I can’t believe they say the average time is so long. We had one cat who was about 5 years old and then the cutest Black and white stray showed up at our door. Benji was only about 8-12 weeks old and we had to keep him. At first ,Butterscotch jumped on him(we think he may have thought he was a rat) He wasn’t hurt or anything and it was touch and go for awhile,they tended to fight on accasion but after 4-6weeks,they were inseparable and would even curl up together. They went out together and if one came back without the other and still didn’t show up after five minutes of us calling ,the other would go out and within a few minutes they would both show up at the door. They bonded so completely that when Benji got sick and died four years later,Butterscotch spent a couple of months looking for his little brother,that was heartbreaking to see but he did eventually get over it. Aizilyn
Hi folks, I need some advice:
I’m thinking of adopting a nice black kitty (about 2 years old) and want to know whether this might be successful. She is living with a temp caretaker and has been shuffled around way too much already, so I wouldn’t want to add to her woes. I currently live with a 2 year old neutered male kitty who has always been very macho and territorial, but who is also very lonely for company (other than me). I live in a large -800 sq. ft. studio apartment, and the only place I can close off is my small bathroom. I have had multiple cats in the past, but am a little worried about this. It’s a big financial gamble as well, as the apartment corporation charges $300 per pet! Hope you all can give me some suggestions. Thanks!
Hi..
I think this can work out, especially since they are of opposite sex.
She sounds like she needs a steady home with you!
Before you introduce her to your boy, rub some of your cologne or lotion that you use onto your hands then rub each cat. They wil both then have your “scent” on them and will be less territorial.
I have tried this and it works!
There will likely be hissing but that is normal.Good luck!
BTW, I just wanted to say the lotion trick you mentioned sounds very sly. If my parents get another dog or cat (adding to the family of dozens), I’ll recommend this.
Here is what the ASPCA site has to say about introducing a new kitty:
Some cats are very social and enjoy living with other cats, while others prefer to be solitary. If you are integrating a new cat into your home, understand that it will take time. The best advice is to introduce the cats gradually and be patient. It takes most cats about 8 to12 months to develop a friendship with a new cat. Others never become friends, but and will simply mutually avoid each other. Still others continue to fight until your only choice is to re-home one of the cats. If you are dealing with cats who have lived harmoniously with other cats in the past, the odds are probably good that they will adjust. However, it is impossible to predict if any two individual cats will get along. If the resident cat becomes aggressive when he or she sees other cats outside the home, you will probably have a difficult time integrating a new cat. There are no reliable guides for deciding the best matches among cats. We do know that male cats—if they do become friends—tend to spend more time with each other. The individual personalities of the cats are more important than any other factor, including sex, age, or size. Be aware that the more cats you have, the higher the likelihood that you will have conflicts between the cats.
When you first bring the new cat home
The first impression the new cat makes with the resident cat(s) is critical. If the cats display aggression, this may set the mood for their future relationship. For this reason, it is best to separate the cats initially. The cats should be able to smell and hear, but not see or touch, each other. Each cat should have his or her own food and water bowls, litter box, scratching post, bed, etc. Feed the cats near the door that separates them so they learn that coming together, even though they can’t yet see each other, results in a pleasant experience. Feed extra special treats near the door as well—tuna, salmon, cheese, chicken, liver, etc. After 2-3 days, “rotate” the cats so that they can investigate each other’s smell. This also allows the new cat to explore a different section of the home. Some behaviorists even suggest rubbing the cats with the same towel to intermix their scents. After a few more days, play with the cats near the door. In particular, encourage the cats to paw at a toy under the door. Eventually the cats may play “paws” under the door with each other.
After a week or so, assuming you see no signs of aggression at the door (no hissing, growling, etc.), replace the door with a temporary screen door so the cats are able to see each other. Continue to encourage feeding, eating treats, and playing near the door. Start these activities a few feet away from the door and, over a few days, gradually move closer.
