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Whats the specifications for buying a cat

post #1 of 16
10/17/09 at 4:46am
Thread Starter 
I have never owned a cat before

If I do get one

I need to get it

Sprayed ?
spayed ?
neutered ?
castrated if male ?

what else
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post #2 of 16
10/17/09 at 4:53am
Depending on where you get it, some of that may already be done. For example, at our shelter, if we're not overfull we spay/neuter (female/male) the most adoptable cats at our own expense. They are usually dewormed at the shelter, too. You should, if at all possible, arrange to go by the vet's office on the way home to have a quick check for any problems. If you get the cat at a shelter, it may well have an upper respiratory infection (URI), which is extremely common there.

Depending on the age, the cat will need to have a few innoculations, such as rabies.

For first-time cat owners, I recommend a cat no younger than about 3 months. Tiny kittens are cute, but they're a lot of trouble if you're not used to them, and they can get very sick very quickly.

You will need a litter box that is size-appropriate. That is, if the cat is small, don't get one that is going to be hard to climb into.

You will need a food dish and a water bowl, both of glass or ceramic, not plastic.

There are lots of other hints around here, but please ask about anything you are unsure of.
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post #3 of 16
10/17/09 at 9:18am
Thread Starter 
how do you stop it from spraying things
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post #4 of 16
10/17/09 at 11:23am
Typically, spraying happens in unaltered cats - If you have them spayed/neutered at a young age, this doesn't often happen. When I first got one of my cats, she would spray on everything - Walls, rugs, furniture, people (yeah, that was fun) but once we got her spayed, it was an instant change.
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post #5 of 16
10/17/09 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
what is cat spray ?

and what does spayed mean ?

and why is it called cat spray, but spay ?
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post #6 of 16
10/17/09 at 2:43pm
what is cat spray ?
Spraying is when they back up to something, shake their tail and spray urine. Both males and females can spray, more common in unaltered cats but also found in neuters.

and what does spayed mean ?
Spayed (or Speyed) is removing the reproductive organs of a female cat so she cannot come into season or have kittens.
Neutered is the term for males. But that also can change depending where you live, here in Australia we used neutered for both male and female.


and why is it called cat spray, but spay ?
2 very different things, as answered above

Most shelters and breeders neuter kittens and cats before they are adopted.
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post #7 of 16
10/17/09 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
okay,

i saw a cat shake its tail at a car but no spray came out

but i saw another cat and lots of spray came out

so, can someone explain this ?
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post #8 of 16
10/17/09 at 4:09pm
Some cats will twitch their tails & act as though they are spraying, but they do not. I have one cat who does this - the tail twitching is her way of communicating.

Now if a cat backs up, twitches their tail, & sprays - they either have a health issue or are marking their territory.
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post #9 of 16
10/18/09 at 7:30am
I second what everyone else is saying. But if you go for younger cats possibly try and get two but if your open to any cat Id give a senior kitty a good home. Also make sure you can afford the monthly expenses. Not just fot vet care but a good food, litter, toys, treats..stuff like that. Just guessing here but I probably spend on average a month on all that about 100 bucks because with 3 cats I go thru a lot of litter (routine changes) and they are free fed a mix of Purina Indoor(my kitties junk food) and Taste of the Wild (quality cat food)...Im also constantly buying new toys because some get lost or they need new ones to keep an interest going. Also kitty proofing your home is a good step, making sure wires are kept away and out of reach, breakables arent in easy access for them to knock down, stuff like that. Its like preparing for a child but IMO more fun and easier to deal with!

Good luck and if/when you get your kitty we love pictures!
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post #10 of 16
10/18/09 at 10:56am
Hi fuggels, WELCOME to TCS

It probably would be a good idea if you could write down more about what kind of cat you're looking for and what you expectations are

regards,

Christine
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post #11 of 16
10/18/09 at 11:05am
As a newbie cat owner, I'd suggest you look to adopting an older kitty (2 yrs +) that is from a shelter/rescue group where they can tell you about the cat's personality. Most older kitties will already be spayed or neutered and have been through the kitten phase, which is cute, but can be extremely frustrating if you know nothing about cats. The rescue group or foster parent will be able to tell you what the cat likes/dislikes, any behavior problems they've observed or dealt with regarding your cat, and your perspective cat's unique habits and quirks. When shopping for a cat, take your time, ask lots of questions, don't "feel" like you "have to have" a certain cat; be open to various cats.

After you've decided to get a cat and before you go shopping for a cat, be sure you've cat-proofed your house, gotten a safe carrier for your cat and have all the necessary food and water dishes. At adoption time, ask the person what kind of food the cat's been eating and what type of litter they've been using. Then, get that kind of food and litter to make the transition easy. Later on, you can transition the cat to a different food and litter if you want.
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post #12 of 16
10/18/09 at 11:07am
Oh! Have you checked out Petfinder to see what cats are available for adoption in your area?

http://www.petfinder.com/index.html

Just enter your preferences and your ZIP code and you'll soon see lots of really great cats.
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post #13 of 16
10/18/09 at 12:57pm
I also suggest that before you get a cat you do some "research" since you sound like you've probably never had or lived with cats before. You don't want any more surprises than you'll already be getting.

You can find sites online that have a lot of cat information or you can go to your local library and check out books on cat behavior. Just know that everyone has their own views on what's proper, so you'll need to read a lot and draw your on conclusions. Any smaller detail questions you can always come back here and ask about, but having a good amount of information to start with will make it easier for you to know what to ask and to understand what some of us may refer to.
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post #14 of 16
10/19/09 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephanietx View Post
Oh! Have you checked out Petfinder to see what cats are available for adoption in your area?

http://www.petfinder.com/index.html

Just enter your preferences and your ZIP code and you'll soon see lots of really great cats.
Im in england, the website doesn't work.


I want a fluffy longhair, chubby, tortoiseshell cat preferably. Or a british shorthair. or a norwegian forest longhair.
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post #15 of 16
10/19/09 at 1:34pm
Here's a list of some animal shelters and rescues in the UK:

http://www.animalrescuers.co.uk/html/cats.html

You may be able to find just what you're looking for.

Is there any reason you're looking for a chubby cat? It's important to maintain a healthy weight on cats - Overweight cats can be susceptible to a number of ailments. Perhaps you mean a large-framed cat, rather than a chubby one?
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post #16 of 16
10/19/09 at 3:52pm
Sorry! Didn't realize you weren't in the US. Glad someone came along to help with some UK Rescue listings.
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