Cat Question?

Question

I want to get a cat and i never had one before and i need some advice on how they are like and what they do. I want the best for the cat i choose. What should i do? help?

Answer 1

First off you want to have most of the stuff already at home so you don't have to stop on the way home or get home with them and then leave them in a new place all alone with nothing.

make sure you have food dish and a water dish, some toys, a litter box, and some litter (I recomend arm and hammer super scoop, make sure it's unscented) don't forget about having at least one or 2 scratch posts.

if you know if you are getting a cat or a kitten which usually you really don't know when you go to a shelter who is going to pick you out you can take care of getting the food on the way home. go to pet co or petsmart and get natural choice complete care indoor formula dry food for either kitten or adult depending on who you adopt.

make sure that with in the first week of adopting the cat you get him/her to the vets to get checked out and make sure they are healty and to establish with the vet. my best advice is to set aside $5-$10 at least a month in a vet fund so if you ever have a time your cat needs veternary care and you are a little short that month your cat doesn't have to suffer.

good luck and happy adopting!

Answer 2

Cats are really pretty easy. Unlike dogs they don't have to be walked, they can be left alone all day, and they can even be left alone for a night or two as long as you leave food for them.
Ok, first thing to do when getting a cat is to make sure that you and the cat blend well together. When you go to get the cat, pick up a few cats/ kittens and see which one you seem to bond with the best. You should be able to tell just by which cat isn't quite so afraid when you pick it up and especially if one of the cats starts purring when you pick it up. It's always hard to tell at first as the poor thing is going to be afraid of you, but hopefully you will get some sense of the animal.
Ok, once you get the animal home, you should already have the house prepared for the cat. That is, have a litterbox ready and have a food area set up. the food area should have a bowl for food and a bowl for water. You should bring the cat over to the food and then to the litter box. Cats do not need to be litter trained, it is something they learn instinctually. Don't worry. Also, they head for the food right away. As far as food, they should be given a little wet food in the morning and a little at night, and you should leave some dry food out for the cat during the day for the cat to nibble on as it gets hungry. Always always make sure that the cat has water to drink.
If the cat is very young, you might want to limit the cat to a small part of the house for a short while, to let the cat get accustomed to living with you. I've been told that this can work well to make the cat comfortable. Personally, Ive never done this. I've always just introduced the cat to the house and let it roam, giving it some catnip toys to play with, showed the cat where I was, where my bed was, and let the cat find it's way around the house. It's usually taken a few days for the cat to get comfortable, and I've tried to play with the cat as much as possible.
Train the cat from the begining where you don't want it to go. Keep it away from places like tables, the stove and counters. You can use a water pistol to shoot at the cat to keep it from places you don't want it to go. Cats hate water, but a little spray won't hurt it,just startle it.

Answer 3

I don't know how old you are or where you live, but check out the local humane society. They almost always have a need for volunteers to come in and socialize with abandoned cats. Cats need to learn to socialize and, although they do this readily, they need people to "show them the way." If you volunteer foe a few weeks you will see how cats interact with each other and with people. You can ask lots of questions while actually playing with the animals. It's a win - win. You learn about cats and the cats get to remember that people can be their friends.

Answer 4

Get a kitten from your local animal shelter. Hold the kitten and rub its cheek with your cheek.... it will know you are "marking" it. Kittens need to be stimulated, so have some simple toys... squeaky mouse, pieces of string, etc. Be sure to show affection, and your kitten will soon show affection back by purring and "kneading" you with its paws. Indoor cats live longer lives, but cats are very curious and you don't want him to be bored, so do make certain he stays stimulated . I do not allow my cats on the kitchen cabinets or on the bathroom vanity. To train them, I used a water gun. When they would jump on those places, I would give them a little squirt. It didn't take long for them to discover those places were off-limits. You can also get Apple Bitters at a pet store. These will also repel your kitten. Many states do not allow declawing because it is considered inhuman, so check with a vet about that. Cats are fun, and I know you'll enjoy having him/her to greet you each day.

Answer 5

I have had cats all of my life and I volunteer at our local humane society on weekends. Cats are great, but they do have different temperments. Mostly, they are independent and like to lay in warm patches of sun and play with string. From my experience, the more exotic breeds like the Siamese, Burmese, Persians, etc. are rather aloof. That doesn't mean they aren't friendly ... they just want attention when they want attention. Go to your local animal shelter or humane society and look around. I've had my best luck with orange tabbies and brown/black tabbies (they are the ones with the black M on their foreheads between the eyes). Also, for some reason, people don't really take to black cats. I don't know if it's superstition or what, but I know that in our shelter, black cats just sit forever. (Thank God we are a no-kill shelter!) Anyway, I have found the black cats to be sooooooo friendly and playful and just wonderful! It makes me sad to see people pass them by all the time, because they really don't know what gems they are! Kittens are high energy -- very high energy. Older cats are more calmed down. Good luck and enjoy your new addition!

Answer 6

I suggest buying a book on cat rearing. Cat's do not take a lot of maintenance. I have 4 currently (2 are being adopted out today) but anyway.....I prefer male cats over females. I find females to be more tempermental and mean. Males I find to be more laid back and sweet. Also, a good investment is a "covered" litter box, so they don't flip litter out. When you bring the kitten home make sure to show him/her the litterbox once, and then let the cat be. They only need to know where it's located and they'll be set. Make sure to take them to the vet right away, set up for neuter/spay and front declaw for when they're old enough. (I had a cat neuter and front declawed in the same day. He was exhausted for 2+ days and then was back to normal). I consider declawing a good investment for your furniture....email me with any other questions.

Answer 7

Cats can be very different from one another. Some are very loving, while some want to be left alone. I suggest a kitten so it can grow up learning the lifestyle it will have. Cats are very tidy, but they will sometimes scratch furniture. Even if it scratches furniture, find a different way to stop it, never declaw a cat. If it ever gets out by mistake, it will get killed if it's declawed, because it will have no means of protection.

Answer 8

The very best way to pick out a cat is to let the cat pick you. As for learning about cat behavior there is tons of information available on the web. I suggest you use Google.

Answer 9

cats are pretty easy to take care of. they need a litter box, somewhere warm and comfortable to sleep and their food and water bowls out where they can get to them. unlike dogs you can put as much food in the bowl as you want because they wont eat it all at once. some cats will run around the house and be very playful, especially when they're young. others are pretty lazy and just lay around the house mostly in the sun. but that's mostly when they're older. cats are very affectionate, so if you love them and take care of them they'll be plenty happy.

Answer 10

Cats are some cute creatures , playfull , and they don't need to be walked outside like the dogs . TThey don't need more than affection, and the best food isWhiskas or Prina . My cat loves that . Plus they like mtoy mices attached to a string . And small balls .