Unexpected kitten!

May 2, 2006 10:43 PM

I am rather suddenly acquiring a cat. I have a very low budget. Please help me to not do it any harm.

Long story short: someone at work knows someone who is going to put a bunch of cats down if they do not find homes ASAP. I happened to be in the market for a pet (though Thursday is a bit sooner than I had planned), so I agreed to take in one of the poor little souls. (And yes, I am trying to help find homes for the others.)

My landlord is fine with this and I have already gotten a vet's referral from a friend for the spaying/neutering.

I've had pets in the past, but I'm mostly a dog type of girl. I have no idea what specific needs cats have, aside from some food and a litter box. I don't want to waste my money buying my cat his own monkey if he's not going to need or use it. However, if my cat is going to cry himself to sleep at night without a scratching post, I'd be happy to provide it.

So, what low-budget things do I need to make my new feline friend feel at home? What kind of decent food can I buy at the grocery store? (I know it's best to get food from the vet, but I can't afford that right now. Maybe next month.)

(Oh, PS: I know nothing about this animal. The age is inderminate and I've already planned that I will take it to a vet as soon as possible to get it up to date on its shots, etc.)

posted by grapefruitmoon to pets & animals (66 comments total)

I'll say from experience, that if it's a young kitten, plan on spending a lot of time with it. It will be lonely and needy. Not needy for anything physically, really, other than a lot of company. Kicking my kitten out of my room while in bed with my girlfriend was such an emotionally excruciating experience for the kitten that I gave up and let him sleep with us.
posted by bingo at 10:52 PM on May 2, 2006

Purina One, usually available at the supermarket, is fine.

My cat, no matter how many toys I buy, doesn't really seem that into them. Shoelaces, however, she's all over. I think it's OK to just get the litter box and food dishes, and then give her some time to settle in and see what kind of things she naturally plays with or seems drawn to.

Cats are pretty low-maintenance, for the most part. You'll be fine.

On preview: I've never had to deal with a kitten (I got my cat when she was one year old), so that may be different.
posted by occhiblu at 10:54 PM on May 2, 2006

I second bingo re kittens, and I'm now contemplating buying my cats their own monkeys, damn you. Cats need food and a litterbox. That's it. If they are adult cats, you need to keep them INSIDE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS so they won't try to get back to "home", and end up in an alley.

As for food, I know I'm behind the curve here but I've had numerous cats who lived 15-21 years and ate Purina Cat Chow their whole damn lives. Buy some wet tasty canned stuff as treats, and never get them hooked on "Cat Treats" because when you don't have any they jones like junkies for a fix and make your life hell.

Tell your vet you're a new cat owner and I'm sure she will be able to offer good advice.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:59 PM on May 2, 2006

Most importantly, you need to clean up your apartment; you don't want any deathtraps. No buckets of water, no spilled poisons, no handy windows open to fifty-foot drops -- basic stuff.

You also know you need to take it to a vet -- that's great! Spaying/neutering is also really good (and expect you may need to pay for vaccinations, flea dip, or something else you couldn't have predicted). Tell the vet you're a brand-new owner, and s/he should take a few minutes to explain the mysterious inner workings of cats.

To find out what kind of food you need to buy, you have to know the cat's age -- not exactly, but roughly (very young kitten, solid foods kitten, juvenile, adult, senior). You need a little more information before you can get food (but don't forget cat dishes -- and a litter scoop).

The only thing your cat will cry himself to sleep if he doesn't have is you. Convoluted, but I think you get the point. Don't just go by the stereotypical independent cat; they do need attention and playtime too, although the amount varies.

Monkeys are helpful but not really necessary. If you want to feel like you're preparing for the cat, you can get a cheap six-pack of hot-pink fuzzy mice or something. Other than that, wait and see what it goes for naturally (shoelaces, hangers, boxes).

It may be better not to mention whether you're keeping it inside or outside; that conversation tends to go poorly around here.
posted by booksandlibretti at 11:01 PM on May 2, 2006

Yeah, cats are much much more low-maintenance than dogs. A lonely kitten's gonna want some attention. I've never seen a cat develop a really strong bond with any kind of inanimate object he couldn't sleep on. Unless drugs are involved.

Don't be surprised if the cat just freaks out and hides for two weeks. Many cats take some time to get used to new environments.

Dry cat food will be just fine for adult cats and older kittens.
posted by furiousthought at 11:01 PM on May 2, 2006

The one thing I would say, which fits the low-budget idea: Just be careful what's out that the cat could chew, jump on and knock over, or hurt itself on. Figure the cat's going to get into every nook of your place and jump onto any high surface, so don't leave out knives, rubber bands, meat, or anything else the cat might chew, jump on and knock over, or hurt itself on.

I think it's probably more important to keep the cat safe than toy-bound. And yes, keep the cat indoors.
posted by occhiblu at 11:03 PM on May 2, 2006

Cats scratch. Get the little one acclimated to scratching something appropriate before s/he starts tearing up things you love, because they'll keep scratching the damn $6,000 couch (while ignoring the $8 scratching post) if they ever put their claws in it.
posted by bilabial at 11:03 PM on May 2, 2006

(Or, you know, what booksandlibretti said!)
posted by occhiblu at 11:04 PM on May 2, 2006

Thanks for all the advice so far!

