Cat advice

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For the past 3+ years, my schedule has been beyond extremely busy: 60 hours per week in lab/office with limited weekend time. So although I would have wanted a pet, it would obviously not have been possible. Almost did not have time to take care of myself! I do have a fish aquarium though, and I'll be re-homing my fish soon.


Anyway, within this calendar year, my lifestyle will change and I'll be moving too. I'll have relatively 'normal' hours (home by 6ish). Do you all have advice? I have previous pet experience.

I'd like to adopt a cat. Should I get 2 cats to entertain each other during the daytime hours? Or maybe 1 adult/mature cat who is content to laze around the flat? I'd provide a spacious place with a climbing gym and toys. From your experience, what breed is good with being home part of the day? I've been considering a ragdoll cat and they are known for their casual temperament.

Congratulations on your changes upcoming.
Two cats better than one, yes, and make sure to get them on the same day, so they both "own" the home.
Get as many littlerboxes as you have cats, same for cat towers: those carpet covered constructions which you can either purchase, or if you like making things they are easily made.
Check and make sure your houseplants are safe and non-poisonous.
And, obviously, cover the fish tank if you still have some when the cats arrive in their new home.
My kitties like to put their paws in a shallow bowl of water with stones in it which I keep inside just for them.
Keep your kitties indoors - best for them and the environment.

Have fun, that will be a happy change.

I agree that two cats is probably best, especially for people who are away during the day. I only have one cat right now, but I always plan to have two in the future.

If you go to an animal shelter, I would highly recommend talking to the volunteers about the cats. They can probably help you choose two laid back cats who get along well. I used to volunteer at a shelter and there was SO much that I could have told potential adopters, but they never asked me anything, just looked at the cats and mostly made choices based off of looks.

Older cats (7/8 years and up) might be a good fit for you, because they are usually calmer than younger cats and tend to sleep more during the day, so they might not miss you as much. (That's not always the case though. My cat is quite old and still has mountains of energy.) As long as they are healthy, they should still have plenty of years left. I would also like to suggest that you feed them mostly wet food, because that dietary change literally saved my cat's life a few years ago and is generally good for all cats.

Good luck and enjoy your cats when you get them!

Above all, bond with the cats by 'eye blinking'. It's the way that cats understand that something isn't a threat.

Two cats should be the best choice if you're not at home half of the day. I used to have one cat and she missed me so much when I was at work. Then I agreed to look after another kitty until we find someone to adopt her. They got used to each other over that time and I decided to keep both. Now they handle me being away so much better when they have each other to entertain.

I agree with Quill about asking for some advice at the shelter. Cats are so different and it's not just the breed that determines their character.

Anyway, cats are great friends. Good luck

Thanks all for the advice - I think 2 cats is the way to go. StarCity, that's so interesting about how cats perceive and understand 'eye blinking' - they are remarkably sensitive creatures! kiera, I know what you mean - I'd worry about 1 cat being alone most of the day. I'll need to get all settled first, then I'll be ready to get pets.

I don't have much experience with cats except living with my girlfriend & her cat & she's an older one. My girlfriend says she doesn't like other cats & she doesn't seem to want a whole lot of attention for long except when it's not available but my girlfriend spent alot of time at home. I agree with others about asking the people you are adopting from about advice about temperaments. You may not need two cats sense cats spend alot of time sleeping & are more naturally nocturnal so they sleep more during the day when nothings going on at home & be more in the mood to play in the late evening & night which is when you'll be home. You don't have to get rid of the fish if you keep the fish in a room that the cat/s won't be allowed in. You may want/need a cat-free room anyways so you can keep more sensitive stuff like maybe a desktop computer if you have a more active & playful cat; don't want a cat attacking/playing with the mouse & other cords or knocking anything over.

I recommend getting a British shorthair, as they have a very placid temperament and don't need a lot of entertainment. They like being indoors and generally have good health (apart from becoming obese easily.) They have almost the perfect temperament for your living set-up. They are bloody big, though and they eat a lot - so you need to put plenty of food out for them before you leave for work. You won't really need two if you get a British shorthair, but they will tolerate another cat. It would work especially well with two females.

