Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats - Update with added question..

.. because I think we've got one.

Marcus has not left. Nobody is claiming him. Tomorrow he goes for a neuter. They will check him for a chip and if there is none - well we will be cat owners.

Rob was on the fence until the cat won him over.. smart cat. While Rob was pulling weeds it came over and pushed his head against his hand. Rob went to pet it and then it jumped up and wrapped himself around his neck and started to purr.. who can resist that?

My sister had cats while we were growing up - and I owned a kitten that ran away after a few weeks (it jumped out an open window! ) - but I've never had a full grown cat of our own. So I'd love some advice, input, thoughts, etc..

Is there a best place to put a litter box?
Are cat box liners a good use of money?
Is there a best litter to use?
Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?
Do they need a cat bed?
What prevents them from scratching up furniture?
Will he search the kitchen for scraps?
How often do they eat in general?

What else do I need to know???


UPDATE: Wow! Thank you all so much! I'm looking forward to discovering Marcus' personality.

BUT I do have another question about how to break a behavior.

Marcus jumps - I mean on people. Me, specifically. I was outside to talk to my son and evidently was not giving him enough attention so he took a flying leap and clung to the front of my shirt and crawled right up my body - purring the whole time. I thought maybe it was a fluke.. but the next day I went outside to grill and he was on the rail and when he say me he leaped off of the deck rail and onto me.

I am guessing he just REALLY likes attention - but I can't think this is a good sort of behavior. Any ideas on how to curb it?

Message edited 8/26/2010 8:06:09 PM.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Aweee.. congrats on the kitty. I feel like cats are such funny creatures and all have their own personality. I will answer your question based on my cat and my experience


Is there a best place to put a litter box?

I say put it somewhere easy for him to get to but away from the kids. We keep ours in the hall bathroom. I will move it out if there is company over. I would not suggest leaving it in a room where you are all the time bc I personally think that even the kitty litter alone smells (but thats just me)

Are cat box liners a good use of money?

I use them every so often. They are helpful when you are changing the litter but sometimes the cat scratches them up and then its useless. I think they are cheap enough to give it a try and see if it works for you.

Is there a best litter to use?

I like to use the clumping kind with baking soda to eliminate odor

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?

You really just need to show him where the litter box is and put him in it once. That should be it.

Do they need a cat bed?

My cat loves our dog bed lol .. but no they dont need one

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?

I wish I had the answer for this! Try buying one of those cat scratch posts.

Will he search the kitchen for scraps?

My cat begs for food like a dog, but like I said every cat is different.

How often do they eat in general?

I just leave the cat dish full all the time. They will only really eat if they are hungry (at least thats what my cat does).. so he basically snacks all day long. I only feed him dry food though, if you are doing canned food I would say (depending on his size) twice a day. ETA: not a whole can twice a day.. maybe half. Ask the vet for their recommendation.

What else do I need to know???

Nothing really.. cats are pretty easy and since this one seems very friendly you should have an easy time with him! Let us know how he adjusts.. and post pictures!

Message edited 8/25/2010 11:16:12 AM.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

This is from my experience owning cats for many many years:

Is there a best place to put a litter box?
No, but usually we kept the litter box in the bathroom or mud room

Are cat box liners a good use of money?
They never were for us. Cats usually cover their poop and by doing this they can tear the liner and then the purpose of the liner is ruined.

Is there a best litter to use?
We prefer to use Fresh Step Scoopable Litter. I have tried many brands over the years and this one always wins over the others.

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?
You will need to show him the litter box a few times and I would also keep him within the vicinity of the litter box for the first few days of him being in the house.

Do they need a cat bed?
No, they don't need a bed because they will make a bed anywhere but if you want to get the cat in the habit of only sleeping in one place (which will be very hard because cats are very independent) then try a bed.

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?
A squirt bottle, declawing their front paws, a cat scratch toy

Will he search the kitchen for scraps?
Since he was an outside cat he may be used to hunting for food. If he becomes annoying about begging then just use a squirt bottle.

How often do they eat in general?
I usually keep food and water out for my cats all day long. They eat and drink at their leisure. Like PP said, I only give my cats dry food. They get a can once a week as a treat and when I do that I will split one can between the two cats.

When Marcus comes home from being neutered he is only going to be allowed to have shredded paper in his litter box for at least a week. You will also have to make sure he does not lick at his incision.

Also, cats like to eat plants and someetimes will use the bathroom in the pot. If you see him eating the leaves of the plants then squirt him or do whatever you plan on doing to get the point across to him that he is not allowed to do that. Some plants can be toxic to cats.

Message edited 8/25/2010 11:23:59 AM.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Congratulations on being a cat owner.
Sounds like you have a very affectionate one.

