Thinking Of Getting A Kitten

[Lari]

I honestly feel like I'm just lucky as opposed to anything I actually did! I mean, I don't know what her foster mom did to get her ready for forever home living (she's a reformed feral who was trapped and socialized by a tnr group) but I just basically told her what a good girl she was every time I saw her using the scratching post.

She sleeps on my bed and sits on my couch because she lives here too and it's not a problem for me. I don't force her to do anything (except get in the carrier to go to the vet, and that's only when I can't tempt her in with treats) and I don't really consider myself her 'owner' - I think of her as my cat and myself as her human. It's just sort of a mutual respect thing?

We do have a routine that she thrives on, the way a preschooler would. When I get home we play and then she gets wet food and she knows and expects it. But I didn't specifically 'train' her or lay down the law - it just came about naturally as time went on.

 

[mimica]

That's wonderful. Cats can sense, like any pet can, if an owner is confident and responsible. Based on how you both are compatible, one can conclude that you've made a good impression on your kitten and your kitten respects you.

 

[chromecat]

Are there any first time cat owners here who can give there input? For the member who has a Siberian, what is your experience with caring for one?
Thanks again everyone!!

Me We adopted our first cat about 2 weeks ago, and he was almost 4 months then. Considering my brief experience and all the knowledge I have from the forum, I can say: we were very lucky with Felipe as so far he is super easy (never EVER goes outside the tray, almost doesn't meow, super affectionate). BUT. He is quite needy, and he is around us all the time. I work from home so I can give him as much time as he needs, but we don't have kids. Kittens take a lot of effort - they might not be as accurate as adults in terms of grooming, and they might step on their own poop as they are still learning (and leave tracks). Also, if they stayed with the mum long enough they probably have learnt already, but if you take them younger they will need time. At some point during the day they'll go crazy and want to play, and you have to socialise them and play when they need: remember that for a kitten you are the replacement of his siblings. From what I read I am not sure a cat is the perfect fit for you. Honestly, they are clean but every once in a while some mistake will happen, and you might not be able to train them to stay off the counters. If you're absolutely sure about your decision you shouldn't go for a kitten but probably an older cat would be the best solution. And you certainly can't keep him secluded in a room - that might easily be the cause of future behaviour problems.

 

[chromecat]

Hi Lari, Thank you. I'm so glad you replied. Your kitten sounds just like my sisters. She really got blessed with a well behaved, gentle, trusting, affectionate cat. It also depends on the owner i think, too. If you give too much, they take and dominate the home. It's like children. If you allow them to do whatever they please, they will do just that. That's why i think so many owners own the title of "My cat owns my house" instead of the owner rightfully claiming that title. I think as pet owners if you don't do that at the forefront, you are in for trouble and behavioral problems. Thanks for referring me to the behavior forums. I'll have a look.

Ok after reading this I am just a bit more sure about saying that a cat might not be the best fit for you at all. Again, it depends on the cat. If the one you get doesn't match your expectations, what will you do? If he does match your expectation but ends up changing behaviour when he's a bit older, what will you do then? We adopted a cat fully prepared for potential disasters and open 100% to accommodate whatever cat might ours happen to be. Cats aren't dogs, there's less space for training, no matter what you say, they'll end up doing their own thing if they want to.
Don't think that just because you say so he will not try to "dominate", as you say, the house. It's their house as much as yours If you are very strict and make his life miserable with restrictions and forcing him to behave how you want him to behave... that's when the trouble really kicks in.

 

[mimica]

Thank you chromecat. I respect your advice and I'm taking all this information in. I'm glad I can get great advice here from those who are well experienced with cats. It's true, dogs i believe, are more easy going and I can gladly say, I've never dealt with a stubborn dog. Labradors are pretty obedient, loyal and very easy going and our maltipoo has followed there lead. Every animal has it's own personality but certain dog breeds are easier than others. I read the siberian has a personality like a "dog" very playful and loving. I might need to find a siberian cat forum since they are quite rare.
Since cats are new to us, visiting my sis more often can open our eyes to just how it is living with one.
Thank you everyone. Take care all

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi - your signoff makes me wonder if you'll be coming back here...in case you are, here's some input from a person who has had show dogs, pet dogs, and cats - the maintenance he experienced is actually about the same between dogs vs cats, just somewhat different. I don't know if anyone mentioned here (apologies if so) that another maintenance item is claw clipping. A question; what is the method you use to sanitize your floors? Again, apologies if this has been talked about already, but if with a chemical solution, your floors will need to be rinsed with water really well so you don't have the residue (even when dry) getting on the cat's feet and ingested when the cat cleans itself.

EDIT; I'm guessing Siberians have claws like my Big Guys or even more so - kind of like having a dinosaur in the house they're so big. I had to pick up a pair of reptile clippers to handle the job.

So, back to it, his strong opinion is, get a ferret or two for your kids or tell the kids no and that they can visit your sister(s) anytime and play with their pets (as long as the cat in question is willing ).

By the way, did you undergo allergen testing? You might be allergic to something else. Someone else here asked, and in all seriousness, what will you do if you or your husbands' allergies flare? I'm curious why you're looking for a Siberian cat forum - you have gotten very valid input from Siberian people here (umm, I get the sense "owner" isn't the right word with these guys). Anyway, best of luck with it all.

