Are gurl cats very different from boy cats in temperament? PLUS, what do you know about Siamese cats?

I do know, OP, that those cats are NOT Siamese.

They weren't meant to be, R1 - they were in reference to my first question. Sorry for the muddle. Things are crazy round here.

Siamese would be considered more playful cats and are more vocal (meow a lot) than some other breeds. I like my cats to be lazy and quiet. As far as choosing a male or female I think it just depends on the individual cat.

A Brit is usually quiet, sweet and gentle and they make great housecats even when you let them outside they will never stray far(even tomcats). Siamese can be social and playful but are demanding. I never had one myself but the neighbour has one. In my experience the girls tend to be a bit more vicious than the guys. I just got the sweetest kitten from a shelter and picked him because he was curious and not afraid.

[quote] I just got the sweetest kitten from a shelter and picked him because he was curious and not afraid.

Pic, PLEASE, R4 - do you know how?

[quote]A Brit is usually quiet

What's a Brit?

I've owned three Siamese, two Choc-points and a Blue-point. As R3 mentioned, Siamese are vocal, sometimes very, and demanding, very demanding. They are also unforgiving and hold a grudge. Whoever came up with the "cats have slaves" idea had Siamese in mind. They are extremely intelligent, playful when they are young, turning to imperious as they age. A Siamese is more an intellectual equal rather than a pet. Make no mistake, a Siamese will take firm control of your house, your life and your heart. There are cats, and then there are Siamese.

As far as male or female, if you get a Siamese, I'd go with a male, who have better temperaments in the main. Female Siamese are utter hell on newbie cat owners.

R6 British shorthair cats. They have many different colours, the blue ones are cute to in my opinion. We used to have a red one. He was always very relaxed and gentle. A friend of mine has a blue one and she’s a very quiet and social cat too.

If you get a Siamese, have the cat neutered. You do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT want to go through the days of yowling that can be heard for blocks of a Siamese in heat.

I'm allergic to Blue Point Siamese, the gray ones, at least. If I touch one, I get visible, furiously itchy welts, particularly on my face. The only regular Siamese I've ever met, such as in r1, were two who belonged to a roommate many decades ago. Their favorite hobby was chewing through my speaker wire. I'd had cats all my life, and would go on to have more. These were the only destructive ones I ever knew.

I hate them. I'd choose the ginger cats in your OP. Or a Maine Coon. Or a tuxedo. I would never let a Siamese in my house.

R5 his mother was a stray and he was the smallest kitten she had but he is currently growing well. The first week I had to hand feed him.

Did you mean to ask how to get a kitten from a shelter?

Growing up, we had indoor female cats because males have a higher chance of spraying. We had a Siamese cat when I was really young, and all I remember about her was how mean she was (granted, I was probably an annoying three/four year old). She would meow all the time and grab your leg with her claws. We eventually gave her away, but she was a beautiful cat.

HUGE ears, R11! Maybe he'll grow into them.

But thank you for posting, very much. He's adorable.

I friend of mine had a Siamese that liked to eat cashmere.

OP do not get a female cat! I’ve had many cats over the years and the females were always terrible. They’re annoying and bitchy, not cuddly and spray just as much if not more than their male counterparts. Get a male cat and make sure he is neutered. All my fixed boy cats were total sweethearts who loved being social with humans and never caused any property damage. I’ll only ever keep a male cats again.

R13 I know! He is only 10-11 weeks old the vet thinks.His weight was way too low when I first got him. He still has some growing to do, his paws are relatively a bit bigger too still. The wonderful thing is he’s doing well now, he’s extremely playful, he loves hugging and sitting on your lap. Never had a cat who enjoyed being around humans as much as he does.

Male cats tend to be more affectionate and less aggressive.

If you have him neutered, spaying will not be a problem. (I only had inappropriate urination problems with females.)

Female cats tend to be more independent and more interested in aggressive play.

In general, males are the cuddle cats and females are the playful ones. But individual cats will vary.

I've had 3 female cats and now have a male. Only the male developed medical problems, all urinary. Two surgeries and is now on a special diet. The vet said the urinary problem is common among male cats, something to do with their urethra. One of my females was Russian Blue I got from a shelter. She was sweet and affectionate, almost cling-y. Loved to fetch - I'd throw her toys and she'd bring them back and drop them at my feet. I've heard that the 'dog-like' behavior is common to the breed.

Male (neutered) ginger tabbies are the most chill and people-social. A perfect cat for a first-timer.

[quote]the females were always terrible

My occasionally chewed toes can attest to this fact.

I had a Siamese cat years ago. She lived to be almost 20. What a character she was! I live in Canada, but she was a little Yankee my father bought in Portland, Maine. A really strong personality and highly intelligent. Her name was Elsa. I wouldn't hesitate to get another, but within the past ten years I've concentrated on SPCA cats. If you get one, and choose a female, get her spayed. We thought that we could get away without it, but when she came into heat, nobody slept for days. The vocalizing was unbelievable.

I know I'm just going to get the one I fall n love with, but I WILL take all this advice with me. I saw a shelter on TV last week and there was one cat with the largest, saddest, longingest eyes...there's no way I could have walked past her.

R18 they usually get problems when they are neutered too young. Here it is allowed after six months but then the urethra has fully developed yet.

