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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject: Are we expecting too much?

I posted a while back about getting a cat for my daughter. We are still looking. The first cat she wanted absolutely FREAKED OUT when it saw our dog, so that wasn't going to work. Then she found one that climbed into her lap as soon as it got out of its cage. I even took it across the room and set it on the floor and it ran right back to her. But the AC would not hold it for a week until we got back from vacation. It had already been there a few months, so we kept our fingers crossed, but of course it was adopted that week.
I know my daughter wants a cat that seems to already like her as much as that one did, but we just can't seem to find it. Our local AC has LOTS of cats in a very small room, so maybe it's hard for them to show their true personalities. I know I'd be super stressed out if I were a cat there.
I would like to help a cat from our local shelter, since they do euthanize for space, but since I don't know a lot about cats we have been looking at shelters and humane societies in all the counties around us. So far all I have figured out is that small kittens are very cute but aren't very interested in hanging out in someone's lap for very long.
So I am very open to advice from anyone who knows about cats. What else can we be doing or looking for?

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject:

You might want to consider working with a foster-based rescue in your area. A foster-based rescue does not have an actual shelter--it's a network of foster homes, so you will get some real information about an animals personality from people who have actually lived with the animal.

A lot of rescues will pull animals from shelters, so adopting one of the rescue's animals frees up some space to pull another animal from a shelter

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject:

Don't get me wrong, I am all for adopting adult animals! It's just that I don't agree with your assessment of kittens. Adult cats that enjoy human contact were kittens that enjoyed human contact! The advantage of raising a kitten is that you will influence what kind of cat it will grow up to be. Firm boundaries and plenty of attention and affection will help a kitten grow into a healthy, affectionate cat who has good habits especially in relation to your life.

If you or your daughter do not have several hours a day to devote to interacting with a kitten while it grows up, then consider starting with an adult cat instead and seek one with a quiet personality who's emotionally self sufficient.

When evaluating an adult cat, look for a cat that does head bumps and/or and cheek rubbing and purring. These are very strong signal the cat has decided to own you.

If you want a lap cat, try holding the cats in the shelter. Squirmy ones will not become lap cats later. The one that turns around, clings and may shove her head in your armpit is the one who will probably accept hugs later on too, and love you. "Armpitting" is a sign that cat views you as a protector from dogs, other large animals, hostile cats and hostile human beings. Pet a cat when he's armpitting and soothe him, he will probably calm down and be very grateful for the attention.

It's been my experience that neutered male cats are more affectionate and gregarious than female cats. They are less likely to be dominant than queens, more good chums getting along with their humans or perpetual kittens who let you take charge. But these are tendencies! Individuals vary a lot, so spend time with the cats and kittens in your final choices and look at how they behave throughout the visit.

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject:

Welcome to Petfinder, and thank you for wanting to adopt. LN certainly covered the main points. Busy, open admission shelters are hectic places, where many cats are brought together in a small space, and its often not an atmosphere conducive to finding relaxed cats able to show off their personalities. Shelter workers/volunteers are often overworked and stressed and don't have opportunities to get to know the cats very well. Sometimes, its all they can do to do the basic cleaning, feeding and medicate the cats who need it. There is not always an opportunity to cat-test dogs (or vice versa).

There are many wonderful rescues in Illinois, and some of the people who post here are associated with such rescues. If you Google rescues in your city or county, you'll come up with a pretty good list I'm sure. As LN said, foster parents get to know their fosters really well, and you can get to meet them in a relaxed, home setting. You will know what you are getting, and are able to avoid the depressing prospect of having to return an animal to a kill shelter. I adopted my last senior from a local rescue here, and I can't sing their praises enough. That said, its true that by adopting from a rescue, you will open up a space in a foster home, so both cats and people are served well.

Good luck with your intention of adopting a cat, and please keep us updated. Smile

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

[quote="the5thbeatle"]Don't get me wrong, I am all for adopting adult animals! It's just that I don't agree with your assessment of kittens. Adult cats that enjoy human contact were kittens that enjoyed human contact! The advantage of raising a kitten is that you will influence what kind of cat it will grow up to be. Firm boundaries and plenty of attention and affection will help a kitten grow into a healthy, affectionate cat who has good habits especially in relation to your life.
If you want a lap cat, try holding the cats in the shelter. Squirmy ones will not become lap cats later. >>>

WOW, I totally disagree. I've raised kittens that wanted nothing to do with me until they got older. They were hyper and wanted to play, they didn't want to be held or cuddled..but when they got older then they turned into love bugs.
And, to say a squirmy cat at a [stressful] shelter that is meeting you for the first time won't make a good lap cat later on is totally false in my experience. Some cats have to know you and trust you before they will allow themselves to be held.
Some cats in a stressful situation will allow themselves to be held or sit on your lap simply because they are too scared to do anything else. Once settled safely in your home, they may not be willing to do so.
I accidently deleted one part of your post i do agree with-about the head bumps. If the cat is doing it as it's being held or sitting on your lap, that is a great sign of a loving, out going cat.

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

I am in Illinois. I have 4 kittens of various ages that I have raised from bottle babies. I have 5 of my own dogs and 2 foster dogs so they are used to dogs of various sizes. I have 3 adult cats of my own. They are not all "kitten" friendly, so my foster kittens know what a warning means from a cat that does not want tob bothered. My kittens have all become experienced with my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter and my 14 month old niece, as well as a couple older neiees (8 and 10).

I pretty much have kittens that are about as well socialized as you get.

Where are you in Illinois? I am smack dab in the middle. My current fosters are not thru my regular rescue but they are microchipped, spayed/neutered, vaxed (3 - all the way thru rabies and the 4th will be as soon as she is old enough).

What are you looking for? I can also check out the other kittens in the rescue.

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:04 am Post subject:

I have to say that I don't agree with the5thbeatle either. I've pretty much figured out (and I have 12 cats so I feel pretty confident in my knowledge) that how a kitten acts as a kitten has nothing to do with how it will be as an adult. I've had kittens who are crazy hyper terrors turn into loving lapcats, and vice versa. By adopting an adult cat, you already know it's personality. You don't have to worry about if it will still like to be on your lap 24/7 when it gets older. Every cat I've found as an adult has the exact same personality now. Kittens, not so much. I mean, a well socialized friendly kitten will probably remain well socialized and friendly, but you can't guarantee its personality. I recommend going to the shelter, avoiding the kittenr oom, and having your daughter sit down with the adult cats. the one who crawls in her lap and purrs nonstop and wants petted and rubbed, will most likely remain that way in your home as well.

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

How about a big grey and white tuxedo boy from Arizona?

Okay, not really, because he was here so long I finally just adopted him myself. But he would have been perfect...he is a favorite of my daughter as he just hangs out and lays on her and drools for as long as she will let him.

Which is my way of saying I would check into rescues and for cats in foster homes. Not that you won't get a great cat from a shelter...there are a LOT of great cats in shelters. But if it is really important that you have a cat with a specific behaviour or personality, your chances of getting that are better going with a cat that has been living in a foster home, IMO.

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject:

Hey - YooHoo! Cats and kittens in foster homes here!

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject:

I don't think you're expecting too much, I think you have a clear understanding of what it is you're looking for in a kitty.

Because you're looking for a specific personality, instead of luck of the draw personality, I would highly recommend that you looking into a kitty rescue that fosters in home. Fostering in home will allow the foster parents to spend time with the kitty and be able to better evaluate their personality. Then you'll have a good idea of what the kitty will be like before you bring them home.

That's my .03 cents.

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