OT Attention Cat People

Please read my cat update on Nancy B's thread about cats.   I need input, pros and cons, of adopting a cat. 

I have always had cats. I love cats!!! I lost my little darling a few weeks ago (she would have been 18 in May). I lost her sister 2.5 years earlier. Such loving companions. I got them when they were only 6-7 weeks old (same litter). I miss her terribly. I am at a point in my life though where taking on a new kitty would just be too hard (hauling the kitty litter in and out) otherwise I would love to take in a new friend. Cats are such easy care and give so much joy!

Thanks for your input Susan.  I'm sorry to hear you've recently lost your little kitty.  We get so attached to our pets. It's like losing a family member. I've had cats before, many years ago and I did like them. They can be good company and of course they're always good for a laugh.  But I have to remember I'm not 30 anymore, I'm 62 and adopting an animal is at least a 10-15 year commitment.  And one my  biggest concerns is that I don't know how I will like having a litter box in my little 800 sq foot apt.  I had a big house before so the odor wasn't a problem.   Comments anyone???

Yes odor is an issue. I even got one of the automatic cat boxes. Males seem to have stronger urine and even when neutered some will still spray.

Hi, I love cats too.  I have had several and I had one then I saw a femal orange on line and had to have her, well got to the adoption place and they had a ragdoll, and I new I had to have her well
I took the one and we had gone shopping and called them back and told them I wanted to have
the ragdoll, that's a cat that looks like a siamese but long har and they are so mello, but they all
play together and they play with the dogs also.  But they are so much easier than a dog.  Good
luck.

Judy

Several years ago we lost our cat B.J. to cancer. This past summer my husband and myself decided that we needed to fill that hole in our hearts with a new kitty.  We went to a no-kill shelter here in New York and adopted a 4-year old cat. We wanted a grown-up because we didn't want to start with a crazy kitten again...
We brought home Meco (we kept his name since he was used to it). He was brought to the shelter by the NYPD.  He was found in an apartment laying with the body of his elderly owner.  Meco lived like that for over 2 weeks drinking water dripping from the faucet. My hungry kitty was brought to the shelter where he was fed and brought back to health. I love my new son! He is the most loving cat I have ever owned! I don't love cleaning his litter but having Meco in our lives is worth the world. I am so glad that I adopted him!
BTW I highly recommend Fresh Step clumping litter. It really cuts down on the odor...  I think you are doing a wonderful thing by taking in that cat and I am sure that she will love you for what you are doing for her.

Oh My Your kitty looks exactly like my "Coffee". Makes me smile to see that picture.

I'm another one whose always had a cat and loves them.  I turned my dh into a cat lover too and now we have 5, all adopted as adults.  The litter box isn't much fun but it's a small price for such furry love.  The litter I like to use most often is cedar.  It's very soft, not quite like sawdust but sort of like it.  And it doesn't smell!  I hope you decide to adopt the little kitty, as others have said it's a kind thing to do and the kitty will love you for taking her in.  :)

Thank you all so much for your comments.  Lots more pros than cons. 

I love cats.  I have two inside...LilyRose, my miracle kitten, and Katie who is eight.  Outside, I have 22 cats...and a rottweiller.  All of them, inside and out, and Zeus da Moose, my rottie, are ALL rescues..they have been abandoned and/or abused.

We spend about $30.00 a week just on the outside cats' kibble. I cannot resist a furry little face and now we find we are also feeding a few neighbourtr cats too.  However, how do we say you and you and you can eat...and YOU, get lost!  ?? Can't do that..so it's buffet time at our house.

We have seven acres of country property and n 85 acre bush next door, a 100 acre vineyard across the road...there are only four houses on the road and our property is surrounded by peach, apple, and plum orchards, so my refugees are of no bother to anyone.  We haver NO mouse/rat problems here! *s*

Inside, we have an automatic cat litter box and I use odour-free clumping litter. I empty the "storage" box daily and wa**** with a special odor-neutralizer.  I've not had any odor problems at all.

Yes, a young kitten is more energetic than an adult, but they all give us such joy...but even the older ones...I once took in a nine yr old Siamese Bluepoint who was to be put down because her family was moving to Europe and werent taking her along and no one wanted a 9 yr old cat. (she died of old age at 19)...they need love and security as well.

I read once that cats are the "filters" of our human race..they absorb negativity and return  it "santitized" as love and comfort.  I love to embrace that analogy.

Nancy B