Love is the temple, love the higher law

[lizblackdog]

It's really way too soon to post this. I'm scared I might jinx it for myself. But I told cottonmanifesto and now I wanna tell everyone because it'll be so great if it happens...

We may be about to have our own cat!

Was talking to Downstairs Neighbour Couple with the miniature Dingo this afternoon and I happened to mention how much Spike wanted a cat and how I was looking out for one that needed rehoming. And they told me they knew someone at the Conservative Club who's moving into sheltered accomodation who needed a new home for an eight month old cat. Not only that, she's a BLACK AND WHITE TUXEDO CAT. And she's used to being an indoor-only cat, and she's apparently been introduced to dogs before and got on all right.

I can't imagine anything more perfect. I've been wanting a cat for the longest time; only I felt it needed to be a youngster. I didn't think it would be very fair to take a cat used to a dogless household and free access to outdoors (whether one approves or not, it's the norm for cats round here) and force her to adapt to being indoor-only and coping with Spike in her face to boot. A young one that's never been an outdoor cat will cope much better, don't you think?

I've lived with my Mum's cat Maisie before, which is how I know how badly Spike wanted one of his own, but I've never been responsible for a cat myself before. At least half my f-list has cats so PLEASE tell me anything you think I might need to know, which are good books to read, and which are the best LJ cat communities to join? I've had a look at cat_adoration, but that's more about showing off pretty kitties than the nuts and bolts of keeping them happy and healthy.

And cross your fingers for me, too. I want this cat to be my cat.

Comments

[curefreak.livejournal.com]

Indoor cats are great, but a real handful as you are their life. I wouldn't have it any other way though :)

3 quick things.

1. Find out what type/brand of kitty litter she uses. Many cats wont allow change.

2. Get some indoor pot plant growing cat grass. Cats need it for their digestion. Also check any house plants and make sure they're not poisonous to cats.

3. Give her somewhere to hide for the first few days. She will be scared and will want somewhere "safe and secluded".

Good Luck and I hope this helped :)

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Well, I live on the first floor so indoor/outdoor isn't an option for any cat of mine. The cat in the flat below me goes in and out through a window but I'm a bit far off the ground for that. Besides, although this is a pretty safe area for it, I'm the sort of person who'd panic if I didn't know where my cat was 24/7.

Good points about cat grass and kitty litter, thank you! I was thinking of growing something grassy for the dogs anyway. Squish is a great grass-eater, I'm sure it would make him happy.

I don't have houseplants, much as I love them. I know from long experience that I have a hard time remembering to look after anything that can't interact with me. The only time my plants ever stayed alive was when my husband was alive and took care of them.