To clarify indoors vs. outdoors: while my landlord is fine with a cat in the apartment, she is not at all cool with a cat digging up her plants. That decision has been made for me. Kitty will live indoors.

(My apartment is HUGE. This cat will not be suffering from lack of space. I've got three rooms the size of Texas and a bathroom the size of Iowa.)

Also: there are no worries about furniture destruction as I have very little furniture to destroy and what I do have cost me a total (for all of it) of $200.

(And yes! Of course I am cleaning up in preparation for Operation How Did A Cat Get THERE?)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:13 PM on May 2, 2006

I got my first cat two years ago and the MeFites were very helpful about becoming a cat person. Lots of good tips in that thread.

Things I didn't know when I got a kitten (if indeed, you get a kitten):

- Don't give them normal milk. Most cats are apparently lactose intolerant! You can buy special kitty milk at the grocery store but ours doesn't particularly go mad for it.

- With little cats, don't get them any food with fish or fish flavours in it for a while. We read that it can upset their stomachs, and anything that keeps kitty from vomiting is a good thing. Our cat's been eating the store-bought Friskies chicken and beef dry food for two years now with no complaints. For treats she occasionally gets the water leftover from the tuna cat or the bits we trim from (raw) chicken when making dinner.

- I fell into the trap of thinking I had to spend money on cat toys to keep her from being bored. Then I realized she sleeps 20 hours a day, and when she does want to play she likes cardboard and cheap crap much more than the fancy toys anyway. With one exception: laser pointer. This is the CAT TOY OF THE GODS. If you're having trouble getting kitty to exercise, go to a cheap electronics store and drop $15 on one of these. Endless fun.

- Our two biggest cat expenses so far were the LitterMaid self-cleaning litterbox and a cat food feeder with a timer. Of the two, I'd say that the feeder was the better investment. We can load it up with five days' breakfasts and set it to go off at 5am, which keeps her from racing across our heads to wake us up. People will tell you the LitterMaid is a life-changer, but our experience has only been so-so. We've recently switched back to the plain old 99cent litterbox with clumping store brand litter. She likes that fine. You just have to not be lazy about scooping it.
posted by web-goddess at 11:38 PM on May 2, 2006

Also - you don't necessarily have to buy a scratching post. There are a ton of websites with ideas for building your own. Personally I've been toying with the idea of making a cat ladder.
posted by web-goddess at 11:47 PM on May 2, 2006

Used dental floss: very attractive when found on the bathroom floor; potentially deadly if swallowed. Ditto for thread, which cats will eat off the spool if they can get to it. You really don't want puss to get an intestinal blockage, so start thinking about these items as the hazards they are.
posted by Scram at 12:20 AM on May 3, 2006

Ditto for thread, which cats will eat off the spool if they can get to it.

This kind of thing really depends on the cat. Better to be safe than sorry at first, of course, but you'll get an idea of what your cat is and is not interested in after a while. This cat in the neighborhood just adopted me. She's got no interest at all in my birds.

But you know, maybe the eating string, that's an indoor cat thing. Cats do eat grass, usually when they've got a hairball and want to throw up. Which by the way is not unusual every now and then.
posted by furiousthought at 12:37 AM on May 3, 2006

Kittens need love. With a young kitten, you become surrogate momma. The kitten will bond to you. Let it sniff around you all it wants, even inspecting your mouth. Don't be alarmed if it sucks your earlobes (very young).

One hazzard with cats, especially little ones, is they get under-foot. You'll want to learn to watch out for tripping hazzards for you, and stepped-on hazzards for the kitten. Cats tend to be quiet, so they aren't as obvious as dogs.

A small ball of aluminium foil makes a great, cheap, cat toy. Cats tend to enjoy things that readily move when they swat them. If you enjoy playing with your cat, I strongly recommend a stick with some cord attached (the sort of cord you find on venitian blinds is perfect). You may tie a feather to the end. The stick allows you to flick the cord around quickly, to keep the cat busy chasing. Worked properly, your kitty will learn to fly, chasing that fabulous feather. But beware, this is addicting, and your cat will come to demand that you play. However, this will seriously exercise your cat, and you'll end up with a fabulously beautiful, skinny, truly feline, housecat.
posted by Goofyy at 1:05 AM on May 3, 2006

Get two cats. I know it sounds crazy, and I know you don't have a lot of money, but two cats are collectively much happier than one. They don't have to come from the same litter, and you don't have to get them on the same day, but if they are both around the same age, they should become fast pals. At least that's been our experience. And kitty rasslin' is very entertaining.

Scoopable litter is your friend. Don't flush it, no matter what the box says. Clean the litter every day and it shouldn't smell.

