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Cat Forum / General Topics / October 2004Breed suitable for small townhouse with no garden and much solitude
Hello, I would love to get a cat, but live on my own in a house that is empty during the day (9-5), that only has a little courtyard and is based in town, nearish a fairly busy road. Can someone recommend me some breeds that are suitable to be left alone in the house for several hours a day without getting depressed? I've noticed that some people on my road have cats that they allow outside at times (mostly big and fluffy ones that sit around a lot) - I could possibly do the same, but it would need to be a cat with enough sense to avoid cars, and hopefully not one that people would run off with! Any thoughts would be most appreciated! Thanks, Mark. Mark, Since you aren't home that much, you might want to stay away from the Asian breeds and from the more active breeds. Some breeds have a reputation for being placid and agreeable, such as Exotic Shorthair and Ragdoll. But a better solution is to just get two cats. They keep each other company and play with each other when you are away. This is why some people say that two cats is less work than one. I would not recommend letting your cat out and run loose. I know that people in your road do this; but it's dangerous for the cats. Cats don't really have the sense to stay away from cars, especially as they gets older and their hearing diminished. This is why when you buy a pedigree cat, your contract will likely require that you keep your cat indoor. This is for the cat's own good. I have one cat - a Korat girl. Korat is a active breed and high maintenance, but I am home most of the time to tend to her. Still, I play with her with a wand toy for about half an hour a day. Dik | Hello, | [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] | enough sense to avoid cars, and hopefully not one that people would | run off with! You can forget about the last sentence, avoiding cars, I mean. The best would be a couple of kittens which can play with each other or a pair of adult cats from a shelter, a pair that has always been together. There you get them already fixed and vaccinated, and they are not as lively anymore as kittens are. Can you fence your backyard in? That would be *perfect*. Good luck Carola >| I would love to get a cat, but live on my own in a house that is empty >| during the day (9-5), that only has a little courtyard and is based in [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >they are not as lively anymore as kittens are. >Can you fence your backyard in? That would be *perfect*. I would like to add my two cents here. I see people asking about getting cats and / or kittens and one thing I mention is to take into consideration the age of the person getting the cat. The local Humane Society runs adds in the local Sunday paper every Sunday about pets they have taken in and often the advertise where they have gotten 2 or 3 younger cats from a person who has passed on and they are trying to place them together because they have been together their whole life but usually they are split up. What I recommend if that if the person is older they get an older cat that may live not outlive them if you know what I mean. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ ***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Remove spam and junk to reply via e-mail. ***************************************************** > I would like to add my two cents here. I see people asking about getting cats and / or > kittens and one thing I mention is to take into consideration the age of the person [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > What I recommend if that if the person is older they get an older cat that may live not > outlive them if you know what I mean. Better yet, make arrangements for all your pets now...even if you're 25. AG >> I would like to add my two cents here. I see people asking about getting cats and / or >> kittens and one thing I mention is to take into consideration the age of the person [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >AG Easier said then done sometimes. I have tryed to make arrangements. My kids all said that they will not take them. My ex has 2 already and said she can not afford more. My ex mother-in-law has 10 and said no more. My bothers hate cat and one will shot any that hang around and the other wants nothing to do with them. Sisters all have all they want or are anti cats. County shelter usually will hold them for 5 days if they are strays and put surrenders down the same day. Humae Society has so many that 95% of the time they will not take any. I know because once I reached my limit of 4 I used to call them about strays I would get and the only time they ever took any was once when a declawed cat started hanging around. They took her because it was declawed. As for ads in the paper, on any given day you will find an average of 8 / 9 ads for kittens as well as an occassional adult so chances are slim of them finding a home even if I could get someone to keep them until they could be placed via ads which they already said they will not!!! Everyone I know do not want nor will they take them. The ones that said they would take care of them said they would have them put down for me!!! It is easy to say "make arrangements" but with the overload of cats and kittens it is not that easy. I keep seeing people say "do this - do that" Like I said I have tryed so don't keep saying make arrangement. It might be easy for you if you have relatives who will take them or a spouse. I am 59 and have 4 babies. One 9, one 3 and 2 which are 2 years old and with my medical problems believe me I have tryed everything to "make arrangements" as you say to no avail!!! If you can give me some REASONABLE suggestions other then relatives, shelters or paper I am all ears (or eyes). I suppose I could just turn them loose and let them fend for themselves in the cold Michigan winters or have them put to sleep when I die. A friend of my sister could find no one to take his on his death so he put in his will take his are to be put down. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ ***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Remove spam and junk to reply via e-mail. ***************************************************** You're the one who brought up adopting older cats if you are older. I was just pointing out that the unthinkable can happen anytime and it's always a good idea to plan for your pets. You have obviously tried. I am lucky enough to have a friend to be Sasha's godparent in case anything were to happen to me..including a lengthy hospital stay. I am also god parent to my dads dog and one of his cats...someone else is slated to take the other cat and the new kitten. Maybe you could make a similar arrangement with a friend who has pets. "I'll take yours if you'll take mine" kind of thing. AG > >> I would like to add my two cents here. I see people asking about getting cats and / or > >> kittens and one thing I mention is to take into consideration the age of the person [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > ***************************************************** >You're the one who brought up adopting older cats if >you are older. Did not mean to snap but I did not pick my babies. One (Sam) I found in the middle of a busy oneway street hunched down and trying to avoid traffic, another (Kitty the 9 year old) was sleeping on back porch when she was pregnant amd I was lucky to find homes for them, Margie and Rascal just kind of adopted me. I did not plan on getting them. I was one of these persons who said I would never have a cat of my own but ---. I have talked my relatives into feeding and looking in on them while I would go for the weekend hoping they would get to like them enough to want one but no luck. ***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Remove spam and junk to reply via e-mail. ***************************************************** >>You're the one who brought up adopting older cats if >>you are older. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > would go for the > weekend hoping they would get to like them enough to want one but no luck. Not sure what kind of cats you have, but I know there is a Siamese rescue that will pick up older cats in need - from pretty much anywhere. The cats do not have to be 100% Siamese. My cat adopted me too. He looks Himalayan. The Siamese rescue takes cats like this. My friends would take my cat now if I didn't want him - he is so wonderful. My parents who hate cats would take him, too. My friends joke that I have no experience with cats because my kitty does nothing annoying at all. I think it is just because he is 17 years old. Oops, I didn't mean for this to become a post extoling the virues of my cat, but if you have specific kinds of cats, there may be a rescue that you can make arrangements with. -Jen > >> I would like to add my two cents here. I see people asking about getting cats and / or > >> kittens and one thing I mention is to take into consideration the age of the person [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ Many rescue groups have a policy of taking their cats back if there is a problem. I would imagine this policy would extend to taking the cats in the event the owner passes. If the cats came from the local SPCA then all bets are off. W >Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Thanks, >Mark. The best type to get would be a CAT. As for gender, you will have the best luck with either a MALE or a FEMALE. As long as you follow these guidelines you will do just fine. No need to spend a lot of money. Go to the shelter and pick out a nice one. I think you should keep him inside too, and let him have his claws. You'll get used to them. mortguffman@hotmail.com wrote in news:d4fhl054nbge0mmbep9omhfudd2kpu8kvp@ 4ax.com: >>Hello, >> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > to the shelter and pick out a nice one. I think you should keep him > inside too, and let him have his claws. You'll get used to them. Mixed breeds often make the best pets. I have had both mixed breeds and purebreads, but I'll always go for a rescue mixed breed in the future, as I did with our last 4. Males and females both make wonderful, affectionate pets. Buy a scratching post and other scratching materials. Most cats will immediately start using them, just as they know how to use a litter box. Since you live near a roadway, I would never let the cat out without a cat harness and a leash. You really don't want to lose someone you love!  SignatureWayne in Phoenix unmunge as w-e-b *If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. *A mind is a terrible thing to lose. Mark- give that kitty lots of treats and kisses. > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Any thoughts would be most appreciated! Honestly, your best bet is to get a mixed breed...better yet, get two. Cats don't get as stressed as dogs when you leave them alone since they aren't really pack animals but they are social and having a buddy to hang with will keep them both happy and active while you're away. You get the added benefit of them grooming each other. My cats never had ear problems until I got down to one. When I decided to get a cat again (my last two had basically died of old age)...I went to my local rescue group. I told them about my household and my schedule and they were kind enough to introduce me to a cat that would enjoy my lifestyle. I might also suggest you steer clear of kittens and go for a cat 8 mos or older. Only because kittens require a lot of attention and training. Also, it's easier to know what a cats personality is going to be like (ie, hates to be left alone, can't deal with kids, likes other cats etc..) once they are matured. AG >> Hello, >> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > AG I absolutely agree on the kitten thing. You don't want your possessions shredded or the kitten to get hurt on your possessions - it is harder to kitten-proof a home than it is to child-proof a home. Get a young cat around a year old. Male or female, but make sure you get him or her spayed or neutered. I like the long hair cats because when they shed, the fur makes clumps that I can easily pick up. My boyfriend has a short haired cat and he seems to have a fine layer of individual silky hairs all over everything. Think about if you would like your cat to be vocal. Siamese (and siamese mix) cats will have conversations with you and are very loyal and like to sleep in your bed (most of them anyway). Regular calico cats are cool too, but quieter. I personally will never again have a maine coon cat, but others swear by them - they are too active for me. Love your cat. Take Care, Jen |
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