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picking a cat in person



 
 
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Old July 31st 03, 02:52 AM
onlyThreeCats
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Ablang-Duff wrote:
I went to the pound/shelter a couple of times and I was wondering about getting
a mutt. How do you select a cat? The adults are pretty much indifferent to my
prescence. It's the young kitties that are sometimes active.

If a young kitty puts it paw through the bars with claws extended trying to
swipe at you, does that make it a good candidate (as opposed to a kitty that
just sits there)? Or is that probably a kitty that is going to be
super-agressive and require lots of attention?

-- "If you're over me, I'm already over you. If it's all been done, What is
left to do. How can you hang up, If the line is dead. If you wanna walk out,
I'm a step ahead. If you're moving on, I'm already gone." --Lyrics from Hilary
Duff: "So Yesterday"


I agree with the other posts about a "young adult" cat. Anywhere from
1-5 years will have aplenty long life with you (kept indoors with
regular vet checkups).

Also advisable is to handle the cats you are considering. Are they shy
in the cage, but warm up when you open the door? Do they want to spring
away from you and run, or will they sit on your lap and cuddle? Do they
purr to people or duck away?

It has been my experience at least 3 times that kitten traits do not
necessarily persist into adulthood. 3 of the cats I have adopted from
shelters were adults, and they are as sweet as can be and absolutely
devoted. The one I got as a kitten is also a wonderful cat, but she is
tough, boisterous, pesky and the least cuddly of the bunch, while as a
kitten she could not get enough of sitting on my shoulders and snuggling
into my hair. She's the most aloof of the 3 - purrs loud, but she's a
sit NEAR you cat, not a sit ON you cat. On the other hand, my older two
(4 and 5 when adopted, now 15 and the other sadly passed on recently at
16) stayed in-your-face cuddly all along. Lenny would climb up to ride
on shoulders to his very last day.

Another thing I've found with adult animals, is that unlike kittens,
they seem to understand when they go to a new home, that they were in
trouble and you rescued them. Kittens rarely have that awareness of the
wider world, and act like they're entitled to all you provide them. A
cute attitude in itself sometimes, but I've found adult rescues to very
clearly show their gratitude.

Anyway, whether cat or kitten - DO take your time, meet, touch, cuddle
and play with the cats. The more you interact the more you will start
to realize about what really draws you to one cat over others, and that
will all help you find your cat.

Johanna

 




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