That I'll agree with. Dogs need our help to fulfill all their needs, whereas cats can be pretty much left to their own devices. No question dogs require more investment of time and care.
Well if you want a dog then get a dog, but on the whole they are vastly more effort than cats.
My husband really wants to get a kitten, and I have some concerns so I'd like advice from kitten/cat owners on the following:
1) Does the kitty litter stink up the house? No Not if you clean the litter box regularly.
2) What are the worst problems you've run into with a new four-legged pet? Probably scratching on the furniture. I think declawing is cruel to cats though so I won't do it. Leather furniture is the best fabric IMO. Most cats don't like to scratch it. Having scratching posts helps too.
3) What's the approximate monthly cost that a cat runs up in your experience? Very low, we have 2 cats and we feed them twice a day, wet in the morning and dry in the evening. We have 2 litter boxes and change them weekly.
Make sure you get the cat spayed or neutered and keep them indoors.
I love our cats. They are great pets. Very affectionate and entertaining.
I'm going to get some grief for this but I have to disagree with you there. Shelters are full of unwanted cats who are fucked and are doomed to live out their brief lives in cages followed by euthanasia. Even if you can't or don't want to shell out big money on vet bills you are doing a shelter cat a huge favor by adopting it. Living out say, an eight or ten year life in a proper home is a hell of a lot better than being put down in a shelter even if you can't or won't shell out the money to squeeze a couple more years of life out of the cat when it gets old.
1) Does the kitty litter stink up the house? I'm a little bit of a neat freak, and I've never owned a four-legged pet. I feel like most dog owners say that their dog doesn't smell, but they've just gotten used to it, and when you go to their house, it definitely smells. So I'd like to ask this more to cat owners who never had a pet before and are kind of neat freaks.
2) What are the worst problems you've run into with a new four-legged pet?
3) What's the approximate monthly cost that a cat runs up in your experience?
Yes I realize I am going to get made fun of for certain aspects of this post, but I thought I might get some useful advice! Thanks!!
Cats are clean and in general don't smell. Lazy people who don't clean the cat box are what makes it smell.
Protip: Don't buy litter boxes for big $$$. Pick up Rubbermaid or target brand storage bins and dremmel out a door.
Also cats like to bring you presents... ie dead mice it finds on your bed.. etc
also
http://gizmodo.com/5931500/why-cat-bites-are-pretty-much-the-worst-thing-ever
Ok, I see your point and it's reasonable. You have cats. I'm betting that when the times comes to off them or ante up for a procedure, that, in all but the more extreme cost/benefit cases, you go for the procedure . . . far beyond what you ever thought you would.
Another thing: Be sure to socialize the cat a lot. Make sure you have the time to do this. People diss on cats because some can be spooky and standoffish. You get a cat like that by not paying attention to them as a kitten.
Wow.
I don't know if a cat ever bit me hard enough to puncture the skin. If they ever did, it sure never got infected like that. Ouch.
First, they have a need to work the coating off their claws from time to time. They do this by shredding your furniture and whatever else they can get to. You can get your cat a scratching post, and likely she'll use it from time to time, but will she use it exclusively? Ours had an awesome scratching post, and she used it very energetically, as long as she happened to be in that room when she felt like scratching the crap out of something. When in other rooms she scratched whatever she damn well felt like scratching, and over the years has ruined a sofa, a loveseat, draperies, carpets, and who knows what else.
Just like other people have said though, cats are assholes.
They will piss in your house
they will tear up your carpet/furniture (unless you declaw them).
To top that off, they may or may not even be nice to you.
I avoided this problem by adopting a cat that was starving to death on the street. Rescue from starvation = permanent kitty love. The only problem is that if I fed her as much as she wanted she'd be an obese feline blimp.
Get a female kitten to avoid the possibility of spraying.
They have bowel movements too. If you are up for the challenge, you can potty train them. With patience.My husband really wants to get a kitten, and I have some concerns so I'd like advice from kitten/cat owners on the following:
1) Does the kitty litter stink up the house? I'm a little bit of a neat freak, and I've never owned a four-legged pet. I feel like most dog owners say that their dog doesn't smell, but they've just gotten used to it, and when you go to their house, it definitely smells. So I'd like to ask this more to cat owners who never had a pet before and are kind of neat freaks.
Peeing & pooping everywhere except their litter boxes.2) What are the worst problems you've run into with a new four-legged pet?
I bought a Roomba shortly after I got my cat. Greatest purchase ever. Cat hair be gone!