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Wombatish
August 19, 2009 12:07 PM
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+1 for getting adult cats into good homes.

I could really care less how you do it, to be honest, but this is pretty clever/cute (and if it works, it's worth the ad dollars) :D

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Ninevah
August 19, 2009 1:35 PM
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@Wombatish: Agree. Kittens are cute and all, but MAN they're a lot of work. I adopted my Dolley at 1.5 years and couldn't be happier. Grown-up cats rule!

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Preyfar
August 19, 2009 2:56 PM
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@Ninevah: My first cat, Fang (hey, I was 7) adopted us. Same with our second cat, Booker. Both were adult cats, and both claimed us as their new found property. Some of the best cats ever (and sadly, both passed away from kitty leukemia).

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Skipweasel
August 20, 2009 7:01 PM
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@Preyfar: All but one of our cats have just arrived through the door one day. Our kitten is our first \"new\" cat in twenty years - the other half-dozen have been if not pre-loved, at least pre-neglected.

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chucklebuck
August 19, 2009 12:21 PM
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@Wombatish: Another +1! We adopted a 2 year old cat about 9 years ago and he's been my best buddy ever since. It's easier to get an idea of personality match between you and cat with older cats because they've kinda worked themselves out already. Kittens are mostly spastic by nature, so you never know what's gonna happen when they get older.

That said, whether adult or kitten (or puppy or dog for that matter), shelter rescues are the way to go.

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floraposte
August 19, 2009 2:25 PM
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@chucklebuck: Conversely, when I volunteered at a shelter years ago, we would occasionally get people who would sincerely and cluelessly say that they wanted a kitten because they didn't like cats. Patient conversation would ensue.

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JulesNoctambule
August 19, 2009 2:48 PM
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@floraposte: I hope those people left with a nice guinea pig.

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sponica
August 19, 2009 2:39 PM
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@floraposte: because the kitten and cat are completely different species....much like the human baby, the human kid and the human teenager.

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subtlefrog
August 19, 2009 3:20 PM
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@sponica: Er, well, I don't like babies, or kids. Or teenagers. Come to think of it, I don't like people much, so I guess it's not a good comparison. Nevermind.

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Bibliovore
August 19, 2009 2:00 PM
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@chucklebuck: Amen!

Consider adopting a black cat, too, if you're willing; they're apparently less likely to find homes. (I didn't learn that until after we adopted ours.)

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Mr_Mantastic
August 19, 2009 8:11 PM
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@Bibliovore: I adopted a black cat and I love her to death. She sleeps on my pillow at night and loves to \"clean\" me. When I went into the shelter, I asked which cat had been there the longest, and my girl Allie had been there two months, so she was adopted. We also adopted a kitten from that shelter, as well as captured a feral kitten outside of our home who has adjusted well. We now have 3 beautiful girls.

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alternatestory
August 19, 2009 6:54 PM
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@Bibliovore: Yes, get a black cat from a shelter! They are a lot less likely to find homes, as are black dogs.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 19, 2009 5:38 PM
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@Bibliovore: yes, this poor friendly guy gets passed over a lot because he's black and he's sooo sweet
[www.alleycatsandangels.org]

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YardanCabaret
August 19, 2009 9:10 PM
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@catastrophegirl: Aw too adorable. My last(previous) cat was a black shelter pick-up we got while living in Germany. Other than my cat I have now who is just absolutely better then every cat ever (even yours) that black kitty was the best. Especially when he got really fat and started going bald on his belly. Dang it now I wanna scratch my Maine Coon!!

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jeffbone
August 19, 2009 6:00 PM
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@catastrophegirl: That is a shame, he is a cute little guy. If I wasn't a couple hundred miles away and didn't already have 4 rescue cats in the house, I'd come there and adopt him myself.

I see you also have a couple of adorable calicos and torties. I'll bet they don't stay there very long...

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 19, 2009 9:22 PM
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@jeffbone: actually some of the calicos and torties have been with the rescue organization founder for over a year. it's the adult cat thing, where people go for the kittens.

this is my current foster:

[www.alleycatsandangels.org]

i can deal with the kittens for a short time to socialize them but i need to not have unpredictable baby cats around all the time. i lost one from her litter to an unfortunate accident when he escaped. it's heart breaking

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pax
August 19, 2009 12:08 PM
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Please consider adopting older cats! Consider the benefits: a cat who was a pet for many years is likely to be better behaved and socialized, is probably already litter-trained, and is more laid-back than a kitten. Yes, kittens are fun, but they do grow up.


Two of my cats came to me as adopted adults and they are joys. (One is watching me eat breakfast as I type this.) Adopting older cats is a great thing!

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
August 19, 2009 1:21 PM
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@pax: Amen. Kittens are adorable, but they are a PAIN IN THE ASS. An older cat comes ready to snuggle and only has to race around the house with the crazies once a day instead of every twenty freaking minutes.

I have adopted a kitten, an adult, and an adolescent. The adult was by FAR the nicest right off the bat.

And all my cats have just one eye and they've all been spectacular cats, friendly and people-oriented and well-mannered ... just 'cause they're missing a headlight doesn't mean they're not perfect! (One of them had only a tail stump left. He'd been abused. I'm a Cubs fan, I'm a sucker for hard-luck stories.)

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Trai_Dep
August 19, 2009 4:28 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): The best part of your cats is that they start doing a bit o' the old Soft Shoe when Sammy Davis Junior CDs are played!

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Dondegroovily
August 19, 2009 1:37 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): For kittens, the hyper playful cat might be completely different as an adult. The affectionate kitten might grow to be a distant adult. With adult cats, you know what you're getting

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 12:16 PM
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@pax: I will tell you from experience that kittens are a handful. They don't know the rules, so they do all those annoying cat things for awhile until they learn what you'd rather they not do, like wake you up in the middle of the night, biting your various appendages, scratching your stuff, picking fights with the other cats, etc. I would think an adult cat who has already lived with humans would be much easier to deal with than a new kitten.

A certified pre-owned adult cat is therefore a Catsumer Reports Best Buy.

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ekthesy
August 19, 2009 1:12 PM
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@HurtsSoGood:

My six year-old cat does all of the above. But I love the hell out of him just the same.

FWIW he was adopted as a kitten and spoiled rotten. So he thinks he's people. My other cat was adopted as an adult from the mean streets of Arlington, Vermont and is sweet as can be.

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 12:34 PM
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@HurtsSoGood: Oh, and not only don't they know the rules, but they do those annoying cat things at full throttle. All the time. They have seemingly boundless energy.

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GitEmSteveDave_RunsFromBestBuy
August 19, 2009 12:10 PM
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Is there a Cash for Clunker Cat program? If so, I have one I'll trade in. The last one on the right.

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vildechaia
August 21, 2009 6:22 PM
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Boo. Hiss. What would his/her brothers/sisters do without him/her? You'd be breaking up a set. @GitEmSteveDave:WalkinOnSunshine:

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LilBadKitty
August 21, 2009 2:32 AM
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@GitEmSteveDave_DeathPanelist: Oooh, teh orange ones are poison!

No one informed me of this BEFORE I got my orange one. I love him dearly but lordy, he is a wild child. Rescued from a Wal-Mart parking lot. My other kitty was found in a park on 9/11. Shelter cats are wonderful.

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sdspidy
August 19, 2009 10:47 PM
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OMG! I peed my pants reading these reponses. My coworker now thinks I am insane for laughing so loud. The video of Skeeter stuck behind the clear shower curtain was priceless. I have a Bengal named Little Bit, that I usually call Dude or Spicolli as he always acts like he's stoned. And he also gets made into the bed when I change the sheets. I used to fight it, now I get amusement out of it watching him try for a half hour to find the exit. LOLOL!

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GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack
August 20, 2009 12:11 AM
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@sdspidy: I'm using it to my advantage, and thinking of renting him out due to the recent rise in bed bugs:

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Cogito Ergo Bibo
August 19, 2009 2:09 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: Apparently I own a sibling to your cat. As a kitten, she walked into walls. Seriously. I'm not talking trying to take a corner too quickly. Walking into a wide, unobstructed expanse of wall. She has a flat place on her nose that I would swear came from that.

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 4:23 PM
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@Cogito Ergo Bibo: Mine used to do that. We called her the Short Bus Kitty. She still likes to chase her own tail.

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Garbanzo
August 19, 2009 6:08 PM
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@HurtsSoGood: Our cat is a genius (as far as cats go), and she enjoys a good tail chase now and again.

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bloggerX
August 19, 2009 12:58 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: That last one on the right seems sneaky...

