Secrets of the City

Or you can always get your cat a Roomba. Or teach it to be a ninja.

I like cats. Cats are awesome. I mean seriously, awwwwwwesome!

Have you seen the one where that guy’s cat attcks the printer? Why the h*ll would it do that? Also try googling “cats in sinks” and “cats that look like Hitler”. ROFL

A $10 laser pointer from Office Max does the trick. Entertain and exercise your cat while watching TV.

I bought my cat one of those cigars at a Cat Show a few years ago (shut up, I was bored) and he absolutely loved it. He still plays with it, too, even though it’s absolutely flattened.

Cat hats are good gifts, too, if only for the laugh factor.

Lola could use any one of those. although she’s a snobby princess and would probably ignore it until both The Hubs and i are out of the house. then she’d probably sniff it and decide sleeping on the radiator is a lot more fun.

I’m glad someone finally went in there and told us what it was all about. I’ve been looking curiously at it for years. I consider an essential part of the “land of lost businesses” on that stretch of University.

http://www.pmandj.com

The “dog people” of MNSpeak demand equal time!

Purniture is most excellent, and I highly recommend him. He will even make house calls (within reason) to replace ripped up scratching post carpeting.

I look at that cat furniture at PetSmart. It’s way overpriced. A few simple, cheap toys are enough to keep our cat amused. I wouldn’t indulge an animal with something that elaborate.

My cat loves our wicker furniture which is nice cause I hate it.

They call that homeostasis I think?

On the feline topic: We’re thinking about getting a cat for our apartment–it sounds like a good pet to have that won’t be too needy if we take a 3-day camping weekend. Whatever it is will likely be adopted from Humane Society, so we won’t be choosy about breeds (other than shorthair with less annoying shedding habits). Any advice or tips?

Jerad, shorthairs still shed a lot, but you don’t have to worry about as many hairballs. The only advice I would have is set up a “cat room” for the first few days so it can get used to your place (especially if you get a kitten) and consider the possibility of adopting 2 cats if you can (they can entertain each other when you’re at work) or even adopting an older cat. Don’t spend a lot of money on toys, because, as Rat said, a lot of times they’re happy just playing with a paper bag or a wadded up piece of paper. Oh, and don’t waste money on litter pan liners if your cat has claws, it’ll just make an even bigger mess.

Jerad, pick up your cat on a Friday so you’re not leaving him all along right away, can predict what kind of trouble he might get into on his own, etc.

Also, don’t go to the Humane Society unless you’re ready to bring home an animal because it’s nearly impossible to go there and not come back with something.

And finally, I’d HIGHLY recommend a covered litterbox.

Get a Maine Coon! They are super friendly, and our cat, Smeagol, is a 20 pound furball who is more like a dog than a cat. He comes when you call him, he lets me drag him around the house on his back, or flip him over. And he’s not shy and skittish. Great lap cat. He is a longhair though, but no fur ball problems.

He looks sort of lkike this

If you get a dog, you can bring it on your camping trip. Just saying.

Here’s my thing: we’re looking for a cat who can be distant and aloof. Smeagol has a great name and sounds really interactive, but does he pee in your shoes when you leave him alone with an overfull chow bowl for 4 days?

Jerad, I really think you should just get 2 cats, rather than hoping for the aloof kind. Cats usually like to do the opposite of what you want them to do.

If you’re really shooting for a certain personality/ability to be left alone, I’d go with an adult cat. Kittens generally needs more attention, and sometimes their personalities change as they get older.

We have a sweet little Calico that seems to spend each day looking for at least one new way to aggravate me. I’ve heard other people say Calicos have distinctive personalities. If ours is any indication, Calicos are not generally aloof.

I have three tabbies who are all somewhat aloof but very sweet cats, if such a small sample size counts for anything.

My calico is only aloof to new people and my other cat (tuxedo/tabby) is a needy little shit that likes to barf on my carpet…

@ebourne: Great tip re: buying on a Friday. And we are hoping for nothing younger than 18 months.

@kc!: landlord won’t allow dogs.

What is the gen. consensus on declawing?

I’m agin’ it (even though two of my cats don’t have claws, one came that way and the other I had declawed so he couldn’t claw the shit out of the other cats.) We’ve decided not to declaw anymore.

