Is A Cat Right For Me? (Sphyx/Skookum/Ragdoll?)

[Shaving_Cream]

Hello Cat people, or at least thats what I'm going to call you for now ,

Lately an idea I had way back when I was younger once again popped in my head, get a cat. Now let me start off by saying I am a long time dog, rabbit, bird, lizard/reptile, fish owner (yes I know, but they're all in my house right now). I know quite little about cats, but have babysat them before and I always enjoy their company.

Again, a bit more background information. I live in a 3 story house, but if I were to get a cat I would prefer that he/she stay in my room and the room/bathroom beside me most of the time. So I'm going to have a few questions here to start off to find out if a cat is even right for me, then move on to breeds (I am in no incredible rush to own a cat, it is a big decision and these things take time).

I'll start with some simple questions.
1) Can cats thrive/be happy in small areas (I'm talking 500sq.f and when restricted to my room (not too often) 150sq.f)?
2) Are cats known to jump from balconies? Just outside my room there is a railing and below that is about a 9 foot drop
3) Can cats be trained to know where "home" is, not as in outdoor, but as in indoor (IE: this is my comfort zone)

Those are my basic questions and I'll finally get to breeds now.
1) I was reading about the small size of "Skookum" cats and figured small cat/small space, does this make sense?
2) Sphynx cats have always been one of the two breeds of cats I really like, can these cats live in smaller than usual spaces?
3) Are Sphynx's soft? (I've never actually pet one)
4) Although I can't see a cat with such short hair shedding (I do know they need to be bathed regularly) can Sphynx's shed hair?
5) Ragdoll cats have always the second of my two favourite breeds, but they get quite large, and I'm not sure they would be a good fit with me from what I've said above, any input on this?
6) Are any of these breeds known to have low temperament to other animals?

I may have left something out, but even answering any of my questions would be a great help, I understand this is quite a read. Thanks for your time, and I'll be sure to keep checking on this thread. Of the three, a Sphynx or Skookum would likely be my first choice.

Thanks,
Mike

Edit: one more thing I forgot to mention that is probably fairly important, I work from home, so am indoors most, if not all of my day.

[marie73]

I'm a little confused. You say you want the cat restricted to your room most of the time, but later say "not too often." A three story house and the cat has to stay in your bedroom? Do you have roommates and that's why? Just curious....

Cats do jump off balconies. They can become so focused on a bird or something else, that they leap without thinking. One of my cat trees is from someone whose cat lept off their second floor balcony and died. My cats have done this off cat trees and have run right off the end of the bed chasing an invisible monster.

I had to look up "Skookum" cats. Adorable! The size of a cat doesn't really have much to do with their activity level, every cat is different. I know breeds have certain qualities, but you can't even depend on those descriptions as far as personality is concerned.

A cat will add so much to your life, no matter what kind you get.

[Shaving_Cream]

Originally Posted by marie73

I'm a little confused. You say you want the cat restricted to your room most of the time, but later say "not too often." A three story house and the cat has to stay in your bedroom? Do you have roommates and that's why? Just curious....

Cats do jump off balconies. They can become so focused on a bird or something else, that they leap without thinking. One of my cat trees is from someone whose cat lept off their second floor balcony and died. My cats have done this off cat trees and have run right off the end of the bed chasing an invisible monster.

I had to look up "Skookum" cats. Adorable! The size of a cat doesn't really have much to do with their activity level, every cat is different. I know breeds have certain qualities, but you can't even depend on those descriptions as far as personality is concerned.

A cat will add so much to your life, no matter what kind you get.

Hi Marie,

Sorry for sounding so confusing

What I mean by that is when I'm working/in my room area I would like the cat to be around the area, also, when I am out I would restrict the cat to these two rooms. But whenever I go downstairs, have friends over, I would love for the cat to have a little roam around time. The problem is one of my dogs has a jealousy problem and tends to flee & hide when some other pet is around (even if its a bearded dragon). He is kind of a big baby and would expect him to do the same for a cat (he is not by any means threatening to animals though). I do not have roomates, but am living with my family.

I thought so too they're incredibly cute.

Thanks for your help

[hoofmaiden]

First, if you do get a cat, I very much recommend that you go to a shelter and save a life. Adopting an adult cat would be much better in your situation b/c you will truly know what that individual cat is like. Additionally, if you get a kitten, IMO you would need to get 2. Given that you want to confine the cat a good bit, you will probably end up with a nightmare on your hands with a single kitten.

