Advice for new cat owners?

[norcalchick]

My kitten loves the caps from water bottles and balled up pieces of paper. Those are the only toys we gave her. My bf's sister gave the kitten it's first toys: a mouse made out of thin rope or something and this ball made out of crinkly plastic. Her favorite toys seem to be our hands and arms. My arm looks like I stuck it in a rose bush and started waving it around.

[Jill1228]

Z Chi, don't get me started about boxes! Cats go nuts if there is a new box around and if you have 2 cats they might even fight over it (my Thelma and Louise do!)

[astroAPhi]

This is totally random, but are there cats that are good for people with allergies? (Besides the ones that look like naked rats.)

[thetalady]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
This is totally random, but are there cats that are good for people with allergies? (Besides the ones that look like naked rats.)

What people are allergic to is the dander (protein) on the cat's coat. The dander has different Ph on different cats, so people are not necessarily allergic to ALL cats. Of course, there are some folks who are really really sensitive to any kind of allergen & probably could not tolerate any pet.

CHeck some info here:

http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/allergy.htm

http://www.hsus.org/ace/11778

http://www.allerpet.com/ (great product!)

[kappaloo]

Don't play with the kitten with your hands. Kittens get into the habit off attacking everything considered a toy almost instantly - don't let your hands be one. Note, that if you are holding a toy while playing, the kitten will probably still think your hand is a toy too. Instead, use toys that are on the end of a stick/poll or a piece string. Or throw the toys.

My kitty use to play fetch it was the cutest thing ever. Now, she just chases.

[absoluteZChi]

Originally posted by Jill1228
Z Chi, don't get me started about boxes! Cats go nuts if there is a new box around and if you have 2 cats they might even fight over it (my Thelma and Louise do!)

OH YEA!! It cracks me up on how one will try to get into the box while the other will try to jump on top and smash the other

BEWARE OF DRYER SHEETS...I forgot to mention that in my last post..The book "Cats for Dummies" (don't laugh!) says they are dangerous to cats because of the chemicals in them.

[KappaKittyCat]

Ditto on the clean litterbox, good food, early spaying, no declawing, and posting pictures on GC. If you really can't handle cats with claws, try SoftPaws.

Make sure that you keep collars & tags on them, even if they're "only" inside cats. Even only-inside cats escape sometimes. Also consider getting them microchipped. It's relatively inexpensive (usually less than $50/animal) and can save their lives if they should escape. Talk to your vet or the local humane society.

Most importantly, DO NOT let them nibble or bite on your hands/fingers. It may seem cute when they're kittens, but it is a bad habit for them to get into. If you're playing with them or petting them and they start doing that, say "NO!" immediately, then disengage. Stop playing and IGNORE the cat for at least five minutes. If that doesn't work, then hit them with a squirt gun. That's the only way they'll learn.

Have you decided on names yet?

[SSS1365]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
This is totally random, but are there cats that are good for people with allergies? (Besides the ones that look like naked rats.)

My friend has a Devon Rex. He looks just like the orange one in the foreground of this picture:



They don't really shed and supposedly are pretty decent for people with allergies. Their fur is super short and kinda curly.

[absoluteZChi]

both of mine are short haired and for the first few months it was hell for me, but the vet told me that if I used my vaccum at least 3-4 times a week, and bath them I would be fine. I do the vaccum part, but only one of my cats likes being in water so I use these waterless bath cloths. They look like baby wipes. They are great!! Most of the time my BF will clean them since I start to sneeze, but after both of them have been cleaned and brushed they feel and smell (baby powder...mmm) great!!

[carnation]

Originally posted by KappaKittyCat
Ditto on the clean litterbox, good food, early spaying, no declawing, and posting pictures on GC.

Have you decided on names yet?

Boy! I had no idea that there was so much to know but I'm working on every one of these tips y'all have given me!

Our daughter went over to help our Hawaiian friend, who's a vet tech and certified wildlife rescuer, and came back with these names: Kalea and Kalani.

[thetalady]

Originally posted by carnation
Our daughter went over to help our Hawaiian friend, who's a vet tech and certified wildlife rescuer, and came back with these names: Kalea and Kalani.

Hate to tell you, but these names are really an awful lot alike. Not that cats tend to respond so much when you call their names, but you don't want to make it difficult for them to figure out which one of them should be ignoring you

Cats are really much more of a challenge than dogs, they are FAR more independant. Remember, cats only humor us because they know that their ancestors ate ours

[carnation]

Yeah, most of us have given up on the long versions and call them Lea and Lani. I'd forgotten how independent kitties are as compared to dogs! Do any of them really respond to their names?

[phisigduchesscv]

They know their names (or will) but as to responding to them..... it just depends on what mood their in. Most of the time my cats will come but there are those times they just completely ignore me.

You'll have to post pictures of the kitties soon

[valkyrie]

Most of my cats respond to their names, but you all know I have so many cats if I call one, someone is bound to come.

[angelove]

One more thing: plants. Certain plants are poisonous to cats - you can probably find a list on the internet or get one from your vet. Also (okay, so more than just one more thing), never give a cat aspirin - it is highly toxic to cats.

I told you it was like childproofing ...