The Cat Megathread

[Jaron]

That is a sad story.

I was kinda sad when my fish died a few years ago, but you don't bond with fish like you do with cats or dogs. It was really weird when our family dog died in 03. We'd had her since 91 and it was really really weird to walk into the backyard and not hear her tags jingling as she rushed to pounce on me.

[11B4V]

I knew they were in league with criminals. 

Prison Busts Cat on Criminal Mission

(AP) – Inmates at Russia's prisons have been known to bribe guards to obtain cellphones. But using cats as couriers? Guards patrolling a prison colony 600 miles north of Moscow saw a feline on the fence and it seemed to be carrying something. On a closer look, they found a few cellphones and chargers taped to the cat's belly. It wasn't clear how the cat was supposed to drop off its loot.

[Solmyr]

RIP Roman ???-2013.

[CountDeMoney]

I'm sorry, Sol.  He looks like he was a bestest buddy.

[Razgovory]

 

I'm worried about leaving my cats alone for half a week.  I'm giving them plenty of food and water, but still...

[Solmyr]

I'm sorry, Sol.  He looks like he was a bestest buddy.

I took him in 7 years ago, when I found him living in our parking hall. Despite living on the street it was clear that he was from some home, probably abandoned. He was a very intelligent cat, loved music and flowers, and talked a lot. And he loved being close to me. I've never seen a cat like that before.

[DGuller]

 

[Scipio]

How terrible.  Black cats are the best, IMHO.

[CountDeMoney]

Black cats are the best, IMHO.

We have so many of them at the shelter.  Some gorgeous ones, too.  But they're black, and black cats are tough to move.  Some people come in looking for them, though.

When you're ready, Sol, there's a shelter cat waiting for you to give you another lifetime of their love.

[MadBurgerMaker]

 

Sorry to hear that, Sol.

[Scipio]

Black cats are the best, IMHO.

We have so many of them at the shelter.  Some gorgeous ones, too.  But they're black, and black cats are tough to move.  Some people come in looking for them, though.

When you're ready, Sol, there's a shelter cat waiting for you to give you another lifetime of their love.

We have one black cat, and one tuxedo cat sans tail.  They are the bestest.

[CountDeMoney]

One of my favorite cats finally found a home yesterday after 9 months.

Found by an old couple living on their farm with one eye and missing a chunk of her tail, she had been rotated into one of our community rooms.  Woman went in to meet all the cats, and while the rest all ran around playing and chasing each other like goofs, Ra walked up and chose her, fucked up depth perception and all.

It was sweet.  I will miss her.

[MadBurgerMaker]

I have just recently been the victim of several poorly disguised ambushes and my feet are currently under heavy attack through the blanket. IV is an interesting little cat.

Never had one run up and basically hug my leg before (the ambushes, usually from either her paper bags or her beloved new juicer box).

[PDH]

Aphrodite, despite her being too fluffy, still loves to sleep next to me.  When I roll to the other side she graciously walks around me (not over me) and repositions herself to my front.  A goddess is always a goddess.

[Jaron]

I'm thinking of getting a cat.

But before I do that, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about all that is involved. Any suggestions --

Are there any books I should read?

What items are essential to have? From my reading, its good for them to have toys, a place to hide in, a littler box, a scratching post of some kind, and... food.

Should I get pet health insurance? Are shelters the way to go?

Anything else I should read up or research on before I go any further?

Is it bad to only get one? Do cats need kitty companionship?