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GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life
August 19, 2009 1:16 PM
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@bloggerX: No, he's an idiot. Like to the point I swear his mother drank some antifreeze from my garage when his brain was developing. The cat gets stuck behind shower curtains: [s165.photobucket.com] And to answer anyone's questions, yes, he jumped into the tub on his own, and this is how I discovered him when he started mewling.

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MissPeacock
August 19, 2009 1:34 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: I am dying. That is the funniest thing I've seen all day! What a muffin. You must keep him. Dense cats are the best because you never know what they are going to do.

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bloggerX
August 19, 2009 1:24 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: He's adoreable! Are you really giving him away?

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GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life
August 19, 2009 1:44 PM
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@bloggerX: If they'll offer me money for him, yes. Otherwise I might just sweep him up and put him out for collection. Wait, nevermind. He took care of one of the steps already.

@MissPeacock: I am well aware of what he will do. Open a box, he jumps in it. Open a drawer, he climbs in it.


Open a cabinet, he climbs in it.

Make a bed, he gets made with it.

Take off pants, he crawls in them.

Try to use backpack, he hops in it.

Take off jacket and socks after working on farm in winter, he sleeps in it.

He's VERY predictable.

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scarletvirtue
August 19, 2009 6:46 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack: We have a red tabby that does pretty much those exact same things. He especially likes to make sure that anything new is covered in his fur immediately.


Despite threats to offer him on Craigslist to any home or sell him to a circus, we keep him around.

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GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack
August 19, 2009 8:55 PM
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@scarletvirtue (has lost all butch cred): I threatened Dummy(yes, when I say Dummy, he meows, so it's a 2nd name) with being a working cat like his Mother and Sisters, and that KIND of brought him back in line:

@katstermonster: Cynder, her mother's daughter, is easily spooked, and will jump clear into the air. It's hilarious sometimes. She IS the brains of the cat operation inside the house though.

@Cogito Ergo Bibo: I swear his mother drank antifreeze from my garage when she was forming Skeeters brain, which explains why he turned out like he did. I mean, all of her other kittens/Skeeters siblings came out OK. I have had numerous vets tell me that all my cats are so well mannered. Lucky for me, they haven't met Angel, who does NOT live up to her name.

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GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack
August 19, 2009 9:00 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack: And in case anyone is wondering, here are my Christmas Cards:




In case anyone is wondering, Dizzy disappeared for 7 months, so she was still missing when I made the card, and didn't get included.

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katstermonster
August 19, 2009 3:57 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: My friends have 4 cats: 2 are normal (kinda sneaky, but very bright), 1 is scared of his own shadow, and 1 is the stupidest cat I've ever seen. She was walking around their pool last week, saw the pool steps in front of her....and didn't stop. Stepped right down onto the top step and go herself wet. And proceeded to freak out. *headsmack*

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Taliskan
August 19, 2009 2:03 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: Oh that's too cute!!


Though what devious force field are you using around your shower?! IT'S IMPENETRABLE!

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Chris Walters
August 19, 2009 2:02 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: Please, for the sake of your idiot cat, never make your own piñatas at home.

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 12:33 PM
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@GyroMight: You have to use the right fuel. Maybe your cat needs premium.

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AdamBC
August 19, 2009 1:10 PM
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@HurtsSoGood: So that's what it means when people put up signs that their cat is 'missing' - if only I had known before.

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pecan 3.14159265
August 19, 2009 12:30 PM
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I'm having such a horrible start to my morning, but omglookatthekitty!!!!


I wish I could adopt a cat. Current animal companion would raise hell about it, and Mr. Pi would as well. Also, there's that whole, $200 pet deposit thing in my apartment. I love what they're doing here though. It's for a great cause, and hopefully it'll work, and cats will find wonderful owners.

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joshua70448
August 19, 2009 3:23 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: We've got a one-and-a-half year old cat that we adopted as a kitten, and we recently adopted a three-year-old black lab a few months ago. Cat wasn't very pleased at first, but the dog knew not to mess with him, and he's gotten over it. Now they'll follow each other around and attack each other. We even took them on a four-hour car ride (had to evacuate from a warehouse fire) and they slept on the back seat together the entire time.

@BestFriendBritt: We adopted our cat when we were living in a 626 sq ft apartment, and it worked out fine. He wasn't even allowed in half the apartment most of the time, but he was content with his area (computers to jump on, blinds to destroy while looking through them, couches to tear up, etc etc).

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ExtraCelestial
August 19, 2009 1:10 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: I feel you. My kitty is closing in on 20 years and just like an older human is completely set in his ways. He has a fit if I even change my bedding. A new cat would send him into a talespin.


I think this program is great though. Cats are like fine wine, they get better with age! My next one will definitely have some previous mileage on him or her.

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BestFriendBritt
August 19, 2009 1:48 PM
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@TinkishDelight: 20 years!!!! My kitty didn't live past 13 :( he died back in January. I'd totally buy a pre owned kitty if I lived in more than 600 sq feet...

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Julia789
August 19, 2009 5:44 PM
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@BestFriendBritt: If you think your apartment is too small for a cat, consider the little wall cages some of them live in at animal shelters for years. A 600± SF apartment would be a palace compared to a 2' by 3' wire box! :-)

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JulesNoctambule
August 19, 2009 2:53 PM
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@BestFriendBritt: I used to have two in a tiny house that was about that size -- they don't take up much space! Until they're on the bed and you want to sleep in it, of course; that's when Cat Physics take over and suddenly a nine-pound cat can render the remaining space on a full-size bed totally unusable.

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Julia789
August 19, 2009 12:46 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: We'd love to have a cat, too. But our dog of eight years is soooooooo anti-cat he would torment the poor thing.


We tried cat-sitting for a friend with a big tough \"dog resistant cat\" as an experiment. This cat was used to being around dogs so she was perfect for the test. It did NOT go well and poor kitty spent 3 days shut in a bedroom for her own safety. Kitty never got hurt as we supervised carefully, but if we had not there would have been serious problems.


I guess some dogs, if not exposed to cats early on in life, never get over seeing them as prey or home invaders of some sort.

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bellecat
August 19, 2009 5:06 PM
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@Julia789: I think you'd have a much different experience with a cat of your own. A visiting cat would take at least a week to get used to the new digs, even without a dog. A cat that lives with you will be all about putting the dog in his place when necessary. It's a territorial thing.

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EdnaLegume
August 19, 2009 1:30 PM
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@Julia789: That was a great idea, to test. Our dog came into a home already inhabited by two cats. So when I brought two kittens home, he couldn't wait to play. Now, two years later, they annoy HIM wanting to play all the time, or just curl up with him to sleep.

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Toffeecake
August 19, 2009 1:00 PM
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@Julia789: It also depends on the breed of dog. My dog-trainer aunt has a husky, and those dogs have very strong instincts. She told me that no matter how well you train a husky, even if it can be trained to behave around a cat, it may just snap at any time and that's the end of the cat. Funny thing though, the dog loves little kids, just not little animals.

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ExtraCelestial
August 19, 2009 1:16 PM
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@Toffeecake: I dunno. My terrier and cat lived together peacefully for 17+ years. The dog hated all other cats and would chase birds or anything small and furry outside, but my cat and gold capped conure he was fine with. The bird would even feed him.

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Super Moose
August 19, 2009 12:39 PM
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My cat was pre-owned and by pre-owned I mean the previous owner had the cat but never fed it (cat lady) so it was taken and now I feed it, then it demands that I pet it, then it takes my chair, and now it is going to begin coating all my cloths with hair again.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
August 19, 2009 1:25 PM
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@Super Moose: We have one who is ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED he is people and gets DEEPLY OFFENDED when he is left out of any people activities. Like if we have friends over for cocktails, he comes to sit on one of the chairs and hang out. AND NO HE WILL NOT SHARE, do you see anyone else sharing a chair?

He finds the \"staring at the noisy box\" game boring (watching TV), but if that's what all the people are doing, that's what he does, although he keeps peeking at us to see if we're just kidding.

He also gets very offended when he is not allowed to play boardgames because HE CAN TOTALLY MOVE THOSE PIECES AROUND and does not understand why HIS moves of them aren't appreciated.

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alternatestory
August 19, 2009 6:59 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): One of our cats also thinks she is people. She gets jealous when other people hug and runs over to be included. Just hates to be left out.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 19, 2009 5:49 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): yeah, mine helps me read, [www.flickr.com] opens the doors, gets her own treats, [www.flickr.com] turns on the faucet to drink.... my former boss had her as a kitten [her mom walked into my boss's house one day as a stray and gave birth in the living room, she knew cat people when she saw them]
but the first thing she did when she opened her eyes and saw all those kittens around was to climb the sofa and sit with the other people. she has never believed a word of that whole conspiracy about her being a cat

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kbrook
August 20, 2009 7:32 AM
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@catastrophegirl: Our older cat can open one of the plastic treat bottles with a lid. I swear, I've seen her do it. This would be why the treats are all in drawers, but I wouldn't put it past her to figure those out soon.

