I'm thinking about getting a cat...

[OdiN]

Dogs come when they are called.

Cats take a message and get back to you later.

 

[soydios]

whatever pet you get, get a short-hair. less shedding, less hairballs, etc.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Dog ftw, srry cats are annoying and boring, you can't do anything with them

You've never had a cat and a laser pointer in the same room have you? :laugh:

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: trmiv
Your experience with a cat is of course completely dependent on the cat. Every cat has a different personality, and if you observe the kittens before you get one you can judge them somewhat. My wife and I were not cat people, but we wanted another pet and didn't want another dog in an apartment (although we're in a house now), so we got a cat. I don't know if we got lucky or just picked well, but this cat is the greatest cat in the world. He's actually more dog-like than cat-like. He's a big boy, 25 pounds and 26 inches long from head to the start of his tail (almost over 3 feet with the tail), he's never once jumped on the counter, although he's capable of it, never torn anything in the house up, although he's fully clawed, and although he's very large and strong has never acted aggressive in any way. In the almost two years we've had him I've never heard him hiss or seen him act aggressive at all. He's actually very loving and loves getting attention (on his terms though), and will often come up next to you and demand to be pet. He gets along with our dog great and they love to play together. Since we got him when he was 8 weeks he's never seen another cat, so maybe some of his behaviors are influenced by being raised around a dog.

The unfortunate thing is, he has a heart disease called HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) which is not curable. The vet says he will likely only live to be 3 or 4, if we're lucky he may make it to 5. He's almost 2 right now. 🙁 The good thing is this disease doesn't have symptoms, he will be "healthy" until the day his heart fails. The bad thing is that could really happen at any time, and the lifespan the vet said he'd have is no guarantee. Right now he's a happy cat though, so we're just trying to enjoy this unique cat in the short time we have with him.

agggggh.
Sorry to hear about that. We had a kitten who passed from that. It is indeed quick, although our little guy exhibited a clot in an artery in his hips that rendered him immobile below his "hips". Had him put down while I cried my eyes out. Still chokes me up 25 years later.

Yea it's tough, especially with such a great cat, we just love him. We're actually trying this homeopathic treatment that could help to extend his life. The homeopathic vet didn't make any guarantees, but the treatment isn't expensive it just requires daily dosing of these homeopathic remedies. Will it work? Who knows. But, I'd rather do it and maybe we get a few extra healthy years out of him rather than not try. Our regular vet basically told us there is nothing she could do, we just have to wait for the inevitable, so we might as well try something.