality you are looking for. If you are drawn to the adult cats, then that is the way to go.

3. Wet food is healthier than dry, this goes for both kittens and adult cats. However many people mix the two for various reasons, such has preventing the cat from eating too fast.

4. Pet insurance may be helpful depending on your money situation. Although it is not a topic I know much about. Look for some info on various plans.

5. Yes, although all cats are different. Some cats are more interested in playing and cuddling and others are aloof. This is where adopting an adult cat may be better since their personalities are developed.

6. Cats can be an only pet. In that event interacting with them a lot is very important. However if you have the financial means for two, then that is better.

7. Litter training depends on the cat. If a cat is old enough then putting them in the litter and digging their paws into it, often works. Some cats need more training.

8. Stairs should be fine. My cat has never had a problem with stairs.

[Punkygirl0101]

1.it is reccomended for a cat to stay completely indoors. Yes, it is much healthier, and safer to keep a cat indoors at all time.

2.your freind is completely wrong. Adopt whatever cat you fall in love with, older cats deserve a chance at a new life just as much as kittens. SO i would say, go for the older cat.

3. it is best to feed both. Dry food is good for their teeth, so a mixture of both. That goes for kittens and cats. But make sure you get a kitten food for kittens.

4.I don't have pet insurance and don't know much about it.

5.Cats are great companions.

6.Cats can live alone, though it would be best to adopt two..I have experience with multiple cats...I have 25..and cats that have other cat companions do better.

7.That is absolutely true.. once a cat learns to use the litter box, thats what they use. The only time a cat does not use it once it learns, is if it has a urinary tract infection, etc.. when they are sick. Try not to move to litter box from where it is...

8.cats love stairs and climbing..so yes, the cat would be okay.

Never de-claw a cat.. and do you have other pets?

[wolfcat]

o.k. uummm
1. actually its best if your cat does stay indoors. Predators will hunt cats. they can also be injured in territorial disputes. or they can get lost.

2. get a cat you like & who likes you. Age doesnt really matter. there are alot of adult cats that are really good cats with no bad habits & they are passed over cuz people only want cute little kittys.

3. I always fed wet/dry & so does almost everyone I know.

4. There are pros & cons. (there is also a discussion page here at pethub) I dont have it personally.

5. cats are good companions if you get a socialized & friendly one. they will play with you sit on your lap, sleep with you, etc...

6. They dont need other cats but its always nice to have a buddy. of course there are some cats that do not like other cats & drive any other animals away.

7. you can lead a cat to the box but you cant make him use it! They dont always use it even tho they know where it is. If it is not clean, or smells funny, or they learned to only go outside, or whatever ...some cats dont take to them. most cats however use their box with no problems.

8. unless it is an older cat, arthritic, or injured your cat should have no trouble with stairs.

Cats can live well over 15 years with proper care so make sure your ready for a commitment.
Have fun finding the right friend

[ILoveKittens]

Wow! Thankyou all for the great info. I know you all are probably thinking this girl is totally stupid! Lol I never really thought about training a cat to walk on a harness! I also didn't know a cat could live for 15+ years. I only have 2 goldfish Ricky and Lucy! Lol. I thought about all the people I saw in the shelter not even *look* at the older cats and I was thinking oh my lord. There is one older cat at the shelter I am VERY partial to and I want to take him home everytime I am there. Sometimes I go just to see him! He is HUGE and everytime I am there he will lay and "pretend" to be asleep. I will try to pet him and pick him up and he still acts like he is asleep! But as soon as I walk away from him and start to pet the other kitties here he comes! Lol Thankyou guys for all your help but I do have one more question:

Do cats need special vitamins or anything like that and can you recommend some brands of food that are the best? I am financially stable so I can definitely afford to care properly for a cat and I really want to go pick up my favorite kitty at the shelter tomorrow but I must resist! Honesltly I would love to go get him tomorrow but my houses kitchen is being remodeled so I know this isn't the best time to get him.

Thankyou all for putting up with all my questions and trying to help me make this descion. I am definitely considering it!

I think I am going to start with one kitty if I get one then maybe get another one later.