*not fully developed

R7, I'm in full agreement with Siamese holding a grudge, and sometimes it doesn't take much to piss them off. Our Elsa would become angry with me if I didn't give her enough attention, or if I didn't allow her to do something, like tear the leg off the coffee table. To show me how disappointed she was with me, she would sit in front of me, her back turned toward me, and ignore me. This was supposed to make me feel sorry for what I did. I would say her name, and the ears would flick back, but she would not look at me. She would put on this little act for quite a while.

What I have learned about cats is let them choose you - you don’t choose the cat.

boys eventually become placid couch potatoes. the girls become bitchy

Siamese cats sing, shave their head and are often stuck together.

I have a pair of sisters and they have never sprayed. If your cats are spraying, even after being fixed or if it happens out of the blue, get them checked for any medical issues. One sister is an annoying paper tiger bully to her shyer cat, but she's also affectionate and very social with me. She gets territorial when I show affection or attention to her shy sister. The shy one acts is more of a loner and independent. She's pretty good at ignoring me. But I think half of it is because her sister interferes so much. When her sister is too sleepy to attention block, the shy one will climb on the sofa and nap behind my head and seeks petting. It's wonderful when she comes out of her shell and seeks affection--it really means a lot.

Alas, she goes a little psychotic when she sees an outdoor cat so she's on a micro maintenance dosage of prozac. Prior to medication, we went through a 6 month duration of separated cat living because she would literally beat the shit out of her bossy sister (this is when I figured out the bossy one was really just a paper tiger). We're in a one bedroom apartment so the separation of the cats was just too fucking much and I resigned to medicating her.

Boy cats should not be fed an all kibble diet or even half kibble diet. They are better off on a wet food diet which goes a long way in mitigating urinary tract problems for the boys. Take it seriously. If they develop a blockage, they can die a horrible, painful death within 24 hours.

Male cats & female gods > female cats & male dogs.

Female cats are for cunts and male dogs are for assholes.

female dogs*

[quote] One sister is an annoying paper tiger bully to her shyer cat, but she's also affectionate and very social with me.

Why have you kept the bully cat?

I have a boy and a girl, both super sweet. The boy is needier.

R32, her bullying is annoying at most. Perhaps the bully term is too strong a description. Nothing she does to her sister is really harmful, more in the line of being a bossy and petty. For example she will go up to her sister when she's napping and demand and get that spot. Slapping her sister around a bit because she wants to brawl (yes, I know, when this happens, I realize she needs more play time and she's bored). Just shit like that. Run to us if we're in a petting session and demand attention--her shy sister runs off. Nothing serious. For years, I thought she was the alpha and she is in some ways. Then her shy sister freaked out when a male cat showed up at our window. She went nuts and showed a ferocity that was breathtaking.

I'm not giving up cats unless there is no possible way for them to co-exist. Who is going to adopt older cats? I'm noting the "issues" but for the most part, they have lived together for almost 12 years in relative peace. The time-share and rotate living areas in a somewhat inequitable basis, but it's subtle, like a lot of cat behavior. They are not bonded, but they certainly do not need to be separated.

I would second, third, and fourth what others have said re: female v male cats. I've spoken of my 12 year-old rescue cat on another thread, and how challenging it has been since adopting her in January. I foolishly assumed she'd love to cuddle and be very docile, but she loves to play (never with proper toys, only things like a peacock feather and an old phone charger cord that I've learned to improvise with). Yes, she's sweet, but there's been a learning curve on my part. My last cat--a whopping seven years ago--was a younger male, and he was an absolute cuddle monster. I could hold him like a baby, he'd snuggle in bed, the whole nine yards. Sadie, my rescue, is just not like that and never will be. But I love her still, and she's taught me a lot about patience.

[quote]Then her shy sister freaked out when a male cat showed up at our window. She went nuts and showed a ferocity that was breathtaking.

A lesbian cat. Clearly.

My female cat loves YouTube videos and animal shows. She loves PBS Nature, she will watch the entire program. I get such a kick out of her walking through the room and then "Oh hey Nature is on". She isn't very affectionate but she is smart and funny.

Male cats are kind of needy, but some people want that level of affection and interaction.

[quote] Sadie, my rescue, is just not like that and never will be.

A rescue, you never know what's befallen them in the past.

r34 I got rid of a cat like that. They weren't related, though. The bully was the new cat, and within two weeks, I gave him to a friend who wanted a cat. No reason to bring a bad cat in to make my original cat unhappy.

I adopted them together at 6 months so yeah, a different situation. Again, there is some sibling squabbling and one of them can be a petty Betty, but nothing that should result in turfing a cat out. And petty Betty is in no way a bad cat--I'm highlighting her pettiness here but she is also playful and affectionate like a dog. I cry a bit when I think in the not too far future, she won't be napping on my lap or sleeping between my legs in the winter.

R38, you're correct. I do feel like maybe she was abused or neglected. The cat lady I got her from had 6 cats in her studio apt (I know, gross) and had inherited Sadie 3 years previously when her owner died. I don't know if Sadie found her original owner dead, or even if she ever had kittens. She's very eager to wake me up if I sleep too long, but that could also just be her being a cat. I took her to the vet not long after I adopted her, and she's in perfect health for a cat her age.

More cat stories!!

