Maeby i got a cat. Your advice, give me it. EDIT: WATER BOTTLE AT THE READY FYI

[Tagus]

Go fuck yourself. If you hate your cat so much that you'll amputate it just for your own comfort, then wtf do you have a cat for? With a tiny bit of training, cats don't just go around scratching shit up. If you can't handle the occasional thing being scratched up a bit, don't get a cat.

Do it.

Yeah, it's that kind of retarded logic that inspired me to not declaw my cats and regret it forever after. There's comfort, and then there is having your cat use your face for better traction getting off the bed... and all jokes aside, do you really feel that vehemently that declawing a cat is akin to amputation? It's a cat's natural instinct to put their claws into things to sharpen and trim them, so that they can kill shit better. Have you ever had outdoor cats? A cat in it's natural environment leads a very violent, predatory life... which is partly why they're so awesome.

Here's a story for you... My dad once ran over a baby kitten with our lawnmower because it was sleeping under the blades... cut off his paw. Now that's an amputation. You know what I did? I nursed that fucker back to health. I spent every day pulling maggots out of it's eyes for over a month with a tweezer so that it could live, because the paw it cut off made it impossible for the thing to move and flies laid eggs in it's eyes. I did that, and it was one of the most abhorrent things I've ever had to do, because I wanted that little thing to live when everybody else was just saying fuck it, put it out of it's misery... and it did. It lived a pretty awesome life, actually... after that point at least. Getting angry about me in favor of declawing a cat, because I learned a lesson when I myself did not, is ridiculous, and your cat would be a monstrous killer of bunny rabbits if you let it be... and it would use those claws you're so sensitive about as bringers of destruction and death, with a big ol' grin on it's cute little face.

[isladar]

Don't turn this thread into a declawing debate, because there isn't one. Sorry you don't know how to train your animals, Tagus, but the conversation is over.



P.S. Our last outdoor cat found a nest of baby bunnies and brought us their heads. She was awesome.

[Ksandra]

hope that's a break-away collar

break-away collars are almost a non-existent issue for an indoor cat. It's mostly about climbing a tree and hanging themselves on a branch that you'd have to worry about. And even then, as someone said, when I used to have outdoor cats half the time they found ways to get their collar off even if it wasn't a break-away. You just have to make sure it's loose enough so that if they get stuck they can squeeze their head out.

That's definitely a tortie; torties are fucking superior ladies and you made the right choice.

agreed!

[Bardlet]

My one cat (the only one of the two who tolerates wearing a collar) can't wear the break-aways. She gnaws at them until they get stuck on her teeth, then its an epic battle to get it out of her mouth before she hurts herself.
Switched to using a standard buckle collar on her, and not one problem (well, til I woke up yesterday and it was suddenly gone. It was an ugly collar anyway, just an excuse for me to buy her a new one :D).
http://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws...380fcd7e_7.jpg

[BaneTheBrawler]

For non-break away collars, the rule of thumb I've always heard is that you should be able to fit two fingers under the collar without restricting your pet's breathing. But that was with dogs. I dunno if that applies to cats too. Seems like a good rule of thumb, though.

[Warudo Ecksu]

I thought about having Arya wear a collar in case she ever escaped the apartment but so far it doesn't really seem like an issue. She never tries to get out the door. She's really attached to me and stays where ever I am. If I'm leaving for work she sees it as an opportunity to play with my roommate's cat.

Also, about catnip, from what I've read (googled) kittens don't generally react to catnip. Arya is 3 months old now, and she has zero interest in it. I tried putting some on one of her kitty towers and she just sniffed it and walked away. Google says wait till 6 months old. My roommate's 13 year old cat on the other hand got stoned as fuck and fought off Arya any time she came near him while he was laying in the cat nip lol
http://distilleryimage6.instagram.co...38105d6b_7.jpg

[Vandole]

Maebe is running around my dog smacking his face then running off to where he cant catch her. He's so happy.

I'm so far extremely glad i did this.

also really glad i got the breakaway collar with a bell. she's sneaky.

[Warudo Ecksu]

did she attack your feet while you slept last night

[Vandole]

hard to attack my feet whilst she's in a carriage :D

Spoiler: show

only gonna do this for a little while, she can't stay in that thing for 12+ hours at a time whilst i sleep+ work. just getting her aclimated and shit so if i need to put her in sometime it wont be a problem later on.

[Boyiee]

I love my cats, this thread makes me want to get another kitten.