Together at last
The next stage is to permit the cats to spend time together. Carefully supervise these interactions. It is good to bring the cats together when they are likely to be relatively calm, such as after a meal or a strenuous play session. Keep a squirt bottle handy in case the cats begin to fight. As the cats become more familiar with each other, allow for longer periods of time together. If one cat spends most of his time hiding, or if one cat is continually harassing and pursuing the other, you should seek the assistance of a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist.
Be sure to consider the layout of your home. Make sure there are plenty of hiding spots for your cats. Some cats like to sit up high, on shelves and on kitty condo perches. Frightened cats tend to hide under and behind things, so make sure there are hiding places at floor level as well. Place food, water, and litter boxes out in the open so the cats do not feel trapped when accessing these resources. Make sure you have a litter box for each cat and at least one extra.
We have five kitties and have had to introduce each one to the rest of the crew. We’ve done female kitten to male adult, male kitten to female adults and male adult to both male and female adults. Eventually they all get along. Keeping them in separate rooms at first certainly helps. We also use a commercial spray like Cat Ease to keep them calmer. Instead of lotion, I rub their favorite treats on my hands, then rub all of them, then give them the treats on opposite sides of the door. Once they decide that their food isn’t threatened, they accept each other faster. The other thing we make sure we have is lots of sandboxes. The new kitty always gets one of his/her own to start with. Then, instead of throwing away the scooped waste, it goes into the other sandboxes for a day. (After the new kitty has a clean bill of health from the vet, of course.)
Hi Lynne,
I am happy to give you my two cents worth. No easy answers.
Unfortunately from your description of your cat it doesn’t sound very likely to me. Much easier to introduce a kitten. Also in my experience male cats have bonded more easily. The only way to find out is to *try*.(If this is an option) It should be done very slowly. New kitty goes in the bathroom. Try to get your scent on both. There is something called *Bach, Rescue Remedy Spray*, should help to calm everybody down. You can find it here http://www.herbalremedies.com/reresp20bafl.html
Honestly? Unless you have your heart set on this kitty I would try to find a rescue male kitten.
Also you might try re-posting on a weekday, this site has more cat lovers around then.
Good luck and please keep us posted
Thank you all so much. Your advice is invaluable. I will think and talk about this much more before I commit myself to something that might make either cat miserable.
I’ve found black cats to be especially social and affectionate. I’ve introduced many newcomers over the years, and EVERYBODY learns to get along eventually. A female kitten would be more accepted than another “good ‘ole boy tommy”. I say go for it! You’re attitude and protection is all that counts.
Thanks Maria! You have cheered me up a bit. This little girl is so sweet - reminds me of my Burmese Brownie, who loved people and rode around in the front of my half-zipped jacket.
I thought I’d share my introduction experiences, as it may help with your decision. My tortie Mokey is 11 and has had to live with two other cats in her life. The first was my sister’s cat (back when we lived with my parents) who was introduced when Mokey was 2 and he was about 5 months but looked less than half his age due to malnutrition and illness. (A VERY rough start but he pulled through and became a beautiful, sweet kitty!) They never got along even after living together THREE YEARS. Mokey would still growl at him occasionally. He ignored it and they didn’t fight, so it was workable but not ideal. I think the smell of his illness and the fact he was confined in one of her favorite rooms at first contributed to Mokey’s resentment of the new cat.
Then when Mokey was 8 we got our second cat, Pesmerga, as an 8-week-old kitten. At first my husband (then boyfriend) and I lived apart, so Pes would visit on the weekends. Mokey growled when she approached and couldn’t settle or sleep with the kitten in the room. Over a few months of weekend visits she got better, to the point she’d only growl if Pes actually touched her. When we finally moved in together, they adjusted pretty quickly, at least to the point of not growling. (I think the fact we moved onto the kitten’s turf helped!) By the end of a year they were actually friends! They share food dishes, and occasionally groom and sleep by each other. They don’t frolic or snuggle like some bonded pairs, but we’re very happy they get along so well with absolutely no conflict now. They’ve lived together 3 years now, and we’re so glad they don’t make us pick sides because we love ‘em both!!
You are all so great, going to the trouble to help me make this decision. I’m going to keep this information and not introduce another cat until I can be relatively sure of the success of the thing. Until then, I will continue visiting the Daily Kitten!
