Potential Cat Owner

I'm about to graduate from college and move into the real world, and I'd really like a pet to keep me company. I've traditionally been a "dog person," but I really just love having pets in general (I always had fish, hamsters, gerbils, and finally a dog when I was young). I'll be moving to an apartment in Chicago in August and working a standard 9-5 job, so I'll be out of the house most of the day. I really don't want to be an irresponsible pet owner (I want my pet to be as happy with me as I am with it!), so I understand that much time out of the apartment would be way too much for a dog. From what I hear, cats handle lots of alone time really well. I really know very little about cats, so I figured a community like this one would be a great place to get information. Here's my slew of questions:

1) Just to make sure: it would be OK for me to own a cat while living in an apartment and working 40-hour weeks, correct?

2) What things should I consider while considering buying a cat? As I understand it, cats are very low maintenance and very independent. From what I've read they don't need to be let out at all (do they enjoy going outdoors even? I've never seen someone walking a cat...), and clean themselves. What exactly do you need to do for them as an owner other than make sure they have food, water, and take them to the vet to make sure they're healthy? Would a cat be happy in a 1-bedroom apartment?

3) How do cats deal with vacation? If I'm out of town for a week (say, visiting my parents), would a cat mind traveling? Is it feasible to leave it alone for a week, or would I need a cat-sitter?

4) As far as breeds of cats go, I know absolutely nothing. It seems like whenever people talk about dogs the first thing people ask is "Oh, what kind?" but I haven't really seen that with cats. What are the breeds I should consider and what are the differences?

5) If it seems right for me, should I buy a cat or a kitten? I've read that a kitten will have an easier time bonding with you than a cat will (plus, kittens are really cute =P). As I said before, I'm moving to Chicago in August. I'll be living in my parents house (who own a very mild mannered Chihuahua) or in my house at college (I haven't decided where I'll be yet) from June until August. Would this be enough time to train a kitten for apartment life when I move to Chicago? Would a kitten be OK moving at such an age? If not, I'm guessing the answer is to just wait until I move to Chicago and then buy a cat that's already 1-2 years old. Would it be better to buy a 1-2 year old cat in June so it gets used to me before I move to Chicago, or would it hate getting settled and then moved again?

I know I'm asking for a lot of information, so thanks for just reading down to the bottom of my post! If you know of any good resources for me to read about all this, that would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

Welcome to TCS!

Since it sounds like it will be just you in an apt, I do suggest getting a pair of cats so they can keep each other company. Being a shelter volunteer, I suggest visiting local shelters looking for you new best friend(s). I suggest going for adult(s), especially if you only get one kitty. Leaving a single kitten alone in an apt can prove to be disastrous (they find many things to keep themselves occupied, which you may not like).

There are a lot of ways to keep a cat occupied, and provide more room in an apt. For instance, look into cat trees & furniture. It's not just about floor space, but vertical space. There are many people on TCS who have multiple cats in smaller apts.

There are a variety of ways to keep your kitty occupied - they make all kinds of toys now, furniture - oh the things you can buy for a cat these days!

Basic supplies are food (for more info on high quality food you can search the nutrition forum), water, bowls, a litterbox/litter, & toys. As mentioned above, check out cat furniture. What litter you choose will depend on what you & the kitty like.

Many people keep their cats strictly indoors for safety & they live out their lives happily. The "great outdoors" can prove to be very dangerous!

Some cats travel fine, some don't. It will depend on the individual cat. If you are going to be gone for a week & leave kitty home, do look into a cat sitter.

There are a variety of purebreds, however if you are considering a shelter kitty most as just plain old "moggies", or mixed breeds. They come in all colors, sizes, shapes, & lengths of fur.

I've had many kittens I've fostered, and many adults. I actually have 2 foster kittens right now. They get into everything. Not saying that adult cats don't sometimes get into things, but IMO adults are far easier to keep. I've brought home many adults to foster, and trust me - they bonded well to me. I actually was gone for a weekend, and the adult (7 year old) foster cat I had didn't eat all weekend while I was gone, she'd only eat if I fed her.

