[bluekitty04]

Ever since I told my parents about my problems with bipolar and depression, they sure have been a lot nicer to me.... Anyway, my mom wants to get me a cat! I love cats! I have a cat desktop backround, a cat avator on psych central, and on ever single thing I registor for, bluekitty04 is my username!
Sorry, I just love cats so much..... Anyway, the real reason why I wanted to post this on psych central is to find away to control my exitement and ask a few questions.
First of all, I don't know which cat to pick. I live in a noisy household, my dad doesn't like cats, and I'm scared I wouldn't take care of it properly. I want a cat that is adaptable, not bothersome, and low-maintanince. I don't really care for looks much, I'm just want it to have fur though please. Any suggestions?
Second, I have never owned a cat before due to my dad disliking cats, so I don't really know how to take care of one. I can always google it but some primary source information from a cat-owner would help more.Any tips please?
( Sorry this is a bit long, I'm just so happy! By the way, please don't post anything about owning a dog instead or about how they are better or anything like that. All animals are amazing in their own way.)
Thanks for reading!

First of all, I don't know which cat to pick. I live in a noisy household, my dad doesn't like cats, and I'm scared I wouldn't take care of it properly. I want a cat that is adaptable, not bothersome, and low-maintanince.

I'm sorry but I don't think adopting a cat would be a good idea for you given that information. The only cat that would meet your requirements would be a stuffed toy cat. Please think carefully about this.

Most cats are low maintenance, and if you get a short haired cat you won't need to groom them either.

Also most cats are fairly sedate and adaptable.

[H3rmit]

Will you get a cat from the pound? Just hang out in the cage room for a while and get a feel for their personalities. Get the one you really like. They are all different. (I'm sure not everyone agrees - but that just means they aren't noticing what I am, right?) In other words, as you imply, not looks but personality.

[roads]

Cats are incredibly sensitive to the household they're brought into. You're going to create a mentally ill cat simply by bringing it into a place where one of the people (and your dad to boot, probably the alpha in the household) doesn't like cats! I understand your mom's idea, but she hasn't given this sufficient thought.

And then there're your requirements:

I want a cat that is adaptable, not bothersome, and low-maintanince.

Right there, it's clear that you and your mom are not thinking about this cat with the same purpose in mind. You're thinking of having a pet, whom you can play with or not at your pleasure. Your mom has in mind a therapy animal--one you would bond with, who would help you cope with bipolar and depression issues. They aren't pets ... Therapy animals are your best friends, and you never consider them bothersome.

Please don't get a cat. Talk with your dad and see whether there's a pet he'd be happy with your having. Or maybe volunteer in your local shelter once a week. Take time to find an answer that's the right one for everyone, okay? Believe me, an unhappy cat isn't one you want to create and live with. Rushed decisions have created so many already who end up being euthanized in shelters across the country.

roadie

[Mindinpieces]

I suggest that you make sure you get all you need to know before making any offers of getting the cat of your choice. What I mean is make sure you know the cat’s medical history. Find out all you can out about their breed to make sure this cat is the cat that best fits what you are looking for and what you can look after. Make sure you ask loads of question and get the full answer you want from the staff members when you go to get the cat, they should be able to advise you with all the information you require. I can tell that you are probably already doing this and maybe like you said google all different breeds of cats first which you feel you may like adpoting before hand. This way you can go to look at what cats are available with all the knowledge you need to then make the best educated choice on the day. I say this because my family’s cat was adopted however she never did properly get a full check it turns out as now we know due to here vet visits and operation due to a unchecked condition she had before we adopted her, we love her and have stuck with her. However this can also cause concerns for parents, sometimes we have to try and see it from there point of view. Not to cause any upset though this isn’t always the case when getting a cat, that was what happened with the cats trusts we adopted from by them not properly doing what they should have been doing. However we are glad she is with us as we hated the thought that if no one had have adopted her then she may have passed away while waiting to be adopted.

Really though it is all about what cat you feel at the time is best suited to you and you have a soft spot for but remember the other side and remember that this should be a joint thing with your parents happy to agree to this knowing all what they may need to know with all that come along with owning a cat, food, vet bills ect.

One last little thing there is some sort of saying that it is not you that adopts a cat, it is in fact a cat that will adopt you. For example if a cat is ill-treated and it has a way of escaping, it will find a new family to whom it see as a family worth adopting and becoming the owner of that family not the family becoming the owner of the stray cat. In other words I am sure you will figure out which cat is right for you and one cat may even help you out by letting you know “I am the one you can take home”.

Really hope you don’t mind my reply and wishing you all the best with looking for and getting a cat. Hugs MIP

[Oystersoul]

I would echo about spending time with some cats and letting them choose you!

I 'rescued' 3 kittens when they were 2 weeks old when their mother was too unwell to look after them and nearly died and hand reared them. I kept all 3 and now they are 8 months d and just the BEST!!!
They are Bengal crosses and are beautiful and great company (on their terms!)
They just seem to know when I need them nearby and I can talk to them about so many things that I would never discuss with a human.
My ex 'hates' cats..... and seeing that we share the house because neither of us can afford to move out, she has to tolerate them but they pretty much ignore her anyway!!
I'm still waiting for her to say "me or the cats?" Or maybe she knows the answer already

They are expensive to care for and don't tolerate 'can't be arsed' days but the rewards far outweigh.....

