Can only get one cat....

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2004
Can only get one cat....
15
Sat, 08-13-2005 - 12:40am
Hi--
I've been wanting to get a cat for a long time and am finally in the position to get one. My boyfriend and I only want to get one since we have a small place. I really want to rescue an older or disabled one so that it can have a good home, maybe one that is having a hard time getting placed. However, there are also several beautiful long-haired cats at the local shelter that are very friendly and outgoing. I know they will have no trouble getting adopted and will probably be adopted in a few weeks, but I still want one of those.
We are supposed to look at a very shy cat tommorrow that is in a bad situation and having a hard time getting adopted, but we aren't sure about him because we don't know what his personality is like since he is so scared right now.
My boyfriend is of the opinion that we should just go ahead and get one of the "perfect" friendly cats at the shelter, since we know we will like them. But he is leaving the ultimate decision up to me.
What should I do? Do any of you cat owners have any insights? How did you get your cats and what did you look for in a cat?
--Cara

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sat, 08-13-2005 - 7:40am

*WELCOME* to Cats Cara!

Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2000
Sat, 08-13-2005 - 12:19pm

I agree with Cat that you have to go with your gut. I think it's great that you want to adopt an older or disabled cat but I would look at all of them and keep an open mind. You want to be able to connect with them and give whomever you adopt a forever home in the process. Keep in mind that with a disabled cat depending on the disability and your financial and emotional resources you may be setting yourself up for some issues down the line. It's just something to think about.

Personally, I don't think either way is wrong it's just whatever you "feel" in your heart is right for you and you know you can handle. Just because the "perfect" cats seem like they will be adopted soon isn't necessarily so. Some people wouldn't look as longhaired cats as perfect as they require a lot of time in grooming, so one person's perfect isn't necessarily another's perfect.

Go with your heart and your gut. Who know's when you meet the shy cat tomorrow you may have an instant connection and that will solve your questions.....you just never know.

I have two cats now(Gabe and Zach) and as with most of the cats I've had in my lifetime they adopted me. I just knew instantly when I saw them and started interacting with them that they were coming home with me that day, no questions asked.

Good luck in whatever decision you make.

Lynn

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Sat, 08-13-2005 - 7:14pm
All I can say is I have long haired and be prepared to comb and groom them EVERY day!


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Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 08-14-2005 - 11:16am

Hi Cara.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
Sun, 08-14-2005 - 9:30pm
You need to really spend a decent amount of time with the cats. Libby seemed so quiet and shy, and she is just a crazy cat and very dependent and follows me everywhere talking to me. Mainly because she thinks i am stupid and that i get lost coming back to her from the bathroom or kitchen whenever i leave the apartment, so she tries to "guide" me back to whatever room I was in. She doesn't understand the outside since she has never been out or showed interest in going out. Harley was really timid and scared of everything when we first looked at him, but we stayed over an hour with him and he opened up and got to a point where he didn't want us to leave. After we got him home, he became a lot more playful. He is still a little scared of toys, but he has explored and like us, but I have only had him for about 8 hours :) Finding a cat is hard, but they choose you. Some cats are a terror with certain people but angels with others. it is all about the connection. Cats tend to pick their owners, not the other way around.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sun, 08-14-2005 - 10:02pm
It sounds not so much that you are concerned about an older cat or disabled, but a shy cat. A shy cat will take more time, patience etc...so be prepared not to have a lap baby right away. Then again, the cat may be fine and extra friendly once he trusts you and is out of the shelter. I think its great you are saving a kitty. Good luck and keep us updated. Are you sure you can't take two? The friendly cat may help the shy one. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sun, 08-14-2005 - 10:05pm
"Cats tend to pick their owners" you are right about that. I went to a shelter for a kitten I had seen on the internet. It has a free roaming room. Anyway, she could care less that I was there, but two other kittens demanded my attention. I ended up with both of them!!! And they are sweethearts. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2004
Mon, 08-15-2005 - 4:53pm
Hi everyone--
Thanks for your advice. We ended up getting one of the beautiful long-haired cats at the shelter that we had bonded with. I still do feel like I am rescuing a cat because he had been a shelter before the one we saw him at, and was going to be euthenized there. The adoption counselor told us that several people at his current shelter had already overlooked him because he is humongous (I think 14 pounds but it could be more) and because he talks alot (he is part flame-point siamese). He is cream-colored and long-haired with blue eyes.
We named him Leopold ("Leo") and we love him already! He hasn't even been with us for 48 hours and already he seems settled and happy. Thanks for all your advice!
I am probably going to post on this separately but what do you guys use for food? All the cats I grew up with got both wet and dry, but the shelter told us to use only dry. That's what we are doing so far. Thanks,
Cara
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 08-15-2005 - 11:36pm
Leo sounds wonderful and yes, you have saved him and given him a loving, secure home. I personally feed dry and offer can also. Some of my cats want can only, some dry only and others both. They get alot of their water from the can. Can't wait to hear more about Leo! Donna
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 08-16-2005 - 2:38pm

Congratulations on your adoption of Leo. He sounds very handsome.


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