Consider this cautionary tale in advance of your decision: <br /> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rq-ovTGIiGQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rq-ovTGIiGQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /> <br />
Spray bottles work wonders on cats....that'll help to keep it from clawing things. Nice, friendly cats make great pets. Low maintenance, they don't stink, they don't shed nearly as much as most dogs, and they'll help tremendously with keeping pests and rodents away if that's an issue at all. Growing up, we'd have roaches from time to time...but as soon as we got an indoor cat, if I saw any roaches, they were dead.
if you get a good vibe from keeping the cat go for it. If nothing else, it will give your dog some company while you are gone. you can always declaw it if you are worried about it messing things up. \ But like someone else said, make sure your dog seems to be ok with the new one.
What kind of dog is it and are there early indications the dog and kitten get along smittenly? Good luck if they don't get along.
I had a similar incident when we had that hard freeze in Houston. A cat with 2 kittens started sleeping on my porch furniture to keep warm. I thought they'd freeze to death. But, they didn't. I didn't house them or feed them or anything, and they were fine. (Unfortunately, now other cats -- big cats -- have come and decided my property is a good one to hang out at, even though I don't feed them either. I miss my dog.)
You say it so casually. Top reasons to NOT declaw a cat... My cat came that way from the shelter, and sure it's convenient for me personally, but I would never make the decision to declaw a cat.
There are positives and negatives about declawing a cat. A vet convinced me not to declaw a cat of mine, and I eventually had to get rid of it. I had a hard time finding it a home. The lady i gave it to took it to the shelter because her grandbaby wouldn't leave the cat alone and it kept scratching the baby. If its strictly an indoor cat and its clawing is causing friction, then don't feel bad about declawing it. Sure, the cat goes through some pain, but you also give it pain medication. I personally think its more inhumane to let a cat roam the neighborhood getting sick, hurt and diseased than giving it a safe home inside. The two primary reasons why I thinking declawing is bad is due to the long healing process. If the cat leaves the wounds alone, then its fine. Otherwise it can be multiple trips back to the vet. Also, the cat becomes less playful since it doesnt have its claws. I guess if all you want a lapcat, then that might not be such a bad thing.
i'm not sure how you can be so sure i said it casually...it was just a passing thought. i wouldnt either. I actually think it kinda sucks...i was just throwing out the option if he's that worried about it.
Thanks for the advice....my dog (2yr/chocolate lab) and the cat have really started to warm up to each other, the cat stopped batting at my dog every time she comes up for a sniff, and my dog kind of see the cat as something to play with. He's walking around purring and checking everything out, he started eating/drinking, hasn't used the litter box yet. I'll try the spray bottle approach to "clawing", although he hasn't scratched anything yet. No one has claimed him yet, maybe time to start thinking of a name.
I definitely realize the implications of declawing a cat, however a cat that I had growing up and my parents still have came declawed and really shows no symptoms of it. I realize this is probably out of the norm...but she still "scratches" on things, is playful (using the paws), and is generally a friendly/happy cat. I don't think I could have one declawed myself, though. A less friendly cats can be pretty crazy and out of your control, so I can only imagine what the recovery process would be like...even for a friendly cat.
Don't declaw the cat. I just buy a claw clipper and clip his claws once awhile but make sure you know how much to clip his claws. Make your apartment cat friendly so that the cat won't get tangle in wires or whatever.
Just don't let it jump up on your kitchen counter after its dug around in a box full of its own poop.