Lynne in Georgia—
Do you think the person fostering her has a big crate? When I first introduced Teddy Bear to Gally, I crated Teddy(the new cat) in a huge dog’s crate. This lasted for aprox 2 weeks. By the 3rd morning, both boys were chirping to each other. They also played thru the bars. When I finally let them both run loose, they only growled for a bit. They were never “best friends”, but they tolerated each other pretty well.
As for Dibs, I think she is just a doll! Makes me want to get a new kitten for sure.
Hi, I just had to introduce 2 female adults (friend went into hospice and left an orphan). I was going to keep them separate but the new kitty bolted out of the kennel straight into the house and the 2 met abruptly. There was some hissing and territorial behavior on my cat’s part but the 2 girls within one week and chasing each other around and have adjusted very well. The first day the 2 were together, I had to worked 12 hours so they were alone together. They survived, my first cat has not changed her behavior (that was my big worry) and the first night the 2 actually slept on my bed with me. All the horror stories I heard had not been my reality and boy are they fun to watch when they aren’t hissing. So far, so good. I do have separate litter boxes and they each have a chair, blanket or pillow that’s their spot. Good luck, it’s very entertaining if it works.
Linda
What could be sweeter?….
Cremesicle Coke Float Fuzz…
Dibs is the cutest kit I’ve seen on here yet….really wish I could find a cremesicle kit for myself….HUGE SIGH…well maybe soon…
I hate to say it, but Dibs is cuter than my marmalade and white boy was when I got him. I’m jealous! But my sweatie has been giving me hugs all day so I think I’ll keep him. I think he knows I had a dream last night in which I had to give him back to whomever his original owners were (I adopted him from Friends of Strays when he was 3 months old.) In my dream he was still a kitten and not the 18 month old cat he is now. (bad picture of a Trjegul hug at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/96802252@N00/187421435/in/set-72157594195811427/ - its hard to take the picture while being hugged. LOL! )
The itty bitty fuzzy orange and cream ones are just so cute
I was wondering what everyone’s views on declawing are, like just the front claws. I’d always been pretty skeptical about it, but most of my family that has had cats have had theirs done and the cats seem pretty ok with it, being indoor cats… I dunno. I just want second opinions.
Kat, I have 4 fuzzy lovies. All are indoor kitties. The 2 boys were born ferrule, and when I took them in as kittens had them decaled when they became old enough. A couple of years later, I got 2 little girls and left them with their claws. All 4 are doing very well, and my furniture and drapes are just fine because I believe that having a scratching post and ‘cat tower’ for them is very important. I decided not to put the little ones through added pain if it was not necessary, and so far (It’s been 5 years) it worked out very well. You can always have your’s declawed later if you have a problem. I always put some catnip on the scratching post for daily about 1 week when I first bring a new one into the home. The Fuzzies go to it right away and learn to scratch it from then on.
Comment by chris,mom to Kittykatdog ,Squeaky ,Freckles & Yahtzee-Syracuse,NY[p]
2006-10-16 06:19:55
please dont-i have known of cats that have infection after infection due to this. Come on-they are amputating at the knuckle. Does not sound like any fun to me!!
I have had perhaps a dozen cats declawed over my lifetime with no issues or problems whatsoever. My husband read on the procedure & determined it was cruelty, so my current group of cats are not declawed. Despite multiple scratching posts, my couch, 2 chairs and curtains were sacrificed to this decision. I also much prefer playing with a declawed cat - they love to pounce on hands & fingers and you simply can’t do that the same way when they have their claws.
I have heard of a new procedure that is “kinder.” It basically burns the claw off - like you would a wart - and does no damage to the bones. I will definately look into this!
yeah we just got a cat tower that my dad made himself out of carpet and wood, but i still fear for my new couch
not to mention i may be getting a new little kitten soon… i better ask her her views too before i accept the kitty.
