New kitty training:

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: JennyHemi
If you treat them well and take care of them like a responsible person, you'll have a happy animal. Having a pet means your home is not going to stay pristine. They get sick, they have accidents, they knock stuff over. Stuff happens. Pets cost money - in feeding and regular health care. If you don't want this and can't handle it - don't get a pet. If you can provide a safe, loving home and would benefit from having a pet, then get (rescue- don't buy) a pet.

Do not declaw your cat. It's cruel and puts the animal at risk in several ways. If you have to have an animal without claws, get a turtle.

PS - Some people shouldn't even be allowed to own pets or even be near them - ever. Don't get pets and then refuse to care for them. Don't be that [censored].


AMEN Jenny,EXCELLENT post!! My cat is a rescue cat,she came from Fuzzy Friends

She's the sweetest thing in the whole wide world. She's sitting here on my desk next to the keyboard as I type with her tail swishing back and forth across my arm. Speaking of turtles and claws,my two turtles have huge claws,haha!!

 

[JennyHemi]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: JennyHemi
If you treat them well and take care of them like a responsible person, you'll have a happy animal. Having a pet means your home is not going to stay pristine. They get sick, they have accidents, they knock stuff over. Stuff happens. Pets cost money - in feeding and regular health care. If you don't want this and can't handle it - don't get a pet. If you can provide a safe, loving home and would benefit from having a pet, then get (rescue- don't buy) a pet.

Do not declaw your cat. It's cruel and puts the animal at risk in several ways. If you have to have an animal without claws, get a turtle.

PS - Some people shouldn't even be allowed to own pets or even be near them - ever. Don't get pets and then refuse to care for them. Don't be that [censored].


AMEN Jenny,EXCELLENT post!! My cat is a rescue cat,she came from Fuzzy Friends

She's the sweetest thing in the whole wide world. She's sitting here on my desk next to the keyboard as I type with her tail swishing back and forth across my arm. Speaking of turtles and claws,my two turtles have huge claws,haha!!

Do they? LOL - Okay, then slugs... they got nuthin'

 

[dlayman]

Originally Posted By: JennyHemi
OP - yes, cats can be trained. Especially if you start when they're kittens. Scratching posts and cardboard scratching beds are great - just gently take the cat's paw and run it along the surface - they'll get the idea pretty quickly. If the cat goes for the sofa, gently discipline him/her by voice command and bring him/her to the scratching post and show them again.

If you treat them well and take care of them like a responsible person, you'll have a happy animal. Having a pet means your home is not going to stay pristine. They get sick, they have accidents, they knock stuff over. Stuff happens. Pets cost money - in feeding and regular health care. If you don't want this and can't handle it - don't get a pet. If you can provide a safe, loving home and would benefit from having a pet, then get (rescue- don't buy) a pet.

Do not declaw your cat. It's cruel and puts the animal at risk in several ways. If you have to have an animal without claws, get a turtle.

PS - Some people shouldn't even be allowed to own pets or even be near them - ever. Don't get pets and then refuse to care for them. Don't be that [censored].


Great post. Getting a pet is akin to adding a family member and means you might have to sacrifice in some other areas, but in the long run it pays off for you and the pet and everyone involved.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

I don't have any scratch posts or other substitutes, my cat (about 8 mos old now) doesn't scratch the furniture or anything else. She does go outside about half the day (or night).

The best training aid with cats (and works with dogs too) is a water pistol. If you can't find one (it's a seasonal toy) a household sprayer bottle is a fine substitute. Be sure and yell loudly (I use "No!" or the cat's name) whenever you use the water spray. After a while only yelling will be necessary, the cat will stop doing whatever it is that's annoying you.

I would never declaw a cat.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I've had family cats for over 50 years. Remember this: just because a cat may like your scratching post doesn't mean it will avoid damaging your furniture, your carpets and your window sills. In my adult life, our cats have been 100% indoor cats.

One bad declawing story here. We had a very personable Siamese male cat. After he did a number on the stained window sills in our new house 30 years ago, we decided to get him declawed at the age of two at an old, established vet. He never came out of the anesthesia. The vet said he had an enlarged heart, and that's why he died. That was bull. They over medicated the poor guy. I gave him a proper burial under a purple beech tree in the backyard, with our three young sons at my side.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: JennyHemi
Okay, then slugs... they got nuthin'

Haha awesome!!

We get some HUGE slugs here! They just mind their own business and slowly "slug along"

Hey,there's always a pet snake too! Clawless and practically zero maintenance for all those low maintenance pet lovers