We (me and my boyfriend) are talking about getting two kittens. Now we have never lived with cats before so our knowledge is pretty slim. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on but I want to know more. Is there anything that you think I should know before we buy them? This can be anything like how to manage the litter box, how to brush them to what to do when they look strange at you. And is there anything you think is important but the books and websites never mention?

What do you feel is the maximum amount of cats in one household? Just tell me everything about cats even your own. Like do you have any tips and tricks to share with me? I want to know.

Sus

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Answers

When I got George, I'd never had a cat before and was completely lost. I only spoke dog, not cat. Cats have a whole other language that, once you figure it out, is just as easy as dog.

The litter box. Trust your nose - it stinks, clean it. You're bored, clean it. I usually clean George's twice a week. DON'T PUT THE LITTER DOWN THE TOILET - ESPECIALLY IN AN APARTMENT - EVEN IF THE LITTER SAYS IT IS OKAY. Flushable litter is a LIE. There is no such thing, I swear! I tried to toilet train George, like get him to hop up on the potty... He hated that. What I was able to do, with NO work on my part, was house train him - he'd actually go to the door and meow if he needed to go potty... of course, at the time we lived with dogs who did the same thing, but he still does that to this day.

Don't touch the cat's belly - didn't know that. Apparently they have really sensitive tummies.

Have someone tell you if your cat is a boy or girl and learn the difference. George was Joy for several months.

Catnip.... get some.

Scratching post - get one with sisal (sp?) rope instead of carpet. The carpet ones fall apart really fast and make a huge mess. The sisal ones last much longer AND you can fix them and reuse by replacing worn sisal.

Have fun... There were times in the beginning I thought I'd made a huge mistake getting a cat. I actually, *gasp*, thought about giving him away. After our adjustment period, I learned his habits, that he was very set in his ways (cats like routine - stick to the schedule; feed at the same time, come home at a regular time, get up at a regular time, etc), after everything, I can't imagine life without him. I watch him sleep and he amazes me.... This living creature. He's just so, well, awesome.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

To make your life MUCH better, get cats that do not shed or shed very little.

good luck

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Some things to know about cats:

(1) Most of them throw up from time to time, even if you keep them brushed. The sound they make when vomiting is indescribable. Most of the time when they vomit they're just spitting up hair balls, but sometimes there's food with it. If what they've thrown up is on a hard surface, the best way to clean it up is to lay newspapers over it right away. Then in a day or so you can just pick up the newspapers and most of the stuff will be absorbed. (This only works if you're not a neatnik and can stand newspapers lying around for a while).

(2) Cats shed A LOT! It is incredible how much hair comes off of their little bodies.

(3) They're always jumping onto and off furniture, and they don't do it quietly. You're going to hear lots of "thump, thump, thump" which comes as a surprise to some people.

(4) It's not that hard to cut your cats' claws yourself. I use a fingernail clipper. I just put the little devils on my lap, push down on their pads, and clip about a third of the claw off. Make sure you don't cut too much off or get too close to the quick.

(5) Some cats won't use scratching posts. My two cats were never interested in any store-bought scratching post, scratching pad, or anything. However, they did manage to completely shred the former wallpaper in our hall. They also tore the muslin off the bottom of our box springs. They went to town on the bottom of our couch and love seat, but because our furniture has a flap of fabric down at the bottom, and they worked under the flap, their handwork doesn't show on the furniture. Most cats do like scratching posts, but if they dn't you might have a problem.

(6) Cats are very clean animals. However, they will make your house dirtier, what with their shedding all the time and spreading littler all over the place from their little feet. But they are definitely worth it!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Most cats (esp. kittens) are happier with other cats around.

If you're getting kittens, be sure to give them lots of affection right away. They'll reciprocate. You can even get to the point to where they'll let you rub their tummies.

