File :-(, x, )
What should I know about having/raising a cat? Anonymous
Ive decided to get a cat when I move into my larger apartment next month. Im just wondering where I should go to learn some more about raising a cat.

Just wondering if some 4channers can also give me their own personal opinions on raising a kitten to a cat, and the difficulties they encountered while teaching it stuff.
>> Anonymous
i live in the suburbs so i've raised two outdoor cats. i actually grew up with one...

anyway, just give your cat lots of attention, you have to change his litter every day, and treat it like a prince. they are smart and figure out not to go on the table if you scold them. my male cat has a peeing problem but i think that might be unique to him, i've never had problems with the female.
>> Anonymous
>>123838

yea, but I don't have a big outdoor space to constantly keep it outside. I've got a large two bedroom apartment with the possibility of going outside for a few hours for a nice walk, i live by a big park. Will that get me into trouble in terms of having the capability of raising it properly?
>> Anonymous
DONT, I repeat, DO NOT have an indoor/outdoor cat! Outdoor cats have an average lifespan of like, 2-3 years. There are exceptions, yes, But I would not want to risk it. All my outdoor cats got ran over all too quickly. But maybe they were just retarded.

Keep it indoors, cats are just as happy being inside. Give it attention, clean its box, hold it often while its young to get it used to being held, have people visit it.
When raising the kitten, though, don't just let it roam the house. For all my cats, we kept them inside one room for the first month or so. After this, let it out and explore on its own, keeping a watch on it.
>> Anonymous
>>123843
both my cats went outside and they lived past 10 years.
>> Anonymous
Depends on what type of breed you get...going to alter exactly how you should treat it and do with it. Overall, just liter train it and give it lots of attention!

If you're a cosplayer, HIDE EVERYTHING. Cats get in everything and play/chew with everything worse than dogs. My cat is always trying to eat pins and/or throw them all over the carpet.
>> Anonymous
>>123843
If by outdoor cat you mean a cat that is constantly outside without supervision, then agreed. But a cat can safely spend time outside under the watchful eye of the owner or in a special den, or you can let it walk around in a leash.

Also, if you spend a lot of your time away from the cat, it's better to get two cats preferrably from the same litter. That way they'll keep each other company while left alone.
>> Anonymous
>>123843
A friend of mine has a 19-year old cat that's an indoor/outdoor cat, and it runs and plays around as if it were 6 months old. Then again, that cat is a freak and will outlive us all.
>> Anonymous
>>123844
>>123853
I wasn't saying it was a 100% thing. I said it was a risk that doesn't need to be taken. Also, living near animals like raccoons might call for a 100% indoor cat. Mine got his eye ripped out by the fuckers, and is now indoors. Just saying better safe, ect. Fucking read.
>> Anonymous
>>123856


=O
>> Anonymous
>>123844

What part of "there are exceptions" did you not understand?

For the record, while growing up, my family had MANY indoor/outdoor cats (let outside whenever, without supervision). Here is the breakdown of what happened to all of our cats:

* (2) Still alive at 19 and 14, although the older cat hasn't gone outside in over 4 years
* (2) Died of natural causes/organ failure at 17 and 10
*(3) Hit by car, one at nine months old and the others around a year.
*(1) Killed by another animal (dog or coyote) at about 2 years
*(1) Shot by a neighbor at about a year
*(9) "disappeared," ages ranging from just under 1 to 16 years old.

I keep only indoor cats now, with some supervised time outside. I don't like playing with chance when it comes to my pets.
>> Anonymous
>>123875
there we go. taking chances with personal property like pets that you hopefully become emotionally invested in as well (they cost money damnit) is just stupid.
>> Anonymous
>>123853
same situation with my friend his cat is 23 and still running around like a retard
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Do NOT let it bite your fingers or toes. I know it's hard to resist, because it's so goddamn cute when they're small kittens and they bite your wiggling toes or fingers. It's not cute at all when they get big and draw blood.

I've gotten used to my biter of a cat, but I wish I hadn't taught her that biting was fine while she was growing up.
>> Anonymous
I have a few suggestions for ya.

one is to agree with "HIDE EVERYTHING," at least for long enough that your cat won't develop a habit for getting into stuff and messing it up.

Also one thing I did for a long time during my cats kitten stages was to block off nearly all of their hiding spots. (behind the couch, behind the dryer/washer, under furnishings, etc. 4 years later I have 2 cats that don't hide from people. They hang out in the middle of a room whether I have company or not. I wanted people friendly cats and that's how I got it =) I think it's cool, but maybe you will give your kitty(s) more privacy haha.

