Getting a kitten as a pet

[Isaac]

So I am trying to convince my wife that a cat is a great, trouble-free pet, especially if you get a very young kitten and socialize it to yourself from a tiny age, it will be probably warm and friendly and cuddly unlike some cats which are very standoffish and skittish and not much fun to have.

Trying to convince her that cats are so easy to take care of they require almost no work at all - they take care of their own bathroom, never need walks or to go outside, etc.

What is your experience with owning a cat or kitten? Post cute pictures if you want

 

[The_Doc_Man]

People own dogs. Cats own people. Or at least that is the attitude I have seen and heard from my step-daughter, who currently shares the house with three cats of various ages. I would say "she owns three cats" - but see my earlier statement.

 

[Steve R.]

Cats make great pets. Some cats are indoor cats and some are outdoor cats. This is an important concern should you live near a major street as they can get run-over. Also, if you live in a rural area they can become the hunted. We lost a couple this way. These factors don't exactly sell the concept of having a cat your wife. They are easy to take care of.

Currently, we have two cats, both indoor cats. One cat used to like going outside, but gave that up a few months ago????????

 

[The_Doc_Man]

In our neighborhood, because we are close to a lake and to open canals that resemble bayous, we have feral ducks. Some of those big fat Muscovy ducks look like they could give an outdoor cat a run for its money.

 

[NauticalGent]

They are delicious...ask ALF

 

[Isaac]

they do seem to wield a certain unexpected authority, don't they, Doc! my thought is to make sure to get one as a kitten and handle it a lot so that it (hopefully) becomes the kind of pet cat that purrs and wants to be around you a lot - rather than the austere, aloof ones or the skittish ones

 

[AccessBlaster]

We adopted a feral cat, we named him Will as in "Will Feral" Ferrell He's awesome!

 

[CJ_London]

my dog loves cats - but he couldn't eat a whole one

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Don't forget that the Egyptians worshiped cats. I think that the aloof, feral, play-with-you-when-I-feel-like-it attitude comes from anything that that is worshiped. Consider monarchs throughout history. Consider some of Hollywood actors. Consider some gods from various pantheons and how they often as not would toy with their subjects or just ignore them.

 

[ColinEssex]

We always got our cats from the pound so they were rarely tiny.

Don't they come and inspect you to make sure your home is suitable for rehoming a stray cat?
Col

 

[Isaac]

Don't they come and inspect you to make sure your home is suitable for rehoming a stray cat?
Col

Yikes, we're not to that point yet. I can see that becoming a new government Regulation, though.
I certainly hope you were joking ha ha ha.

Our favorite dog Frisco, we picked up from a pound in Fort Worth TX in 2017 for $11. He was on sale. and he is perfect

 

[ColinEssex]

Yikes, we're not to that point yet. I can see that becoming a new government Regulation, though.
I certainly hope you were joking ha ha ha.

Not at all. In the UK, your home is inspected to make sure it's suitable to house a rescue cat (or dog).
Col

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Our house might not be suitable since my wife is allergic to pet dander. Not sure which species, but so far, certainly she is allergic to dogs and cats. We haven't tried any of the more exotic things like weasels, gerbils, bison, and woolly mammoths so I'm not sure about allergies with those beasties. And the non-mammals like fish, snakes, and birds don't interest either. But we wouldn't actually let the animals into our home so probably wouldn't pass muster.

 

[Steve R.]

One of them insisted on jumping on the table when we were playing cards. She would simply park herself on the cards and purr.

I've had cats that become very affectionate when I'm at the computer typing. They just "love" hanging-out on the keyboard. I have often wondered if a cat, lying on a keyboard, could have ever caused a significant programming catastrophe?

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I have often wondered if a cat, lying on a keyboard, could have ever caused a significant programming catastrophe?

If his butt was on the keyboard, would that have been a cat-ass-trophy?

 

[Cotswold]

I can't comment because I've never taken to cats and never will. Dogs are fine, no problem with them
Could say much more but I won't. Cats, dogs, horses, cigarettes and booze are always the easy way to wind people up. They always over react.

Here's a tip for those cat lovers who need to shampoo their cats:
Sprinkle an adequate amount of shampoo into the toilet. Pick up the cat and in one swift move fling the cat into the toilet and slam the lid down. Leave it thrashing about until foam spills out from under the lid. Then flush a couple of times.
Finally, making sure the front door is open, whip up the lid and the cat will fire out of the toilet and into the garden where it will enjoy drying itself out naturally.

 

[AccessBlaster]

A good rule of thumb "never buy anything that eats"

 

[Isaac]

Not at all. In the UK, your home is inspected to make sure it's suitable to house a rescue cat (or dog).
Col

Wowzer bowzer. Here we have too many needing rescue to be that picky. If you want it, it's yours
But they do give it all the shots vaccines it needs and usually spay or neuter it first.

 

[ColinEssex]

Wowzer bowzer. Here we have too many needing rescue to be that picky. If you want it, it's yours
But they do give it all the shots vaccines it needs and usually spay or neuter it first.

We use the same criteria for babies.
Col

 

[The_Doc_Man]

We use the same criteria for babies.
Col

Spaying or neutering babies same as you do for pets? (Or does that only apply to stray babies being adopted?)

A good rule of thumb "never buy anything that eats"

Another good rules never buy anything that isn't housebroken. Which is probably why most of the time folks don't sell babies.

My OWN rules are simple: Never bet on anyone or anything who eats more than you do and weighs more than you do. Which is why I don't bet on horse races, wrestling (which is mostly fake anyway), and USA professional football games.