I really want a kitten. I just have several questions

Question

I live in a condominium and spaces are limited. The floors are also carpet so when I had a dog it was EXTREMELY difficult to clean after her mess. Especially when she wasn't fully potty trained. My condo is pretty small so im wondering if cats have much odor. Also, I never owned one. I've owned three dogs and now I am considering a cat. Im nervous because I don't know much about them and would like some info on them before I make my decision. Im also wondering where in te house is best to keep that cat. Possibly my room? Oh and my mother does not really like furry animals. So im not sure. What are also the pros and cons of owning a kitty?

Answer 1

Firstly if your mother doesn't like cats and it will be confined in one room my advice is don't get one. Not only is it unfair to the cat it's unfair to your mum. Who will pay the vet fees iand take it there if something happens? Who will buy the food, clean the cat-trays?  Pay for the cattery when you go on vacation? Pay for neutering.I actually think your mum should put her foot down and say no.

If it's a purely house cat they adapt pretty quickly to a cat tray. If it is an in and outside cat  again if they have access to cat-flap they adapt quickly.

As well as the the first list of cons. they can ruin furniture, carpets and curtains with there claws. Especially if confined to one room in the house. If you are having trouble thinking of pros...again re-think getting one.

Sorry to sound harsh but it seems a disaster waiting to happen and a kitten growing into another cat for a shelter

Answer 2

First of all yes cats can have an odor especially around their litter box. You will need to clean that box at least twice a day and maybe more.

  You will have a fun job trying to confine a cat to a specific area of your house.  Cats are very independent and famously curious and most of them will want to be where you are and see what you are doing. This includes on the counter when you are cooking or table when you are eating.  You have to set limits and do it every time they do it wrong.

They will always rearrange things on a table to suit themselves.  They are wonderful animals but it does take a little effort.

Seems to me Mom might be your biggest problem. Don't even think about getting an animal that everyone in the family does not want. To do so is unfair to the negative person and to the animal.  

Cats want to be petted only when they want not when you want. Some of them more so than others. They want a quiet place to sleep. They like a toy or two and will make their own most of the time.

Answer 3

well, cats are very clean animals. they do need some space but are loving creatures. they do not make messes really as long as you have the essentials. food and water dish, litter box that must stay clean, litter, kitten and cat food, a couple of catnip toys and somewhere for them to sleep and scratch.. your cat may scratch or bite but it depend how you train it.

Answer 4

cats have a lot of personality and can be just as playful and affectionate as a dog ...

I have owned both, and I think the cons you should keep in mind are:

- cats have sharp claws and need a place to clean them ...  there may be training required to keep it from using furniture ...

- cat pee has a strong ammonia smell to it ...  you will need to use good quality litter and clean the box often, especially if this will be confined to a single room ...

- unfixed male cats have a tendacy to "spray" to mark their territory ...  I have even know a fixed male cat to do this ...  the smell is kinda bad, but since they do "spray" it, it is hard to clean ...  get a black light and a special cat-pee cleaner if this happens ...

- cats are mostly self-grooming, but you may want to teach it to enjoy a little gentle brushing to remove excess fur if your mom does not like the fur ...

a toy fishing pole that you can attach cat-toys to will be a great thing to play with it ...  a lot of cats get silly and playful with laser-pointers, too ...

- cats can be extremely independant ...

- don't put the litter box on carpet

Answer 5

I would suggest for you to look and read around http://www.catchannel.com

They have many articles on cat behavior, kittens, and cat essentials. It would take some time to read but, it would be worth while. I've found cats to be easier to take care of then dogs. Cats are independent and smart. If you clean the litter box daily and litter box train the kitten, there shouldn't be much odor at all. Cats need plenty of space so, if you could give the cat two or three rooms to roam around (if you don't want it to roam around the whole house), that should be plenty. You can buy pet gates to keep the cat out of certain areas. A short haired cat would be best for you if you don't want much fur mess. I would suggest to a first-time cat owner to start out with a young adult around 1yr-2yrs. So, it will already be potty trained (most likely) because litter box training a kitten can be time consuming. Or if your local shelter knows their pets well, they can tell you if the kitty you want is socialized and litter box trained. So, I'd suggest you read up. Good luck.  

