s/o: impact of a cat on your life/lifestyle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First cat - a wonderful addition to the family. Very low maintenance, even went outside to poop and pee so we didn’t have litter to clean. Got old, sick, died. We were sad, which brings us to ...

Cats # 2 and 3 - negative impact on lifestyle. Scratch furniture, poop next to the litter box, break limbs, puke, keep us up at night.

So you never know what you’ll get. I recommend an orange tabby like cat # 1.

You do realize the cat's color is not a guarantee it will have a certain personality or behave certain ways--right? Please don't advise OP based on a cat's color.

Orange tabby isn't a breed. Breed can have an effect on overall behavior characteristics but there are "orange" cats of many breeds.

If you still have cats 2 and 3: There are reasons why cats, which are fastidious animals, poop outside the box or puke. You can do minimal research and find explanations and advice on how to help your cats, who are exhibiting behaviors showing they are in some kind of distress which you're not recognizing. You seem to think these cats should be copies of cat number one, and are flawed and "negative" when actually they're possibly getting the wrong food for them, are ill, or distressed by something related to the box or the household. You can work with them to discourage scratching furniture and encourage scratching (which they NEED to do; it's natural) in other appropriate places.

But do make those things happen you would actually need to care that your cats are not getting what they need. You'd also have to acknowledge that you need to put effort into working with them, instead of resenting them for not being perfect like cat number one.

Oh look, the cat nazi has joined us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First cat - a wonderful addition to the family. Very low maintenance, even went outside to poop and pee so we didn’t have litter to clean. Got old, sick, died. We were sad, which brings us to ...

Cats # 2 and 3 - negative impact on lifestyle. Scratch furniture, poop next to the litter box, break limbs, puke, keep us up at night.

So you never know what you’ll get. I recommend an orange tabby like cat # 1.

You do realize the cat's color is not a guarantee it will have a certain personality or behave certain ways--right? Please don't advise OP based on a cat's color.

Orange tabby isn't a breed. Breed can have an effect on overall behavior characteristics but there are "orange" cats of many breeds.

If you still have cats 2 and 3: There are reasons why cats, which are fastidious animals, poop outside the box or puke. You can do minimal research and find explanations and advice on how to help your cats, who are exhibiting behaviors showing they are in some kind of distress which you're not recognizing. You seem to think these cats should be copies of cat number one, and are flawed and "negative" when actually they're possibly getting the wrong food for them, are ill, or distressed by something related to the box or the household. You can work with them to discourage scratching furniture and encourage scratching (which they NEED to do; it's natural) in other appropriate places.

But do make those things happen you would actually need to care that your cats are not getting what they need. You'd also have to acknowledge that you need to put effort into working with them, instead of resenting them for not being perfect like cat number one.

Nope. That’s pie-in-the sky. Our cat has destroyed a lot of expensive upholstery despite us giving her an endless succession of different scratching posts, pads, etc. If your cat is a furniture scratcher, you pretty much have to live with it.

[Anonymous]

We love having cats - we have three of them now, and one dog. They are great fun, with funny little personalities. Two of them started off very shy but have come out of their shells with time, and are quite snuggly now. The third has been snuggly from the start.

Clean their litter box every day, give them fresh water and food. We used to leave our previous cat alone for up to two or three days at a time, but we don't do that anymore - we've come to realize how lonely they get without a person there (and we also get nervous if no one is checking in to make sure they are ok). So now we usually have a pet sitter who stays with all the pets at our house, or else if the dog is with us or staying with friends, someone who comes and checks on them every day.

It's hard to say what impact they have on our lifestyle. We have one couch that got used as a scratching post - but I think we could have nipped that in the bud if we'd been more diligent. Sure there's fur but that's easy to clean up. The litter makes a bit of a mess - I sweep or vacuum. We trade those annoyances for the true joy of living with these wonderful critters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First cat - a wonderful addition to the family. Very low maintenance, even went outside to poop and pee so we didn’t have litter to clean. Got old, sick, died. We were sad, which brings us to ...

Cats # 2 and 3 - negative impact on lifestyle. Scratch furniture, poop next to the litter box, break limbs, puke, keep us up at night.

So you never know what you’ll get. I recommend an orange tabby like cat # 1.

You do realize the cat's color is not a guarantee it will have a certain personality or behave certain ways--right? Please don't advise OP based on a cat's color.

Orange tabby isn't a breed. Breed can have an effect on overall behavior characteristics but there are "orange" cats of many breeds.

If you still have cats 2 and 3: There are reasons why cats, which are fastidious animals, poop outside the box or puke. You can do minimal research and find explanations and advice on how to help your cats, who are exhibiting behaviors showing they are in some kind of distress which you're not recognizing. You seem to think these cats should be copies of cat number one, and are flawed and "negative" when actually they're possibly getting the wrong food for them, are ill, or distressed by something related to the box or the household. You can work with them to discourage scratching furniture and encourage scratching (which they NEED to do; it's natural) in other appropriate places.