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JulesNoctambule
August 19, 2009 2:59 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): Ours don't think they're people -- they know.

The little one 'supervises' board games and likes to sit at the table while we eat. The middle one sits with us when we watch DVDs (she prefers British series, including Life on Mars, Doctor Who and several mystery shows) and even has her favourite place on the couch with a good view of the screen. She also gets on the bed and hollers when it's bedtime; she has to sleep next to me every night. The oldest lectures us about how long we've been gone if we dare leave the house for groceries/errands/work and likes to complain about her little brother. We know if he's eaten out of her bowl or played with her toys because she'll sit in front of us, then whine loudly and stridently.

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bloggerX
August 19, 2009 12:56 PM
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@Super Moose: I had the same situation. Tubby (R.I.P) would sit on my lap, sometimes when I try to move him he hissed at me viciously! He was a sweet cat, died of age :-(

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JessicaJessica
August 19, 2009 12:47 PM
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I wanted to adopt an adult cat for this very reason - they have such a tough time finding a home. But instead I settled on a fluffy little handicapped kitten (who couldn't find a home either) and he has brought nothing but joy and happiness into our lives.


The agency was so thrilled that someone wanted to adopt him, they also waived the adoption/neuter fees. But he is priceless! And as he grew up, surrounded by love and encouragement, his condition improved to the point where he is almost a normal kitty.

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HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.
August 19, 2009 10:43 PM
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@JessicaJessica: I adopted an older kitty myself. Wasn't planning on doing so, but I felt sorry for him. It took a while for him to adjust, and to a certain degree, he still is adjusting, but he's really becoming part of the family now.

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TheNay
August 19, 2009 1:06 PM
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@JessicaJessica: A friend of mine used to work at an animal shelter, and she said that handicapped animals that came in almost ALWAYS found a home immediately. People would see the dog, or kitten, with a missing limb and fall in love with them.


I made an obvious suggestion on how to fix the overcrowding problem they had. My suggestion was not received well.

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JessicaJessica
August 20, 2009 8:43 AM
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@TheNay: Well in my kitty's case, he had an issue with his spine so there was a risk of needed long-term medical care, which means big bucks which means not many takers. The vet for the shelter actually advised them to put the little guy to sleep, because they thought he would never recover.


The shelter decided to take a \"wait and see\" approach, but even when we adopted him they told us that we might have large vet bills or that we would eventually have to put him to sleep if he got worse. We took the risk anyway and luckily he got better!

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Zenatrul
August 21, 2009 7:06 PM
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@JessicaJessica:


There is a shelter I do believe in New Jersey that just has cats with disabilities such as missing limbs, blind, FEV and other illnesses that all up for adoption. Some of them are so cute I wish I could adopt them even though some only have a few years left but I'm allergic to cats :(.

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Zenatrul
August 21, 2009 7:17 PM
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I just checked and it is in New Jersy and called Tabby's Place


[www.tabbysplace.org]

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bloggerX
August 19, 2009 12:54 PM
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Me loves me Kitty!

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veg-o-matic
August 19, 2009 12:58 PM
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@pax: Awww, yay older cats!

We got our cat a few years ago after specifically asking at the shelter for \"your oldest cat, please\" which actually I think freaked them out a bit.

She's the sweetest, most laid back cat, and even with her arthritis, she jumps up on the bed every night and even brings us a stuffed mouse or two.

My feeling is tha if you're going to adopt from a shelter, why not take a moment to hang out with the cats that are least likely to get snapped up right away? They can be awfully convincing.. because they already know they're right all the time.

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veg-o-matic
August 19, 2009 12:58 PM
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*that* I don't know what a \"tha\" is.

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veg-o-matic
August 19, 2009 2:07 PM
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@veg-o-matic: uh, what? you were supposed to go somewhere else!

damn-ed replies, now no one will know I corrected my typo. nooooooo!

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pecan 3.14159265
August 19, 2009 1:04 PM
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What's the extended warranty like on an older model?

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Laura Northrup
August 19, 2009 9:05 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: I keep getting robocalls telling me that the warranty on my cat is about to expire, but I don't even own a cat!

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Ebriosa
August 19, 2009 1:16 PM
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I've been interested in adopting an adult cat, but I am worried about getting one that has not been trained well at all (as much as you can train a cat). I don't want to declaw, but I also want intact furniture. I didn't raise, but grew up with a great cat that stuck to her scratching post, but just had a really bad experience renting out the upstairs floor to people with two cats that tore apart the wood molding with their claws and jumped on absolutely everything.

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Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather
August 19, 2009 6:36 PM
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@Embriosa: I clip Georgie Girl's nails with a regular nail clipper. At first (2 years ago) she hated this and acted like I was killing her. I would always kiss her head and soothe her by talking to her gently and telling her I love her. When we were all done she would get a treat, a toy or some tuna. Now although she tries to run when she sees the clippers coming out she doesn't fuss at all.

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 8:08 PM
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@itiswhatitis: Yes, that works. Know what else is great? Ask the vet for some little placebo pills, maybe fishy tasting so they aren't too unpleasant. Practice pill-taking with the kitty (the vet can show you the right way to do it). Then when they're sick, they're not also frightened by being grabbed and having something thrust down their throat. I had such a hard time giving my oldest cat medicine when he had cat flu after Hurricane Ike, I was actually afraid he was going to die. Now I grab him once or twice a week and we do the \"fire drill.\"

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 6:03 AM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: my mom had me and my sister practice 'pilling' the kittens we had when we were kids with little wadded up balls of plain bread. it came in handy when my sister's cat developed chronic lifelong cystitis and had a daily pill for 12 years. she would actually come tell you when it was pill time because pills were followed immediately by treats

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Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather
August 19, 2009 8:19 PM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: that's a good idea. My baby girl is still young (she will be 3 on Aug 25th) and hasn't had any medical issues yet (except one time my guinea pigs got sick and I was so stressed out she stopped eating as well. Turns out she was fine just really upset that I was upset.) so its something I have not even thought about.

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bellecat
August 19, 2009 5:10 PM
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@Embriosa: Spray bottle FTW, especially if you can tag the cat without them knowing you are doing it. It only takes two or three squirts and the cat figures out not to do that anymore. Some people have told me they think it's mean but I find it far more humane than declawing. The water doesn't hurt them, they just don't like it.

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DriverB
August 19, 2009 3:17 PM
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@Embriosa: I agree with all the comments below about scratching posts, training, and treats. That said, even if you're having a hard time, absolutely DO NOT declaw! It is the equivalent of chopping off a person's finger tip at the first knuckle - yeesh! It can also mess up their bathroom habits, and if they were ever to get out, they would be completely defenseless, unable to dig and climb, etc. Terrible, terrible idea all around.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 19, 2009 5:59 PM
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@DriverB: and then they end up starving and in liver failure because they couldn't catch food and someone brings them to my house and i have to take care of them until it's time to let them go.

[www.flickr.com]

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Trai_Dep
August 19, 2009 4:34 PM
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@DriverB: Clipping their nails is a perfectly doable thing, too. You want another person to lull the kitteh and hold him/her, and the first few times they are anxious. But after that, no problems.
MUCH better than defingering them.

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mythago
August 20, 2009 2:02 PM
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@Trai_Dep: Especially if you bribe them with treats. Claw clipping FTW.

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 4:27 PM
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@DriverB: The EU has banned the practice on the grounds of animal cruelty. As much as cats clawing at my furniture pisses me off, I have to agree.

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Ebriosa
August 19, 2009 4:00 PM
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@DriverB: Exactly. I am not in favor of declawing. Also, the one cat I knew well that was declawed was subsequently very nasty when \"playing\" and would try to grab your hand with his front paws so he could bring up his back ones and scratch you with the still clawed feet. Most cats I've played with know how to \"bat\" perfectly well with claws detracted. I also do want a cat that can go outdoors, even if just for brushing. I've heard that Humane Societies tend to discourage outdoor cats, though, so I'll have to look into that. I live in a quiet neighborhood and have a decent sized yard.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
August 19, 2009 8:36 PM
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@Embriosa: BTW, if you're going to have the cat restrained, you're probably okay as long as you're up to date on shots and the vet is aware you take the cat outdoors so they can help you protect the cat against local diseases.

