So there's this cat ...

[Mango]

That's how we wound up with 2 cats. They found us.

CCK gave sound excellent advice.
Also, in addition to the Feline Leukemia test, have your vet do a test for Bartonella (cat scratch fever) The cat can be treated for it.

Many moons ago when I first got a cat, I had it declawed. I didn't know anything about cats since I grew up with dogs (and numerous other animals I won't name ) I have to say I never felt more horrible after the cat came home. I hurt just looking at his paws.

It sounds like the cat is a bit young for spraying yet, but my male cat did it when he first hung came around my house 12 yrs. ago and sprayed outdoor plants. He stopped after neutering fortunately.
You may want to have the cat neutered.

My cats do their business outside and come right back, especially the male. Male cats hunt for funn mainly, vs. female who hunt for their young in the wild.
I prefer male cats, but I wound up with a girlie girl with an attitude and only likes us. :roll:
My male is a big fat lap baby who looks like Morris, and likes to play ping pong and chat with company. ;-)

 

[beachmouse]

Many vets will fix cats at 5-7 months of age since the some females will go into heat that young when their bodies haven't grown enough to really handle having kittens. The junior cat actually had already been fixed when we brought him home at 12 weeks.

And while declawed cats will have a disadvantage when it comes to defending themselves, some of them do learn how to compensate very well. My parents' Fern had been declawed young, but was still bringing down full grown bunnies that strayed into our backyard when she was 15 years old.

 

[audie]

i have had many cats - all of them were declawed, and after the bandages were removed, they never even noticed. they just didn't like trying to walk on the bandages. they could still climb trees without front claws, and certainly knew how to scratch and defend themselves with their back claws. they were also all spayed and or neutered with no problems either. we most often let the cats out to do their business because my pop hates the sight and smell of a litterbox. my cat fluffy who was 21 - yes 21 died when i was 19 and she had never had her shots or been to the vet after she was declawed by her first owners. she also lived on a steady diet of birds, chipmunks, and anything else that wasn't faster than her.

 

[Mango]

I wish I had a picture of my declawed cat up a tree and a deer looking up at him like he was nutz. (he never saw a deer before) and he used to knock at the door.
Then he lost a front tooth, and only had one fang, but still caught chipmunks and left them at my front door with a hole punch.
He was the declawed, toothless, neutered wonder.:funn:
I miss that grouchy cat.

 

[Rudyjohn]

On the weekends we would keep the cats out of our bedroom because we wanted to sleep later. They were always so pesky and stomped all over our heads. I mean, they already had food in their bowls!! They just wanted us up. But the female would get so aggitated when we wouldn't let her in, that she would get a running start and plow into the door, making a horrible banging sound! She sounded like she was human! We would scream at her but she never gave it up. We always envisioned her lowering her shoulder and ramming it into the door!

 

[Jdarg]

Please name the new cat Toonces- we had a much loved Toonces. He is now in kitty heaven, wearing his little kitty Tooncinator and Toonces Without a Cause leather jacket, and driving his car.

 

[Allifunn]

one of these can be very helpful...it is made of cardboard...and cats love it...it was a life saver in my home with the 2 cats my kids got about 3 years ago.

 

[Mermaid]

Please name the new cat Toonces- we had a much loved Toonces. He is now in kitty heaven, wearing his little kitty Tooncinator and Toonces Without a Cause leather jacket, and driving his car.

And was he a good driver?

 

[TooFarTampa]

Please name the new cat Toonces- we had a much loved Toonces. He is now in kitty heaven, wearing his little kitty Tooncinator and Toonces Without a Cause leather jacket, and driving his car.

:clap_1: :clap_1: Jdarg I read your posts and sometimes I think we are so much alike. My 7 year old asked after I picked him up from school today: "Mom, can we watch the Tooncinator again when we get home?" (YouTube is the greatest!) Sorry about your Toonces though. I'm sure you miss him.

This has been a really helpful thread. Mermy, I had intended to ask the vet all these questions, but sometimes it just helps to gather various responses and experiences. That's what these boards are all about!

I think we have made a decision. Hubby and I talked tonight and think it might be better if The Cat We Want To Name Toonces goes home with my mom. While I have loved all of these stories, I also have a better idea about not just the level of commitment but sometimes the training you have to do. Cats aren't quite puppies, but some of them seem like they a lot of work.

While we are very fond of the cat, I am a bit intimidated by its sheer force of will (it seems to like being in the driver's seat ) and I am starting to feel like I don't have the ability at this time to give it all the attention it might need. Even my oldest is not ready to take on too much of the responsibility for it. I think my mom would be a better cat parent for it right now, and it would make her feel good to have something to take care of. Besides her grandchildren that is.

And I have to admit, JR's story about the cat that tried to barge in the bedroom gave me paws, I mean pause. It sounds hilarious until it starts happening to you at 6 a.m. I don't get enough sleep as it is.

Yep, I'm a fraidy cat. But at least it will have a good home. And its claws.

 

[TooFarTampa]

one of these can be very helpful...it is made of cardboard...and cats love it...it was a life saver in my home with the 2 cats my kids got about 3 years ago.

And what the heck is it?