On the flip side of that, don't try to force the cat to be around you if she/he wants to be elsewhere. Nothing turns a cat off more than being held in someone's arms when she'd rather be somewhere else. Scratches will undoubtedly be the end result.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

They're nasty and devious creatures. Avoid them.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

I've never trusted anyone who doesn't like cats.

Sus, A good way of training cats to not do things--like scratching things you don't want scratched etc... is a WATER bottle. You can get one in Walmart or just about anywhere for a dollar or two.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

oops, I mean SPRAY water bottle.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Pick up one of those things... what *are* they called - the cat toy that is this plastic stick with a string coming off of one end that has feathers attached to it. Man - they LOVE those.

Also, buy *yourself* a lint brush, or a large roll of packing tape - this is to keep you from looking like a chewbacca every time you leave the house. Oh, and remember, if you leave anything lying around that happens to be the inverse shade of your cat, they will sleep on *just* that item. For example, if you have a light coloured cat, guaranteed he/she will park their butt on your black pants *every time*. If you have a darker cat, never leave a white shirt lying around.

Leave a couple of strategic window ledges clear of clutter, or if you don't have large ledges, put something they can sit on near a window so they can look out. They'll be pretty happy to spend quite a bit of time there.

Be prepared for those wacky noises they make when spotting birds outside the window. *Freaked* me out the first time I saw Nico doing that.

When you come home, and they come crowding for attention (some will, some won't) drop everything and LOVE THEM for like, 5 minutes. Then they will lose interest and you can take your shoes off and get a glass of water in relative peace. Of course, that's before you notice that the curtains are coming off their rod, your pens are all over the floor (they rolled off of the desk when swatted and ooooo their fun to chew on!) and the bathroom rug is currently a large matted ball residing in the kitchen. Wooooeeeee! Kittens ROCK!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Don't BUY cats (unless you're talking about paying a shelter fee). There are a zillion sweet, healthy, lovable, excellent cats waiting to die in shelters right now. Buying a purebred cat doesn't mean you get a better pet.

It also doesn't mean you get a healthy cat. A friend of mine bought 3 purebred kittens (2 Abyssinians and a Maine Coon) and 2 of them died within the year she bought them because they'd picked something up at the breeder (if you buy cats, be very very careful to find a reputable breeder).

On the other hand, I adopted three stray, nearly feral garbage heap kitties. They've all grown into pretty good pets, and until this year (they're 7--indoor cats can live to be 12-15) have had very few health problems.

Two cats is good. One cat gets lonely when you're out. Three seems to be one too many. Two of my cats like each other a lot and amuse each other constantly. The other one feels excluded and sulks. My parents always kept 2 cats at a time, and they usually bonded pretty well with each other.

Kittens can be harder than adult cats to deal with, especially the first time you have cats. They're little demons for about a year.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Well then I guess I'll have to soldier on without your trust, Karen. I'm allergic to cats, but I don't care much for them anyway. I do like dogs.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

The thing to remember about cats is that they are not dogs.

Dogs do not hold grudges. Dogs do not take revenge. Dogs do not constantly dare you to guess what they want and then get mad at you when you guess wrong. Dogs do not take it as a tenet of their existence that you are dumber than they are. Cats do all of these things, and more.

Every cat believes it is better than anything else in the universe, including other cats. Once you remember this, you will have mastered cats.

Cats are self-enforcing. If you don't clean their litter box often enough, they will mess on the floor. Usually right in the middle of the most obvious, hardest-to-clean surface in the house. There! That should give the stupid human the message. If you don't feed them on the schedule they think is correct, they will harass you to an incredible degree. They will pick the lock on the bedroom door, sneak in, and sit on your face while you sleep, flexing their claws against your neck threateningly. There is nothing on earth that you have to do, by their scale, that is more important than feeding the cat. If you put some objet d'art on the horizontal space which is their favorite spot for sunning, then you'll find it mysteriously gets shoved onto the ground and shattered.

It's not true that all cats don't like their bellies rubbed. Some love it. But they generally will not let it happen if they feel vulnerable - like if anyone or anything they don't trust is in the room. That includes most other cats. If you think you have two cats that like each other, you're probably wrong.