I have a British Shorthair, a girl. She is sweet but yes, temperamental. She can get a bit nagging/annoying at times. All the cat breed selectors say this breed is independent, but it's not. She follows me everywhere, always wants attention from me. She hates being held but she likes to be pet, but if I start petting her she runs away. It has to be on her terms. She is also VERY active/playful, which is another thing the breed selector missed. She's not very calm. I still love her, but I admit that I probably would have chosen a different breed if I was able to choose today.

& which would you choose, R43?

R18 I have a half Russian Blue female , named Molly, still very young, about a year and a half old, which I found at the local SPCA. She's quite possibly the sweetest cat I've ever had. She's like a Care Bear, bringing love and happiness to everyone with whom she comes in contact. She's well-mannered, dignified, but knows how to play with great energy. She has the typical Russian Blue coat, but her toes are white, and she has a heart-shaped smear of white between her shoulder blades. Her eyes are amber, with a circle of vivid green around the pupil.

We got her as a companion for our young male cat Dax, who considers the other cats to be old farts, no fun at all. He fell in love with her immediately, and they adore one another. They also love to chase one another through the house, knock one another down, and wrestle. He will wash her face and ears, and snuggle with her, something I never thought I'd see him do with another cat, as he is quite self-involved.

Pic, R45?

R44 American Wirehair fits my demands. It is independent, quiet and has short fur that doesn't need a lot of trimming.

They look lovely, R47.

I don't want a long haired cat. Sure, they're pretty but the fur is too much work. You have to cut it/trim it often. Also, they shed a lot. Though I have a shorthair cat which sheds surprisingly much. Shit/pee also sticks to the fur of long haired cats. It's not very hygienic. I recommend people think about this when they pick the correct cat breed.

My father had a gray cat with a very round face and bug eyes. Anyone care to guess the breed? I'd be interested to know. I think it cost a lot too, he bought it at Harrods.

OP I have a seal point Flat faced Himalayan female (which is part Siamese/part Persian)

She is very intelligent - knows her name, comes to me when called etc. she is vocal BUT I’m fortunate that she has one of those cute soft meows. She can be very demanding and wants attention 24/7. She purrs nonstop like a motor boat.

She’s the sweetest girl and gorgeous (she knows it)

That being said... some Siamese cats have very loud grating meows.. if you’re sensitive to noise you need to hear the cats meow first before obligating yourself. They DO tend to talk quite a bit.

I think the talking is cute, but my cat has a cute meow that isn’t obnoxious

R50 Sounds like a British Shorthair.

R49 - you are correct... my Himalayan has long hair obviously - and it is a lot of upkeep.

Not to mention if she has a bout of diareahha she turns into a complete drama queen when I’m washing her butt under the sink. It’s not fun.

But she’s so perfect in every other way - I’m ok with the sporadic butt baths.

[quote][R50] Sounds like a British Shorthair.

That coat ,yes - but very round face and bug eyes.

I’ve been told male cats tend to be more broadly gregarious, but female cats tend to bond more deeply with one or two humans. I’ve always had females. My current two (7 years) were Foster mates and they alternate between giving each other space, grooming each other (the smaller one tends to groom the larger one) and wrestling with each other. They are equally affectionate with both my husband and me (they lived alone with me their first three years). They don’t like being picked up, but they will jump up and take long naps on us when they feel like it. As it is just the two of us, their close bonding works—they do tend to hide when a stranger comes into the house (as do I).

R54 They do have a round face and bug eyes.

R54 short nose big eyes and the males have quite the cheeks I agree with R56

Lovely cats. At leat ours had a great character.

All my girl kitties have been smarter than my boy kitties.

The one I had was LOUD. Very affectionate, though.

I love a tabby they’re so cute. Male cats are the best my moms best cats were males. The females were really skittish and kind of mean.

Growing up I had a family of cats, some of whom started off feral. There was a matriarch, her daughter, and some of her kids. Even after spaying and neutering them, they were such a sweet bunch of cats, so well-adjusted (really). I think staying together helped to keep them calm and friendly.

What kind of cat is this? I see them in Asian videos, but I don't think I've ever seen one in real life. They look almost like a caricature of a cat.

I had a series of Siamese cats, two females and a male. I love the breed. They were all lovely and affectionate. Smart and, yes, vocal and not hesitant to make their needs known, and with a lot of character.

Generalizing from a decade of volunteering with rescue cats, the sweetest are the ginger boys. Some of them just have the greatest disposition. If had room for a 3rd cat, I would want a big ginger boy.

R46 This is Molly. Unfortunately, due to the lighting in this pic, you can't see the blueness of her coat. Sorry for the length of time it took me to get this pic uploaded. It was on my partner's phone, and he was at work. As well, we live in what is almost a dead zone for cell phones, far off the road, and getting the pic to upload to the computer is practically a military maneuver much like the marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima.

I adore my girls it I adore them because they’re cats, not girl cats. 🥰

That said, female cats don’t have litter box issues like the boys do, so there’s that.

The girls go on their box and don’t mark territories. Make cats can and plenty do.

Either way, keep the boxes super clean and hope for the best.

R7, also the Siamese cats are genetically prone to breast cancer. Both male and female so they need to be neutered/ spayed.

Thank you for taking so much trouble posting your pic R65. She looks like quite a serious gurl to me. But very beautiful. Serene. Feminine.