Dry food is fine, and the hardcore pet people will disagree with me, but brand doesn't matter. (Hardcore pet people say that human-grade food makes poop smell less and is better for the cat, but I personally can't justify the $$$$ involved.)
posted by SashaPT at 2:22 AM on May 3, 2006

I second the second cat! It's expensive vet-wise initially, but kittens raised together have an entirely different dynamic than adults placed together. The opportunity to get them interacting well is gone after they are adults, and they develop socializing modes that are more reminiscent of dogs if you can handle two. They will entertain themselves for a lifetime, and two are virtually the same level of effort and cost as one. Since they are coming from a litter, perhaps a litter mate is available.

I like girl cats more than boys and have never found a female to spray, but I have males. I've had maybe a dozen and 4 that lived nearly 20 years. Currently down to 3 adults.

I now say that the only cats i would ever adopt now are either calico/tortoise shells. These colors are sex-linked, and the cats are almost always female. Of the many personalities, they seem to have the best.

Treat them like you love them and you'll be OK. Think of them as 2 year old humans once they are adults. You don't have to watch them every minute, but you do need to be aware of their needs and cognizant of their ability to get into trouble.
posted by FauxScot at 2:55 AM on May 3, 2006

Cheap laser pointers. VERY CHEAP, including shipping, if you're in the US.

I buy catnip from the bulk bins at the healthfood store, stick it in a sock and tie a knot at the end. My cat thinks it's pretty swell. (You could also grow catnip yourself for maximum thriftyness.) Don't keep catnip out all the time, though--they need time to 'recover' from its effects so that they'll go crazy over it again.

Get a brush or comb, or donate one of your old ones to the cause. Make sure your cat doesn't have fleas...if he does, you can get rid of them with persistent bathing and flea-combing (which is about as much fun as it sounds). Cats are more sensitive to flea products than dogs, which can make things difficult.

You can use a regular human nail clipper to cut his nails. I've gotten away without a scratching post so far, but if I dont' keep up with cutting my cat's nails, he scratches at random things in my house.

Food: my vet suggested something like Science Diet or Iams. I got a huge bag of Iams (which is also available in supermarkets) at a pet discount place called Pet Valu, which they may or may not have in your area.

We have cat toys, but my cat also finds his own entertainment: watching the toilet flush, watching birds from the bedroom window, jumping on piles of papers and spreading them out, and a blue plastic Tyrannasaurus Rex figure he found somewhere in our house.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:22 AM on May 3, 2006

I was just about to suggest two cats, and see that someone else has done so. Apart from a little extra cost in terms of neutering/shots, it's no more expensive to keep two cats than one. They'll be company for each other - one bored kitten left on its own can get up to a whole lot of mischief - and will be much, much more than double the fun and pleasure for you.

Don't spend a lot of money on toys until you see what they like to do - one of my cats is a 'chaser' and the other prefers to bat at hanging objects.

Oh, and read this and this.
posted by essexjan at 3:34 AM on May 3, 2006

Dry food is fine, and the hardcore pet people will disagree with me, but brand doesn't matter.

My cat had a bladder stone ($1000 surgery) and the vet said it was because I used generic cat food. She recommended Purina One.

Make sure your cat doesn't have fleas...if he does, you can get rid of them with persistent bathing and flea-combing

My cat (and the entire apartment) had a flea infestation once, and I almost killed her using cheap, over-the-counter flea medicine. For me, the only thing that worked for fleas was Advantage, which you have to get from the vet but it is not poisonous for the cat. Luckily, strictly indoor cats don't get fleas as easily - something has to bring the fleas in from outside.
posted by one at 3:50 AM on May 3, 2006

Don't bother buying a pet bed until you see what they want to sleep on. My cats would rather curl up on the couch than in a bed (unless it is mine), so it ended up being a wasted investment.
posted by Loto at 4:40 AM on May 3, 2006

Ping pong balls are cheap, and provide endless hours of chasing fun.

Can you arrange your furniture so your cat has a perch looking out of a window? Cats love to sit and watch stuff outside. If you want to buy something, these are cool, but a little pricey. I've seen them cheaper at regular pet stores or Target.

Along the same lines, if you don't want a kitty-sized worn spot on the top of your expensive couch, move the couch away from the window now. (Same goes for dressers with little knickknacks on them.)

Never underestimate the attraction of little breakable thingies on a tiny shelf way up high. You will be surprised at how little room a cat needs to maneuver, and how high they can jump. Put away the Faberge eggs and priceless figurines before kitty arrives.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 5:02 AM on May 3, 2006

In preparing your apartment, you may want to check if any house plants you have could be poisonous.
posted by sarahmelah at 5:02 AM on May 3, 2006

Your current $20 couch looks no different to kitty than the $6000 couch you will surely have in the not too distant future (I'm being optimistic here for you) so teach the cat that scratching anything you sit on (or whatever your long term boundaries are) is a no no, before it has a chance to wreak havoc. And you certainly don't have to buy a scratching post, you can make do with that ugly chair, as long as you don't mind lugging it around for ten years and explaining that it really isn't for sitting, it is owned by the cat. Seriously, I have this chair though and it is totally going in the trash in about three weeks.
posted by bilabial at 5:09 AM on May 3, 2006

For the other kittens, are there any no-kill shelters near you?
posted by bleary at 5:52 AM on May 3, 2006

Second the "two cats" recommendation. Really not much more trouble than one, and they keep each other company when you are at work. Be sure to expect lots of scratches on your arms, legs, etc. until they figure out what claws are for; my cats learned rather quickly (probably from wrestling with each other) that claws = hurting, so are generally quite nice about them when playing with us.

