As I read, my cat is vigilantly stalking the moths through a curtain. I cannot imagine a home without a cat or dog! When my 19 year old cat died, we waited about a year for our next to find us. It was a quiet, boring year! That picture of Mabrey really says it all. (PS, if Cheetah is Maine Coon, she could eventually be a whole lotta cat to love :-) Enjoy!

I adopted two abandoned Maine Coon mix kittens last year and they are the greatest! Maine Coons are often known as “the dog of the cat world” so they are great for people who aren’t 100% about cats. Ours are so cuddly and sweet but they do run laps around the house sometimes. I would love to know if you found any cat furniture or toys that work with your home or how you hid the ugly litter box. Happy for you guys!

Congratulations on the new addition to the family! It’s funny because when I was little my mom worked nights and one morning my brother and I woke up to a scrawny cat in the house that my mom had brought home after finding her in the rain outside our apartment building. Long story short, she became the unofficial protector of us kids (she would wake my parents if one of us was sick and she once attacked a dog that had gotten loose and ran up to me). She was pregnant as we came to find out and we kept one of the kittens that we couldn’t find a home for and that kitten was basically my companion (I dressed him up in cabbage patch doll clothes and pushed him around in a doll stroller) so I always say, people who think they aren’t cat people just haven’t met the right cat. Looks like you met yours! This brought a smile to my face this morning!

I’ve been reading for years, but it’s taking me a cat story to actually comment (#catlady). I have a similar story. A bad few months of mice led to me taking in a friendly stray that had been appearing on my friends’ porch. I’m allergic to cats, so I thought I would just foster her and we’d mutually benefit each other (I’d get her cleaned up and updated with shots, she’d take care of the mice). Well, that was almost five years ago and she’s still here! She’s the sweetest thing to come home to after a long day. I hear you on the cat cluelessness. I still joke with friends about my Google search history the first night she spent in my apartment, including such gems as “What does cat poop look like?”; “Can cats see in the dark?”; “Why isn’t my cat looking out the window?”. When she went into heat a month after taking her in, I called the vet in a panic thinking she was dying. I’m pretty sure they put a note on my file declaring me an idiot cat owner after that, but oh, well! Congrats on the new furry family member! She looks like a real cuddly ball of fluff!

Ah! She looks so much like my kitty! Cats are the best. Two things- she’ll definitely start shedding as she gets bigger. Buy a Furminator brush- it removes the undercoat and makes a huge difference. Secondly, the nocturnal thing settles down after a while too- she’ll adjust to your schedule. I think when my cat was around 6 months, she started sleeping when we do (with us, like a little person, tucked under the covers and everything). <–I just made myself sound like a crazy cat lady, but I swear I'm not. haha

Enjoy it!

Oh my goodness! That is one of the prettiest cats in existence! If she is part Maine-Coon, then she will be playful and energetic, but also very loving, patient and gentle. Any kind of forest cat tend to be perfect when you have children. I’ve a number of friends who have never liked cats as, like you, have only known cats who are outdoors or haven’t had the best lives. When they met ours, including our Norwegian forest cat (very similar to Maine Coons), they were shocked by how gentle, fun and loving cats can be.

Welcome to the light! Lol. I agree with Sylvia, non-cat people just haven’t met the right cat. I also think rescue cats just know that you’ve saved them, and there’s a certain amount of gratitude and love that comes from that. Enjoy your new family member!

I totally get that from Cheetah! I feel like she’s so easygoing because she’s just so happy she isn’t lost in the woods anymore.

Thanks for the tips! I did buy a Furminator brush. I figured she would start shedding more as she got older. But how I wish she would stay little and virtually shed-free!

Oh I have been doing my fair share of googling cat-related topics. I can so relate!

Another long-time reader and cat lady coming out of the quiet to comment. Cheetah is adorable! I have a Maine Coon mix myself (named Elephant), and like most of the breed, she LOVES water. She splashes in her water bowl and loves to drink from the faucet. You should see whether Cheetah inherited that same trait.

My husband always declared himself a dog person, even though he had never had a pet. Fast forward to 12 years with the most awesome cat ever (Leonard) we often talk about how we wish we could immortalize him. Cats are really great pets and very smart, too. They do their own thing a lot of the time, which I appreciate. I hope your family gets to love her for a long. long time.

Congrats on your new addition! She is adorable!! I am definitely a cat person. I think because they are less needy than dogs. I have a Maine Coon as well- they are wonderful cats. Very easy going and friendly and great with kids. The only thing I might suggest is to keep an eye on the coat- mine gets matted in spring when the undercoat is trying to she’d. I ended up getting him shaved once a year at the groomer and he has less hairballs and no more mats. I am so happy for you!!

