He stole my heart and won't give it back!

I don't believe any of you would remember me, but I joined a month or so back because I was planning on getting a kitty soon.

Well, he found me.

I went to Petsmart today because I was having a bad day and cooing at the kitties (and birdies, and chinnies, and ratties, and fishies) always cheers me up. Well, the "irresponsible" caretaker accidentally left the cages unlocked, to which I helped myself. Had the cages been locked I would have probably just walked out.

This big tom cat they call Riley (and I will call Elliot, should he agree) stole my heart. A lady who works there says he's been here for several months and he always gets overlooked because he's so shy. He wasn't being shy with me.

A volunteer came in and scolded us for opening the cages, and then shooed us out. I asked who I need to call to adopt, and guess what? They're having an adoption event tomorrow!

So Riley/Elliot/Louie is coming home with me tomorrow. I can't shake him out of my mind.

There has been quite literally hundreds of cats I have held and played with, but not one has stood out to me and my girlfriend... not until today.




So... I guess for a discussion... I only have about $250 I can afford to spend right now. The adoption fee is $75. With a limited budget of $175 until payday, what are the essentials I should buy first?

Also, does he look like a Louie or an Elliot? Name suggestions? He's a big lover boy, so he needs a big loving name.

Oh he's GORGEOUS!!!! I love black & white "bi-colors" like him.

For now most vital essentials are: food (find out what he's eating & buy a small bag, you can switch him to whatever food you want later), litterbox, litter (find out what he's currently using & start him on that), & some toys. Make sure you always bear in mind you never know when a vet visit will be required, & hold some $$ back.

That's great news - congratulations!
We got our first kitty at the end of Nov and so I remember what we did. Before we went to get him we bought a carrier (you may get a cardboard one at the petstore when you adopt but remember you need to take Elliot to the vet soon and need a reliable carrier), a litter box (started with an open one), litter, the food that the foster was feeding him (science diet and fancy feast), a bed and a blanket, bowls for food and water. Calvin did not sleep on the bed for even a day and neither did Hobbes. Maybe you can try with a cardboard box with something soft on it as a makeshift bed initially?
This is what we got - I am sure you will get many more advice.
Best will the new kitty!

Edit: and a couple of toys

Awww! Congratulations on finding each other!

Basics:
- Food (Get whatever he is eating at the moment. You can slowly adjust him to a higher quality food if you wish to in the future.)
- Food bowls (I use heavy ceramic bowls that I don't use anymore and they work great, no need to purchase pet food bowls. Plus I can stick them in the dishwasher. )
- Litter box
- Litter
- Check-up/Vaccines (I'm guessing he is vetted already since he is part of this adoption event so that will save you a bunch.)

Other investments:
- Carrying case (he can go home with you in a box they provide but you may want to invest in something sturdier in the future)
- Toys
- Treats
- Cat bed (I don't know about this one. I bought one and he never used it so we ended up returning it. Simba just sleeps wherever he wants. For the first few days you can just set up a blanket area for him.)

--
Post more pictures when he has gotten used to his new home!
Good luck!

You can try calling him different names and see if he is fond of any of them?

The same thing happened with my boyfriend and I when we adopted out first cat, Stanley, this past summer.

We were planning on getting a cat and had a bit saved up, but we were going to wait until we got into a house rather than our apartment. We would always go to Petsmart and look at the animals, it seemed to cheer us up to. Ours never has the doors locked, the cages are, but you can go in and pet the cats through the bars so long as you use the hand sanitizer provided between petting each cat. There was one cat there, an older, big, black cat that we just kept coming back to. We actually left him there twice and went back home but kept thinking about him, we went back a third time (within a week) and he was still there so we adopted him. The adoption process at ours is different too, you can just pay the adoption fee and go home with the pet. The adoption fee varies depending on which group is there, but it's always at least $150.

We had about $250 saved up, the adoption fee for Stan was $150. So we had a similar budget to what you had until the next pay day. The essentials (that we bought) were a litter box, litter, food, and 2 toys. The total for that was around $50 - although we could have done it cheaper if we had shopped around, we ended up getting everything from Petsmart.