Many stores (Target, etc.) carry floor-to-ceiling cat trees, with fluffy carpet on them and multiple perches, for about $30. Best investment we made. When they tear out the old carpet - and they will, in time - replace it yourself. All you need is a little patience to pull the old staples out, a staple or tack gun, and a hammer to pound the new staples flush with the carboard tubes. (You can probably borrow the tools from a friend if need be, or get a staple gun yourself - they're useful and not too expensive). I used cheap, rubber-backed indoor/outdoor carpeting (about $0.50 / square foot or less) to re-surface my cat tree - several times - and they still love it. They only claw at the furniture when the cat tree is getting ratty and needs replacement carpet.

As for food, our vet had two things to note:
(a) Generic food is not necessarily good for your cat. Ditto for store brands. Recommendation is to go with a name-brand at least - Purina for example, or Iams if you can afford to spend a bit more, or any of the higher-priced foods.
(b) Stability is the second option. Many cats get stuck on a specific diet, and then have major gastric issues when you switch to a new brand. You want a reliable brand that will be available for a long time to avoid this. Many store or generic brands can change formula or be replaced without warning, which can be an issue.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:16 AM on May 3, 2006

Re: spaying/neutering your cat(s) -- you can probably get this done for free or very cheap if you call around. My local SPCA spays cats for $15 or $20; any kitty that you didn't pay money for (i.e. a pure breed fancy-pants cat) can be considered a stray, and should qualify for discounted spay/neuter somewhere.

...which is another way of telling you that 2 cats are better than 1, and that you shouldn't let the cost of an extra spay/neuter stop you from adopting a second cat. Even if you can't do it right now, plan on getting your kitty a friend in the next year or two.
posted by junkbox at 6:17 AM on May 3, 2006

Should add - fluffy shag carpet is not an ideal scratching surface. Most cats just find it annoying. A rough berber or the like is a much more satisfying scratch surface.
posted by caution live frogs at 6:18 AM on May 3, 2006

First, congratulations on your new cat. One thing a lot of people miss is chairs that have curving backs that the kitty's head might get stuck in. Mine did, on his back, and bit through my thumb when I rescued him. :-) I have 3 cats, they're wonderful animals. Keep the litterboxes clean - that's the biggest hassle. And buy some boxes - like, cardboard boxes - my cats love them more than anything else in the world. The purchase of a kitty gym, while expensive, has brought quite a bit of enjoyment. They get PO'd if they can't cuddle with me; cats widely differ on this subject. I bought a couple of window shelves.

They are very low maintenance. I travel quite a bit; I have someone check on them every couple of days or so, though i've been gone for a week or more after leaving them plenty of food and water and things were fine. Not that I would advise you to do this, necessarily.

Get a squirt bottle. You sometimes need to attitude-adjust your cat, and the best way to do that is by squirting him - cats hate to get wet. Everyone else in this thread has covered everything else I planned on covering. In short - don't miss the shot dates, keep your kitties up on their boosters. If you get two cats for some reason, keep an eye on them when they fight and make sure they don't go after each other's eyes - my vet says that eye problems are the #1 reason he sees cats, one of mine has a scratched cornea and he'll never recover fully after a fight with one of his sisters.
posted by arimathea at 6:31 AM on May 3, 2006

Balled-up pieces of paper are my cat's favorite, favorite toy ever. Also, paper bags from the grocery store. Don't bother buying the cat any toys.

Propensity for scratching depends on the cat. Since you are getting the cat as a kitten, you can probably teach her/him when and where she can use her claws. (Not on you or on the furniture, yes on that patch of carpet over there.)

Even if she/he doesn't turn out to be the scratching-post type, a patch of Berber carpet or the like will be beloved for itching/massaging the toes.

We just give my cat dry Iams, she's twelve with absolutely no health problems. She gets a teaspoon of olive oil in her food to help her with the hairballs (she's medium-length fur.)

The Zoom Groom is the best cat brush I've found. All cats lurrve this thing.
posted by desuetude at 6:38 AM on May 3, 2006

My cat got sick (crystals in her urine) from eating cheap food. Now she's on low ph prescription food and all is well. You don't need to spend tons, but check out the ingredients list and ash content.

I was always a dog person and one thing I wasn't prepared for which may not happen with all cats is lack of cleaning as a kitten. My cat, until maybe 6 months old, was stinky and just didn't get how to clean correctly. Suddenly, it all just kicked in and she's been super clean ever since. I, of course, was worried that I had someone found the dirtiest cat in the world.

Oh and she chewed on electrical cords as a baby, so watch out for that.
posted by jdl at 6:42 AM on May 3, 2006

Cats are creatures of habit; they don't like change. Once you have a routine down, it's best not to change anything suddenly. If, for example, you decide to switch types of litter or move the litterbox to a different location, it's likely that you'll see a change in the cat's behavior. Sometimes this is unavoidable (say, if you move to a new apartment), but in general, the more you can introduce change gradually, the better.