Originally Posted by bizbob

I'm about to graduate from college and move into the real world, and I'd really like a pet to keep me company. I've traditionally been a "dog person," but I really just love having pets in general (I always had fish, hamsters, gerbils, and finally a dog when I was young). I'll be moving to an apartment in Chicago in August and working a standard 9-5 job, so I'll be out of the house most of the day. I really don't want to be an irresponsible pet owner (I want my pet to be as happy with me as I am with it!), so I understand that much time out of the apartment would be way too much for a dog. From what I hear, cats handle lots of alone time really well. I really know very little about cats, so I figured a community like this one would be a great place to get information. Here's my slew of questions....I know I'm asking for a lot of information, so thanks for just reading down to the bottom of my post! If you know of any good resources for me to read about all this, that would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

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THANK YOU for thinking about the pet you're going to adopt! I'm sure you'll make a great pet parent, whatever animal you decide to adopt!

My hubby and I were never cat people - he hated them, and I love all animals, but never had a cat and am allergic to them. We'd always planned on having a dog, but we traveled constantly for work, always worked very long hours, and it just never seemed fair. So when a cat adopted us, it was rather a surprise. I went to the Doc, got allergy medication - and we fell so in love with cats that we got heavily involved in cat rescue - and there is no more fierce defender of a cat than DH. (He called all of his friends he used to call crazy for loving cats to apologize within the first two weeks of having a kitty inside full time with us. ).

Now, to your questions:

1) Just to make sure: it would be OK for me to own a cat while living in an apartment and working 40-hour weeks, correct? Yes, many of us do. Cats are very independent, but do need stimulation - so in this situation, it really would be best to adopt a pair. I don't know if you want to rescue, by adopting through a shelter, or purchase a breed specific cat - you may want to post a thread in the breeder's forum about the qualities of different breeds. You definitely want a more laid back kind of cat as you won't be there a lot of time to provide interaction. Shelters often have rescue kitties that have bonded with each other - and it can be very difficult for them to adopt out the two together. If I were you, these are the cats I would look for. Kitties you already know like each other - and will be there to keep each other company during your absence.

2) What things should I consider while considering buying a cat? As I understand it, cats are very low maintenance and very independent. From what I've read they don't need to be let out at all (do they enjoy going outdoors even? I've never seen someone walking a cat...), and clean themselves. What exactly do you need to do for them as an owner other than make sure they have food, water, and take them to the vet to make sure they're healthy? Would a cat be happy in a 1-bedroom apartment? There are a lot of cultural differences when it comes to the indoor/outdoor question. Most of us at TCS like to keep our cats indoors full time - or take them out on a leash (for those that like it) - or let them out in an enclosure. There are several people in apartments that built enclosures on their balconies to let their kitties "out" so to speak. DH and I have only rescue kitties, most of them are special needs. We now have seven (and are at our limit) - but we live in an RV that is 38' long and 8' wide. They do not go out - none of them could deal with a leash (some cats can be trained to use them and end up enjoying them, but they don't "walk" like dogs for the most part). The trick to keeping our indoor-only gang happy is vertical space. We took out the "dining area" of the RV and put in cat trees. Cats live in a very 3D world, and providing vertical space is important. It can be done cheaply in a lot of ways - stacking in a pyramid large plastic storage containers and cutting holes in them - or if you're allowed to put up shelving, check this out! http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...light=cat+wall You can also buy cat trees and furniture less expensively - this way: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...light=cat+wall

Cats do not need a lot of space to be happy - they do need activity. There are SO many great interactive toys out there for you to use to get kitty running around!

They need to be spayed or neutered. They need vaccinations (thought that's open to debate - most states require rabies at a minimum).

As to litter boxes... most cats use them instinctively. The rule of thumb is that you should have one more litter box than you have cats (one cat is two litter boxes, two cats is three litter boxes, etc.) Some cats can be finicky about having a clean litter box, so this really is a good idea if you're gone all day.

Do be aware that cats are very good at hiding it when they don't feel well. If your kitty pees (or poops) outside the box, this is almost always kitty saying "I need to go to the vet."

3) How do cats deal with vacation? If I'm out of town for a week (say, visiting my parents), would a cat mind traveling? Is it feasible to leave it alone for a week, or would I need a cat-sitter? We've left our cats overnight, but for anything longer than that, they either need to go with you, be boarded, or have a pet sitter come in to care for them. Cats are all about territory, so being boarded really stresses most of them out. Some cats travel really well - some do not. It will totally depend upon the personality of your cat(s).

