Hi! I may be getting a kitten.

Hi! I am here because I want to read about cats and their care. I think I am getting a kitten.

I presently own one Dachshund, age 21 months.

In the past year I have lost two dogs. My 15 year old Yorkie had her knee fall apart and it was not repairable. She was in a lot of pain and my Vet felt it was time for her to go. That was in April 04. This past February my 14 year old toy poodle had a stroke and had to be put down.

I adopted Isabel, my miniature Dachshund, a little over a year ago.

I would like to get a kitten so that she will have a buddy to grow old with. Since I haven't had a cat for close to 20 years, I wanted to be sure I did this right and so I am here, reading.

My name is Susan.

Hey Susan,

Welcome to TCS....I would highly recommend that you get 2 kittens. That way the kittens can play with each other an your dog may participate if it wants.

http://www.1by1catrescue.org/kittenpairs.htm

http://www.pawschicago.org/PetCare/catsinpairs.htm

Katie

Hi Katie!

Thank you for the welcome!

My dog already prefers cats to other dogs. She visits my friends house and is the same size as her cats. She is very gentle with them, but still is puppy enough to play.

My friend's cat is having kittens. I have to say this is not a responsible breeding. These kitties are barn cats.

I live in a mobile home with my dog and elderly mother. I think we only have room for one more body. I agree that two kitties would be fun, but I want a buddy for my dog.

This kitty will be loved and doted on.

Susan,

Even if your dog is cat friendly....I would still recommend 2 kittens. Kittens learn from each things that they won't learn from a different species. I've had both a single kitten with a dog and 2 kittens and I found personally that when I had 2 kittens..they were much happier. Having 2 kittens doesn't take up that much more space than having 1 and that gives your puppy 2 kittens to have as playmates and the kittens have each other. Ultimately it will be your choice...but I still recommend 2.

Also..your friend should have this cat fixed once the kittens are born. If this is a farm situation...then she should contact a group to help have them all spayed/neutered.

Katie

You are absolutely correct that this cat needs spayed. I will mention to her that there may be a group available to get all of her cats taken care of. She has 6 boys and 1 girl.

Susan

Definately she should have the female fixed once the kittens are born. Then she won't have to worry about more litters. The Males should also be fixed so they don't create more litters.

Here is a listing of low cost clinics in Ohio:





OHIO
A Snip In Time
Cleveland OH
216-651-7142
Pets and ferals.
City of Cleveland Kennel
2690 West 7th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-664-2759 clinic
216-664-3069 main
Low cost spay/neuter clinic for pets of Cleveland residents.

Pet Guards Shelter
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
330-920-1522

Planned Pethood Inc.
5265 Berkey Southern Road
Whitehouse, OH 43571
419-877-3499

United Humanitarians
Toledo, OH
419-475-1977

MARX (Minimizing Animal Reproduction without Extremes)
Middletown OH
513-465-3295
Mobile s/n clinic for feral and pet cats in Middletown.

CAT-SNIP Program
Scratching Post
6958 Plainfield Road
Silverton, OH 45236
513-984-6369

Spay/Neuter Clinic
Columbus OH
614-367-9933

Humane Society & Spay Neuter
4920 State Route 37 E
Delaware, OH 43015
614-369-7387

Cat Welfare Association
736 Wetmore Road
Columbus, OH 43214
614-268-6096
Low cost spay/neuter for pets of low income people.

Spay Ohio
Northwest Columbus OH
614-457-5772


Advocates for Animals Inc Marietta OH
740-3730017


SICSA
Dayton, OH
937-294-6505
Low cost spay/neuter for pets of low income people.

Humane Society of Preble County
722 South Franklin Street Eaton OH 45320
937-787-4408 Thora Smith for appointments and info
Brings a mobile unit (NOMAD) to the area every month for low cost s/n of cats.

Thank you. I just copied the list you provided. We are probably 1/2 hour closer to Columbus than to Cleveland. I don't know where some of the other towns are, but will check on Mapquest.

I just found a spay/neuter clinic in our town put on by S.T.O.P. I don't know if I can get my friend to take advantage of it or not. She already knows how I feel about taking care of my animals.

Susan,

It looks like the Neuter Scooter will be in Columbus May 22nd..it's a pretty good deal:

Cats/colonies meeting the program requirements can receive their spay/neuter surgery plus vaccinations for $20 per cat. Contact the Neuter Scooter for program requirements for feral cats.

Otherwise it is $40 per cat...and if she has 6 kittens and charges $40 per kitten (adoption fee) then she is covered.

http://www.neuterscooter.com/where2.cfm?clinicstate=OH

Katie

Originally Posted by Prosperity

I just found a spay/neuter clinic in our town put on by S.T.O.P. I don't know if I can get my friend to take advantage of it or not. She already knows how I feel about taking care of my animals.

Click to expand...

Perhaps you could offer to take the cats to the clinic...also, I don't know how adoption rates are in Ohio..but here in Virginia..they aren't great so the fewer oops pregnancies we have..the better it is for all cats.

Katie

No matter what my friend ends up doing, I will be having my kitten neutered and he will be an inside kitty only.

I am really sorry to hear about your losses, I know how hard that is. Cats make wonderful pets and I think you will make a very responsible owner by coming here first. PLEASE make sure you have the cat fixed soon, as in at 2lb and two cats are usually getter than one

And talk your friend into doing the same..there are many low cost options all over the country...good luck!

Unfortunately the farmers idea of what to do with cats and their value is not my value on animals. If I had a farm there would be no accidental population of kittens or puppies.

Hi welcome to the site.

Hi, and welcome to the site! Are you getting a boy kitten? I would suggest a girl, just so in case your friend doesn't spay/neuter the others, at least one girl won't be having more kittens.

And I disagree about getting two kittens. I think if you get one, it will be more likely to consider your dog its friend. If you get two, they will be best friends, and the dog will be the odd man out. I have a dog, an Akita (Misty), and when we had one cat in the house they were friends. I currently have two, and they tolerate her, but do not befriend her at all.

I don't recommend one kitten for a home with no pets, but since your dog is already cat friendly, I think he will get along well and be a companion to your kitten.

Sorry for the loss of your dogs. It is so hard to lose a beloved pet! Enjoy your new kitten!

I still recommend 2 if someone is taking young kittens. Prosperity...if you were going to take a male..is there a way that you could find a clinic willing to spay/neuter the rest of the litter?

Katie

Hi Susan,

Welcome to TCS!

I am actually open to getting either a boy or a girl. I thought maybe that since my dog is a girl and boys seem to be a bit easier going that having a boy kitty with my dog might be the best match. I am not stuck in the boy mode only, though.

Hi And Welcome to TCS!!!