I want a cat!

[NicksWifey]

I really really really really want a cat. Can I stress that enough?

I've always had cats my entire life. My two cats live at home with my parents. I miss them terribly and everyday I look at their pictures and get tears in my eyes. I can't help it, I just miss being around them. Whenever I get to see them (which is usually 1x a week) I can't get enough of them. I miss sleeping with a kitty, it's so comforting and I used to love coming home to find one of my cats waiting for me to play with them and hold them.
My fiance also has always been raised around animals. We have a pitbull, but for the time being, he is staying with his parents. We talk about getting a kitten from the animal shelter, but he always says he can't, because he feels like it would be replacing the animals he still has at his parents. I really don't anticipate our pitbull coming back here to live with us in our apartment anytime soon and it's killing me being petless.
The only thing that is holding me back, is that I don't want to upset him and also, I would feel guilty leaving a cat inside all day. I don't want to deal with a nasty stinky litter box either (my cats at my parents house always went outside to potty, indoor/outdoor cats). I'm also afraid to get a kitten because we live right on the street and I don't want anything to happen to it, if it were to go outside.

Damnit, I'm torn!

Any suggestions on how to come to a mutual agreement?

 

[Tinkee-Belle]

I hear ya.... I dont know what to do without my kitties! I wouldnt feel guilty not letting him outside... after having 2 cats eaten by coyotes mine have NEVER been outside! I dont really think they miss it either... even if we leave the door open they wont go out. It gives them a much safer life being an indoor cat. We have 7 cats and often numerous kittens and we dont really have a problem with stinky litter boxes because we clean them once in the morning and once at night. Cats are a GREAT pet to have.... especially if you arent home a lot because they arent as time-consuming as a dog. Adopting from a shelter is a great idea! We have like 12 pets and my dad used to HATE animals.... so everytime me or my mom brought another one home he wouldnt talk to us for a few days... but eventually he would warm up to them! NOw he loves them! So even if your bf would be mad at first... Im sure he would get over it! Plus taking care of a pet together can be a bit of a practice for when you have kids

Oh and I must say that if you arent planning on getting a cat from a breeder, get a ragdoll! Those are kind of cats I have. They are great because they think they are dogs... they will follow you around and play fetch with you.. and they are sooooo warm and snuggly!

 

[Tinkee-Belle]

OMG JANICE...... I looooooooove your tortie persian!!!!!!! She is gorgeous! One of my rags is bred to a flame point so I will be getting tortie ragdolls in a few weeks.. I cant wait!

(Ok im a bit cat-obsessed.....)

 

[MACATTAK]

Cats are the shiz...pretty self-sufficient and don't need as much attention as dogs. I know for my cats (especially after they were fixed) they got mighty lazy and sleep all day anyway, so don't feel bad about keeping the cat indoors all day. Having an outdoor cat has its disadvantages too (the street as you mentioned, fights, and diseases from other cats etc). If you're worried about a stinky litter box, make sure to scoop it out each night (there won't be much if you do it religiously everyday/couple of times a day). Also, I use cat deodorizer each time I scoop out & it really helps. I love cats, so I'd say go for it!!!!!!!!

 

[SparklingWaves]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice Why would you want a cat? OH COME ON HOW CAN HE DENY ONE OF THESE CUTE FURBALLS?! (don't mind kiki, she hadn't had her brushing yet that day)

Now, you are wrong for this. I want Kiki!

 

[Janice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACATTAK If you're worried about a stinky litter box, make sure to scoop it out each night (there won't be much if you do it religiously everyday/couple of times a day).

Yepp this really helps keep the smell away, each time she messes we scoop and flush. Kiki doesn't bury hers though, so we don't worry about the litter gunking up the plumbing.

 

[SparklingWaves]

I have four cats and they never go outside. One is totally deaf, so he could never go outside. They are very happy furry muffins.

