Should Men Living Alone Get a Cat?

[Loren Booda]

I now have two teenage cats (less than one year old) -- that makes me the odd mammal out. They've ripped up the house from stem to stern. Anything not bolted down is fair play. Tonight I can't find my glasses.

My last cat, Kitty, was a longhair sweetheart (part Maine Coon?), adopted at about 10 human years.

 

[Astronuc]

Here's some more rationalization/ammo: Cats are invariably symbols of the feminine. They're picky, fickle, high maintainence, vain: always grooming themselves. If a guy likes cats it constitutes absolute proof he likes women and is not gay. Guy's who like dogs over cats are extremely questionable. Women view a guy who has a good relationship with a cat as extremely desirable boyfriend/husband material.

I've had cats and dogs. We usually have two or three cats to one dog. Except for our current dog, all our cats and dogs have been strays, although one was adopted from a shelter. Our current dog was a pet for my mother-in-law until she couldn't handle it, so she came to live with us.

I've thought about adopting a greyhound or two, because I like greyhounds, and it would be nice to go running with them. However, we'd need to move to a larger place.

 

[QuarkCharmer]

Silly talk.

Everyone has cat's and/or dogs and nobody thinks anything of it because it's so common. Just don't start collecting them. The more important question you should be asking yourself is "am I ready to commit 12+ years of my life to caring for this animal".

 

[DoggerDan]

So... here's the deal.

That you're posting this and that I have an opinion on this is scary.

I live alone and I'd love to have some company. Girls make the best pets (oh, god, don't flame me... just let me have my joke), but I'm looking for something less likely to judge me for where I leave my dirty socks.

Well, cats don't like dirty socks, but they do identify their food-providing owners with whatever odors their owners supply, so they're probably comforted by your socks.

I live in a small condo and I often travel for a few days at a time for work.

I kind of think a dog is out even though I love dogs. There are lots of people that have dogs in my condo community, but the place is small, and I don't have much of a yard. Not to mention it would be hard to board him/her every time I travel for a couple of days.

So... I was thinking of getting a cat.

I like cats... a lot actually. They're pretty neat and clean. They don't need to go outside constantly, and can survive for a day or two without you

I'm allergic, but that didn't stop girlfriends or a wife from taking up the nasty habit. Actually, I like the little critters. All have learned a prolonged scratch on the head is NOT a prelude to lap time. I love 'em, but at a distance. So long as I reminded them I love 'em daily, they're fed and their litter box is changed on a regular basis, they've left me more or less alone. Long stares of mutual appreciation across the living room and all that. They like my company, and know I like theirs, within reason.

The cool thing about cats is that once litterbox trained, they fend for themselves quite well. Even if they tend to overeat, it's difficult for them to do so in a week, and a couple of days of water/food malfunction won't hurt them, particularly when you have two long-term food/water stations instead of just one.

Anyway, I have two principle concerns:

Can't answer the first one.

Do men who live alone with a cat look as ridiculous as I suspect?

Depends on how they interact with their cat. I've never had a cat as a single adult male. I inherited them with the fairer of our own species. Loved them right along with their owners.

EDIT: I would probably adopt a slightly older cat from a shelter or from someone on Craigslist. Probably wouldn't get a kitten.

Why not? The best cats I ever had I raised from eye-opening or earlier.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Here's some more rationalization/ammo: Cats are invariably symbols of the feminine. They're picky, fickle, high maintainence, vain: always grooming themselves. If a guy likes cats it constitutes absolute proof he likes women and is not gay. Guy's who like dogs over cats are extremely questionable. Women view a guy who has a good relationship with a cat as extremely desirable boyfriend/husband material.

You can at least back that up with some sources man...
http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-01-09/living/17355781_1_maine-coon-cat-cats-protection-single-women

The survey showed that 85 percent of men, and 94 percent of women, don't think it's wimpy or needy for a man to love his cat.