One of mine goes outdoors in a puppy cage, supervised by us, so he can eat and barf organic grass and hang with the people.

They make \"cat runs\" and things that also protect the cat from wildlife (and from cars) and the wildlife from cats, but my cat busted his on his first try, so puppy cage it was!

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
August 19, 2009 8:30 PM
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@Embriosa: \"I also do want a cat that can go outdoors, even if just for brushing. I've heard that Humane Societies tend to discourage outdoor cats\"

The average lifespan for an outdoor cat (or an indoor/outdoor) is 5 years. For an indoor-only cat it's 15 years. In the US, cats face a lot more traffic, and there are certain diseases carried by wildlife and ambient in the soil in the US that are dangerous or even deadly. (Plus there's a lot of wildlife in the US that views cats as dinner.)

My aunt who's a cats-only vet, though, says the primary way they die is as cat pancakes from cat-vs.-car.

Aside from all that, in the US, outdoor cats are a menace to endangered wildlife, particularly songbirds.

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mythago
August 20, 2009 2:02 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): After our oldest (and stupidest) cat came home after a cat fight and needed an $800 vet trip, we stopped letting them outside. Ever.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 6:08 AM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): a little songbird flew into my house the other night and my cat ripped its tailfeathers out. i got the bird out with no other damage and made it a cat resistant perch it could reach with a tall hop that it could still do, but i suspect the local feral cat colony made short work of it.

one of the ferals is courting me for a new home and has left me, so far, the skin and head of a black mouse, the center of a dragonfly, a katydid.... and tonight a baby snake on my doormat.

WARNING - SNAKE PICTURES BEYOND THIS LINK

[www.flickr.com]

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sponica
August 20, 2009 12:53 AM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): in my neck of the woods (southern NH) the primary COD is cat vs car, probably followed by cat v fisher cat/cat v coyote (both of whom go....mmmmmm, yummy yummy kitty) and occasionally cat vs flying raptor (only if they don't have claws).

my cat was never an outside cat so he has no desire to go outside, my sister's cat on the other hand clawed out every screen in the house only to go outside and be the neighborhood tom cat (yet never leaving the yard). he chased a GERMAN SHEPARD out of the yard

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shepd
August 19, 2009 10:21 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!):

Is it really that low? 5 years?

I had an outdoor kitty when I lived in the country/'burbs and it's still alive (with my parents, now). I believe it's about 16 or 17 years old now. Probably won't last too much longer, sadly, as it's got all sorts of problems now.

Only injury related to being outdoors was some sort of bug that managed to burrow itself into the kitty's neck. That required surgery :(

But there wasn't a lot of traffic there, so that's probably why it's still ok.

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Juliekins
August 20, 2009 1:37 AM
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@shepd: Another vote for keeping Kitty indoors, here. If she doesn't wind up being hit by a car, Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, rabies, fleas, ticks, predators, mean people, and bigger, aggressive cats all pose a huge risk to your cat.

Even if she whines, don't forget: you're the one with opposeable thumbs that can run a doorknob. They will whine and wheedle and beg to go out, but it's just not a good idea unless they're restrained in some way.

I grew up in the country. My parents seemed to think that treating them as barn cats and letting them breed willy nilly was just fine.* I saw a lot of kittens die of distemper, FLV, FIV. It was awful. The few that survived to adulthood were inevitably hit by cars or eaten by coyotes. My cats are 7 and 8 now. This is new territory for me entirely--growing up, I don't think I ever had a cat older than 3. Kittens are cute, but thinking about the number of kittens (and adult cats) at my local shelter right now makes me really sad and angry. To me, a kitten is a sign that someone didn't spay or neuter their pet. Again. All this is a really long way of saying: Adopt an adult. Get it fixed. Love it and take care of it for years and years and years.

* My parents have one cat and one dog now, both are fixed, and both live indoors full time. I think my sister and I guilted them into it.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 6:10 AM
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@Juliekins: please tell my cat that you can't turn doorknobs without thumbs. because she never heard that and opens doors all the time. it's good she's short and i just learned to never place furniture where she can reach doorknobs anymore.

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NikkiSweet
August 20, 2009 3:35 PM
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@catastrophegirl: Try having a cat WITH thumbs...

I have a hemmingway/bobcat/tabby mix (I don't know, I found her outside hurt when she was probably 5 weeks old...). She has thumbs. She will ball up her fist and punch you. She will also steal pens and pencils and hide them under my bed. She grabs cabinet door handles and opens them, will open drawers, will open normal doors...

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 4:04 PM
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@NikkiSweet: oh yeah, i have had several and some of my latest feral foster kittens came from a local polydactyl feral colony.
this was my sister's cat for many years

[www.findhorus.com]

and he was an absolute jerk about handing ball point pens to the bulldog, picking things up and taking them away... he was too lazy for doors fortunately. he felt that his human minions had to do SOME work

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
August 19, 2009 11:37 PM
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@shepd: @Trai_Dep: Yep, really that low, and yep, Trai Dep is right. It's also that not that many cat owners live in rural areas (because not that many people do) ... and urban and suburban areas present a lot more traffic dangers.

I knew a farm cat who lived to almost 20, but yeah, that's the outlier.

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sponica
August 20, 2009 12:55 AM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): and it might have something to do with the fact that cats ARE concentrated in areas where you may not be able to own a dog. i'm more of a dog person than a cat person, but in NYC when I was a student, heck no...cat was the way to go.

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Trai_Dep
August 19, 2009 11:06 PM
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@shepd: Probably, like the Middle Ages, the average is weighted down by early deaths before adolescent (or under) cats have the whole car-dodging thing down pat. I'm sure there are outdoor cats older than 5 years, but they're Darwin winners.
(Substitute Black Death & dragons for Middle Ages children deaths)

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 2:11 PM
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@Embriosa: I have three cats, all different ages, and none of them are destructive with their claws. I train them as early as possible that when I see them scratch their post thoroughly, they will get a kitty treat. I don't accept standing next to it and meowing, patting it with their front paws, pawing in the air next to it, or any of the other things they tried to scam me with. I rarely give treats except as a reword for \"being good.\" If I catch them putting their paws on something they shouldn't, I pick them right up, carry them to the post, make scratching motions with their paws on the post, and give them a treat. Pretty soon they learn that scratching the post is the way to ask for treats, and they do it several times a day, and they aren't tempted to scratch other things.


My furniture is perfectly intact.

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johnva
August 19, 2009 2:36 PM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: Yep. That works. I think 99% of the time that people have major behavior problems with their cats it's because the people haven't taken the time or effort to learn how to properly correct and redirect the behavior. It does take more effort than training a dog, but it's definitely doable.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
August 19, 2009 1:48 PM
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@Embriosa: Most cats, when given a scratching post or carpet will figure it out. My cat stuck to her scratching post but later in life migrated to a throw rug I had. But she left the furniture and the wall-to-wall carpet alone.

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MissPeacock
August 19, 2009 1:36 PM
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@Embriosa: Cats HATE the smell of oranges, so you can spray something orange-scented on the parts of the furniture you don't want your kitty to claw on and they will stay away. I think a lot of pet stores carry this kind of spray. You could also put double-sided tape on the bottom of your furniture; this will also keep kitty away. And as ageekymom said, the spray bottle works absolute wonders.

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pecan 3.14159265
August 19, 2009 1:34 PM
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@Embriosa: For the most part, older cats are more mellow, and are less likely to go crazy with your furniture. The shelter employees will know which cats are best around furniture. Also, if you do end up adopting an adult cat and it does start using your furniture as a scratching post, you can always get the little rubber claw covers. They come in fun neon colors, too.

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infopubs
August 19, 2009 3:49 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: Another vote for the claw covers. We have two cats living with us in our 300 sq ft RV, and the nail caps are a must. A description of them with photos here.

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johnva
August 19, 2009 1:48 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: It depends on what sort of furniture it is, too, I've found. Things with smooth upolstry or leather, the cats seem to have little interest in scratching. Things like wicker, on the other hand, reminds them of a scratching post a little too much to resist some times.

But we use the water bottle trick to train them and it works fine. It's better if you can get a bottle that shoots a narrow beam of water over a long distance, so you can hit them accurately from across the room :). Older cats are certainly trainable; they just aren't as naturally...\"compliant\" as say, dogs are (I think a lot of people go wrong with cats because they think they can be trained in the same way dogs can be). But it's not that hard once you figure out their psychology, as they are quite intelligent.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
August 19, 2009 1:29 PM
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@Embriosa: The shelter workers can help, they get a good idea of the cats' temperament. (Also, declawed adults get turned in if you don't object to adopting pre-declawed.)

