Soon-to-be cat owner?

Question

So my mom has always had cats, and I have always loved having them around. I moved into my bf's place about 6 months ago and he has agreed to let me get a cat of my own, even though he still has his doubts about cats (He has never had pets before). My bf has already expressed that he wouldn't want the cat in our bedroom or in the office. Based on that I have three questions: 1) Should I adopt a younger cat or kitten so I can "mold" them, or would an older cat be better? 2) Should my bf really worry about cats destroying his computers? He said he wouldnt want them chewing on wires, but I thought that was a canine habit. And 3) What other helpful tip do you guys have for owning and taking care of a cat?

Answer 1

You might (or might not) be able to "mold" a kitten's habits (I think "influence" is the best you could hope for - if that.) With an older cat, especially one from a rescue group that's been in a foster home where they've gotten to know one, you can find one that already has the kind of personality that will fit into your home.

Also, chewing wires is more of a kitten thing. I've never known an adult cat who did that.

No, a cat won't hurt BF's computer. But if he allows kitty around it, he'll have to clean the cat hair out of the box and the mouse every so often. That's not a big deal, it only takes a few minutes and it doesn't have to be done very often.

Helpful hints:

Feeding your cat. Read this and you'll know more than most vets about feline nutrition and cat food. What you learn here will help you more than anything else to help kitty lead a long and healthy life:
http://www.catinfo.org

Where to get many top brands of quality cat food delivered right to your door. And they have a pretty good toy section, too:
http://www.petfooddirect.com

An outstanding source of feline health information:
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/FelineHealth.html

Learn about "feline medicine's dirty little secret," one of the most pressing feline health issues of our time:
http://www.vas-awareness.org
(That's my late great Rusty on the calendar near the top of the page.)

Answer 2

I have a lot of experience with cats and with computers and the two together, lol. Personally, I have never seen a computer, or any of it's parts or wires damaged by a cat. Rabbit yes, cat no.

Not to say it doesn't happen, but I have never seen it. If it was a cronic problem, I would have seen several of them. The worst thing that I see is cats walking across the keyboard thus typing in things. If you have a document or spreadsheet on the screen, that can trash it.

Years ago, there was a program that you could put on your computer. That program could sense when a cat was walking on the keyboard because they often produce a certain pattern of keystrokes.

Shut the office door if you can't handle the cat being there. Don't let the cat outside. Statistically, indoor cats live twice as long because of all the possible problems out there. Spay or neuter immediately.

You can try to scratching post train, but good luck with that. Some people think declawing is inhumane, other think it is okay. Neither side will ever change, it is an endless debate.

P.S. I disagee about the cleaning issue. I think it is fine to clean as much as you can. I do not think it is advantageous to intentially leave some cat dander.

I would also recommend an adult shelter cat. They have had a lot of care and checkups and you can better judge their final personality. I also like the fact that it helps to discourage people who are too lazy or inconsiderate to spay and neuter.

It remains to be seen if he loosens up on his restrictions. If he doesn't, you might want to think long and hard about what that says about him. Hopefully, once he sees how great a pet is, he will change his mind.

Answer 3

I'd suggest getting an older cat. Kittens are MUCH more destructive and high maintenance. Older cats (around 3-5) just kinda hang out and sleep all day. Obviously, some are more playful than others.

I'd recommend going to www.petfinder.org and checking out the available pets out there for adoption. Most of those pets are fostered, so there are all sorts of kitty personality traits listed in each cat's description.

Tips? Catnip is your friend, if you don't front declaw BUY A SCRATCHING POST AND A SQUIRT BOTTLE, scoop the litter box at least every other day, Brush your cat often, feed the cat at the same time each day - although it can and will be your alarm clock if you feed him or her in the morning. If you go out a lot at night, I'd feed the cat whenever you wake. That way, the kitty doesn't starve while you're out partying. If you need to punish the cat for something, squirt it with water. Don't hit the cat because you can cause some very bad health problems doing that. Other than that, just love on it.