I wish everyone would post pics of their cats.

R62 it looks like a Doll Face Persian kitten. I have a brother and a sister, they are great cats but the hair gets quite long as adults and requires a lot of grooming.

As others have noted, ginger tabby boys are extremely affectionate. This is Ernest, also known as Monsieur. He's a polydactyl little guy, about 8 lbs. His hobbies are living on my shoulder and crying in my ear for more food, and generally chattering on about anything that comes into his head. He was a rescue that I got at 8 weeks and is now 10. One of the funnier things he's done of late is follow me down to the beach at night and HOWL bloody murder while I do laps. He's given up and stays home now while I do this. I think he's basically given up on me and thinks getting into the water is a defect of mine.

These are my boys from when I adopted them almost ten years ago from a shelter that took them in after they’d been found together as strays. They’re old men now.

They are very social and affectionate. And very, very loud. I love Siamese cats.

I had a calico. She was the nastiest animal I've ever met, just dismal as a pet. She would just perch on a pillow and hiss violently. Nothing pleased her despite any attempt. I thought she was hilarious.

My other cats have all been neutered males and have all been sweet as pie. Right now I have a big, fat Siamese who hollers constantly. I love him.

I’d never get a female pussy they are all evil little cunts while male pussies are darling.

My boy Billy definitely has a personality all his own. And he is very much a boy. Loving and hilarious, but mischievous. Just like all little boys he's always looking for something to get into. He loves to explore new things and places. While his sister Millie is very much a girl. She's very delicate, loves to take her naps in the crook of my arm every day at the same time. She's very prissy and prances around like she's royalty, because she is. Their mother Myrtle is very feminine but she's much more mature and like any good mama she likes to sit back and watch her babies do their thing. When she's not satisfied with how they're acting she'll let them know right quick with a nip to the back of the neck.

For those of you with the Siamese cats, can they be trained out of their loudness, or that's just one of their charms? My great aunt had a Siamese whom she had a professional portrait taken with, and I inherited the framed pic even though I never met the cat (he died before I was born). They both look so regal in the pic, and she was a very quiet person. So I'm surprised she could've tolerated a loud cat.

I have two very affectionate, cuddly female cats.

IT DEPENDS ON THE CAT

Some of you are either ill-informed, prejudiced or just plain dumb. Girl cats/boy cats are whatever the fuck they are because of them, not their gender. As long as you get cats fixed, it will make no difference. I will say that I hate siamese cats. Get a shelter cat that responds to you, OP. Get over this girl-boy shit if you have an ounce of intelligence.

My grandmother had lengthy conversations, even arguments, with her Siamese.

Let’s face it, all cats look like trannies.

Ok here is my girl. Her name is Miss Priss.

She does have a “defect” her whiskers seem to grow inward towards her face so they are usually trimmed before they get too close to her eyes and mouth.

r80 is me at r51

I think the cat Asians like are the ScottIsh Folds..their ears fold in and they are super cute

R76 Most female cats are nice to their owners but not anyone else, male cats tend to be nice to everyone.

I have a basement room in Canarsie to sell you, R83.

R83 I have 2 female cats and they are nice to everyone.

No, r75, that’s just who they are. They love to chat, comment, and holler.

My George and Gracie are litter mates, and quite senior now. I mentioned on another thread that George was recently diagnosed with feline dementia. He sometimes forgets where he is and starts crying/howling. There are times when he can't remember where his food, water, or hatbox are, and he gets very upset. He spends most of his time sitting with me, on the back of my chair. Gracie as always been "special" as she suffered an anoxia episode as a kitten, and never really mentally matured. They are without doubt the sweetest, most affectionate cats I've ever known. Gracie has never once in her life been picked up without starting to purr. George has always been "daddy's boy" and just wants to be cuddled 24/7.

Whoever suggested that you let the cat pick you was spot-on. That cat will bond with you for life. Don't worry about the gender. It is true that Siamese cats -and Siamese blends- are "talkers" who will yowl constantly. You'll usually find that cats born with a kink in their tail have some Siamese ancestry, even if they don't look it.

As a young teen I had a male cat that was very close to me. I had to be away from home for many months, and when I returned he literally screamed and jumped in the air to rush to me. My family couldn't believe it. A few days later, he ended up following me to school -and I rode a school bus. I got off the bus and there he was, just running onto campus! The office staff didn't believe me, and thought I had snuck him onto the bus when I went in to call my mother to pick him up. After college I had a female cat for 18 years. She wouldn't let anyone but me hold her or pet her. Many of my friends insisted I didn't have a cat, as they never saw her. She had one really odd behavior: whenever I sneezed, she would come running to check up on me. She'd stand on her hind legs and vocalize until I told her I was all right. Then she'd go back to whatever it was she was doing. I tried to fake her out by doing this when I had friends over, but she only fell for it once.

My loud sneezing frightens one of my cats. She can sense it coming and will run away just as I blow the gasket. It's funny because she runs away as if her life depends on it. After all these years, you would think she figured out nothing bad happens to her when I sneeze.

The “sneeze disease” can be dangerous for cats if they are not vaccinated.

R62 we had two ginger boys. They were both incredibly sweet. R70 what a cute guy!

R71 and R80 wee stunners!!

