Since I’ve come to the decision that I cannot have a dog right now - I don’t really have the space for one in the apartment, and once fall classes start in August, I won’t have the time that a dog requires…I’m considering a kitten (or perhaps a cat) - particularly since I’ve spent a good deal of time lately with a friend’s cat, and realized that I am no longer having the skin reaction that I used to have (it’d been about 6 years since I was around cats for any significant length of time). While a dog is still a desire, I know that’s likely to be postponed for several years while I finish grad school, figure out where I’m going to be living, move there and the like.
It would be just an indoor cat. I live on the second floor of my building - the door opens to an inside hallway. The only direct outdoor access would be through the balcony - there is a railing around it, but no stairs leading to the ground.
I would be getting it through the Knoxville Animal Shelter (http://www.knoxpets.org), so it would be spayed or neutered before I got it and have it’s initial shots. This also means I’d be required (by contract when I’m allowed to adopt the cat) to take the cat to the vet within 5 days of adopting it, and provide proof to the shelter.
I’d prefer a short-haired cat - the big fluffy ones sort of annoy me.
So, what do I need to know? Not about costs, but about cat care. Are male or female cats better at being indoor cats? Is litter training something that cats just sort of do (I know, probably a silly question) or will I have to train him/her? I know from a former roommate’s rabbit that they tend to chew on cords - will I need to do anything specific to protect my computer cables? Do cats (normally) chew on stuff?
Also, I’d be looking at getting one in early July, with fall classes starting mid-August. Is this enough time to get a cat settled into a new home before I have to leave it alone all day for several days during the week? Are older cats more likely to deal better with being alone?
Congrats! Cats are great, and you seem to know the basics. Unless the cat is really young (less than 4-5 weeks, in which case no shelter or person in the know would be adopting it out anyway) they usually know what to do with the litterbox. It’s an instinct to go somewhere where they can cover it up. Keep the box clean, and you should have no problems. Try to put it in a private area, cats sometimes love their privacy about those delicate matters.
I’d keep it off the balcony, cats sometimes think they’re Peter Pan and can fly.
I have both female and male indoor cats. Some people have problems with even spayed males spraying, but I have never run into that.
Get a cat tree or other stable scratching post - the wimpy ones most pet stores sell tip over when the cat does a ripping good scratch, get one that won’t tip when the cat gets going.
I had a cat that did chew wires (only one in all the cats I’ve had), I bought some spray on stuff called “Bitter Apple” and sprayed that on my cords. IME, most cats won’t chew on stuff like that (not like a puppy, who will chew right past the teething phase, my dog Bandit couldn’t be trusted not to chew things up until he was almost 5 years old).
Get good at picking things up off the floor anyway, I have pulled so much suff out of Hanna’s mouth - I don’t know where she finds some of this stuff, but it seems I am lacking in the housekeeping department sometimes. They can choke on small things.
I would suggest an older cat. A month and a half is good time to bond with a cat and get to know it’s habits, but younger kittens can get bored alone, and bored = getting into trouble - unless perhaps you adopt two?
Kittens are generally trained by their mothers to use a litterbox. At least, I’ve never had a problem. The only times I’ve had a cat go elsewhere is if I’ve been less than diligent about keeping the litterbox clean. (OTOH, my sister’s cats defecate on the livingroom carpet when they’re mad at her. But I think this is due to their myriad emotional issues.)
Kittens need lots of TLC, so if you’re not home much, be super-attentive when you are.
I’ve had both male and female cats, and both did just fine as indoor cats. Especially if the cat is male, though, you should get him neutered at sexual maturity, or he will spray to mark his territory…This is NOT a smell you want to experience.
If you go to a shelter, be prepared to be interrogated within an inch of your life about your schedule, your landlord, the other inhabitants of your household (if any), etc. When I tried to get a cat from a shelter the last time, they wouldn’t let me get a kitten (as opposed to an adult cat) unless I took 2, on the theory that kittens need attention, and since I’m away at work all day, there should be another companion for him.
My cats were never chewers, but a few cats are. He’s fine with computer cables, but every once in a while he’ll bat the phone cord around. You are more likely to have a problem with them scratching furniture. Try to give him a scratching post or something that he’s allowed to scratch, and use positive reinforcement to get him to use it (and a squirt bottle is great negative reinforcement to deter furniture scratching, but my cat still isn’t 100% well-behaved).
If you’re going to be in school…mine had this affectionate but annoying habit when I was in grad school of hopping up on my lap and walking across the keyboard while I was writing research papers! Drove me nuts, especially during all-nighters when the coffee wore off.
There’s a book called Cats for Dummies I would recommend as well as hitting up all your friends who have cats already. I would recommend getting an older cat who is perhaps a year or so old instead of a kitten if you’re not home a lot. Young kittens need a LOT of care and constant stimulation. If you still want to get a kitten…get two! They’ll entertain themselves while you’re away.
Yes…getting one early to mid-July with classes starting in mid-August is more than enough time to get the kitty settled into it’s new home.
