I know nothing about cats, but am thinking about getting a pair for the kids. Guidance, please?

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. Get a hamster or a dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what you need to know:

1. They sharpen their claws on your furniture. Plan on it being ruined.
2. You have to keep a box in the house for them to poop and pee in. You have to clean out the poop and pee regularly.
3. Despite the above, they will probably pee on your carpets. Sometimes they do this just because they're mad at you.
4. They leave hair everywhere.
5. They throw up a lot.
6. Many of your DC's friends will be allergic to them.

1. They may or may not. I've had four cats in adulthood (never more than two at once); one never scratches the furniture and the other three sometimes do and sometimes don't. You can train them to scratch scratching posts instead. You can also clip their nails every couple weeks.

2. Yes.

3. I've only ever had this happen twice: Once, one did while we were out of town for two weeks out of anger, I guess. The other time was when one was terminally ill and he lost control of his bladder.

4. Oddly only one of the four has shed much. The other three, hardly at all. Get a short haired cat with smooth hair (like a tabby). But in any case, get a furminator and you're set.

5. See No.4 -- the more they shed, the more they'll puke. Furminate enough and you can minimize the hairballs.

6. They take allergy meds before they come over.

[Anonymous]

PP here -- having had a dog growing up, cats are waaay less work. But also more of a crapshoot in terms of how affectionate they are.

[Anonymous]

Kittens need a lot of attention. I absolutely loved cats and had many before my son came along. We got a kitten when he was a toddler, and I was annoyed by it all the time. It was always clawing me, pouncing on me, scratching the furniture, trying to get outside, getting in bed and biting my toes, or jumping on the dinner table. I just don't think I"m capable of loving an animal the way I did before having a child, or at least a kitten. I wanted to give all my attention to my son - not chase the stupid cat around with a feather toy. The cat got the boot. I felt sad and full of regret, but it needed to be in a more loving home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember cats are a long term thing. The last one we had died at 18 years.

This. Our cats were sisters; one died at 23, the other at 24. This is why I'd never have cats again. We're getting a hamster.

[Anonymous]

We adopted 2 cats almost a year ago. I cannot begin to describe the amount of joy they have brought to our family. We got American Short hair litter-mates from a rescue shelter. They were 18 months old and had been in the shelter since 5 weeks old.

Don't get kittens. They are adorable, but very annoying. And you won't know what their personality is really going to be like. if you need a kitten fix, check facebook. Plenty of adorable kitty pics posted daily!

I highly recommend litter-mates (or cats that have already been together).

DO NOT get them declawed. If you are really worried about your furniture, you can consider adopting cats that have already been declawed. Just know that it will likely affect their personality, and they will resort to biting, which is worse than scratching, when the kids pester them. Our cats scratched the furniture at first. i got some double sided tape at PetSmart and a spray that hides the scent where they've already scratched because they will continue to scratch where they've already marked. This did the trick.

Find a good shelter that gives very honest descriptions of the cats' personalities. If the "bios" for all the cats make them sound like perfect angels, I would move on to a different shelter or try to find an honest volunteer who will give you the real scoop. A good shelter should do this to ensure that there are no surprises when you get the cats home. the last thing they want is to adopt them out just so they end up being abandoned again. Our cats' bio said that they were best for a home with children 7+, and i would say that's spot on. Also, the shelter will probably have a room where you can play with the cats and get to know them. We visited our cats twice. they were not perfect - one was extremely shy and skiddish. the other was sweet, but obviously manipulative. Still, I could not stop thinking about them and couldn't get back there to bring them home fast enough! You'll just know when it's the right fit.

Their adjustment might can be quite long. They might hide in a closet for an entire week. Maybe even longer. You will need to bring them immediately to a "safe room" where they can hang out as long as they need to without being moved.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

1. It makes absolutely no sense to characterize cats' personalities by their colors. "Orange cats are more friendly/grey cats are mean" not true.

2. Go to the ASPCA shelter on Georgia avenue and/or the Washington Animal Rescue League. The staff at both places is informed and will answer all of your questions and hopefully find you a nice cat!

3. If you know nothing about cats and are getting them mostly for the kids, don't get kittens. Kittens are adorable but require a lot more attention and care, plus their personalities are not what they will be when they are adults, so you never know what you are getting. There are a lot of adult cats that need homes, and that way you can pick a lap cat or an active cat depending on your preference. Overall, neutered male cats tend to be more affectionate while females are more aloof, but there are obviously exceptions. Have fun!