Is caring for a kitten really that difficult?

• Taycat wrote on 2010-06-23 05:50

  Quote from Kazuni;73173:

  Removing a cat's claws is like taking your fingers and removing the tips up to the first knuckle. It's very painful to walk for weeks afterwards; it's even banned in parts of Europe because it's considered inhumane. :\ Even though it would be more convenient for the owner, it's horrible for the cat.
  
  And I've had cats on my lap, and when they jump on, they do scratch; even when the claws are trimmed, it's still kinda scratchy. I wonder what the covers will be like.. I think my local pet store sells some.

  
  
  Refer to my post when you get the time.
  
  Also, I had a cat that lived outside for a long time and his claws were removed when he arrived.
  
  We found him cornered with a few dogs and we saved him.
  
  We kept him inside, but of course he was just meant for outside.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-06-23 05:52

  Quote from Xiyamae;73177:

  Refer to my post when you get the time.
  
  Also, I had a cat that lived outside for a long time and his claws were removed when he arrived.
  
  We found him cornered with a few dogs and we saved him.
  
  We kept him inside, but of course he was just meant for outside.

  
  
  I was referring to Kitae's post..
  
  But letting a declawed cat outside is risky because they have no way to climb trees or defend themselves, or catch things to eat if they get lost.
• Taycat wrote on 2010-06-23 05:54

  Quote from Kazuni;73184:

  I was referring to Kitae's post..
  
  But letting a declawed cat outside is risky because they have no way to climb trees or defend themselves, or catch things to eat if they get lost.

  
  
  Well he always lived near us and he wasn't ours to begin with when we found him that way.
  
  But he left us a year or so back, so I assumed he left to...Pass on.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-06-23 05:56

  Quote from Xiyamae;73190:

  Well he always lived near us and he wasn't ours to begin with when we found him that way.
  
  But he left us a year or so back, so I assumed he left to...Pass on.

  
  
  Poor kitty.
• Taycat wrote on 2010-06-23 05:56
  Well, he was old anyway.
  
  And you won't believe it, but we named him Homie G.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-06-23 06:25

  Quote from Xiyamae;73199:

  Well, he was old anyway.
  
  And you won't believe it, but we named him Homie G.

  
  
  Why? O-o
• Taycat wrote on 2010-06-23 06:36
  It was my older sister.
• Creampuff wrote on 2010-06-23 21:55
  Hi Kazu, =) Yeah a cat is a pretty big investment, but I'm certain that it will be a rewarding experience!
  
  1. Does a cat smell?
  Yes and no. Cats are pretty meticulous about keeping themselves clean, so the cat itself doesn't usually smell like anything except faintly of ...cat. If it does start to smell then you can always bathe it. Cat urine on the other hand has an extremely strong smell, so make sure that the litter box is well away from where you don't want to smell it.
  
  2. Do cats take up a lot of time?
  The cat that lived upstairs (my landlord's cat that loved to come and visit) tended to jump all over my laptop while I was working, to the point where she had to be forcibly removed from the apartment sometimes. =( Other than that, they're pretty low maintenance cuties, and hey, at least you don't have to walk them twice a day. It also depends on the personality of the cat - shy cats won't want to interact with you as often compared to a really sociable one.
  
  3. I certainly hope you won't lose interest, that would be really sad for the cat. =(
  
  4. Well, again depending on the breed of cat, they will have to be groomed. Short hairs not so much, but long haired cats have to be brushed extensively pretty much every day. Other than that you have the daily feeding, changing the litter and other mundane tasks that nevertheless have to be completed. I think that your parents would also be concerned about the time and money THEY have to put in, for example if your cat needs a vet visit and they'll need to take time out of their schedule to drive you and the cat there.
  
  5. Cats like to claw stuff. I agree with the recommendations about the claw covers - I know that they are sold in multiple sizes and customers are usually pretty happy with how well they work. You just have to make sure that you check that the tips haven't fallen off. Scratching post is also highly, highly recommended...nothing fancy needed really. If you do catch the cat scratching, you can try to keep a small spray bottle of water nearby and just spray the cat lightly.
  
  6. Yeah your life is going to change quite a bit when you get to university, and a cat is a 10+ year commitment. Will you live in campus residence when you leave? Will you stay at home? Your lifestyle will change and I think that your parents are concerned that all the activities and work that university life brings will ultimately leave your pet abandoned. Think really really hard about whether you will be able to take the cat with you, and continue to provide it with the necessary food, grooming, vet trips ($$ is hard to come by for students sometimes), and of cource TLC. I really want a cat too, but my current lifestlye simply will not allow me to give a cat the love it needs.
  
  7. All animals die. =(
  
  I just wanted to add a couple further notes. Have you talked to your parents regarding the costs of owning a cat? Even if you do not purchase a breeder cat, the initial costs of buying all the necessary equipment/vet bills will add up to about or over 1.5k in the first year alone, with annual fees of around $600 to $700, increasing as the cat ages and even more if it becomes ill. Are your parents (and you in the future) willing to pay those bills?
  
  Have you also considered adopting a shelter cat instead of going to a breeder? There are already so many abandoned cats that need love, and the ones up for adoption are usually vet checked, vaccinated, and neutered if they are old enough.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-06-23 22:01
  ^ about that last point, I know there're lots of cats at shelters and such, but I just want to get a kitten at around 6 weeks. They live longer, and they know you better. At breeders you also know their history and most of what's happened to them, at shelters, you never know what they've been through.
• Creampuff wrote on 2010-06-23 22:41
  I think most people will wait until the kitten is fully weaned and ready to leave its mother at around 8 weeks before they will let them go. As for shelter kittens, there are many that are quite young (i.e. born at the shelter or a few days before they were rescued) and are up for adoption at 8 weeks as well. You can always ask around and maybe you'll find a little kitten there in need of a home. I'm certain you would be able to meet the kitten beforehand and make sure that it has a clean bill of health (if not a pedigree XD).