Calling all cat owners. I need your help.

[🌼 Sprucetail 🌼]

Tell me about what it’s like owning a cat. I’m trying to convince my parents to get a kitten. We currently have two well trained dogs and one guinea pig. Their reasons for being hesitant are A) We didn’t take care of the guinea pigs like we promised when we got them. B) Cats have too much hair. C) We aren’t responsible.

By “we” I mean Graystorm and me.

By “them” I mean my dad. My mom really wants a cat, but won’t do it if Dad doesn’t agree.

So please, tell me what it’s like to own a cat, for I don’t know. Tell me responsibilities and what their impact is.



I’m just gonna tag everyone I can remember because I don’t know who has cats lol
cr0wt00th Ezio Auditore da Firenze ✞~Spottedleaf ~✞ hopefeather EchoingProphecies 🐾Wavestar🐾 Moonstar anawarrior @everyone


Ples tag people who have cats xD

[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]

"I have lived my life as best I could, not knowing its purpose, but drawn forward like a moth to a distant moon; and here at last, I discover a strange truth. That I am only a conduit, for a message that eludes my understanding."
―Ezio Auditore da Firenze on his role as "the Prophet", 1512.

<Ezio> cats need love, attention, care, good place to sleep and a place to hide if needed. to make one you just need some boxes (or one big box), cut out an opening for the cat to go in and out and place it somewhere not so in sight

supply the cat with fresh food, play regularly with them, and you'll be fine

oh and a tip - don't disturb them while they're eating, and place their toilet somewhere away. it can get stinky

Are you brave enough to enter the Chiela Village?

[🌼 Sprucetail 🌼]

Do they Shed a ton like my mom says they do?

[~Flameheart~]

Most fluffy cats do, but shorthairs, well.. I have one and the fur is easy to remove off of clothing. If your cat likes a bed really good, usually that spot will be covered in hair because of all the times the cat has been there.
If you get a long-hair cat, there will be shedding.
I'd get a hairless cat if you are worrying about shedding.
Shorthair cats are usually the best ones, their coats don't need much maintenance because they do it all themselves.
Cats are actually I think the best starter pets because you can leave them alone for long periods of time (not like dogs). If you get a kitten, there will be training to be done, but usually it's fine. Hopefully you guys get one!

(the shedding is actually just loose hairs falling off, so if you want to minimize the shedding, get a daily grooming brush or something that is recommended and brush your cat so the loose hair will be gone for awhile. Kittens tend to have less hair)

[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]

"I have lived my life as best I could, not knowing its purpose, but drawn forward like a moth to a distant moon; and here at last, I discover a strange truth. That I am only a conduit, for a message that eludes my understanding."
―Ezio Auditore da Firenze on his role as "the Prophet", 1512.

<Ezio> in spring, yes. they shed their winter coat and then there'll be fur literally everywhere (watch out drinking tea, you might even somehow find fur there). but in other seasons, nope.

Are you brave enough to enter the Chiela Village?

[🌼 Sprucetail 🌼]

I mean, I have a dog that sheds a crap ton. Especially in spring and fall. But yeah it makes sense that a short fitted cat has less hair

[anawarrior]

Well that you want to know? You have to be specif
Every cat is different, in my lifetime I had three cats, all these are different in aspects. Also I interacted withother cats so.....
I will talk a little to each

My first cat was a male named Field, he was short hair pure black cat. He was playful, serious he is not the lazy cat stereotype, running, climbing, etc. But also affectionate, he wanted to sleep on my bed, but at my age at the time [6-7] I could not stop moving my toes [it was not a medical problem] and they would try to bite, so no sleeping on beds.
Unfortunately, I almost dont had responsibility with him, like keeping Field inside at night, which caused his death by drinking rat poison at water

Then there was Milady and Lord, unfortunately I dont had many experience with them so sorry. But they are like grandma cats, well at least Lord was, Lord would sleep at my lap and do grooming seasons. He was a chill cat.
Milady was a little of this too, but far more energetic.
I picked Lord on the brink of his age [13 years] so he died of old age
Milady.. my family moved to a apartment, and she was not trained to live in a house, so we had to giver her away, I did not had a information of her since that, maybe she died of old age?.

And last, my cat, Bella. she is stereotype of cats, lazy of point to nap the entire day, likes to claw things like the sofa and for some reason the carpet too? One moment she wants to have hugs other she wants to kill you with all her strength and might. She likes to walk around on the roof. But we aways on the night get her to our house.