Yes, according to this same British survey, women love men with cats. Ninety percent of single women surveyed thought men who like cats are "nicer" -- i.e., more caring and sensitive -- than those who don't. A quick poll of my cat-loving single girlfriends bears this out.

Oh and some gratuitous material for some of our other members...
http://www.foundanimals.org/cat-days-summer/6-packs-9-lives

 

[FlexGunship]

You're going to be a great cat-dad, flex! Get that sweet old kitty out of the shelter, bring her home!

I, uh... don't know how I feel about the term "cat-dad." I don't think I'm her biological father... although, if she's 12... that means... hmm... the circus... And people who treat their cats like children are... uh... more lonely than I.

Oh and some gratuitous material for some of our other members...
http://www.foundanimals.org/cat-days-summer/6-packs-9-lives

Oh god... this does NOT resolve the concern that a single man with a cat is of questionable sexuality.

Anyway, I've been thinking more about it and I've been browsing some shelter websites locally. I don't think I have the time to help a kitten not die. Don't get me wrong, I can be very dedicated, but I found a stray kitten once and took care of her for about a week before her owners claimed her and she was pretty darn hyperactive. I would leave her for the day when I went to work and come home to her limping and some piece of lighting being broken.

At least with an older shelter cat, some of the quirks might be known quantities that I can evaluate. With a young cat, it's all up in the air... for all I know, the cat might have laserbeam eyes and a general dislike for the movies I love.

EDIT: Also, I want a cat that snuggles with teddy bears. I saw it on YouTube.

 

[Dembadon]

...
http://www.foundanimals.org/cat-days-summer/6-packs-9-lives

It's the name. It's killing me!

 

[FlexGunship]

It's the name. It's killing me!

I just assumed it meant beer.

 

[turbo]

I have never been a cat-owner, though a cat "owned" me for a while. My wife and I lived across the street from a couple that had 'way too many cats. The cat that adopted me was called "Midnight" because Dave said that was the only cat they could see at midnight. She was a fluffy white Persian with blue eyes, and deaf as a post. I could stare at the other cats, and they would avoid me. Not Midnight. She'd shadow me as soon as I came in the house, and as soon as it'd sit down somewhere, she'd be in my lap, purring like a chain-saw and rubbing her head all over my chest.

It was pretty comical, really. Some cats are much more charming than others. My sister's litter-mate cats (Yin and Yang) were destructive and a handful, even when they were a few years old. Go to the shelter and "audition" a few older cats. You should be able to tell if the cat is properly socialized and is comfortable with you.

 

[FlexGunship]

Go to the shelter and "audition" a few older cats. You should be able to tell if the cat is properly socialized and is comfortable with you.

That's my plan. Just lonely coming home to an empty house everyday. I've had live-in girlfriends off and on over the last few years, and they're nice... but the cost of ownership goes up steadily (first it's a pair of boots for the snow, then it's a pair of matching shoes to wear after the boots come off, then it's a new sweater with matching Lexus).

A cat should be nice... it'll need attention (and I love to give attention), and maybe it'll watch movies with me, or listen to the music I write... or... conspire...

 

[turbo]

That's my plan. Just lonely coming home to an empty house everyday. I've had live-in girlfriends off and on over the last few years, and they're nice... but the cost of ownership goes up steadily (first it's a pair of boots for the snow, then it's a pair of matching shoes to wear after the boots come off, then it's a new sweater with matching Lexus).

A cat should be nice... it'll need attention (and I love to give attention), and maybe it'll watch movies with me, or listen to the music I write... or... conspire...

Sounds good, Flex. I always loved having a pet to come home to.

The ferret in my avatar was Turbo, and he was almost like a dog because he loved attention. We had Pergo flooring in the living-room (my office was on one end) and he loved to play "ferret-bowling". He'd come to me, playing keep-away until I caught him, then I'd scale him across that slippery floor. He'd work like hell trying to get his feet under him and scrub off speed, just so he could run back to me and play keep-away again. We'd do that for probably 15-20 minutes at a time, until he came back to me and put his front paws up on my leg, letting me know that he wanted to be held so he could take a nap. That was good for both of us.