4) As far as breeds of cats go, I know absolutely nothing. It seems like whenever people talk about dogs the first thing people ask is "Oh, what kind?" but I haven't really seen that with cats. What are the breeds I should consider and what are the differences? Haven't a clue, don't know a thing about it. My knowledge goes as far as - all of our rescues are "domestic short hair" or DSH. If they had long hair, they'd be DLH. They're all mixed breed cats, I guess. ????? I guess in the cat world, people are more focused on the colors and the markings. Stripes are tabby markings... and that's about all I know. Well - thanks to TCS, I do know there aren't "gray" cats, they're "blue." But if you want a breed, not a rescue kitty, like I suggested before, I'd ask in the Breeder's forum. (But I think you should rescue a kitty or kitties! There are so many cats that need homes!!!!)

5) If it seems right for me, should I buy a cat or a kitten? I've read that a kitten will have an easier time bonding with you than a cat will (plus, kittens are really cute =P). As I said before, I'm moving to Chicago in August. I'll be living in my parents house (who own a very mild mannered Chihuahua) or in my house at college (I haven't decided where I'll be yet) from June until August. Would this be enough time to train a kitten for apartment life when I move to Chicago? Would a kitten be OK moving at such an age? If not, I'm guessing the answer is to just wait until I move to Chicago and then buy a cat that's already 1-2 years old. Would it be better to buy a 1-2 year old cat in June so it gets used to me before I move to Chicago, or would it hate getting settled and then moved again? Kittens are a lot of work. They're like little children. Also, with kittens, you don't know what the personalities are going to become. Think of it as adopting a 1-2 year old that has claws and goes vertical. They get into EVERYTHING. They are amazingly cute, really. If you're at your parents, does that mean someone will be around to help train kitty? Because they do need training. Not like a dog - it doesn't work the same way at all. Cats are here to be "made happy," not to make you happy, like a dog. They are smart and do learn - but they have to be incentivized with the training, because they won't do something just to please you (usually). (That is what the behavior forum is for! ). It is so totally different than a dog, who just wants to please you. (Personally, I think this is part of the reason the bond with a kitty is so amazing, because they are so independent in their emotions at times, that when they love on you or want to be loved on, it means so much more than it does with a dog). They will test limits - and they need to be told what those limits are. They have to be taught what is OK to scratch and what is not OK to scratch, they have to learn that human hands and feet and arms and legs are NOT toys - they have to learn that curtains are for covering the window, not climbing, and they have a LOT more energy than older kitties, so forget about sleeping through the night for 8 - 9 months or so. They teethe around 4 months, so they have to learn what is and what isn't appropriate to chew/bite... and you have to be the role of mommy.

Some cats move really well - others take some time to adjust. There are a lot of things to do that will make it easier for them, so I wouldn't really worry about the move part of it. Moving from a larger place to a smaller place or a smaller place to a larger place isn't really the issue. We had 5 cats when we moved out of the RV into a two-story house. Four of the cats lived in our bedroom for the first two weeks and we had to use food to motivate them to use the stairs to see what was down there... the other one thought we bought the house just for him and rubbed his cheek on every corner there was in the entire place within the first few hours.

But... basically any question you have about "why is my cat doing this" and "how do I stop my cat from jumping on the counters" or "this is what's happening, do I need to get to the vet" (which, if you're asking that, usually means "yes") is something that you'll get help with here.

As to the issue of claws.... cats have them, need them, and a lot of vets do not provide you with any information and facts, so please read about why every single person on this site would totally jump down your throat for even considering removing them. They can be clipped (and should be). But if you're not prepared to have an animal with claws, please don't get one. If you want links about the subject, we can provide those too.

If I were you, I'd adopt a pair of kitties from a shelter - maybe 7 - 9 months old or so. Still technically kittens, very cute and playful, but the shelter would be able to help you pick kitties as they know their personalities.

Welcome to the forums!

It sounds like you are doing your homework before adopting a pet, that is great!

I live alone in a condo, and I only have one cat. I wish I could afford to get Holland a friend, but I can't right now. She was the "loner" of the kitten room when I got her, she was older (5 months) and waaaaaay less hyper than some of the other ones I met. But she is also skittish and afraid of people and I was told that she'd probably do best as an only child for a while.

I hope you plan to check out local shelters - they will normally let you meet the cats and see if there's a spark. Don't be afraid to ask questions - people at the shelters generally have a good idea about the cats' personalities. And don't rush it - I spent 2 1/2 hours at the shelter and met several kitties before going home with Holland. And if you don't find the "right" one on your first try, try again in a few weeks. Shelters get new cats in all the time.

