(June 10, 2016 at 3:49 pm)Losty Wrote: Oh wait, old and not that big. Just reassure all the animals with a soft voice and be right there just in case. Have your dogs never seen a cat before? I wish I had better advice, I'm sure someone else does.

I don't recall them having problems with Cats recently, but I do recall them having problems with Dogs, and they do chase Birds, so this may be problematic.

(June 10, 2016 at 3:57 pm)Losty Wrote:

(June 10, 2016 at 3:52 pm)RozKek Wrote: I've never had a kitten, but beware evil plottings. And I agree with The_Empress, I just did a quick research and you should not declaw it.

I resemble that!

You're the one who put the damn legos in my shoes?

(June 10, 2016 at 3:47 pm)Losty Wrote: The cat will likely not be afraid or not for long hehe. Cats are brave.

It's easy to be brave when you're evil.

(June 10, 2016 at 3:57 pm)Losty Wrote:

(June 10, 2016 at 3:52 pm)RozKek Wrote: I've never had a kitten, but beware evil plottings. And I agree with The_Empress, I just did a quick research and you should not declaw it.

I resemble that!

Declawing you is a good way to get turtleslapped.

(June 10, 2016 at 3:44 pm)Shining_Finger Wrote:

(June 10, 2016 at 3:25 pm)The_Empress Wrote: Please don't get your kitty declawed. Make sure you have scratching posts around your house, and if you catch him or her scratching your furniture, move him or her to the scratching post.

Get him lots of toys- my cat likes the little furry mice with catnip in them. Wet food is best for cats because it's added hydration for them. Get him fixed as soon as the vet will allow t.

Play with him! The wands with strings and fun toys on the end are a lot of fun, as are laser pointers.

I am mostly keeping the Kitten in the bathroom in my house. Don't get me wrong, it is a Big Bathroom with a few toys and a Scratching Post. Karma isn't eating the dry food, so I am allowing him to subsist on wet food for now, but I will try to get Karma to start eating the dry food as soon as possible, because quite frankly, the wet food is particularly expensive.

Well, pets are expensive. Dry food is fine, but try to mix a little wet food in. Like I said: hydration. Also, on that note, cats will drink more water if you keep it away from their food.

Quote:I have a litter box, but I don't believe him to be using it. Do you have any advice on this front?

Try using a different kind of litter. Cats, generally, will go to the bathroom wherever they can dig, but maybe you could pay attention to when he's eating or drinking, and then a little later, place him inside the litter box. A covered one might also be to his preference.

Quote:I am keeping the dry food out for him and a bowl of water, however I am using small Plastic Containers to hold these food items. Would you recommend getting a metal bowl? 

Yes; heavy bowls are best. They get frustrated if they're trying to eat or drink and the bowl moves around.

Quote:I have a Scratching Post in the area he is in, but it will be simply awkward to fit a scratching post in quiet a few places, particularly places it may be a problem. 

Well, they make small scratching posts. You don't have to have kitty furniture everywhere. My cat particularly likes the ones that hang off doorknobs. Remeber: you brought a new family member into your home. You have to make some adjustments to be a good kitty dad.

Quote:There is the question of getting him a Cat Bed, should we just keep him sleeping on the Scratching Post, or should we get him a bed he may make a mess out of? 

My cat sleeps wherever she wants. If yours likes the scratching post, there's no real need to change it up. I got my cat a bed once, and she spent a total of about three hours on it before she got bored and ignored it.

Quote:

(June 10, 2016 at 3:29 pm)Losty Wrote: Give it love and cuddles! Don't let it make babies. Take Becca's advice

I actually already have had multiple Dogs, so I am planning to get it neutered soon, despite there being no other cats in the house. I have two dogs, one a half Pomeranian and the other a Sheltie. 
They are both rather old, the half Pom being significantly older than the Sheltie. Both are relatively small. Do either of you have any tips on introducing the Cat to the Dogs?

Take Losty's advice on that. The dogs will probably get curious, and either the kitty will show 'em who's boss, or let them take the alpha role. Generally, it's not something to be too worried about, especially if they're really old. Just don't leave them all alone together; that's a recipe for disaster! You're doing a good thing by keeping the kitty in his own space for now, but it is a good idea to socialize all of the pets in a few days, once they've gotten used to each others' scents.

Because I am involved with a dog rescue and was recently put in charge of the Shelter team I get the Euthanasia lists from the local shelters.  There is almost never a Golden Retriever ( which is the breed we handle) on them but by the time I finish scrolling through the list of pit bulls and chihuahuas I'm ready to go get a drink.  And this time of year they are buried in cats.  It is a scandalous situation.  Thanks for saving one, man.

P.S.  Don't declaw the cat unless you are sure you can ALWAYS keep it inside.  They are practically defenseless without them.

(June 10, 2016 at 4:45 pm)The_Empress Wrote:

(June 10, 2016 at 3:44 pm)Shining_Finger Wrote: I am mostly keeping the Kitten in the bathroom in my house. Don't get me wrong, it is a Big Bathroom with a few toys and a Scratching Post. Karma isn't eating the dry food, so I am allowing him to subsist on wet food for now, but I will try to get Karma to start eating the dry food as soon as possible, because quite frankly, the wet food is particularly expensive.