 

[FlexGunship]

Sounds good, Flex. I always loved having a pet to come home to.

The ferret in my avatar was Turbo, and he was almost like a dog because he loved attention. We had Pergo flooring in the living-room (my office was on one end) and he loved to play "ferret-bowling". He'd come to me, playing keep-away until I caught him, then I'd scale him across that slippery floor. He'd work like hell trying to get his feet under him and scrub off speed, just so he could run back to me and play keep-away again. We'd do that for probably 15-20 minutes at a time, until he came back to me and put his front paws up on my leg, letting me know that he wanted to be held so he could take a nap. That was good for both of us.

Even I have to "awww" at that. I hadn't considered a ferret. They're cage pets, though, right?

 

[turbo]

Even I have to "awww" at that. I hadn't considered a ferret. They're cage pets, though, right?

No, none of my ferrets were ever caged. They are easily litterbox trained and had free run of the house. You have to ferret-proof your place, though, because they are the most inquisitive little critters you can imagine, and they have a great deal of dexterity in their "hands" so that latches and catches have to be installed on cupboard doors and anyplace else you don't want them to go.

 

[rhody]

but the cost of ownership goes up steadily (first it's a pair of boots for the snow, then it's a pair of matching shoes to wear after the boots come off, then it's a new sweater with matching Lexus).

Your "maintenance comment" cracks me up. On a practical note, try to find one that regardless the age, is not like a hair trigger ball of fire about to spook or pounce at a moments notice. You say you need a mellow cat, there are plenty of those. It will all fall into place, trust me grasshopper.

Rhody...

 

[Pythagorean]

There is no such thing as "men with cats". There are, however, "cats with men", and by all statistical definitions, yes, they are odd: they are among the 1% of cats that have male servants to take care of their survival needs while they strut around chasing tail and sleeping in precarious places. They will occasionally toss scraps to their servants (in the form of a dead bird or rat) without a care for the emotional integrity of the servant, but for the most part, they could hardly notice that you are there, bending to their every need, holding up the foundations they strut about.

 

[zoobyshoe]

You can at least back that up with some sources man...
http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-01-09/living/17355781_1_maine-coon-cat-cats-protection-single-women

Wow, by complete accident it turns out at least one woman agrees with what I said:

Women view a guy who has a good relationship with a cat as extremely desirable boyfriend/husband material.

It's long been said by women that cats are excellent guy-o-meters -- capable of spotting a bad one with a sniff. I always found the converse to be true: Men who were good to my cats -- and not in a manipulative, let's- impress-her-with-my-sensitivity kind of way -- were going to be good to me.

 

[DoggerDan]

...people who treat their cats like children are...

Let's just say even the most cat-wonderful cat owners I've met were able to maintain their grasp on reality.

My cats have all had very unique and different personalities, despite the fact I raised them all pretty much the same. Some were spastic. Other's were cool and calm. Others were princesses. The one thing I noticed over the years is that none of them became bitchy princesses, the cool and calm were never arrogant or demanding, and the spastic knew when to chill out. This is in contrast to other owners and their cats.

My deduction is that some aspects of a cat's personality are learned, others are genetic. That's hardly news, though, is it? I have kids, too, and see much the same.

Oh god... this does NOT resolve the concern that a single man with a cat is of questionable sexuality.

Are you questioning my sexuality on the sole basis that I've been a single man with a cat? If you would, Sir, I'd be happy to address your concerns with four or five well-reasoned arguments...

Seriously, that's crap. Guys and gals are people. I prefer dogs, but as I was always coming and going, cats were just so much less maintenance.

 

[FlexGunship]

So, I found a shelter I like... mostly because that post biographies and videos of each cat. These are the finalists:

[STRIKE]Hubble - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21088276[/STRIKE]
Hunter - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20927676
Kit-Kat - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21038725
Tulip - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20989181

Each one has a video you can watch.