R65 you have lovely cats. Love the blue fur. Always had a soft spot for the latter. When I grew up we had a blue cat and he really was a great comfort and a great buddy.

pquote]For those of you with the Siamese cats, can they be trained out of their loudness, or that's just one of their charms? My great aunt had a Siamese whom she had a professional portrait taken with, and I inherited the framed pic even though I never met the cat (he died before I was born). They both look so regal in the pic, and she was a very quiet person. So I'm surprised she could've tolerated a loud cat.

Maybe she let the cat do the talking for her.

Cats can be crazy and they all have a different personality. Some are smart, some are completely wild. I love cats.

Someone mentioned that cats with a kink in their tail are descendants from Siamese cats. My latest boy does have a kink and he starts meowing everytime I leave the room he’s in, he starts meowing if others are not in the same room with us. He starts meowing when he’s hungry and the list goes on. Is this also typical Siamese behaviour?

I don't care what you say, this is adorable >

[quote]Or am I simply bad at raising my cat

I don't know, R94, but it sounds like he's ruling the roost.

[quote]If you get a Siamese, have the cat neutered. You do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT want to go through the days of yowling that can be heard for blocks of a Siamese in heat.

r9 tells the truth (see link)

I've looked at a couple of these videos. They seem so crazed and uncomfortable.

R80, Miss Priss is absolutely gorgeous. Who could resist that face!

She's a poppet!

R96 I never had a cat before that was meowing so much. I don’t give in to his every whim don’t get me wrong but it doesn’t change his attitude

As a Siamese alternative - intelligent, lots of personality, but less vocal - may I suggest an Abyssinian. Haven't owned one, but have pet sat several. They are extremely intelligent, curious, playful, can be bossy and domineering, but are not as vocal and vindictive as a Siamese. What's fun is to watch a Siamese and Aby vying for power. They seem to be pretty evenly matched. The image is of a Cinnamon Aby.

Molly and Dax. They love one another.

Fixed girl cats are nice, I've never had a problem with them unless they were an only cat, but once they had another cat to interact with, they improved greatly. They really need other cats for company and both sexes need to be fixed.

Have most of you cat lovers seen this already? If you haven't miss it at your peril.

They're beautiful r102. My last little guy was a black tuxedo. A cuddler.

Thank you on behalf of my babies R105. I have a great fondness for tuxedo cats.

In other news this morning, I've decided that I want another Siamese cat. I haven't had one for years.

My first two cats I got when they were kittens, 12 and 6 weeks respectively. The male was my constant companion he was a black and white tuxedo pattern tabby. The younger female was dark brown tabby.

The male was a smart boy. Especially when he'd get his head stuck in a container. He was also a cable chewer and that is my fault. I used to play with him with old telephone handset cords. Now the female, she was a total of 6.5lbs her entier life and was the SOs cat. Except when SO wasn't around she was my cat. Best mouser we ever had btw.

R70 Ernest is a handsome lad. Ginger cats have been some of my most memorable pets ... and a polydactyl...very nice indeed!

If my little tuxedo guy saw a mouse he'd come tell me.

"I had to be away from home for many months, and when I returned he literally screamed and jumped in the air to rush to me"

When I used to be away from home at camp or school, our family cat would move into my room. When I came back he was pissed.

We loved him and accepted him for what his personality was, and that was very friendly on his terms.

Cat people and potential cat people - again, choose a cat based on how the interact with you NOT on it's color or markings. That's one of the stupidest things people do, I can understand that children do this, but adults?

What kind of pussy did Mrs. Slocombe have?

R110 I agree with you, picked my kitten because he came to me. The black and white one R11. He's very social and sweet.

My little tuxedo guy was an adult from a shelter. He was limp, facing the back of the cage. I felt so bad for him, I took him home. He immediately claimed the stairs and found a place to hide. He emerged an hour or so later when I tossed a ball up the stairs. It wasn't long before he started batting the ball back to me. Later he came down to eat. That evening he slept on my bed.

Miss Priss Thanks you! r90 and r98

I also have another - Emma, but she is not of Siamese decent. She’s a tabby Persian - if she can sit still long enough I’ll post a picture. She is a very sweet girl - but certainly isn’t vocal like miss priss. She’s more independent and doesn’t demand my attention 24/7. She purrs but you can barely hear it - and she doesn’t talk. I think the chatting is a Siamese trait.

I’m fortunate that Miss Priss and Emma are bff’s. It didn’t start out that way. They fought for the first month because miss Priss didn’t want her home invaded by another female feline. I heard that it’s better to have a boy and girl cat, instead of 2 girls or two boys. When I got Emma I was told she was a boy, so I named her Oliver. When I went to get her fixed to my shock the vet informed me that Oliver was a girl - hence, a name change was in order - so I changed her name to Emma. They eventually became friends.

I prefer female cats since they don't mark the furniture with piss. But male cats are more affectionate and purr more than females.

But if you get a cat, please keep it indoors.

R114, the best combination is that one of them is a girl. Girl-girl is fine, boy-boy can, probably won't, but can present a problem. This girls are bitchy with each other is dumb mansplaining. Note that cats can almost read your mind, so if you treat them based on idiot preconceptions, they might fulfill them.

I had a Siamese cat that found us after Hurricane Wilma here in Fl. She was the trippiest, most loving animal we ever had. She died of cancer of the jaw a few years ago. I will always miss her.

