# Any cats I should avoid?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 1, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199 "2009-10-01T03:10:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/61 "2009-10-02T19:11:07Z")
> [@Vihaga](#):
>
> The only thing that’s been consistent for us is that the male cats we’ve had have been more friendly than the females, and that’s not a huge difference, just a trend.
Yeah, neutered males do have a reputation as the sweetest and most demonstratively affectionate and like you say there definitely seems to be a trend in that direction. I know plenty of vets, vet techs and long-term shelter workers that can back that up anecdotally. I actually do prefer males slightly for that reason and both of my current cats are neutered males.
However in the extreme that can also be a negative for some, as ipso facto that also means more of them can be needy “lap parasites”, which is a trait that can grate on certain personalities. That said the neediest, clingiest cat I ever had was a little orange female.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/62 "2009-10-02T19:22:36Z")
**Lynn** ,
My DLH, **Bert** has been neutered (and yes, de-clawed - though not by me), and except for being a “Mr. Drooly-Mouth”, I couldn’t ask for a better companion.
He sleeps between me and D and either one of us can pull him close and he’ll stay that way for hours.
We just love it when he drapes his paw over our arms, like he’s showing “ownership”, and then of course, there’s that rubbing against our legs for the same reason. (We like to think, anyway;))
Q
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/63 "2009-10-02T19:24:10Z")
Sorry, my post was in answer to **GOSP3l**. My reply was on page two for some reason.
Q
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### Author:  [@SMullen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SMullen)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/64 "2009-10-02T19:36:02Z")
Hi, all.
I volunteer in a shelter. Seven years old is a great age for a child to have a pet! Many of our cats are in areas where they can “free-roam”, rather than in cages. When kids come in, I always tell the kids and parents that it’s best if the kid sits on the floor and lets a cat come up to him or her.
Especially if it is a small shelter, the staff and volunteers will know many of the cats and will be able to help the family make the best decision.
I would recommend an older kitten or young adult cat. There are great reading materials available, too, to help kids get along with pets. It might be worth a trip to the library to take a look at some of those first, before going to a shelter. Kids can learn about how to hold their pet, how to take care of it in terms of food, water, grooming, cleaning the litter box, etc.
It is very important for adults to supervise their kids at all times with a new pet. Pets love us with unconditional love and almost never intend harm. Sometimes a pet might do something unexpected, though, and adult supervision will help the kid to be patient.
It’s also up to the adult to keep the pet up to date on veterinary care. The shelter will be able to give you a record of vet care that the cat has received while at the shelter.
In terms of breeds, just about any purebred cat is going to be more sensitive and often more fragile than a mixed breed. I would consider any healthy mixed breed cat a fine family pet.
Best wishes!
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### Author:  [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/65 "2009-10-02T19:40:03Z")
> [@ScareyFaerie](#):
>
> Go to the shelter and look for the friendly cats. I did this when we were looking for another cat after we lost one, the shelter lady showed me various cats which were distant and aloof. Not Nuke though, he was in a room with a dozen other cats roaming free, he marched almost over the heads of those other cats to get to me and started headbutting my hands for fuss whilst purring like a train.
>
> Yup, he came home with me that afternoon.
IME, this is a good method. However, these cats (again IME) are also more dominant/alpha than others. It is not a good method for picking a cat when you already have another at home.
Get some of those distant/aloof cats alone in a room and they can surprise you how affectionate/purring they can be. They are just more submissive to a dominant cat(s) who consider humans part of their turf and will punish the submissive ones later for daring to approach a human.
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### Author:  [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/66 "2009-10-02T20:38:35Z")
> [@Enright3](#):
>
> Wha? I’m not sure I agree with either one of these. Seriously these are the two BIGGEST mistakes? First of all, I realize you won’t get your best deal at a pet store, but I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say it’s a big mistake. There’s plenty of reputable pet stores where you can get a good healthy pet.
>
> As far as number 2… Once I’ve decided for the right reasons to get a pet, what’s wrong with finding one that is pretty or had nice colors? What should I do, just ask for one at random?