So, what we learned?
Cats are like humans. Do you want to everyone hug you all the time? Or you want to be alone all the time? I think not, we want attention but moderate, same thing with energy.

So, the code is:
1-Care for your cat, give it food and aways make sure that he/she has fresh water, give her some toys, dont be fancy, a paper ball will do. Or you want to play hide-and-seek with it? Risk is your choice with that option

2-Castrate it, you will do a favor, Bella was rescue practically being a newborn because her mother was killed by some humans ''cleaning the street from cats''.

3- Make sure that on the night, you aways keep it inside, do I need to explain why is that? Yu dont want your cat be killed, dont you?

4- Love they, give them space when they dont want attention

5-give them love

[✞~Spottedleaf ~✞]

Cats can be generally low-maintenance. They just need attention, food, water, a place to sleep, a litter box, etc. Two of my cats are strictly indoor, so they do not have to be let in and out. I typically clean their litter boxes (I have 2 in the house) every few days, but all of my 3 use them. With only one, you might not have to clean it out as much.

Is there anything specific you want to know?

[🌼 Sprucetail 🌼]

Nah ✞~Spottedleaf ~✞ was just learning about them so I can use their low-maintenances as an arguing point lol.

[Nightwhisper]

It depends on the cat and it's health. My cat is diabetic, so we have to watch her diet and she sometimes pees on the carpet (due to diabetic bladder issues). Health issues differ. If you have a long-haired cat like a domestic longhair or a Himalayan, you will need to comb them regularly and trim their fur if they get snarls or knots. Me and my mom shave our cat during the summer since her fur is really long and easily tangles.
Cats can easily escape if you leave your front or back door open. I have lost two cats throughout my life because they escaped. I wouldn't recommend an outdoor cat for that reason. They also damage the bird population, and have helped make some species go extinct.
Cats can be left home alone, provided they don't have bladder issues and are given food and water. Some of them might have separation anxiety due to previous trauma.
If you get a kitten, be prepared to help it defecate on the floor if it is orphaned. They need some encouragement. They also are very playful and prone to giving scratches.
DON'T GET THE CAT FROM A PRIVATE BREEDER! Cats from shelters that aren't no-kill are best. Try to get them from there or off the streets. (On a side note, don't bring stray cats into shelters. They're proven to be more likely to be rescued if they're on the stray rather than in a shelter.)

I'm not a complete expert on cats, although I have picked up a few tricks from shelters I have been at.

[cr0wt00th]

pm me 🌼 Sprucetail 🌼 i'll talk to you there

this thread is intimidating

[Nightwhisper]

cr0wt00th

Eh, it's just crazy cat people talking about the purrs and cons (I kill myself sometimes) of their fluff children.

[Willowisp🍃]

It's been a few years since my cat passed away, but I remember a few things. (My cat used to be a stray, so some of this might not apply to you)

-A lot of people say that cats should be kept indoors but I know my cat was definitely an outdoor cat, it just depends on the cat itself.

-Give the cat it's personal space. Don't touch the belly. Some cats might like it, but a lot of cats don't, and might see it as a betrayal of their trust. As it gets to know you it might not mind as much, but don't do it with a new cat. My cat would have bitten my arm off if I had done that the first couple of years we had him.

[🌼 Sprucetail 🌼]

Good to know because, with dogs, if they let you touch their belly they trust you and want you to pet them.


I know everything there is to know about dogs, but I’m pretty clueless with cats

[cr0wt00th]

cats are angry furballs

just give 'em a litterbox, scoop it daily or every other day (show them the litterbox when you first get them)

set out a bowl of cat food and water (show them this too)

DO NOT GIVE THEM DOG FOOD. THEY WILL GET SICK.

get 'em vaccinated

just be aware if you get a molly and you wanna fix her, they take all of her female parts out instead of doing what they do with dogs (at least where i live)

let them explore the house on their own; only show them the food, water, litterbox like i just said

DO NOT DECLAW THEM.

get a young cat; they'll be easier to mold into your lifestyle (this sounds weird but trust me)

they knock things over - just be aware

don't let them outside a lot unless you live in the country; they may like it, but living in town increases the chance of them getting lost or run over

do not let small children handle them, even if the cat acts like it doesn't mind

many cats don't like collars and often take them off in random places

i know more but i can't remember rn

EDIT: wait how did you know i have cats