If the litter box isn't clean enough, the kitten is likely to let you know by doing its business elsewhere.

Catnip is great fun for the kitten, and great fun for the human watching the kitten. We give our cats loose catnip in the bathtub, so they can roll around in it without catnip ending up all over the house.

Also, most cats I've known like rocking chairs, either sitting by themselves or on the lap of a person.

And finally, find yourself a catsitter (or loyal catsitting friend) now so that you'll have this person's contact info when you need it - the last thing you want to do while you're rushing around trying to leave for a vacation is figure out who can stop by to take care of the kitten.
posted by hsoltz at 7:22 AM on May 3, 2006

Kittens may sleep most of the day, but it's in fairly small chunks. Your cat will want a lot of stimulation during the day, especially when you're not home. You should get two. (And, if you're lucky, find a nice vet who'll only charge you for one office visit if you bring them in together). They will keep each other company when you're not home and when you're asleep and will be much, much happier (assuming they get along).

Re: toys, you can spend loads of money buying them, or not; it's up to you. Kittens will play with anything. (I have found, though, that things that roll and make a little noise and are easy to bat/carry around are very popular with my cats, so paper balls or these are highly recommended. Your cat will need less in the way of toys if you have another cat it gets along with.
posted by fidelity at 7:32 AM on May 3, 2006

Lots of good advice here. One small addition: especially if you're not a morning person, don't let the cat learn to associate "human wakes up, I get fed" because you'll never be allowed to sleep in again.
posted by zadcat at 7:36 AM on May 3, 2006

I second the second cat!

Me too. Unless it's important to you to be the sole focus of your pet's attention and affection, I really think it's healthier for the cat to have a feline companion (barring fights, of course, though for some reason this was never a problem with mine), and it certainly takes the pressure off you—the cat won't go nuts when you go away and "abandon" it.
posted by languagehat at 7:39 AM on May 3, 2006

Make sure to guard your jewelry, keys, etc., as they make great small toys for kitty. I'm a really heavy sleeper, but I'd shoot out of bed when I heard kitty sweeping my earrings onto the floor from my nightstand. When I moved out I found a bunch of jewelry in corners, under the couch, etc.

One thing that was absolutely hilarious was a video for cats-- it's like 30 minutes of birds and hamsters up close. The cat sat on top of the tv and pawed at the screen-- much fun for observers.
posted by orangemiles at 7:39 AM on May 3, 2006

I will have to reiterate the advice here, and I have 4 kitties:

Two cats: Your cats will be better adjusted, better socialized, less likely to hide when company comes over, etc.--all around happier.
Some of the 10th Chance and Focus on Feral places to spay/neuter for 15-30 dollars once a month. Check your local chapters.

Good Food: Purina is your minimum. A well-behaved and trained cat will also eat less of the good stuff as it is more filling and satisfying (as opposed to an obese cat who overeats-- they will do it no matter what you give them). Melon, my sweet little angel, had crystals and nearly died. Three days in the hospital. $1500. Spend a little more money now, a lot less later. Consider one meal a day or every few days as a wet meal. Fancy Feast or whatever is fine. We shell out for the prescription wet and dry now. Oh how I wish we could buy Fancy Feast for him...

Make sure there are a few water sources for the kitties to drink from-- mine like the tub and we have a Drinkwell fountain. Bowls of water are fine as long as they are changed regularly.

If you have behavioral issues after the *first month or so* (like peeing inappropriately) and the vet has ruled out any health issues, consider Feliway but ONLY after all other issues are ruled out.

Snuggle regularly, even if they indicate that they don't love it (however, growling and hissing is a put-kitty-down-immediately sign).

Get them used to claw clipping now. Struggle with all your might! (or ask the vet how, and get the special clippers from the vet or the pet store-- the halfmoon ones.)

Be entertained by their quirks and little personalities! And please. You get this kitty (these kitties!) and they are yours. They love you and they need you. I see so may people who are moving and just cannot or will not expend that much more energy to make sure kitties can come, too, or new boy/girlfriend has minor allergies, etc. You are promising to care for these beings. They are your responsibility and you are their guardian. Remember that at all times (I have to often remind my husband when the vet visits come around).
posted by oflinkey at 7:43 AM on May 3, 2006

Also: there are no worries about furniture destruction as I have very little furniture to destroy and what I do have cost me a total (for all of it) of $200.

Yes, but what your kitten learns now is what your adult cat will be doing for the next 12-18 years or so. Unless you plan on not buying any nice furniture in the next couple of decades, Fluffy has to learn that posts, not couches, rugs, or wall-to-wall carpeting, are for scratching.

(This might be a good time to stop and make sure you're prepared for a 15-year commitment, too.)
posted by mendel at 7:53 AM on May 3, 2006

Let me hundredth the suggestion of a second cat.
posted by LarryC at 7:58 AM on May 3, 2006

As far as the thriftiness goes, I suggest that you hold off on buying lots of cat accessories until you get to know your kitty. My cat, for example, likes to scratch in a horizontal position; if I had bought a tall scratching post, it would have been a waste of money. Instead, I bought a cheap 2'x3' rug that keeps her happy.

