TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › Cats and Other Animals › Good companion for me and the boys...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Good companion for me and the boys...

post #1 of 20
1/27/06 at 12:11am
Thread Starter 


I have a month and a half until I return to work from my LTD leave, and I am thinking about adding a new pet to the mix, now that I'm in the recovery phase of my illness.

Does anyone have any suggestions of a sort of pet that is somewhat low maintenance, and that would work well with my boys? Russian Blues are quite high-strung and sensitive, so it would have to be a pet that wouldn't overwhelm them. Ideally, I wanted to adopt a pair of Siamese kittens, but I think it would be too much for Mik, who will be 7 this year. I'll likely wait until he crosses the bridge before I bring in kittens.

Any ideas would be most welcome!
Reply
post #2 of 20
1/27/06 at 12:53am
Mik is only 7, Jenn, it will be a looooong time before he's crossing over and Bridges! Siamese kittens, what a joy! I wouldn't call them low maintenance, though, and we all know how excitable kittens can be. If I was to adopt a family member other than a kitty, I'd get a little bunny!
Reply
post #3 of 20
1/27/06 at 8:04am
How about adopting a cat the same age as Mik? As I understandi it older cats are passed over alot. I'm sure there's an older cat out there that would be a perfect playmate for MiK!
Reply
post #4 of 20
1/27/06 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, a bunny might be a good companion, and big enough to handle my guys. An old roommate actually had a bunny before, and Mik got along with her. I don't know how Lex would do, but maybe it's worth giving a try...
Reply
post #5 of 20
1/27/06 at 1:27pm
My first thought was bunny, too, but they are not low maintenance. I had bunnies all my life, and I wouldn't have another one. They need a lot of attention and space to run about, and specific diet needs, they're destructive, and they're really messy! I LOVE bunnies and would like to have one again, but it takes a lot of work! They do get along well with cats though. How about a big Guinea pig? You could adopt a full grown one from the HS. Now those I don't know much about though I have pet sat for a few, and I don't think they're as needy as bunnies....I say another cat...
Reply
post #6 of 20
1/27/06 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah, I guess bunnies aren't that low maintenance. I'll have to give it some more thought, I guess...
Reply
post #7 of 20
1/28/06 at 6:05am
How about a blue rat? If you get a pair, they are low-maintenance, but they do enjoy lots of human attention. Seriously, rats are excellent pets, smart and affectionate and clean. Well- they are clean, their cages get pretty messy!
The nicest rat I ever met was a "blue" color, and the rats would match your cats! They would have to be protected from the cats when they were babies, but once they're grown, they can hold their own around most cats.
Reply
post #8 of 20
1/28/06 at 6:08am
Cats are the most fun out of any pets I've had.
How about a mouse? Or would that be tempting fate?
Reply
post #9 of 20
1/28/06 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by badenzoo
How about a blue rat? If you get a pair, they are low-maintenance, but they do enjoy lots of human attention. Seriously, rats are excellent pets, smart and affectionate and clean. Well- they are clean, their cages get pretty messy!
The nicest rat I ever met was a "blue" color, and the rats would match your cats! They would have to be protected from the cats when they were babies, but once they're grown, they can hold their own around most cats.
I'll think about a pair of rats... I actually have had a pet rat before so I know how to take care of them.
Reply
post #10 of 20
1/28/06 at 10:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by maverick_kitten
Cats are the most fun out of any pets I've had.
How about a mouse? Or would that be tempting fate?
I actually had a bit of a mouse problem in my last apartment, and I definitely think it would be tempting fate.
Reply
post #11 of 20
1/30/06 at 2:43pm
Also, just so others know: Rats, even more than cats, are social "pack" animals by nature. They shouldn't live solitary but rather do best with a cage-mate of same sex to cuddle up with, live and play with...

I love em..Had 6 in my apartment and they don't smell if you keep on top of their environment...They love playing, toys and training too. Its so much fun as you likely know. A fave of my boys especially was to go "fishing" in the bathtub for peas (I would put a tupperware container in the bathtub, throw in a handful of frozen peas, fill it with water and watch em go at it)
If you do get rats and need a good rat chow recipe or dozens of playtoy ideas, let me know!
Reply
post #12 of 20
1/30/06 at 4:31pm
I agree with rats being great pets!

They are fantastic and are very loving!
Reply
post #13 of 20
1/30/06 at 8:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loveysmummy
Also, just so others know: Rats, even more than cats, are social "pack" animals by nature. They shouldn't live solitary but rather do best with a cage-mate of same sex to cuddle up with, live and play with...

