Hi everyone,
I'm looking into two different breeds, both said to be affectionate, I'd love to hear from people who have experience with either breed as I'm having a really hard time deciding between the two. Quick background: I live alone and work from home.
Last Spring, I lost my soul cat, a rescue DSH tabby. I'm still devastated. He was the most loving cat ever, and truly my best friend. We were so bonded and he was so smart, he'd actually understand things I was telling him to do and do them! He'd greet me at the door, talk with me (he has a soft high pitched meow which was so cute), lay on my chest and purr every morning and every evening, and hed hop onto his hind legs and demand to be picked up and held on my shoulder. For what it's worth, i live with PTSD and having a loving cat like him was extremely therapeutic and I miss him so much.
Now I'm feeling ready to adopt another cat again. I know I'll never replace my baby but I really want a cat that's likely to be as physically affectionate. I also want a cat that looks different from him, as the thought of having another DSH tabby feels painful. I've researched a lot of breeds and am leaning towards either the Tonkinese or Ragamuffin.
For the Tonkinese, I heard they love to sit on laps and shoulders and can be very amusing. From speaking with a few breeders, it sounds like I should most likely get two, as they are really high energy and playful cats. If anyone has experience with them—just how high energy are they? I'm open to getting two, as the breeder I spoke to definitely recommended them.
I'd love to have playful and funny cats, but a part of me worries if they will be playing like crazy all day and all night. How much "work" is it to wear them out? Do you ever have time to just relax while the cats are sleeping? I can certainly play with the cats every day, but I worry that "high energy" means playing for several hours every day. From reading on google and such, sometimes I worry that they'll be constantly up to mischief and I'll constantly have to be after them every waking moment until they finally fall asleep on me. Is this accurate or is it just my anxiety talking to me? Also, how "loud" are they? I love vocal cats, but is their meow loud enough to disturb neighbors?
For the Ragamuffin, I heard they are also affectionate and cuddly. It seems like having just one (since i work from hom) could work. I'm more hesistant to get two because they grow to be so large and I'm in an apartment. My concern is the long hair, I've never had a long haired cat before—is it a lot more maintenance? Are there puff balls everywhere? Does the large size and poofiness make it harder to cuddle with them and pick them up?
I just love the Tonkinese looks a little more, honestly, but my worry is that they'll need constant amusement and get destructive and I won't be able to keep up. Ragamuffins are absolutely adorable, too, though.. It's so hard!
Thanks SO much everyone.
I'm looking into two different breeds, both said to be affectionate, I'd love to hear from people who have experience with either breed as I'm having a really hard time deciding between the two. Quick background: I live alone and work from home.
Last Spring, I lost my soul cat, a rescue DSH tabby. I'm still devastated. He was the most loving cat ever, and truly my best friend. We were so bonded and he was so smart, he'd actually understand things I was telling him to do and do them! He'd greet me at the door, talk with me (he has a soft high pitched meow which was so cute), lay on my chest and purr every morning and every evening, and hed hop onto his hind legs and demand to be picked up and held on my shoulder. For what it's worth, i live with PTSD and having a loving cat like him was extremely therapeutic and I miss him so much.
Now I'm feeling ready to adopt another cat again. I know I'll never replace my baby but I really want a cat that's likely to be as physically affectionate. I also want a cat that looks different from him, as the thought of having another DSH tabby feels painful. I've researched a lot of breeds and am leaning towards either the Tonkinese or Ragamuffin.
For the Tonkinese, I heard they love to sit on laps and shoulders and can be very amusing. From speaking with a few breeders, it sounds like I should most likely get two, as they are really high energy and playful cats. If anyone has experience with them—just how high energy are they? I'm open to getting two, as the breeder I spoke to definitely recommended them.
I'd love to have playful and funny cats, but a part of me worries if they will be playing like crazy all day and all night. How much "work" is it to wear them out? Do you ever have time to just relax while the cats are sleeping? I can certainly play with the cats every day, but I worry that "high energy" means playing for several hours every day. From reading on google and such, sometimes I worry that they'll be constantly up to mischief and I'll constantly have to be after them every waking moment until they finally fall asleep on me. Is this accurate or is it just my anxiety talking to me? Also, how "loud" are they? I love vocal cats, but is their meow loud enough to disturb neighbors?
For the Ragamuffin, I heard they are also affectionate and cuddly. It seems like having just one (since i work from hom) could work. I'm more hesistant to get two because they grow to be so large and I'm in an apartment. My concern is the long hair, I've never had a long haired cat before—is it a lot more maintenance? Are there puff balls everywhere? Does the large size and poofiness make it harder to cuddle with them and pick them up?
I just love the Tonkinese looks a little more, honestly, but my worry is that they'll need constant amusement and get destructive and I won't be able to keep up. Ragamuffins are absolutely adorable, too, though.. It's so hard!
Thanks SO much everyone.