Question of the Day - Monday, August 8, 2022

Maria Bayote

Mama of 4 Cats, 4 Dogs , 2 Budgies & 2 Humans
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The actual cats I have had, not including my fosters of course:

2 cats from my childhood
1 passed away last February
3 currently living with me
 

Jem

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I started late because my Mom is allergic...that was one of the perks of my parents divorce, we could finally have animals at Dads. :lol: So the first was actually my Step-mother's cat she brought with her when she moved in. Then three more after that. When I moved out I adopted one with my now husband (and kept the three from home too). Then when they all passed away, we adopted three more...the ones we currently have. So I'm sitting at 8 cats in total. Nine if you count the kitty my husband just got for his office. Although my contribution to caring for that kitty is limited, I still pay for some stuff and go visit sometimes. He stays at the office full time as he's not a social cat with other cats and actually has limited tolerance for attention from people as well. He's friendly and is fine with strangers...just short term, which is why the shelter suggested him as an office cat. He's doing very well and is so much happier with my husband then he ever was at the shelter.
 

muffy

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Tommy was my first cat when I was a kid, I adopted 8 cats from my feral colony and my last cat, Tommy 2, is now living with my sister because I can no longer care for him. That's a total of 10 cats in my lifetime. I had a feral colony and about 40 cats came and went during the 15 years I cared for them. I could not bring them all inside.
 

Bri5

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5 as an adult. 4 are still with us.

As a child, we primarily has dogs, but we had a blind Siamese cat named Skye and my mom had a hairless cat whose real name I forgot but whose nickname was Evil.
 

gilmargl

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Ignoring fosters, I have only actually made any effort to acquire or take on and own 9 cats (over a 50 year time span). But 3 strays turned up and I treated them as my own. 2 fosters (mother cats with kittens) were never adopted. The kittens left for their new homes but the two were taken off the list for adoption and are still with me - 10 years later.
I am not disciplined enough to own a dog - though I am often tempted!
I probably won't have more.. I don't know how long my two have, but by the time I'm 'catless' again I'll be in my 70s. I've decided that's a good age to have a vacant house for fostering.
I was thinking the same thoughts more than 10 years ago - when I retired. I had 2 cats at the time - one has since passed. I started seriously fostering cats and kittens (> 30 per year) and even acquired for myself a beautiful BLH (saved from a lifetime of producing kittens).
Fortunately I am still fit (almost 78) but I am no longer so keen on fostering lively kittens - I am worried about treading on one or falling on top of the whole batch. I have already allowed a saucepan of water with feeding bottles to boil dry at 2 o'clock in the morning - so no more very young kittens even though I am under a lot of pressure from younger fosterers who seem to think I am still capable.
I am fortunate to have family more than willing to take over caring for 3 of my 4 cats should I no longer be able to look after them myself. But one foster is nervous and not a very friendly cat to anyone other than me. So, I will have to outlive her! She is already suffering from kidney problems so I hope I will be able to care for her till the end.
Perhaps, when the time comes, you will also have to rethink! 80 is the new 70! :)
 

denice

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I am not disciplined enough to own a dog - though I am often tempted!
That is the main reason I didn't get a small dog when I went back into an apartment. With a fenced in backyard the bathroom thing isn't an issue, just open the door to let them out. Still have to go out and clean up the yard but that is much easier then physically taking the dog out each time. Of course even with the fenced in yard the dog still needs to be taken for walks at least once daily but I actually enjoyed that. It's the hassle with taking the dog out to do their business that kept me from getting a dog.
 
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MoochNNoodles

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That is the main reason I didn't get a small dog when I went back into an apartment. With a fenced in backyard the bathroom thing isn't an issue, just open the door to let them out. Still have to go out and clean up the yard but that is much easier then physically taking the dog out each time. Of course even with the fenced in yard the dog still needs to be taken for walks at least once daily but I actually enjoyed that. It's the hassle with taking the dog out to do their business that kept me from getting a dog.
My sister-in-law tried to get a dog when her kids were small and it was just too much to chase 3 little kids and a puppy that needed training. My nephew was an energetic handful with some sensory issues and my younger niece was still an infant not sleeping through every night. So I learned from her. Dogs just need more from their people. Now they have a number of pets and everyone gets the attention they need and deserve! Now that my kids are big I think we would enjoy the daily walks and we have a huge yard. But I don't feel like it's fair to Mooch with her senior issues at 17. Maybe a calm adult who leaves her alone would be ok; but not an energetic puppy who still needs to learn manners. ;)

My in-laws have a small chihuahua/terrier mutt mix and she's been a great companion for them after their big dogs passed. But they still have a house with a big fenced yard. Even though FIL is active and MIL only uses a can occasionally, having to go in and out at an apartment sounds like a lot. Plus she loves to run. SIL's Yorkipoo loves to be held and snuggle all day; but the in-laws pup still needs freedom to run, tug and fetch. She loves when they take her to festivals and things too. I think she wouldn't be happy in an apartment setting really. I guess she's kind of the best of both worlds for them.
 

MonaLyssa33

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Let's see. As a kid, I had Casey, Milo, Mistletoe, Willie, Lilli, and Fiona. As an adult I had/have, Kirby, Remy, Maisie, and Flora. So a total of 10.
Lilli was technically my sister's cat, but she was Willie's sister and I took care of her sometimes. Willie and Fiona I had as a teen and adult. Fiona actually just died this weekend at the ripe old age of 19. She was the last cat I had while I was still in high school, but she and Kirby were technically my parents' cats but I took care of them almost exclusively when I lived with my parents.
 

MonaLyssa33

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That is the main reason I didn't get a small dog when I went back into an apartment. With a fenced in backyard the bathroom thing isn't an issue, just open the door to let them out. Still have to go out and clean up the yard but that is much easier then physically taking the dog out each time. Of course even with the fenced in yard the dog still needs to be taken for walks at least once daily but I actually enjoyed that. It's the hassle with taking the dog out to do their business that kept me from getting a dog.
For a long time I said I would never get a kitten because they were too much work, but then I got a puppy and I was like, "Nope, kittens are super easy." I adopted my first puppy in February 2021 and then I adopted her littermate in December because he got returned to the rescue, so having two dogs that are the same age, same size, same energy level, and same temperament has been an adventure. I share a queen sized bed with two 60-pound dogs. Needless to say, I do not sleep well. I'm probably kicking them out of my bedroom tonight.:crazy:
 

Jcatbird

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I want to see Jcatbird Jcatbird 's answer to this.
Well, does this mean fosters as well as resident kitties? Rescues too? Hmmmm. Then if you Google me you would probably find a Googolplex.;) I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count them all! Lol The last colony of rescues was over 100 but most got adopted. Good thing or I would have too many kitties in my lap to respond! Some from a previous colony were with me a short time because I rescued cats with active Felv that stayed here for their lifespan. Over ten years, about 20 Felv adults of varying ages. Mackie is still here at about 16 years old (estimated) Oh my. Remembering all the kitties. So much love has come into my life. My first rescue that I did myself was when I was about eight or nine? Multiply that by the number of years passed and then by…..oh. Banjo just pointed something out to me. I have never owned a cat but I did have cats allow me to live with them. Cats are so kind to us humans! Maybe I could answer if the question was “how many cars have you owned? “ I have to go and give treats now.:worship::bicolorcat:
 
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