Litter box can go anywhere it is convenient for you and the cat. Laundry room, bathroom. Just show Marcus where it is and he should be fine. It's instinct for them to use litter or sand or dirt.
I've always used a liner, I like the Tidy Cats one because it fits best, was easy to get the litter out and then just a quick swipe of the litter box with a Clorox wipe. I also put the litter box on a small rug to help "trap" some of the stray litter.
We used Feline Pine, which is a natural litter made of compressed pine pellets. Smells great and lasts about two weeks. Poop can be scooped and flushed.
Mine had a bed, slept there, on the couch, on my dad's bed, on my bed, in the middle of the living room floor, under the dining room table. Cats sleep 18 hours a day wherever they are comfortable.
Scratching the furniture - that was a battle. Mine would scratch the carpet, but never the furniture. A spray bottle of water is a good discipline device.
Get Marcus a scratching post and some catnip as bribery to use the post.
Eating - mine was a grazer and I left dried food in his bowl. The only time he came into the kitchen searching for food was when he heard the can opener (tuna was a treat) or smelled me cooking veal. Other than that he never begged for food, was just nosy and had to see and smell what was on my dinner plate.
Cat toys are a good thing to have around, to get him some exercise. I had some old rolled up socks that Munch loved to play with, as well as things that would roll across the floor.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Is there a best place to put a litter box?
We put ours in the tub or in front of the bathroom. The tub catches most of the litter tracking and we just wash it down the drain. (we use flushable litter)
Are cat box liners a good use of money?
We dont use it, we just put everything in a bag and throw the used litter out.

Is there a best litter to use?

I highly recommend a natural litter like Swheat scoop. Its made out of wheat, clumps, its flushable and its natural. The rescue group we got Ozzy from they recommend a natural one so when your cat grooms itself it will digest some litter and they said that the clumping one could clump in its stomach and intestine.

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?

Put them in the box and take their paw and scratch the litter.

Do they need a cat bed?

No they will sleep anywhere. Mine sleeps on the table, dog bed, our head...

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?

We have a cat condo and a cat scratcher. So far Ozzy hasnt scratched up our furniture. If you want I hear you should use double sided tape or aluminum foil and put it on the edges of your furniture.


Will he search the kitchen for scraps?

We put all food away, Ozzy looks for scraps.

How often do they eat in general?

Since Ozzy is a kitten we feed him as much as he wants. Not sure how much to feed a grown cat.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Congrats!
It may be a tough transition for Marcus to go from outdoor cat to indoor cat. Be prepared for him to hide for the first few days - you may not see very much of him. Let him come to you as he gets adjusted.

Our litter box is in the laundry room. Show him where it is, and scratch his paws in it so he knows what he's supposed to do in there.
We use the wheat litter, no liners.
We have no beds, they sleep wherever.
Definitely get a scratching post, and again show him what to do. You can put some catnip on it so he is attracted to it.

We feed our cats once a day- the dry food gets left out. They usually finish it before the are fed again, but we don't refill. S ometimes they get a little bit of wet food as a treat.

Our cats don't look for scraps, but its always a good idea to put food away - especially since Marcus lives outside, he's probably used to scavenging for food.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

congrats!! that's how we got our cat! he was a stray that kept coming to my parents house, one day shortly after we got married, this cat decided to fall (literally fall) at DH's feet and purr. That was it, DH picked him, and my bro and him went to the vet got cleaned and called me to tell me that I'm a mommy!! Best decision ever.. and we just celebrated his third birthday last month

Also, when we got our furboy neutered, the vet offered us a discount as he was a stray.. so make sure you ask, no harm in that..

the transition from outdoor to indoor was smooth, no hiccups.. it was like he was never outside

you have wonderful responses here, but just remember, each cat has its own personality.. and trust me, they will "break" you in.. and they usually say that cats adopt you, you don't adopt them.. lots of luck with the new furbaby!!

Message edited 8/26/2010 9:16:09 AM.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Is there a best place to put a litter box?

Most cats like privacy, so if possible, somewhere private, but easily accessible. A bathroom, the basement, etc. are usually good choices. Some cats are picky and do not like litter boxes with "hoods" or tops, while some love them.

Are cat box liners a good use of money?

No. They are IMHO a complete and total waste of money. Cats scratch to bury their waste and even with deeply bedded litter boxes, they wind up shredding the liners.

Is there a best litter to use?

Some cats are picky, but most are not. I would suggest a premium clumping litter for ease of cleaning up. The ultra cheap clumping litter doesn't clump as well or as tight as the better stuff. Some people prefer the natural pine litter that smells really nice.

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?

Most cats won't need training. A cat's instinct is to bury its waste, so he should look to go in a place where he can bury it (i.e., his litter box). I would transition him inside by confining him to one or two rooms - preferably ones with nothing like a large plant that he could mistake for a litter box. Keep his litter box in one area and his food in another. (Cats will not want to eat where they go to the bathroom, so food and litter should be separated.) Keeping him "confined" for a little while should giv eyou an idea of his willingness to use the litter box and he will start to know that's his place for the bathroom.