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ageekymom
August 19, 2009 1:27 PM
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@Embriosa: If you don't want to declaw your cat, fill a spray bottle with water and spray the cat when it's doing something you don't like. Also, you can clip a cat's nails like you would clip a dog's.

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Bibliovore
August 19, 2009 1:56 PM
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@ageekymom: Another declawing alternative is Soft Paws, blunt nail covers to glue on over their claws. (I just clip, myself.)

@Embriosa: To train cats to leave particular surfaces alone, you can cover those surfaces in tin foil or tape (rolls, or double-sided, as long as you have something sticky on the outside) -- cats hate scratching either, and after they catch on you can remove the stuff. You can also get motion-sensing canisters of compressed air, such as Ssscat, if you simply don't want them coming near something in the first place. The advantages of any of those over a spray bottle is that they also deter when you're not around.

Do also provide a surface they SHOULD scratch, whether it's a scratching post or one of those cardboard door-hanging scratching surfaces or whatever, and redirect them there as needed (dosing it with catnip can help, too).

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Garbanzo
August 19, 2009 6:18 PM
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@Bibliovore: Also, different cats have different preferences about scratching. Some like a tall scratching post they can really stretch up to, others are content with a lower or flatter surface. So it may help to try different models. We've had good luck with the posts covered with sisal rope. We've even replaced the sisal when it gets too beat up: just wind the rope tightly and tie securely; no glue needed.

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 8:02 PM
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@Garbanzo: Great tip on the sisal rope. That will keep me from replacing the whole damn cat castle when they shred one post. :)

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Ebriosa
August 19, 2009 2:23 PM
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@Bibliovore: These are great tips, thanks for all the responses. I may have to start leaning on my husband, since we both love cats but have never gotten one for ourselves. It does seem like an adult cat will be cheaper and easier in a lot of ways. We already have spare carpet parts for making a scratching post :D

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Mr_Mantastic
August 19, 2009 8:22 PM
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@Embriosa: Please don't declaw. It's cruel to the cat, and makes them more apt to bite because they don't have claws. We sprayed our furniture with Scratch Off, and it works. We also spray our cats with water when they misbehave, and it didn't take too long to train them.

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EdnaLegume
August 19, 2009 1:27 PM
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Now I really want to go out and adopt an older cat. Dunno how the current three will act.

then there's the husband issue. although, moving him out would make room for more cats.....

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ElizabethD
August 19, 2009 1:28 PM
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This campaign is brilliant and cute. I am going to forward this to our local animal rescue league as an idea worth borrowing.

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ionerox
August 19, 2009 1:30 PM
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In Minnesota, the Humane Societies run a summer foster program- people can foster an older cat for a few months (HS provides food/litter), and then get a deal if they decide to keep it. Part of this was to help with the overcrowding during summer months. I think it's nice to do test runs with an animal as well.


My housemates are fostering a cat, and he is the sweetest thing ever. They are not keeping him, but he'll get an extremely good review and hopefully find a good home this fall.

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Phrasework
August 19, 2009 1:57 PM
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@ionerox: We just did something very similar here in Massachusetts. After our fatty passed away we wanted to get a new companion for our other two kitties, and the shelter let us foster a cat for a month to see if he was a good fit for the family. After a week or adjustment we were pretty sure he was perfect, but it was nice to know that we could give him a good trial run and ensure both he and our previous cats were going to be happy.

Poor guy is 4 years old and had been in and out of the shelter for the past year, and had 2 adoptions that fell through. But he's been with us for a few months now and we're pretty happy to have him!

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Dondegroovily
August 19, 2009 1:38 PM
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I'm just gonna post something pointless here since I'm still in audition mode and it's clear that no one reads these things.

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Smashville
August 19, 2009 1:38 PM
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Having adopted both new and pre-owned from the shelter...I have to say...


Any cat is a good cat.

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 3:06 PM
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@Smashville: Hear, hear. I'm firmly of the opinion that an animal is as good as its owner wants it to be. My extended family has never had a \"bad\" cat or dog or rabbit, because we refuse to pretend they're anything but cats or dogs or rabbits, with feline or canine or lapine brains and motivations.

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MissPeacock
August 19, 2009 1:38 PM
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I love this campaign. It's so cute and funny and I really hope it works. My local animal shelter is starting something called the Pet Pantry. People can donate animal food to the shelter, and the shelter will then give that food to people who are in need and would normally give their pet up because they can't afford it. I know I'm donating a ton of food to this program.

Also, I adopted a 2 year old kitty back in March from a shelter, and he is the sweetest thing ever. Calm, litter-trained, yet still loves to play and be cuddled. I adopted a 4 month old kitten last month as a companion for him and she is a real handful, constantly getting into things, tearing things up, and running around the house non-stop. I have no regrets about getting her, but an older animal is much less hassle.

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GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life
August 19, 2009 1:46 PM
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I wonder if they can find a home for Burger and Fries? He seems lovable! ;)


turn down speakers before playing.

I do wonder if everything is disclosed on the CATFAX report for Pinky:

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I want my Pepsi Throwback back!
August 21, 2009 9:43 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave:WalkinOnSunshine: My friends' cats have \"PTSD\"... maybe that shouldn't be in quotes... because their litter plus their momma was thrown out of the back of a moving truck with all of them inside of the carrier. Her two and one girl were the only ones to live. When my friend moved up here, it took the both of us, with towels, to get one of her boys into the carrier. He was so terrified. He bit the both of us so much that we both ended up needing medical treatment at the ER. We were both put on strong antibiotics and told that if they didn't stop swelling after the round of oral antibiotics that we would need to be hospitalized for IV antibiotics. That was kind of crazy, but we went through that all because we love that stupid cat and we would not leave him behind in any way, shape, or form. Ahh, the things we do for our pets...

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zekebullseye
August 19, 2009 11:11 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack:
My cat looks just like \"Burger and Fries.\" He also sounds like him when he goes to the vet. He has kitty-PTSD from being at the animal shelter. Recently he had an infection on his scalp and I had to take him. He wouldn't go into a carrier (he knows that means vet) so I had to stuff him into a pillowcase, enduring shrieks and howls worse than in the video. He had to be sedated to receive any treatment. The vet said he was a handful! He is a wonderful cat, though. I know it's hard to believe, but with his family he is delightful and sweet (that is, when said family is not trying to take him to the vet). We love him to pieces.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 6:13 AM
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@zekebullseye: i've been training the foster kittens that the carrier is a nice place. i leave it in my [their] room with towels in it and put treats in it. when they had to go for their nip/tuck surgery they walked right into it of their own free will.

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GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack
August 20, 2009 12:15 AM
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@zekebullseye: All mine, save Angel, don't mind the carrier. In fact, Skeeter will walk in as long as you open it and turn around. As for the vet, mine are so loved that they get constant attention, and I am sometimes waiting for 20 minutes at the desk while they do a simple blood draw, and they bering them out purring.

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh
August 19, 2009 4:11 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: I've seen the first video before.. it freaked my cats OUT. They wanted to know what horrible things were happening to that cat. Or maybe they do know.. They couldn't translate it for me though.

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GitEmSteveDave_TryinToTakeItBack
August 19, 2009 5:04 PM
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@Kimaroo - 20% More Kitty Added!: That's my ringtone for my cellphone. My cats are very used to it. I did bring my dog into the room the other day when The Dog Whisperer had an Aussie on, in the chance all Aussie's speak the same language.

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morlo
August 19, 2009 3:02 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_PorchMonkey4Life: Give me a thousand such cats and I will destroy Al Qaida and annex Canada!

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PsiCop
August 19, 2009 1:55 PM
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I really love this campaign!

We've adopted several adult cats who needed new homes. Each of them had their charms, and were (in two cases, still are!) terrific. Having no children means we could adopt cats who had trouble with kids, particularly a sweet thing who had been neglected by her family and tormented by neighborhood kids. Just hearing a child's voice would send her running. But she stayed with us, in our nice quiet home, and she gets along just fine.

Anyone who wants a cat, really ought to adopt from a shelter, instead of buying a new kitten from a breeder. Not just to save the money, which isn't small if you're dealing with a pedigree cat ... but with all the unadopted and possibly unadoptable adult cats there are out there, giving them a second chance is just the right thing to do.

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ChicagoKev
August 19, 2009 5:42 PM
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@PsiCop: \"Anyone who wants a cat, really ought to adopt from a shelter, instead of buying a new kitten from a breeder.\"

While the sentiment is good, there are definite advantages to getting your pet from a reputable breeder. With dogs, one interesting issue is that if you want a specific breed, you may find that an adult dog from a rescue or shelter costs about the same as buying an older puppy from a breeder -- rescues have raised their prices for popular breeds into the hundreds of dollars in recent years!