One thing I would recommend, before getting toys and everything, is to make sure that you have enough for an initial vet visit because it usually has to be done within 2-4 business days from the date that you adopt the cat. Some places it's a week, but regardless, the sooner you bring him in to be checked out, the better. This was one mistake that we made with Stan, because of when we adopted him we weren't able to take him to the vet within that time period. Ours was 24 hours from adoption, we adopted him on either a Friday or a Saturday and because of my work schedule weren't able to get him into the vet until the Thursday after we adopted him. We adopted him from our local AC through Petsmart and he had FIP. Had we brought him in within that time period we would have gotten our adoption fee back after he had passed (2 months after we adopted him).

So you have a budget of $175, that should be just enough to get him a vet visit for a general wellness check, a litter box, litter, food and a few toys. There are lots of homemade toys that you can make for your cat to play with until you can get some real toys - things like balls of tin foil, paper, a string on a stick, etc.

I spoke with the volunteer tonight about him. She didn't have much information on "Riley", but she said all their cats have been tested negative for FIV, FIP, and other diseases, is up to date on their shots, and have been neutered. I'm going back tomorrow at noon to get any more information, such as where he came from, how old he is, if they have his vet records, etc. If all looks good I will be bringing him home.

It's been about 6 hours and I still can't shake him out of my head. I realized a little while ago that I have actually had a dream about a kitty who kneads the air when you scratch his chin. My girlfriend had a dream about a kitty that looks just like him. I think we need him as much as he needs us.

Oh, and they're looking for volunteers! Guess who's signing up~

Nerdrock - I'll keep that in mind and I'll be sure to ask the adoption volunteer their policy on sick kitties.

I'm really more concerned how he's going to react to my bird... and how my bird is going to react to him. He doesn't seem the type to be interested in squeaky flighty things, but since he is an adult it may be hard to determine how he's going to react. The last thing I want to do is bring him home, fall in love and then have to take him back...

Definitely looks like he chose you as his special person!!! He is gorgeous, and looks like a real lover!!

I can't wait to see more pictures of him in his new forever home!!

Congrats!!!

Originally Posted by Mewsings

I'm really more concerned how he's going to react to my bird... and how my bird is going to react to him. He doesn't seem the type to be interested in squeaky flighty things, but since he is an adult it may be hard to determine how he's going to react. The last thing I want to do is bring him home, fall in love and then have to take him back...

Click to expand...

Hey, congratulations! Hope all is well tomorrow and he comes home with you... But... About the bird...
Is he loose/free around the house, or in a cage? Look, for sweeter a cat is, it is still a cat, with instincts - and the instincts will be to hunt the bird... as food...
Sorry to say this, but I don't want you to come home tomorrow for a disaster... Cats and birds don't mix... no no...

Originally Posted by Carolina

Cats and birds don't mix... no no...

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I know lots of people who have birds as well as cats.

My advice regarding the bird would be to put the cage in a spot where the cat can't get to it, such as hanging from the ceiling, or hanging from a very sturdy/heavy pole that can't get knocked over, or even have the cage in a separate room where the door is closed during the day while you aren't home.

But having a bird is no reason to not get a cat.

congrats on a kitty finding you

cats and brds can be ok my friend has two birds and a cat...cat doesnt bother wth them they are mainly in a cage but do fly around each day for a little bit

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Not necessarily. I know lots of people who have birds as well as cats.

My advice regarding the bird would be to put the cage in a spot where the cat can't get to it, such as hanging from the ceiling, or hanging from a very sturdy/heavy pole that can't get knocked over, or even have the cage in a separate room where the door is closed during the day while you aren't home.

But having a bird is no reason to not get a cat.

Click to expand...

Natalie - note I asked if the bird was in a cage. I did not tell him to not get the cat. I simply said I would not let the bird loose around the house with the cat... Loose, as in not in a cage.

The cat CAN learn that the bird isn't prey...but it's not his nature. You will have to be very careful.

Do you know if an initial vet visit is included in the adoption fee? Our shelter has a voucher for it, but it doesn't include any tests or vaccinations, just a general physical.

I normally tell people to take the cat to the vet immediately to eliminate "the big nasties," which are FIV and FELV. Since your guy is already tested, and you don't have another cat at home at risk, you can cross that off your list.

A litter box, a bag of clumping litter, a litter scoop, ceramic or stainless water and food bowls, and a supply of food are the basic essentials. Don't bother with a cat bed; he'll sleep where he darn well pleases (probably on your bed!). If he isn't declawed, you'll want to clip those claws pretty quickly to protect your house and your hands. Ask here if you need some tips. You may want to check out the threads on using a Sterilite storage box as a litter box; it can reduce some of the tracking problems (and litter flinging problems!), and it's no more expensive (usually costs less) than a purpose-made litter box.

