Just read this in another thread, and it's all VERY good info in case your thinking about getting a new cat; or just got one.
With apologies to OrganizedChaos for ripping most of his post off. (My thoughts are in parenthesis)
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yes, get a short-hair!!!
don't get one from a pet store! (Most of the time they have Ooh so many problems and usually they 9 time out of 10 they have fleas/ticks)
don't get a purebred, finding out down the road your cat is genetically defective will make you a sad panda.
shop around for vaccinations, different places charge different rates.
"advantage" is good for kitty and good for you! don't get the cheep knock-off crap
keep an eye on Kitty's eyes and ears, they'll go places they shouldn't and get dust and stuff in there.
animal shelters have the best kitties. (and you save a cat's life if you get one here)
get kitty familiar with a brush and nail clippers while there young. don't terrorize them, you want them to understand that the nail clippers aren't going to kill them.
baths a least once a year and make sure its really warm out. kitties get really cold when wet.
keep an eye on kitties teeth, a cleaning once a year at least will piss off kitty in the short term but be good for it in the long run. (my kitty is 12 and has no good teeth to chew with anymore, makes me a sad panda) kitties breath is a good indication of tooth health.
declaw the kitty and i'll declaw you! (Its really inhumane to de-claw cats. thats all they have to defend themselves with, if they have to protect themselves/turf)
kitty has to have something to scratch, but you have to teach it can scratch and what it can't. (my kitty loves and will only scratch wicker laundry baskets now, don't know why she loves them so much but she does. 5 bucks at a yard sale every few years keeps kitty happy)
don't yell at kitty, don't hit kitty etc. if kitty is doing something bad use a squirty bottle like what you water plats with. don't squirt kitty after the fact you will confuse kitty.
scoop kitty box at least twice a day, kitty won't use it if its dirty.
change Kitty litter regularly kitty won't like it if it smells and you won't like it either
little kitties may be to short to get into kitty box on there own, construction of a kitty ramp may be necessary.
if getting a kitty from a friends litter, don't tear kitty away from its mom to soon, it will need to learn kitty skills from her! (my kitty doesn't know how to hiss or growl) (Don't take away a baby kitten from it's mom sooner than 8 weeks of age.)
Kitty's shed twice a year a light brushing every now and then will drastically reduce hair-balls
DO NOT use D-Con or other rat poisons, if kitty catches a poisoned mouse/rat bad things will happen to kittty.
careful what you spill on the floor ex. don't use bleach on your kitchen floor, it will get on Kitty's paws and when kittly washes it off bad things will happen to kitty.
when kitty first comes hope it will find someplace to hide for at least 2 days and not come out. don't bother kitty and keep some food/water nearby in case it wants to come out of hiding in middle of night. kitty is already scared don't make it worse. just give kitty plenty of time to come out on its own and explore new surroundings.
let kitties chase each other and swat each other there playing.
if kitty bites you but immediately lets go its a love bite. if kitty doesn't let go you pissed kitty off.
(Also, be prepared for kittens to CLIMB UP you, with their claws. Kittens haven't mastered when to properly use their claws yet, and if they want to get on your shoulder while standing up, they don't mind digging into your clothes/ skin to get up their. Don't get too pissed, they will grow out of it.)
if kitty loves you it will want to sleep in bed with you, you will need a bigger bed because of this.
don't bother buying a kitty condo, kitty will out grow it fast. if kitty seems like it would like a condo build one yourself, kitty will like it better anyway.
indoor Kitty's>out door Kitty's
(If you want to make your cat a 'outdoor' cat, wait at least 6-months to a year before you let them go out. Before you do, make sure they have all their shots and are protected from fleas/ticks. Make sure they are in @ night before you go to bed.)
when a kitty decides it likes a brand of food stick with it, sudden changes to Kitty's diet it make kitty sick, and you won't like cleaning up after a kitty with a upset tummy.
