[Ben]

Well, we have had a dog for about 8 years. We wanted her to be an indoor dog and hired a trainer and everything but it just didn't work out. She is just too darn hyper and did too much damage. She is now a strictly outdoor dog and hasn't been inside for a long time but is very happy in her big fence. Anyway we have always still wanted a pet to cuddle with and live with us strictly indoors. I want to get a cat that will always be affectionate, not just ignore us when it gets older. I have done some reasearch and it seems that the breeds known for being lap cats are Bombay, Cornish Rex, and Devon Rex, or at least those breeds' descriptions fit what we want. Unfortunatley they are pretty rare and WAY too expensive. Around $650! Any ideas for the right breed??? Thankyou. [/b]

 

[LuvMyKitty]

You don't have to spend alot to get a loveable cat. I adopted my 2 cats from a rescue shelter for free, and they are both very loveable. There's millions of kittens/cats in shelters that are in need loving homes. I would suggest checking those out.

I do have a question though, whether you get a cat for free, or spends lots of money on it - there's no guarantees that the cat will be loveable, and want to cuddle. Each cat has it's own personality, as do all living creatures - and there is no guarantee on the personality ahead of time - so will you toss your cat at the door, as you did your dog if it's not loveable? :roll:

If so, maybe you should not get a cat, because no animal deserves a life strictly outside, especially in bad weather conditions. This is something you need to think about before you get another animal.

 

[Ben]

I would definatley not "toss" my cat out the door, there are many more dangers for a loose cat outside than a dog in a fence. We have built a fairly large shelter for my dog with a dog house which protects her from weather, she goes in her crate with her blanket if the weather gets really bad, but when things clear up we put her back out. We play with her every day and take her for walks and love her very much. (Just because she is outdoors does not mean she is confined to her fence all day and ignored). She still comes inside every once in a while, but only for short periods of time because she is so hyper and big enough that she sometimes does substantial damage. With a cat I am prepared that some furniture scratching and other "accidents" will likely happen. Anyway I realize every cat is unique, so is there any way to tell the personality in any breed? Would buying an adult cat be better so I could already know the personality? I don't mind if the cat is independant. I just don't want to be totally ignored.

 

[Louse76]

You can definately find an affectionate regualar ol' domestic short hair.

Just make sure you give him/her plenty of attention and they will love you for it! Cats though are quite independant and have more of a mind of their own than dogs. You can pretty much make a dog do what you want it to when you want it to, but a cat will only do something if it wants to. Sometimes I want to lay with my kitten but he just wants to play etc... hopefully as he gets older he will calm down.

It's hard to judge how a cat will act as an adult when it's a kitten I'd think, so you might want to look into a cat that's already a year or two old at the shelters. You'd probably have an easier time choosing a tame lap cat that way. You'd also be doing him/her quite a favor because older cats are harder to adopt and they may not have been adopted otherwise.

 

[Ben]

Thanks for the advice

 

[Richo]

Yes, I agree that you don't have to go with a purebred cat to get what you are looking for. My cat was adopted from a shelter and he is a sweetheart, and I'm sure many other forum members will say the same about their cats.

I have found out through my own experience and through friends with cats that for the most part a cat is what you make it. Meaning that if you bring it up with love and affection it will grow to know and expect that type of treatment. Have you thought about getting 2 littermates? I wish I had done that. That way there is always a companion and a playmate for your cat. Please let us know how you make out.

 

[shlanon]

A shelter cat can be great and so many of them need homes. So many of these cats will give you so much love and affection if you just give them a chance and a loving home. One thing to consider might be to adopt from a person who is fostering cats, these people may know more about the cat's personality than a shelter will (I'm not saying a shelter isn't a good idea too though!). Also some people foster both cats and dogs, so you may be able to get cat(s) that are comfortable with dogs.
Getting two cats is great also. I would HIGHLY recommend this if you work and aren't home all day. That way the cat will have company when you are gone. Also, when people foster cats as I mentioned above, many times they will have two cats that they would LOVE to see adopted together...cats who are littermates or who have bonded and who you know will get along with each other.
Let us know what you end up doing and how it goes!