A show breeder will know the exact pedigree and tests their breeding adults for common genetic diseases (e.g. hip problems). They also take extreme care of nutrition during pregnancy and kitten/puppyhood.

I've had \"rescued\" adult cats and dogs in the past, and they've often died young of conditions that I nor my vet could have predicted from examining the adult, but which were directly attributable to genetics or poor nutrition at the beginning of their lives. This sort of preventable heartbreak is not something anybody would want to repeat. Also, if you get an rescued adult, you may never figure out why your pet instantly pees on the carpet whenever she sees a woman in a hat.

Not that a pedigreed kitten is guaranteed a long and healthy life, however by going with a reputable show breeder you can at least control for at least some risk factors.

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sinfonian94
August 21, 2009 4:23 AM
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@ChicagoKev: I'm sorry, but it's VERY RARE for a rescue to charge even HALF as much as a breeder. VERY RARE. Average adoption fee runs about $150-300. Average cost from a breeder is at least $500-900. Also, verifying that a breeder is reputable is EXTREMELY difficult. This is a big reason that most reputable pet supply stores refuse to sell dogs and cats.

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ChicagoKev
August 21, 2009 10:41 PM
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@sinfonian94: I'm sorry, but it's VERY RARE for a rescue to charge even HALF as much as a breeder. VERY RARE. Average adoption fee runs about $150-300. Average cost from a breeder is at least $500-900.

As I said, for dogs, the breed-specific rescues are raising their prices into the 400-500 dollar range, and show breeders will often offer neutered 'pet quality' offspring in the $400-$600 range, so there certainly are cases where a rescue dog of an identifiable breed is actually MORE expensive in toto than getting a 'pet quality' puppy from a breeder who breeds for show.

For the reputable breeders I've talked to, it's very common that puppies who are not quite up to show conformation standards (color, coat, body shape, etc) are neutered and offered at a much lower price than an intact show dog.

Again, this applies more to dogs, but the whole problem of inheritable genetic flaws and poor pre-natal nutrition is still a concern -- a kitten born on the streets isn't going to get proper nutrition at the most critical stages of development.

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sinfonian94
August 21, 2009 4:26 AM
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@sinfonian94: Also the dog/cat gotten from the breeder usually still needs shots, ID Chip, and spay or neuter. About $300 worth of vet work on average. This is usually included in the adoption fee.

Not to say there aren't reputable breeders out there. There are a lot of breeders who are in it because they love the breed. Sadly, they are a vast minority. The only reason to really consider a breeder is if you want your dog to have puppies or be put out to stud. Or on the rare occasion you can't find what you're looking for on petfinder.com. If you are going to spay/neuter your dog, you're ALWAYS going to save money at a rescue.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 6:23 AM
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@ChicagoKev: the rescue operation i volunteer with does usually have prices that could put off casual adopters [on sale for $60 until the end of the month though!] but that's still a loss. all the cats there are tested, vaccinated, neutered, microchipped.
and the costs of the rescue include live traps to catch the feral cats/kittens, transportation to and from foster homes and adoption events every week, food, litter, toys, carriers, litter boxes... etc.
even then i hit the thrift stores every weekend looking for used, functional carriers.
but the price is the same, regardless of breed.
and whether it's the kitten who was hit by a car and needed multiple live saving operations:

or the one with an eye infection or respiratory infections, etc... the adoption fees are the same.

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 7:17 PM
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@ChicagoKev: I wonder what happens to the pedigreed cats that don't find homes. How long does a breeder continue to feed them before reaching for the syringe?

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korybing
August 19, 2009 1:58 PM
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I am thrilled that these guys are going out of their way to get homes for shelter cats! It breaks my heart every time I see someone go and buy a brand new kitten when there are so many pets in shelters waiting to find a good homes. All of my pets have come from shelters or friends trying to get rid of their own pets and they've all been wonderful animals. Haven't had a bad one yet.

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colorfulRhyme
August 19, 2009 2:21 PM
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I'm totally for this! Adult cats have had the time to grow up, and are almost always trained for everything you need. Just because they're older, doesn't mean they don't need a good home!
My family ended up adopting an older cat from a family friend, or he was going to end up in a shelter anyways... he's big and fat (22 lbs!!) and completely filled with love. He especially loves snuggling in the morning or at night.
I really hope these ads help to get a lot more homes for adult kitties everywhere.

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morganlh85
August 19, 2009 2:22 PM
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Awww...now I wanna get another cat. I really shouldn't, but our little guy needs a buddy...

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LilBadKitty
August 21, 2009 2:42 AM
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@mythago: I find 3 to be the ideal number of cats, personally. We're 1 short at the moment but since we also have 3 dogs and a conure, I think we're good for the time being.

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mythago
August 20, 2009 3:52 PM
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@morganlh85: You totally need a second cat. It's only around cat #4 that you really need to take a step back.

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MissPeacock
August 19, 2009 5:56 PM
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@morganlh85: I adopted a cat from a shelter back in March, and he often cried for attention when I got home from work. I realized that he was lonely and adopted another cat last month. His crying has stopped, he no longer follows me all over the house, and any behavior issues have totally gone away now that he has his little friend to play with. Really, get a companion for your kitty; within days my two cats were sleeping in the same bed, grooming each other, and rolling around on the floor, playing.

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TouchMyMonkey
August 19, 2009 7:10 PM
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@MissPeacock: Kitty #1 is just a grumpy loner kitty who would be happy if the other cats would just leave her alone. Sometimes she still hisses as Kitty #3 just to remind her of her place in the pecking order. Kitty #2 is mellow, only reacted badly to Kitty #3 for four or five days, and now they're pretty tight. Kitty #3 is just psycho. Very aggressive for a female cat. Neighbor cats are afraid of Kitty #3 because she'd kick their asses for even coming near her territory. I'm afraid if we ever got Kitty #4, Kitty #3 would try to kill it.

Otherwise, this story breaks my heart. Black cats being discriminated against, cats sharing cages, adult cats languishing in shelters for months while kittens get snapped up quickly. It really breaks my heart, but I can't do anything about it.

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Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather
August 19, 2009 6:41 PM
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@MissPeacock: that is something I am contemplating. I have had my cat for 3 years now (adopted her when she was a kitten) and we have a very close relationship. I was cat sitting for 2 weeks and had to leave her home and my roommate told me she cried and cried and cried everyday because I was not there. I felt so horrible. Once I move in September I think I am going to bite the bullet and adopt another one just so she can give me 2 seconds of breathing room (or I will just have 2 cats stuck to me like white on rice).

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JayDeEm
August 20, 2009 1:12 AM
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@itiswhatitis: We went through this exact thing about 2 years ago. We had our 3 year old cat and felt that he needed the company of another cat, so we adopted a second. We went with a kitten simply because we were advised that it can be easier to integrate a kitten into the household than another adult cat.

First 3 Days - Separation: The older cat knew something was up and didn't like it. Lots of sniffing and staring at a closed door. My wife and I split time staying with the kitten, though she was pretty self sufficient.

Next 2 Days - Introductions: We brought them together for a couple hours at a time where they could be supervised. Much hissing, growling and swatting at the kitten ensues. Nothing particularly violent mind you, just protesting type of behavior.

Next 2 Months - Integration (She's your new sister, deal with it): Over the course of the next couple of months they figure out boundaries and all that, the hissing and disagreements fade away.

They're all good now and spend much time together. The older cat has a much better disposition now and just seems happier overall. No more breathing room for me though, it's about the same as it was before. They just keep each other entertained when we are not home, and then latch on to us when we are here.

Why yes, we are those cat people.

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JayDeEm
August 20, 2009 1:35 AM
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@JayDeEm: Tried to post cat image... failed.

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 2:47 PM
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@morganlh85: They really do need the company of another cat. You're perfect, but like the parent of a teenager, you just don't understand. Cats are not as solitary as people think and they're happier and healthier when they have a cat pal.

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SugarMag
August 19, 2009 2:28 PM
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That's a really cool campaign.


I've always had used cats. Haven't had a miss yet.
And considering all my cats have lived 18+ years...getting an older one is no big deal. Still has lots of mileage left in them!

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Snakeophelia
August 19, 2009 2:29 PM
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This spring, my animal shelter (Animal Coalition of Delaware County) ran a FARP - Feline Asset Relief Program - adoption ad campaign. It was SO cute.

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litespeed74
August 19, 2009 2:31 PM
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Great story. I always try to encourage people to adopt older kittys.