Suggestion #3 is my personal favorite. It's to use clap scolding instead of a water gun or the like. I have 2 cats and they know not to meow at the doors/windows or get into stuff(like pawing at the window blinds) because I'll clap at them. The trick is to ONLY clap (once or maybe twice, but loud!) when they are doing something bad that very instant, and not a moment late. If you miss your chance to add a loud clap to their mischief, don't clap late! Just watch for them to do it again, then let em have a really loud clap! Also do not clap too much or the kitty will just hate you instead of the consequences of his actions. Hope that helps, it's worked well for me. :)
>> Anonymous
>>123836
What you feed it when it's young is very important, it'll determine its eating habits for the rest of it's life. You'll want to feed it some fresh meat and probably some eggs too(but not milk, most cats become lactose intolerant later on AFAIK), so that it doesn't become addicted to cat food, or worse, to one specific type of cat food.
>> Anonymous
Make sure to give it a kiss on it's forehead every morning for an amiable disposition throughout the day.
>> Anonymous
Buy "Kittens for Dummies". It will tell you just about everything you need to know.

Seconded on the biting thing, I've been a horrible mother and allowed my kitten to think wiggly fingers and toes are playthings. Now the behavior is extending to her thinking it is ok to bite my fucking face. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Third, once they are old enough to go potty on their own, a gentle belly rub as a kitten seems to make them less sensitive to being touched there when they're older. Cats generally hate it when you touch their belly, but if you gently rub it a bit every day while they're snuggling with you or something they become less mental about it.
>> Anonymous
Yeah, it's good to teach your cat to be affectionate. It certainly doesn't come naturally. Throat scratching works wonders.
>> Anonymous
they poop everywhere and hide it under your bed and in your shoes
>> Anonymous
When the cat does something bad, go to it and say "BAAAAD" in a loud voice.. you don't have to fysically discipline it. Also teach it not to use claws when playing, it get's painful if you don't...
>> Anonymous
fysically
>> Anonymous
>>124855
You can physically discipline it by holding the skin by the neck and picking the cat up and then saying "No!" in a loud voice. Mother cats do this (minus the "No!")
>> Anonymous
>>124911
>>124911
>>124911
>>124911
>>124911
>>124911
>>124911
>> Bitter Anon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
>>123951
No. Don't give your cat food that you dont want it to eat all the time. If you give your cat eggs and meat, then when you eat eggs or meat, the cat will beg. It might steal from your plate. Don't give an animal something you aren't willing to always give it. You should give your cat a high quality cat food, with cat treats for good behavior/special occasions, not table scraps. That said, if you are fine with your cat begging or "expecting" meat/eggs/whatever, go for it. Variety in diet is a good thing.

>>123967
This. Don't let your cat learn that fingers are okay to bite. Sure, you maybe find it adorable, but what if one day there is a kid visiting, and they get horrible scratches from your kitty playing with them?