I wouldn't worry about a brush immediately, or comb, or any of the other myriad items, toys, etc., that you can spend your money on. A pair of shoe laces will likely be all the entertainment he needs. (Cut the plastic ends off, tie a knot in the end to prevent unraveling, and tie the two laces together. Throw one end in front of Elliot. Walk around the house with one end in your hand. Hilarity ensues.)

The most important things are your love and protection.

Keep in mind this IS an adult cat. He may well have some habits you don't like, just as the best boyfriend in the world would have. Prepare yourself for them, and figure out what you can't live with.

By the way, since he's largely black, you may well be ultimately saving a life by adopting him. Such cats are way over-represented in the euthanasia statistics.

I really like the markings on his face.

I realize and have always realized the risks involved for my little birdie if I were to get a cat... but the reality is, and though I hate to admit it, when I bought Calypso I was trying to tell my heart I didn't really want a cat (my mom is allergic to cats). I never will regret having Calypso, and he is my heart, but there is no replacement for a cat. It's a risk I'm willing to take.

Well, as for Riley/Louie/Elliot (or whatever name he chooses to respond to)... we're gonna go get him right now. He stole my heart and was in my dreams all night. I'll find out all the information I can get about him, and you guys will be the first to know when I get home.

Just as an aside, he looks like a Louie to me, and the name fits all the requirements some say are essential: 2 syllables, ending with the "ee" sound, and no "s" sounds in it.

Also, pictures. We're going to have to have a lot of pictures.

The good news is that most Petsmart stores are supplied by the local SPCA. They are pretty fussy what they put out; we transfer to them only the best of our cats, they vet them before they accept them, and they check them for temperament. Any signs of disease or aggressiveness gets them rejected.

As to the "shyness," I have seen several instances where cats are extremely shy, almost to the point of being unadoptable, but are suddenly attracted to some visitor to the shelter, even through the glass of the cage! I remember one very shy girl who always cowered in the back of her cage, until a couple came to her window. She immediately perked up, went to the window, and started rubbing on it. We took her into the meeting room, and she jumped up on the lady's lap and settled down. Who can explain these things? I know we can't!

But you should be ready for Elliot/Louie to try to hide for a while. You may even want to put him in a "safe room," like the bathroom, if he's having trouble in the larger part of the house.

Well of course I'm going to go for the name Elliot...because I have one! How wonderful that you have been chosen by this precious kitty! Sounds to me that it was meant to be, and it REALLY warms my heart! Congrats!

Is he home yet??

He's so cute

First off, congratulations on finding a kitty who has stolen your heart. It's such an amazing feeling to have the sense, when meeting a new cat, that you are meant to be together. It's magical.

And, Riley is absolutely precious. I love his markings. As a teen, I fostered a cat that looked similarly that was named Batman (because of the markings). He was an awesome kitty and was adopted into a loving home. Riley's personality reminds me of sweet Batman. And, if they're anything alike, I know you'll have an amazing cat on your hands. Oh, and to weigh in on the name debate, I definitely vote for Louie. He looks like a Louie to me.

As for cats and birds cohabitating together, I do believe it is possible. However, the caveat is that all members in the household need to be cautious and responsible. I, myself, have four cats and a cockatiel. I had to spend a lot of time, early on, working with my cats to ensure that my cockatiel would be safe. He is caged, but does come out for a couple of hours every day. Thankfully, my living situation allows for the cats to be put up into my apartment while the bird has his time out in the house. For safety reasons, his wings are clipped. And, while the cats can safely be in the same room as him while he is out, I know that it is their nature to hunt and so it is rarely done. And, if it is, the cats are supervised by both my roommate and myself. While Duncan (cockatiel) is in his cage, I have no worries, but, still, if I am not home, I keep the cats in my apartment versus allowing them on the main, shared, floor of the house. So, it can be done. But, it needs to be done in a way that everyone is safe at all times. And, that takes a lot of time and dedication. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I wouldn't put any of my pets in danger -- including my bird. It is an additional concern, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I look forward to checking back to this thread and seeing whether or not Riley has come home with you. Good luck and please, PLEASE, keep us updated!