We have had both males and female kitties. They all had their own personalities and were as loving and affectionate as dogs. The males do have a tendency to get unitary tract problems which can kill them.

[quote]But if you get a cat, please keep it indoors.

All the cats round here hang out in the back gardens which cover a very large area where they all join up.

My next-door neighbour's cat is a very popular guy and they all come to visit him - sometimes though, he sees them off. He's moody, I think...or temperamental, maybe.

He also shits in my garden sometimes and from what people here are saying, if he was a gurl he wouldn't do this.

cont.

But there are foxes back there, so they have to be careful.

Here is my late great Siamese..she really had a great personality

This is Emma. She isn’t into posing for the camera as much as miss Priss so it’s hard to get a good pic.

Her fur is normally longer but she was shaved 2 months ago for the summer and it’s growing back in.

This is Emma. She isn’t into posing for the camera as much as miss Priss so it’s hard to get a good pic.

Her fur is normally longer but she was shaved 2 months ago for the summer and it’s growing back in.

She's lovely r20. And the body language from the spray of her whiskers

Although the demon cat Samba is quite lovely r123, I suspect you meant to direct your reply to r120.

Who is also quite lovely. Any cat that could live through Wilma is to be treasured r120. I am glad you had the opportunity.

Of course, r124. Thanks.

R102 Molly and Dax are precious - are they littermates? They seem so comfortable with each other , cuddling together.

Shaved for the summer??? Fur is insulation against the heat as well as the cold. Do NOT shave your pets.

Get a Maine Coon. Beautiful and sweet temperaments. And big.

Do those cats with the punched-in noses have breathing issues?

R126 Dax is about a year and a half older than Molly. Both are SPCA cats. He was a "surprise" kitten we adopted a month before Christmas in 2017. We were not planning an adoption on that particular day, but we went into a pet supply store to buy cat food, and this pathetic little black woolly creature was wailing and crying in a cage. We stood there trying to console him for a while, and then my partner said, "We can't leave him here." That was music to my ears.

He is an amazing cat, intelligent, affectionate, with a distinctive almost eccentric personality. Almost a year ago, we decided that he needed a friend more his own age, because our other cats are older and not playful. We set out to find a good match for him, and there was not one single cat or kitten out there who seemed to fit the profile we were looking for. There was one more pet supply store to visit, and that was the one where we found Dax originally. There, sitting in the cage, was a lovely little grey girl, very regal and composed. You know what happened next.

They adored one another from the beginning. Dax was enthralled with her. They play like mad, and they have their quiet times when they cuddle up together, and Dax grooms her head and ears, and washes her face. It was a match made in cat heaven.

[quote]Get a Maine Coon. Beautiful and sweet temperaments. And big.

OMG! HAARD pass.

[quote][R126] Dax is about a year and a half older than Molly. Both are SPCA cats. He was a "surprise" kitten we adopted a month before Christmas in 2017.

How many do you have, gurl?

NO ONE's commented on my link @ R104. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, quite frankly.

R133 I looked at it, but forgot to comment. I even called my partner over to the computer to see it. It's adorable. I loved the reaction!

Oh, good, R134!

I should have said it's only 47 seconds. People shy from videos.

[quote]Sometimes I wonder why I bother, quite frankly.

So do the rest of us, quite frankly.

R133 it’s cute and indeed not too long. Love them cats ears. Thank you for sharing. Do you own a feline friend yourself?

R129 - sometimes they can.

My cat @R80 is a Himalayan. Although most himalayans I've seen seem to inherit the facial structure of a siamese with just the persian long hair. My Miss Priss seemed to have inherited the facial structure of a flat faced persian as well - with only her coloring, and talkative nature/personality coming from her siamese side. She has a tiny "pushed in" nose - she doesn't have breathing issues.

Now My other cat Emma posted at R122- I don't really know her full background. She is definitely a flat faced persian tabby by the looks of her. But her nose is super tiny. She sometimes snorts like she is congested. I asked my vet about having laser surgery on her nostrils to help with her breathing but he said her nostrils were too small for that.

[quote]So do the rest of us, quite frankly.

Speak for yourself, not others. It's not a chore...if you in fact looked at it, you'd know that.

[quote][R133] it’s cute and indeed not too long. Love them cats ears. Thank you for sharing. Do you own a feline friend yourself?

No, I'm the OP, gurl.

it's so funny, isn't it? A gem!

R133, she's a sweet smart little girl.

R132 We have six cats. Charlie, a tabby; Peggy, half Bengal; Lucy and Cinder, tabby sisters (Lucy is Persian, Cinder is brain-damaged and a special needs cat;) then Molly and Dax, pictured above in the box.

We have a big house, and one spare bedroom is the "cat room" with their toys, places to hide and climb, a huge kitty condo, etc.

R131 That picture has been doctored. I've seen Maine Coon cats. They're big but not that big.

Is this doctored as well?

R144 Actually neither one looks doctored, but an actual Maine Coon is not that large. This has to be some other breed,

Regarding Maine Coon cats, a large male will weigh about 20 pounds. I'm including a URL that will give you an idea about their size and weight. The gigantic but very beautiful cats above may be hybrids of some kind. I doubt if even a lynx is that big.

I think they're spooky.

Miss Lucy I've seen lynx, about that size, but more solid, less boneless.

