Hi,
I've never had a cat. I currently have a canary, and grew up with a dog, hamsters and aquarium fish. But cats were not part of the picture, in part because my mother is allergic to them.
My uncle, who lived far from us, had a male cat that ignored people most of its life, but as it got older (and went to live with my grandmother) it turned meaner. So my experience with cats was a somewhat negative one. But then about ten years ago a pregnant, very friendly cat moved in my mother's backyard and had kittens. I would have loved to adopt her, as she was very loving... We found a home for her and her kittens.
Now I live by myself in a studio apartment. I did some dog-sitting for a friend, and loved the company and coming back home to a friend.
So I have decided to get a cat. I am reading about cats in books, but still have questions and am nervous about choosing the wrong cat, as I realize it is a very long-term commitment. I am in no rush to get a kitten until I know I have found the right one, and I would like to ask you some questions.
*What is the ideal age to get a kitten? At what age is it most trainable?
*I would like to teach the cat not to think of my canary as food (see http://www.avianweb.com/birdsandotherpets.html), and kittens are easier to train.
*I would also like to bathe my cat regularly (to reduce allergens) and, if possible, leash train the cat (http://www.wikihow.com/Leash-Train-a-Cat).
*My mother is allergic to cats, and I plan to bathe the cat regularly and use Allerpet/C so that she can comfortably visit me. Does a neutered male cat still produce more allergens than a spayed female?
*Are female cats really more unpredictable and less playful than male cats -- even when they have been spayed/neutered?
Also:
*Is it wrong to separate two cats that grew up together? I know a person who has two 6 months old neutered male cats that grew up together in their family with older cats and a dog (but without their mother.) They are always pictured together, relaxing and napping. But I can only afford to take care of one cat. Should I pass this opportunity and hope they find someone willing to adopt both? Or if I adopt one, will he turn mean or be irreparably "damaged"? I fear that a 6 month old cat (a "teenager") is too set in its ways... Humans are.
*Should I adopt a younger female kitten -- that way, fewer allergens and easier to train to like water, go walking on a leash and not attack my canary?
I realize I am asking a lot of questions, but I feel almost like I am getting married: it's a "til death do us part" commitment, so I appreciate all your help!
Best,
John
PS Could you recommend a training/behavior book?
I've never had a cat. I currently have a canary, and grew up with a dog, hamsters and aquarium fish. But cats were not part of the picture, in part because my mother is allergic to them.
My uncle, who lived far from us, had a male cat that ignored people most of its life, but as it got older (and went to live with my grandmother) it turned meaner. So my experience with cats was a somewhat negative one. But then about ten years ago a pregnant, very friendly cat moved in my mother's backyard and had kittens. I would have loved to adopt her, as she was very loving... We found a home for her and her kittens.
Now I live by myself in a studio apartment. I did some dog-sitting for a friend, and loved the company and coming back home to a friend.
So I have decided to get a cat. I am reading about cats in books, but still have questions and am nervous about choosing the wrong cat, as I realize it is a very long-term commitment. I am in no rush to get a kitten until I know I have found the right one, and I would like to ask you some questions.
*What is the ideal age to get a kitten? At what age is it most trainable?
*I would like to teach the cat not to think of my canary as food (see http://www.avianweb.com/birdsandotherpets.html), and kittens are easier to train.
*I would also like to bathe my cat regularly (to reduce allergens) and, if possible, leash train the cat (http://www.wikihow.com/Leash-Train-a-Cat).
*My mother is allergic to cats, and I plan to bathe the cat regularly and use Allerpet/C so that she can comfortably visit me. Does a neutered male cat still produce more allergens than a spayed female?
*Are female cats really more unpredictable and less playful than male cats -- even when they have been spayed/neutered?
Also:
*Is it wrong to separate two cats that grew up together? I know a person who has two 6 months old neutered male cats that grew up together in their family with older cats and a dog (but without their mother.) They are always pictured together, relaxing and napping. But I can only afford to take care of one cat. Should I pass this opportunity and hope they find someone willing to adopt both? Or if I adopt one, will he turn mean or be irreparably "damaged"? I fear that a 6 month old cat (a "teenager") is too set in its ways... Humans are.
*Should I adopt a younger female kitten -- that way, fewer allergens and easier to train to like water, go walking on a leash and not attack my canary?
I realize I am asking a lot of questions, but I feel almost like I am getting married: it's a "til death do us part" commitment, so I appreciate all your help!
Best,
John
PS Could you recommend a training/behavior book?