Cat Chat 2

[darling feathers]

We gonna get a new family member soon  
Now we have to make the "final" decision" ---> WHAT BREED? 
Trying to decide between a Maine Coon or a Bengal. I've heard Bengals and Maine coons both aren't very allergy prone.Because Bengals are so active, it's recommended to get them in pairs, so when I'm away at work, they won't tear almost everything apart. I'm learning that Coon's are slightly more relaxed and chilled out, which is a definite plus.

HELP PLEASE

i agree with what Thalassic noted, rescuing is a great route! if you're worried about
allergies, i've found that most people are able to adjust to their personal cats' fur/dander
and that (no matter the breed) their allergies become much less triggered simply after
being around their cats for a prolonged period of time!
i'm slightly allergic to animals (like, runny/stuffy nose & sometimes watering eyes) and i have
noticed that i've become adjusted to even our most recent adopt (which did take a couple years
for me to become fully good). one of my closest friends is more allergic than i am to cats, but
after a lot of exposure over the past year or so, she is planning on adopting a kitten because her
allergies just don't act up as much anymore.

if adoption/rescuing isn't an option you'd like to go with, i'd recommend just researching
more into how each breed would fit in your lifestyle best. bengals are highly active and need
that mental stimulation. maine coons need proper grooming to ensure that their long fur stays
clean and doesn't mat up. i'd definitely recommend getting a pair of kittens/cats, it helps them
to be entertained and offers them just a companion for when you're not around.

[mawsoleum]

We gonna get a new family member soon  
Now we have to make the "final" decision" ---> WHAT BREED? 
Trying to decide between a Maine Coon or a Bengal. I've heard Bengals and Maine coons both aren't very allergy prone.Because Bengals are so active, it's recommended to get them in pairs, so when I'm away at work, they won't tear almost everything apart. I'm learning that Coon's are slightly more relaxed and chilled out, which is a definite plus.

HELP PLEASE

One this I will mention about Maine Coons specifically is that they are prone to heart and joint issues. One of my clients the other day was a 6mo Maine Coon that has already undergone an echocardiogram. He does have heart problems, and while he is not currently in much danger, he does need to be monitored carefully and will likely have trouble as he ages. Stomatitis is also a big problem with these cats - my cat is a rescued Maine Coon mix and at 4 years old has already had 18/30 teeth removed - she retains only her canines and 8/10 incisors. Prepare for the cost of that, because I'd say I've likely dropped $7k on her dental issues so far.
Bengals I admittedly don't know much about, as I don't see them frequently, but I would research their health concerns as well. Purebred animals tend to have some issue or another that you should be prepared for.

[Lemon Tea Rain]

We gonna get a new family member soon  
Now we have to make the "final" decision" ---> WHAT BREED? 
Trying to decide between a Maine Coon or a Bengal. I've heard Bengals and Maine coons both aren't very allergy prone.Because Bengals are so active, it's recommended to get them in pairs, so when I'm away at work, they won't tear almost everything apart. I'm learning that Coon's are slightly more relaxed and chilled out, which is a definite plus.

HELP PLEASE

I'd also recommend a shelter or rescue cat if possible. Cats aren't as predictable personality wise by breed as dogs are, but if you're dead set on a certain breed for allergy reasons etc look in to the usual health of each of them and their individual needs to get a better idea - e.g. Bengals needing extra play and attention, or Maine Coons needing space etc.

Don't be afraid to go the rescue route because of it being online! I got my two kittens from the RSPCA last year, and one thing I've noticed from cat shelters is (unless you get them as a kitten like I did) you can tell their personalities and needs a lot easier. For example the RSPCA site let's you know if they're inside or outside cats, can they get along with dogs, can they get along with other cats, do they tolerate children, are they attached with another cat at the shelter they should be adopted with etc. Worth a look before searching for a pure breed if you're willing! Iirc some places also have pure breed shelters, which is an interesting option if any are near you at all.

[virtualpet]

Swiftpaw: We've had one cat for five years and he's outdoor, hasn't had his vaccinations, and he isn't fixed. This was mostly our dad's decision which since we've grown older we haven't agreed with. We've wanted to make him more indoor and take him to the vet especially since we've become an independent, but we haven't been able to. Having him outdoors makes us worried a lot of the time and he has gotten injured before.

Recently some people moved and abandoned their cat. This cat has been hanging around our property and seems to get along very well with our cat and is extremely friendly. I kind of want to adopt the new cat because they seem more house trained and that might help our cat become house trained.

I talked to our dad and he said if we're willing to pay for it, we could keep the new cat, and our uncle might be willing to help us get to the vent. We haven't decided yet so I wanted to ask, what might I be expect? How much would taking two cats to the vet, one who's never been before the other maybe-maybe not, cost?

I think we might also try to get them to stay indoors more and use a litterbox, but the problem is we have a very tiny house. Where might be a good place for it, and what should we do about the smell?

[Rainbow Dash]

I would also recommend a shelter pet. Maine coons and bengals are very different breeds and it's a little worrying you have picked two drastically different breeds in terms of temperament, size, and maintenance.