 

[talkingpeanut]

You’re correct that owner isn’t the right word. It’s more of a roommate/companion situation. The other thing that’s lost here though is that a Siberian isn’t different from any other cat. They are really just individuals with indicidual personalities. Any Siberian forum is just going to be an echo chamber.

 

[kashmir64]

EDIT; I'm guessing Siberians have claws like my Big Guys or even more so - kind of like having a dinosaur in the house they're so big. I had to pick up a pair of reptile clippers to handle the job.

Actually, the claws are relevant to the size of the paw. Not as thick as a dog's. But if my girl gets much bigger, I do have nippers for horse hooves in the barn. lol

a Siberian isn’t different from any other cat.

Very true. Except you need to supersize their meals and bolt things down so their weight doesn't topple it when they jump on it.

 

[orange&white]

If you have a very trainable dog, he's trainable because he wants to please you. He knows you're in charge.

If you have a very trainable cat, he's trainable because he wants to humor you. He knows he's in charge.

 

[Blakeney Green]

You sound like a very nice family, and I think you will make great pet owners... but it doesn't sound to me like a cat is a good fit for your situation. Cats typically are not great about respecting space boundaries, and they sometimes do make messes - especially if you are looking at a kitten rather than an adult animal. Kittens also tend to be pretty rough, wild, and loud in their play, and training them to be good feline citizens takes a lot of work and a lot of patience. Some of the reasons a dog didn't work for you would probably also apply to a kitten; they do calm down eventually, but it takes months.

I would strongly suggest you look into an animal that doesn't require quite as much space and can be more contained. Have you considered a rabbit? I think that might be a good fit for you (with the right cage setup) because they can be very affectionate with their owners and enjoy their floor time with the family, but you wouldn't have to worry about them running all over when you aren't there to supervise. A rabbit can be trained to use a litterbox or to eliminate in one part of their cage, and they are very quiet.

You also might consider a guinea pig, rat, mouse, hamster, gerbil, etc. Personally I think rats are a great choice - they are very social and can form a strong bond with their owner, and they're lots of fun to play with.

I don't mean to discourage you, but from what you've said about your expectations, I just don't think a cat (especially a kitten) would be the best choice. I think a different type of pet might be a better match.

 

[oonawingedwolf]

I second the suggestions of gerbils and hamster. Keep in mind for their psychological health gerbils must be kept in same sex pairs or trios. They are very low maintenance. they do best in tank style cages as they chew through plastic but that is fine as they kick bedding a lot so it is contained in the cage. as dessert animals they put out very little urine and cages only need cleaned every 3 weeks. They eat seed diets without corn is best. a water bottle with a chew guard provides water and a wheel and toilet paper tubes for toys. A trio would be very happy in a 40 gallon breeder tank with slide on lid. I'd recommend looking at agsgerbils.org for more info.

Now hamsters do best as single pets as they are solitary in the wild but otherwise have the same needs as gerbils.

 

[Alejandra Rico]

Wow, I've seen very tough comments here, not very kind, which is not what I tipically expect in this lovely place.

First of all, I want to say that cats can be hapoy in a confined space. It depends on the cat and the space, but it is certainly possible. My cats live in my bedroom and toilet. It is not a small space, but it is ovbviously not a whole house either. Raistlin loves being with me, but is afraid of everyone else, of noises, of my parents dogs and, sometimes, even of perfwctly innocent furniture that has been in the place for ages. Since we moved to the attic (that is where my new bedroom is), he is a much happier, confident cat. Freya is a bengal, and most of you will admit that these are active cats, but she is happy with her two cat trees, the bureau and the shelves, and torturing poor Raist every now and then. I can't be with them for as long as I want, because I study 8 hours a day, but they seem to be fine with that because I wouldn't have a bed otherwise.

Second: outdoor dogs are not necessarilly unhappy. It depends on the dog and the space, as well as the weather. My great danes love spending hours outdoors when it is not raining, and prefer sleeping outside in the summer. I know this because they are allowed to choose. We don't mind letting them sleep inside or outside, it is their choice. So saying that having them outdoors is cruel sounds quite offensive to me.

Third: bad "discipline" is not ok, but it doesn't mean that you have to let your cat do whatever he or she wants. Limits and boundaries have to be there for them to be safe. When I say "no", my cats stop. Just like that. I don't " punish" them. I don't hurt them physically nor psicologically. I just use a very clear voice and stop them by moving them at first, then I just use my voice, and every single of my five cats understood what I meant. I am not special, so if I can do it, anyone can. It just takes patience and consistency.

 

[Furballsmom]

Alejandra Rico you're terrific. Thanks for being you.

 

[Alejandra Rico]

Alejandra Rico you're terrific. Thanks for being you.

Oh, thanks, that is probably the best compliment a person can get. Thanks a lot for your kindness

 

[talkingpeanut]

Wow, I've seen very tough comments here, not very kind, which is not what I tipically expect in this lovely place.