Do they need a cat bed?

They don't "need" a cat bed (as they will snuggle up on your furniture), but they are nice. Most cats like to be high up, though, so many will be less likely to use a cat bed on the floor when they have a back of a couch to sleep on.

I would get a perch with a scratching post -- they love sleeping on the top level and the scratching post is an absolute must.

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?

Attractive scratching posts. I like the scratching posts with the perches on top - they do double duty as a scratching post and a bed. Cats scratch both horizontally and vertically, though, so I like to have both upright scratching posts and horizontal ones that lay on the floor. You can rub some catnip on them to attract him, but most cats are instantly attracted them because of the material and design.

If the cat goes to scratch the furniture, pick him up and place him on the scratching post so he learns to scratch the POST, not the furniture. If he has a spot on the furniture he really likes to scratch, put the scratching post near that spot (even blocking that spot if possible) so he has the scratching post alternative.

Be sure to keep his nailed trimmed, too. This doesn't prevent scratching (they scratch to stretch, mark territory, and most importantly to shed the outer layer of their claws), but it does prevent some of the damage. Scratching is an extremely important cat behavior -- so it's important to provide scratching posts (horizontal and vertical) for the cat so the cat doesn't use your furniture. You cannot expect the cat to just never scratch anything ever, so provide it with the place to scratch.

Will he search the kitchen for scraps?

Probably not. Note that cats are obligate carnivores -- designed to eat meat and only meat. Don't feed your cat any table scraps, unless they are meat or fish.

How often do they eat in general?

***Not knowing how old Marcus is, etc., I can't speak for how much to feed him now. Definitely ask the vet.

I leave dry food out all the time. Many (NOT ALL) cats will not overeat. Some, however, do and their food must be limited. This should only be done in addition to canned / wet food. You can also feed exclusively canned / wet food. (Not all wet food comes in a can)

You should feed canned (wet) food once or twice a day. While many cats do okay on just dry food, it isn't ideal. As a kitten, he probably won't eat a whole can at one time. Wet food is important for a lot of reasons -- it should be all meat, which is what cats are designed to eat. It also provides cats with a lot of water / hydration. Cats do not have a high thirst drive, as in the "wild" (for lack of a better word), they would get most of their hydration from the meat they eat. Still, even when feeding wet food, the cat has to have clean water available at all times. My cats for some reason are not the nor and have a pretty healthy thirst drive, so they are all individuals.

Be careful buying "cheap" cat food. It is FULL of grains and other junk that is not good for cats. This causes a lot of problems for cats, including frequent vomiting and a variety of health problems long-term.

What else do I need to know???
You'll survive!

All cats are individuals, so what works for most / many cats may not necessarily work for you -- but it probably will.

Your cat needs regular exercise / stimiulation, which means play time every day. I would get some wands (like the fleece string on a stick!) for him to play with you. They provide something for the cat to chew / grab / chase while keeping your hands far away from the teeth and claws. A cat that doesn't get enough exercise and mental stimulation may develop bad behaviors, just like other animals. 15 mins of exercise twice a day is enough for many cats, though higher energy cats may need more. My cats are part Siamese (a very active breed) and need a lot more exercise than that.

Have fun. Marcus is lucky to have found you!

ETA - Another thought -- Cats need to be groomed regularly to control shedding. I would get him used to being brushed daily or every other day while he is still little and then keep up with the regular brushing.

You also want to get him some toys. I personally avoid anything with bells b/c I am worried about choking. My cats love the little disk with the ball inside, for example, but nothing beats playing with their wands or chasing a laser pointer.

Message edited 8/26/2010 11:05:46 AM.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Is there a best place to put a litter box?
bathroom or laundry room as everyone said as long as the cat can get to it and do its business it will be fine.

Are cat box liners a good use of money?
I used it once but my cats tore up the lining so now we don't use them.

Is there a best litter to use?
We have tried everything and pretty much all are the same clumping changing the boxes to arm and hammer from fresh scoop this weekend.

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?
Usually plop them in, if he is young and unsure just scratch the litter and they usually get it. If not when cat poops put it in the box. They are pretty fast learners.

Do they need a cat bed?
Haley uses hers but Stubby never used hers, so go for something cheap for now and see what happens.

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?
Ugh our kitten does this, scratching posts and scratching areas are placed in every room seems to work.

Will he search the kitchen for scraps?
Our kitten steals our food off of our plates, jumps on the stove when cooking and tries to eat out of pots she is THE DEVIL, stubby on the other hand doesn't bother us while eating so it really depends.