[ILoveKittens]

Wow Punkygirl! 25 cats? You must be a GREAT person to care for all those cats! You have 25 and I am majorly stressing over getting 1! Lol. I guess I can come to you whenever I need help :D

[Punkygirl0101]

The best food to feed would be Wellness i believe. If you feel you are ready to take on a cat, I would adopt him soon..before someone else does!!! You can keep him in a room until your kitchen is done.

[ILoveKittens]

Is that Wellness what you feed? I have never heard of that. Do you think he would be ok for just a short period of time (like 2 weeks) with just staying up stairs?

[Spudnik]

Just to clarify, kibble (dry food) doesn't help to clean teeth. A good quality wet food is best for your cat :)

[Punkygirl0101]

I think he would be fine for a short period of time!
I hope you can get him...he sounds like a cutie.

[FemaleCheetah]

Here are some great foods to feed.

Chicken soup for the cat lover's soul
Wellness
Innova EVO
Felidae

Those are the best cat foods that I have found and heard about.

[maherwoman]

I'll answer your question one by one. To start with, I'll let you know a little about myself. I've had cats since I was about ten, and have had over twenty...all ages, genders, personalities, etc. :)

So, for the questions...

First, let me say that I think it's GREAT that you're going to adopt a cat. There are SO MANY kitties out there that need loving homes, and you are just the kind of person they need...one that researches before buying, and cares so much about them! :)

1. Is it healthy for a cat to stay completely inside? Yes, it's TOTALLY FINE for a kitty to stay inside. In fact, it's safer than an outdoor kitty (and in some places, it's actually illegal to have an outdoor cat).

2. Do you guys recommend only adopting young kittens? Everytime I go to the shelter I am drawn to the older cats. But my friend told me that I should not adopt a older cat because it has already learned bad habits. But I just really love older cats for some reason! I wouldn't worry about getting an older kitty. You can tell a lot about the kitty's personality in spending more and more time with them at the shelter. Yes, some have learned bad habits, but that could be the case with the kittens, too...and remember that if you ever encounter anything with your kitty you don't understand, you can come on here and ask, and we'll help you! :)

3. I have read that a wet/dry food mix is best, which of each are best for a kitten and which are best for an older cat? I agree that the mix is best. The wet food has good nutrients for kitties, while the dry food is good for their teeth. You'll meet a LOT of opinions about this, though. Honestly, as long as your kitty is happy, he/she will be fine. In my experience, wet food only tends to make the kitty quite overweight, whereas some kitties are allergic to some ingredients that are in dry food. It really depends on the cat. I would recommend starting with the wet/dry food mix.

4. The cat/kitten I get will already have its shots and be spay/neutered before I leave the shelter with it but I read about pet insurance. Is this something that is really helpful? I know that cats need regular shots and rabies shots but I am just worried about emergencies. If you think pet insurance is important which company do you recommend? I haven't ever had pet insurance, nor have I really considered getting it. I'm not terribly familiar with it. Hopefully others will be so they can let you know.

5. Are cats good companions? I am home almost everyday all day and am looking for a companion animal. Cats are WONDERFUL companions. It would help, like I mentioned before, to spend time with the kitty lots before bringing him/her home. In my experience, females tend to go toward aloof after spaying, whereas males tend to turn into lovebirds. This is by no means the standard, just what I've experienced. The only way you'll tell is if when you're spending time with them at the shelter, you find a kitty that's VERY interested in being with you.

6. Will a cat/kitten be ok living as a single animal or do cats need other cats? Cats are happier in pairs, but you would need to introduce them to each other in a certain way. BUT...there are also many kitties that are happy being alone...you just have to provide many toys for their entertainment.

If you get two, here's the introduction process (but you can always ask for more details): The first few days, they should be separated by a door, then when you see them playing foot games under the door, you can try opening the door and see what happens. They might paw at each other, or get into a paw battle (where they're not outright ON each other fighting), there might even be a bit of hissing or growling. But as long as they don't outright fight when they meet, they'll get used to each other, and things will be fine.