The thing at the top of my wish list for Holland is a nice tall tree. She has a scratching post that she can sit on, but it's only a couple feet off the floor. She does have some vertical space (I've found her on the top of the fridge before) but not as much as I want her to have.

I've never left Holland alone for more than 2 nights (and that has only been a time or two). I took her with me when I went to my mom's for this past Christmas for 5 days (just an hour car trip away, no plane). She did OK, but she did hide under the bed a lot. I made sure to go to my room to visit her as often as I could. If you end up with a cat who loves people you may have luck in traveling with her. But be warned - I also had to bring Holland's litter box, litter, scratching post, food and treats with me. She had about 3 times as much "luggage" as I did...

This is a great forum with lots of people who've had cats forever, so it's a good place to come for answers to questions. Holland is my first cat, and I've learned a LOT here about kitten and cat behavior.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by bizbob

I'm about to graduate from college and move into the real world, and I'd really like a pet to keep me company. I've traditionally been a "dog person," but I really just love having pets in general (I always had fish, hamsters, gerbils, and finally a dog when I was young). I'll be moving to an apartment in Chicago in August and working a standard 9-5 job, so I'll be out of the house most of the day. I really don't want to be an irresponsible pet owner (I want my pet to be as happy with me as I am with it!), so I understand that much time out of the apartment would be way too much for a dog. From what I hear, cats handle lots of alone time really well. I really know very little about cats, so I figured a community like this one would be a great place to get information. Here's my slew of questions:

1) Just to make sure: it would be OK for me to own a cat while living in an apartment and working 40-hour weeks, correct?

2) What things should I consider while considering buying a cat? As I understand it, cats are very low maintenance and very independent. From what I've read they don't need to be let out at all (do they enjoy going outdoors even? I've never seen someone walking a cat...), and clean themselves. What exactly do you need to do for them as an owner other than make sure they have food, water, and take them to the vet to make sure they're healthy? Would a cat be happy in a 1-bedroom apartment?

3) How do cats deal with vacation? If I'm out of town for a week (say, visiting my parents), would a cat mind traveling? Is it feasible to leave it alone for a week, or would I need a cat-sitter?

4) As far as breeds of cats go, I know absolutely nothing. It seems like whenever people talk about dogs the first thing people ask is "Oh, what kind?" but I haven't really seen that with cats. What are the breeds I should consider and what are the differences?

5) If it seems right for me, should I buy a cat or a kitten? I've read that a kitten will have an easier time bonding with you than a cat will (plus, kittens are really cute =P). As I said before, I'm moving to Chicago in August. I'll be living in my parents house (who own a very mild mannered Chihuahua) or in my house at college (I haven't decided where I'll be yet) from June until August. Would this be enough time to train a kitten for apartment life when I move to Chicago? Would a kitten be OK moving at such an age? If not, I'm guessing the answer is to just wait until I move to Chicago and then buy a cat that's already 1-2 years old. Would it be better to buy a 1-2 year old cat in June so it gets used to me before I move to Chicago, or would it hate getting settled and then moved again?

I know I'm asking for a lot of information, so thanks for just reading down to the bottom of my post! If you know of any good resources for me to read about all this, that would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

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1) Just to make sure: it would be OK for me to own a cat while living in an apartment and working 40-hour weeks, correct?
Yes of course! My fiancee and I live in a one bedroom apartment and we have a huge Maine Coon kitty who is very happy. We both work 40 hour weeks and are not home during the day. It is perfectly fine to leave kitty home while you are at work, however when you get home, kitty needs lots of interaction, love and attention before bedtime.

2) What things should I consider while considering buying a cat? As I understand it, cats are very low maintenance and very independent. From what I've read they don't need to be let out at all (do they enjoy going outdoors even? I've never seen someone walking a cat...), and clean themselves. What exactly do you need to do for them as an owner other than make sure they have food, water, and take them to the vet to make sure they're healthy? Would a cat be happy in a 1-bedroom apartment?
I would def consider a kitty tree, a good tall height would be ideal. They only take up a very small bit of floor space and your kitty will love you for it. I've had both indoor and outdoor kitties, and both thrived in their living situation. Personally I prefer indoor only because it is much safer/less hazardous for kitty. Cats generally do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean, but long haired kitties need some brushing from time to time to keep mats out of fur. And from my experience, brushing helps to remove the loose hair, keeps from getting all over the apartment. Plus cats seem to LOVE being brushed. Yes, they need to have food,water, and annual vet visit in additiion to any vet trips needed by a sick kitty. All my kitties have been very happy in a 1 bed apt with a nice kitty tree with a little bed at the top for them. Also, provide your kitty with plenty of toys while you are away so kitty doesn't get into things she shouldn't.