Don’t do it! It is so very cruel to declaw. It is amputating the toe at the first knuckle. Most vets will try to change your mind on this procedure (at least the good vets do). I have a cat now and he has learned to only use his scratching post. My couch and chairs are no worse now than they were when I first got them. An alternative to declawing is Soft Paws. Its a cap that’s put over your cats nail. There are country’s that have declawing banned and I wish the US would do the same.
People take the time to train a dog to sit and come, why can’t people also take the time to train their cats to scratch on appropriate furniture. It takes the same amount of dedication and time.
What a little sweety-face…This site is SO DANGEROUS for me! Every kitten I see, I want to go out and get another one. And another, and another, and another…Fortunately I’ve set my limit at 2. For the moment, anyway….Give this sweet little fizz-bubble a good snuggle for me.
Smaller than a soda.
And even sweeter.
What a doll…
And cuter, too!
AW!!!
oh my, Diba is so precious….beautiful kitty
I can’t believe they say the average time is so long. We had one cat who was about 5 years old and then the cutest Black and white stray showed up at our door. Benji was only about 8-12 weeks old and we had to keep him. At first ,Butterscotch jumped on him(we think he may have thought he was a rat) He wasn’t hurt or anything and it was touch and go for awhile,they tended to fight on accasion but after 4-6weeks,they were inseparable and would even curl up together. They went out together and if one came back without the other and still didn’t show up after five minutes of us calling ,the other would go out and within a few minutes they would both show up at the door. They bonded so completely that when Benji got sick and died four years later,Butterscotch spent a couple of months looking for his little brother,that was heartbreaking to see but he did eventually get over it. Aizilyn
Yeah he is so cute!
It’s the real thing kitty- a real sweetie :))
fizzy fuzzy.
What pretty eyes and coloring!
What a BEAUTIFUL kitten!
How old is Dibs in the picture?
*LOW-CALORIE FUZZ*
Just too cute!
And so confident and happy!
Hi folks, I need some advice:
I’m thinking of adopting a nice black kitty (about 2 years old) and want to know whether this might be successful. She is living with a temp caretaker and has been shuffled around way too much already, so I wouldn’t want to add to her woes. I currently live with a 2 year old neutered male kitty who has always been very macho and territorial, but who is also very lonely for company (other than me). I live in a large -800 sq. ft. studio apartment, and the only place I can close off is my small bathroom. I have had multiple cats in the past, but am a little worried about this. It’s a big financial gamble as well, as the apartment corporation charges $300 per pet! Hope you all can give me some suggestions. Thanks!
Hi..
I think this can work out, especially since they are of opposite sex.
She sounds like she needs a steady home with you!
Before you introduce her to your boy, rub some of your cologne or lotion that you use onto your hands then rub each cat. They wil both then have your “scent” on them and will be less territorial.
I have tried this and it works!
There will likely be hissing but that is normal.Good luck!
BTW, I just wanted to say the lotion trick you mentioned sounds very sly. If my parents get another dog or cat (adding to the family of dozens), I’ll recommend this.
Here is what the ASPCA site has to say about introducing a new kitty:
Some cats are very social and enjoy living with other cats, while others prefer to be solitary. If you are integrating a new cat into your home, understand that it will take time. The best advice is to introduce the cats gradually and be patient. It takes most cats about 8 to12 months to develop a friendship with a new cat. Others never become friends, but and will simply mutually avoid each other. Still others continue to fight until your only choice is to re-home one of the cats. If you are dealing with cats who have lived harmoniously with other cats in the past, the odds are probably good that they will adjust. However, it is impossible to predict if any two individual cats will get along. If the resident cat becomes aggressive when he or she sees other cats outside the home, you will probably have a difficult time integrating a new cat. There are no reliable guides for deciding the best matches among cats. We do know that male cats—if they do become friends—tend to spend more time with each other. The individual personalities of the cats are more important than any other factor, including sex, age, or size. Be aware that the more cats you have, the higher the likelihood that you will have conflicts between the cats.