EDIT: A friend of mine convinced me I'm only interested in Hubble because of her name. That's probably true.

 

[Dembadon]

Tulip is my favorite.

 

[FlexGunship]

Tulip is my favorite.

She does seem sweet. I can't figure out why people give names like that to a cat.

Neutrino for a small quick cat.
Higgs for a big cat that likes to hide and is hard to find.
Tachyon (Tacky for short) for a cat that's just preposterous in general.

Instead... Tulip. A flower. Bah!

EDIT: I also thought of adopting a black cat because they're so rarely appreciated.

DOUBLE EDIT: Still pretty fond of Hunter.

 

[turbo]

Hunter is handsome. Tulip is small and probably won't eat much, plus she is FREE. Her adoption fee is covered. As for the names, you can change them easily. A cat won't care much what you call it, especially when you are opening a can of food.

 

[lisab]

Wow, it's very tough to say...I mean, they all deserve a chance at a good life! But that Hunter, he looks very sweet and affectionate.

 

[FlexGunship]

Hunter is handsome. Tulip is small and probably won't eat much, plus she is FREE. Her adoption fee is covered. As for the names, you can change them easily. A cat won't care much what you call it, especially when you are opening a can of food.

I saw that she was free. The adoption fee is only $90 there, so money is not a concern. In fact, I suspect that I will donate a bit to help them subsidize the cost of another cat's adoption; if I adopt a free cat, I'll just leave them a bit more.

Wow, it's very tough to say...I mean, they all deserve a chance at a good life! But that Hunter, he looks very sweet and affectionate.

I talked to them a bit more today, Hunter has one black mark on his permanent record. Someone reached into his cage and he nipped them... pretty hard, actually. They're not sure if the person scared him, or if he just hates being in the cage. There has been no repeat incident, and he is very social out in the open.

I have a housekeeper and friends that come over, not to mention my brother has Asperger's and he loves animals once he's used to them, but is unlikely to be able to read the cat's willingness to be held.

EDIT: I also considered Sam (14yo) and Sassy (7yo). They came from the same home and are friends. There is a problem though, Sam probably won't last as long as Sassy, and Sassy is not as personable as Sam. I don't want to have a favorite. All the drama...

Next time on All my Cats:"Meow?" "What?" "Meow meow!" "Fine! You're right! I wish it had been you on the vet's table! There, are you happy? I said it! I'm awful!"

 

[FlexGunship]

[STRIKE]Hubble - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21088276[/STRIKE]
Hunter - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20927676
[STRIKE]Kit-Kat - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21038725[/STRIKE]
Tulip - http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20989181

An update. Kit-Kat is out, I think. I can't provide her a place to go outside. I have a patio and a small area of grass before the woods, but I hear fisher cats out there and some people let their dogs run around (the dogs are fine, and the owners are usually responsible about cleaning up). I don't think Kit-Kat would get a chance to play outside much at all.

 

[turbo]

I saw that she was free. The adoption fee is only $90 there, so money is not a concern. In fact, I suspect that I will donate a bit to help them subsidize the cost of another cat's adoption; if I adopt a free cat, I'll just leave them a bit more.

That's nice. We paid $150 to adopt Duke, but we had been donating food, cleaning supplies, treats 'way before we adopted him, as well as after. My wife hits a lot of "bargain" stores on weekends, so when she sees deals on huge packs of paper towels, detergents, cleaning supplies, she often thinks of the shelter. It's better than giving them money, because they don't have to waste employee time shopping and pay retail. We have several large stores (and a couple of regional chains) in the area that buy overstocks, manufacturers' overruns, salvage from insurance claims, bank-owned inventory from defaults and bankruptcies, etc. Some of the deals are pretty amazing.

If you have any stores like this in your area, you might want to call the shelter and ask if they have any important recurring needs, and then go shopping with list in hand. If you can get a deal on a case of Lysol or similar, jumbo jugs of laundry detergent, a case or two of paper towels, or some other supplies, they would probably be thrilled with your donation. The ASPCA shelter here tends to get lots of food and treats when the discount stores feature them, but cleaning supplies/disinfectants are also really important and can be expensive.