I will post pics of my girls when I have sufficient priviledges x

[bluekitty04]

Okay, maybe I was a bit blind about my dad's feelings because of my love for cats... You see, I actually wanted a guina pig at first because my dad likes them and I do to( not as much as cats though...) But my mom knows how much I love cats and she likes cats to. She is actually the one who wants to get me a cat, I'm just way too excited. I like cats but I guess I might have to save it until I move out... About the therapy animal thing, I think it's true that my mom wants me to have one. I have changed my mind about having a cat... Maybe I'm asking too many requirements for a single animal... This time, all I want it to be is adaptable since I can't really change how my household works. I can change the animal if it's bothersome by training it and I can spare time to care for it. Now that I think about it, the reason I wanted a pet in the first place was because I was feeling lonely. A therapy animal sounds exactly like what I need.What do you think would be a good animal for me?
Thanks!

[roads]

How about a guina pig, since that was what you were thinking about to start with? They can be very sweet and attentive. I'd suggest a young male, it will bond best with you. Most shelters have them. Or a breeder ... try to avoid pet stores if you can, since those animals often come from animal mills and start life with problems.
So what do you think? Give it lots of thought, talk if over as a family.
roadie

[notz]

Owning any animal requires commitment. Food, water, litter box, removal of feces, vet bills, shots and meds are just some of the responsibilities there will be. Cats, in particular, can live up to 20 years or more. Are you ready for that? Can you vow you will consistently live up to the necessary requirements of ownership? Any hesitation? Is it best for the cat?

[bluekitty04]

Thanks for the suggestion Roadie, I think that I'll be able to settle with a guina pig. I kinda have experience with them because I once had 2 of them when I was really little so I think I will be able to care for them.
notz, don't worry. I think I'll be ready for a cat when I move out. I took care of my baby sister every since she was little, sometimes people wonder who's her real mom, me or my mother! Once I get a good job and have a stable income, I'll adopt a cat.

[Oystersoul]

Without wanting in any way to sound patronising, that is really quite responsible!!
Any pet is gonna be lucky to have you!

Still very exciting while you find your perfect match!!!
I had 7 piggies and they are so cute!!!

[Maven]

Not only do I agree with most of what's been said here, before you get any pet, you should research, research, research! What kind of food should they eat to get the right nutrition? What might poison them, and how can you protect your pet? How do you care for them? Is there grooming involved? How often? How can you protect your pet from other animals (especially if you have more than one pet, or your pet is sometimes outside)? What if they get pregnant? You should spay or neuter dogs, cats, rabbits and perhaps some other animals, but if they get pregnant before you get that done, you should know how to take care of them all the way through birth and delivery. Also, you need to have a good vet and take the pet for annual checkups. Therefore, you must have funds saved up for emergency pet care, just in case. Don't assume you know all you need to know. Pets shouldn't be bought on impulse, or because it would be "cool" to get a pet. You need to know what you're getting into.

Some people think, cats! Give them milk, a soft place to sleep and feed them cat food, and it's all good. No! Most cats are lactose-intolerant, and there's so much more you need to know to care for a cat (or a dog, guinea pig, hamster or whatever).

You should learn first-aid for your pet. Have a kit prepared.

Cats, while somewhat lower maintenance than some other animals, do require quite a bit of commitment. I prefer having cats over, say, dogs because I'm gone quite a bit of the day and my cats play with and entertain each other. However, they are quite clingy when I get home and it is necessary for me to pay quite a bit of attention to them and play with them once I am home. I have to clean their litter box daily. I've had to take my long-haired cat to the vet twice, once emergently. Soon they will both have to go in for teeth cleanings (which some would argue aren't necessary, but are good for their overall health so I choose to do). Food is relatively inexpensive because they each only need a cup to a cup and a half a day, but they loooooove wet food and it's best for their health. The long-haired one needs to have olive oil mixed in so that she doesn't get hairballs (the reason she had to go to the emergency vet for surgery). So yeah, cats are relatively--compared to some other animals--low-maintenance but in order to have a happy animal (and to be a responsible pet owner) you have to put in a good amount of effort so... I guess it's up to you.

[girlwithbrownhair]

"Not bothersome"? Why wouldn't you want a cat that bothers you? That's how they show their love.

Overall, if you really have it in you to be responsible for a cat, then maybe an older shelter female kitty may be better for you (males can require more specialized feeding to avoid cystitis). I would highly suggest you hang aroudn with somebody who knows cats first, though. Cats aren't "easy" esp when you first get them. They're like humans in sooo many ways. Like right now, I have to bring my kitten to the vet again becasue he just isn't eating. At best I'm looking at a bill of around $200, becasue I'm sure they'll want to do bloodwork ($75) and a fecal check ($30). On top of that, he needs his monthly flea pill ($20), the vet will charge $40. If they need to catheterize him to check if he has cystitis or an infection, that'll push my vet bill probably over $250. If they need to keep him or do Xrays, I won't have the money to pay my March rent. Just with the regular bill I'm expecting, I'll have to eat at soup kitchens for a while.

So, be sure. This is really hard.