When you first bring the new cat home
The first impression the new cat makes with the resident cat(s) is critical. If the cats display aggression, this may set the mood for their future relationship. For this reason, it is best to separate the cats initially. The cats should be able to smell and hear, but not see or touch, each other. Each cat should have his or her own food and water bowls, litter box, scratching post, bed, etc. Feed the cats near the door that separates them so they learn that coming together, even though they can’t yet see each other, results in a pleasant experience. Feed extra special treats near the door as well—tuna, salmon, cheese, chicken, liver, etc. After 2-3 days, “rotate” the cats so that they can investigate each other’s smell. This also allows the new cat to explore a different section of the home. Some behaviorists even suggest rubbing the cats with the same towel to intermix their scents. After a few more days, play with the cats near the door. In particular, encourage the cats to paw at a toy under the door. Eventually the cats may play “paws” under the door with each other.
After a week or so, assuming you see no signs of aggression at the door (no hissing, growling, etc.), replace the door with a temporary screen door so the cats are able to see each other. Continue to encourage feeding, eating treats, and playing near the door. Start these activities a few feet away from the door and, over a few days, gradually move closer.
Together at last
The next stage is to permit the cats to spend time together. Carefully supervise these interactions. It is good to bring the cats together when they are likely to be relatively calm, such as after a meal or a strenuous play session. Keep a squirt bottle handy in case the cats begin to fight. As the cats become more familiar with each other, allow for longer periods of time together. If one cat spends most of his time hiding, or if one cat is continually harassing and pursuing the other, you should seek the assistance of a certified animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist.
Be sure to consider the layout of your home. Make sure there are plenty of hiding spots for your cats. Some cats like to sit up high, on shelves and on kitty condo perches. Frightened cats tend to hide under and behind things, so make sure there are hiding places at floor level as well. Place food, water, and litter boxes out in the open so the cats do not feel trapped when accessing these resources. Make sure you have a litter box for each cat and at least one extra.
-
We have five kitties and have had to introduce each one to the rest of the crew. We’ve done female kitten to male adult, male kitten to female adults and male adult to both male and female adults. Eventually they all get along. Keeping them in separate rooms at first certainly helps. We also use a commercial spray like Cat Ease to keep them calmer. Instead of lotion, I rub their favorite treats on my hands, then rub all of them, then give them the treats on opposite sides of the door. Once they decide that their food isn’t threatened, they accept each other faster. The other thing we make sure we have is lots of sandboxes. The new kitty always gets one of his/her own to start with. Then, instead of throwing away the scooped waste, it goes into the other sandboxes for a day. (After the new kitty has a clean bill of health from the vet, of course.)
Hi Lynne,
I am happy to give you my two cents worth. No easy answers.
Unfortunately from your description of your cat it doesn’t sound very likely to me. Much easier to introduce a kitten. Also in my experience male cats have bonded more easily. The only way to find out is to *try*.(If this is an option) It should be done very slowly. New kitty goes in the bathroom. Try to get your scent on both. There is something called *Bach, Rescue Remedy Spray*, should help to calm everybody down. You can find it here http://www.herbalremedies.com/reresp20bafl.html
Honestly? Unless you have your heart set on this kitty I would try to find a rescue male kitten.
Also you might try re-posting on a weekday, this site has more cat lovers around then.
Good luck and please keep us posted
Thank you all so much. Your advice is invaluable. I will think and talk about this much more before I commit myself to something that might make either cat miserable.
I’ve found black cats to be especially social and affectionate. I’ve introduced many newcomers over the years, and EVERYBODY learns to get along eventually. A female kitten would be more accepted than another “good ‘ole boy tommy”. I say go for it! You’re attitude and protection is all that counts.
maralisil
Thanks Maria! You have cheered me up a bit. This little girl is so sweet - reminds me of my Burmese Brownie, who loved people and rode around in the front of my half-zipped jacket.
I thought I’d share my introduction experiences, as it may help with your decision. My tortie Mokey is 11 and has had to live with two other cats in her life. The first was my sister’s cat (back when we lived with my parents) who was introduced when Mokey was 2 and he was about 5 months but looked less than half his age due to malnutrition and illness. (A VERY rough start but he pulled through and became a beautiful, sweet kitty!) They never got along even after living together THREE YEARS. Mokey would still growl at him occasionally. He ignored it and they didn’t fight, so it was workable but not ideal. I think the smell of his illness and the fact he was confined in one of her favorite rooms at first contributed to Mokey’s resentment of the new cat.
