Mobly asked:
My little brother wants a cat for his 9th birthday. The problem is I know nothing about cats. Plus we live in a small flat so there are some space issues. Anyhow I want a cat that is most friendly, most clean, most quiet and most easy to take care of. Also how do u potty or pee train em.
My little brother wants a cat for his 9th birthday. The problem is I know nothing about cats. Plus we live in a small flat so there are some space issues. Anyhow I want a cat that is most friendly, most clean, most quiet and most easy to take care of. Also how do u potty or pee train em.
Please list the breed + sex + age
June 25th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Any American shorthair breed. Also know as the common alley cat. Easy to take care of and very hearty animals. My cat is female I got her when she was 6 weeks old. Females tend to be les aggressive and if you get them as kittens they will bond with you. My cat will be 13 years young in May. My first cat also an American shorthair was 17 years before she died in my arms.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:38 am
First off, I’d strongly suggest adopting a cat. I’ve adopted my two cats and they’ve turned out wonderfully. Usually you can get them for a small adoption fee, and sometimes you can even get them for free. Plus, you’d be saving a life. Just be sure the cat is healthy =)
Anyway, I think you and your brother would be the best off with a DSH (domestic short hair) which just means the cat’s breed is very mixed and also that they have short hair (easier to take care of, not as much brushing required as long haired cats). As for the sex, that doesn’t really matter as long as the cat is neutered. Both sexes can be very friendly, especially if its a male and he is neutered. Neutered male cats usually become much more calm and docile once they’re neutered. When it comes to the age, that is really up to you and your brother. I think adopting an adult cat (atleast 1-1.5 years of age) tends to be easier than adopting a kitten, though. I’ve done both and adopting my adult cat was less work than a tiny kitten.
Also, you don’t have to do much when it comes to litter training them. Depending on which age you decide to adopt, the cat probably has already been trained. I got my kitten when he was 8 weeks old and he already knew where to do his business… They’re very intelligent =) Plus it’s kind of instinctive for them to go in sand/dirt or “litter”. That’s where they would go if they were in nature.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
First of all, I would make sure that the adults in charge of your brother are okay taking on the responsibility of a pet. No 9 year old without a trust fund is going to be able to afford everything the cat needs, and very few 9 yr olds will be responsible enough to take care of the cat. Second, if parents say ok, make sure landlord is okay with it. You don’t want to get kicked out because you are breaking lease rules.
Aside from that, talk to an animal shelter. They usually have several to choose from, and can often times give some background and personality info on the cats. It’s much easier to choose one who’s personality is known than to get a kitten that might grow up and be too hard to handle.
FYI-siamese tend to meow a lot, so not a good choice if you like quiet. Tortishells & calicos tend to be a little snippy at times.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:01 pm
First of all - having an animal is a lifelong commitment and your little brother has to understand that. Too many animals end up at shelters. Maybe an older cat would work better - since it’s older - it won’t need as much space to run around in….a cat around 5 or 6. Check your local humane society - they will be able to tell you about the cat’s personality and breed. Do some research on breeds. I have a cat I adopted from the SPCA and I have one I bought from a breeder - who is a Birman. Both are lovely animals with different personalities. You could also take your brother along and see which cat he bonds with.
Cats are very very easy to litter train. Put the litter out and show the cat where it is. Praise the cat after he/she goes. Never put the cat’s food near the litter box. Besides buying / adopting a cat - you should buy a book on how to care for a cat or go to your library or research on the internet. This site offers some great information on caring for a new cat:
July 4th, 2008 at 5:06 am
You want to get an American Shorthair. This is your standard, most common, short haired cat. You want short hair so that you do not have to brush it all the time. Age - get a cat around 12 weeks of age. As for the sex of the cat, either is fine, just make sure it is neutered or spayed by 4 months. This will eliminate spraying and reduces the chances of mammary/uterine issues in females. Most cats will use a litterbox naturally. Place it somewhere the cat has free access to and place the cat in it so they can paw around at the litter and understand what it is. If for some reason, the cat decides it wants to go elsewhere, put the litter box in the spot the cat chooses and then you can slowly move the litter box to where you want it. If the cat goes to the bathroom on your floor, you need to make sure to clean it well as the cat will smell the urine and go there again. If this happens, try Nature’s Miracle - it can be found at any petstore.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I have found in my experience that male cats are generally more placid and less skittish than female cats, especially if they are neutered. Also, unless the cat has been around people a lot, it’s best to get a kitten. Some adult cats never become fully socialized and certain things like sudden movements will make them run off and hide. As for shedding, in my personal observation, long haired cats actually shed less than short haired cats. The worst shedders are those with medium length fur. I’m talking about the kind that don’t have fluffy tails but their fur is longer than a cat with truly short hair. I would recommend a an orange male cat.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
domestic cat
July 8th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I would recommend a Burmese breed they are very friendly,cute clean and easy to potty train.I know this because I have two of them.You have to vaccinate them and de-sex them.I think that you should get them between the age of 9 to 12 weeks old.Female cats are much more confident and easier than boys are.Some boys are like girls,but are very lazy.