Brush your cat every time you think about it. This helps avoid having hairballs the size of large mice collect in the corners and behind the doors of every room. Clean the litter box regularly. Don't feed them every time they ask for it or they'll get fat. Many kinds of human food scraps make cats sick and some can kill them. Give them some high-quality catnip toys to play with - Hartz sucks, go to a store that specializes in pet supplies. Cats get bored easily, especially if they're indoor cats, and a bored cat is a cat which is shredding your belongings.

Don't buy a cat from a pet store. Go to the animal shelter. If you must have a pedigreed cat (why?), buy from a reputable breeder instead and prepare to part with an arm and a leg.

Do not declaw your cats unless you never, never intend for them to go outdoors. Spay or neuter your cats even if you intend to keep them indoors. Do this as young as the vet says it's okay to do; it's traumatic for them. If you let your cat play outdoors, make sure it has its shots. If you let your cat play outdoors in an urban area, accept the fact that one day it isn't going to come home - they run a very high chance of accidental death.

Despite what you may be told, it is occasionally required and acceptable to bathe your cat. And it can be done without sustaining major lacerations. But that's a story for another day.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Get comfy for a few lumps of cat wisdom sifted from the sands of the box of hard-won knowledge. This is what worked best for us after much trial-and-error. Your mileage may vary:

Catbox stuff: clean it twice daily. It's easy to slack a bit, especially with the clumping litter, but the lumps will tend to break apart after a day or so, especially with Kitty jumping in and out, and then they're impossible to clean out. It's a chore, but we handle it by putting a small wastebasket, the kind you can find at Target with the lift-off spring-locked top, in the bathroom. Put a trash bag in it and one of those stick-on twist-top air fresheners under the top, and you have a handy place to put the lumps that won't stink up the place. Just toss the bag once a week. We get the clumping litter from Costco, and put in a completely fresh batch every couple of months. We spray down the box with an antibacterial cleanser when we replace.

We got nice deep boxes for our two, but the male developed a tendency to point straight out and anoint our walls instead of the litter. Cat pee is one of the most corrosive and stinky substances in the universe. I wound up having to make and add 12" high splash guards around the edges next to the walls.

Hairballs: There is a gunk called Petromalt that you can get to help keep Kitty lubed and hair moving in the right direction. Dab on the front paws twice a week so it will ingest it by licking it off. Petroleum jelly also works.

Food: We leave a little dry stuff out all day for them to nosh on, but they get wet stuff once a day. If you don't want Kitty sitting on your chest buzzing and meowing at 4AM for a feeding, feed the wet stuff only in the late afternoons. Our two go for (individually) Science Diet and Friskies, with the Costco generic dry cat food. A little Pounce now and then never hurts. A small thingie of wheat grass (Raley's has it cheapest) every now and then will also be appreciated.

Baths: Start 'em young so they get used to it. Bathing a full-grown cat that isn't used to it, doesn't want it, and is willing to stand its ground about the issue is an invitation to grumpy feelings all around.

Scratching and toys: We could never get our two interested in store-bought scratching posts. Cardboard boxes, now that worked. Good to play in, cheap to get, nice to dig the claws in. Big supermarket paper bags are also wonderful. The little wiggly fish toy on the end of a short pole and line is also good. Best of all is the el cheapo laser pointer (don't shine it in their eyes!).

Fleas: All I can say is "Advantage". We had a horrendous flea problem until we started using that. High cost, but if your cats will be indoor cats, you can ease off of it in a couple of months when all the fleas and eggs are gone. Be alert for 'em if you board your cat or after an overnight at the vet's.

Cat brush: Frequently. They all shed, so it's in your own best interest. The one that seems most effective is kind of like a little horse brush: it has a round metal band attached to a handle, and the band has a serrated edge on one side. Doesn't get to the skin, but seems to do a nice job on getting loose hairs off.

