Looking to get a kitten

[LuckyTaxi]

Now that the gf is moving out, I'm looking to get a kitten. We have an 8month old Pomeranian and I'm keeping my little man. I am thinking of a kitten because I've always wanted to have one. I figure I'll get one less than a year old so he/she can be raised with the dog.

Do they shed more than dogs? Is dander really that gross? What are the chances that my pom will try to kill the kitten?

 

[meltdown75]

kittah!

 

[eakers]

aren't poms naturally agressive?

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: eakers
aren't poms naturally agressive?

He's just curious and runs up to anyone who comes into the house. Hopefully he'll play nice with the kitty.

 

[Encryptic]

Never owned a dog, but I've had many cats over the years (currently have 3 at home).

Depending on the cat, they may shed very little or they may shed if you look at them wrong. I've got two medium-length fur kitties (who shed a little) and a long-haired Persian mix who sheds like there's no tomorrow. Vacuuming is a regular chore around my place, needless to say. If you don't want to deal with the shedding, get a short-haired kitten. They'll still shed, but it won't be as much of a hassle. Brushing them regularly helps as well, but you should start doing that from day 1 so they get acclimated to it.

As far as the dog/cat interaction: I'd say chances are probably better if you get a kitten. In my experience with cats, kittens are always much more readily accepted by an older "established" cat. If they grow up together, I imagine there'll be less friction between the dog and the kitten when they get older.

Don't take my word for it, though.....

Good luck with the kitten!

 

[dawnbug]

My parents recently added a kitten to their house, and they have a very excitable dog already. The kitten they got was a few months old (it's shorthaired and I haven't heard anything about how much it sheds, but that might be because our dog sheds constantly), and they introduced the pair in a small room (with really close supervision). The dog was mostly excited about the kitten, and the cat really didn't care about the dog. They seem to like each other a lot now.

Good luck.

 

[imported_Tick]

Usually it works out ok.
We introduced a dog and 2 further cats to our 1 cat household, went ok. Interestingly, the established cat is boss cat, even over the dog.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: lilcam
Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

Look at it?
Persians are cool. I used to have a Maine my excellent compatriot, relatively long hair, no big deal, as it was black. On the otherhand, my sister has an American Eskimo. Medium length WHITE hair. Shows up EVERYWHERE.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
kittah!

Who was it who posted those lion cub pics a while back?

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: lilcam
Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

Look at it?
Persians are cool. I used to have a Maine my excellent compatriot, relatively long hair, no big deal, as it was black. On the otherhand, my sister has an American Eskimo. Medium length WHITE hair. Shows up EVERYWHERE.

but will they show their full length if they're kittens?

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: lilcam
Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

Look at it?
Persians are cool. I used to have a Maine my excellent compatriot, relatively long hair, no big deal, as it was black. On the otherhand, my sister has an American Eskimo. Medium length WHITE hair. Shows up EVERYWHERE.

but will they show their full length if they're kittens?

Depends on the age, but there is a trend towards longer, thicker fur in longhaired cat kittens.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: lilcam
Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

Short-haired cats usually have short fur that lays flat on their body (i.e. it doesn't stick out everywhere). Generally their tails look "thin" because the fur lays flat on it and doesn't stick out as well.

Medium-length cats have slightly longer fur and their tails are usually bushy and the fur sticks out.

Long-haired cats have really long fur that and really bushy tails.

This sort of thing varies from cat to cat, since there's so many breeds out there and a lot of cats that are mutts with no specific "breed".

That's a pretty simplistic explanation, but I hope that makes sense. I'd try Googling for this if you need a better explanation.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: lilcam
Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

Look at it?
Persians are cool. I used to have a Maine my excellent compatriot, relatively long hair, no big deal, as it was black. On the otherhand, my sister has an American Eskimo. Medium length WHITE hair. Shows up EVERYWHERE.

but will they show their full length if they're kittens?

Depends on the age, but there is a trend towards longer, thicker fur in longhaired cat kittens.

What they said.

They won't show their full coat at that age, but you can get an idea from looking at the kitten's fur as to what they might develop later on.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: lilcam
Ok, regarding cats, how do I know what a shorthaired kitten is compared to one that has long haired?
My friend has a persian cat and he doesnt have much hair. That is what i want, but persian cats are hard to come by.
Assuming the person at the SPCA wont be able to tell me, is there any other way I can tell?

Look at it?
Persians are cool. I used to have a Maine my excellent compatriot, relatively long hair, no big deal, as it was black. On the otherhand, my sister has an American Eskimo. Medium length WHITE hair. Shows up EVERYWHERE.

but will they show their full length if they're kittens?

Usually, AFAIK.

I had a short haired orange tabby. She was so cute. She was the boss cat of just about every pet in the neighbourhood. She was the alpha I guess. She kept our neighbour's dogs in check. Its all in the personality.

I say your pom may get uppity about the kitten, but it should adjust. Don't kid yourself, that kitten is capable of defending itself quite well when the need arises. And once its gets bigger (esp. a male cat) the pom may find itself being put in its place more often than not.

good luck.