Thanks R148 I stand corrected.

Real Maine Coons may be beautiful, but they produce BIG poops.

R133 I just watched the video. It's very cute!

r124, we were truly blessed to have had her. I feel that cats that find you or ones you rescue bring more love to your home than any pet you buy (my opinion of course)

R152 I agree. Never had such a cuddly cat as my current one and he picked us.

R140 it is!!! When I’m asleep and the cat wakes me up for some cuddles in the dark those cute ears are usually the first thing I can make out 😹

R104, I think that cat is pulling everyone's leg.

I don’t pay for cats.

Ok, if not a Maine Coon, then a Norwegian Forest Cat. Lovely, gentle,vand friendly.

This is Emily, my office cat.

She's the Angelina Jolie of cats.

And she can smize in a way that makes Tyra Banks insanely jealous.

She's the most affectionate cat I've ever come across but she's monstrously territorial. That's why she not living in my house with me and my other two cats.

his is Emily, my office cat.

She's the Angelina Jolie of cats.

And she can smize in a way that makes Tyra Banks insanely jealous.

She's the most affectionate cat I've ever come across but she's monstrously territorial. That's why she not living in my house with me and my other two cats.

More Emily.

[quote][R104], I think that cat is pulling everyone's leg.

I could watch it doing that for about an hour.

And even more.

In my lap as I type.

[quote]This is Emily, my office cat. She's the Angelina Jolie of cats.

Movie star looks. Or she could do commercials. The world is her oyster.

Puss Puss!

R163 Your Emily is glorious, absolutely beautiful. Those eyes are so expressive.

Male cats when they get old tend to pee EVERYWHERE especially in your shoes.

R166, Now we won't tell my resident cats this but . . . Emily really is one of the most beautiful, affectionate cats I've ever seen.

I found her abandoned outside my office building about a year ago and took her home. Emily was restricted to a single room, and over the period of six weeks we slowly introduced her to our resident cats. My resident cats were actually fine with her but Emily lost it once they were all allowed in the same room. She turned into a caricature of a Halloween cat with her fur standing straight up on end. She had my gray tabby male, Atticus, by the neck and was literally trying to kill him. In the end I just didn't feel it was fair to my resident cats to keep her at home so she's my office cat.

Everyone in my office loves her, as do my clients. She's fantastic with humans! She's never met a stranger and will walk up to a new person and sniff them out. The next thing I know she's in their lap turning somersaults. Her favorite spots are the sofa and the large copier. She likes to nap in the document feeder because it stays warm, lol.

Wonderful, R168. A perfect solution to an unusual problem. I'm glad that it worked out so well.

R157, the Norwegian Forest Cat is an OUTDOOR cat. Not a good idea to buy one unless you're prepared to let it go out now and them and keep you air conditioner on all winter.

I’m a nurse, and I used to work in a day hospital for older people which operated Monday-Friday. We had two cats, Fred and Wilma, who were greatly loved by the service users. Colleagues in adjoining wards would leave food for them at weekends. Every Monday morning when I opened up, there was invariably a dead or dying pigeon splattered all over the unit. Wilma was always responsible. Fred was a big softie.

R170 The NFC is a "boutique" type cats these days, as are Maine Coons, are they are most assuredly quite content as indoor cats.

I don't get some of you people. If you had kids that behaved as badly as some of your cats, you wouldn't think your crotchfruit was just as adorable.

But R173 a kid is a kid and a cat is a cat.

Will the Maine Coons be canceled soon?

We'll hope not, R175. These cats are believed to have been named after a Captain Coon, who would put in to various New England ports, and had these odd, large cats aboard his ship. The cats would come ashore and breed with the local females. The rest is history.

Ernest says thanks for all the love, told him he got 13 likes and he chirped as if to say, well, of COURSE, schmuck face. He is sitting on the arm of the sofa next to me before he goes back out on patrol. Neighborhood cats are not allowed within several hundred feet of this house. Before I get the inevitable chorus of you should keep him inside, yes I know. But he was born outside and began life as an outdoor cat. My neighborhood is small and private, out in the country. He's more at risk for a fox than anything else.

In my experience, females can be a little more aloof, but nonetheless very cuddly and loving. Males are more doglike.

How about a Russian Blue. Are they good as first time cat owner?

Ernest is a treasure.

R179 I’ve got a friend who has two of them. In my experience they are quiet, not vocal and when they do meow it isn’t loud or long, playful and a bit shy. They seem to really attach to the owners. Their fur is so fluffy! Great to keep indoors.

[quote]How about a Russian Blue.

Dreamy eyes

R177 some cats just don’t want to stay indoors and imo it’s unfair to keep them in all the time when it makes them unhappy

r62 That is a Munchkin. They are dwarves (short legs). They do look like cartoon cats.

Those cats suffer from dwarfism, one is not allowed to have them or breed them here and I cannot disagree with that.

Adopt a cat from your local shelter. Who cares about the breed

"Mutt" cats are actually healthier and less neurotic in my experience. The stray cat or kitten you find if more likely to be a better pet and more maintenance free than some fancy breed.

[quote]some cats just don’t want to stay indoors and imo it’s unfair to keep them in all the time when it makes them unhappy

I vehemently disagree with this, respectfully so. Cats are infinitely safer indoors than outdoors, even if you only allow them outside unsupervised for brief periods. And strays will absolutely adjust to living indoors. I can attest to that. I might take a month or two but they will.