7. Please don't think I am stupid but is it true once you show a cat its litter box it always goes in it? A few people have told me this and I find it kind of hard to believe. Yes, it's true...going in a place that they can cover it is a cat's instinct. If you introduce him/her to the box, and they don't go all the time right away (which is rare, but it happens), put the cat in the box (along with whatever's it's already expelled) when you see it going, and it'll eventually get the idea. Cats PREFER to dig and bury their "stuff", so don't worry...it'll happen. I know it sounds hard to believe...but it's true. :)

8. Lastly do you think that a cat would be ok with a large staircase? I have a large staircase in my house and my bedroom-bathroom-office is upstairs would a cat be ok with a large flight of stairs? Cats LOVE staircases!! There are so many games they can play on them! The kitty might be afraid to go up (or down) the stairs at first, so be sure when you bring him or her home, you put them out on whatever floor their food, water, litterbox, and toys are on, so if they're too afraid to go on the stairs, they won't have a problem. :)


The only other thing I would advise is to belong to a COUPLE of cat forums where you can ask your questions. There are many good ones. You can PM me to ask which others I belong to, if you'd like. :)

[cathelper]

1. In New Zealand its a different situation from yours so I dont know how I would answer that
2. Sorry to mention but your friend is a nutter. Young Kittens have a much higher chance of getting diseases, often lethal and often need to be on a strict diet. Get an older cat who loves you, you eventually will fall in love with the cat too
3. I only feed my cats dry food, but only because they are very fussy eaters
4. Although I dont have pet insurance for my animals, I recommend you getting it if you have enough money to spend on it.
5. From experience, cats older than 3 years are much more a companion animal on average, although it depends on how well you and your cat gets along well with each other - you cant expect a cat to be a companion animal if you tell it off.
6. Depends on the cat, I would recommend only one unless they are in the shelter with a twin brother or sister or cant be seperated for one reason or another
7. My cats where litter trained, but once they found the garden theyve never gone back to the litter tray - not once
8. My cats love running up and down the stairs!

[Reniefuwa]

Who told you these questions were stupid? If anything, you should be commended for asking them BEFORE you got the cat. This is so much better than having to say "I just got a cat, and now I'm having all these problems", a thing that some people, regrettably, do.

Since you go to the shelter so much, and it's clear that you love animals, I don't think you should have any problems that you can't handle, but feel free to ask in this forum, because we can answer just about any questions (even about cats sleeping in litter boxes, heh), even though sometimes the answer will be an overwhelming "take your pet to the vet." Okay, rambling done now.

[Shpax0r]

Hello my fellow Kentuckian!

3. I believe that all wet food is the best. A lot of people have told me that kibble is better for teeth, but no one has been able to show me any study that suggests this. There is, however, a lot of evidence that wet food is better for overall health.

6. If you get two cats, you should really get two that came in as a pair. Everyone I know who has introduced cats later in life has two cats that barely tolerate each other. Both my stepdad and my best friend are considering getting rid of their second cats because they are constantly fighting with the older cats.

Some people have trouble finding these smaller, higher quality brands of pet food. If you live in Louisville, you can buy Wellness at Feeder Supply or Innova at Amazing Grace or Wild Oats (I think). I still haven't found places that sell Felidae or Chicken Soup around here.

[brandy pup]

1. Is it healthy for a cat to stay completely inside? I live in the country with foxes and raccoons and all kinds of other animals that could hurt a cat so if I get one it has to stay totally inside.
This is prefrable. This is the safest and also the cheapest way to ensure a happy healthy cat. You can leash train with a harnes and leash or make an enclosriue but indoors is the best place. Indoor or Outdoors, something’s to consider
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/indoors.html


2. Do you guys recommend only adopting young kittens? Everytime I go to the shelter I am drawn to the older cats. But my friend told me that I should not adopt a older cat because it has already learned bad habits. But I just really love older cats for some reason!Adopting an older cat is a blessing! Kittens should be adopted in 2's preferably and everyone wants a kitten. But with an adult they are already grown and beuatiful and just as wonderful to adopt. Plus you dont have to go thru the kitten crazies. Adults are often overlooked and pts to make room for kittens.
3. I have read that a wet/dry food mix is best, which of each are best for a kitten and which are best for an older cat?The best food for a cat is a natural raw diet. However that isnt' possible for most people. So a high grade diet of canned food is best but dry is more economicle. I say feed at least 50% canned food. (morning and night)
The truth about dry cat food:
http://www.blakkatz.com/dryfood.html


4. The cat/kitten I get will already have its shots and be spay/neutered before I leave the shelter with it but I read about pet insurance. Is this something that is really helpful? I know that cats need regular shots and rabies shots but I am just worried about emergencies. If you think pet insurance is important which company do you recommend?
The only thing required by law is a rabies shot. And an indoor only cat doesn't really need that. However you should talk to a vet that has read the revisions to the vaccine schedule and decide for your self. I do not recomend pet ins. if you just save 30$ a month for the life of your pet you will have money for emergencys. www.catshots.com
5. Are cats good companions? I am home almost everyday all day and am looking for a companion animal.
They can be wonderful compantions. You sound like your going to wait to find the right cat for you.

