Cat questions for veteran cat owners.

[Schaumburger]

Sometime after Memorial Day when I return home to Chicago after my rental in TV next month I think I will be ready to consider adopting another cat as my home is feeling empty now that Magic is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. As Magic was my first fur kid, I have a few questions for experienced cat owners to make my home ready for another fur kid.

The litter box has been scrubbed with bleach and also cleaned with Nature's Miracle. I will scrub with bleach (or should I be using vinegar instead of bleach?) and clean with Nature's Miracle a few more times before I adopt another cat. Should I plan on getting a new litter box for my next cat, or can I use Magic's litter box?

Cat carrier (hard plastic): Magic only used the cat carrier to go to the vet, so in the past year the cat carrier was only used twice. How should I clean the cat carrier in preparation for adopting another cat, or should I purchase a new cat carrier?

It has been almost one year since I have had the carpet cleaned. Magic was always a champ about using the litter box, and he never had an accident on the carpet or anywhere else in the house. But of course he often lounged on the carpet. My thinking is if I have the carpet cleaned before I adopt a new cat, there will be fewer traces of Magic's scent in the house, which may make it easier for a new cat to adapt.

Any suggestions or ideas on how to make my home welcome for my next cat are appreciated.

[l2ridehd]

Have had many cats and never had an issue as long as the litter box and carrier were well cleaned. Sometimes multiple cats don't like to share, but they can be trained to over come that.

As a side note when you consider your new pet. I think over my lifetime I have had almost every type cat possible and with out any doubt, Brown Tabby's (called brown but look gray) make the best pets. Best disposition, most fastidious, easiest to train, most lovable, and any other description you can name. Orange Tabby's are probably second.

[Sable99]

I have had 4 house cats over the years. I never had a problem with my cats using the same litter box, carriers, etc. My aunt's cat would have a fit if she was around anything that had something to do with another cat! It wouldn't matter how many times it had been cleaned! Her cat is very territorial.

Last fall, I found a friendly, stray kitten in our yard in Michigan. Sweetest thing. She must have been someone's pet as she came right to me. I posted signs and called everywhere looking for her owner. I kept her in our garage but one of my cats got in the garage to check her out. To make a long story shorter, it turns out she had feline leukemia and had to be put down. Our vet recommended we wash out the pet carrier with bleach and boiling water. Both of my cats had to be tested for the virus. They were just re-tested a couple of weeks ago and they are feline leukemia free.

I have two cats now. I got them both through our vet. Torie, my 7 year old, is black and white. She is beautiful and the "purr"fect cat. My dad was in a nursing home when she was young and they allowed her to visit every day. The patients and staff all loved her. Kaylee is about a year and a half. She is tortoiseshell on top and calico underneath. She is a sweetie but she is a wild one! She is like a tornado on 4 legs!

I hope you find your "purr"fect cat too!

[JC and John]

Sometime after Memorial Day when I return home to Chicago after my rental in TV next month I think I will be ready to consider adopting another cat as my home is feeling empty now that Magic is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. As Magic was my first fur kid, I have a few questions for experienced cat owners to make my home ready for another fur kid.

The litter box has been scrubbed with bleach and also cleaned with Nature's Miracle. I will scrub with bleach (or should I be using vinegar instead of bleach?) and clean with Nature's Miracle a few more times before I adopt another cat. Should I plan on getting a new litter box for my next cat, or can I use Magic's litter box?

Cat carrier (hard plastic): Magic only used the cat carrier to go to the vet, so in the past year the cat carrier was only used twice. How should I clean the cat carrier in preparation for adopting another cat, or should I purchase a new cat carrier?

It has been almost one year since I have had the carpet cleaned. Magic was always a champ about using the litter box, and he never had an accident on the carpet or anywhere else in the house. But of course he often lounged on the carpet. My thinking is if I have the carpet cleaned before I adopt a new cat, there will be fewer traces of Magic's scent in the house, which may make it easier for a new cat to adapt.

Any suggestions or ideas on how to make my home welcome for my next cat are appreciated.