First of all, I want to say that cats can be hapoy in a confined space. It depends on the cat and the space, but it is certainly possible. My cats live in my bedroom and toilet. It is not a small space, but it is ovbviously not a whole house either. Raistlin loves being with me, but is afraid of everyone else, of noises, of my parents dogs and, sometimes, even of perfwctly innocent furniture that has been in the place for ages. Since we moved to the attic (that is where my new bedroom is), he is a much happier, confident cat. Freya is a bengal, and most of you will admit that these are active cats, but she is happy with her two cat trees, the bureau and the shelves, and torturing poor Raist every now and then. I can't be with them for as long as I want, because I study 8 hours a day, but they seem to be fine with that because I wouldn't have a bed otherwise.

Second: outdoor dogs are not necessarilly unhappy. It depends on the dog and the space, as well as the weather. My great danes love spending hours outdoors when it is not raining, and prefer sleeping outside in the summer. I know this because they are allowed to choose. We don't mind letting them sleep inside or outside, it is their choice. So saying that having them outdoors is cruel sounds quite offensive to me.

Third: bad "discipline" is not ok, but it doesn't mean that you have to let your cat do whatever he or she wants. Limits and boundaries have to be there for them to be safe. When I say "no", my cats stop. Just like that. I don't " punish" them. I don't hurt them physically nor psicologically. I just use a very clear voice and stop them by moving them at first, then I just use my voice, and every single of my five cats understood what I meant. I am not special, so if I can do it, anyone can. It just takes patience and consistency.

You have realistic expectations, and I think that’s the difference between your success and the concern some of us have for the OP. It’s ok for a cat, and a kitten at that, to not be the right pet for someone.

 

[Blakeney Green]

It’s ok for a cat, and a kitten at that, to not be the right pet for someone.

Or just not the right pet at this particular moment in time. I'm not saying the OP should never get a cat or kitten - just that with what they're looking for right now, it doesn't sound like a good match. Circumstances change, though, and it may be that in the future a kitten would be a better fit.

 

[dustydiamond1]

All the advice everyone gave is great.

I want to add that it will help if you go into it with the mentality that you are adopting a new family member and opening up your home to also be the cat’s home. One of the most important things for cats is feeling like they own a space or they have a territory. They want to feel like they can jump up high, and mark their scent everywhere. You don’t know what kind of personality you are going to get until you bring your cat home. They may be easy to train to stay off counters or they may be a pain. There are ways that you can accommodate them (e.g., get something else that they can jump on like a cat tree), but sometimes it can be very difficult to train a cat to not go places you don’t want them to go. So I guess what I’m saying is, you have to expect a bit of compromise with cats. Realistically, no matter how much you plan things out, it likely won’t go how you planned. Having an open mind will help a lot. Also given that you’re getting a long hair cat, be prepared for hair everywhere. You have to be willing to live with it. It won’t work out if you’re constantly trying to control the cat or its hair (not saying that you will, but you need be a bit laid back about cat hair if you want to have a cat).

No, cats are not low maintenance. It happens all the time that good-intentioned people who want low maintenance pets adopt cats and then realize that cats have a lot of needs. You need to be prepared for this, especially if you’re getting a kitten. Kittens are high maintenance. You have to play with them multiple times a day, watch them to make sure they are not getting in trouble, etc.

Also one other important thing if you’re getting a kitten... make sure you kitten proof your home. Cover up wall outlets, hide/cover cables or anything else the kitten can get into that can harm them or they can break. Get ready for some sleepless nights and lots of play time.


Edit: I wanted to add one more thing. Cats are hard to train. It takes a lot of persistence and consistency on your part. Always remember that they don’t respond to punishment. Punishment actually usually makes their behaviour worse. They respond best to you ignoring bad behaviour and rewarding good behaviour.

 

[Yanaka]

I'm so glad a lot of the members here respond realistically. It looks like this person is pretty set on having another cat who will either flee outside and live like a stray, or end up at a shelter... I get that it's hard to change one's mind on a pet, but nothing OP has said is compatible with a cat. Cats use their litter boxes throughout the day, then rub themselves in your bed and on your tables and counters. Cats love heights and don't often understand rules, so they will lounge on your counter like they would in a tree. If you think you've trained your cat, it will only be while you're not there, and if you want to confine your cat to a room or outside, the cat will hate you and ignore you as much as possible. Dogs especially the "maltipoo" don't belong outside either. I really hope you realize that we love cats and share our passion with them, and are being honest and not evil.

 

[kashmir64]

However, since the OP has her heart set on a cat, we need to give the best advice we can to ensure a happy, healthy cat. I do still advise against a kitten. I would have not got my 2 if I hadn't bottle raised them and formed a bond. I would have definitely got an older cat, because I knew what to expect.
Unless the OP is ready for 'Hell on wheels', she needs to get an older cat (at least 2-3 years old).
That being said, if the OP needs advice on how to properly care for a cat, we need to give it to her to the best of our ability.

 

[orange&white]

I think it's best to try to talk someone who is probably not going to be happy with a cat out of getting a cat in the first place. Of course we will be here to offer advice and support after the fact if the cat is acquired with disregard for the input from lots of people with cat experience.