I also have dogs. They stay inside a lot. One is a bully or Pitbull. I trained him to get along with the cats. Actually, the deaf kitty helped a lot in that regard. The deaf kitty loves dogs and can't hear any barking. It took some time and effort to get the Pit to stop looking at my cats like walking pork chops, but now he grooms them and sleeps with them. Anything is possible with animals. It's all up to the owner.

I do a lot of cleaning and do it frequently. It is so worth it. I love my pets. I am teaching the Bully to say hungry. My Bordercollie/lab mix talks like crazy.

Oh, that Kiki is so beautiful. I am in love!

 

[lyttleravyn]

I have 2 cats that are completely indoor cats. We've had them since kittens and they just turned 11. They've only been outside a handful of times and that was only under supervision, thing is they don't ever go any further than right outside the door even on their own. We live on about 2 acres, mostly woods, so one reason we keep them inside is because of the ticks and things in the backyard. The second reason is that our neighborhood is full of dogs! Our next door neighbor's dogs have gotten out a few times already. Neither cat seem to mind being inside, but they're Siamese so they love to sit by the windows and "chatter" at the birds and bugs haha.

I'm a dog and cat groomer and I have an older client with a cat that he has a little mesh tent/crate for. He puts the cat in the crate and puts the crate outside for a bit so the cat can be outside without being in danger of running away. Good luck, and I hope you get the right kitty!

 

[msmack]

There are lots of cats (and kittens) at shelters so I hope if you do decide to get a cat...you considor that - instead of getting a cat from a breeder. Spay and neuter.

I have 3 and I love them to bits! I am totally gunna be a crazy cat lady one day....

 

[ms_bloom]

I'm not sure if this unique to Australia but people here (at least according to one of the mailing lists where I work - a large university) are like foster parents for cats and dogs while owners are being found for them. Maybe there is something like that near where you live, too? That would be a nice solution - you'd be helping out the animal shelter people but wouldn't have to keep the cats when you're ready to bring your pets home. Only I don't know how long most foster adoptions last for. Something to look into?

 

[silentkite]

Why can't you bring your animals from home to live with you? I'm sorry if the answer is obvious, I couldn't find any mention of it. You said you see them once a week so it isn't like they have forgotten who you are and would be living with 'strangers'.

And don't feel guilty about keeping it indoors all day- that is the safest option for cats. I keep both my boys indoors, there are too many cars, snakes and ticks and people that hate cats out there.

 

[ellienellie]

Cats are great! Who wouldn't want one

(or 2, or 3...) lol
They are pretty dang independent, but obviously, if you wanted a kitten, you'd have to go down the kitty litter stage first.
But you can get good litter (with deodorizers) and they also have litter trays with a kinda roof (like a little house) to minimize the stink.
Regular changing means it won't smell too bad.

When it grows up however, would a cat flap be a possibility??

 

[purrtykitty]

We have 2 indoor cats and really, it's not that big of a deal. I stress for anyone getting a kitten, it's best to get 2. Why? Because they'll keep each other company during the day so you don't have to feel bad about leaving them alone...plus, who wouldn't want two cuddle buddies?!

As for the litter, it's really not that bad. We have 2 domed litter boxes (the ones with covers) and we clean them at least once (if not twice each day). Our house never smells like litter and since we clean it so often, we never have to change it either. We keep the litter boxes in the basement in the laundry room, so there's never a guest problem either.

I'm really all for indoor kitties now. There's just so much less to worry about. My kitties were outdoor ones when I lived with my parents and we always had to go looking for at least one at night, or were running out to break up a neighborhood cat fight. Once, one of our cats was hit and killed by a car right out front of our house

The a**hole didn't even stop to tell us (kitty had a collar w/ our address) and I found him. Anyway...when I moved in with DH and took my cat with, he became an indoor kitty and we got him a buddy, too. They both are allowed "supervised" outdoor visits, which means go out with them and they roll around and eat grass, but only for a short time and never by themselves.

