Cat Lady Talk

There are tons of homeless pets in the world. Many of these unwanted souls will end up in a cage at an animal shelter. The lucky ones will be adopted out to loving families that will give them a life of compassion and attention. The unlucky animals will find themselves led down a dark hallway, where they will be "put to sleep" - a nice way of saying humanely murdered.

Even with so many shelter animals in need of a permanent home, lots of people still choose to adopt from a pet store. Why should you pay money for a purebred feline, when you can get a friendly and loving one that will love you unconditionally?

Shelter cats cost less than pet store kitties.

Sure, you may argue with me that you still have to pay money to adopt a pet from a shelter. Even if this amount is equivalent to the price at a pet store, you are getting a much better deal. Pet store cats come with a hefty price tag just because of their breed. If they have papers proving they are a purebred, then they cost even more. The adoption fee that you pay a local shelter goes much further. Your kitty will come with all of his basic shots, such as rabies and distemper. In addition to that, most shelters also include sterilization with this fee. If you choose to purchase from the store, your kitty most likely will need to visit a vet for all these things.

Shelters are overcrowded.

It's a sad reality that most shelters are unable to care for the animals they have on hand. Those that are lucky enough to get a cage only have a limited amount of time to find a home. Most shelters euthanize after a certain number of days. There are many no-kill shelters across the country, but they are usually full and not always accepting more animals. Simply adopting a cat from the local shelter makes room for one more pet have a second chance. Even if you cannot adopt another animal, considering fostering a stray to help control the overcrowding at the shelter.

You're saving a life.

Have you ever walked through a shelter? Every time I visit one, my heart breaks. There are sad faces staring back at you through the metal bars of the cages. All these animals want is a chance to love and to be loved. If you don't adopt from a shelter, the odds of that animal finding a home are slim to none. What happens if no one chooses to adopt? Sadly enough, that animal will be put down. Their body is discarded in the trash, and they were forced to die feeling unwanted and alone. Anyone with a heart knows that saving the life of a stray at an animal shelter is the most rewarding experience. That animal will love you forever.

If you are considering adding another kitty to your house, please visit a local shelter. Spay or neuter the animals that you have to prevent another pet from ending up at a shelter. No animal should ever have to be discarded.

Any crazy cat lady will tell you that their feline friends have complete run of the house. Sure, I may pay the mortgage and buy the food, but when it comes to personal space, it all belongs to my kitties. They sleep where they please. They play with anything they desire. They even want my attention only when it suits them.

Over the years, I learned to let the cats dominate the house. After all, I am merely a human who is living in their territory.

This morning when I woke up, I noticed a painful crick in my neck. I felt fine before going to sleep, so what happened? That's when I realized I was sleeping in a strange, contorted position. Surely I didn't choose this on my own. I glanced around to find a cat above my head, one on my side and another between my legs. During the course of the night, they must have moved me to suit their sleeping styles.

After a quick bite to eat, I decided to check my e-mail before heading off to work. I found my youngest kitty peacefully resting on my laptop keyboard. I would never let another person sit on my computer, but I find this behavior from my cat to be cute. They must really enjoy the warmth the keys emit.

It doesn't matter the day of the week, my cats are sure to do whatever they please. If I go in the bathroom, I usually have to remove one from the tub or sink before turning on the faucet. They try to trip me when I walk in the front door after work. Before I sit down on the couch, I must check to make sure I'm not about ready to smother a kitty. A person would move out of the way if they saw a giant backside coming down on them. My cats? They just stay put, daring me with their claws to try and sit on them.

Even the dining room table has become their territory. Of course, I don't truly allow them to wander across my dining surface, but they like to test my temper by strolling on the table whenever I turn my head. If I chase them off, they just wait until I'm not looking to jump back up.

If these were human children, I would scold them and teach them not to do these things. Cats, however, tend to be quite stubborn. They have claws and fangs, something babies do not have - at least I hope not.

