So there's this cat ...

[Beachmom]

Y'all have made me laugh about the cat tails all day...but here is what I've learned through my true love of cats...
1. I am allergic...although I'll take allergy meds. and vacume for the lovin.
2 Allergies seem to be much worse with cats that come in and out... maybe I'm just weird
3. Declawing a "hunter" cat will not slow him down in the least ( we did it so that he would not destroy our screen porch- he didn't - he just escaped! Could keep up with ANY clawed cat)
4. Cats CAN BE POTTY TRAINED!! too funny to walk in on a cat using the potty!!
5. They do what they want, no matter what you try to "train".
6. They will provide you with more laughs than almost anything (but your kids, stupid people....you know )
7. Outside cats are pets, inside cats are family



and no, I do not have one right now, miss them terribly- but there is no more of me to give to anything that eats, makes messes, and poops!!

you TFT!!

 

[Rudyjohn]

My son's cello teacher has 2 hairless cats that are potty trained! I think that is so cool! And in the cold winters here, she has little crocheted sweaters on them. So sweet.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Here's a pic. of the hairless.

 

[Teresa]

TFT - you already have the best possible pet on earth - your big huge loving lab . got pix? what does the lab think of the kitty? my lulu wouldn't be very happy with a cat, but would certainly adjust.

I was "permitted" to live with kurt's cat (Hobie) for years before she went to cat heaven (she was about 20) - it was so sad to lose her after so long. she was loving to us (but did NOT like anyone else), and very neurotic in many ways. we miss her. but we do not miss the litter box!

I'm sure your toonces will be happy with your mom.

 

[beachmouse]

Yeah cats do have their quirks. The only time the senior cat really claws the carpet is when he hears me in the bathroom, and insists on being in there with me. (He likes to get his pets when I'm sitting down in there, and loves to get brushed with the peoples' hairbrush) And he also has thing thing about testing to make sure gravity still works, though he hasn't been on quite so much of a Push Things Off kick since he knocked the coconut off the top of the fridge.

But once you get used to those quirks, they're very low maitenance. We fostered a kitten last summer that was so young we still bottle fed her, but even that young, it took her less than 48 hours to figure out she was supposed to poop and pee in the catbox, compared to how long it takes to housetrain so many dogs. And you can go away for a weekend, and as long as you give them enough of a food and water stash, they're normally fine left alone.

 

[Cil]

I agree that declawing might possibly be problematic, but so can shredded furniture and carpets. I know what Mermaid means about having to choose the kitties over the furniture.
The cats I've had in my life were a bit scratchy when young but mellowed out with maturity. Blue, a Russian blue mix, used to pick at the wallpaper, watching my reaction as he did it. Later we removed the wallpaper and he'd go to the same spot to scratch at the bare wall.
My ancient dear calico (Pounce went to kitty heaven last summer at the age of 20) used to scratch the trunk of a large dracena and other stuff, but stopped all that nonsense as an adult. Of course, she was an outside cat, free to sharpen her claws anywhere she liked, until her final golden years.
Willow, our current little swamp cat (adopted in fall '05 from a litter of kittens of a pet mama cat the neighbors left behind) has scratched a lot. Obviously she was an outside cat and now is inside. Too many coyotes and rattlesnakes around here, plus Hwy 98.
When we got Willow, she had every possible parasite but tested negative for feline leukemia. We are not sure how old she is, we think maybe 14 months, we spayed her right away. I've never declawed and would rather not, but it has not been ruled out.
I hope you keep Toonces. Cats are great fun. ;-)
Random Kitten Generator

 

[ShallowsNole]

Cats are great. I love my dogs, but I often long (almost daily) for the days when all we had were cats.

Going out of town for a couple of days? No problem! Just leave a couple of clean litter boxes and a LOT of food. No kennel, no doggie-sitters.

They don't bark when people come over; they simply run and hide. Peaceful conversation is possible.

And, if you buy the "Pearls" stuff they sell at Publix, litter boxes are no longer an issue. All you gotta do is scoop out the - uh - solids. $8 per bag, but it lasts a month. :clap_1:

And always, ALWAYS, have them spayed or neutered. Nothing, short of a pair of rabbits, can reproduce faster than cats.