If you’re going to let the cat out onto the balcony, make sure you are able to supervise the cat at all times. Otherwise…deny access. That way no accidents can happen (head stuck between railing bars, falling off balcony, etc).
Just to make SURE there are no allergic reactions…go the allergists and get some allergy pills esp for those with pets. Also…keep ONE room in the apt cat free (usually the bedroom) to lessen allergies as well as keeping it spotlessly clean. Frequent vacuuming with a vacuum with a HEPA filter is recommended in this case.
Either sex (provided they are ‘fixed’) will make an excellent companion animal. Depending on the age of the cat, the only thing you’ll have to do as far as litterbox training is making sure the cat KNOWS where the box (or boxes) is (are). If you are getting a young kitten, I would try and protect those cords. They’ll chew on ANYTHING. If it’s an older cat, watch it and see what it does and if it tries to chew, protect the cords. Keep a water gun handy for any trangressions that the cat might commit (climbing on the counters,scratching the sofa, etc). It’s an easy deterrent.
I cannot stress this enough: GET SCRATCHING POSTS! Multiple ones! In different sizes and textures and fabirics and materials! Cats love variety and if you don’t provide them something to scratch on, chances are your kitty will use your sofa/bed/etc to shed the old nail sheathes and you’ll be unhappy cuz you have ratty furniture. I’ve found a spray called Krazy Kitty (which supposedly smells like the stuff cats rub off their head/neck onto your furniture)sprayed on the undesirable objects helps to lessen the amount of scratching on the undesirable object.
Good luck!
And good going for adopting a kitty out of a shelter!WOOHOO!~
Did you say you were from Knoxville? My grandmother and aunt live near there in Maryville.
Face it, you will find days that you are not able to give your fluffy all the attention merited, you may have to go out to visit folk, or attend big family events etc.
If it’s to be an indoor cat, then it’ll need special “cat grass”, outdoor cats have access to grass and this aids digestion - and the production of furballs! Be careful if you have any plants - some are toxic to cats.
Ooh a cat bit…
Kittens are active and they love to climb. So say “goodbye” to your curtains. I used to come home to my kitten hanging from the drapes (and they were heavy thermal drapes so after a while my living room looked like a planetarium from all the holes she poked in them). They will also wait until your back is turned and run up your legs and back to sit on your head. Cute but painful.
If you don’t want cats on counters, you’ll have to be consistent from the very start, saying “No!” firmly and squirting them with a water gun. This will assure that they will only go on the counters when you’re not watching
Kittens are crazy. I have never met one that isn’t. They can be fun, but they are nuts, so be warned.
Growing up we had a series of cats around the house, both male and female. I had to give up my sweetie boy cat a few months ago. Getting males neutered generally will fix the spraying thing, but the younger that is done the better; I have heard of adult males who stills did it after being fixed. Fortunately my boy never had any litter box problems, aside from a nasty bout of FUS (poor baby, he got blocked up completely, he could have died!).
Unless you do something like enclose the balcony with chicken wire or something, I wouldn’t let a cat out on it. I can EASILY see my Cloud jumping from a balcony.
Two can keep each other company, but whatever you do, please don’t get more than one if your lease doesn’t allow for it. You do NOT want to find yourself in the position of having to give up a cat or finding a new place to live. My cat and I did fine in a small apartment together for upwards of four years.
Personally, I’d go for an adult rather than a kitten, but this is definitely the time of year to get a kitten. They’re coming out all OVER the place! Get your cats fixed, people!
A tip from a student owner of two kittens (well, I guess they are cats because they are a year old now): since you’re still in school and probably not sitting on a pile of money, a good cheap (possibly free) thing to get for the cat (or cats) is some of those little carpet sample squares from the local carpet store. The cats love them and gravitate to them, hence the house isn’t covered in as much cat hair.
I’d also advocate getting two. I got my two (a brother and sister) last July and started class in late August just as you will be doing. They definitely entertain each other when no one is in the house.
As far as boys vs. girls, I had always liked all of my boy cats more growing up until these two. My girl cat is a sweetheart and my boy cat hates humanity.
Kittens instinctively know how to use the litterbox. Just show it to them a few times, scratch one of your nails in it like they would their paws, and you should be set.
Mine chew, but not on cords (usually boxes or plastic bags) so you’ll just have to wait and see on that one.
Thanks for the tips, folks. I’ve checked all the kitties on the knoxpets website - IDBB, yes I am in Knoxville - I’ve been here since last August. Maryville’s a nice area, but I like being closer to campus.
I’m really excited about the idea - I’ve wanted a pet for a long time, but I was always in a job where I traveled too much to have one (last job I was gone about 2 weeks of the month, the job before that, I was on the road 5 days a week, every week). Since I’m now going to be a librarian, I’ll be home a lot more - most librarian jobs don’t involve a lot of out of town travel (at least not those I’ve seen), so I’ll be around to take care of an animal.