I love em..Had 6 in my apartment and they don't smell if you keep on top of their environment...They love playing, toys and training too. Its so much fun as you likely know. A fave of my boys especially was to go "fishing" in the bathtub for peas (I would put a tupperware container in the bathtub, throw in a handful of frozen peas, fill it with water and watch em go at it)
If you do get rats and need a good rat chow recipe or dozens of playtoy ideas, let me know!
Yeah, I would agree with getting a pair. My little guy used to get bored alone, I think. They are very smart critters. I definitely will let you know if I need some recipes or toy ideas! Thanks.
Reply
post #14 of 20
1/31/06 at 9:39pm
Thread Starter 
So, I've decided I think I'm going to add another cat to the household! I think that would be best for my boys... and another just like them would probably be the easiest...
Reply
post #15 of 20
1/31/06 at 9:58pm
YAY another kitty!!! Are you going to get an adult cat or a kitten?

And yes, Russians are sensitive and high-strung (don't I know it...lol) but I think they'd get along ok with another kitty if it was quite mellow. What about a Persian? Or, hang on, low maintenance...lol. Ok, get another Russian if you must....lol lol

But I assume you are going to rescue, if so, why not one of each, an adult cat AND a kitten?? Unless that's going a bit far... ...
Reply
post #16 of 20
1/31/06 at 10:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva!
YAY another kitty!!! Are you going to get an adult cat or a kitten?

And yes, Russians are sensitive and high-strung (don't I know it...lol) but I think they'd get along ok with another kitty if it was quite mellow. What about a Persian? Or, hang on, low maintenance...lol. Ok, get another Russian if you must....lol lol

But I assume you are going to rescue, if so, why not one of each, an adult cat AND a kitten?? Unless that's going a bit far... ...
Yes, it will be another Russian Blue if I do get another cat. I don't know yet if it will be a kitten or cat. There are no Russian Blue rescues in the Toronto area, but if there was I would certainly consider a cat from one.

I don't think it's fair to my cats to get a feral or cat that has had a vastly different life than they have had. They need to have a cat with a similar personality who will not dominate over them (that's why I scrapped the Siamese or Bengal possibility), and as you know, they are very gentle and sensitive creatures. My two boys get along like peas in a pod. Not to mention I absolutley love the breed.
Reply
post #17 of 20
1/31/06 at 10:43pm
Sashka looks askance at you and jumps ten feet if you sneeze, talk about sensitive!!! And yet, when she's in the mood (which she often is with me, if not Max) she's quite determinedly loving and very strong about it, too - her headbutts are very demanding! I love the breed as well, they are darling cats, so sweet, so pretty, Sashka is a tiny, tiny little girl so it's like having a perpetual kitten even though she's two. I would definitely get another Russian.

My boss's wife Nina met some Russians of friends of theirs, and fell in love, and they decided they had to have one (even though she's allergic and they already have two dogs and a rabbit, and fish). Lenny is a lovely boy - actually very mellow, unshakeable, confident and loving, for a Russian. Nina is besotted with him, as is my boss and their three young sons.
Reply
post #18 of 20
1/31/06 at 11:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KitEKats4Eva!
Sashka looks askance at you and jumps ten feet if you sneeze, talk about sensitive!!! And yet, when she's in the mood (which she often is with me, if not Max) she's quite determinedly loving and very strong about it, too - her headbutts are very demanding! I love the breed as well, they are darling cats, so sweet, so pretty, Sashka is a tiny, tiny little girl so it's like having a perpetual kitten even though she's two. I would definitely get another Russian.

My boss's wife Nina met some Russians of friends of theirs, and fell in love, and they decided they had to have one (even though she's allergic and they already have two dogs and a rabbit, and fish). Lenny is a lovely boy - actually very mellow, unshakeable, confident and loving, for a Russian. Nina is besotted with him, as is my boss and their three young sons.
Awwww, Sashka sounds like such an angel.

Surprisingly, Mik can be quite mellow and even-tempered. After all, he was a show cat for a while, and did quite well. Lex, on the other hand, is just so skittish, but also VERY loving and a real lap cat with me.

Mik hates whenever I bring a guy home. He likes women, but does NOT like men, especially my ex BF who apparently took up way too much of my time for Mik's liking.
Reply
post #19 of 20
1/31/06 at 11:02pm
Lol! Sashka is a sweetheart, I adore her

She loves Max, too, but he's a bit put out with her at the moment, because she was letting him give her a stroke the other day (which doesn't happen much at all) and he did it just a tiny tad too long and she bit him. LOL! So he's pretending to be very angry at her (and still sulking, I might add) and she's just not even noticing...funny girl
Reply
post #20 of 20
2/6/06 at 1:40pm
Get a bengal! They are great with children and have an awesome personality.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cats and Other Animals
TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › Cats and Other Animals › Good companion for me and the boys...