Plus, they look like this:

I have a Norwegian Forest Cat and a Calico Shorthair/Siamese mix. (Both female, they actually hate each other. )

American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs would be the best choice for a first timer, because they're easy to take care of. The NFC (Let's just call her by her nickname, "Puddy") is very attention hungry and adventurous, and she doesn't like being cooped up for too long. She's very cuddly and sociable, though, if you're the type who would want constant interaction. My Shorthair/Siamese mix (I'll just refer to her nickname "Lily") can be very noisy, especially if she is running low on food. She's not really much of a socializer, but she's very affectionate and will willingly cuddle with someone if they're mellow.

Don't get a cat younger than 3 years old until you think you can handle it (Puddy is a year old and Lily is 5), because they're difficult to manage. They each have their own personality unique to them that's influenced by their breed's genetic characteristics, so get a cat that has an appealing attitude. Getting two would be best. Until they get used to your routine, they will miss you a lot.

If you decide to get an older cat first and a younger cat later on, it's actually extremely easy to litterbox train a cat. Not only would you be teaching the young cat where to go, but the other one will lead by example.

Be sure to post pics of the cat(s) you get!

My cat, Nimi, the one Nick was talking about, actually had a close bond with another female cat (Whitie) for 10 yrs. She was probably happier having the company, though she liked to pick on the other one and get her all riled up. I think my cat is lonely and would play more if she got more attention.
About "eye blinking" my cat likes long, slow blinks, and she'll wink at me in a contented manner in reply. Usually if a cat blinks back at you, they are willing to form a relationship at some point. My neighbors cat is said to be aggressive and when she is in the front window of their place, she'll low growl at me but only lightly, she will also close her eyes at me when I talk to her and blink at her. I'm sure we could be friends someday.

I would also recommend getting two cats if you don't feel they will be too much to take care of. I put a lot on myself when I ended up with two cats, but I never would have gotten rid of either of them. Whitie passed away 5 years ago, so Nimi is alone a lot and is probably lazier because of it. When I'm active and around her, she is active, too. She even wants to get involved in my exercises!

I'm sure if you are adopting them from a shelter, they will be spayed or neutered, so those troubles you will most likely avoid. Two spayed females would be a good choice for you.

Technically, I have a cat. Technically. I didn't go looking for her to adopt her. She was homeless and sought me out. Used to come scraping on my door so I let her in and fed her. Being that I'm not really a cat person, I didn't go find her company. Probably too late now because she's been here almost a year and is probably territorial by now. Maybe not.

I also don't have a litter pan because she's primarily a gallivanting cat. I know this isn't good for the neighbourhood. To tell you the truth, I surprised she hasn't been scooped up by anyone or animal control. She has no collar but returns here every day for food and a place to sleep. I have a feeling that animal control might snatch her one day.

I was eye-blinking at my cat the other day and she gave me a look like "you think you're talking cat? you're not"

I've had lots of cats and always just had regular old short haired cats. Mixed breed, whatever. Mutts. They're all very different. I definitely agree about talking to the shelter folk. But mind you, I got mine from a shelter and they recommended a certain type of cat but the cat I ended up with was very different. We bonded straight away and then she bit me through the cage. Apparently she attacked lots of people, cause when I said "I want THIS one." - they said "yeah, take her." and couldn't get the paperwork done fast enough. She was pretty crazy when she was young, but she's been one of my best cats. I've had her for 10 years. She's a great pet. She still bites though.

I now have another cat who just sort of moved in. He's been here about a year. He's quite laid back. When I go away, apparently he doesn't hang around much. He may have another family nearby.

Thanks all......it will be a while (early 2014?) until I'll get a cat(s) as I'll need to have all else settled 1st. Two cats would be best and I'll be sure to ask the shelter. I'm not particular about the breed, but I'll find what's right!