6. Will a cat/kitten be ok living as a single animal or do cats need other cats?They survive with plenty of interactin from you. But kittens are prefered to be adopted in pairs were as adults are generally single and may prefer it that way.

7. Please don't think I am stupid but is it true once you show a cat its litter box it always goes in it? A few people have told me this and I find it kind of hard to believe.For the most part I think so. If you keep it clean, in a quiet spot and if the house is big have more then one it's a good bet the cat will use the box well. If not the cat should be first checked for infection. Dont ever think your questions are stupid, these ar great questions! If only more peole would ask questions there wouldn't be so many problems.

8. Lastly do you think that a cat would be ok with a large staircase? I have a large staircase in my house and my bedroom-bathroom-office is upstairs would a cat be ok with a large flight of stairs?The cat will probalby use it as a raceway and have fun running around on it. Especially in the morning when your still half a sleep. :)

[LaceySaysMeow]

1. Is it healthy for a cat to stay completely inside? Definetly! It's much safer for the cat. Sometimes they may want to get outside, but unless your totally comfortable that they will stick around and will only be out for while, don't let them.
You may also want to buy some cat grass if your cat never goes out. Cats DO eat grass all the time, so cat grass, which you can buy in most petstores, is a really good thing to have!

2. Do you guys recommend only adopting young kittens? Absolutely not! Adult cats can make fabulous pets (and so can kittens). Older cats are often overlooked in shelters, so it's wonderful that you want to adopt an adult rather than a kitten!

3. I have read that a wet/dry food mix is best, which of each are best for a kitten and which are best for an older cat? I've heard that a mix is best, and that's what we feed to most of our cats. However, my oldest cat can only have dry food because whenever she's given wet she has a tendency to eat it much to fast and then throw up.
Experiment to find whatever's right for your cat.

4. The cat/kitten I get will already have its shots and be spay/neutered before I leave the shelter with it but I read about pet insurance. Is this something that is really helpful? I know that cats need regular shots and rabies shots but I am just worried about emergencies. If you think pet insurance is important which company do you recommend? I've never had pet insurance, but I think it's a good idea, and have been thinking about getting some... But it's up to you. If you don't think you'll have any problem paying emergency vet bills then you probably don't need it.

5. Are cats good companions? I am home almost everyday all day and am looking for a companion animal. Most definitely! Cats are absolutely wonderful pets! They will sleep with you (My cat Moshii sleeps right on my pillow), and love you up any chance they get (I often have trouble leaving place because of a purring cat on my lap). They are also very playful, even when they are older (Moshii is 12 and still plays alot). You wouldn't believe how wonderful a cat is until you've had one.

6. Will a cat/kitten be ok living as a single animal or do cats need other cats? Alot of cats do enjoy the company of others, but some prefer to be alone. If you do introduce a new cat to an adult, I'd reccomend getting a kitten. In my experience this works better than adult/adult introductions.

7. Please don't think I am stupid but is it true once you show a cat its litter box it always goes in it? A few people have told me this and I find it kind of hard to believe. I've never had any problems litter training any of my cats. If you show them the litter box, usually they'll just go in there. For some it may take a few tries, but usually that isn't too much of a hassle.

8. Lastly do you think that a cat would be ok with a large staircase? I have a large staircase in my house and my bedroom-bathroom-office is upstairs would a cat be ok with a large flight of stairs? Cats LOVE staircases! Mine constantly run up and down ours. You should hear it. Sounds like a mini-stampede.

And definitely don't think that your question are stupid! The stupid thing would be getting a cat without knowing anything at all!
You sound like you'll make a great kitty mom, and I wish you luck bringing home your new fluffball!