My opinion of cats is fairly well known. They suck.

However.

My mother could really benefit from an animal companion, but she is blind and nearly paralyzed on one side of her body. She does not think she could handle a dog. She has always wanted a grey kitten though.

So I found a rescue kitty that fits that bill, but my question is what maintenance is really involved? Do they shit in the box right out of the box as it were or is training required for a long period?

I am willing to train the thing, but are they self sufficient enough to be properly cared for by someone that cannot see?

They shit out of the box immediately.

Some cats, however, absolutely need to have the cat litterbox changed every day. (2 of the cats I've had needed that) or else they'll spray and poop someplace else. I beg to differ with folks who say that indicates something is wrong--some cats are just really picky.

Is your mother in the company of somebody all the time? If she is then a cat is perfect. If not, dogs are actually known to alarm others when someone passes out or is in trouble. They're just much more aware of their owner's condition. Cat's couldn't give a rat's ass about their owners--when they want to be petted, it's all about them no matter how cute, sweet, or charming...it's always about 'them'.




But if maintenance is your concern, cats are far superior to dogs. They're almost hassle free and some can be just downright friendly as hell.

Imago said:

No caregiver except for me. She's too damn stubborn for that and she has her own place.

A dog was my choice as in seeing eye dog, but she doesn't feel like she could give a dog a good life with exercise and such. I can see that point, so if the cat could be low maintenance she could change a litterbox everyday. I'd buy one of those where you pull out the tray of shit without having to scoop.

She's have no problem loving the thing, but she wants to give it a good life too. So even if it was strongly independent, she would be cool with that.

Mars23 said:

You should get her a Siamese cat, then.

They're very dependent on people--they've lived among people far longer than many cat species, and their evolution is actually an indication of that (they can no longer see well in the dark like other cats. They've had no need to for ages and ages). They also exhibit a few dog-like behaviors like craving human attention and being very protective of the home.

They do, however, have a very strange meow. Some find it creepy and ghostly.

when we got our kitty from the shelter, she was young & all she wanted to do at night was PLAY! she kept me up alot...keep that in mind. so maybe better to get an OLDER cat? one that will lay on her bed & likes to cuddle.
I change my litter box once a day. & fresh water daily.
Is your mother up for that?

she has bad eyesight so she may trip over the cat...mine follows me around & i am constantly tripping over her.
so lots to consider.

good luck.

sonic said:

Thanks. I don't think she moves fast enough to trip on the cat, unless the cat is really dumb. Water and litter wouldn't be a problem, except I may need to buy some sort of elevated litterbox so there is no bending down involved...

Cats will jump up for that stuff right?

Mars23 said:

Yes, a cat will use an elevated litter box, but it's very important you place it some place that doesn't get alot of traffic or is away from noise. Cats don't like a litter box that's near some place where they think someone is going to sneak up on them. They like it to feel almost... private?

B/c our house is so small...we had to put the litter box beside our toilet. she can get peace & quiet there.

Mars23 said:

Quotable.

There's a playful Siamese cat here at the 37 second mark. It's typical of how Siamese cats behave. Very playful.

Imago said:

You have been to this shit all night and all mornin long haven't you??

Mars23 said:

YAY for cats suckin!

Not a cat person either, but one will probably be good for your mom.
My mom could only walk a short distance (feet) on a walker and had minimal use of her hands. She was always put off by cats but hubby had 2 when we first got together.
One of those cats took to her and spent the whole day on her lap being stroked by her (which exercised her hands). Very therapeutic.

johnart said:

He probably was...

johnart said:

I'm 80% sure he's gay now.

Cats do not need to be trained to use a litter box and make wonderful, low maintenance pets.
Kittens can be kinda crazy and need lots of stimulation, though. I agree with someone who said getting an older cat may be a better option. Doesn't have to be OLD, mind you. Just past the crazy kitten freak-out stage. Maybe a 2-3 years old. Also keep in mind the amount of vet visits that are needed for kittens - shots, getting fixed, etc. An older cat will only need annual check-ups.

But either way, yay kitties!!!

Imago said:

Lawd, what does he have to do to get that other 20%, swing from a giant dildo??

CarrieMpls said:

Thanks. I can handle all the vet stuff, but that is a good point about an older cat.

johnart said:

You could argue that a girl is with him, but no self respecting woman would fuck a guy after seeing that.

cats r kool .. but they sometimes vanish n dont come back if your a let em out kind of owner.

depending on your mom's living situation...you could install a cat door or cat window...then the cat would just go out side to go to the bathroom. No litterbox at all...or one that's just used once in a while.

cats are okay, i suppose, but birds are the best just my

I don't like pets period but I could tolerate a dog much more than I could tolerate a cat. They will shit in their litter box but they shed fur every damn where. Then they spit up fur balls around the house. But the worst thing, is they get up on the furniture. Some will even get up on the damn eating table. Some of them will rip the furniture up with their claws. If you let them outside, they will get their ass on top of your car and leave paw prints.

Hell naw, get your mother a little small dog. She'll be able to control him much better than a cat because cats are damn stubborn and want to do what they want to do and will give you a go to hell look if you don't like it.

They are not too much trouble, but there is still plenty of caring involved.

Does the cat have long hair? That makes a huge difference, not just with the shedding but the hairballs & even the allergies (for me).

As Carrie said, kittens are insane! Cute, but they get into everything. Getting a full grown cat for her is probably a better idea.

Don't even get me started on Catwoman

My mother had a little rat terrier dog up until the day she died. She loved that little dog and he was a great companion for her. He followed her all over the house wherever she went. Even when she went to the restroom, he sat outside the bathroom door waiting for her. He went and stood at the front door if he needed to go outside to use the restroom himself. He was also very possessive and protective of her. If he was at the foot of her bed or at her feet when she was on the couch, nobody dared to come near her.

The only problem though, is that his breed are squirrel hunters. He absolutely hated squirrels. If he saw one through the window, he would bark his lungs out. And once he got outside, he would chase the squirrels up the neighbor's tree and stand outside their bedroom window barking up at the squirrels at the top of his lungs nonstop. Other than that, he was an excellent companion for her.

i love cats! they are so cute!