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linlu
August 19, 2009 2:35 PM
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I have 'adopted' my second cat (an adult stray). S/he was so skinny I could see his/her bones when I first started feeding him/her last week, now s/he's looking better. I say 'adopted' because I just feed them outside - I don't take them inside (not that s/he would come inside as s/he is still very wary of humans). The first cat I 'adopted' is my neighbor's cat who had to be turned into an outdoor cat because she kept attacking her brother. I feed her too since my neighbor travels and the food she leaves out is eaten by birds and possums. I found taht feeding the cats at night gets rid of the bird problem and is safer for the cat (no dogs being walked).

If I wasn't so allergic (as in asthma attack city) and was sure my kids weren't allergic, I would adopt a couple of indoor cats too. I really prefer cats to dogs.

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diasdiem
August 19, 2009 2:41 PM
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Make sure it's certified pre-owned though. Don't take their word for it that the previous owner was a little old lady who only petted it on Sundays. Always get a CatFax history report... oh yeah, and at the shelter, \"kicking the tires\".... bad idea. Trust me.

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sponica
August 19, 2009 2:44 PM
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The shelter near me had a \"buy one, get one\" free deal going on but my mom would have KILLED ME if i came home with 2 cats to add to the brood. They also had an only child program, where cats who needed to be the only cat in the house were free.

I do feel bad that I didn't adopt a black or black/white cat. Those cats take the LONGEST to adopt because there are so many of them. Mine was only at the shelter 2 weeks.

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 2:56 PM
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@sponica: My third cat was a hard-luck case who was going to be given to someone I didn't trust because the two bratty girl cats in his former home picked on him nonstop. He's a beautiful, huge, gentle Maine Coon, but the girls ganged up on him and made him miserable and stressed out. His former owner thought he wasn't going to work out with my two, but I don't stand for that bullying crap and I made sure it didn't happen. He's a fairly needy, childish cat, and he can come on a bit too strong when he feels neglected, but he and my other two were able to work it out. When Smoky is feeling lonely, he comes to me for fussing instead of trying to nurse on his sister (which she really doesn't care for at all).


My point is that whether or not a cat is an \"only\" is often dependent on the home rather than the cat. Most cats are not solitary.

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root02
August 19, 2009 3:27 PM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: I've 3 cats. Mix the middle one and the oldest one at times, and you get a pretty nasty catfight (screaming, howling, fur flying, etc). Any other combination is ok, they're all sweet, they're all fine with *some* other cats.
It seems it's in phases though. Right now I could have all 3 together and they'd be fine.. it's weird. Cats are complex creatures, it's why I love them so. :)
My middle cat isn't solitary, but he seems to prefer the company of people to that of other cats.

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sponica
August 19, 2009 3:17 PM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: most aren't but even mine (who gets along with the 2 other cats and the dog) would like nothing else than for us to get rid of those others.

the humane society thoroughly tests and retests cats to see if they can play well with others. i trust them when they say \"needs to be only child\"

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spanky
August 19, 2009 3:52 PM
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@sponica: Every shelter is different. Some do fair and thorough temperament testings, others not so much.

A lot of them have a tendency to 'fail' animals on temperament issues for very little reason.

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sponica
August 19, 2009 5:13 PM
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@spanky: my humane society is pretty thorough...and it's not like you can't adopt the only children cats if you really want to, but they strongly discourage it. the only child cats have a sign that says, \"kitty kat went to kitty behavior school and had problems playing nice with others\" or something like that.

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JulesNoctambule
August 19, 2009 2:47 PM
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The ad cat looks like my Clare! She was a shelter cat, and the best 'model' of cat I've ever had. I guess her warranty is still good - you should hear the purr!

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root02
August 19, 2009 3:29 PM
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@JulesNoctambule: Hehe, the one in the ad looks like the one I rescued last September. Sweetest, most affectionate cat I've ever seen.
You have to catch him in the right mood to pet him though, otherwise it's OMG PLAY NOM NOM

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JulesNoctambule
August 20, 2009 2:38 AM
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@root02: She was like that when she was a kitten, but now that she's twelve it's pet-me-ville. Unless we're making the bed -- for some reason, nothing gets her running around quite like it!

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root02
August 19, 2009 3:11 PM
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I've adopted 2 of mine as kittens (one newborn, rescued after Ike), and one as an adolescent. The kittens are a pain, but the sheer cuteness keeps you from wanting to boot them into next week :3
I'm waiting for the youngest to grow up... he's almost a year old and is still every bit as much of a kitten as he was when he was 3 months >_<
Kitteh!

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 7:50 PM
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@root02: They just don't seem to be grownups until they're 2-and-something, do they. Then a switch flips and they suddenly decide to be cuddly. Kittens, God bless them, are stupid.

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Urgleglurk
August 19, 2009 3:22 PM
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I've already forwarded this to my Sheltie Rescue contacts! I love the idea and I <3 senior Shelties.


All older pets are hard to adopt out. :-( We love them, though. We personally have two senior Shelties and a senior Siamese cat, in addition to the rest.

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subtlefrog
August 19, 2009 3:30 PM
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I wonder if they plan to do this sort of thing with dogs too. There are a lot of dogs in our local shelters and I'd imagine other shelters have a lot of doggie surrenders too. My mutt (who started as a foster, then we became those people who couldn't give up the dog) was 3 when we got her - and is the perfect dog.

I did have three cats, and they were all adult strays who were fantastic, and easily trainable. I concur with all of the above about adopting adults! Sadly, my allergies got the best of me with them and my friends have them now. Sigh.

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jayde_drag0n
August 19, 2009 4:48 PM
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AWWWWWWW that is soo cute!!

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TWSS
August 19, 2009 5:02 PM
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The Oregon Humane Society is running a BOGO for cats: [www.oregonhumane.org]

\"Buy\" one, get one free for adults, \"buy\" one kitten, get the second one 50% off.

I adopted an 8 year old FIV+ furball back in May while they were doing a 30% off adoption fees for Mother's Day special.

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alkora
August 19, 2009 5:07 PM
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hmm. Must say this is priceless.

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Paladin_11
August 19, 2009 5:11 PM
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But.. but.. adult cats are tough and stringy. Kittens at least double as currency at the weekly poker game.

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bellecat
August 19, 2009 5:22 PM
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We volunteer at a great shelter and summers are usually worse for cat populations. We've seen a lot of abandoned cats since the economy has gone in the toilet, too. People think cats will be okay on their own and don't want to pay the fees or sit on the waitlist for surrender. Unfortunately a lot of the abandoned cats are also not spayed/neutered so then kittens are born and the vicious cycle continues.

Please, spay and neuter!!!! Also, black cats are not bad luck. Our black kitties end up staying at the shelter for a much longer time than other cats just because of this silly superstition. Not only do the superstitious people avoid them but we also have adopters that don't want to get a black cat because they are afraid of what other people will do to it. We always recommend people keep their cats indoors always and when we mention this it sometimes helps people get over their fears that their cat won't be safe. Really sad, though, that we have to prohibit any black cat adoptions to occur around Halloween.

The one good thing about the cats spending longer at the shelter than dogs is that you can always find someone there that knows the cat well and can tell you all about their personality. Consider it a cheat sheet to pick the right one for you!

Also, totally unaffiliated but the furminator is the best thing ever and I'm telling everyone about it.

PS - to those of you who mention that your cats think they are people...they really don't, they know they are cats and that you, as people, are vastly inferior. What they don't understand is why you don't get it yet. Why would you want to continue to do people things when the cat is so obviously perfect and has been kind enough to show you the way to superiority?

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sponica
August 20, 2009 12:57 AM
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@bellecat: i don't think black cats take longer to adopt bc of superstition....it's that when you walk into my local shelter, all you see is a sea of black/white kitties that ALL LOOK THE SAME. So you look at that orange tabby and go ooooo that one's different.

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zekebullseye
August 19, 2009 11:18 PM
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@bellecat:
We just got a black cat. He's adorable. It's so cute when he yawns: A little patch of pink mouth in the expanse of black fur. And cute green eyes, too.

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linkura
August 19, 2009 5:42 PM
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We adopted two brother kittens in June. We were going to adopt two adult cats, but the kittens chose us, not the other way around.

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YouMustBeHarveysSqueeze
August 19, 2009 6:07 PM
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I volunteer at the Manhattan animal shelter, and they're doing a similar promotion. Any cat 1 year or older is free until labor day. Plus they always have a BOGO - adopt any cat and get one free. These things help, but it really takes dedicated people to adopt older cats. The tendency to want to \"start from scratch\" with a kitten is often very hard to break people of - it's a conversation I have all the time with potential adopters.