Ideal, IMO, would be 2 adult cats who already get along well and who are known to have experience w/ dogs. A good no-kill shelter will be able to tell you all that b/c they can keep cats around longer than a kill shelter can.

As for the cat "knowing" to stay in a particular area? No way. You would have to LOCK him in there, and he might never adjust to being locked in there when you were not there. Cats are social animals, contrary to popular belief, and they need and want companionship.

Ditto Marie re: the balcony. Do NOT allow access to it unless you can truly catproof it. "High rise syndrome" is a real and serious problem in cities, esp. in the springtime, when vets see cats come in daily having jumped/fallen off balconies.

[marie73]

If you bring the cat (or cats) home and keep them in your room to start off, they probably will consider that their "safe place", especially if you feed them in there and keep the litter box there. And if you're in there most of the time, that's probably where they'll be. I think that's what you meant.

And that life would be much better than being in a cage.

[Shaving_Cream]

@Hoof

2 cats isn't an option for me right now. This said I am not worried at all about the attention the cat would get, there is always someone home, and I would be close to the cat anywhere from 10 to 24 hours a day depending on how the cat felt about hanging out with me .

Shelters are always the first place I look, both my rabbits, one of my two dogs (the old 17yr one ) and my turtle are all from the same one, and I would certainly explore that idea first.

Also, I want to make sure I'm being clear on what I mean by balcony. I'm talking something like this:
(no this isn't my house, I WISH! ) I imagine this yields the same dangers?

@Marie thats almost exactly what I mean, I know cats are very independent when it comes down to it, but I imagine through time he/she would understand.

[marie73]

If that was really your house, forget getting a cat, I'd be moving in!

That kind of balcony would probably be okay. It's the outside ones that have all the distractions and temptations with birds and moths and things like that.

Having a single cat is great, too. Cinderella LOVED being the only cat when it was just her and I.

[Shaving_Cream]

Originally Posted by marie73

If that was really your house, forget getting a cat, I'd be moving in!

That kind of balcony would probably be okay. It's the outside ones that have all the distractions and temptations with birds and moths and things like that.

Having a single cat is great, too. Cinderella LOVED being the only cat when it was just her and I.

Hahahaha,

I actually did find a picture of the area I'm having uncertanties about,



but after what you said I'm not as worried anymore.

With all the help you guys have provided it looks like I'll be getting a cat, I just have to start the long process of finding the mr. or mrs. right. My last puppy took just over a year to find, but I always seem to get a long with my pets incredibly well and I will treat this no differently.

Plan of action: Look for Sphynx, while keeping an eye out for Skookum's (so, so, so rare). Starting with Shelters checks every week for 6 months, if this yields no results I'll move on to breeders.

EDIT: PS, I'm going to reinforce my thanks to you guys, I really appreciate all your help.

[marie73]

If you look on Petfinder.com, those are rescue organizations who get their cats from shelters, so it's still saving a shelter cat AND you can search by breed. I found my twins on Petfinder (I was looking for siblings or bonded kittens). They were found in a box with two brothers, teeny kittens, and the shelter called the rescue organization because they were too young and needed handfeeding.

Good luck with your search. It's fun looking.

You'll probably end up with a cat you had no thought of ever getting. Sometimes the cat chooses you. Before trying to find a friend for Cinderella, I had changed all my colors (towels, sheets, etc.) to off-white to match her fur. Then I fell in love with Cleo.

P.S. I love Ragdolls.

Here's a search for Ragdolls in San Diego (just as an example of how many adoptable Ragdolls are out there):

http://www.petfinder.com/search/search. ... tion=92101

[tate]

Personally I would not bring a cat into my home with the intention of keeping it confined the majority of the time. Sphynx are also a fairly high energy breed, so a situation like what you've described is IMO even less ideal for that breed. Cats are STUBBORN and moody and independent - sometimes they want to hang all over you and others they want to be left entirely alone. I just hate to hear of cats being put into situations like this, seeing how happy my cats are following me around the house it makes me sad.
On another point, has your dog ever met a cat? Bentley, my Rat Terrier has the same reaction to my pet rats - he hides under the bed/runs out of the room & hides when they're out - as it sounds like your dog has to other animals, but he adores my cats.