My next steps will be talking to my apartment complex - they do allow pets, I know that - and finding out about pet deposits and then budgeting July out for this. As long as there are no more major car issues (as there have been this week…urgh), there shouldn’t be any problem.
A fair warning. If the kitty(ies) aren’t declawed then be sure to wear pants while you’re around them. My kittens have a habit of jumping into my lap while I’m on the computer and they use their claws to climb up if they don’t quite make it. Believe you me it hurts like a bitch when you’re not wearing pants! At any given time I’ve got at least a dozen kitty scratches on my legs.
Oh and I’ve got two boy kitties and they’re constantly playing and chasing each other. I picked them up from the street, took them to the vet for a checkup and they’ve been fine. They’re due for their shots soon and when they get old enough they’re gonna be fixed. They figured out the litter box pretty quick but now I’m gonna have to do some scratching training. They’ve been after my mother’s draperies and she’s not happy about it. She wants them declawed but I want to try to train them before we go that far.
Good luck with your kitty(ies). I’ve just had mine for about a month and a half now and they’ve adjusted well to being around people (very, very affectionate) and being on their own as well when we’re not home.
You won’t regret your choice after you see how entertaining kitties can be.
I’ve had cats for years and years. I personally think girls are cleaner than boys but then they’re all different and you should pick the cat/kitten you fall in love with. It’s great that you’re adopting. They’re a lot of fun and I know you’ll be happy with your decision.
I hate to be a nay-sayer, but the cat/kitten won’t necessarily be box trained. If the previous owner abused it, it might have toileting issues. The shelter folks should be able to tell you if this will be an issue, though.
Now, my problems with cats are the opposite. The only felines who’ve clawed my legs were adults, who decided they wanted to be in my lap. Unfortunately, this occurs while I’m standing up. I’m not sure whether the look on my face or theirs is funnier.
Kittens, on the other hand, consistently think my toes are the most fun chew toys ever.
At four in the morning.
You know, they don’t make steel-toed slippers, only boots. That’s just not comfortable.
If you do turn out to still be allergic to cats, even mildly, keep them off and away from your bed – few things are harder than trying to sleep while you’re sneezing and your eyes are itching.
My family has three cats, and they’re not allowed in my bedroom (even now, when I’m away at college). For a while I still kept getting allergic reactions while sitting in my bedroom, and it took me a while to realize that just because the cats stayed on the other side of the door didn’t mean their fur did – the dirty laundry I had lying all over the floor had fur on it from when I picked up the cats!
Frequent laundry is a must then, as well as frequent vacuuming and dusting, and a big roll of duct tape (few things are better at getting fur off of clothes to make them look presentable!).
Don’t bother getting a kitten. Get a cat. Most big city shelters have a large selection of very sociable, friendly, trained cats. Since an indoor cat will live 15 years anyway, you’ll have a long time with your new friend.
Clean the litter box out every day if you can, every second day at least. You do NOT want your new cat to piss on anything. Cat urine is incredibly revolting and persistent - far worse than dog urine.
Do not be fooled into this “cats own their owners” baloney. Cats can and do learn to obey their masters, at least in a general sort of way. Keep a spray bottle with water on hand to “discipline” the cat when it’s bad. They learn.
Cat Food: Especially if you get a male cat, spring for a few extra bucks and get low-ash cat food. Cats are very prone to urinary tract problems.
Never, ever, ever let a cat onto a balcony. I have had a cat fall off a balcony (survived, miraculously.)
You’ll get scratched or bitten now and then. Wash up when you do. Cats, despite their reputation, are dirty animals.
Depending on the size of your apartment, consider getting two cats. That would solve some of the attention issues; two cats will keep each other company. Worked for us.
Check out ALL the available vets in the area - costs, hours, overnight boarding, vet & staff attitude**. During a kitty emergency is NOT the time for your fingers to do the walking through the yellow pages.
Ditto for the off-hours vets - see who has late night & weekend hours
Ditto again for places to board kitty. Sometimes you will want to or need to be away from the house for more than a few days, so having at least one or two places available at a moment’s or more notice is a good thing. Don’t know where you are (besides the library), but if you are in an area that is prone to disasters (hurricanes or floods, for example) and you must evacuate, many emergency (human) shelters will not allow pets.
Just a few things to keep in mind - been there, done that, panicked when I should have planned ahead.
** nothing personal to the veterinarian Dopers out there, but unfortunately, my Mud was pretty traumatised by her first vet & staff. Don’t exactly know what happened and I couldn’t get a straight answer from the staff, but she goes absolutely ballistic if I get her near any vet’s office now. This latest one is really, really patient, but it still irks the hell out of me that we all have to go through this because someone did something to her.
My grandmother and aunt live near there in Maryville.
Getting males neutered generally will fix the spraying thing, but the younger that is done the better; I have heard of adult males who stills did it after being fixed. Fortunately my boy never had any litter box problems, aside from a nasty bout of FUS (poor baby, he got blocked up completely, he could have died!).