dotcomdtcm

Help please. DD2 wants 1-2 kittens. We have never had pets.
She is dealing with animal rescue, etc. I insist on short hair. What else do I need to know? My friend said watch out for houseplants. We have a large apartment. They will not go outdoors. I'm just the Mom who can't say know. Oh yes, daughter is 22 and will pay all expenses!

Qbee

Make sure you have a couple of scratch post at least. They have to scratch...no way around it. When the kitten starts scratching your furniture firmly say "NO" and the move it to the scratch post or the post to the cat. When it scratches the post do the whole "good kitty" thing. One thing to remember, cats are NOT like dogs. They don't really "train" like a dog but will ususually comply if it isn't a problem for THEM. In other words, if you don't have something better for them to scratch...you can say "NO" all you want but they will continue to scratch your furniture.

dotcomdtcm

yikes

oatw13

If they are going to be strictly indoor cats, you can talk to the vet or shelter about having them de-clawed.

Cats are usually very sweet and easy to take care.

Maride

Hmmm...I find that paying the expenses is not the problem. The only issue we have had trouble in the past when it comes to kittens is the litter box. We had fights over her not cleaning it, then going off to college and leaving us the duty 24/7. She came back home and moved with Grandma for a year, even at Plattsburgh I heard the complaints about the box not being cleaned often. Now she lives with us again for one more week and I finally came up with a solution...I clean it. I am not trying to make you say no, just to look ahead to what is coming.

bearisgray

I think de-clawing a cat is a terrible thing to do to it. Last time I checked into it, the whole end joints of the cat's toes is removed.
How would you like to have the last joint of your fingers cut off?

One can clip and file their nails so they are less sharp.

The animals probably don't think that having their sexual organs removed as being "fixed" - but it makes their owners' lives easier.

Some plants are poisonous to animals. You might want to check that out.

dotcomdtcm

Yes, that's what I am trying to do. But the litter box will be in her bathroom! She keeps in pretty clean. I don't go in there!

Sadiemae

When I had house cats, I had them declawed. It didn't bother them at all. They still scratched as though they had claws.

ptquilts

I agree, declawing is not good for the cat - it makes them feel defenseless and thus changes their personality for the worse.
It is actually illegal in some countries, that tells you something.

feline fanatic

It is illegal in MANY countries. Australia, and almost all of Europe. This should give us an inkling of what this horrible practice does.
When veterinary pharmiceutical companies want to test the effectiveness of a pain killer they test on cats/kittens that have just been declawed because it is such a painful procedure. Just look up declawing on the internet and you will be shocked. A surprising number of surrendered cats to shelters are declawed and surrendered because they have litterbox issues (not using it). Yes, many people have declawed cats and had no problems but it is a cruel un-necessary mutilation of the poor animal. And Bearisgray is correct it is amputation of the toe down to the first knuckle bone. So imagine all your fingers and toes cut off down to the first knuckle just below your fingertip!
OK off my soap box now. My advice is to enjoy those sweet babies and take lots of pictures. They are kittens for such a short time. And two are so much fun to watch play.