I think this is the right forum...
I have a question about adding a new cat to my household. I had 2 female cats and one of them was diagnosed with diabetes. After putting up with her urinating outside of her litterbox for about a year, my wife and I had to get her put to sleep. That was about 4 months ago.
Our remaining cat has been very vocal and needy for attention and we're sure she is missing her friend. We went to our local animal shelter and found a cat that is just adorable. We want to get him but I have questions before we do.
The cat that we want to get is a male. He has yet to be neutered and we don't know how old he is since he is a stray. He is full grown. Our first question is, what are the chances that he will spray to mark his territory even after we get him neutered? I wouldn't think of it as a problem but because our other cat soiled a couple spots on our rugs, will the new cat spray the rugs to mark his territory? We used some of that enzyme pet cleaner on the spots but even though we can't smell it, the new cat might.
My second question is about getting him neutered and declawed. Should we give him to the vet the same day we get him from the shelter? I thought it might be a little hard on him to deal with surgery and a new home to live in.
Other questions that come up are, should we get a male to go along with the female? Or would 2 females work better? Maybe we should get a kitten just to be on the safe side?
What we don't want to do is bring this good looking and seemingly affectionate cat home, have it spray all over the house, then take it back to the shelter. Then it goes back as cat that sprays the house and then no one would want it.
Any advice would be great!!!! Thanks!
Tim
I have a question about adding a new cat to my household. I had 2 female cats and one of them was diagnosed with diabetes. After putting up with her urinating outside of her litterbox for about a year, my wife and I had to get her put to sleep. That was about 4 months ago.
Our remaining cat has been very vocal and needy for attention and we're sure she is missing her friend. We went to our local animal shelter and found a cat that is just adorable. We want to get him but I have questions before we do.
The cat that we want to get is a male. He has yet to be neutered and we don't know how old he is since he is a stray. He is full grown. Our first question is, what are the chances that he will spray to mark his territory even after we get him neutered? I wouldn't think of it as a problem but because our other cat soiled a couple spots on our rugs, will the new cat spray the rugs to mark his territory? We used some of that enzyme pet cleaner on the spots but even though we can't smell it, the new cat might.
My second question is about getting him neutered and declawed. Should we give him to the vet the same day we get him from the shelter? I thought it might be a little hard on him to deal with surgery and a new home to live in.
Other questions that come up are, should we get a male to go along with the female? Or would 2 females work better? Maybe we should get a kitten just to be on the safe side?
What we don't want to do is bring this good looking and seemingly affectionate cat home, have it spray all over the house, then take it back to the shelter. Then it goes back as cat that sprays the house and then no one would want it.
Any advice would be great!!!! Thanks!
Tim