Answer 4

None of those fears are really valid. if you do get a cat, which is your call, though I would talk with your boyfriend more, you would need to watch out for furniture. Cats often don't take to scratching posts, and for a little bit they will claw things, but that ends after a few months. You will also need to decide whether you will ever let the cat outside- if so, DO NOT DECLAW! if declawed, you cannot let the cat outside, it cannot defend itself. if it' going to be an outdoor cat at all, let them be. I don't' think you should declaw at all, it is very cruel to the cat.

Tips: if you enforce the rules within the first few months, they will stick for ages. Cats can sense however when you're in a god our lousy mood, and will take appropriate action, even if against the rules, so don't count on strict enforcement.

Be ready for shedding. Don't be hyper about cleaning or anything like that, an environment with pet dander can actually help prevent allergies. however, keep the buildup down, but if you cant stand hair, don't' get a cat. Get a fish. A doggie door is hand for an outdoor cat, or one of those specialty cat doors. Saves you a lot of door opening trouble.

oh- and feed the cat with wet and dry food- the wet makes the dry cereal more acceptable to the cat.

Answer 5

You've had some very good points here. I've always had cats, and they've come to me rather than my seeking them out. You can't imagine the enormous mutual love that can come from the companionship of a furrball that gives everything on trust to you and expects the same.

Please don't declaw your cat. That is a very cruel thing to do. You can gently train your cat to claw on certain pieces of carpet or a scratching post that you have chosen especially for them, and you can take their paws (gently) in your hands and show them how to use it.

Any cat can be moulded. I have had rather old cats who have adopted me and have been incredibly grateful for the love I've provided; speak to them and give them their food in a routine. Nobody will destroy your computers: I have two cats (not chosen by me, but chosen by them), and three computers, and no one has destroyed any wires, screens, keyboards. You just have to be a little firm when they want to sit on your lap and say that they have to keep off it. I've left the keyboard beside me when one sweetheart wants to walk over it, but a loving hand will keep her/him off it. It takes perhaps two or three kind admonitions for a lesson to be learned.

Cats are no problem at all: they are full of love and consideration. Take it from me as a cat owner (sorry, they own you!) of at least 20 years that they won't be any trouble as long as you love them. Habits also have to be learned. so make sure that you firmly and gently lay down the ground rules from the beginning.

I don't find there's anything special to learn about keeping a cat. They don't need walks like a dog; just tell them when you're away for a day or so - any longer, and like any other animal you keep you will need someone like a trusted neighbour to feed them - and they will trust and snuggle up to you with a great deal of purring.

You may also find they know a lot more than you do. They know if there is anything bad in your house and will protect you from it.

All I can say is that if you find a cat, you'll not know how you did without one previously!

It's all a fallacy about cats destroying things: treat them right and all you will have is great love, affection, understanding, obedience and a strange feeling of an undiscovered intelligence that you didn't know existed before.

I wish you great luck and love with your little ones. Oh, and incidentally, I have never been scratched by my cats except for twice or so in all these years when we've been playing and they've become over-excited!

Answer 6

My cats are not allowed in two rooms; the one with the computer and my bedroom. The reason is because I have many and my husband wants his space. I foster cats and have no problem keeping the doors shut so they don't go in there.
Chewing on wires you should not worry about for I have never had a cat do it.
The best thing you can do for your cat is to get it spay/neutered right away. And please don't declaw...it is very painful and traumatizing. Get a scratching post and train it to use it.
http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/

Answer 7

Cat's can not be molded regardless of age. That's why we love them. Cat's will jump on your keyboard right while you are typing an important e-mail and ruin it. Cats will also chew on every wire in your house. Electrical, telephone, fiber optic.

Oh, and the cat will jump up on your BFs computer table while he is looking at the monitor and put his/her butt in their face and block the screen.

These are truths. It's time to train your boyfriend.

Answer 8

Kittens can be trained. I have an older cat and a kitten. The older one is declawed. I strongly recommend this, even though it seems inhumane. The kitten is very rambunctious and fun to watch. The older one just stares at her. The older one also goes to the bathroom outside, whereas the kitten uses the litterbox and makes a huge mess.
Ask yourself how much time you have to spend with it.
Free kittens in the paper all the time. Dogpound or animal shelter always have cats and kittens.
Siamese are loud cats too.

Answer 9

If you dont want the cat in certain rooms, you just have to close the doors.