You will want to start the kitty out with some kind of 'home base' where she feels safe - a little hidey-hole, perhaps. I've received great advice from the employees at a local independent pet store about this kind of stuff, and they actually have a better selection than the local PetsMart.

As for litter automation, I use World's Best Cat Litter. It clumps, it's flushable, it's made of corn instead of mined, and there's NO ODOR. I use it in a traditional litterbox, and we scoop out the clumps into a Litter Locker. This thing is FANTASTIC, and only $20. Of course, if you plan to keep the litterbox in the bathroom, you can dump the clumps into your toilet.

on preview: don't feel like a bad person if you don't want a second cat. also, I second the getting used to claw-clipping.
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 8:04 AM on May 3, 2006

Just to demonstrate that all cats are different:

* My cat HATES rocking chairs.
* She has absolutely no interest in catnip.
* She is affectionate yet independent, and perfectly happy without a feline companion (doesn't destroy the house when we leave, etc.)
* Has lived in six apartments in eleven years, and only handled one of the moves poorly.
posted by desuetude at 8:05 AM on May 3, 2006

I will chime in again and say that getting John as a pal for Mable was the smartest thing I did when I could no longer be home most of the day for Mable. Mable was absolutely frickin nuerotic. Cats are social and they get lonely.
posted by bilabial at 8:09 AM on May 3, 2006

Messy Beast has a lot of articles, including those about cat behaivor, which can be useful if you've been around only dogs all your life.

Hopefully, you will be given some sort of cat carrier when you pick up kitty. It might be cardboard, but that's ok for the short term, as long as the bottom doesn't fall out and the top closes securely.

Otherwise, get a cat carrier. Cats can be squirmy little bastards and even a short trip from the vet office to your car can result in a lost cat if you're holding it in your arms. If kitty is having issues going in the carrier, turn it on its side and lower him in. If it's already a top-loading carrier, all the better.
posted by Sangre Azul at 8:16 AM on May 3, 2006

Quadruple thousanth the recommendation for two cats. It's the best two for one deal you'll ever do.
posted by dness2 at 8:20 AM on May 3, 2006

Great Advice above.

Second cat is a great idea. They keep each other company, about the same amount of work for you, and you get twice the kitty love! The only significant difference is at vet time, but if you follow the above suggestions, you shouldn't be seeing the vet too often.
The few extra dollars for decent dry food is worth it-
Nutros or Science Diet are preferred, Purina One would be alright.
Always have fresh water for them.

Above advice about the cheap toys being the best is correct. My boys ignore the fancy toys but go crazy for a dropped 2-liter bottle cap. A simple empty cardboard box is cat heaven.
ONE WARNING: No yarn or string! As with the dental floss above, it can cause a blockage if they eat a piece.

Give them lots of love and enjoy them!
Best of luck to you and your new friend(s)!
posted by BillBishop at 8:23 AM on May 3, 2006

oflinkey: Get them used to claw clipping now.

Seconded. And make sure you have a bag of kitty treats at hand so they make the connection that it's not such a bad experience.
posted by hangashore at 9:38 AM on May 3, 2006

Note: I can not get two cats. My lease specifically says "ONE CAT ONLY."

If I could, I definitely would, but it's just not an option. Don't even mention trying to fool the landlord - she's ex-military and stops by the apartment unannounced very often. She can not be fooled. I also have a great deal of respect for her and don't want to go against the terms of the lease.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:39 AM on May 3, 2006

Some kind of scratching surface is good -- there are lots of variants on cardboard scratching posts on the cheap (and they last longer than you'd think.)

Ditto all the above. Other than food, water and a clean litter box, the cat just wants your attention (the amount and kind varies a lot with the cat.)
posted by Zed_Lopez at 9:39 AM on May 3, 2006

Say, has anyone suggested getting a second cat?

Seriously, though, cats work so much better in pairs. My two guys, both around 10, still horse around like they're kittens every single day, and their weight has stayed the same forever. There's no way I could play with one cat as much as they do with each other, and I'm sure being in top play-fighting condition will extend their life a bit, too.

They're also just very happy together. (And they weren't even raised together.)

One word of advice if you do get two: You need at least two litterboxes. I'm lucky in that ours will share one, but I'm also very surprised that they will; usually cats won't want to go where another cat goes.
posted by mendel at 9:44 AM on May 3, 2006

Ah, preview. Oh well. Do revisit the two cats issue next time you move.
posted by mendel at 9:45 AM on May 3, 2006

Since I feel like the whole second cat thing has become the largest (good-natured) guilt trip I've ever seen on AskMe, I just wanted to say that my cat *hates* other cats. A friend watched her when I was abroad for a year, and she had to become an outdoor cat because she totally despised the other cats in the house to the point of making everyone miserable. She almost never hisses -- until she sees another cat.