 

[shlanon]

One more thing...sometimes you can learn little tricks to help your adult cat settle down into your lap and be sweet. For my cat, this is getting brushed...it became a ritual and now every time I brush her, she will lay down in my lap or next to me and just purr away.

 

[kitkat]

Definitely try finding a cat at the shelter, I was looking for a pure bred cat originally, not really sure what kind, but when I went to the shelter, I was only going to look around and I ended up just wanting one and ended up getting 2 since my bf said it would be lonely if we just got only one. They are wonderful cats and have not caused much trouble at all for me and have been great. Their personalities cannot be more opposite but you can tell somewhat how a cat will be when you sit around and play with it for awhile and do that before you get it just so you can get a feel for the cat. Cats love to purr and be cuddly most of the time. My suggestion is pretty much, get 2 cats from the shelter hehe :lol:

 

[kristi]

Hi, Ben, and welcome! Kittens are much more hyper and prone to destroy things (my kitten just broke our lamp last week), so an adult cat may be the best thing for you! The only problem is if an adult cat has been raised outside, they are sometimes not happy being inside. So you may want to see if you can get a cat you know a little history about. Sometimes people will post notices at vets, pounds, stores, etc. about inside cats they're looking for a home for for one reason or another. That may give you an idea of the cat's personality more if you're really concerned about getting one certain type of cuddly-bear personality. Or you could really spend some time at the shelter and try to get to know a few cats, get them out and interact with them. You can probably spot the cuddle-bears pretty quick!

Or you can be like me, and get 4, so you have every type of personality possible! I have a mean kitty, a cuddly girl who is a spook to everyone but me, a funny guy who likes to show off, and a rip-roarin', attention-hogging, constantly yowling kitten.

Getting 2 may be good, but maybe not. My 2 littermates fight constantly, so it's not always a guarantee that they'll get along. I probably wouldn't get 2 adults at one time, certainly...

Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

 

[Wayne]

Ben, there are several things to watch for when you visit a shelter to find an affectionate cat: (1) is to pick up the animal from its cage and cuddle it. If it tries to push away -well,that is not an affectionate animal. (2) watch for one that clings to your neck or immediately begins to purr and settles down in your arms. (3) take the cat and walk next to the other cat cages, and watch for its reaction. If it hisses and growls at the others, it may not be a good cat in a multiple cat household. (4) Caress its paws. If it attempts to pull away this too is a sign of an unaffectionate cat. I have generally found that caressing its paws is a good indicator of the personality of the cat. I have one flame-point Siamese who immediately began to nurse and knead my shirt when I first picked him up from his cage. This too is a good sign for an affectionate kitty. Practically all of my cats have passed this test and they are mostly affectionate cats and what is even more important they all get along with each other. Also, watch for a cat the cowers in the corner of its cage, or attempts to climb all over you, I have found that neither of these indicates the type of pet you may want to have.

 

[faile]

when i first held cujo in the shelter, he purred and cuddled and rubbed his head all over me. he sat in my boyfriend's lap and purred some more. we brought him home, and he refuses to cuddle!! he conned us!! he'll lay near us, or perhaps lean on us, usually by our feet, but he will not sit in our laps. although, sometimes, i'll grab him while he's sleeping and he's too tired to fight off my affection. :twisted: :wink:

 

[Richo]

You really never know do you? It's especially hard to tell with a kitten, though. When I visited Barnaby at the shelter he was only 8 weeks old and wanted nothing to do with cuddling or purring. I could tell he was a bit scared. But within a week of having him home he was purring and sleeping on my lap.

I've been told that cats don't like to have their paws touched. Barnaby pulls his paws away when you touch them. He's an affectionate cat but doesn't like to have his paws touched.

 

[Ben]

Thanks for all the help. I am not going to actually get my kitten/adult cat until after Christmas because we are going on vacation for two weeks and I definately don't think it would be a good idea to take it along that young. I also want to spend alot of time with it. I don't how it would react only being with me for a few weeks and then having to be boarded or taken care of by a neighbor. So after Christmas I will visit some shelters and I will let you know how it goes.