3) How do cats deal with vacation? If I'm out of town for a week (say, visiting my parents), would a cat mind traveling? Is it feasible to leave it alone for a week, or would I need a cat-sitter?
I have left my kitties overnight along for a max of two nights, everything just fine. Any longer than that I would strongly suggest you arrange for someone to come over check food/water and clean litter box. Or you can also board your kitty. But yeah, I'd say 2 nights alone is the max. As far as travel goes, some kitties travel better than others. Mine travel very well, I have a cat carrier for the car and I bring some basic kitty supplies with me to my parents house when I go visit with my kitty.


4) As far as breeds of cats go, I know absolutely nothing. It seems like whenever people talk about dogs the first thing people ask is "Oh, what kind?" but I haven't really seen that with cats. What are the breeds I should consider and what are the differences?
Unless you have a particular breed in mind that you have your heart set on, I would strongly suggest rescuing an adult cat from an animal shelter. If you get a purebred from a breeder you will most likely get a kitten. I highly recommend you don't get a kitten as they get into EVERYTHING. Since you are working a lot away from home I don't suggest you get a kitten as this could be a bad idea. Find a nice loving adult cat with a great personality who needs a home and your kitty will love you for it. The shelter or rescue group can help you select a cat with a personality that meets your needs and your situation.

5) If it seems right for me, should I buy a cat or a kitten? I've read that a kitten will have an easier time bonding with you than a cat will (plus, kittens are really cute =P). As I said before, I'm moving to Chicago in August. I'll be living in my parents house (who own a very mild mannered Chihuahua) or in my house at college (I haven't decided where I'll be yet) from June until August. Would this be enough time to train a kitten for apartment life when I move to Chicago? Would a kitten be OK moving at such an age? If not, I'm guessing the answer is to just wait until I move to Chicago and then buy a cat that's already 1-2 years old. Would it be better to buy a 1-2 year old cat in June so it gets used to me before I move to Chicago, or would it hate getting settled and then moved again?
I would get an adult cat or an older kitten, not a young kitten (kitten is 0-1 year). A kitten might be bad for your situation as it will most def get into EVERYTHING while you are away. An adult cat will bond with you as well given time. Being that you could be living with a dog, sometimes it will take a while for both pets to adjust to eachother. I'm not saying it never works, but in many cases it will take time for the animals to adjust. In the past my cats being indoor cats have handled moves ok, nervous for the first day but the next day they are the same old kitties. So i would say move is not the issue, but adjusting to a dog might take some work. Not sure if you want to put the time in to do that or not.

And welcome! This is a great resource for cat info. Lots of knowledgable people here.

Hi good luck to you and your dreams of being owned by a cat.

My 2 cents worth on all your questions:

1. It is perfectly okay to work a full-time job and have a cat. Some cats are more independant and get along fine without you there part of the day. That said, if you are looking at purebreds look for breeds that are less active and needy, and I would honestly recommend adopting an adult from a shelter rather than a kitten which needs a lot more time. And you can feel good about giving a home to an animal that might have a harder time finding a family for no good reason other than everybody wants kittens. Yes, they are cute but man are they hard work!

2. I already recommended adopting vs. "buying". Do stay away from pet store cats. They often come from kitten mills and if you do some simple research you will find that these are 'busineses' that you probably don't want to be supporting and you risk getting an unhealthy pet. Research and find a reputable shelter in your area. Or research into reputable breeders if you want a purebred cat. Most people here will encourage you to keep your cat indoors. For an apartment dweller this is probably a must. You can leash train most cats but its not like walking a dog. The cat walks you or chooses not to walk or wants to investigate your potted plant or whatever... And cats don't get walked to use the B-room. there are litter boxes for that.

3. Most cats prefer to stay int heir own home while you're away. You do need a sitter. At least soemone who will come over once or preferably twice a day to feed, scoop litter, change water and pet your cat for 30 minutes. You can sometimes find a repuable pet boarding establishment that will watch your pets for you or a live-in sitter. Or drop your cat off with a friend. You cannot leave a cat by itself with no one watching it for a week.