Whichever cat you choose, good luck. It's nice of you to be concerned with your brother (in Hunter's case) though cats tend to be drawn to people who don't look directly at them. They take it as an invitation to get closer. Who knows? Hunter might adopt your brother.

 

[FlexGunship]

Oh my science! Did any of you folks know that you can basically buy a clubhouse for cats?! It's like a tree-house with platforms and little rooms and it's all carpeted!

I was thinking I would have to build something since cats seem to like to be high up and I wanted to avoid TV and speaker climbing... but they make products like this that look freakin' awesome!

Look at this thing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BYQ150/?tag=pfamazon01-20

It has a hammock! A feline-hammock. A feemmock! Just got to replace the carpeting with something black.

 

[rhody]

The suspense is killing us Flex, when are you going to announce your selection ?

Rhody...

 

[FlexGunship]

The suspense is killing us Flex, when are you going to announce your selection ?

Rhody...

Well, I have to actually get to the shelter which is X miles away. I will travel at an average speed to Y miles per hour. Now factor Z hours for meeting each cat, making a selection, and finishing any and all paper work.

I must find (^2X/_Y)+Z hours between 11AM and 4PM on any day except for Wednesday (when the shelter is closed).

 

[rhody]

Well, I have to actually get to the shelter which is X miles away. I will travel at an average speed to Y miles per hour. Now factor Z hours for meeting each cat, making a selection, and finishing any and all paper work.

I must find (^2X/_Y)+Z hours between 11AM and 4PM on any day except for Wednesday (when the shelter is closed).

ACK ! I feel like am dealing with Pengy now (take that as a complement please).

And the winner is: Hunter, Tulip, Hunter, Tulip... Let's see... I am going with Hunter... do I win a prize if I am right ?

Rhody...

 

[FlexGunship]

ACK ! I feel like am dealing with Pengy now (take that as a complement please).

And the winner is: Hunter, Tulip, Hunter, Tulip... Let's see... I am going with Hunter... do I win a prize if I am right ?

Rhody...

X = 56 miles
Y < 60mph
Z = ?

Sorry, no prize planned... but I'll let you know. I'm going to adopt whomever can sit in my arms the longest without running away or clawing my ugly mug.

 

[rhody]

Sorry, no prize planned... but I'll let you know. I'm going to adopt whomever can sit in my arms the longest without running away or clawing my ugly mug.

Good Luck. I know you will make a wise decision.

Rhody...

 

[Dembadon]

Oh my science! Did any of you folks know that you can basically buy a clubhouse for cats?! It's like a tree-house with platforms and little rooms and it's all carpeted!

I was thinking I would have to build something since cats seem to like to be high up and I wanted to avoid TV and speaker climbing... but they make products like this that look freakin' awesome!

Look at this thing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BYQ150/?tag=pfamazon01-20

...

It has a hammock! A feline-hammock. A feemmock! Just got to replace the carpeting with something black.

$100?!

You could probably build one for half that price with very little effort. I do agree that it's pretty cool. It can also serve as a scratching post.

 

[FlexGunship]

$100?!

You could probably build one for half that price with very little effort. I do agree that it's pretty cool. It can also serve as a scratching post.

Well, that's the thing. I could definitely build one for less, but covering it in carpet and wrapping the posts in rope is costly and time consuming.

Besides, I don't have a garage to work in, and it's cold out now. I'll pay someone $100 for something that would cost me $50 and take up 4 or 5 hours in the cold (probably longer, honestly).

 

[Dembadon]

Well, that's the thing. I could definitely build one for less, but covering it in carpet and wrapping the posts in rope is costly and time consuming.

Besides, I don't have a garage to work in, and it's cold out now. I'll pay someone $100 for something that would cost me $50 and take up 4 or 5 hours in the cold (probably longer, honestly).

Good point.

