As some of you know, I just became a homeowner this summer. And don't get me wrong, I love living by myself, but at times I become a little lonely. Especially when all the so-called friends are busy or don't return phone calls. So I was thinking about getting a furry friend to keep my company. I didn't want a puppy because i think they are high maintanence and also because they need a lot attention and I'm not home that often during the weekdays during the day because of my job. When I was a child I always wanted a rabbit because they looked so furry and cute. But when I was researching online, rabbits don't like to held that often or played with. They basically just hop around and eat, sleep, & shit all day. Thats no fun. So then I came upon cats. They are independent, they go to bathroom by themselves and clean themselves. The only problem is cost. For those of you who have cats, about how much a month do you have to spend to take care of the cat for their needs? And what about Vet costs and visits? How much is that and how often do they need to visit the Vet?

I loved my bunny... but she was high maintenance. I loved every minute with her.
They need lots of toys... or they will get bored and chew EVERYTHING.
My baby electrocuted herself often with my cords to the TV. n stuff since she would chew through the cord protectors. I never kept her caged. She was litter box trained, and she owned my bed... the little bitch

paintedlady said:

Cats are easier... but I loved my bunny better.

I'm in a position where I can't have a cat right now. I used to have a few of them though. There's always hamsters. They're cute and trouble-free. Just make sure they have lots of exercise equipment and clean bedding at all times. I love seeing those huge, intricate cages with tubes going everywhere. They're like amusement parks for hamsters. I used to have rabbits too, but they were huge, larger than cats. I've always wanted a dwarf rabbit, but I worry about them having the space to move about in an apartment. The rabbits I had roamed around in the yard for exercise.

Steadwood said:

AnckSuNamun said:

I had a dwarf rex... she was scared to go out side... but I didn't about her safety because she always followed me around the house. I'd toss her a turnip, or cabbage head when I'd go out. When I moved to a new place I had to find her a new home... she is currently living at my local zoo in the petting farm.

What about a cabbit?

we've had both. I say cats by a mile. Rabbits are basically boring and smell like shit, and they need a lot more upkeep.

Get yourself a cat & a covered litterbox and you're good to go! Make sure it's a sweetheart. We got a very sweet and affectionate cat that a friend found at the side of the highway and we feel like the luckiest people in the world. She's wonderful.

missfee said:

Get a cat. My cousin used to have a bunny and then set it free cause she felt bad for it. Plus cats clean after themselves.

AnckSuNamun said:

I used to have gerbils when I was younger, and they had a cage with the tubes going everywhere (back then, they were called "Habittrails"). My gerbils used to looooove climbing up the tubes, walking across the top, and then climbing down the other side. Hamsters, gerbils or guinea pigs definitely make cute pets. I used to looooove owning gerbils when I was a kid.

I have 3 cats now. I love them; they're like my kids. They are very self-sufficient, are litterbox trained, and don't need a whole lot of attention or care. They sleep most of the day anyway, so while you're at work, they'll be snoozing away. . Cats only need to go to the vet every year for a yearly checkup, once they get their rabies/vaccinations, or if they get sick. Which doesn't seem to be too often, because cats seem to be pretty healthy. It's so sweet when you come home from work or from being out for awhile, and your cat comes up to you purring and/or rubbing itself against your lleg. My one cat jumps into my lap the moment I sit down.

Cats are more expensive in their earlier years as far as vet costs. That's only because kittens require more vaccinations and then you have surgical costs to get them sterilized or declawed (depending on your stance on that issue). After that first year or so, vet bills shouldn't be too bad. If you do get a cat, I advise you research the vets in your area. Ask friends & co-workers what vets they use. I took my kitten to a vet that ended up giving her too much anesthesia. She died before making it to surgery. I received a friendly reminder check up card for my dead cat 6 months later when in reality it was my 15 pound cat that was due for her check up. I realize now they had my cats charts mixed up and they had given my kitten anesthesia for a 15 pound cat. But I had no way to prove it. I continue to advise my friends to never take their pets there.

You may want to consider adopting an older cat. Their personalities are established already and you'll know if you're getting a cat that's a cuddler. You never know what you're going to get with a kitten. I lucked out with my Thomasina kitty.

If you want a furry friend, just get a guy with lots of bodily hair.