4. Most cats are either totally purebred or mixes. We haven't been able to tamper with their genetics enough so we get the wild variations in shapes and sizes you do with dogs. I wholeheartedly suggest getting a nice adult mix from a shelter. If you are really set on getting a purebred do a lot of research on the breed's care and temperament first and get referals to a good breeder, try to meet some cats of that type at a show etc... One thing you may want to consider is short-hair vs. long-hair even if you get a mix. Long hair require much more grooming by the human involved.

5. With your combination of being single, working away from home and inexperience with cats, I strongly recommend getting an adult cat or a older kitten over 6mos age. Its a myth that kittens bond better. Cats are smart and they will ultimately transfer their affections to whoever is taking care of them (feeding them). Small kittens are a lot of work, will get into endless trouble while you are not home and require lots of attention/play time to grow up into well-behaved well-socialized cats. A young adult cat may be with you for 10 plus years. I'd recommend getting yourself settled into your new job and apartment first before adding a cat.

Thank you all for the advice! The more I read about cats, the more I'm wanting to get one

The breed doesn't matter to me, and it definitely sounds like getting a kitten would be a bad idea, so I'll take your suggestion and adopt a young cat. I feel like getting two might be a little overwhelming for me.

I'll definitely invest in a tree. I read up a bit about declawing and definitely won't do that.

Is there any way to tell whether a particular cat will travel well before adopting it? I doubt cats in shelters travel to much, so it seems like something people there would know about each cat.

The biggest question I have now is when would be the best time to get a cat. I'll be doing pretty much nothing from June until August. If I get a cat in June then I'll be worried about it getting along with my parent's dog (which is a Chihuahua, who doesn't traditionally get along well with other pets), so I would probably end up living in my house here at college with the cat. I would be worried about the cat destroying someone else's furniture, though. All the furniture will probably get thrown out in September (it's just a buch of stuff we got for free), so I don't think it would be a huge deal, but I would still feel bad about it. How easy is it to stop a new cat from clawing at furniture?

I feel like it would be easier for me to just wait until I'm settled into my new apartment in August to get a cat, but I'm wondering what would be best for the cat. I'm worried about doing this because I don't know how much time you need alone with a new cat to train it. I'll be working a full time job. Would a weekend be enough time to get the cat trained and adjusted enough for me to go to work on Monday and not have to worry about it? I know with a dog you pretty much have to take 2 weeks off to train it and get it used to its new environment, and I'm not going to have that much time once I start working in August. I don't want to get a cat, and then have it feel like I'm ignoring it as it's adjusting to a new environment.

What would you all recommend?

Originally Posted by bizbob

The biggest question I have now is when would be the best time to get a cat.

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If I were you, I'd be tempted to just wait until you move before adopting. That way you won't have to worry about introducing the cat to the Chihuahua only to be moving in a couple of months. But try to be sure you'll have time to spend with the cat - I know how time-consuming starting college can be. Set aside at least a couple hours a day to play, to cuddle (hopefully!) and just to talk to him/her.

Originally Posted by bizbob

How easy is it to stop a new cat from clawing at furniture?

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In my experience (with my ONE cat ) scratching at the furniture was never an issue. I got her a scratch mat the night I adopted her, and as soon as I could I got her a scratching post. She has never ever ever used anything else to scratch. That's another good thing about adopting a young adult - you can sprinkle catnip where you want the cat to scratch (I've heard that many kittens don't respond to catnip).

Originally Posted by bizbob

Would a weekend be enough time to get the cat trained and adjusted enough for me to go to work on Monday and not have to worry about it?

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Well, if you DO get a cat, you'll probably find that the cat will train YOU, not the other way around... I went to work the day after I adopted my kitty and she was just fine. Since she was still a kitten, the shelter recommended that I keep her confined to one room (with litterbox, food, water & toys) while I was away from the house. I closed her up in my bedroom when I was out of the house for about a month before I let her have full run of the place when I was gone.

Cats are very odd creatures in a lot of ways. Don't get discouraged if you get yours home and s/he hides a lot in the first several days. Talk to your cat, play music or the TV when you're not home, try to make sure s/he has a window (cats can watch their neighborhood for HOURS out the window without getting bored).

When I brought my cat home she stayed under my bed for about the first 3 days. She is my first cat, and I had SO many doubts about adopting her, wondering what I'd gotten myself into. But with a little time and a LOT of patience, she warmed up to me and there isn't an evening that goes by that she doesn't cuddle on my lap while I'm reading or watching TV. She even loves to snuggle under the covers at night a lot of the time. As someone else mentioned previously, cats really do make you work for their love and attention, but that makes the bond with your cat THAT much stronger. I always had dogs growing up and was always attached to them, but never anything like I have with my cat. I still get my hand batted away if I try to pet her when she doesn't want to be petted, and she pretty much thinks she's queen of the household, but when you have a purring kitty fall asleep in your arms it all becomes worth it.