I don't think the carpet would be too bad; just a staple gun and a utility knife, but I agree, your time is certainly valuable enough to pay someone else.

 

[turbo]

Home-made is good IF you have the time and some space to work in. When I had a parrot, I went out back in the woods and cut down a dead, barkless tree, brought it home and leveled and fastened it to a plywood base. It had lots of branches that I trimmed to fit the room, and I installed dowels as a spiral staircase so that she could climb the tree to the branches so that she could get to the perch where I had installed a food-dish. She LOVED dried chili peppers!

When we had ferrets, I made playgrounds for them, too. One of our ferrets was a rescue, and the owner demanded that I pay $50 for the large multi-level cage. I paid the jerk and turned that huge cage into a playground for all our ferrets. One of their favorites was a ferret tube-hammock that I made out of a cut-off pant-leg from old jeans. At times there were two ferrets crammed in there snoozing together. Another favorite was a slide from one level to another, made out of some slippery flexible plastic scavenged from another project.

Ferrets are not destructive with their claws and don't need scratching-posts, but some of my additions included carpet.

 

[Evo]

Well, that's the thing. I could definitely build one for less, but covering it in carpet and wrapping the posts in rope is costly and time consuming.

Besides, I don't have a garage to work in, and it's cold out now. I'll pay someone $100 for something that would cost me $50 and take up 4 or 5 hours in the cold (probably longer, honestly).

It's awesome, get it! I've seen that unit at the store for $150+, so that's a good price.

 

[drizzle]

Do you really think getting that thing would prevent the kitten from investigating and running around her/his new place? P.S. Did you get the cat?

 

[FlexGunship]

Do you really think getting that thing would prevent the kitten from investigating and running around her/his new place?

P.S. Did you get the cat?

I'm not getting a kitten. Both cats are at least 2 years old. I hope he or she DOES explore. Cats are awesome like that. But when it gets down to it, he or she will want to be atop the highest perch in the room. In my living room the two highest objects are my expensive speakers and my HDTV. Sooo... no thank you; we won't be climbing those.

Rather than deprive the adventurous fellow/gal, I'll get him/her a piece of furniture to call his/her own. I'll leave it near the sliding glass door for entertainment and sunlight.

I'm trying to go tomorrow to look. They have awful hours and they're over an hour away. He or she will need plenty of time to get used to the place, so I've cut out pieces of cardboard to cover my speakers and TV for the first day that I'm away.

I was going to go this Caturday, but there's just so much purr-pressure.

 

[Evo]

I'm not getting a kitten. Both cats are at least 2 years old. I hope he or she DOES explore. Cats are awesome like that. But when it gets down to it, he or she will want to be atop the highest perch in the room. In my living room the two highest objects are my expensive speakers and my HDTV. Sooo... no thank you; we won't be climbing those.

Rather than deprive the adventurous fellow/gal, I'll get him/her a piece of furniture to call his/her own. I'll leave it near the sliding glass door for entertainment and sunlight.

I'm trying to go tomorrow to look. They have awful hours and they're over an hour away. He or she will need plenty of time to get used to the place, so I've cut out pieces of cardboard to cover my speakers and TV for the first day that I'm away.

I was going to go this Caturday, but there's just so much purr-pressure.

Cats LOVE shredding cardboard. I used to put a large piece on the floor in the utility room for my cat, it seemed to satisy his need for sharpening his claws. Made a mess though, but that one one happy cat.

You sound like an excellent cat daddy!

 

[drizzle]

I knew it!

Well, no pressure, you don't have to get a cat if you don't want to.

 

[FlexGunship]

Cats LOVE shredding cardboard. I used to put a large piece on the floor in the utility room for my cat, it seemed to satisy his need for sharpening his claws. Made a mess though, but that one one happy cat.

You sound like an excellent cat daddy!

Wait, wait, wait...

So the cardboard might attract attention?

Before:

After:

I knew it!

Well, no pressure, you don't have to get a cat if you don't want to.

