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picking a cat in person



 
 
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  #1  
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

  #2  
Old July 31st 03, 07:48 PM
Mogie
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Posts: n/a
Default picking a cat in person

We would much rather adopt an older cat. They are beyond the destructive
kitten stage. And the odds that they will get adopted is much less.

Ablang-Duff wrote in message
...
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"





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  #3  
Old August 6th 03, 11:06 PM
Sabastian Gaberial
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I find all the cats to swipe and meow when I go past them. I help out at the
ARL near where I live. (It is sorta hard not to take them all home). You
should let one find you that is your match, ie. is hyper if that is what you
are looking for or laid back just look the right one will find you soon
enuf.


sabastian meow
"Ablang-Duff" wrote in message
...
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"



  #4  
Old August 7th 03, 01:23 PM
Joe Pitt
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I also work with a rescue group. Ask the shelter workers about the cats. We
find that MANY adults who are used to running a house become depressed in a
cage. Some hide or sleep, while others become 'nasty'. We had one adult in
our group for a ear and a half. At home she was affectionate and sat on
anyone's lap that came to the house. When we showed her on the weekend at
Petsmart in a kitty condo she started hissing and swatting at people after
about an hour. We ended up adopting her out of my house. Her new human
companion is delighted. Another one curled up in a ball in the back of the
cage. At home she is a lap cat that like to cuddle at night. With adults you
usually know what you are getting. Kittens change their behavior pattern.
Also, the adults are usually at the shelter/rescue group much longer than
kittens, contributing to their 'hating' the cage. My group keeps the animals
in our homes during the week and takes them up to a Petsmart on the weekend
to show and adopt them out. That way we can better judge the animal's
personality. Look for a group that does something similar.
--
Joe
http://www.jwpitt.com/cats.htm
http://www.animalrescuefoundation.com

"Sabastian Gaberial" wrote in message
nk.net...
I find all the cats to swipe and meow when I go past them. I help out at

the
ARL near where I live. (It is sorta hard not to take them all home). You
should let one find you that is your match, ie. is hyper if that is what

you
are looking for or laid back just look the right one will find you soon
enuf.


sabastian meow
"Ablang-Duff" wrote in message
...
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"






  #5  
Old August 7th 03, 01:29 PM
Cheryl Perkins
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Posts: n/a
Default

I don't know if there's one way to adopt a cat. I would suggest handling
the candidates - but I didn't do that with Betsy, the ex-practically
feral, who wouldn't have appreciated it. And adult cats (Betsy was kind of
a teenager at an estimated 6 months) desperately need homes, and can be
loving pets. Still I adopted Mandy as a young kitten, I admit it, because
she was really cute and outgoing. There's just something about cute
kitten that is very appealing.

Cheryl
 




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