I really want another kitty, myself. I hope it works out for you - they are the perfect pet in my mind!

 

[NicksWifey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentkite Why can't you bring your animals from home to live with you? I'm sorry if the answer is obvious, I couldn't find any mention of it.

The reason why is because my cats are accustomed to living with my parents, in the country. They have waaaaay more land than we do here in the suburbs and my cats are both old. I've had Baby since I was 7 and I'll be 22 this year and I've had my Diesel since I was 9. They're older kitties and my parents wouldn't have let me taken them anyway, they love them just as much as I do but I know it would be a lot of unecessary stress to just uproot them from their everyday lives.

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

I know exactly how you feel, a few years ago I moved to seattle, and I would lay in bed every night and cry because I missed my dog so much. (pathetic yea i know) eventually I moved back and got to spend the last years with him until he got cancer and died.

I am the kind of person who has to always have a pet. I don't know why. but I feel like i HAVE to have a pet to care for.

Does your pit bull get a long with other animals like cats?

 

[NatalieMT]

I have a fur baby too, named Cloud Bear. He's almost 2 now, but I've had him since he was about 9/10 weeks old. He is my little man - I think cats are fantastic.

Whilst my cat does go outside - because I have a secure garden and don't live by a road, plus there is now coyotes in the UK. I certainly wouldn't feel guilty in your position keeping a cat indoors, because you have obviously thought of the risk factors of letting it out and the negatives outweigh the positives in this case. To be honest though my cat is pretty happy curled up on the sofa most days or playing in his toybox/tunnel/scratching post. I think most cats like the quiet life.

As for the litter tray as others have said there are ways to prevent the smell. I have a littler box with a roof and swinging door and also use the deodorant powder in there and it's all fine. Doesn't smell at all.

I really don't see any harm in you guys going to the animal shelter and taking a look round. You'd be giving a cat another chance at life and you never know you might be able to adopt a cat that needs an indoor home for whatever reasons. Guilt bypass!

 

[NicksWifey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MxAxC-_ATTACK Does your pit bull get a long with other animals like cats?

Only if he's raised with them. He gets along with kittens & puppies. He's generally not too bad around any other animals, unless it's a male dog he doesn't know.

 

[coachkitten]

Brittney you should get a cat! Mine has never gone outside and like everyone else said as long as you clean the box out everyday the litter box is never really a problem. Since your cats are comfortable at your parents then I think that there is no reason to feel guilty about getting one of your own. Cats are the best and they are easy to take care of. Plus if you get one at a shelter you are doing a really good thing and you will get a great companion. I think that it is a win-win and I am sure your boyfriend will be okay as soon as he spends a few days with your new fur baby!

 

[silentkite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicksWifey The reason why is because my cats are accustomed to living with my parents, in the country. They have waaaaay more land than we do here in the suburbs and my cats are both old. I've had Baby since I was 7 and I'll be 22 this year and I've had my Diesel since I was 9. They're older kitties and my parents wouldn't have let me taken them anyway, they love them just as much as I do but I know it would be a lot of unecessary stress to just uproot them from their everyday lives.

Oh wow... yes, leave them at home with your parents. My cats are both only 4 so I don't automatically think that other people's cats might be a lot older and not so able to adjust to being uprooted.

I don't think you're replacing your previous animals, there is no limit to how much love you can have for furbabies. I hope you do get a kitten or new cat, they are so wonderful to have around.

 

[NicksWifey]

I've actually been spending a lot of time on our county's humane society website looking at all the cats/kittens for adoption.
There are only feral kittens and I don't want those because my brother has a bunch of those and they are mean. That's just it, they're wild. Luckily, the adoption fee is $55 which includes spay/neuter and all of their shots and some other deworming stuff I guess.

There's this gorgeous maine coon male, he's not a kitten, but he's not quite an adult either. It said his mother died and he needed a companion and was very loving. He's so pretty, I really want to get him but Nick said he would only get a kitten