Everyone has given you great advice!

Definately wait till you are settled to get a cat. You want to make sure wherever you move to will allow cats anyway so you are not scrambling to find a place last minute to accomadate your new cat. Going from a shelter to a home with a dog to an apartment alone could be stressful for a cat so i wouldn't do it. Wait.

You can get your cat and go to work the next day. Show them where the litter is and food and thats the extent of their "training" needs. They actually might like being alone for while so they can roam around the place and make themselves at home.


Two are not more stressful than one if you can handle the financial cost of two vet costs. If they are a bonded pair already (which alot of shelters have) it can take the heat off of you to be their one source of entertainment. If you have only one cat and its only you that is there for them you'll need to be their buddy. Where, is you have two they will play with each other alot. Although they still will want your attention its just less. Which after a long day of work its nice to not have that pressure.

There is a good book http://www.amazon.com/House-Cat-Keep.../dp/0764577417 I highly recommend it!

Welcome to the wonderful world of being owned by a cat I'm so happy that you're considering adopting a shelter kitty. Each shelter cat has their own story and purrsonality just waiting to be discovered and loved. Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I'm loved by my very own ex shelter kitty Squeaky, and spend every Sunday scooping poop at a local rescue

It's tough to wait, but I would say it would probably be a good idea to do just that until you're settled in. If you're raring to go in the mean time, maybe you could volunteer at a local rescue or shelter. That way, you'll learn the basics of cat care, so you'll be ready to go once you're in your new place.

That's really good news that it takes so little time to introduce a cat to a new place. Now I can spend the next couple of months reading about owning cats to make sure both my cat and I are happy if I get one come August. I'll probably be spending a good deal of time here reading up on various things.

Thanks again for all the information everyone!

As a personal experience, I can say that I found it much easier to adopt a pair than only one cat. They won't be any more trouble than one cat, as you feed them at the same time, bring them to the vet togeter for their vaccines, etc. Plus, they tend to adjust better and handle the stress a lot more when it comes to stressful situations (like moving, going to the vet or when you are gone). Also, it is so adorable to see to kittens or cats taking care of each other (licking the other's head or sleeping together). Toys and vertical spaces are great, but there is nothing like real company for a cat.

All that being said, I am sure you will be an excellent pet parent! You are taking your time to learn and you are not making a spontaneous decision.
Don't forget to come back here once you find your cat friend and post some pictures!!

I'm still a bit wary of getting two cats at once. I'll spend the next few months researching, and then hopefully I'll have a good idea of what I'll want to do. I just picked up Cats for Dummies at the library (I looked for the book fifi1puss recommended, but no libraries around here are carrying it, and I've heard good things about Cats for Dummies too) and read the first few chapters. They were all about what to look for when adopting and where to adopt, so I looked into some adoption places in Chicago, and that sparked a few more questions:

In the description for one black cat, it mentioned how a lot of people don't want to adopt black cats. Is it just because they don't want black cats (aesthetics or superstition), or is there some more concrete reason (such as white cats with blue eyes generally being deaf)?

Also, can you/is it ok to rename an adopted young cat?

Originally Posted by bizbob

In the description for one black cat, it mentioned how a lot of people don't want to adopt black cats.

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My Holland is completely black and I adopted her about a week before Halloween. My sister-in-law was surprised because she'd read that a lot of shelters halt adoption of black cats around Halloween due to people wanting them for sick sacrifice rituals. I don't know how true that is, but I have also heard that if you have a black cat it's a good idea to make EXTRA sure they don't get out of your house around Halloween. But to my knowledge, there is nothing genetically special or different about black cats.

Originally Posted by bizbob

Also, can you/is it ok to rename an adopted young cat?

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Absolutely! A lot of people wait a few days before naming/renaming their cat to see what their personality is like. Holland got her name at the shelter, and I personally love the name, so I kept it. But one cat I met was a male named "Baby" and I can tell you right now, if I'd taken him home he would've been renamed!!

Take a look at my siggy, that is my black foster kitten. She is now 6 months old & still waiting. Albiet she was a feral (wild) kitten when I got her at 6 weeks of age.

