Question for the cat owners here

DudeistMonk · #1 01-14-2009, 11:13 AM

I see a lot of you guys with photos of your cats and stuff on here and me and my roommate are looking to get a kitten...

Anyway, I was looking for some tips/advice on choosing a kitten and if anyone knows any reputable shelters in north Jersey that I should check out. I'm experienced with dogs but cats are somewhat new too me. I'm looking to get a social cat that likes attention and is curious...

I was always leary of getting a cat cause I feel like I'd be playing the lotto with the cats personality. Are there any tried and true methods out there for choosing a social cat?

santucci218 · #2 01-14-2009, 11:16 AM

Generally shelters have websites so you can look at their stock before you go in. Also, there is always the chance to have a meet and greet with Mr. or Miss Kitten before you purchase him or her, so do that!

MatticusMania · #3 01-14-2009, 11:26 AM

I prefer male cats myself. IME theyve often been more affectionate. My cat Felix watched TV with me, he likes Heroes too.

Relic · #4 01-14-2009, 11:30 AM

We adopted ours through PetsMart here in central Jersey, I'm sure they have them in North Jersey. They have animal adoption every Saturday from 1-3 I believe, where you can interact with the animals and such and adopt them right on the spot. There is a fee and paperwork, and in some cases they may want to do a sort of background check, but for all intents and purposes it's a piece of cake.

PSPookie · #5 01-14-2009, 11:31 AM

The thing about kittens is that they grow up into cats.

I know this statement seems absurdly obvious but it is in fact profound.

Edit: if you do get a kitten, definitely get one from a shelter (humane society)

bassteban · #6 01-14-2009, 11:31 AM

Males=more laid-back, leaning ever-so-slightly toward dog-esque personality.
Females=wenchy, prissy, catty.
This often goes for humans as well as cats, IME.
Keep in mind, you don't own cats; they own you. They'll be nice enough to get fed, etc. but they are NOTHING like dogs(again- IME).
My advice to you is as a dog person, do a lot of homework before you decide to get a *kitten*. They grow like frickin' bamboo.

The Golden Boy · #7 01-14-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

The thing about kittens is that they grow up into cats.

I know this statement seems absurdly obvious but it is in fact profound.

And if you're cool with your kitten, it will grow up into a cool cat.

MatticusMania · #8 01-14-2009, 11:34 AM

Yeah, my cat went from tiny lieelt kitten to oversized fat ass fluffy cat in about 4 or 5 months.

basstebans descriptions of males and females is pretty accurate

and in both cases, cats are very independent. they wont always come when called, unless your shaking the catfood bag, they often disappear for days at a time if theyre outdoor cats, but they can be fun as all hell. My cats part siamese and siamese is pretty on par with kamikaze pilot.

Relic · #9 01-14-2009, 11:37 AM

nah, my cat is a female and she's totally a dog personality-wise. She follows the kids outside, tags along when they go in the woods, she chases and kills every living thing in the yard, is always begging for food and attention, tears into the garbage and drinks from the toilet. The only thing she hasn't perfected is the canine-style butt fetish.
here she is which an apparent Christmas present for me:

bassrique · #10 01-14-2009, 11:39 AM

Cats were worshiped in several cultures including ancient Egypt; they have not forgotten, and will not let us forget either.

+1 on PetSmart.

And KEEP THE LITTER BOX AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE! ...or you'll be finding surprises in most unusual places

Georynn · #11 01-14-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Keep in mind, you don't own cats; they own you.

Dogs have masters, Cats have staff...

DudeistMonk · #12 01-14-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

We adopted ours through PetsMart here in central Jersey, I'm sure they have them in North Jersey. They have animal adoption every Saturday from 1-3 I believe, where you can interact with the animals and such and adopt them right on the spot. There is a fee and paperwork, and in some cases they may want to do a sort of background check, but for all intents and purposes it's a piece of cake.

On Route 18? If so I used to volunteer there as a kid when it was in the flea market. I looked on their site though and they didn't have any kittens.

Quote:

The thing about kittens is that they grow up into cats.

I know this statement seems absurdly obvious but it is in fact profound.

Edit: if you do get a kitten, definitely get one from a shelter (humane society)

I am aware that kittens are not unstuck in time, which is why you have to take as many absurdly cute photos as you can.

Also I've always gotten my dogs from shelters and I was planning on doing the same for the cat.

Quote:

Males=more laid-back, leaning ever-so-slightly toward dog-esque personality.
Females=wenchy, prissy, catty.
This often goes for humans as well as cats, IME.
Keep in mind, you don't own cats; they own you. They'll be nice enough to get fed, etc. but they are NOTHING like dogs(again- IME).
My advice to you is as a dog person, do a lot of homework before you decide to get a *kitten*. They grow like frickin' bamboo.

I read the male v. female thing online, glad to see some confirmation.

I also watched a nat geo special on cats the other day, so I know quite a bit.