But do make those things happen you would actually need to care that your cats are not getting what they need. You'd also have to acknowledge that you need to put effort into working with them, instead of resenting them for not being perfect like cat number one.

Nope. That’s pie-in-the sky. Our cat has destroyed a lot of expensive upholstery despite us giving her an endless succession of different scratching posts, pads, etc. If your cat is a furniture scratcher, you pretty much have to live with it.

No you don't. That's why the scat-mat was invented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First cat - a wonderful addition to the family. Very low maintenance, even went outside to poop and pee so we didn’t have litter to clean. Got old, sick, died. We were sad, which brings us to ...

Cats # 2 and 3 - negative impact on lifestyle. Scratch furniture, poop next to the litter box, break limbs, puke, keep us up at night.

So you never know what you’ll get. I recommend an orange tabby like cat # 1.

You do realize the cat's color is not a guarantee it will have a certain personality or behave certain ways--right? Please don't advise OP based on a cat's color.

Orange tabby isn't a breed. Breed can have an effect on overall behavior characteristics but there are "orange" cats of many breeds.

If you still have cats 2 and 3: There are reasons why cats, which are fastidious animals, poop outside the box or puke. You can do minimal research and find explanations and advice on how to help your cats, who are exhibiting behaviors showing they are in some kind of distress which you're not recognizing. You seem to think these cats should be copies of cat number one, and are flawed and "negative" when actually they're possibly getting the wrong food for them, are ill, or distressed by something related to the box or the household. You can work with them to discourage scratching furniture and encourage scratching (which they NEED to do; it's natural) in other appropriate places.

But do make those things happen you would actually need to care that your cats are not getting what they need. You'd also have to acknowledge that you need to put effort into working with them, instead of resenting them for not being perfect like cat number one.

Oh look, the cat nazi has joined us.

That's the best response you can muster? Pitiful. You don't bother to work with your pet and you also can't bother to say anything original.

[Anonymous]

NP here - the impact of a cat, probably could have been any pet really, on "life" has been big and good for us (2 kids, 2 adults). It is another living thing in your space, it depends on you and likes you if you feed it. It really changes how it is to be at home. There's a different energy. I will sit calmly for a few extra minutes when cat is also sitting in the room. The cat will come wrap in and out between my legs if I am standing up and talking on the phone with some stress in my voice. Cat makes a point of eating when we gather to eat in breakfast or dinner. Oh and you get to pet something soft! Much positive, more than worth fresh food, water and scoop of litter box each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First cat - a wonderful addition to the family. Very low maintenance, even went outside to poop and pee so we didn’t have litter to clean. Got old, sick, died. We were sad, which brings us to ...

Cats # 2 and 3 - negative impact on lifestyle. Scratch furniture, poop next to the litter box, break limbs, puke, keep us up at night.

So you never know what you’ll get. I recommend an orange tabby like cat # 1.

You do realize the cat's color is not a guarantee it will have a certain personality or behave certain ways--right? Please don't advise OP based on a cat's color.

Orange tabby isn't a breed. Breed can have an effect on overall behavior characteristics but there are "orange" cats of many breeds.

If you still have cats 2 and 3: There are reasons why cats, which are fastidious animals, poop outside the box or puke. You can do minimal research and find explanations and advice on how to help your cats, who are exhibiting behaviors showing they are in some kind of distress which you're not recognizing. You seem to think these cats should be copies of cat number one, and are flawed and "negative" when actually they're possibly getting the wrong food for them, are ill, or distressed by something related to the box or the household. You can work with them to discourage scratching furniture and encourage scratching (which they NEED to do; it's natural) in other appropriate places.

But do make those things happen you would actually need to care that your cats are not getting what they need. You'd also have to acknowledge that you need to put effort into working with them, instead of resenting them for not being perfect like cat number one.

Oh look, the cat nazi has joined us.

That's the best response you can muster? Pitiful. You don't bother to work with your pet and you also can't bother to say anything original.

I’m not that pp and I do work with my indoor cat, who seems happy. I just find your constant bullying and grousing super-annoying. You need to get a new job or a new hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We adopted a cat for the first time last year. Growing up, I had dogs but dogs are not an option for us right now. I was skeptical but honestly she's been a great addition to the house. Yes she scratches furniture and rugs and knocks over vases but she's never gone to the bathroom anywhere but the litter box and is a great companion. We adopted a year old cat, so young but not a kitten and she's short haired so we haven't had cat hair everywhere. She's not a ton of work, the biggest thing is to be consistent in regularly emptying/cleaning the litter box. Overall, I'm really surprised at how well she fits in and how much I enjoy her.

Same exact story here. We adopted a 6-year old cat "for the kids" but I totally fell in love with her. She sits on my desk or my lap when I work and keeps me company. She meows when we come home (ok, maybe she is just hungry but still). She is playful and funny. I find it very relaxing and de-stressing when she sits in my lap. The upkeep is not too onerous. I don't love the litter box in the apartment but it's livable if cleaned in a timely fashion. When we started looking for a rescue cat we did specify that we wanted a friendly cuddly cat. I am so glad we have her.