I think the point to #2 is that the asthetics of the cats fur should not be the _only_ criteria for picking it. Find cats that have the personality you want, then consider color and pattern of its coat.
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### Author:  [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/67 "2009-10-02T21:33:44Z")
> [@Fetchund](#):
>
> Go to a local Humane Society. I would advise against a “no-kill” shelter, to be honest, because they will be full of cats that are not very adoptable. The other shelters have already weeded out the “really shouldn’t be a pet” cats.
My local Humane Society is no-kill. So should the OP go, or stay away?
I volunteer there and the cats are playful, sweet, litter trained, and, oh, healthy. Those all are elements of my definition of “adoptable”.
At our orientation they made a point of letting us know that there was no legal difference between a Humane Society, an SPCA, or whatever other name you might call a privately run animal adoption organization.
Please don’t paint with so broad a brush as to assume that no-kill shelters are automatically some sort of dumping ground. Mine provides spacious, comfortable surroundings and quite a bit of socialization for the cats, and has a really good adoption rate.
If you are interested, several shelters in Northern California post spreadsheets online which detail the source of the animals along with classifications of healthy, treatable, rehabilitatable, manageable, or unhealthy and untreatable. They also include disposition of animals, including how many were adopted, how many were transferred to other organizations, and how many were euthanized.
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### Author:  [@QuanSu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuanSu)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/68 "2009-10-02T21:49:10Z")
> [@St.Anger](#):
>
> My test of a cat is if you pick it up, and cradle it like a baby, how soon it will bite you (most eventually do, the truth is, cats rarely like to be picked up). Immediately is not a good sign. 10-15 seconds is normal. More than 30 seconds you have a wonderful cat, I’d strongly consider it, especially if it curls up and then tries to snuggle with you on your shoulder.
If you use this test, I’d suggest you pick an American Ragdoll. My BoBo, since he was a 4 week-old kitten, always goes completely limp whenever he is cradled like a baby. As far as I know, he never bites anyone for holding him; he only squirms when he does not like it. He is the most laid back cat I ever seen.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/69 "2009-10-02T22:00:48Z")
The shelter I volunteered at was a “kill” one, but you know what? I never felt an “affinity” with one or the other.
My thought was always “buy 'em one more day!”, because who knows, their “human” could come walking through that door just any time.
Okay, some of those furbabies didn’t make it past “Euthansia Wednesday”, but _sometimes_ there’d be “_room_ at inn” of the no-kill, and that way a few could be saved.
That dosen’t happen very _often_, but it _does_ happen, and here’s something _else_ that happens: sometimes shelters up north will have room also, and many pets who might have been euthanized get “relayed” up there.
Our **Bert** was supposed to have been one of those, but when I “fostered” him me and “Butterscotch” (as he was known then) just hit it off, and after we “bonded” that was it. He wasn’t going _anywhere_.🙂
But as far as a preference of “Kill” over “No-Kill”? I don’t have one.
They _all_ need homes, and I’m just very glad to know that some of our Dopers are volunteers!
Quasi
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/70 "2009-10-02T22:46:58Z")
marmalade/ginger/orange tabby boys do have the most cuddlely reputation.
the ragdoll quansu spoke of would be a great choice for a kid who wants a cat she can treat like a doll.
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### Author:  [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/71 "2009-10-02T23:53:53Z")
All of them.
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### Author:  [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/72 "2009-10-03T02:55:44Z")
We’re going tomorrow morning. We haven’t decided a single thing. 🙂 We are BOTH down on the longhairs but they’re still in play also. I broached the subject of two cats to the missus and she was lukewarm. She’ll be spending more time with it/them than I. She didn’t say no however. We’ve decided to take our daughter, if the cat doesn’t like her then there’s no point.
Wish us luck. I’ll have a follow up sometime this weekend.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/73 "2009-10-03T03:05:49Z")
Yeh, the long-hairs you will definitely work a bit harder with, 'cause you need to keep 'em brushed, so you aren’t constantly using that 3-M double taped roller on your sofa and clothes!😉
Not to mention that constant “spit-spit-spit” 'cause you think you have cat-hair in your mouth!