Wait... what did you "knew?"

 

[Evo]

Wait, wait, wait...

So the cardboard might attract attention?

Before:

After:

Yeah, but it's just cardboard, so you've done the right thing. Cats just love the feel and sound as the cardboard rips into shreds. Very gratifying.

 

[FlexGunship]

Yeah, but it's just cardboard, so you've done the right thing. Cats just love the feel and sound as the cardboard rips into shreds. Very gratifying.

Well, I don't want to associate scratching my speakers with a gratifying experience!

 

[turbo]

Flex, please don't turn your speaker columns into scratch-posts. Set some rules and enforce them.

 

[drizzle]

That you are NOT going to get a cat.

 

[FlexGunship]

Flex, please don't turn your speaker columns into scratch-posts. Set some rules and enforce them.

I didn't know cats love scratching cardboard. I just don't know what to do while I'm at work. Drizzle is making me get a cat tomorrow and I have to work Wednesday.

That you are NOT going to get a cat.

Ugh... well, I'm moving as fast as I can. Cats can live to be 20 years old! That would be a 15+ year commitment. That's longer than most marriages. Would you get married after the first date? That's what I'm trying to do... I just want to make sure I've got it all figured out.

 

[FlexGunship]

Just heard that Hunter is on a 10-day hold because he bit again; an employee this time.

I don't know what to think. I'm sure he'd be fine in a nice home, but I don't want to risk it with a cat that has a history. Tulip might be my gal.

 

[rhody]

Flex, don't let the pressure get to you, you in part generated the excitement here, we are happy you are giving a loving cat a great home. That being said, don't be surprised when you bring your cat home, that he/she is skittish at first. Mine hid under the bed for a day, then slowly but surely sniffed and explored every inch of our place, mapped it to her kitty brain and after a week was right at home. We tried not to make her feel pressure at first, and let her come to us, putting toys on the floor to play with.

Make sure you introduce her to kitty litter box and watch how he/she uses it. Some cats don't like the litter you choose, and clean it every two days or so. If you let it go too long, the cat won't use it any more and then you will be finding little surprises behind furniture, etc... Once the cat goes there even with a clean litter box, the scent makes them return. I used everything to try to stop it because I made that error only once. Vinegar works the best but your carpet will smell funky. I even put a garbage bag folded with duct tape on the floor where the smell was and that stopped the peeing.

One bit of advice about cat treats, I use hard ones, Pounce, and have found over the years that other brands make her throw them up, so find what works for your cat and stick with it. I am sure you will be posting pictures. Take your time and don't let the excitement pressure you.

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

Flex, Hunter is a beautiful guy, but if he is unpredictable with people (even if the physical damage is light), he may not be a good fit with you and your brother. Get a cat that is sweet and accepting of people.

My sister's cats were unpredictable, and clawed and bit me even though at other times we had gotten along well. It might have been "playing" to them, but it was not to me. My favorite cat of all time was a deaf, white, blue-eyed Persian female that stuck to me like velcro. The other cats weren't all that much interested in me, but Midnight wouldn't allow them within a country mile of me in any case. When I'd go to Dave's place for any reason, that deaf cat would meet me at the door and shadow me. If I sat down, she'd be on my lap in a blink! I am not a cat-lover, but that one stole my heart.

 

[FlexGunship]

Flex, Hunter is a beautiful guy, but if he is unpredictable with people (even if the physical damage is light), he may not be a good fit with you and your brother. Get a cat that is sweet and accepting of people.

That's what turned me off to him.

My favorite cat of all time was a deaf, white, blue-eyed Persian female that stuck to me like velcro. The other cats weren't all that much interested in me, but Midnight wouldn't allow them within a country mile of me in any case. When I'd go to Dave's place for any reason, that deaf cat would meet me at the door and shadow me. If I sat down, she'd be on my lap in a blink! I am not a cat-lover, but that one stole my heart.

I would love a cat like that. And I've told both shelters I've talked to that a cat with disabilities is welcome.