Answer 6

i have six. cuz one of my female cats just had three babies three weeks ago=]

i love cats their very very clean animals they clean themselves everyday almost like 100 times a day haha. you really cant keep a cat contained to one room. they like to wander. their very curious especially when their kittens. and they love to play. keep the liter box in the bathroom or something. but if you try and keep a cat contained to one room they'll get very aggitatded and scratch at your door and whine and everything. cats do sleep most of the day. even when their kittens. at least my cats do. their also sorta outside cats. my two cats that are fixed go outside in the morning when its nice out and run around and stuff till around noon. then come back in for lunch and a nappy. then wake up for supper. then they go back outside until it starts getting dark.

honestly cats are my favorite animal. their all very independent. and mind their own business. except for when their being curious=]. i think its a good choice to get one. their soo cute!

Answer 7

that would be fine for a cat or kitten but heres some stuff you will need

first food and water dish some toys like sparkly balls they can play with and a cat scratch post so they can manage their nails oh yeah get a litter box to and some kitty litter i personal use fresh step its ok to potty train them cuz they aren't that hard to potty train it only takes about a month

cats don't stink at all but a dirty situation would be if they got p**p on their fur or but and they roll around on the carpet just get a wet nap and remove if so oh yeah they are mostly up at night and tiered during day so i guess they would be nocturnal but only some cats are that way and they love playing hide and seek lol maybe you would want to keep the cat nearest to his or her food and litter box so possibly the loundry room would be fine the downs are they claw everything up the ups are they are o so reliable like a best freind for life oh yeah take them for checkups at the vet once in a while to see how they are doing usally if u shut the door at night and you leave them alone in a carpeted area they will tear up the carpeting so keep an eye for ur kitty but overall kitty's are good pets and verry cute!

Answer 8

You say that you've owned 3 dogs. Where are they? Did they die of old age or did you just get tired of them.

You should only get a pet if you are totally committed to caring for it throughout it's entire life.

If your mother doesn't like furry animals, I would consider getting an aquarium of tropical fish. They are fun to watch and raise.

Answer 9

You have very good questions and I'm glad you're considering them. However, being a life long cat person, I believe you need to reassess getting a cat.  Too often people will get a kitten because they are so cute.  But once the kitten grows up and no longer matches the new furniture, or has scratched the bed/sofa/carpet, the cat gets dumped at the shelter or on the street.  Or worse, they are declawed which is a horrific operation that removes the cats' first knuckle.  Kittens love to roam and yours will be miserable stuck in your room most of the time. Your mom doesn't like furry animals and, I suspect, will be angry.  This isn't the best environment.

I recommend going to a no-kill shelter in your neighborhood. Talk with the staff and visit the kitty areas. Maybe you could volunteer 1-2 days a month and get to know cats that way.

When you get your own place and if you still want a cat, get one at that time. You will be knowledgeable and responsible and your kitten will love you for it!  OR when your mom sees that you're becoming pet responsible, she let you have one sooner.  Good luck

Sadly, there will still be homeless cats and puppies available.

Answer 10

i would first visit a shelter. watch them, play with them. learn about them.

very different from dogs. dogs are loyal, protect you. save your life if the condo catches on fire.

cats say " feed me, now go away" . if a burglar breaks in, they say "feed me". if the condo catches on fire, they climb out the window , go to the neighbors and say"feed me".

a cat can not live in one room of a condo. your room should be its room. keep the food, litterbox and a palce to hide in there. a pillow in the closet is fine.

as long as kitty can wander the whole condo, he will be fine.

you should either get two kittens,siblings that like each other, they amuse and comfort each other or one adult cat. one kitten tends to miss mom and siblings and cries all night.

cats have no oder, if you keep the litter box clean. kittens will have accidents for a few months, they are babies.

Answer 11

they dont stink as bad as bad as dogs do....Cats require a lot of care — and sometimes a lot of cleaning up after. Just as dogs, cats come in all shapes and sizes, so do the messes they create. Learn how to clean up common messes around the house, get to know basic cat lingo for when you head to the vet and find out why it's imperative to outfit your cat with proper identification.Cats, like a lot of youngsters, will eat almost anything. And they will play with anything that can move. Strings, yarn, dental floss, elastics and especially needles and thread are highly enticing, but if swallowed they can do serious, often fatal, damage.  Get tips to cat-proof your home before bringing home kitty. also you could shave your cat and say to your mom is this better than a furry animal