Who's the boss: Squirt bottle works best when they don't see where it's coming from while they're doing Bad Things. We keep several around the house. A coin can (some pennies in a soda can sealed with tape) dropped by them when they're scratching a sofa works wonders. Use it with consistency so they get the idea. Never whack 'em directly.

Finally, show them a lot of affection. They will return it in spades. Kitty smooching its head and cheek and many many tummy rubs made our two into well behaved nice unpsychotic cats that are a delight to have around.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

A word on clumping kitty litter: Don't do it.

Especially if you have kittens.

The reasoning is this: Clumping litter clumps when it gets wet. It turns into hard little rocks the consistency of cement. Kitty will ingest the litter every time she comes out of the box-- she will lick her paws clean, and if she's adventurous, she will try to eat the stuff. It will clump in her tummy, and it will make her sick. It may even kill her, especially if she's a kitten. It doesn't get digested, and it builds up in the stomach. I have had friends lose kittens to this stuff. The manufacturers are aware of what happens, but it is really popular because it's convenient.

My cat has generic (non-clumping) litter right now, because I ran out and couldn't get to the pet store to get the usual stuff. The litter I like the most is made from recycled newspaper. Eco-friendly, cat- friendly, and owner-friendly, too. I used the clumping stuff for years, but once I found out about it actually being harmful to cats, I switched. I don't feel like taking the risk and watching my cat get ill.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

One cat is nice. Two cats is perfect. (Most) cats do like company, even if they like to fight with that company most of the time. There's this "performance art" thing cats in pairs like to do -- little tableaux they set up, maybe standing in identical positions and moving in sync. They know it freaks you out. And there's nothing cuter than coming home and finding them sleeping in a big ball together.

Cats are kinda nuts. That is, they do odd, inexplicable things, and suddenly abandon old behaviour patterns for new personality tics -- for no apparent reason. Once again, they seem to like freaking you out.

Feed them on time. Change their litter often. I have a cat -- a very fastidious cat -- who will piss in a bucket or take a dump in the bathtub when we've been delinquent with the litter. (See note above.)

Get them fixed. Boy cats will piss everywhere and girl cats will go into horrifying heat, or even get cancer, if they're not fixed. Do it young. Trust me on this one.

Kittens are a lot of work, but it's worth it -- they're damned cute. Still, if you're adopting for the first time, you might want to pick up one of the older cats at the shelter or humane society near you. They're less likely to get adopted, and are often euthanized when they've been there a long time. My first cat was an old guy, and he's still around -- happy and healthy. You can always buy a kitten for the older cat to boss around and play with.

They die one day. I don't know any nicer way to put this. They don't live all that long -- 21 years was the longest I've ever seen -- and they'll only let you know they're sick when it's almost too late -- cats are almost impervious to pain, it seems, and soldier along with nary a sign. Which means you'll be the one suddenly faced with having to make the trip to the vet, their last. It'll break your heart -- I've never known a vet who does this well, and you'll be a wreck for days. Give yourself a little mourning period, then go right out and get another one from the shelter. It's the best thing you can do.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

They're nocturnal animals. They want to run around at night. To some extent, you can train them out of this - throw them off the bed or out of the room. I mention this because some people are surprised by it.

The squirt bottle is an excellent tool. A good way to use it is to make a sound like "NO!" at the same time you squirt them. After a while, you can just make the sound and they'll quit whatever they're doing, thinking the spray is coming.

I don't think they're devious at all - you can usually read their little minds perfectly. "want food - want to get up on table - climb curtain to get up on table" etc. And they actually like people and if you're lucky, you'll bond with each other and be devoted friends.

at the risk of starting another thrash I'll mention that indoor cats live longer - no risk from cars, other cats, disease, animals like raccoons. If you keep them indoors from kittenhood they'll mind it some but will get over it.

have fun!

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

re: the comment of showing them lots of affection, they return it in spades...

