Need help choosing new cat

In article ,
Wayne wrote:
My wife and I are retired and our cat recently died and we want to get
another. We have had several in the past years and we really want an
affectionate cat that will sit on our laps while we watch TV or read. Not
all cats will do this, some are friendly but skittish and will not sit on
your lap and don't like to be held.

Our kids want to get us a kitten (specifically a main coon) but I am afraid
that if we get a kitten we don't know how it will be when it matures. I am
thinking that adopting a mature cat from the SPCA (Humane Society here in
Canada) might allow us to see first hand if a specific cat is acting they
way we want.
I have been told that there is a critical socialization period when the
kitten is small that can be used to influence it's behaviour but don't know
what we have to do to produce the desired behaviour.

We don't care about breeding or size-- just temperament

Can you offer some advice?
Thanks
Wayne in Ottawa



It's tough to go wrong with a Maine Coon as far as disposition goes,
although my Bubba is more of a sit-on-the-couch-next-to cat than he
is a lap cat. That's mainly because he's too big for my lap, but I've
also heard that many Maine Coons are like that anyway. He's not at all
skittish with people and always likes to visit with guests. I got him
from my local shelter and when I was looking at all the cats to pick
one he seemed to show the most interest in me, which is why I picked
him over the others. I really wasn't looking for a specific breed
either...


Claude

"Wayne" wrote in message
...
.... We don't care about breeding or size-- just temperament

Can you offer some advice?
Thanks
Wayne in Ottawa


Condolences on the loss of your cat.

You might look for a cat or pair of cats who have lived with a retired
person who is moving to a care center and can't take them along.

Annie

Thanks everyone. Looks like the consensus is adopt an older cat.
Hre's another related question Is there any advantage if it's male or
female?
Wayne

I think personality is more important.
Gail
"Wayne" wrote in message
...
Thanks everyone. Looks like the consensus is adopt an older cat.
Hre's another related question Is there any advantage if it's male or
female?
Wayne

"Wayne" wrote in message
...
Thanks everyone. Looks like the consensus is adopt an older cat.
Hre's another related question Is there any advantage if it's male or
female?
Wayne



Get the one that picks you out at the shelter! My Gracie just leaned into my
hand when I reached toward her and I was in love. This common looking little
7-lb tabbie, long legged, ridiculously long tail held high like the mast of
a tallship
while she zooms around ... 2 years old when I adopted her ... has become the
most delightful cat I have ever known.

Wayne wrote:
Thanks everyone. Looks like the consensus is adopt an older cat.
Hre's another related question Is there any advantage if it's male or
female?
Wayne

I have found males to be more affectionate when *we* want them to be.
Females tend to be affectionate on *their* terms.
-L.

I volunteer at a no-kill (low-kill) shelter and I could set anybody up
with an adult lap cat if they wanted one. I don't have any problem
determinging the personality of a shelter cat, at all, and lapcat-ness
is one of the easiest traits to ascertain. A good way to go is that
kind fo shelter where the cats have been there for a while and the
folks know them and they can steer you towards the kind of cat that
appeals to you. I would never suggest buying a purebred kitten, and
especially not with an eye to determining a certain kind of temperament
in advance. IMHO, that's not fair to the kitten or you.

Males are more affectionate than females. I also think that shelter
kitties are more affectionate. They appreciate the fact that you got
them out of there. We adopted our 3 yr. old Maine Coon a year ago and
he still just walks around purring. He isn't at all interested in
running out the door. He is simply happy to have a home.

My kitty picked me out at the shelter. You will know when you find the
right one. It took me about 4 trips until I found Buddy.

wrote:

Wayne wrote:

Thanks everyone. Looks like the consensus is adopt an older cat.
Hre's another related question Is there any advantage if it's male or
female?
Wayne


I have found males to be more affectionate when *we* want them to be.
Females tend to be affectionate on *their* terms.
-L.


This holds true for all species... not just felines. :-D

wrote in message
oups.com...
Males are more affectionate than females. I also think that shelter
kitties are more affectionate. They appreciate the fact that you got
them out of there.

I have to say, some females are just as affectionate but on their own
terms--my Gracie does not want to be picked up, but she seeks me
out by creeping up when I am in bed and beginning a series of little
questioning meows--first she peers at me to see if I am asleep, then
she walks all the way down to the foot of the bed, around the other
side of me, does a stretchy "greet" (you know, where they meow,
extend both paws, yawn while doing the bat ear thing?) and once I
open my arms (I am on my side) she stretches out beside me, her
skinny little stripey body flush with mine and flat as a filet and
waits to be petted and cooed at. I think that is just as good as
having a big old plushy toy cat. That said, I have never had a male
cat to compare her to.

As for the second thing--yes, shelter cats are grateful, it is at once
sweet and heartrending. The first thing she did was just stretch and
stretch--it had been crowded at the shelter and when I met her
a big old tom was crowding into her donut bed and she had a
pained expression on her pointy little face.