JuliePurplehead said:

That's terrible, I'm sorry that happened to you! If that happened to me, I think I would have reported that vet. Of course, you can't prove that they gave your kitty too much anesthesia. But if it happened to you, I wonder how many other people this has happened to? That vet should not be allowed to practice, IMHO. Reading stories like yours really sickens and saddens me. I quit taking my cats to a certain vet once the original owner retired. The original owner was a great vet, he even gave me a discount when I first bought my own place and had two cats to care for, because he knew that money was tight for me. After he retired, that place went to hell in a handbasket. I've heard other people say that they don't like that vet's office either, so I know it's not just me. I have found another vet that, so far, has been good.
[Edited 8/31/08 12:19pm]

psychodelicide said:

When the office called me to tell me the news, they told me some bullshit story about how she had kidney problems. I knew it was a lie because she just had her check up with them a month earlier. Liars!

I felt really shitty when I told some people at work about it and a few had said it had happened to their animal when they took them to that office. I really wish I would have talked to these people prior to my appointment. I guess you really do live and learn.

JuliePurplehead said:

I don't blame you for not believing the vet when they told you that your cat had kidney problems. It's highly doubtful, since you just had her checked out a month earlier, and plus, she was a young cat. How many young cats have kidney problems? I'm sure that some do, but probably not very many. Cats don't seem to have kidney problems until they're much older. I'm surprised that that vet is still in business, especially when what happened to you happened to other people as well. It is good to get referrals; I did that once when my elderly cat was really sick. I didn't want to take him to the vet that I used to go to, since the original owner was no longer there. I got a lot of good vet referrals too. People seem to know which vets are good, and which ones to stay away from. Same with human doctors too.

Get a Ferret... They're waaayyy cool!

I think you should get a rabbit....they vibrate.

KidaDynamite said:

psychodelicide said:

Thanks for the tips. My mom and family want me to get a dog, but I've already discussed the reasons why a dog wouldn't work for me. They say that cats are evil and when I said I plan to have the cat in the house, then they made jokes about not eating my "food" when they come over to visit, trying to say that the cat might be all up in it or something. Crazy ass reasons. But I still want a cat though. Your cats are declawed right? Since they are house cats?

missfee said:

You're welcome. Cats are not evil at all, they are very sweet. Good for you for still wanting one, regardless of the silly reasons that your family is giving you for not getting one. Yes, my cats are indoor cats only, and they are neutered/spayed.

soo tired I can't type correctly edit
[Edited 9/1/08 9:21am]

missfee said:

I've never had a bunny as a pet, but I've heard they're just so sweet. I do have two cats, however, and I love them.
If you do consider getting a kitty, please don't declaw them. It's a very barbaric practice and there are other ways of dealing with the scratching (like Soft Paws ( www.softpaws.com ).

Here's some info on way declawing is a bad idea:

Cat declawing, or onychectomy, is an amputation of a portion of a cat’s front toes and sometimes those of the back feet, as well. Declawing involves putting the cat under anesthesia and then cutting through each of the ten last joints, including skin, tendons, and nerves, thereby removing the distal phalanx (last bone) of each toe. The recovery from declawing can be painful and lengthy and may involve postoperative complications. These include infection, hemorrhage, persistent “phantom” pain, lameness, and nail regrowth, sometimes requiring additional surgery. Because scratching is a natural behavior in cats, the human caretaker should redirect this instinctive behavior by providing environmental enrichments to alter the cat’s scratching behavior away from furniture. In addition to the substitution of an acceptable scratching post, the use of nail caps (Soft Paws), repellant material on target areas (Sticky Paws), and more frequent trimming of cats’ nails frequently resolve the issue. Anecdotal evidence of behavior changes occurring post-onychectomy provides compelling support for the observation that declawing cats increases their likelihood of expressing litter box avoidance and aggressive biting. The studies done so far to analyze this relationship have been limited in their ability to control multiple variables and form a definitive conclusion. However, the observations of many veterinary practitioners and behaviorists give strong support for these connections. (See AVAR’s web site: www.avar.org for more info).

Cat!

PLEASE GET BOTH!!

...and let me comeover and play with them

either way rescue one from a shelter!!
you will get a friend and be a hero all in one.

I thought the rabbit was easier for orgasm. dont see where cat comes in you sick bastids

psychodelicide said:

when we first got my cats when i was a kid my grandparents weren't too happy. but in the end grandma and grandapa were the biggest fans of boota, snowball, and gypsy. though the last one they didn't as much at first cause she was pushy, but grandpa enjoyed playing fetch with her.


we could roll of a wrapper of a fruit roll up or something and throw it and gypsy would bring it back to do it again.

I have had 2 rabbits and 1 cat and both of the rabbits have long since died, cats live 4ever!