I’ve had experience with two different unofficial-but-appear-to-be Maine Coons and they were both intelligent, personable, friendly, a little bit nutty, and most importantly, satisfyingly large. I recommend them.

We leave all the time in the summer for full long weekends, and he is just fine by himself. no pee in the shoes.

I used to be for declawing but after I read what the process actually is, I decided that it is a bad practice.

Ours in an unoffcial maine coon too.

I wouldn’t declaw a cat.

My sister and here husband has a Maine Coon. When more than five people are in the house, the cat hides

Oh no, don’t declaw, more vets are refusing to do it because it’s uncool for Mr. or Ms. Kitty.

Maine Coons are super cute. I have a black and white cat with a ridiculously long tail and a little brown tabby Persian with huge, owly orange eyes.

Not a good idea to leave them on their own for more than a day, even with food. Have someone look in on them once a day. Cats get lonely and bored, too.

No to declawing. Read a little bit about it and you’ll understand why. They make nail covers that work great. I usually just trim both cats front claws weekly with no issues.

I recommend two kitties as well. We recently brought a new kitten home to entertain the other older kitten. They can’t do anything without each other. Highly entertaining. We had great luck at the Human Society, but be prepared to spend $150 for adoption fees.

While I am not a cat owner, I would also say no to declawing. Removing a natural part of an animal for human convenience and benefit is not a good excuse.

I am also against declawing. We use Soft Paws on our cats, and they work perfectly and give them pretty, pink nails.

http://softpaws.com/

The Animal Humane Society was getting swamped with cats a few months ago – in September, an average of 76 cats per day were being surrendered to their 5 shelters.

They seem to still have many, many cats and kittens available.

I adopted an adult cat who’d already had front claws removed. I’m against declawing, but his first owners weren’t.

I say nay on the declawing too. If you’re vigilant about trying to train against scratching and get a really good, tall, sisal scratching post you shouldn’t have any problems. You want it tall so as your cat grows, they can still stretch up and scratch like they want too (which is why the backs of couches are always cat claw targets). Also, sisal is a better choice for a post because carpet posts can cause confusion with some cats. Also, if you’re worried, you can try the natural sprays to keep them away from your furniture. I also recommend that you don’t buy a leather couch or chair. For some reason, cats love them.

Oh, and I once had a friend that insisted I was a horrible, mean, abusive cat owner because I made my indoor cat wear a collar and tag, yet thought I was crazy for not getting him declawed. WTF?

A collar and tag? You are a horrible monster!

I just squirt the cat from a spray bottle of water when she scratches on stuff she’s not supposed to. She runs and runs.

I adopted two foreclosure kitties in August and for scratching I tried sheets of Sticky Paws on my furniture. It not cheap compared to regular rolls of double-sided tape but comes in large sheets. So far it’s worked great. They just use their posts now.

I just squirt the cat from a spray bottle

Sounds painful for the cat.

Sounds like an aqautic cat-a-pault. However, it warms my heart that the tough ole’ Rat has a little putty cat!

We do the squirt bottle thing too. Only problem is we have the world’s only cat that likes water. He just stands there staring at us like we’re idiots.

My late mother-in-law one took a hose to one cat who wouldn’t stop climbing her screen windows.

Don’t mess with an angry ND farm wife, kitty.

Removing a natural part of an animal for human convenience and benefit is not a good excuse.

Isn’t that also the case with neutering/spaying? Controlling pet populations is most certainly a “human convenience and benefit.” Neutering male cats to keep them from marking is also a “human benefit.”  Yet where is the outcry over this “removal of a natural part”?

I will add that choosing between declawing a cat and having to give it up due to its damaging tendencies is a compelling argument for the former.  You can play with your squirt guns and sticky tape all you want. I will opt for the certainty of kitty not having the tools to shred my furnishings in the first place.

And don’t even try that argument that a declawed cat “is meaner” or “uses its teeth more.” That’s a load of shit, and there is no empirical evidence to support it.

Unless you let your cat outside (which you shouldn’t, as indoor cats live much longer), your cat really has no need for those front claws.

