One is a Himalayan, who is a big squishy huggy thing. I’ve had her about 10 years, and she’s been a great little friend. She has always been very attached to me, but she is just as attached to my BF. Follows him around, sleeps with him, watches TV with him (for some odd reason, they both are fascinated by Hogan’s Heroes ).
The other one I have had about a month. She’s a little ragdoll that we named Mia Bella (Name suggested by Guinistasia , BTW ) That’s the Himalayan in the lower right corner, looking annoyed.
Mia Bella is a sweet, lovey little thing. Always wants company, loves to play, and loves to snuggle. She’s also quite the clown. Always doing something that cracks me up.
I inherited 2 cats who’d had their front claws removed. They are well adjusted (for cats) & almost 20 years old. And they still “scratch” furniture–just for exercise! When a bit younger, they were quite fond of climbing. The back claws helped.
This is not an endorsement of declawing cats. But there are plenty of young, declawed cats out there looking for new homes. Don’t be afraid of adopting one.
My boys have always been indoor cats–which I’m sure has contributed to their longevity. And any cat I get in the future will be an indoor kitty.
And I recommend getting 2 at a time. Mine were “adopted” together, so they think they are brothers.
Another vote for orange boys. When I first took mine* in to the vet, she told me that every orange tabby male she’d encountered was incredibly sweet and friendly. Mine is also very playful, but he’s still technically a kitten. (I think he’ll always be playful though. My other two had really calmed down by the time they were his age.)
*He’s the last one. It’s just a black and white picture, but he’s a bright orange all over. Also, that’s an old pic, taken about 6 months ago.
A cockatiel wants a cat? Well, that’s different.
I have never owned a purebred but I see a lot at work. Abbysinians seem to be very sweet but also very active. Maine Coons seem somewhat laid back. Siameses would drive you insane with their voice but I hear they like to play fetch, they also seem to live longer. Ragdolls are very sweet. My youngest kitten (going on a year old now) seems like he might have some ragdoll in him. He puts up with being held and cuddled a lot. Sometimes just dangling when you hold him with one arm (most cats won’t do that) but when he gets fired up he can be a holy terror to the other cats. He’s got one of the most interesting personalities I’ve ever had in a cat.
In the animal biz we don’t call them mutts, we call them Domestic Shorthairs (DSH) or Domestic Longhairs (DLH). Your best bet is probably a DSH from a shelter, that way if it turns out to be evil incarnate at least you didn’t spend hundreds of dollars on it.
White cats, calicos and tortiseshells have a reputation for being less friendly. I have a dilute calico DLH who fits that description but she can be very affectionate when she wants to be. I have a calico DSH that is affectionate but very shy. I also have a white cat (blue-eyed and deaf) who is very sweet but is a holy terror when I have to medicate her. Unfortunately, she has been very sickly so that happens a lot. I recently rescued another white cat that was one of the sweetest cats I had ever met. Even with a broken leg and nerve damage on her front leg she was purring and rolling over to have her tummy rubbed while we were trying to examine her. She loved other dogs and cats as well. I got her fixed up and adopted out to a good home.
I like orange male tabbies too (my15 year old cat is one), but I have seen a couple that were holy terrors. I used to think all polydactyls were very sweet until I met one that was part hell demon. Anyway, the point is that there is no guaranteed perfect breed or color and you just have to try and judge by the personality you see when you meet them and watch them for a while. I do think that males tend to be more affectionate.
Go to the shelter and observe the cats for a while. Play with them if they’ll let you. If no one really impresses you then don’t settle, try again later or try other places. You can also try calling local vets. I know many of them will take in a litter of kittens and find them homes or often find new homes for adult cats that people have given up (usually for treatable problems). They don’t always have cats but you might just catch them at the right time. This is how I found a home for the wonderful white cat I mentioned above. The vet that fixed her up for me kept her in a cage in their waiting room and they adopted her out to some clients.
It’s hysterical too, because both of them love to be told that they are pretty, and know when they are lookin’ good. The Himalayn hates being brushed, but after I’m done she will prance around and pose for anyone who will look.
My husband decided to give me a Siamese kitten for Valentine’s Day 14 years ago. We went to see a lady who home-raised her kittens with the help of her three daughters. I sat down in the living room floor and was immediately assaulted by kittens! 10 of them! About that time Mr. SCL said “I want that one - the one who just ran into the wall.” Valentino is as beautiful as a sunset and as dumb as a box of rocks. Sweeter than honey - he is on the desk watching as I type this, and purring. He’s just not very bright.
I love all the basket pictures! Sadly, I don’t have any pictures of Gryffin in a basket, but I do have a shot of him under a blanket.
I just spent the weekend playing with my cousin’s ragdoll cat, who is a honey and the sweetest thing.
The Gryff, meanwhile, is a former alley cat who selected me when he was just a wee kitten living on the mean streets. He’s sitting on my lap right now. As it happened, just before he came to us, I had read an article that suggested handling kittens ALL THE TIME, even in unusual situations. The assertion was that this would make a less skittish adult cat. I have no idea if little Gryffy is naturally a laid back cat, or if the constant handling actually worked. I would hold him while I did housework, like vacuuming, often tucked up between my head and my shoulder, like a phone. We took him in the car when we ran quick errands (two people in the car so that someone was always with him while the other person ran in for the dry cleaning or whatever). The article also suggested holding the kitten (securely, of course) high up over your head, which seemed a bit ridiculous but we did it and to this day, he’s very relaxed when anyone picks him up for whatever reason.
I think males to have more personality than girls, but my girls are more cuddly. I love apple headed siamese, or a mix. They seem to be very bright, and mine have all been very loving.
My older girl’s momma was a Birman. When Cassy had kittens, she had 3 black and 3 siamese marked. The siamese marked ones grew up to look like the old apple heads, so it must be dominant.
Our youngest is a mutt, but since he’s cross-eyed, and very bright, I’m guessing, he too, has some siamese. Maxx TY and Cassy Maxx The Younger at 6 months
I so agree with the advice about handling the kittens as much as possible. Four of my eight cats were bottle-raised, so they have been handled constantly almost since birth. Kittens who receive a lot of attention as kittens grow up looking toward their humans as the source of good things like ear scritches and tummy rubs. If you get a kitten and just give them food, water and a litter box, you will have a cat that is much more aloof toward humans.
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) That’s the Himalayan in the lower right corner, looking annoyed.
