I'd take the first one. 'Friendly' & gregarious cats are more likely to be
adopted by others & less likely to be returned by someone with less patience
than yourself.

When I adopted my cat Isaac in April he had an URI.  He had come from the
main city intake, where cats with all sorts of problems are jumbled
together, and was taken in by a smaller shelter.  At the smaller shelter he
was on medication for the URI and the first time I saw him, he was not ready
for adoption.  He was a super friendly little guy and I thought about him
all week.  When I went back a second time they told me that he was finished
with his URI medication but was on a different one for diarrhea, but that
wouldn't interfere with his adoption.  I decided to take him.  I had him
isolated in my bedroom, since I had another cat already, and within a couple
of days he had an eye infection and was coughing and sneezing and looking
very miserable.  His diarrhea also had not cleared up.  Luckily the shelter
had a two week "warranty" so I was able to bring him back for a checkup and
a bag full of medications at no cost.  It took a couple more weeks before he
was truly over everything and he's been fine since.

So, while a cat with an URI might not seem like a good choice at first, it
probably isn't going to be a long term problem and you will end up with a
fantastic, healthy kitty.  I knew Isaac wasn't feeling that great when I
adopted him but he was so sweet & friendly and funny looking and I fell in
love.  I did look at those other cats who were huddled in a corner of the
cage.  Some of them seemed like perfectly great cats, but I thought one who
was more outgoing would be a better match for my other cat, Otto.  My
original cat had just passed away in March and he seemed lonely so I wanted
a cat he could interact with.

It's been 4 1/2 months and I wonder if getting a shy cat wouldn't have been
better.  Otto used to love to jump on Tiger, chase her around and be a pain
in her butt.  Now Isaac does the same to him and he wants no part of it
(usually).  Since Tiger passed away Otto seems like a completely different
cat, almost like he aged 5 years overnight (he's just turned 7, Isaac is 2).
I wonder if a shy cat would have worked better, and maybe a female.  Otto
will sometimes play with Isaac but not several times a day as Isaac would
like.

I'm sure some of those shy cats are still at the shelter.  It is hard when
you go in to look and you're instantly drawn to the cats who are at the cage
door, sticking their paws out trying to grab your arm as you walk by.  It's
easy to overlook the ones who aren't doing anything except trying to make
themselves as small as possible in a back corner.

--
Liz

Let the cat choose you. That's how I ended up with two of my three cats.

I think it's noble to adopt a sick animal

you seem to know full well the cost
in other words, you've considered the cost, or at least your post here
is part of your research, I think that is wise.

The more you know about uri the better decision you can make

personally I would not want to adopt a chronically sick animal,
although Im sure it is manageable..

pros and cons

a sick animal cost more? a well animal COULD cost 1,000's more if the
well animal gets sick..

get a well animal at least.

this increases you chances of a lowered cost experience.

YES it is about the money, this way if you just want to GIVE your money
into something, give it to the homeless children in America, or to a
local people charity.

The sick cats will be painlessly escorted to a better place, although I
entirely understand they need love too.. the whole damn thing is sad.

I wish there was a way to put a cap on all this homeless cat business.

Maybe write back and tell what you decide

crh