I’m all for neutering/spaying. I find it hypocritical to advocate for that and then pontificate about declawing.

I find spray bottles to be cruel. And hilarious.

We are talking cats here, right max? Not the homeless guys with signs at the exit ramps?

Removal of a cats claws can cause permanent deformaty and life long pain, neither of which altering does, BTW. Altering is not really for the convenience of the owner, it’s to control population and to reduce unneccessary euthanasia. Also, have you ever shared a house with a female cat in heat? Not pleasant. Same with a male unaltered cat. Unaltered males are much more aggressive, not to mention pissing all over the house, which, once they start doing, can be hard to reverse, even if you eventually get them neutered.

You can train a cat to not scratch your furnishings. I’ve done it with three cats, my friend with many rescue cats over the years. I think too many people want to take the “easy” way out and mutilate their pets.

We are talking cats here, right max? Not the homeless guys with signs at the exit ramps?

I make no easy distinctions.

At least you stick to the non-lethal spray bottle, unlike Kid Cann.

deformaty=deformity…geez

Removal of a cats claws can cause permanent deformaty and life long pain, neither of which altering does, BTW

Can you cite a reliable scientific source that empirically supports your “deformity/lifelong pain” claim, or is this just your personal anecdotal evidence? Or perhaps something you read on a website?

You can train a cat to not scratch your furnishings. I’ve done it with three cats, my friend with many rescue cats over the years. I think too many people want to take the “easy” way out and mutilate their pets.

Not everybody has the luxury of time like you do. But happy to hear your method has worked in your case.

I realize this is a purely emotional issue with many people. But don’t let emotions obscure common sense.

Many vets have published about this, and you don’t think removing the top digit of a toe is deforming an animal? If people declaw their cats, it really isn’t any concern of mine, but comparing it to spaying/neutering your animal is stupid.

Oh, and you’d be surprised how little time it takes to set out a scratching post and covering it with catnip.

But don’t let laziness obscure common sense.

However, I do agree that if it’s between giving up the animal and declawing, I’d pick declawing. I just don’t see why people have to jump right to surgical options before trying out some behavior tricks.

I have an unofficial Khao Manee he’s all white but instead of two different color eyes his are both blue.

He’s pretty cool but very vocal…if you like sleeping I wouldn’t recommend a siamese type cat. When he wants our attention he’ll just walk in and out of our room yodeling till we wake up…then he basically just want to play. If you don’t respond to the “talking” he scratches on our wicker hamper.

it’s kind of his little way of saying:
“f*ck you, you sleeping bastards!”

Not exactly scientific, but I left my American Veternarian Quarterly in my other pants.

I don’t think the faux-ethical arguments against declawing really stand up very well. I just have shitty furniture and think cats are cooler with claws.

I’m currently catless. But Mr. B, the wunderhund, did tree a stray cat last week in our yard. Only cat’s pride was injured in the incident.

PS: Claws saved the day!

And, if you don’t have time to teach a cat not to scratch your furniture, maybe you don’t have time for a cat. People like to think that cats, unlike dogs, don’t take time and energy. But they do and they should.

Oh, and talk about mean and cruel, my dog’s tail is docked. I don’t know why you would do that. He’s half lab half rottie and looks kind of goofy without his tail. But it is pretty cute when he wags his nub super fast.

Why would you take away natures finest predator’s tools…That’s like Leon Phelps without a wang!

Well, for me, it really wasn’t about ethics, just about money…and the fact that it was never an issue, as the cats took to their scratching post rather well.

If you really want to declaw your cat, I’m not going to hold it against you, it’s your animal and your money, I guess.

just=also…god, I suck today..

Sounds like Christopher Mankey needs a hankey.

Awesome.

Hell, dogs are easy. They’re your wingman. Live for you and soothe your insecurities.

Cats with claws are part of the appeal of living with a predator.

Rat, I agree, living with dogs is kind of like living with a big, dumb frat boy. They just want food, water, and the chance to hump your leg every so often.

Of course the same could be said of Max, but at least he wouldn’t chew up your slippers…

Sigma Alpha Mu REPRESENT!

Actually, I never made it past the initiation phase of the Sammys.

Neither did Bobby Zimmerman…you’re in good company.