I guess I need to go see a bunch of kittens and just evaluate their personalities.

Lady Kayri · #13 01-14-2009, 11:45 AM

I might suggest getting an older cat rather than a kitten. An older cat's personality is more set, while a kitten's is more fluid. If an older cat likes to cuddle, chances are he/she will continue to like to cuddle; same can't always be said for kittens.

Relic · #14 01-14-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

On Route 18? If so I used to volunteer there as a kid when it was in the flea market. I looked on their site though and they didn't have any kittens.

I remember that flea market, I miss it...

It's not the actual store that sells them though, it's the local animal rescue that comes in on Saturdays.
Being as anal as we are, we went to a few Pets Marts to find the right cat, we went to the one in Hillsborough and in Princeton on Rt1, but we ended up getting her at the one in Hamilton.

xaosbass · #15 01-14-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

I see a lot of you guys with photos of your cats and stuff on here and me and my roommate are looking to get a kitten...

Anyway, I was looking for some tips/advice on choosing a kitten and if anyone knows any reputable shelters in north Jersey that I should check out. I'm experienced with dogs but cats are somewhat new too me. I'm looking to get a social cat that likes attention and is curious...

I was always leary of getting a cat cause I feel like I'd be playing the lotto with the cats personality. Are there any tried and true methods out there for choosing a social cat?

Don't pick the cat you want. let the cat pick you ( and if you're around some @ a shelter you should be able to do this with no problem.) My wife and I do this for every pet we have ever had and it works beautifully.

Deacon_Blues · #16 01-14-2009, 11:49 AM

Well if you want a social cat and know something about how it will behave, you better know something about its parents. Especially intelligence seem to be an inherited property for cats, or then the stupid cats I've known have just had the same mental disorder, who knows. The apples just don't fall too far from the trees...

Speaking of cats, at Christmas I left my cat at my parents' place on the countryside. One of their two cats had to be put down just before Christmas due to cat-aids (it was always fighting with other cats, and during its last days it couldn't even walk properly anymore). So, now they got a new cat in the house, and it seems to be happier now than it was when living in my apartment. It's outside a lot, and behaves much better. In my apartment it had started to use my leather sofa and various other places as secondary toilets, no matter what I tried to do to avoid it from happening. Now, it also leaves the flowers and wallpapers alone, whereas I have a lot of work to do now in my apartment to replace the damaged wallpapers...

Just to avoid getting yourself a trouble kitten - spend time with it. I know it's here I failed. I didn't play with it very often and I had to leave it alone at home everyday while I was at work. I was suggested to get a second cat so it would have some company, but I didn't really like that idea... Seems like the best solution has been found now anyway.

DWBass · #17 01-14-2009, 01:03 PM

Ummm....stay away from Calicos! I can't stand my cat but my wife had to have her (mainly as a mouser)! I tell her everyday that her cat is retarded and evil (Retarvil if you will)! The cat refuses to be picked up. Will want you to pet her but walk away while you're doing so (***?). Will hiss at you at every opportunity! Oh, and vet visits are hell......HELL! The last time we took her, I asked the vet if she had gloves or protection of some sort and she dismissed me saying she has it covered! My cat proceded to tear her a new one drawing blood and crapping all over the room due to her stress levels from being given shots while being held down! We can't have her nails cut without having to sedate her! I guess we just got the cat from hell!

Not to mention the litter box odor (and having to clean it) and the allergy causing dander and cat hair all over the house. She's on the couch! She's on the bed! Ugh!

Barkless Dog · #18 01-14-2009, 01:58 PM

i read somewhere where only females can be calicos?

Male cats are way better temperament wise, in my experience, much more dog like & friendly. Females cat be little beeaches, bite hold grudges, destroy stuff if you piss them off. Cats get even with you, believe me. Females act like they care less about anything, where male cats follow you around and become your buddy, even play fetch.

The downside of males is that they can get into marking (urinating) in the house. I had female cats that did it as well.

Get a young male kitten and get him neutered ASAP.

Siamese cats can be great but can also attack people and get quite mouthy.

Rag Dolls are great cats, but you need to deal with the long hair.

Maine Coon cat

Barkless Dog · #19 01-14-2009, 02:01 PM

Downers Grove four eared cat

PSPookie · #20 01-14-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkless Dog

i read somewhere where only females can be calicos?

Male cats are way better temperament wise, in my experience, much more dog like & friendly. Females cat be little beeaches, bite hold grudges, destroy stuff if you piss them off. Cats get even with you, believe me. Females act like they care less about anything, where male cats follow you around and become your buddy, even play fetch.

The downside of males is that they can get into marking (urinating) in the house. I had female cats that did it as well.

Get a young male kitten and get him neutered ASAP.

Siamese cats can be great but can also attack people and get quite mouthy.

Rag Dolls are great cats, but you need to deal with the long hair.

Maine Coon cat

That's some nice photoshoppin'