This is true. After I've loved on George and played with him for a bit, when he gets up to start grooming himself, periodically he stops and starts grooming me. Licking my scalp - tickles like the dickens, but is *so* amazingly sweet.

He's just too cute. Have I told you I have the most amazing & handsome cat ever??! I do.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Everyone here has covered the basics, but there's one extremely important thing that I haven't noticed being mentioned:

The best cat toy in the world is a laser pointer.

Now, not all cats like them, but most of the cats I've encountered go crazy for them. Just shine the dot on the floor and move it around. The cat will try to "catch" the dot. Obviously it can't catch light, so the chase goes on until you or the cat gets bored.

Run the light up walls, around the floor, under tables - the cat will follow it. Just make sure not to shine the light in the cat's eyes, and it'll be ok. =)

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

They're not all alike. There are cats who live mostly in their own heads and don't have much time for people, and there are cats who are as affection-hungry as dogs. It's probably a good idea to either pick them out of a lineup at the shelter, or, if adopting, meet them before you take them home, so you can adjust your expectations a bit.

Maximum number depends on how much space you have. My parents have had up to four + a stray who visited, but that was in a two-story house and one of them lived in one room, rarely emerging from under the bed. (One cat, not one parent.) And the cats clearly felt crowded. I think two is the maximum who can get along. And getting both at the same time is probably a good idea, because if one establishes territory before the other, you may have an unhappy situation.

The bouncy wire toy is called a cat dancer. When the cardboard bit on the end falls off, you can tie a piece of ribbon there and make an exciting new toy.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

I think someone said it before, but don't buy a cat. Go to your local humane society and rescue one:)

And not all cats are opposed to belly rubs. I have two cats and I've rubbed their bellies since they were little and they love it.

A lot of your cat's personality will come from how you deal with it as a kitten. Example- if you want your cat to ride in the car well, take it for trips to places other than the vet. When your cat only rides in the car to the vet's office, they will build up all this extra anxiety any time they have to ride in the car because they associate the car with the vet. (Don't get me wrong here, there are cats who just naturally don't travel in the car well. But many times, it's just a matter of conditioning.)

I tried that same sort of thing with water on my cats. Since they were kittens, they've been given regular baths. They love it. They don't struggle in the water at all. They even like playing in the water while I'm taking a shower or a bath. Maybe I just have strange cats.

As for shedding, the more you brush your cat, the less shedding you will have. I will admit, I do not brush my cats every day. I'm a slacker that way. I have a friend who has 3 cats. She brushes them religiously every day and their shedding is so minimal you hardly notice it. Plus, it helps prevent hairballs, which is always a bonus.

Other tips? Feed your cats at the same time every day and don't stray from that. If they know there is no chance of them getting fed at an off-hour, they will be much less likely to beg for food. If you feed them at different times everyday, they will harrass you. I learned this the hard way. My cats started waking me up every morning to be fed. Now, they get one huge helping at night before I go to sleep, which lasts them throughout the next day. (I'm lucky I can do this though. I know cats who will eat and eat as long as there is food in front of them)

That's all I can think of right now. Feel free to email me!

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

One word: LitterMaid. I love mine. I have had it a month now I don't know how I ever survived without it. It is not recommended for kittens, so wait till they are a bit older, but really, it is so worth the money you will pay for it.

It is truly the lazy cat owner's dream. Once a week, I pull out the full plastic container and insert the new empty plastic container. Never easier. Don't fill it too full or it has trouble sifting through all the litter and mess. I figured that out the hard way.

When I say lazy cat owner, I mean that cleaning out the litter box was never high on my priority of fun things to do on my days off. It got done but I wasn't happy about it. My cats always let me know when it was time: they just left their mess right next to the litterbox. Thanks guys.