That said - black cats are almost always adopted last. They don't "draw" people to them by their unique color. Over half the cats we (the shelter where I volunteer) have for adoption are black, black & white tuxedo, & black & white bi-color. We have a litter of wonderful 6 month old black kittens we got at 8 weeks, we still have all 4 of them four months later as they aren't "pretty".

A few other things to add - should you decide you want a declawed cat, many shelters are chock full of them. We've even have 8 month old declawed kittens come through here.

Make sure to spend a lot of time with possible new family members. The really rambunctious ones may not be the best choice for only kitties in an apt. Some cats need to be only kitties (aren't happy with other cats), so don't rule them out as possibilities if you're only getting one. Seems so many people adopting here won't look at them if they want to be only cats, as they already have another kitty.

Age is just a number, I've met some very playful 8-10 year old cats (there was one once that out-played a 4 month old kitten ), and some very mellow 1 year olds. I actually have a foster kitty, Lola, who is 10 months old & extremely mellow. All she wants is some love.

^That's interesting to me that the black kitties are adopted last. I black cats and actually went in wanting one. I had an open mind and checked out lots of different cats, and finally ended up taking home... a black cat.

I always knew there was something special about those of us who love our black kitties...

I will definitely go in looking for a black cat. I would have thought that black cats would be more popular if anything. It seems I'm looking for the opposite of most people -- a mature black loner.

Out of the 9 kittens Biter and Goldie(both black cats) had, 5 were black cats. There were 2 tabbies Nuts(short haired) and a long haired one and 2 black and white bi colors- Attitude(long haired) and a short haired one. We still have all the black kittens, except for one who disappeared one day, and Goldie(I think they both met a hungry coyote at different times.) There was another that had to be put to sleep. The other tabby and black and white got adopted(before we found out about the leukemia.) I wanted Attitude from the first time I met her as a toothless fluff ball(she was the first kitten they brought over) and Nuts was her 'partner in crime.' The vet also told me she was 'definitely male' when I marked her down as a she, I was right, the vet wasn't so I thought having 2 males would be fine. I had serious doubts about Attitude being male once I had them both inside, but what sealed was when 'he' went into heat and Nuts mounted 'him.' She got spayed the next day. I didn't pick Attitude and Nuts because they weren't black, their personalities won me over. All of the ones here have been here since they were 4 weeks old and the moms brought the 9, plus Mama's 3 which all went away within 2 days(they were at least 6 weeks and wanted nothing to do with us or our food, one stuck around for a few weeks before moving about 1/4 mi up the road to live with the neighbor's Clydesdales.) They were ready to start solid food so they were brought here so they could start crunching on the kitten food.

Yes, when people came they all looked over the black cats. I like black cats, they are 4 out of the 6 that I take care of outside.

If you want to adopt a black cat do it, they are so overlooked in shelters and most black cats are just the most loving cats there are.

By the way- Seriously think about getting 2. Attitude and Nuts still drive us crazy wanting us to entertain them and they have each other and do entertain one another. I've had one cat before and trust me, it's better to have 2, if you can afford the vet bills.

Taryn

I became a brand new cat (pet) owner last March and I've learned alot on this site. I'd would have worried myself to death over some of the things that have happened. I also borrowed most of the cat books from my local library. Lastly, I knew I wanted a pair of cats as I'm single and out of the apartment at least 10 hours daily. I also travel a total of 4-6 weeks annually. I wanted my cats to have company.

Having said that, I'd totally consider the vet costs for two cats, especially if you're a student (i'm presuming you're on a typical student income). Paying for two cats' food, litter, etc. isn't that big of a deal but if both cats have significant health issues, it can really impact your bank account. I went well over $1,000 for the first month after adopting my cats. They both had severe colds, digestive and other health issues. They are now in fine shape, but the first couple of months were tough.

I think you have gotten a lot of good advice so far but I do have to suggest that you really look into getting two cats. I know if I was gone most of the day and mine were left alone it would be destruction city. I have three cats and Fatman is my loner kitty he doesnt like anyone unless you have food out. But GiGi and Hercules cant survive without each other, they are boyfriend and girlfriend and do everything together including terrorizing the dog and Fatman. But if it were just one or the other they wouldnt be happy.

It really isnt much more expensive or time consuming to have 2 compared to having just one.

Good luck making your decision and good luck waiting on adopting..I know if I were in your shoes I wouldnt wait Id have to do it right away because Im impatient!! lol