I just used Mr. Clean to wash the litter box and carrier and washed cat bed in washer with regular detergent and did not have a problem with using them for other cats that followed over the years. Did not shampoo carpets or rugs in anticipation of a new kitty arrival. Remember cats rub against a lot of doorways, furniture etc so a previous cat's sent will still be in the house to some degree unless you sterilize the whole house. That being said, some cats are very territorial, mine seemed not too concerned. I am sure it will all work out whatever you do. I vote for a yellow tabby from a shelter. Good Luck!! :)

[jblum315]

I have had many cats over the years and never concerned myself about scents from previous cats, etc. and it never seemed to bother the new cats. I think you would only have a problem if a cat had urinated in the house, then the new cat would very likely try to "cover" that spot. Good luck. I vote for a yellow kitty also.

[Geewiz]

If you are going to get a cat....my vote is for either a Siberian or Balinese...both exceeding smart and affectionate plus with low amounts of the protein that some folks are are allergic to.

Rada: For posting - harbor53's Photos (http://harbor53.smugmug.com/Other/For-posting/26127122_S8PLkM#!i=2171426133&k=mTG4cxd&lb=1&s=A)

Rada redux: http://harbor53.smugmug.com/Other/For-posting/26127122_S8PLkM#!i=2171450481&k=pQqmQCG&lb=1&s=A

[swrinfla]

Schaumburger:

My current cat [Omega] is at least #9. When she came into my life some 18 months after her predecessor [Beta], I didn't make any special effort to clean ("sterilize") litter boxes or beds. Maybe it's the time gap, but she showed absolutely no signs of being "freaked out" because there were feline odors around!

She doesn't even pay attention to the couple of places where Beta rubbed his chin against a wall corner.

And, I have carried her to the vet in the same carrier in which I carried Beta when it was time to put him down!

My gut says, don't stress out about this. Just find the kitten who tugs at your heart and adopt it right away!

Hope we'll see you, soon.

SWR
:beer3:

[cherylncliff]

Sorry about your loss of your kitty.

Over the years we have been owned by 10 different cats. We currently are allowed to share a house with 4 adorable felines. We generally use vinegar to clean rather than bleach just due to the safety and corrosion issues. We have never had a problem with new cats accepting the litter box. In the last 34 years we have always had at least one cat in the house and usually multiple as we would re-up if one passed away.

All of our cats have been pound cats or otherwise rescued so we can not really speak to breeds.

Good luck with your new partner for life, whatever you decide.

[sjdjmd]

We never had an issue when we had to say goodbye to our one precious kitty and later welcomed another. Good luck with a very lucky kitty cat in your future.

[quirky3]

Here is a good article about helping a new cat feel secure in a new home
Living Together - Introducing a New Cat (http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm)

[CFrance]

We had seven cats down through the years (not all at once). Never did anything special from one to the next as to eliminating scents, but we usually had more than one cat at a time, so the new one, usually a kitten, kind of knew it was low man on the totem pole.

We once put a Siamese adult and part Siamese youngster together (not by choice), and they became such fast friends we gave the youngster to our son when he left home with the Siamese so as not to separate the cats.

I think the differences are 1. We always had them neutered as soon as medically advisable, and 2. don't shoot me, but all but two were males, and they were the most friendly and affectionate. The two females were aloof.

Our favorite, Fletcher, an orange an white tabby, lived to be 20. By far the very best cat ever.

[Schaumburger]

Thank you all of the words of advice about preparing for a new cat. I hope to be owned again by a new cat sometime this summer. I have been going on petfinder.com to see the cats available for adoption -- oh my, there are so many cats (and dogs) that need homes. People who are involved in pet rescue are angels.

[Barefoot]

I have been going on petfinder.com to see the cats available for adoption -- oh my, there are so many cats (and dogs) that need homes. People who are involved in pet rescue are angels.

And you are an angel for planning to give a home to an adult cat! :angel:

[ahayward65]

i have also had cats all my life, now have an orange male and he is the best. Looking for another to keep him company, what in the world is a yellow tabby?
Never have heard of a yellow cat.
I too also prefer males now after having both sexes.

[Trish Crocker]

We have two, the female is also very aloof. Our male cat is all black and has been the best cat ever. Both of them are around 8 or 9 and never seemed to have a problem adjusting. The carrier I used to take them to the vet was the same one I used for my dog years ago.