Adult cat, or kitten?
 

As some of you may have gathered, I'm a cat person. Currently I have one, a tuxedo-cat part-Persian, age 9. I'd like to adopt one more (just one more! I promise I'll stop there!), mostly for me, of course, but also because it would give the incumbent, Miss Oreo, a companion and playmate.

I like big shaggy cats, and am fond of the Maine Coon and Siberian breeds. At a cat show this weekend, I spotted several possibilities.

1) A black altered male Maine Coon, only 9 months old (but already 14 not-fat pounds)
2) From the same breeder, an all-black female and a brown tabby-and-white female, both the same age as above
3) A 4-month-old brown female tabby and white Siberian kitten

All other things being equal (price, health of animal, distance from my home), which would be a better bet, a kitten or a near-adult?
.

Dog.

;)

DON'T buy cats, or any animal for that mater, from a breeder. It only encourages them to breed more. Get your pets from the local pound. Those that are there are survivors and will make much better pets. I speak from 60+ years of having pets from the pound.

I agree, breeding non-meat animals should be for improvement of the breed only. Breeding for profit leads to a bunch of crappy, half-arsed animals.

Don't get a young animal if you don't have a lot of time to spend with it. Don't get an older animal with problems that you can't live with.

Illia Curiakan would tell you to go with your gut on this one, however but, a note of caution. Speaking from experience and presently being the mom of Anastasia Kristina the Feral Wonder a few things to consider. The female cat you have is older and I would advise against bringing in another female whether it be a kitten or older since female cats are notorious (as are human females) to not get along. She maybe fine by herself and if you want another cat make it a male cat younger in age so she can still be the "Alpha" cat. Adjusment period is approximately six weeks for the hissing and territory behavior to stop. If you want to buy from a breeder study the breeds carefully as long hair cats tend to have skin problems and will require lots of grooming to keep the hairball thing at bay. I have taken in many rescue cats during my lifetime and currently have a feral cat named Anastasia Kristina who is part Egyptian Mau.....lots of work with this one she used to hiss, spit and bite whenever anyone came near, now she'll roll over on her back and let you rub her stomach like a dog does....took lots of work. Just my two dracmas worth. Good Luck.

Mistress

get a serval

Thanks, everybody,

I usually have adopted pound or shelter animals in the past. However, it's hard to find the kind of cat I like -- the good-looking, good-natured ones disappear fast from the local pound or shelter. This is not a case of buying from a pet shop or kitty mill; they're people who obviously love cats in general, and their breed(s) in particular. That said, I wouldn't buy a cat sight unseen, or without visiting the cattery.

Mistress wrote:
>>The female cat you have is older and I would advise against bringing in another female whether it be a kitten or older since female cats are notorious (as are human females) to not get along. She maybe fine by herself and if you want another cat make it a male cat younger in age so she can still be the "Alpha" cat. <<

Oh, I've wondered about that. However, my current one adjusted just fine to living with two other female cats during the Katrina evacuation; they stole her food and I had to feed her separately, that was the only problem. I do lean toward the altered male I mentioned; he's younger than she is, but a lot bigger.

>> If you want to buy from a breeder study the breeds carefully as long hair cats tend to have skin problems and will require lots of grooming to keep the hairball thing at bay. <<

Persians are a problem in that regard, which (along with the flat faces, which can lead to breathing troubles) is why I don't care for them. Maine Coons (http://www.miawmainecoons.com/3.html) and Siberians (http://members.aol.com/actrose/siberian1.html) have very fine, silky, almost kitten-like fur all their lives, and require very little grooming.
.

Amen, brother. In my book cat are evil......and that is my positive outlook towards them.

What would be evil would be a Bengal Tiger swimming out towards your canoe in some river in India looking for a two legged snack.

Go for the younger cat so the existing cat can be sure to assert dominance over him/her. We had a full grown found cat and got a kitten and the kitten grew up to be the dominant cat, but the first cat won't stand for much ***** from the new cat.

When I was single I had another found cat that was fixed when I got her and she would still spray!:eek: Thank goodness never in the house.

Get a dog instead....cats are stupid. :D

Stuffed velveteen on wheels.

No feeding. No litterbox. No shredded furniture.

B

PS I'm kidding. I like cats and dogs and rabbits and goats and chickens and snakes and fish and parakeets and zebra finches. Oh yeah and hamsters and guinea pigs and gerbils and feeder mice for the snakes. In fact, if the gerbils, hamster, rabbits and chickens get too uppity the snakes can take them out, too. I have always had lots of pets and enjoy having them around the house and (fenced) yard. There are some that just cannot live together no matter what but most of them learn that there's noo eating each other.

Yo, whassup witchoo, dawg?

Oh, wait . . . you were making a suggestion . . .
.

My brother got two Chocolate Point Siamese kittens from the ASPCA. He paid about $15 each I think.
When he died my sister in law gave them to me, so now their mine.
They are both sisters and get along very well, most of the time. Once in a while I'll hear some hissing but it's never been serious.

DAnny

Kittens or adults both come with their own set of issues to resolve, but a well-adjusted adult is usually less demanding/work. That said, it sounds like you have done your homework and researched the breed. We currently have a 2 yr old Maine Coon and are going to place him with friends who have a farm in TN. Because we live close to an extremely busy road, I have always been hesitant to let him roam. He gets frustrated as he!! and whales on the Persian all day. I catch him sitting in the window trying to swat at the chipmunks outside. Short of it, Coons are hunters and they are BIG! Sweet but quirky...more like a dog in a cat's body. I would not get one if you are not in a place where they can get outside and hunt for presents to bring you.

Oh yeah, doesn't like for ANY door in the house to be closed. He will beat on it until you open up. Hilarious.

Go to a shelter and adopt a cat or kitten that needs a good home, not a breeder!