But now, they stop whatever they are doing when they hear it roar to life. They run from all over the condo just to see it dump the fouled litter into the container. I thought they would be scared of it, but they are just overly curious. And so is our dog, who waits for the spectacle to end just so he can catch the cats off guard and chase them all over the place, much to our downstairs neighbors' discontent.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

I have lived with cats all my life, from 12 at my parents home (6 adults and 6 kittens) to one scaggy old tom who moved in uninvited one day to my rented (no pets) house.

Please, PLEASE do not spray cats with water. They can be trained like dogs, but not by negative reinforcement - only by praise. This sort of behaviour (including rubbing their nose in accidents, hitting their nose with a rolled up newspaper etc) will just confuse them, stress them and make them spray (female, male or neuter... if they are stressed, they spray). Read 'Is your cat crazy?', forget the author..sorry. Very good cat behaviour book.

Having said that, cats are the EASIEST animals to live with. If you feed them dried food, you can just keep the bowl full all the time. Unlike dogs (and I'm not anti-dog, I love them too; they just have different needs), cats generally regulate their own food intake very well, and will not overeat. Make sure they've got fresh water, clean the solids from the litter tray every day with a scoop and clean the tray itself when it smells (usually, as was stated above, two or three times a week). If they disappear for a day or two, don't panic, they will be sleeping at the top / back of the most unreachable cupboard and will come down when they damn well please (after they've got the gold in the sleeping olympics). Keep the litter and food in separate areas. No animal likes to eat where they.....you know.. Also, I have never had to clip cats' nails or groom short haired cats (Of course all long-hairs need grooming). Cats are clean creatures by nature. Don't get too attached to your antique furniture, or put it in an 'out-of-bounds' room. If you're houseproud, choose a cat that is the same colour (almost) as your soft furnishing. I'm not kidding. Anyway, that's about enough. Oh, and get them (don't get a single cat if it's to be an indoors one, unless someone is home a lot to play with it) neutered at 13 weeks. Sorry if I've restated points already made. Enjoy your new feline companions:)

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Sorry; small amendment to above posting Not thirteen weeks, about four / five months.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

I've also lived with cats my whole life, and used both negative and positive reinforcement on them, including spraying them with water. Maybe your cats were more sensitive; this method always worked fine for me without any repercussions.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said, other than to sum up. Re: squirt bottles-I've used it for behavior mod for years without any ill effects. No, they don't like it. That's the point. Just be consistent in your training. They learn fast.

Cat behavior runs the continuum from Demon-Inspired Heathen to Sweetest Puddin' in the Universe, and it can change from minute to minute. Assuming you're not expecting 100% perfection all the time, you'll be fine.

Adoption from shelters? Yes! Two? Yes (twice the trouble, but twice the fun)! Clumping litter? Not necessary. If you run into toileting problems, add a litter box in a different location. It's usually a territory thing. Love, love, love them...the more physical affection you give, the more they return. They are a lifetime commitment, tho. Fourteen to eighteen years, if indoor. They're worth it! Good luck...

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Re. spray bottles with water for behavior modification.

I also agree positive reinforcement is the way to go with any animal, but I have found that the spray bottle is a very good, least damaging, and fast way to teach a cat and my evil chihuahua not to do something

Also, I don't let my cats outside. There are just too many crazy people, fast cars, and dangerous things in general. They usually have to be kept in from an early age, though, or it is very hard to keep them in if they have already been outside.

Interestingly, I took in a big maine coon stray, over a year ago, when I lived in Maine, and I have had absolutely no trouble keeping him in the house. He really shows no interest in going outside. He does have it pretty good now I must say ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2000

We use the spray water bottle method - around my house, it is called "the *NO* Gun" - we don't even have to spray the animals now - we just pick it up and shake it, and they stop whatever behaviour prompted us to pick the NO Gun up in the first place.

Cats are easy pets. When you first get them though, if you keep them in a confined area of the house - someplace very quiet, and safe, and if you are exceedingly gentle when you handle them for the first few months, they end up to be really calm adults.

Cat flatulence can kill an adult human - invest in some gas masks before you bring the little critters home.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2000