Posted by Racer on October 31, 2006, at 10:17:22
In reply to Re: Did You Get Your Kitties As Strays or Buy Them » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on October 31, 2006, at 8:35:08
> I'm afraid of cats (like I used to be afraid of dogs), and that fear was reinforced by my childhood Siamese cat.
Siamese are different. They just are. Before this turns into an accidental haiku, let me just say that other cats are not like Siamese.
> But to minimize uncertainty, I'd almost certainly want to get a breed that was recognized for certain behavioral characteristics, and from a reputable breeder who raised the kittens in the home and with a family, and who knew the temperamental characteristics of each kitten.And cats aren't dogs. If you were getting a dog, I'd recommend exactly that. With cats, though, there's far less variation in terms of breeds, and so on. Unless you go for a breed bred specifically to be passive, like Maine C*on or Ragdoll, you're going to get a cat from the breeder or the shelter. Cats are barely domesticated, solitary carnivores. Unlike dogs, who can have a pretty varied diet, cats eat meat almost exclusively. Because cats are not as strongly domesticated as dogs are, breed characteristics are mostly related to color. There are a few body shapes, so you can have the lean body type, or a stockier body type, but there's not much variation, and there's not much more variation in temperament.
Whoops! Got lost there. This is a big discussion in my house, though. Both my monsters are from the no-kill shelter.
My old cat is losing ground pretty fast these days, and my husband and I have discussed what we'll do when he dies. Since the little cat has never been an only cat, I say we need to get new kittens right away, to help her adjust. My husband says one kitten, so that the new kitten will bond with the cat. I say, she's 13 now, one kitten will drive her to drink. He says a pure bred kitten. I say both of my beloved cats came from the pound. (He says that's proof never to get cats from the pound, since mine are "defective." That was several months ago. We're on speaking terms again.) Cats more or less are born housebroken. At least, close enough it's not as hard as with dogs. The only thing I've ever found really important with cats is socialization -- the more people they meet early on, the more personable they are. Second to that are some dominance things: don't let them swipe at you, don't let them crowd you away from the bowl when you feed them, little things.
Whoops! I'm trying to convert you again, aren't I?
>
> To each his own, I guess. And the important thing is that a pet ends up someplace it's loved and wanted and valued.Amen, Sista!
poster:Racer
thread:699151
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20061018/msgs/699279.html