A toddler might want to play in traffic but as a responsible custodian it's a parents job to disallow that.

Indoor cats seem miserable...they're always trying to get out when you open the door.

I just adopted a sweet, sad older cat who's lived a tough street life -- he has only a few teeth left, so his tongue hangs out of his mouth most of the time. He's a male , and in my experience I've found that male rescues are often the most affectionate -- in fact, they're often so loved starved that they can be a little too much. This poor guy follows me from room to room and jumps on my lap whenever I sit down. He does, however, leave me alone when I'm sleeping -- somehow he knows not to wake me up. I wish I could figure out how to post a photo.

R190 love the fact you took him in. Imgur or Flickr for a photo?

R188 I know they are safer at home. My previous cat was run over a few meters from home. He was used to being outside from when he was a kitten. A farm cat. To see him being sad because he wasn’t allowed outside broke my heart and I tried for two months.

[quote]I wish I could figure out how to post a photo.

If you have a pic on your computer - go to imgur.com (see link) click on 'new post' (top left) and drag the pic onto the page, then post the link here.

Straight men who own cats are cunts and have mental problems. That I know for a fact!!! Stay away from them, gurlzzzzz.

Interesting, R193.

But NOT his guy.

I meant not THIS guy - read it, don't ignore it.

R194 What moron at R193 said isn't interesting, it's moronic. Cause he's a moron

[quote]Indoor cats seem miserable...they're always trying to get out when you open the door.

So are toddlers, but you don't let them out.

Cats are by nature curious. That doesn't mean they should be subjected to the dangers outside. Plus, do you want them to get fleas and worms and then lick you and walk around on your bed? Ugh.

Jesus, R194, that made me bawl my goddamn eyes out.

[quote]Grief for a pet is grief for the vanishing of the tiny unknowable universe that is her consciousness; but it’s also grief for a part of your own life.

This is so, so true.

They have a more savory taste.

[quote]She was just a damn cat – and I loved her

He really did, didn't he, R198? It's a beautiful portrait of her and tribute to her and his relationship with her.

My sister has a Main Coon who is an indoor cat living in a flat in a big city. My sister has a country house. The cat is afraid of the great outdoors. She will sometimes have the courage to step outside but if a leaf comes flying towards her she'll run and hide under my nieces bed.

I seem to have a very different experience with cats than many on this thread. I grew up on a farm around many cats. Generally, the females were all super friendly and cuddly; they loved attention. The boys did too, but then they always ended up biting me, which I didn't like. The one exception to that is my sister's male cat, who is the biggest lover I've ever seen. We think he thinks he is a human, or at the very least a dog, because he does everything with them.

Years ago I had a roommate with Siamese, who were loud and not cuddly. The male like to play fetch, which I had fun with, but otherwise I thought they weren't interesting or special. Just loud.

OP, it also depends on if you only have one cat. I would seriously recommend you get two, if possible. Single cats that you raise from kittens are often psychoish, unless they have someone to play with (you, if you work from home, a dog, etc.).

Siamese cats

[quote]OP, it also depends on if you only have one cat. I would seriously recommend you get two, if possible. Single cats that you raise from kittens are often psychoish, unless they have someone to play with (you, if you work from home, a dog, etc.).

Thank you. I'll remember that. Makes sense.

A number of years ago, I had a female cat named Allie. This was long before the arrival of Peggy. I know I must have a picture of her somewhere, so I'll look for it later. She was an average cat, looks-wise, with a sort of brindled brown coat. She had always been rather high-strung and nervous. Her sense of balance never seemed to be particularly good. One day, she took a fall from the top of a bookcase and hit her head. After that incident, she had frequent seizures, sometimes one a day, which would scare the hell out of the other cats, who probably thought she was possessed.

Charlie was around at that time, and became very attached to her. If he heard her having a seizure, he would run to her, stand in front of her with back arched and fur standing on end, glaring around at the other cats in case they had any thoughts of harming her while she was helpless.

Allie slept in the back porch. We had a blanket for her, water, food etc. One winter night, my partner shook me awake, and whispered, "There's a strange noise out in the back porch."

I got up, and we made our way up the hallway, not knowing what kind of sight was going to confront us. The sound was eerie, unearthly. I had never heard anything like it before. It was a high-pitched chittering sound, and it was loud. It sounded like an animal in distress.

When we reached the porch, which is large, Allie was sitting at the top of the basement steps, looking around, bewildered. There is a large antique storage bench out there against the wall near the back door, and pushed into a corner. The sound seemed to be coming from beneath that bench. Carefully I went over to it.

The sound seemed to be coming from the corner. Very slowly and carefully, I moved the bench sightly and looked down. I know I smiled.

My partner was flattened against the wall on the other side of the door. He said, "What is it? What is it?"

I looked back down at the tiny face looking up at me so innocently, wearing its white winter fur, and I said, "It's a weasel."

We opened the back door wide, and eventually the weasel skedaddled. We figured that it had gotten into the house through the dryer vent in the basement, that was temporarily disconnected. It must have made its way up the steps, and very possibly witnessed Allie taking one of her seizures, which was an alarming sight to say the least, and then decided it wanted out of there, fast, hence the panicked chittering