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speedwell (!)
August 19, 2009 7:54 PM
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@YouMustBeHarveysSqueeze: Oh, my. I'm sick and tired of kitten crassness. They're adorable and hilarious and soft and UNDERFOOT and STUPID and UNCIVILIZED. Little loose cannons. Let someone else take the depreciation hit, as they say of cars. :)

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ninabi
August 19, 2009 6:55 PM
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I have a pre-owned Siamese. Gorgeous, healthy and loads of fun because he adores people and his enthusiasm for life is boundless.

His litter habits are perfect. He's not walking the counters.

A perfect, healthy cat- and he'd been in the shelter for months. Kitten season was coming up and his time was running short. How could we not take him home?

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 19, 2009 7:05 PM
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also, in the NC triangle, cat adoption fees lowered through the end of august at the place i foster for:
[www.alleycatsandangels.org]

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JulesNoctambule
August 20, 2009 2:42 AM
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@catastrophegirl: I wasn't going to click that link, since we're planning to take in a neighbourhood stray, but I did anyway. . .and now I have to figure out how to convince the spouse that five cats doesn't cross that line into Crazy Cat People territory.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 9:37 PM
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@JulesNoctambule: lookit the adorable kitty pictures.... now with NEW adoption event locations so whichever part of town you live in it can be convenient go meet kitties...
[alleycatsandangels.blogspot.com]

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 2:46 AM
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@JulesNoctambule: [and please don't take bridgey, i am trying to get her to myself as soon as this kitten is adopted...]

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 2:45 AM
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@JulesNoctambule: no, you can only be a crazy cat person if you live alone. married couples are exempted automatically because they obviously don't live alone.
and you have someone to double check you and make sure you don't give the tuna to the cats and eat the cat food yourself

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Brent
August 19, 2009 8:15 PM
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I only get pre-owned cats. New cats lose half their value the moment you carry them out of the pet store.

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diasdiem
August 19, 2009 9:49 PM
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@Brent: True, but oh, that new cat smell...

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SybilDisobedience
August 19, 2009 8:15 PM
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After my beloved cat Godfrey passed on in May, I tried to see the silver lining by treating it as an opportunity to provide a home to a new friend. We brought home a fully-grown Siamese mix named Kyoku in June and couldn't be happier. She doesn't replace Godfrey and she never could - she's all her own kitty and we just love her. I fully support adopting grown-up kitties. They need love too!

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Brent
August 19, 2009 8:15 PM
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And who needs that new cat smell?

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lalaland13
August 19, 2009 8:52 PM
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I love this campaign. I have two kitties now, one shelter, one rescue. My tuxedo kitty was actually a last-minute add-on. In college, I went to the shelter and wanted to pick out an adult cat. So I picked out a snappy-looking orange tabby. The next day, I went to visit him and in a nearby cage was this little tuxedo kitty who was all whiskers. I gave her a little toy and she started playing with it and it broke my heart. I called my mom crying and she said, \"Well, get em both!\" Luckily my lease allowed that.

Unfortunately, the orange tabby died three months later from renal failure. He had been treated and such and was doing a tad better, until I came home and he was dead. It was a mystery both the vet and me, even after a necropsy. But a few months later, another little orange boy-this time a kitten-came into my life, and all is well now. I don't regret adopting that adult cat, even though he died. At least he died loved.

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HogwartsAlum
August 19, 2009 9:12 PM
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That is AWESOME! Oh so cute! What a great idea!

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mac-phisto
August 19, 2009 9:23 PM
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i adopted a 5-yr old a few years back. he was the best cat i ever had. dog-like even. if there was a lap, he was on it.

he disappeared though. :*(

oliver. oliver clothesoff was his name. *sniffle*. hopefully he found someone that was a less stingy with the treats.

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sdspidy
August 19, 2009 10:44 PM
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This campaign is awesome! I have three rescued strays that think I belong to them. My old man just died July 3rd. He was 16. :(

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Myrtlebird
August 19, 2009 10:50 PM
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This is a great idea. In Idaho Falls, Idaho,they restrict the adoption of cats (particulary black ones) during the month of October. This is done to prevent those certain individuals among us who may do harm during the Halloween season. Our Animal Control department really cares!!!

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zekebullseye
August 19, 2009 11:14 PM
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When the previous post said is true: Cats love company. Do get a friend for your kitty. It's unnatural for a cat to be alone all day.

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SybilDisobedience
August 20, 2009 9:24 PM
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@zekebullseye: Amen. My cat was alone for two weeks after the death of his \"foster brother\" before I brought home a new shelter cat to live with us. He was so lonely for those 2 weeks that my heart just broke for him. Now he has a new companion and she drives him crazy all day!

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Aresef
August 20, 2009 12:18 AM
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My mom works for county animal control. We brought home one of the office cats after he developed diabetes. Sooo cute. He jumps in my bed all the time.

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zaborwi
August 20, 2009 12:39 AM
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I adopted a \"pre-owned\" model back in 2000 from the Dearborn Animal Shelter. Honestly, JeanLuc is the best cat I could ever have...very affectionate, great personality, loves his dog brother, a real \"head-bumper\". I truly believed that, when I went looking for a cat, he selected me (I was originally set on an all black female...ended up with a brown and grey lynx-point male). JeanLuc was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and we had to remove his front leg. We also went through 12 months of chemo. Now, he has 3 legs (doesn't bother him)and is 100% cancer free. I always wonder what he looked like as a kitten...but it doesn't matter...I just know what he looks like now and that I love him to death...I will always purchase \"pre-owned\" kitty cats!

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SybilDisobedience
August 20, 2009 9:25 PM
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@zaborwi: So glad to hear he made it through the cancer! He's lucky to have you. Keep taking care of him.


I have a lynx-point Siamese mix myself. Is Jean-Luc as playful and insane as my Kyo?

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cukymnstr
August 20, 2009 1:09 AM
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Two girls, adopted after the 16 year old beast died (the same day). Sisters, I think. Boo (brown tabby) was sleeping on Moo(tuxedo, of course). When we were in the get acquainted room, Moo avoided us like the plague and Boo was so little with a cold. I couldn't resist. Moo was under the bed for a month and a half (out to only eat and litter box), And Boo wound up having Feline Asthma (which we thought was Flying Asthma thanks to our Indian Vet). She snored louder than any human could.
Now that they are five, Boo snores no more (neither us or the vet could figure it out), and Moo, still a little skittish, talks to us all the time.
I always get prev owned animals. They are most likely teenagers (9 to 18 months), but would not complain if the next furry beast was 3+ years.

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KylieH
August 20, 2009 2:12 AM
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My husband and I adopted a year-old cat from the pound. She was a total whack-job. Everything about her was miswired: she purred before she attacked; she had a fifth digit on each foot; and had an intestinal issue that caused her to be nicknamed the \"Whirling S*** Dervish.\"

Adopt from the pound again? Oh, yeah, but maybe a dog this time.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
August 20, 2009 2:52 AM
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@KylieH: wow. my sister's former cat was whirling dervish [without the expletive]
polydactyl cats are more common in the southeast [multi toes] due to the hemingway house cat population and years of tourists adopting kittens from there. i just fostered some polydactyl kittens

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scoosdad
August 20, 2009 3:06 AM
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De-tailed?? Nooooooo!

Certified Pre-Owned Cats: Inspected, Detailed, Better Than New!
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AdvocatesDevil
August 20, 2009 3:18 AM
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This is really all the OP's fault...

/snark

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TessTalks
August 20, 2009 1:28 PM
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First, you're a whole lot better off with an adult cat, whose real personality is developed. And, the absolute BEST way to select an adult cat is by going to a shelter that has a \"cat room\" where all the cats roam free. Then take a stroll through the room and, I promise, one cat will choose YOU.

I did exactly that and picked Chester for our office, or rather, Chester picked me. When I walked through looking at all the cats, no matter which direction I went Chester jumped up on to something so he was at my eye level. It was impossible NOT to notice him. So, he left with me and, although I'm now retired, he's still at the office makeing his rounds every day to stop by everyone's desk to see say hello and hopefully get a treat. And, I still drop by to see him. Oh, by the way, from day one when you call out \"Chester\" he comes a running. Best cat ever.

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Vandelay Import Export
August 20, 2009 1:31 PM
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I rather have a dog. They are much safer.

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angelofstrange
August 22, 2009 4:14 AM
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I think it's a brilliant idea, the humane shelter here has a program like it for black cats during the summer since a lot of people are worried about having black cats. Apparently they're very popular during the month of October though! We have 3 cats and they're all nutters but we love them.

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