What do my cats provide me? They give me all the unyielding love that a person could ever want. I don't have to worry about having a bad hair day or feeling under the weather - they will always put a smile on my face. So what if my kitty wants to sit in my favorite chair?

Before I begin, I want to preface this by saying that I'm scared of bugs. Terrified. If one comes crawling my way, I will scream and cry, just like a little schoolgirl. My heart starts to pound, and I begin to feel that the end is near. If the bug doesn't kill me with a poisonous bite, it may kill me with a heart attack.

My kitty, on the other hand, LOVES bugs. To him, they are new found friends. He gets so excited whenever a moth comes flying in the front door. If he sees a spider on the floor, he will follow it all around the house. There is just one thing he won't do...kill it.

I always thought that cats were supposed to be great insect and rodent catchers. After all, farmers keep them in the barns to keep the rat population at bay. I guess my kitty is missing that gene. Although we've never had any rodents - *knock on wood* - come into our house, we do get our fair share of creepy crawlies.

In my mind, any normal cat should find a bug, catch it and kill it. Don't they find them to be tasty? Isn't the thrill of the hunt something cats enjoy? Not mine.

Here's an example of a recent event:

While sitting happily on my sofa, my kitty comes prancing into the room. He has his head held high and his tail straight up. He meows to me in a muffled tone. I call him over, only to realize that he's carrying something in his mouth. What is it? He pridefully comes to me and drops a HUGE roach at my feet. Trust me when I say huge...I do live in Texas, and EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas.

Instead of being able to praise kitty for bringing me a dead present, I realize that the roach is very much alive. It starts frantically running in my direction. I scream bloody murder at the top of my lungs and jump up on the couch. My life starts flashing before my eyes. My kitty looks very concerned at this point. Why don't I like the present?

Why not, you ask? Because it's still alive, that's why! Bad kitty! You are supposed to kill the presents before dropping them at my feet. You almost gave me a stroke! Of course, these words mean nothing to my cat. He walks away, looking for another bug to bring me.

I can't be mad at my cat, but I am upset that his killing instinct is not there. Do your cats eat their bug prey?

As a crazy cat lady, I've brought home a new kitty on several occasions. Cats can be protective of their homes, and it is sometimes stressful for the other cats to meet this new addition. They may hiss and growl. They may become more aggressive around their toys and food. If you are considering bringing home another cat or kitten, there are a few things you can do to make the introduction go more smoothly.

Don't let the cats see each other right away.

What does this mean? Whenever you bring home a new cat, isolate the animal by locking him up in a different room. If you allow the cats to mingle right away, you take the risk of one of the them getting hurt. You can avoid the claws and teeth by keeping them separated for a few days. Allow the cats to smell each other underneath the door, but do not let them into the same room.

Once they are familiar with each other's scent, place the new kitty in a pet carrier in the same room as your current cat. This will allow them to smell and see one another, while still protecting the new cat from an altercation. Hissing and loud meowing are normal at this point. You may need to repeat this process over a few days.

After the cats seem to be more comfortable in the same room, you may let them roam together. Sure, they may not be instant friends, but they are more likely to tolerate each other.

Give the new cat his own things.

Cats are very possessive of their belongings. Don't expect the new cat to share a food and water bowl with your current kitty. Provide the new feline his own toys, and make sure he has his own bedding. It's even wise to put out an extra litter box for your new friend. Make sure all of these items are new - the scent of a previous animal may keep the new cat from taking to the items.

Make sure your current kitty gets a lot of attention.

Don't forget about your current cat. He was there before the new one, and there is a good chance he is feeling very jealous about sharing his house. Praise your old kitty on a regular basis, and make sure that you give him more attention than before. If you find yourself spending too much time with the new addition, your current cat may grow to resent you. Monitor your cat's day to day actions. If he starts doing something strange, like urinating outside the litter box, he is probably feeling left out.

Most cats will learn how to tolerate another animal over time. With any luck, they will even become friends. Never rush cats into accepting one another. Have a little patience, and your cats will learn to live in harmony.