If you treat them well enough and do it right while they are kittens, they will be amazing cats. Two of my cats are as affectionate if not more affectionate than dogs. Sit down on couch or chair, lay in bed, they are on your lap or chest. Even strangers, right to their lap. They WANT to be pet, best cats I've ever owned and we also got them the youngest. One we rescued from the rafters of the barn where we boarded our horse, she was so small we had to feed her with bottles and help her poop. Thought she'd die and now shes the biggest sweetheart.

[Warudo Ecksu]

Sit down on couch or chair, lay in bed, they are on your lap or chest.

All day every day of my life at home:

[The Stig]

As we're all talking about cats, I always kinda wanted one due to their low maintenance somewhat, but as an indoor only cat as I live in the city centre surrounded by a train, bus, main road, and I'm 3 floors up.

How do you all deal with the cat's fur? I went around my friend's house a few weeks back, sat on the sofa, 2 hours later I realised (as I was wearing black) I was caked in the fur. Or is this something I just have to deal with it and vacuum often?

And I assume cats are fine being left alone for 14 hours a day? If not I won't get one then of course. But I just want a pet that's semi-intelligent (dog/cat) and not for observing (hamster/fish).

[hey]

How do you all deal with the cat's fur? I went around my friend's house a few weeks back, sat on the sofa, 2 hours later I realised (as I was wearing black) I was caked in the fur. Or is this something I just have to deal with it and vacuum often?

There's not a whole lot you can do about it. Lint rollers are awesome.

And I assume cats are fine being left alone for 14 hours a day?

As long as they have food, water, and a clean litter box, cats are fine to be left alone forever.

[The Stig]

Ah I see, thanks. That citikitty link I saw above really made me think it won't be too bad once I train it and then leave it alone for the day.

But i'll keep investigating/researching. This won't be an overnight decision of course.

[Ratatapa]

As we're all talking about cats, I always kinda wanted one due to their low maintenance somewhat, but as an indoor only cat as I live in the city centre surrounded by a train, bus, main road, and I'm 3 floors up.

How do you all deal with the cat's fur? I went around my friend's house a few weeks back, sat on the sofa, 2 hours later I realised (as I was wearing black) I was caked in the fur. Or is this something I just have to deal with it and vacuum often?

And I assume cats are fine being left alone for 14 hours a day? If not I won't get one then of course. But I just want a pet that's semi-intelligent (dog/cat) and not for observing (hamster/fish).

Cats can kinda live 3 days without food (of course dont try it) but it's just saying I went to work for 3 days away and i left my cat clean litter, 2 bows of food and 1 bowl of water in case

He was fine when i came back but whinney cuz i left him alone for 3 days

[Vandole]

I don't want to sound like an ass, but pudge is getting along with maebe pretty well. they are playing with eachother and my dog seems to be quite the happy pup.

[Deadgye]

For non-break away collars, the rule of thumb I've always heard is that you should be able to fit two fingers under the collar without restricting your pet's breathing. But that was with dogs. I dunno if that applies to cats too. Seems like a good rule of thumb, though.

This. For kittens you usually don't really have to worry about having a collar. But if you plan on letting it be an outdoor cat it's a good idea to have it get accustomed to a collar so it doesn't constantly try to remove it. You don't want the collar to have too much extra room because then they can get it off easily or it can get snagged on something.

I don't want to sound like an ass, but pudge is getting along with maebe pretty well. they are playing with eachother and my dog seems to be quite the happy pup.

Daww.

[Lucavi]

I heard this was now a cat thread?



Your arguments are invalid. My cats and I communicate via traditional headbutts.

[Warudo Ecksu]

My roommate's sis found this on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Armarkat-B5301...=cm_lmf_tit_18

Good price for a kitty tower bc at petco the big ones are $200+. I might get one for Arya cuz she's a fucking climber. Also, take more pix of kitten and dog playing.

[Psion]

I would say if you're getting a cat that will be left alone most of the day, it might be better to get a breed that's better at handling being by itself. Some cats are really social, like siamese cats, and might not like having no one to talk to all day. Others are more chill and won't care, though.

Of course, if you had two cats, the point would be moot since they'd have each other to play with. I've noticed that whenever i've had two cats, they tend to be more active and healthy than just one as well, probably because they're playing with each other all day, chasing and stalking and such.

Also, does anyone have suggestions for getting rid of matted fur/dematting it? My parents don't brush our ragdoll enough, or he just likes to pick up everything off the floor and get it stuck to his fur. Now like 1/4 of his fur is matted in places and it drives me nuts when petting him. I try to cut out the mats when i can, but he can only tolerate a little bit at a time before getting snappy, and i'm wondering if there's an easier way to get them out then trying to cut them off at the base of the fur with scissors. :s Using one of those brushes with the metal prongs helps get rid of loose fur, and he loves it, but it does nothing to those mats. NOTHING.