a little advice please

[SarahK]

0

Ok, all you cat owners - I'm considering getting a cat (rescue), well not considering so much having to wait till next week to ask the landlord if we'd be permitted to have one.
In the lease it says that we're not allowed, our neighbour downstairs has one, but I don't know if the landlord knows it If we're not allowed, this will still be of relevance when we get our own home.

We considered other animals, but it seems to us that cats are better suited to living in an apartment, but how much space do they really need? Will he/she be happy enough with out being allowed outside? Kitten or adult? Will it wreck my furniture? Is it ok to leave him/her while we are in work?

I have only a little experience with cats, I've never owned one, so I would like advice from people who have experience of these things. I've done the research, read all the articles on the web, but real life advice is always best.

[Twitchin Kitten]

0

OOH Kitty will be perfectly happy in any size apartment! Kitty will be perfectly happy to be indoors only as well as long as you give it enough toys and quality play time, which knowing you and how you keep your pets, you will.

In my experiences, males are more mellow and friendly than the girls.

Get a kitten or young adult. I only advise this because it's your first cat and many shelter adults can have some issues you are not experienced enough to deal with and correct yet.

DO NOT DECLAW you cat! It's awful, painful and downright cruel. I don't care what any vet tells you, they only want your money if they say it's not.
It's EASY to teach your cat to not destroy your things! If you see it scratching your stuff, have something suitable for it to scratch instead. Buy cat scratching posts in a variety of textures, wood (with bark on it), sisal rope and carpet.
Have a special bed just for kitty. Most times they will sleep on your bed on your head, or wherever else they want - and this is OK to a degree - they will on their own, seek out their own little snuggly bed too.

If you see kitty doing something you don't like, such as jumping on the counter or your table while you're eating - simply pick it up and put it on the floor. REPEAT this until the behavior stops. I can leave meat out on the counter all day to defrost and NOT ONE cat will jump up there to molest it! * they do tend to take more liberties when they get over 15 years old though! but that's OK by me, if a cat hits 15 or better, they deserve to do what they want! I just take more careful measures and still pick him up and put him on the floor.

Keep your cats nails trim! You can purchase a nail cutter suitable for cats - cut the nails weekly. They can be painful if kept long when they 'fluff' you and they can do some damage to floors with long back nails if neglected.
Get kitty used to his nails being cut at an early age! If the cat is completely unruly, here it only costs $5 and ten minutes of your time in a grooming salon to have it done for you. Make sure they do front and back claws.

Feed your cat canned food! Do not skimp on quality! Dry food can be fed as a treat but I've experienced issues with hairballs and constipation with a strictly kibble diet.

The water bottle can be a good trick too. Simply keep one handy and give kitty a squirt behind the ears or on his ass to abort bad behavior.

One thing I want to point out is whatever method of training you use, DO NOT SPEAK! Let kitty think the water is coming from God. I keep a tiny size squirt bottle around so it's not so obnoxious. In time Kitty will see that bottle and run before you get one shot out!
Not speaking when training cats not to go on counters and stuff seems to work better than words. For some reason, they like to challenge you when you try words. They can't (unless they're vicious) when you just pick them up and put them on the floor.

Get a basket and keep plenty of toys. Most times a crumpled up paper or plastic ring off the milk carton is more enjoyable than a store bought toy. My cats favor those little fur mice with a slight rattle to them.

I also make catnip sock toys! I'll post something on that later, I have to find it and the video that goes with it. I've got step by step instructions with it. These are very good at letting kitty vent out some frustration.

If I haven't hit on something, ask! I'm always here to help.