How often do they eat in general?
Stubby is very overweight and will eat anything in site while Haley barely eats. We put a small amount of can/dry mix about 3/4 cup or less total for each of them in the AM and in the PM they get the same amount and some treats. Haley gets a bit more but we have to lock her up so she eats it otherwise stubby comes along and steals her food.

We also put Whiska's Cat Milk out every four days as a treat, Haley gets a High Calorie supplement every other day since she is so skinny which is working.

As far as food the best is with little grains as possible, something with the first few ingredients is meat base proteins. We just switched from regular blue buffalo to now wilderness blue buffalo dry and wilderness and regular blue buffalo wet foods. Its expensive and there are plenty of cheaper still good alternatives. We even feed strays some of the food and they have the nicest coats now IoI

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

congratulations on your kitty!

Is there a best place to put a litter box?
- i keep mine in the guest room, my bathroom is too small for it. when company stays over i move it into my room.

Is there a best litter to use?
- i use swheat scoop as well, its flushable & biodegrable.

Do they need a cat bed?
- my boy has a queen size bed - mine! he has completely taken over one side of the bed

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?
- my boy had no interest in scratching posts, i tried a few different types, different cat nip (sprinkle & spray). i put some large pieces of double side tape where he was scratching & he hasnt touched it since.

Will he search the kitchen for scraps?
- my boy is a pig & a food stealer, always has been. he was my sister's cat before he was mine & he once stole grilled shrimp skewers off her kitchen counter. she figured it out when she found the empty bamboo skewer in the bathroom.

all in all i love my little man & wouldn't trade him for the world. i'm single & live by myself & love the company & having someone to come home to. i also grew up with pets, cats, dogs, fish, birds, etc. and think he will be a great addition to your family

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Is there a best place to put a litter box?

We have two for two cats. One in the laudnry room and one in the bathroom.

Are cat box liners a good use of money? I think so. I use the Jonny Cat ones. They tend to be tough and easy when you are changing the litter.

Is there a best litter to use?- we like the fresh step

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?-just plop him in there and he will get the picture.

Do they need a cat bed?-No-he will sleep wherever he wants-prob with you!

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?-I wish I knew but any stratching posts with catnip help.

Will he search the kitchen for scraps? Mine beg for food but they don't always get some.

How often do they eat in general? I feed them one in the am and once in the pm..dry food only.

Congrats to Marcus! That's one lucky kitty!

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Wow! Thank you all so much! I'm looking forward to discovering Marcus' personality.

BUT I do have another question about how to break a behavior.

Marcus jumps - I mean on people. Me, specifically. I was outside to talk to my son and evidently was not giving him enough attention so he took a flying leap and clung to the front of my shirt and crawled right up my body - purring the whole time. I thought maybe it was a fluke.. but the next day I went outside to grill and he was on the rail and when he say me he leaped off of the deck rail and onto me.

I am guessing he just REALLY likes attention - but I can't think this is a good sort of behavior. Any ideas on how to curb it?

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats

Is there a best place to put a litter box?
Wherever works best for you, but where Marcus will have access. We bought a box with a cover because my cats are the type that kick it everywhere.

Are cat box liners a good use of money?
I tried them but my cat kept ripping them up so that was the end of that.

Is there a best litter to use?
Even before we had two cats, I used Ever Clean Multiple Cat formula. I dont smell anything

Will Marcus use the litter box - or do they need training.. how do you train them?
At 8 weeks old, my kitty used the litter. I just put her in it, and used her paws to scratch. Our new fellow didnt need any help at all.

Do they need a cat bed?
We have several. They sleep where they want to sleep.

What prevents them from scratching up furniture?
A squirt from a water bottle. Loud noise. Most effective is to have a scratching post near where they like to scratch. I have not have a problem with either of my cats although they do have some lapses but its usually just digging their nails in to stretch. As an aside, I would NEVER declaw my cats. It not as the name implies. They actually amputate their paws...I love little kitty paws

Will he search the kitchen for scraps?
My first cat, is a petite little tabby who is very picky about what she eats. I have actually stopped givng her wet food because none are "good enough" for her. Our newest guy is a pig...actually I think he's a dog....he eats anything and begs and CRYS when I'm in the kitchen and forget it...the minute I put DS in his highchair he KNOWS to sit UNDER it because "things fall".

How often do they eat in general? I leave dry out for them in a large feeder.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats - Update with added question..

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats - Update with added question..

My Bella did this when she was a kitten. She would actually climb up my leg.

She doesn't anymore..she's too fat!

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats - Update with added question..

Our kittens did the same thing and grew out of it as they got bigger.

Re: Tell Me All I Need To Know About Cats - Update with added question..

Is Marcus a kitten or very young cat ?
So nice the way he has adopted you.

As the others posted, it's a kittenish behavior. Just pluck him off of you, put him on the ground and tell him no.

Mine used to do that all the time when he was little. Wasn't fun with the claws though.