[Anonymous]

This is really helpful (OP) here. Lots to think about.

[Anonymous]

DH and I have had several cats over the course of our 30 plus years together.

Something to keep in mind is that when cats get to be about 12 years old, they quite often get dental issues. Then they need a yearly teeth cleaning and occasional extraction of abscessed teeth. Since cats don't behave well while the vet is doing that, they will need to be sedated. It's a $400 deal annually for the rest of their lives.

Also, when cats get elderly, they sometimes don't groom themselves well. If you have a long haired cat, that might mean you need to take the cat to the groomers in those later years. Cats don't enjoy this, and most groomers insist on sedation to give a cat a "potty trim". Without a potty trim, you have a cat with dried poop on his fur wanting to cuddle on your lap.

Some cats are really vocal. Some are quiet. We used to have a Himalayan cat who was very talkative and very very loud. His meow sounded like an old smoker's voice. DH and I often could not have a conversation with each other if the cat was in the room and wanted to "talk".

[Anonymous]

I’ve had catswhi were more like dogs — cuddly and super affectionate — and cats that were more aloof. None of my 5 cats (throughout my life, not at one time) bit or scratched until the last one. None pooped or peed outside of the litter u til the last one, and we went through he** with that one.

I love cats so much and really want another one so bad, but we were kind of traumatized by our last cat, who lived until 16. I don’t know if I can do it again - the expense (vet bills), the stress and worry when he was ill or destroyed furniture and rugs, etc.

If I hadn’t had a cat that peed on everything despite trying a zillion things to help him, then I’d have continued my streak of always having a cat. But I’m so envious when friends post pics on Facebook of their cats sleeping in their lap, sigh.

You just don’t know what you are going to get.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think all the advice here will give you a wide view of having a kitty join your family. The good, the bad and the ugly.

One thing you can do with kitties you can't do with dogs is leave them home alone for a few days. Leave plenty of water, food, and litter boxes, and they will be okay. Beyond a few days, have a pet service come in to check on them and clear out the litter boxes.

I would also add that it's better to have two kitties, not just one. They keep each other company while you're away at work. You can do this easily with kittens, while it can be a little more challenging introducing adult cats to each other. Adult cats are way easier than kittens, who are wild for a year or so.

Each cat has its own personality, just like people.

Don't plan on having your upholstered furniture survive the cats. If you're lucky it won't be a problem, but don't count on that.

[Anonymous]

I have a two year old cat who has added soooo much to my life. He is amazing.

He is also healthy so I haven't had any big downsides yet, really. If you get a boy, make sure to fix him early. Vets may say he can wait until he is one but many mature before then. I had my cat neutered at 5 months before any spraying or marking happened. Have never had a bathroom problem with him.

Upkeep wise, I brush him once a week, trim nails every two weeks. He goes to the vet once per year.

Around the house is more work. He tracks litter around (even with a litter trapping mat next to his box) and he runs under everything so kicks up dust. I wind up vacuuming more because of it. He also used to scratch the couches. I tried everything to dissuade it to no end until I found Feliway pheromone spray. That works great and he barely tries to scratch there anymore.

Enjoy your new friend!

[Anonymous]

I am a dog person that turned into a cat person. I had dogs and cats growing up but just LOVED dogs and always saw myself with 2-3 dogs.
I ended up with a cat out of spite (i call her my spite cat). Found out bf was cheating on me so I said I’M TAKING THE CAT, and I did, and now I love that thing more than I ever thought I would.

Cats really are luck of the draw. Mine isn’t a lap cat and hates to be held, and will bite or scratch if you try to touch her or hold her. She will come sit with me and rub against me and give me little forehead bonks though to show me she loves me, so she’s affectionate in her own way. As much as I would love for her to be cute and cuddly, she makes up for it in other ways - she’s NEVER gone outside the litter box (knock on wood), doesn’t scratch furniture, and would never do the aforementioned biting/scratching for no reason.

[Anonymous]

I married a cat person, and we've got three now. They are entirely different animals, and I highly recommend fostering, if you can, before adopting.

We adopted ours in pairs, and the first two were pretty much the jackpot on cats. Loved people, used the box religiously, had no issues when the kids arrived. We lost the first one to cancer a few years ago; the second one is still with us in his mid-teens. The second two are fine but extremely skittish, but my cat-magnet spouse was probably the only person who'd take them, so here here they are. As long as they use the box, they're welcome to stay, and they odd ducks that are quite entertaining to have around.

The downsides: as with any pet, the cost of food and vet care (spent a year of college on the first pair with terminal illness and then a freak accident injury); litterbox scooping (we have automatic boxes); furniture/carpet picking (ironically, the most feral cat is the only one that prefers the scratchers, though none of them are really that bad about it); having to get a pet sitter for weekend trips.