[Rhubarb]

0

We have just stayed with friends who after a long spell decided they really missed Syd their long departed cat of 17 years. So Duffy arrived at 12 weeks old. She has a scratch post to keep her claws in check, a rather posh litter box (which is a must for a house cat) a bed she ignores and a box of toys (which she sleeps in). Eventually our friends will allow her the run of the house, but while they are at work she has the living room, hall and conservatory. So far she had broke a flower pot and caused trouble with the hall rug, by re-arranging it under the front door which prevented it from opening. Her little face was full of worry when she saw her owners trying to force their way in. Besides this because she has pleanty to occupy her she is a happy kitten.
One thing to prehaps deter is allowing a cat to walk on kitchen work surfaces or sleeping on the beds. Some people, house guests, may not appriacate being pushed out of bed during the night or seeing paw prints in the butter (stay with my mother if you don't believe me).

[SarahK]

0

Thanks guys!

We really only have a living room/ kitchen/ dining room, a bedroom and (ensuite) bathroom. I presume kitty would have to live mainly in the living area, because there's no carpet in there - I don't mind accidents with my own stuff, but wouldn't want the landlords carpet damaged!

What would be the best place to put the litter tray? I was thinkin the bathroom, but that would mean kitty would need access to the whole apartment when we're out. How smelly is your average litter tray?

[Twitchin Kitten]

0

Sarah, it is so rare that a cat will soil on your floor or carpet - or even outside it's litter tray for that matter.

The only time I've experienced issues with this is senility, or illness such as stones in the urinary tract.

Let kitty have the run of the house. He'll be fine, honestly. If you are home most of the day, you'll be giving it the basics and what you expect of it anyway, so I wouldn't worry.

Cats are really low maintenence and one cat = a less smelly box than a multi cat home.

Keeping it in the bathroom if you have the room in there is perfect. Use a nice clumping litter and scoop it out as needed. I actually have mine in this room - due to the house being so small. I am constantly scooping but then again, I'm in here and there are four gigantic cats sharing the box, so I would like MY environment clean and fresh smelling!

I want to correct one thing Trudi mentioned with scratching posts and nails - Scratching posts are essential to keep kitty from destroying your stuff but they really don't trim the nails. They do help to keep them conditioned and somewhat trim, but you should clip the sharp tips off weekly.

What's nice about cat claws is that unlike dogs, you won't get dark black nails that are hard to see the 'quick' in. Just clip the clear hook and you'll be fine!

Go for it, enjoy the cat and don't sweat the small stuff. It'll all fall into place quite easily.

[PegeDucci]

0

I have a cat named Buffy, she cooperates well with anything that doesn't try to eat her. Babies beware. She is an indoor and outdoor cat but prefers the indoors because we have cougars in our area much to our disappointment. But yes cats are low maintenance (we've never washed Buffy... ever) so if you see them stop cleaning themselves take them to the vet. Other than that you could ignore them completely and they would get along fine. Our cat likes to hunt the Quarter sized spiders that roam our den and the mice in our backyard, Maybe this gives the insight you needed.

[LKTraz]

0

We have indoor cats, indoor/outdoor cats and purely outdoor "farm cats". (Don't ask how many)

They are the easiest pets to have as they are extremely low maintainence! As long as they have food, water and a litter box they're all set. Just be aware though that giving them a good choice of toys is a smart idea because if you don't they will find their own amusement. (Toilet paper, items left on counters, dangling pieces of clothing etc)

We talk to ours as if they are human and they DO pick up on that. We have a few that I swear understand everything I say to them!

[Twitchin Kitten]

0

They do understand LKTraz!

I don't talk "pet talk" to any of my pets. It irks me when I hear people talking baby talk to their pets or for that matter, their children.

I'll tell Chucky, "Don't you knock that over." and what does he do? Looks me straight in the eye and knocks whatever I told him not to right on the floor, then gets up and walks away like he's the King.

[SarahK]

0

Well, Brian is ringing the land lord today to see if we'll be allowed to have a cat. If she says no, we'll just be putting it off for a bit.

How do cats cope with warm weather - we've not been here long enough to experience it, but we're told it gets very hot here in summer.

[Twitchin Kitten]

0

Cats cope with heat just fine. Have shady places for him/her to hang out and lots of fresh clean water that is easily accesible and he'll be fine.

Cats rarely pant, so if it's hot and you see kitty panting, he is overheating and needs to cool down.