I have seen multiple frustrated bengal owners that returned their pets to the breeder because they cannot handle the activity level that bengals need and were most focused on how they look cool. They ended up with destroyed homes, vet bills from the cats eating non-food items and getting blocked up, and overweight pets from not meeting their exercise needs. Alternatively I have seen some horribly matted Maine coons because the owners don't realize how much work long haired cats are in terms of grooming. Not to mention each breed is prone to health and behavioral issues, bengals in particularly have been hugely overbred due to popularity and have a laundry list of issues.

I really recommend either getting a shelter pet, which are wonderful and you can see exactly what you are signing up for, or doing far more research on the breeds you want.

[Thalassic]

Swiftpaw: We've had one cat for five years and he's outdoor, hasn't had his vaccinations, and he isn't fixed. This was mostly our dad's decision which since we've grown older we haven't agreed with. We've wanted to make him more indoor and take him to the vet especially since we've become an independent, but we haven't been able to. Having him outdoors makes us worried a lot of the time and he has gotten injured before.

Recently some people moved and abandoned their cat. This cat has been hanging around our property and seems to get along very well with our cat and is extremely friendly. I kind of want to adopt the new cat because they seem more house trained and that might help our cat become house trained.

I talked to our dad and he said if we're willing to pay for it, we could keep the new cat, and our uncle might be willing to help us get to the vent. We haven't decided yet so I wanted to ask, what might I be expect? How much would taking two cats to the vet, one who's never been before the other maybe-maybe not, cost?

I think we might also try to get them to stay indoors more and use a litterbox, but the problem is we have a very tiny house. Where might be a good place for it, and what should we do about the smell?

A lot of the prices you should really google for your specific area, as they can vary a lot.
Some things to consider
Repeating costs

• Daily meals (portion sizes can vary, but my 2 cats together generally eat 1-2 packages of wet food a day, and I'd estimate the two of them go through a kilogram of dry food in like 2-3 weeks, but it varies a lot day to day too, and we try to adjust - if they eat less one day, we give them less the next day, if they finish their bowls one day, we give them more the next day, and so on)
• Cat litter (varies a lot based on the kind you use - as does the price, we use the clay kind and go through about 5-10kg a month
• Vet visits (not only do you need the neuter procedure done, but some vaccines need booster shots every few years, and they will need anti-bug treatment and an anti gut parasite pill every once in a while, too)
• Cat toys and treats (these last a while, and with toys you can be creative - my cats love rolled up balls of plastic or tinfoil, like the wrappers of several candies (make sure to roll them up tight so they dont accidentally eat some of it), and they love hanging out in cardboard boxes and paper bags, as well as plastic bags but never ever leave a cat alone with a plastic bag, as they can suffocate in it

One time/rare costs

• Litterbox and scooping shovels (generally I've heard that you should get one per cat, or one for every floor of your house, sometimes even recommended to have an additional one, but my cats have been just fine with sharing one large litterbox that we clean at least twice a day, it really depends on the cat I think)
• Food bowls, possibly a pet water fountain too if they prefer to drink running water
• Cat travel box (personally I wish I had bought one thats shaped like a backpack because carrying them isn't easy)
• Cat leash and collar (a collar is a good thing to have in case they get out and get lost, or get in some trouble. a leach can be both a fun thing - for going on walks - or provide extra security if you have bought a cheap, badly made carrying box that could collapse at any second
• Scratching pole (you can use old cushions too, and I've seen DIY ones made out of cardboard, too - you just wan to provide them with a safe place to get all their scratching needs out without damaging actual furniture)
• Optional - cat beds, trees, hammocks, and any other assorted climbing/sleeping space (definitely not necessary, as they sometimes seem to prefer sleeping on a newspaper on the floor over an expensive fluffy cat bed, but can be a great way to enrich their lives)

[Rainbow Dash]

Adding onto the above; emergency vet funds. Part of one of my clinic jobs was typing up the estimates for emergency clients and you can be out hundreds, sometimes thousands for emergencies. The highest I have seen it go for cats is around $1,500 for a blocked male cat. Personally I just spent 700 dollars fixing my dog's foot from a broken dewclaw and have spent 600 on fixing a surprise abscess on my cat the shelter didn't catch before he was adopted out to me.

You don't need to have a ton of money upfront, but saving 50 bucks a paycheck if you get paid every two weeks, that's 100 a month into an emergency fund. That can be a huge financial weight off your shoulders if you come into an emergency prepared. Every pet owner should have an emergency savings fund for your pet.

[darling feathers]

Swiftpaw:
-snip-

I talked to our dad and he said if we're willing to pay for it, we could keep the new cat, and our uncle might be willing to help us get to the vent. We haven't decided yet so I wanted to ask, what might I be expect? How much would taking two cats to the vet, one who's never been before the other maybe-maybe not, cost?