------------------------
thats all i can think of at the moment. (me too
)
With apologies to OrganizedChaos for ripping most of his post off. (My thoughts are in parenthesis)
----------------
yes, get a short-hair!!!
don't get one from a pet store! (Most of the time they have Ooh so many problems and usually they 9 time out of 10 they have fleas/ticks)
don't get a purebred, finding out down the road your cat is genetically defective will make you a sad panda.
shop around for vaccinations, different places charge different rates.
"advantage" is good for kitty and good for you! don't get the cheep knock-off crap
keep an eye on Kitty's eyes and ears, they'll go places they shouldn't and get dust and stuff in there.
animal shelters have the best kitties. (and you save a cat's life if you get one here)
get kitty familiar with a brush and nail clippers while there young. don't terrorize them, you want them to understand that the nail clippers aren't going to kill them.
baths a least once a year and make sure its really warm out. kitties get really cold when wet.
keep an eye on kitties teeth, a cleaning once a year at least will piss off kitty in the short term but be good for it in the long run. (my kitty is 12 and has no good teeth to chew with anymore, makes me a sad panda) kitties breath is a good indication of tooth health.
declaw the kitty and i'll declaw you! (Its really inhumane to de-claw cats. thats all they have to defend themselves with, if they have to protect themselves/turf)
kitty has to have something to scratch, but you have to teach it can scratch and what it can't. (my kitty loves and will only scratch wicker laundry baskets now, don't know why she loves them so much but she does. 5 bucks at a yard sale every few years keeps kitty happy)
don't yell at kitty, don't hit kitty etc. if kitty is doing something bad use a squirty bottle like what you water plats with. don't squirt kitty after the fact you will confuse kitty.
scoop kitty box at least twice a day, kitty won't use it if its dirty.
change Kitty litter regularly kitty won't like it if it smells and you won't like it either
little kitties may be to short to get into kitty box on there own, construction of a kitty ramp may be necessary.
if getting a kitty from a friends litter, don't tear kitty away from its mom to soon, it will need to learn kitty skills from her! (my kitty doesn't know how to hiss or growl) (Don't take away a baby kitten from it's mom sooner than 8 weeks of age.)
Kitty's shed twice a year a light brushing every now and then will drastically reduce hair-balls
DO NOT use D-Con or other rat poisons, if kitty catches a poisoned mouse/rat bad things will happen to kittty.
careful what you spill on the floor ex. don't use bleach on your kitchen floor, it will get on Kitty's paws and when kittly washes it off bad things will happen to kitty.
when kitty first comes hope it will find someplace to hide for at least 2 days and not come out. don't bother kitty and keep some food/water nearby in case it wants to come out of hiding in middle of night. kitty is already scared don't make it worse. just give kitty plenty of time to come out on its own and explore new surroundings.
let kitties chase each other and swat each other there playing.
if kitty bites you but immediately lets go its a love bite. if kitty doesn't let go you pissed kitty off.
(Also, be prepared for kittens to CLIMB UP you, with their claws. Kittens haven't mastered when to properly use their claws yet, and if they want to get on your shoulder while standing up, they don't mind digging into your clothes/ skin to get up their. Don't get too pissed, they will grow out of it.)
if kitty loves you it will want to sleep in bed with you, you will need a bigger bed because of this.
don't bother buying a kitty condo, kitty will out grow it fast. if kitty seems like it would like a condo build one yourself, kitty will like it better anyway.
indoor Kitty's>out door Kitty's
(If you want to make your cat a 'outdoor' cat, wait at least 6-months to a year before you let them go out. Before you do, make sure they have all their shots and are protected from fleas/ticks. Make sure they are in @ night before you go to bed.)
when a kitty decides it likes a brand of food stick with it, sudden changes to Kitty's diet it make kitty sick, and you won't like cleaning up after a kitty with a upset tummy.
------------------------
thats all i can think of at the moment. (me too
)
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