Then when Mokey was 8 we got our second cat, Pesmerga, as an 8-week-old kitten. At first my husband (then boyfriend) and I lived apart, so Pes would visit on the weekends. Mokey growled when she approached and couldn’t settle or sleep with the kitten in the room. Over a few months of weekend visits she got better, to the point she’d only growl if Pes actually touched her. When we finally moved in together, they adjusted pretty quickly, at least to the point of not growling. (I think the fact we moved onto the kitten’s turf helped!) By the end of a year they were actually friends! They share food dishes, and occasionally groom and sleep by each other. They don’t frolic or snuggle like some bonded pairs, but we’re very happy they get along so well with absolutely no conflict now. They’ve lived together 3 years now, and we’re so glad they don’t make us pick sides because we love ‘em both!!
You are all so great, going to the trouble to help me make this decision. I’m going to keep this information and not introduce another cat until I can be relatively sure of the success of the thing. Until then, I will continue visiting the Daily Kitten!
Lynne in Georgia—
Do you think the person fostering her has a big crate? When I first introduced Teddy Bear to Gally, I crated Teddy(the new cat) in a huge dog’s crate. This lasted for aprox 2 weeks. By the 3rd morning, both boys were chirping to each other. They also played thru the bars. When I finally let them both run loose, they only growled for a bit. They were never “best friends”, but they tolerated each other pretty well.
As for Dibs, I think she is just a doll! Makes me want to get a new kitten for sure.
who cares lady it is about dibs not your cat
Hi, I just had to introduce 2 female adults (friend went into hospice and left an orphan). I was going to keep them separate but the new kitty bolted out of the kennel straight into the house and the 2 met abruptly. There was some hissing and territorial behavior on my cat’s part but the 2 girls within one week and chasing each other around and have adjusted very well. The first day the 2 were together, I had to worked 12 hours so they were alone together. They survived, my first cat has not changed her behavior (that was my big worry) and the first night the 2 actually slept on my bed with me. All the horror stories I heard had not been my reality and boy are they fun to watch when they aren’t hissing. So far, so good. I do have separate litter boxes and they each have a chair, blanket or pillow that’s their spot. Good luck, it’s very entertaining if it works.
Linda
*Vanilla & Orange Fuzz*
Sweeter than soda as well and , I’m sure all “fizzy’ and fiesty!
As in, I got dibs on this soda!
This kitten is a classic!
U r soo right
Fizzy and fuzzy. Very sweet and no calories! What beautiful blue eyes the kitty has.
Tiny and cute! I took a similar picture of my dog when she was a tiny puppy: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/christabean/wiggysoda.jpg That pup is now 8 lbs full-grown, less than half the weight of our bigger cat!
I actually gasped at how beautiful this kitten is. Wonderful!
ahhhhhh - he or she is just way tooooo cute - what a little pose she has going on & those blue eyes - my oh my!!!
this kitten is so cute mine are so cute also
*Lily May*
:0
The kitten is ah-dorable! And really sweet looking!
Very Cute!
Reminds me of my Redford when he was a kitten! (He will be 15 on Halloween Day!)
This little furball is much sweeter than Coca Cola!!! And the saying “Amazing things come in Little Packages” totally relates to Dibs!!!
:) 
Dibs is such a cutie what a beautiful face. Congradulations
on your new kitty
I get Dibs on the next six pack!
FIZZ FUZZ
More corporate sponsorship…
*Sweet Sparkling FUZZ*
(Somebody else beat me to the “Dibs on the soda” joke)
Ahh. . .the paws that refreshes (now I’m dating myself).
Such a pretty face!
Dibs is very beautiful…….My kind of kitty, going for the coke……
What could be sweeter?….
Cremesicle Coke Float Fuzz…
Dibs is the cutest kit I’ve seen on here yet….really wish I could find a cremesicle kit for myself….HUGE SIGH…well maybe soon…
Darn it, you beat me to the “Creamsicle float” joke!