She's also extremely possessive of me (in a friendly way), so there's probably a trade-off there, but in any event, you're not going to do the cat lasting harm if she's an only child!
posted by occhiblu at 9:56 AM on May 3, 2006

Second on the cardboard scratching post. All my kitties have seemed to find it very satisfying, and if you sprinkle some cat nip into the carboard the love it even more.
posted by Sara Anne at 9:58 AM on May 3, 2006

Two cats are great. Two from the same litter even better - they're bonded to each other - less worry about territoriality. If you can adopt two of them, go for it.

Two kittens WILL NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT FOR THE FIRST YEAR. If you're a light sleeper this can be incredibly frustrating.

Advice from best friend who is a vet - stick with the better brands of food (Science Diet, Nutro, Iams) and don't be afraid to feed them a "light" or "diet" brand. It won't hurt a normal-weight cat at all, and overweight cats get diabetes so fast your head will swim. Plus, they will eat less of the better food than the cheap stuff, and the litterbox will not smell as bad.

I would recommend dropping 30-40 bucks on a water-fountain-type drinking dish that recirculates the water. I have one of these and my kitties love it - they drink far more water than they used to, and seem to be in much better health. Petmate makes a good one.

As far as toys, your cat will tell you what he likes. In fact, he'll tell you pretty damn much everything he needs and wants - you just have to learn to read him and his body language. He will have weird, unique personality quirks. They all do, it's what makes them so awesome.

Finally, remember this: Dogs have masters. Cats have staff.
posted by Thistledown at 10:33 AM on May 3, 2006

As a mostly dogs type of girl, you will be pleased to note that some cats play fetch. One of mine would bring me a favorite toy (usually a ping pong ball), drop it at my feet, and look at me expectantly. I finally got the idea that the chasing of the moving target was the fun, not the actual catching. So I'd throw, she'd chase it around the room, and when it stopped bouncing off the walls and furniture, she'd bring it back to me for another throw.

Regarding collars for cats - the jangling of kitty's tags (id tag, rabies tag, chip tag if you get it chipped) and/or a bell on the collar will drive you absolutely crazy. But at least you can hear when kitty is getting into trouble, and if there's the slightest chance that it will bolt out the door during the nanosecond it takes for you to close it, it's worth it having a collar with tags.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 12:08 PM on May 3, 2006

We bought an el cheapo berber-esque door mat and staple gunned it up around a door frame for use as a scratcher and even the big old 18 pound fatty hangs on it. Also, the littlest one sometimes runs up the carpet at top speed and then falls hilariously to the ground when she suddenly hits bare wall.

If you search AskMefi for "biscotti" and "clicker training" you will find a wealth of info on cliker training cats to not scratch things by resident pet expert biscotti. I've not tried it but it would be a neat experiment to see if these walnut-brained fur bags would go for it.

To start with, I concur with litter box and bowls and would add that a cat carrier is pretty important.

Grooming wise, we use this kind of shedding comb and the cats LOVE IT. They will purr and drool and rub their faces all over it and literally line up for combing time when I pull it out. As for nail clipping, (and you will probably want to wait until you and the cat get used to each other) I wait until the cats are alseep. Then I come around and talk sweet and scratch their chins and they roll over and purr and then CLIPPITY! I can usually get two paws done before they realize what's happening and get indignant.
posted by jennyb at 12:11 PM on May 3, 2006

Oh we put a jingle collar on the litt'lest cat in the house when she was a wee kitten because she was like the size of a clementine and she was black and I was terrified I would step on her or she'd get lost behind the fridge. But we took it off once we got to know her habits because it was annoying.

If you decide to put collars on the cats (we have them and put them one when we take them out to the vet or whatever but they mostly go 'round naked) spend a few more dollars on collars with a quick release feature. I have a sad story about the dangers of non-quick release collars on an indoor cat, so it's better to be safe and sorry.
posted by jennyb at 12:14 PM on May 3, 2006

One more important thing: it's cool to keep pets and be low-budget, but please *do* make sure you have some savings or other resources in case of a veterinary emergency. Part of responsible pet ownership is having enough for proper medical care should illness occur--not just enough to buy the animal and to feed it. I've seen too many people become frantic over a sick pet because they can't afford care, and it's heartbreaking.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:22 PM on May 3, 2006

A word about collars - if the bell falls off of the collar, don't put it back on again. The ones that fall off can be a choking hazard. (My cat got used to the collar sans bell, and when I gave him a new collar the noise freaked him right out. Probably made him think his brother was sneaking up on him - his brother's bell is still in place, while my cat gets to be a sneaky bell-less ninja.)
posted by caution live frogs at 12:51 PM on May 3, 2006

One other thing I forgot, and haven't seen -- don't be surprised when you're fast asleep with a nice warm blanket up to your chin, and the cat starts gnawing on your toes. They do it because they love . . . or because they think your toesies look like little baby mice moving under the blanket. You can get the cat to stop, and train it to knock it off, but don't freak out (omg an attack! it's rabid!) the first time it happens.
posted by booksandlibretti at 1:15 PM on May 3, 2006

Many people don't know that soda bottle caps are perfect cat toys, according to my cat. She prefers them to all other toys, and she will steal them -- too bad if you want to recap your soda. My cat has a rat terrier for a brother (who is smaller than she is), who she gets along with very well and who is a good playmate, but her sister (litter mate) comes and stays with us fairly often while her person is out of town -- they absolutely adore each other. Definitely two cats are happier together if you can swing it, but it does of course double the food, litter, and most importantly, vet bills.
posted by redheadeb at 3:07 PM on May 3, 2006

One easy cat trick: If it's looking at you with eyes open, hold its gaze and blink very slowly. It's a general "I love you/we're friends/good vibes" signal.