I think we might also try to get them to stay indoors more and use a litterbox, but the problem is we have a very tiny house. Where might be a good place for it, and what should we do about the smell?

a lot of costs depend on your area! look and see if there are any
spay/neuter programs in your area, they usually offer lower cost procedures
and if you mention that the one cat is a rescue and explain the situation,
they may be able to fix that cat for free. (they fixed two cats we had
gotten for free because we explained that we had taken them in at two
weeks old and they counted that as a rescue.)
vet visits can get expensive, try contacting local vet clinics to see if you
can get price estimates for two adult cats attending the vet for the first time.

as for the litterbox, when having indoor cats it is recommended to have a box
for each cat + an extra one. this is to prevent it from getting dirty too quickly
as well as to hopefully deter the cats from spraying in the house. in my house,
we have three boxes in our laundry room and an extra one in my bedroom since
the cats are usually kept in my room for bedtime. if you don't have like an extra
room (i.e. mudroom, laundry room, office), there are plenty of low profile cat
litter box solutions. there are boxes disguised in fake planters (x), cupboards (x),
and even diy solutions (x)
the smell largely depends on the type of litter you use and how often you clean
the box. my family uses this litter and it does a pretty good job at disguising the
smell.

for taking in any pets, i feel as though there is generally larger intake cost due
to needing to buy items that can be used continually. if you cant budget taking
both cats to the vet immediately, i would still venture to say that it would be
beneficial to take the stray in because being in a home where people are caring
for it and providing it with food/shelter is far better than being on the streets.
it would probably be best to make sure the cat doesn't have any parasites, like
fleas or worms though, so monitoring it and being prepared to deal with those
situations would be a good idea.

also, extra items:
- check craigslist and facebook market place to see if anyone is giving away cat
trees or other larger items! they can usually be much less expensive secondhand.
if not, costco usually has cat trees on the lower price range and chewy has some
options
- check stores like ross and marshall's for discounted toys and accessories. they
also usually have food and water bowls at discounted prices! also, dollar tree has
great toys!

[virtualpet]

Swiftpaw:
-snip-

I talked to our dad and he said if we're willing to pay for it, we could keep the new cat, and our uncle might be willing to help us get to the vent. We haven't decided yet so I wanted to ask, what might I be expect? How much would taking two cats to the vet, one who's never been before the other maybe-maybe not, cost?

I think we might also try to get them to stay indoors more and use a litterbox, but the problem is we have a very tiny house. Where might be a good place for it, and what should we do about the smell?

a lot of costs depend on your area! look and see if there are any
spay/neuter programs in your area, they usually offer lower cost procedures
and if you mention that the one cat is a rescue and explain the situation,
they may be able to fix that cat for free. (they fixed two cats we had
gotten for free because we explained that we had taken them in at two
weeks old and they counted that as a rescue.)
vet visits can get expensive, try contacting local vet clinics to see if you
can get price estimates for two adult cats attending the vet for the first time.

as for the litterbox, when having indoor cats it is recommended to have a box
for each cat + an extra one. this is to prevent it from getting dirty too quickly
as well as to hopefully deter the cats from spraying in the house. in my house,
we have three boxes in our laundry room and an extra one in my bedroom since
the cats are usually kept in my room for bedtime. if you don't have like an extra
room (i.e. mudroom, laundry room, office), there are plenty of low profile cat
litter box solutions. there are boxes disguised in fake planters (x), cupboards (x),
and even diy solutions (x)
the smell largely depends on the type of litter you use and how often you clean
the box. my family uses this litter and it does a pretty good job at disguising the
smell.

for taking in any pets, i feel as though there is generally larger intake cost due
to needing to buy items that can be used continually. if you cant budget taking
both cats to the vet immediately, i would still venture to say that it would be
beneficial to take the stray in because being in a home where people are caring
for it and providing it with food/shelter is far better than being on the streets.
it would probably be best to make sure the cat doesn't have any parasites, like
fleas or worms though, so monitoring it and being prepared to deal with those
situations would be a good idea.

also, extra items:
- check craigslist and facebook market place to see if anyone is giving away cat
trees or other larger items! they can usually be much less expensive secondhand.
if not, costco usually has cat trees on the lower price range and chewy has some
options
- check stores like ross and marshall's for discounted toys and accessories. they
also usually have food and water bowls at discounted prices! also, dollar tree has
great toys!

Swiftpaw: Thank you so much for the advice, we'll look into those and I really appreciate it!

[virtualpet]

Swiftapw: Cat update: she appeared in our yard again and it looks like someone might have already adopted her since she has a makeshift collar now, but she has been hanging around all day and she seems to really like us. She runs up to us and our dad whenever she sees him, and she even showed me her belly when I was outside with her. We probably won't adopt her ourselves though since she's already taken.

Although I did confirm it looks like she's a girl which means we should probably get our cat fixed, but thankfully I did find a county service not too far from here that does fix cats for a minimum fee and it's free for male cats. We'll probably take him once we find someone with a cat carrier.

Funnily enough she actually looks exactly like our childhood cat. I didn't realize until our dad pointed it out, but she looks just like our old cat just female and with a bushier tail. She's also really fluffy.