While I really, really dislike cats...

...my wife's last cat (she had 4 when we met, which almost scared me off) is getting pretty near the end of his life. Despite her making a deal with me that she would never get any more cats as long as I tolerated the ones she had, and despite the fact that I still can't stand the little bastards, I would like to get her a kitten. She's been through a lot lately, and I would like to ease the coming loss of her last remaining cat.

However, I have some questions. Do you have to train cats to use the litter box? Do kittens have "accidents"? Is it going to trash my furniture and carpets?

I can't believe not only am I considering this, but I am now guilty of starting a cat thread on DU. May God forgive me. :evilgrin:

unless you piss em off

CB

BWWWWAAAAAHHHHH

Cats basically train themselves to use the litter box; kittens, like all babies, sometimes have accidents

they won't trash your furniture and carpets if you keep an eye on them--there are things like scratching posts and boxes that you can buy to keep them distracted

However -- since you don't really like cats, you DO NOT want to get a kitten UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES unless you want to live through 8 months of PURE HELL... I'd worry less about your furniture and carpets and worry more about your hands and forearms which will be bitten and sliced to ribbons. Often at 3 AM while you're sleeping.

I love cats, and kittens too, but kittens are DEFINITELY not for everybody.

Better to adopt from your local shelter - with an adult cat, their personality is more established and they're already familiar with what a litter box is for.

Plus there are so many grown cats that need homes.

not for starting a cat thread but for starting one about cat pooping. We are not only Poped out, we are pooped out.

The mother cat usually does a great job box training her little kitties. So when you get a kitten all you have to do is show it the box filled with litter and the kitten will know what to do. This assumes the animal is properly weened (at least 8 weeks old).

Let your wife pick out the cat (or better yet, let the cat pick her).

so it's very unlikely that they will have "accidents" once you show them where the box is.

As far as scratching goes, if you get a good scratching post or two, and keep putting the cat there when it starts to scratch, you can teach it early on to only scratch where it's supposed to.

Believe it or not, I used to dislike cats myself, then I got a roommate with a cat and the cat took a liking to me. She'd come and sit on my lap while I worked at the computer, etc. When the roommate moved out, I actually missed the furball, then a lady I work with brought this little fuzzy thing that needed a home:



I couldn't turn the poor guy away. Then I decided he needed a playmate and got a second kitten. Two is enough for me though :).

wonders never cease.

I was converted by my roommates cat. She'd had the cat for 16 years, and the cat was a little old lady who for the most part hated everyone but my roommate. . . . until she met me. She started spending all kinds of time lounging on my bed, then on my lap.

I think the thing that convinced me was that even though she couldn't stand other people, she did like me and kind of adopted me :).

And Quinn, hell, he could convert almost anyone to a cat lover :).

:evilgrin:

I swear I haven't! Really. Quit laughing dammit!

nah! :rofl: :rofl:

:evilgrin:

Okay, you're right...I deserve it. ;)

God will forgive you--She gave you a great wife!

Even if she does love cats. She's also forgiving enough to love me.

You go first and do all the paperwork, pay the fee, etc. And then blindfold your wife and drive her there as a surprise. Let her choose a cat (let a cat choose her).

While I don't condone declawing cats, many of the cats at the shelter have already had it done. If you are worried about scratching up furniture...

Most cats use the litter box by instinct. If you get a pound kitten, it will already be using a litter box. If you keep the box scooped out regularly, chances are excellent the cat will never go outside the box.

As for furniture, there are all kinds of training aids to keep your cat away from it.

* scratching post -- treat it w/ catnip spray if the cat doesn't take to it immediately. Some cats like sisal rope on their scratchers; others like carpet. There are also scratchers made of cardboard, that you simply lay on the floor. Ours love those.

* squirt bottle -- keep one filled w/ water handy. If the cat exhibits ANY behavior you want to stop, squirt it and say "NO!" It'll learn.

* double sided sticky tape -- on the corners of the couch, and if the cat scratches the carpet, put it over his usual spot(s). (Cats have scent glands in their paws so they go back to the same spots.)

Also see http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?Bc=1&N=2002+2017 -- stuff to keep them off furniture.

You're good to your wife. Best wishes to you both as your older one slips away.

Kittens tear up lots of stuff just playing, but an adult cat is usually much better behaved.

Both of you should get down to the shelter and introduce yourselves to the many cats I'm sure are waiting for someone to rescue them.

Good luck finding the right one for you. :)

also, if you have one from the beginning, your mind may change. I finally talked my dad into letting me get a cat (he grew up on a ranch; cats were not pet material to him) The biggest sap over the cat(s!) we had was-my dad.

If I'd found a guy like you-hell-I might've gotten married. Your wife's faith if you has been repaid. Get a scratching post, and your funiture should be safe.

Sorry for the impending loss of the kitty you guys have now.

Congrats on the cat thread.

They'll spend all their time wrestling and wear each other out. Plus they can keep each other company when you're away.

They're a nonstop laff riot too. They only have two speeds, fifth gear and sound asleep.

marry a guy who likes cats. He knows how to treat a women right.

I see you are finally coming around.

and then they generally manage the rest. You might have to point a little kitty to it a couple of times, but there is no real work involved in it. Of course if you have an unneutered male, that's another story. Short story: Don't. Get him snipped.

the litter box unless he is 1. sick 2. p-o'd at my daughter for not feeding him...then he goes and piddles on her laundry. :hi:

who are saying that you might want to consider another adult cats.

Kittens play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play!

My sweet Fannie cat, when she was small, climbed the bookshelf and knocked it over. Books everywhere. Chewed up many a plant. And a few socks. Threw herself out of a second story window trying to get a bird and led me a merry dance all over the yard after she'd recovered from the shock of the fall.

Now that she's older, ahhh, she doesn't do ANY of that. Not that kittens aren't FUN, but gawd, they have more energy than they know what to do with. Like most small creatures. :)

Cats have a natural instinct to bury their waste, thus helping to remove their smells/scents from would-be predators. Let's face it, housecats aren't the top of the food chain in the wild.

Male cats can get into trouble spraying, but if they're neutered before they get the chance to start, they almost never do. This is to mark their territory, much in the same way as dogs do.

I've owned several dogs and cats over the years, and male dogs are by far the worst at house breaking. Cats are more likely to have fur ball accidents and/or clawing problems than anything.

Clawing damage can be significant. You need to train your cat to use a scratching post as soon as you can to spare the wear and tear on your furniture, drapes and rugs. Declawing is an option, but a risky operation which should be performed while the cat is young. This will, however, leave your cat fairly defenseless.

Once your cat knows what it can scratch on and what it can't, you'll be fine. I've had my present cat for the past eight years, and I don't think i've had to clean up any potty accidents, ever.

because adding a new kitten will be stressful for the older one, which in turn will be stressful for your wife. :(

But a big SMOOCH-rooney for being just the most thoughtful hubby ever!

I still don't like cats. ;)

she probably knows what to do in order to train them. I've got four now, but I'm not the skilled disciplinarian in my household, I leave most of that to my partner.

I think most all cats go through a period of rambunctiousness when they reach a certain young age, and all you can do is yell "NO!!" at them and keep a squirt bottle handy. But they get over it. And I've never had one pee of the floor, ever.