Well, pets are expensive. Dry food is fine, but try to mix a little wet food in. Like I said: hydration. Also, on that note, cats will drink more water if you keep it away from their food.

Quote:I have a litter box, but I don't believe him to be using it. Do you have any advice on this front?

Try using a different kind of litter. Cats, generally, will go to the bathroom wherever they can dig, but maybe you could pay attention to when he's eating or drinking, and then a little later, place him inside the litter box. A covered one might also be to his preference.

Quote:I am keeping the dry food out for him and a bowl of water, however I am using small Plastic Containers to hold these food items. Would you recommend getting a metal bowl? 

Yes; heavy bowls are best. They get frustrated if they're trying to eat or drink and the bowl moves around.

Quote:I have a Scratching Post in the area he is in, but it will be simply awkward to fit a scratching post in quiet a few places, particularly places it may be a problem. 

Well, they make small scratching posts. You don't have to have kitty furniture everywhere. My cat particularly likes the ones that hang off doorknobs. Remeber: you brought a new family member into your home. You have to make some adjustments to be a good kitty dad.

Quote:There is the question of getting him a Cat Bed, should we just keep him sleeping on the Scratching Post, or should we get him a bed he may make a mess out of? 

My cat sleeps wherever she wants. If yours likes the scratching post, there's no real need to change it up. I got my cat a bed once, and she spent a total of about three hours on it before she got bored and ignored it.

Quote:I actually already have had multiple Dogs, so I am planning to get it neutered soon, despite there being no other cats in the house. I have two dogs, one a half Pomeranian and the other a Sheltie. 
They are both rather old, the half Pom being significantly older than the Sheltie. Both are relatively small. Do either of you have any tips on introducing the Cat to the Dogs?

Take Losty's advice on that. The dogs will probably get curious, and either the kitty will show 'em who's boss, or let them take the alpha role. Generally, it's not something to be too worried about, especially if they're really old. Just don't leave them all alone together; that's a recipe for disaster! You're doing a good thing by keeping the kitty in his own space for now, but it is a good idea to socialize all of the pets in a few days, once they've gotten used to each others' scents.

He is now using the litter box.  
The Scratching post is something like this: 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0032G6VUW?pc_redir=T1
Would you recommend those Generic Posts like these? 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A216MY?pc_redir=T1
Or one of these for any particular reasons:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZK8QPRO?pc_redir=T1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006PATTRO?pc_redir=T1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015Y4HVTO?pc_redir=T1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JK0BX2K?pc_redir=T1
Or does it really matter more on what you can buy and keep near the cat? 
What is your take on Cardboard Boxes? Are they safe for Cats to play/sleep in? If so, I might give the Cat one, just if there is one around.

(June 10, 2016 at 4:57 pm)Minimalist Wrote: P.S.  Don't declaw the cat unless you are sure you can ALWAYS keep it inside.  They are practically defenseless without them.

Well then, I am planning to not declaw the cat. External Circumstances may make it more of a necessity, such as if it scratches a Child, but I will try and learn and keep up with trimming the Cat's nails. Do you have any tips on this?

(June 10, 2016 at 6:25 pm)Shining_Finger Wrote:

(June 10, 2016 at 4:45 pm)The_Empress Wrote: Well, pets are expensive. Dry food is fine, but try to mix a little wet food in. Like I said: hydration. Also, on that note, cats will drink more water if you keep it away from their food.


Try using a different kind of litter. Cats, generally, will go to the bathroom wherever they can dig, but maybe you could pay attention to when he's eating or drinking, and then a little later, place him inside the litter box. A covered one might also be to his preference.


Yes; heavy bowls are best. They get frustrated if they're trying to eat or drink and the bowl moves around.


Well, they make small scratching posts. You don't have to have kitty furniture everywhere. My cat particularly likes the ones that hang off doorknobs. Remeber: you brought a new family member into your home. You have to make some adjustments to be a good kitty dad.


My cat sleeps wherever she wants. If yours likes the scratching post, there's no real need to change it up. I got my cat a bed once, and she spent a total of about three hours on it before she got bored and ignored it.


Take Losty's advice on that. The dogs will probably get curious, and either the kitty will show 'em who's boss, or let them take the alpha role. Generally, it's not something to be too worried about, especially if they're really old. Just don't leave them all alone together; that's a recipe for disaster! You're doing a good thing by keeping the kitty in his own space for now, but it is a good idea to socialize all of the pets in a few days, once they've gotten used to each others' scents.

He is now using the litter box.  
The Scratching post is something like this: 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0032G6VUW?pc_redir=T1
Would you recommend those Generic Posts like these? 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A216MY?pc_redir=T1
Or one of these for any particular reasons:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZK8QPRO?pc_redir=T1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006PATTRO?pc_redir=T1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015Y4HVTO?pc_redir=T1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JK0BX2K?pc_redir=T1
Or does it really matter more on what you can buy and keep near the cat? 
What is your take on Cardboard Boxes? Are they safe for Cats to play/sleep in? If so, I might give the Cat one, just if there is one around.

A cat will probably like all of them. My cat likes the rope or grass ones, which is nice because they don't make nearly the mess corrugated ones do.

As far as cardboard boxes?? Those are my cat's favorite things in the world. It doesn't even matter what size; she'll curl herself up to fit in a tiny one. Try throwing a toy in there. He'll love it!