- Joined
- Jan 24, 2012
- Messages
- 621
So I know there's a bunch of people here who own cats, and/or have plenty of experience dealing with them. I was hoping someone could give me some advice.
There are two issues I wanted to address, which are somewhat related.
So the situation is this:
We have a year-old cat called Mitzy, and were (well, at least my mom and I were. My dad is still not totally behind the idea) thinking of getting another kitty to keep her company, since I've read everywhere that it's best to have two cats as opposed to just one. We do live in an apartment, but I don't think that would be much of a problem.
Issue #1:
I've read that it's best to choose a kitten with a compatible personality to your existing cat, i.e. if you cat is active, choose an active kitten, if your cat is calm, choose a calm kitten, etc, etc.
In Mitzy's case, she's pretty crazy and loves playing (especially roughhousing) and snooping around. She's also one of the most social cats I've ever seen, not even minding visits. She just comes up to people, sniffs them (sometimes even licks them) and then goes about her merry way, not minding the new person at all.
I wanted to know just how important this is, since we do already have two adoptees in mind.
One is a white, pretty active male with orange tabby spots who could very well be Mitzy's mirror image, and the other is a sweet, calm long-haired striped female (they're Norwegian Forest Cat half-breeds). There's a third, a white female with gray spots that was pretty funny, but we weren't able to look at her up close, sadly.
We're in a bit of a pickle trying to choose one (they're all so ADORABLE. DARNIT), but if this is that much of an important factor, it just might help us in our decision, even if just thinking in terms of pros and cons.
Issue #2:
I have been a bad kitty mommy. Namely, because I LOVED roughhousing with Mitzy as a kitten. Against all the warnings I had seen, I was never able to tell her "no" when she chewed at my hands with those innocent kitty teeth. And now my arms are covered in scars, and I'm entirely the one to blame.
I wanted her to stop biting me while playing, while still being able to play with her, but I don't know how. All the advice I've seen regards either young kittens or older, violent adopted cats, and neither is the case here. Mitzy bites me because that's the only way she knows how to play, not because she's being aggressive.
I've tried playing with toys to gradually discourage her from biting my hands and arms, but can see that to her it's just not the same, and she loses interest much faster.
I'm also worried since, besides my arms' well-being, if we do get a new kitten (and if the adaptation process goes well), they'll eventually start playing with each other, and I don't know if her bites will be too much, since usually it's the older cat who teaches kittens how strongly they can bite, not the other way around.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
There are two issues I wanted to address, which are somewhat related.
So the situation is this:
We have a year-old cat called Mitzy, and were (well, at least my mom and I were. My dad is still not totally behind the idea) thinking of getting another kitty to keep her company, since I've read everywhere that it's best to have two cats as opposed to just one. We do live in an apartment, but I don't think that would be much of a problem.
Issue #1:
I've read that it's best to choose a kitten with a compatible personality to your existing cat, i.e. if you cat is active, choose an active kitten, if your cat is calm, choose a calm kitten, etc, etc.
In Mitzy's case, she's pretty crazy and loves playing (especially roughhousing) and snooping around. She's also one of the most social cats I've ever seen, not even minding visits. She just comes up to people, sniffs them (sometimes even licks them) and then goes about her merry way, not minding the new person at all.
I wanted to know just how important this is, since we do already have two adoptees in mind.
One is a white, pretty active male with orange tabby spots who could very well be Mitzy's mirror image, and the other is a sweet, calm long-haired striped female (they're Norwegian Forest Cat half-breeds). There's a third, a white female with gray spots that was pretty funny, but we weren't able to look at her up close, sadly.
We're in a bit of a pickle trying to choose one (they're all so ADORABLE. DARNIT), but if this is that much of an important factor, it just might help us in our decision, even if just thinking in terms of pros and cons.
Issue #2:
I have been a bad kitty mommy. Namely, because I LOVED roughhousing with Mitzy as a kitten. Against all the warnings I had seen, I was never able to tell her "no" when she chewed at my hands with those innocent kitty teeth. And now my arms are covered in scars, and I'm entirely the one to blame.
I wanted her to stop biting me while playing, while still being able to play with her, but I don't know how. All the advice I've seen regards either young kittens or older, violent adopted cats, and neither is the case here. Mitzy bites me because that's the only way she knows how to play, not because she's being aggressive.
I've tried playing with toys to gradually discourage her from biting my hands and arms, but can see that to her it's just not the same, and she loses interest much faster.
I'm also worried since, besides my arms' well-being, if we do get a new kitten (and if the adaptation process goes well), they'll eventually start playing with each other, and I don't know if her bites will be too much, since usually it's the older cat who teaches kittens how strongly they can bite, not the other way around.
Thanks in advance for any advice!