What should I look for an adult cat to adpot?

Question

I am going to meet a 2 year adult cat tomorrow to see if I should adopt it. Does anyone have any advice or any key things I should look out or consider before adopting it? ( I would be a new cat owner). Whether it be health issues, personality traits.. anything would be great help! THanks!

Answer 1

I highly recommend reading "Think Like a Cat". It's a GREAT book on owning a cat. You can look for it in the library. That's where I read it.

With cats, it's not as easy to figure out what their personality is like from a cage as say you would with a dog. I don't know where you are going to meet this cat, but be aware that cats react differently to new smells - such as yourself - and if you are meeting it at a pound or shelter, then the cat will not be acting itself there more than likely. Especially with meeting a new person (but all cats are different, so the cat may not be uptight. It just depends) Even if it's at the previous owner's house it will probably still be timid around you. (There are exceptions though)

When meeting the cat, only stick a finger out to let it sniff you. If you try to pet it without it checking you out first, you may be in for a defensive surprise. Once the cat has sniffed you, try to offer some more fingers or pet it's cheeks and chin. (That's where the glands are)

Cat's have several glands on their faces which secrete pheremones (a type of hormone) that helps them feel more secure and calm in an area.

As far as health issues, ask if it has all of it's shots and when the last vet visit was. Also ask if the cat has any hip problems. That's one of the most common problems in cats and dogs (though pretty uncommon with such young cats)

When you decide to bring a cat into your home, you need to make sure to place it in a room with places so that it can hide. Open rooms and spaces freak cats out. Also, invest in some catnip to rub on things in the room it will be staying in.

If you are getting the cat from a previous owner, ask if they have something that has their smell on it, or that has the kitties own smell on it (even if you can just rub it's face on it - like a washcloth) so that you can place that in the room.

For cat care:

Also, make sure to have something for the cat to scratch on that is designated for it. Like a scratching post made out of sisal or cardboard (those are the best for cats. Some even like natural wood posts). Cardboard is the cheapest. I suggest a ramp, but some cats like the horizontal kind.

I also suggest getting a wand teaser toy for the cat (wand + string + feathers) so that you can entice it to play with you. This will provide a bonding experience for yourself and the cat. If the cat is timid, this will really help the experience. Treats help with shy cats as well. Just don't over do them. (you can buy cat treats, or use small pieces of chicken meat)

Don't be shocked if the cat hides for a long time once it's in your house. That's natural. That's why it needs a place to feel secure (preferably with a familiar smell). Feliway is great for introducing cats to new things. It is an artificial pheremone that comes in a spray or diffuser. It makes the things you spray it on seem as if the cat rubbed its face all over it. Therefore, it really helps the cat to feel more calm and secure in it's new environment.

After the cat becomes more confident in that room, you can open a door to the rest of the house and let it roam on it's own. You can even entice it out by feeding it outside the room, or right at the doorway.

I hope your first cat experience is a treat! Cats are wonderful animals to have and it's such a wonderful thing for you to be considering an adult cat rather than a kitten. It's a different and slow process when it comes to introduction, but well worth it in the long run.

Edit: Do not stare at the cat directly in the eyes. Some cats feel intimidated by this (as well as most dogs) and may see it as a threat and act defensively.

Answer 2

As long as the cat is not really aggressive and it doesn't have significant health problems (cats, especially male cats, are prone to bladder problems which can be very painful for both the cat and the owner), you'll be fine. BTW, you're doing a great thing adopting an adult cat, we adopted a 1 year adult cat that wasn't conventionally cute or affectionate and he turned out to be the greatest cat.

Good luck with your cat!

Answer 3

Once fixed, gender means little. Sure, males tend to be larger, but that does not mean they become the alpha kitty. And once the alpha status is set, things tend to go much smoother. Of course, alpha status can change, and is often tested. You didn't indicate your cats age. If an older cat, say 8-10 years, getting a kitten is often not too welcome mainly due to energy differences. Of course, with some senior cats, it works well if the senior cats feels maternal instincts to the kitten. If your cat is under three years of age, he still has a great deal of kitten behavior in him, so another kitten will go smoother. Expect hissing and growling regardless. That is normal, and a successful introduction goes a long way in alleviating the situations that arise. There are several methods of introductions, so look them up and see which would work best for your situation.

Answer 4

Feel the cats body to make sure there are no bumps of any kind, try to pick the nicest cat you can find make sure the cat is potty trained and has no past history of peeing out of the box.

Answer 5

Healthy, fairly friendly not too scaredy cat of a cat. It can be a bit shy but if you need to hunt it down and dig it out from under the couch that is not a good sign.

Answer 6

I find this forum really useful for answering cat questions - its got lots of cat breeders/owners as members

purrfectchat.co.uk

Answer 7

look to his/her eyes, when you love it take it, no matter if his/her dont have good hair,or bad teeth, we could work on it,
his/her eyes would told u everything to yr heart.