I picked up my new roommate from the animal shelter. He is a 6 month old cat, still has claws and seems to have a cold. He’s black and white, and his face around the mouth is white, but a clear black chin gave him his moniker.
Any suggestions for the new cat owner? (How to keep him off of kitchen counters, keep him happy etc)
A little spray bottle with water in it should let him know the rules. Get a scratching post, too. Lots of appropriate toys for him to pounce and chew on. Feed him good food, not cheap stuff, and take him to the vet regularly. Brush him everyday or so. Will he be an indoor or outdoor cat? Get a litterbox if he’ll be indoors. Basically, cats are easier to deal with than dogs, more independant and easier to bathe. Get him used to the water as soon as you can, for your sake. Good luck and enjoy your new buddie!
Oh, cats are easy!
A food bowl
A water bowl
A litterbox
all where he can get at them. Scritchies when he wants 'em and a little space to get the feel of the new digs. Also, a vet check (cats love the vet!) and nail trimmers (or better yet, let the vet do it) and you and your new pal are Jake.
A scratch toy might be a good idea too.
I do have a 3 foot scratching post with a circular flat top that he can hang out on.
He’ll be going to the vet tonigh.
He’s got food and water and some treats, though I haven’t opened them.
He doesn’t seem too concerned w/water, as he climbed in the bathtub after I had showered, and there was still water in it.
Why do I want him to like water?
How to keep him happy? Don’t keep him off the counters 
It’s a lost cause anyway – most cats interpret “Stay off the counters” to mean “Stay off the counters when anyone is looking”.
At six months, a cat still has a lot of playfulness and energy to expend. Get one of those “Cat Dancers” (little piece of cardboard on a springy wire) or the feathered lures on small fishing poles so that you can exhaust your kitten before bedtime. Laser pointers are good too, although I always feel a bit guilty that there’s nothing actually * there * for the cat to maul.
I’ve always “free-fed” my cats – that is, left out a bowl of dry food all day. This prevents the cat from getting obsessed with food and feeding times. (Some cats have a problem with weight gain which makes this impossible.)
Finagle I have been told not to free feed as it may lead to obesity, but I’ll monitor that. I’ve got a thread in GQ regarding toilet training him, so that I can remove the need to buy kitty litter, too. I’m hoping for that to be our December project.
New cat owner, eh? I can tell.
Don’t worry, Jimmy will let you know his house rules in short order. They’ll include his nap times, play times, litter box rules, where you can sleep and when you can leave the house. Make sure you stay of his counters. Memorize these rules, love them, and live them.
OK, so who else thought the OP had gotten Jimmy Hill as a new roommate? I’m sure some UK & Irish Dopers know who this guy is. 
Get a laser pointer. My cat absolutely loves his.
I wouldn’t ever go back to my non-electric litter box. There is one made by rubbermaid (I think) that automatically scoops after usage. It is great.
Yeh! I’m with you Coldfire…
That was my first thought too. (Great minds hey?)
Wonder what he’s doin’ these days.
Yup… put me down for Jimmy “the chin” Hill too.
Isn’t he still presenting a review of the Sports sections of the Sunday Newspapers on Sky Sports on Sunday lunchtimes? Last I saw, anyway.
Talk about yer hijack…
Chinny reck-on.
He probly does have a cold if he was a stray or came from a shelter. Should pass in a few days, but make sure he eats (smelly food like tuna will help if he doesn’t seem too interested - he can’t smell the food very well with his nose stuffed up) and whatever nose/eye discharge you see is clear. If it gets opaque (sorry, gross) or if he’s not eating - take him to the vet asap.
Good idea to take him to the vet (your regular vet, not the shelter vet) anyway for a “new cat” checkup, in the next month or two. Sooner if you think he might need a worming or flea treatment. Ear mites are also common for strays - get that checked too.
After that, cats ARE easy
Oh, on the laser pointer - for pointing at walls, floors, etc. & getting cat to chase the spot - never for pointing AT the kitty!
Congratulations on being owned, rubes!
My cats used to graze (free feed), but with a damndog in the house now I can’t. The only problem removing the food has caused is that my cat will jump on me at 5AM, pawing and meowing her lovely funky kitty breath in my face until I go put the bowl back down.
To keep Jimmy off the counter, if plain water doesn’t work, put a bit of lemon juice in with the water. I have also had to use double stick tape on the counters to keep my cat off. Then again, if you don’t care that he goes on the counter, it’s irrelevant!
Either keep his claws trimmed or have caps put on his claws- even though you bought a scratch post, it never has the same Oomph as clawing lovely furniture. Antique furniture. Furniture that was passed down to you out of love. Irreplacable furniture.
cough where was I?
Cats need water, not milk, to drink. Many cats are picky about stale water, so invest a couple bucks in a perpetual feeder dish (around $7 at petco).
~MissTake, owned since birth by Trixie, Mr. K, and now Bernie and Cleo
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrubesbabydaddy!
You’re like, extra-cute now. I thought you were cute before, but now that you’ve chosen to care for an animal… You rock!
OK, thanks gang. I’ve also got a thread in IMHO discussing potty training (not to be confused w/litter box training). That will be my December project