Dibs is gorgeous.
I hate to say it, but Dibs is cuter than my marmalade and white boy was when I got him. I’m jealous!
But my sweatie has been giving me hugs all day so I think I’ll keep him. I think he knows I had a dream last night in which I had to give him back to whomever his original owners were (I adopted him from Friends of Strays when he was 3 months old.) In my dream he was still a kitten and not the 18 month old cat he is now. (bad picture of a Trjegul hug at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96802252@N00/187421435/in/set-72157594195811427/ - its hard to take the picture while being hugged. LOL! )
Ohhh so cute
Mini fuzz lol
She is just beautiful.
so so cute! just beautiful! give the little fuzz a cuddle for me please!
*……I’d like to teach the world to sing…FUzz*
What a sweet little one thanks for sharing
And cuter too! I would much rather have him than a can of coke, What a beauty!
The itty bitty fuzzy orange and cream ones are just so cute
I was wondering what everyone’s views on declawing are, like just the front claws. I’d always been pretty skeptical about it, but most of my family that has had cats have had theirs done and the cats seem pretty ok with it, being indoor cats… I dunno. I just want second opinions.
Kat, I have 4 fuzzy lovies. All are indoor kitties. The 2 boys were born ferrule, and when I took them in as kittens had them decaled when they became old enough. A couple of years later, I got 2 little girls and left them with their claws. All 4 are doing very well, and my furniture and drapes are just fine because I believe that having a scratching post and ‘cat tower’ for them is very important. I decided not to put the little ones through added pain if it was not necessary, and so far (It’s been 5 years) it worked out very well. You can always have your’s declawed later if you have a problem. I always put some catnip on the scratching post for daily about 1 week when I first bring a new one into the home. The Fuzzies go to it right away and learn to scratch it from then on.
Hope this helps!
please dont-i have known of cats that have infection after infection due to this. Come on-they are amputating at the knuckle. Does not sound like any fun to me!!
I have had perhaps a dozen cats declawed over my lifetime with no issues or problems whatsoever. My husband read on the procedure & determined it was cruelty, so my current group of cats are not declawed. Despite multiple scratching posts, my couch, 2 chairs and curtains were sacrificed to this decision. I also much prefer playing with a declawed cat - they love to pounce on hands & fingers and you simply can’t do that the same way when they have their claws.
I have heard of a new procedure that is “kinder.” It basically burns the claw off - like you would a wart - and does no damage to the bones. I will definately look into this!
yeah we just got a cat tower that my dad made himself out of carpet and wood, but i still fear for my new couch
not to mention i may be getting a new little kitten soon… i better ask her her views too before i accept the kitty.
Don’t do it! It is so very cruel to declaw. It is amputating the toe at the first knuckle. Most vets will try to change your mind on this procedure (at least the good vets do). I have a cat now and he has learned to only use his scratching post. My couch and chairs are no worse now than they were when I first got them. An alternative to declawing is Soft Paws. Its a cap that’s put over your cats nail. There are country’s that have declawing banned and I wish the US would do the same.
People take the time to train a dog to sit and come, why can’t people also take the time to train their cats to scratch on appropriate furniture. It takes the same amount of dedication and time.
you got DIBS i want DIBS DIBS is adorable!
How adorable! You forget how tiny they are, you need to take a picutre next to something to show that! What a sweet expression.
I think Dibs would prefer milk! lol Cute as can be! May the Lord bless and protect you and this baby always.
Nice cat and name!
Almost makes me wanna give up Pepsi!
What a little sweety-face…This site is SO DANGEROUS for me! Every kitten I see, I want to go out and get another one. And another, and another, and another…Fortunately I’ve set my limit at 2. For the moment, anyway….Give this sweet little fizz-bubble a good snuggle for me.
I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING FUZZ
the cutest lil kitty! XOXOXOXOXO
Oh the sweetie! My cat was that exact same size when we got him… TINY!
Dibs may be smaller than a soda but I bet she or he is as fizzy as one and loves to play. She does look like a orange and vanilla ice cream bar.