But please let us know what kind of kitty you adopt and how you’re getting on with him/her?
I would especially like to know.
Thanks
Quasi
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### Author:  [@Countrypolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Countrypolitan)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/74 "2009-10-03T03:48:59Z")
I had a good reply (twice!) but it was eaten by mysterious forces!
My oldest is half (at least) Siamese. He is very sweet and loving, but was a real nutty handful before he had a brother to play with. I got him at the local animal shelter in TX, which was basically a holding area for strays that didn’t have a very strong adoption push. I think he was kicked out on the street or surrendered because he eats and chews on paper and plastic.
As far as shedding goes, he is short haired and is a SUPER shedder. Hair everywhere, no matter how much I brush him. I recommend the Evercare line of lint rollers, they have no equal.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/75 "2009-10-03T04:11:29Z")
Yeah, if you have a cat, you pretty much just have to resign yourself to cat hair (in your eyes, in your food, on your clothes, on your carpets…). A long-haired cat just means those hairs will be longer.
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### Author:  [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/76 "2009-10-03T04:57:32Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#):
>
> We’re going tomorrow morning. We haven’t decided a single thing. 🙂 We are BOTH down on the longhairs but they’re still in play also. I broached the subject of two cats to the missus and she was lukewarm. She’ll be spending more time with it/them than I. She didn’t say no however. We’ve decided to take our daughter, if the cat doesn’t like her then there’s no point.
>
> Wish us luck. I’ll have a follow up sometime this weekend.
If Keyser Soze wakes me up again at 5.30am I will email him to you for free.
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### Author:  [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/77 "2009-10-03T05:00:11Z")
I have a super nice foster kitty that I’m trying to find a home for. She is a [completely white manx with yellow eyes.](http://img194.imageshack.us/i/vid00212.mp4/) She is very sweet and will come when called. She’s about 5 years old. She has a neurologic deficit in her hind legs which makes her walk funny. But, this has the dual bonus of making her instantly beloved by anyone with a heart and insuring that she will never steal food off the kitchen counter or jump on the piano. She can go up and down stairs just fine and she is really good about using her litter box. She is FeLV/FIV negative and is spayed as far as I can tell without opening her abdomen.
\
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/78 "2009-10-03T05:05:16Z")
… do any of you have the “Litter Robot”, and how are y’all liking it?
The first time **Bertie** saw it, he looked at me like “No **way** , Dad!”, but we’ve had it three years now and he and we love it!
He _always_ has clean litter and it’s so convenient for us because we only have to take the bag out every other day!
I know. This sounds like a commercial, so if it needs to be “modded out” , I sure will understand.
I am not affiliated with that company, and I bought it while things weren’t as bad as they are now.
I was just askin’
Thanks
Quasi
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/79 "2009-10-03T05:09:07Z")
Just get the one you like the best and devil hang the hair. It is difficult to type, as a cat butt has parked on my wrist for no discernable reason.
Seriously, pick for temperament, which is what everybody said anyway.
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### Author:  [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cats-i-should-avoid/512199/80 "2009-10-03T05:11:22Z")
> [@Pullet](#):
>
> I have a super nice foster kitty that I’m trying to find a home for. She is a [completely white manx with yellow eyes.](http://img194.imageshack.us/i/vid00212.mp4/) She is very sweet and will come when called. She’s about 5 years old. She has a neurologic deficit in her hind legs which makes her walk funny. But, this has the dual bonus of making her instantly beloved by anyone with a heart and insuring that she will never steal food off the kitchen counter or jump on the piano. She can go up and down stairs just fine and she is really good about using her litter box. She is FeLV/FIV negative and is spayed as far as I can tell without opening her abdomen.
>
> \
She’s precious, Pullet! Best of luck finding her a home!
Know what?
Usually an elderly person is the best companion for a kitty like that!
Q
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