T lives in a city now. For VA, this city is urban. It comes with perks such as public transportation & parks. It comes with problems like pollution & pests.
Pests such as RATS!
The weather is cool there now so she won't know until the spring if bugs will be a problem. Rats are bad enough!
We recently spent a week in her place (she's been there only a month or so). I brought a cot to sleep on. B said he'd be fine on the floor. T, M & B heard scratchy sounds in the wall of the bedroom but there were no telltale "droppings" so they figured rodents weren't in their place, but rather in the downstairs apartment. Now that the rat has been seen in THEIR place, I suppose B was fortunate not to have come face to face with the thing!
Their landlord allows cats (de-clawed cats, that is). In my limited experience, cats are more than likely to be on the list of animals landlords DO NOT allow. He must've known about these nasty rat creatures to allow cats in his building.
So, M & T are "debating" about whether to get one or not. Both believe they need one, but are unsure of the "start-up" costs or needs of owning a cat. Let me see if I can help.
Or confuse.
It's going to be a long winded entry for sure, so if you bore easily... log out now!
If you're not a cat person, log out now!
Medical Costs:
Initially, a cat should be spayed or neutered. An animal shelter usually does this procedure.
Then there's rabies & distemper shots. The 1st ones also usually are done @ the shelter. My cats get their booster shots as recommended by their vet. A yearly wellness check w/boosters & blood work for 2 cats is about $200. I save all year for this cost.
I have seen many cats do fine w/o seeing a vet every year.
Don't forget flea & tick protection (such as Frontline). Even indoor cats can be exposed to these bugs. I use Frontline in the warmer months. It's a pricey application, but effective! I'm unsure how effective "over the counter" flea products are, so ask the shelter.
I have NO CLUE on the cost to de-claw a cat! I have Gracie & Zee's nails trimmed evry 6-8 wks.
Grooming:
Depends on the breed of cat! Mine are American Short hair cats & need very little to no brushing. They do shed their fur, so I Swiffer or vacuum the floors. I wash throw blankets & bedding often to keep the hair count down. I use lint rollers if needed on clothes.
They are self cleaning! Give plenty of daily, clean water to help alleviate hairballs. And the cat will get hairballs! If fed properly & watered often, the cat won't get too many!
Feeding:
An adult cat, like Gracie, should weigh about 10 lbs. Indoor cats don't get as much exercise as outdoor ones so they don't need to be fed as much.
Cats are lactose intolerant, NO MILK! For that matter, no human food!
Although... Gracie likes a bite sized piece of raw chicken now & then. Zee dislikes it!
I give my cats 1 cup of dry cat food in the morning to share throughout the day.
The cost of cat food varies. Look for sales.
I got 3, five pound bags of various flavors & mix together in a covered, Rubbermaid tub.
I've chosen Iams, Hills Science and Purina One, all formulated for indoor cats, with Hairball control. Then, as I notice the food in tub getting lower, I alternate buying one of the aforementioned foods & mix it into the tub.
It's about one, 5 pound bag every month after the initial 3 bags.
I suggest a feeding tray under their food dish unless you like stepping on scattered cat food!
At dinner time, my cats each get 1 T of cat treats but only because I spoil them.
Canned, wet food should be unnecessary if there are enough FRESH, CLEAN water sources.
Mine have several water sources. A fountain, a dish, the fish tank & the bathroom sink!
Cats have a waist!
You should see their waist w/o seeing the outline of the bones of their rib cage!
If you see bone outlines, you're underfeeding. No waist means your cat is overfed.
Bathroom:
Cats seem to come programmed to use a litter box. I've tried several automated, self-sifting, open, covered and hidden litter boxes. I find the taller, large, covered boxes to be their preference. The cover provides privacy when doing their thing & helps to keep the litter "dust" contained when they cover up their business.
There will be litter tracked onto the floor. You can lessen the amount by using mats under the box. I shake my mats outdoors every day. The pet stores have all kinds of mats.
I HIGHLY recommend a XL mat!
A depth of 3-4 inches of kitty litter should be maintained. Cats detest using a "dirty" litter box. Pee & feces MUST be sifted out daily! Use a sturdy sifting scoop w/a storage holder.
Fresh litter should be put in as needed.
I find Arm & Hammer litter to be effective in controlling odors as well as clumping for easy sifting/removal. A 22 pound box is about $12 and should last about a month. I bought a huge, economy sized plastic container with a lid as my initial purchase. Now, I buy the cheaper "refills" & transfer the litter into the plastic container. It's important to keep the litter DRY!
I keep a large yogurt container nearby to help make replenishing the litter boxes easier for me.
Save your grocery bags! They work great for disposing of used kitty litter.
Also, NEVER flush kitty litter down the toilet!
Sleeping:
My spoiled cats can sleep where they want to, usually in the crook of my arm or knees!
If you don't want cats to sleep with you, shoo them off (maybe over & over until they understand).
Keep a soft place nearby like on a chair (they like higher sleeping places to observe you)
They sleep a lot but are aware of you! Their ears are always moving even in sleep. Busiest, most active cat times are @ dawn & dusk. BTW, They purr only when awake. Their eyes may be closed, but if they are purring, they're still awake.
Training:
Cats can be trained with patience & repetitiveness & more patience.
I taught mine to stay off the computer by pressing the aerosol dust remover can.
Not AT them, just near them.
Even now, they need a gentle reminder once in a while. To keep them off the countertops, I used the kitchen sink sprayer. Of course, I had to wipe up a water mess, but they stay off the counters. And they are not allowed on the dining table when people are eating! Shooing them away over & over worked in this situation.
Play Time:
Even adult, indoor cats need stimulation! Eventually all the rodents will have disappeared!
I love interacting w/Gracie & Zee. We play tag, chase balls, wrestle fake mice or octopus or use a laser light. They love a perch near a window to "see" things. The sun coming thru a window is a sleep inducer! I have a cat tree for them to climb & stretch their claws on, but they would still be happy cats w/o it! I sprinkle catnip on something to perk up their interest. My cats do get their teeth on my skin during playtime, but have NEVER bitten me!
So, if you're still reading this... I'm impressed!
I love my cats!
Sorry T & C for not having them when you were growing up.
They are so easy to care for once you set everything up!
Good luck in your "feline vs rat" discussions, T & M!
Keep that nasty rat off of my grandbaby!