I'm a huge proponent of using natural cues to teach animals. Cats *resent* discipline. They simply don't do it naturally. A mother cat may pick up a kitten and move it away from danger, but she doesn't hit him on the head for biting his brother or chewing on a string. Cats (and most animals) communicate vocally, and almost all creatures have a "safeword". There is a distinct sound a kitten makes when it has had enough play, when it wants to be left alone. Lucky for us, shouting a very quick, short, "No!" is a pretty good approximation. Instead of clapping (a distraction technique that works for awhile, then the cat gets used to it) or spraying it with water (a punishment, which can lead to severe social issues), just cry "No!" when something you don't like is happening. With cats, it's important not to hit them when they are bad, because it's just encouraging them to continue, out of sheer spite. Tell it no, prevent the problem from happening again, and provide it with some other form of entertainment. So, for biting hands, when your cat bites, yelp and remove your hand, then ignore the cat for a few moments. He'll very quickly figure out that if he bites, you won't touch him.
>> Bitter Anon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
(continued, because of silly field too long issues)
I'm also hugely in favor of indoor/outdoor cats. My pets are all allowed outside. .but I don't PUT them outside. If they want to go, they sit by the door and wait for me to open it. They have a choice, they can either stay inside and get attention, food, and safety.. or they can go outside and put themselves at risk. In twenty years, I have never had a pet run away (I have had one get hit by a car, and one get knocked up, however). If you want a pet, and not a friend, then by all means keep the cat inside. It can live a happy life, and you won't put it at risk. But, allowing the cat to go outside shows trust; My cats live with me because they want to, not because I make them.
>> Anonymous
What'd be an effective way to teach a cat to go to their litterbox?
>> Bitter Anon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
>>124933
Give them access to a litter box. Seriously, the cat should go there on their own. Don't put them in the box and make them dig in the litter, they'll hate it and likely refuse to "go" there. Instead, if the cat isn't instinctively pottying in the box, put the cat nearby and dig around in the litter with your own fingers (uh not if there is anything unsanitary in there, use a stick or something if there is). If you catch it peeing or whatever somewhere else, tell it no, and immediately go to the litter box and "dig". Pick up any suprises the cat leaves you around the house and put them in the litter box. It'll figure it out.
>> Anonymous
About food don't feed the cat cheap food like "9lives" other crap.
Animals on a bad/cheap food diet die of organ failures other complications. The diet should consist of dry and soft/canned food. While the cat is young is the time to do it. To keep his teeth healthy buy the crunchy/dry treats as a reward or before going to work, just few pieces it's good for their teeth. Treats are not meant to be given in large dozes. Don't buy soft treats, they are BS.
The best brand i can recommend is "Natural Balance" you will find it in a pet stores.
Best quality canned/dry foos so far.
Small cans are about 0.70 and large $1+

If you have to buy food for an animal from a grocery store, I would go with "Iams"
>> Anonymous
>>124933
I took my 2 kittens from a shelter, so they where already litter trained (and any cat will be as long as he is not straight off the street, a thing which I don't really recommend any way).
So when I brought them home all it took was to just let them sniff the "sand" in the litter box, and they just automatically went there.

It might be different with other cats obviously, so if this fails and they "go" in some other place in the house the best thing to do is to catch them in the act say "NO!" and move them to the litter box, and maybe "dig" a little inside.
If you weren't that lucky to catch them in the act and you found a turd in the corner of the room just pass it into the litter box and let the kitten smell it, digging in can also help (if you don't find a turd but a puddle, absorb it with a paper towel and put it in the litter box and do the same thing, you can take it out later).
Also, about the place where they "did their deed", clean it with bleach. First for sanitary reasons, but secondly, if the cat goes back there again they will smell the bleach and know not to "go" there.
>> Anonymous
>>124948continue

An other method altogether, which works (so I have heard) but I'm less fond of is this: after the cat "did his deed" in the house, place the litter box at the same place (after cleaning of course, not with bleach or other smelly stuff, and putting the "deeds" in the litter box), and then after the cat goes there to move it a little by little every day to the place you want it to be in.
I don't really like thi method for the obvious reasons.

Also a very big tip: when you first take your kitten(s), put them in one room (the room where you want them to sleep and eat and poo, can also be a big room like the kitchen-living room space, which is very good because that is a place where you will be a lot, at least that is how it was in my case) and don't give them access to the rest of the house for at least a week or two (depends how big the room you placed them in is), you can take them out for "visits" to play with them, but make sure most of their time they are in that room, that will make them more comfortable and not scared and lost, and also will teach them what is their "main territory". After that you can start to open rooms to them, don't push them to go it the rooms to explore. Let it be on their own terms, only if you see that after a long time (more then a day or two) they didn't come out on their own you can take them to a room you are going to be in and just let them roam near you.
>> Anonymous
>>124944
Seconded on the Natural Balance. It's pretty much the best thing out there right now for cats. If Natural Balance is too expensive, Premium Edge is slightly cheaper and also very good. I'm raising my cat on a mixed diet of Premium Edge and Natural Balance to prevent it from being a finicky eater when it gets older. That way, if I can't find one of the food brands for some reason, she won't pitch a fit about it and refuse to eat.

Is this your first cat? Because if so, a kitten is probably not the best way to start. They require shittons of attention, as opposed to an adult cat who will entertain itself.
>> Anonymous
My cat was picked up straight off the street, and she didn't need to be taught to use the litter box either.
>> Anonymous
Does anyone let their cat sleep with them?
Do they sit on your desk/lap whist you browse 4chan?
^_^
>> Anonymous
>>124994
I often wake up with my kitten sleeping on me or nearby. But she won't go to bed with me. I just wake up with her. She also chases the mouse around the monitor and jumps on the keyboard.
>> Anonymous
>>124996


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