Just doing that to my cat has given many of my friends an in with her. It seems to help calm down an aloof or stressy cat. (And you'll notice that she'll do it back to you sometimes, too.)
posted by occhiblu at 4:14 PM on May 3, 2006

I used to be a dog-only person until my ex got Tempura. Kittens are freakin hilarious. Ditto on the cheap toys - pingpong balls, shoelaces,etc. I'd suggest buying (or making) one of those elastic fishing-type toys. We had one that hooked over the door so he could play at night or when we weren't home.

Go through your apartment and look for any weird nooks and crannies where he could get stuck. If you think he "might" get stuck, he will. Also make sure any pictures and such are securely on the wall or very far away from bookcases, etc. Tempura tried to scratch on one of my needlepoints!

Look around and see if there are any shelters in the area that have low cost vet clinics.
posted by radioamy at 6:39 PM on May 3, 2006

I want to jump in on the cat food issue. Dry food is bad. Too many carbohydrates and not enough moisture. Most vets agree this is a big reason for FLUTD. This is not as important with girl cats, but with boy cats, it can develop into a life threatening condition.

As others have said, a cat fountain is good. But even cats that drink out of them don't get enough water in their diet with dry food. I use innova and innova evo canned, which isn't cheap, but worth it. My cats eat better than I do.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 7:20 PM on May 3, 2006

What everybody else said. We are into month four of being owned by (what was) a 10 month old demon child in a not-overly-large apartment. Things I have learnt:

* Shoelaces. She goes nutsack for shoelaces, above all other things. Little 50c cork-centered mice are also good value, however tend to gravitate to the under-sofa area.
* Quality dry food == quality kitty poo. Nice and firm, compact, and non-stinky. We fed her additional wet stuff and flesh (chicken scraps, kangaroo) which she adored, but her droppings became significantly less pleasant to be around.
* Once the cat has the taste for flesh, she will take it wherever she can find it. Even if that requires extracting it from four layers of plastic baggage. You have been warned.
* Some people have said you can train your cat not to attack things under the blanket. Prove it, please, providing references. Cos damn, but I've got some callouses I'd like to lose.... ;)
* The cat-ladder idea looks good, but we went with a cat "townhouse". 5' tall, a couple of platforms and a large enclosed box she can hide inside. All covered in carpet -- nothing funnier* than seeing a cat fling herself at it from feet away, and then stick like velcro to the side.
* Do not laugh at your cat after it has done something retarded, and expect it to still love you. Bruised dignity, it seems, smarts.
* For the darling who likes showing your face her bum, wet-wipes are a godsend. Although she may not think so.
* Finally, even if you want a cat who'll talk to you, do not choose the kitten who speaks! I cannot stress this enough. A quiet cat will learn to talk. An already chatty cat will not shut the fuck up.

This is annoying. Very annoying.

* Except maybe when she did it to the top half, which promptly detatched and landed on her. That was hella funny
posted by coriolisdave at 9:22 PM on May 3, 2006

Taking the cat! Wonderful!
Being a responsible owner and getting shots, etc! Magnificent!
But as an ex-shelter worker, I'd like to strongly advise you against the "get another cat" idea.
In a nutshell - 1) cats aren't quite like people socially - the 'companionship' factor may be less. You most likely will face having two cats who cannot adjust to the new cat in their home/territory. Common behavioural problems like 'oopsiebladder' (highly scientific term) emerge. Does one cat have to go back to a shelter?
2) Two cats cost so much more to vet, feed, house and entertain than one. (I have two cats, one eats three times more than the other).

But I wish you all the best and think that you won't ever (seriously) regret this move. As far as cheap entertainment goes - a ridiculously high percentage of cats looove catnip. (After about three months of age). Get yourself some seeds and potting mix and create an indoor psychedelic cat-garden! (Fresh catnip is stronger than dried, too).

(p.s. do not feed the cat cheese)
posted by Catch at 2:02 AM on May 4, 2006

(sorry ought to have read the thread properly, you can't have two cats, still - for future reference I stand by my argument!)
posted by Catch at 2:07 AM on May 4, 2006

Thanks so much for all of your advice, everyone! I am getting the cat (I have found out that there are two who are seven months old and female and two younger males - I will be taking one of the girls as I don't feel comfortable with an itty bitty kitten at this point) tonight and will do my best to keep her happy!

To whomever worried about "low-budget" and vet visits: I wouldn't ever take a pet I couldn't care for. My budget is low in terms of brand of food and number of toys I can afford right now, but I have savings that can be used in case of emergency. Having had dogs all my life, I know the ways of the unexpected vet bill!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:17 AM on May 4, 2006