Cheryl wrote:
> On 10/18/2011 8:18 PM, A Moose in Love wrote:
>
>> I'm just curious, what's involved in having a cat as a pet. I live
>> in the city, and think that dogs should be unchained and running
>> free. However cats, it doesn't seem to hurt them that they are
>> cooped up inside for many days.
>> How much are vets fees, do they shed, etc. The only experience I
>> have are with cats that lived on our farm, and ran around outside. I
>> don't want to declaw them, but is that necessary? etc.
>
> First, there is no reason to declaw a cat. They come with claws and
> if you don't like that feature, pick another pet.
>
> They mostly do shed, and they scratch things. You can give them
> things that belong to them to scratch on, and trust me, they learn
> that they belong to them and they can scratch to their hearts
> content. You have to learn what they like to scratch. Some like
> vertical, some like horizontal. I offer both for scratching. I have
> cat trees that fit the decor of the rooms they are in, and are
> located where they can climb and love to look over their domain. I
> have smaller scratching posts at the corner of furniture that the
> cats would like to scratch, but the posts are more delightful for
> them so they use them.
> Vet bills are something you can't predict. I once used a vet
> insurance policy but the first time they paid out it was so small it
> wasn't worth it. I just plan for it in my budget. Regular exams for
> my cats are about $35 but it can vary, and of course shots or other
> treatment will be more.
>
> Go for high quality food because it will likely lead to lower vet
> bills from better nutrition.
>
> Environmental enrichment is important. More than one cat will help
> them have buddies. Sometimes they get along, sometimes they don't,
> but they have their own kind around and usually bond even just for
> grooming or playing (which can get rough). They may never be buddies
> but could surprise you because their purrsonalities change and they
> can settle down after they get comfortable.
>
> I just offer plenty of climbing places because they love to be on top.
> They like windows to survey their outside domain even if they don't go
> out their. I went one further step and had a screened in porch built
> for them. I'm still getting things in there for them so for now, it's
> just a chair and a couple of perches to be "up" which is what they
> like. They like to chew grass but it always make them hork and the
> grass hasn't grown yet in their outside thing so they fight over the
> few strands that do grow.
>
> Here's a pic from part of a series from my deck renovation.
> http://i54.tinypic.com/11cdson.jpg

I love having two cats! They do get along very well and I don't have to
worry that they will be lonely if I have to be out of the house for several
hours at a time.