We have two kitties and I couldn’t imagine our home without them. They are always there to keep me company when my fiance works at night; they seriously are wonderful little things!

I didn’t read the other comments so if someone already posted this sorry! Get her a little scratching post, that way she has a place of her own to scratch and won’t go after the furniture. If you do see her go to scratch the furniture, make sure she knows it’s wrong. We use a little spray bottle/squirt gun and just gave our cats a squirt when they tried to scratch the couch. It took about 3 squirts and now they only touch the scratching post! :) Also keep her claws trimmed so she doesn’t accidentally scratch your leather couch when walking on it. :)

Enjoy your new little Cheetah! :)

See! You’re going to be a pro ;) Already ahead of the game!

This post made my eyes tear up. Cats are wonderful. My husband and I adopted two sister cats from a shelter when we were living in Spain. They had lived in the shelter for the first 14 months of their lives. They were a little skittish when they came home with us, but seven years later they snuggle up with me during my husband’s deployments and bring such light into our lives. Enjoy Cheetah and all of the heart melting love she will give you. And, thank you for opening your hearts and home to a cat in need…

Peace. <3

I am not a cat person. Myself and my family are allergic. I have a PomaPoo puppy named Tucker. He’s half poodle and wonderfully hypoallergenic. He acts much like a cat. I’m in the process of teaching him how to meow :) because it seems so fitting.

M…. I believe is for Miller! Perfect fit

Hi Dana!

Now you know, cats are the best! We have a rescue kitty which we initially thought was a girl and named her Lady. Well lo and behold – not a girl so now his name is Mr. Lady lol! He is awesome! Never scratched the furniture thank goodness because declawing cats is a medieval practice IMO (please don’t declaw Cheetah), and he even will fetch! They are such entertaining creatures to watch as well. Enjoy the new addition!

Aww, Cheetah! As you know we have two four-leggers in our house. Originally, 9 years ago, I went to pick Mini up at age 12 weeks and it turned out her brother wasn’t spoken for so at the spur of the moment I decided to take them both. Of course we had to name him Bonus. Wille still says it’s the happiest day of his life :).

Hi,

She’s nocturnal now, because she’s a kitten. But soon, you’ll notice that she’ll be crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk times).
Also, she’s not shedding right now, because it’s Fall and the temperatures are dropping. She’s building a winter furcoat.
One last thing, feral cats, or kitten who got weaned off at an early age don’t know how to meow. They know how to hiss, but without their mommy around, they don’t know that they can meow. I rescued two kittens (from the Almost Humane Society), and one of the kitten fake-meows. She opens her mouth and “lip-synch” to a meow. (The vet checked her vocal chords, and years later, she started meowing a little bit, so she has had the apparel but just did not know how to use it). How funny is that?

When I first moved out to Ohio, I had two cats AND a dog. Now I’m down to one cat and one dog after the older kitty developed a tumor that kept her from using the litter box. Goodness that was a horribly sad weekend! I’d had that cat for literally half of my life! Thankfully I have some wonderful memories with her :) I’d gotten the other kitty when I was living in my very first apartment, so that the older one would have a friend to talk to. The younger one loved the older cat, but the older cat absolutely hated her younger sibling. There was rarely a shortage of cat fights and I often wondered why the heck I really got the second one?! She’s grown on me though. She had very little personality for years, but once she became the sole kitty in the house, I discovered that she’s very cuddly and laid back! I don’t plan on getting another cat after this one though. I’ve become much more of a dog person!

My grandma went through something similar years and years ago! She went to pick up a white kitten with one tiny black spot on her head (named her Smudge) and saw a little silver tabby that was the only left from her litter. She couldn’t resist bringing both kitties home. She named the tabby Extra!

please tell me you’ve taken her to the vet and had her checked out for all the contagious and dangerous cat diseases associated with non-immunized stray cats such as FeLV (feline leukemia) FIPV (Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus) … and other general immunizations.
http://www.ivghospitals.com/preventive/answers-to-your-frequently-asked-new-kitten-and-new-puppy-questions/

I too was never a cat person until I had one. My husband had always wanted one, but was allergic. He finally decided he didn’t mind taking meds every day, so we adopted a cute tabby kitten. He’s now 10 and has two sisters. One we adopted, one who was a stray who adopted us. Ooops.

I’ve had a cat since I was a little kid, but still once and awhile I google something like “why is my cat staring at me?” (for the record- it is apparently because the cat is bored)

This is a great story! I have to say I’ve never been much a cat person (we always had 1 dog growing up) but now as an adult anytime I am at my friends houses who have cats my and my husband’s allergies start acting up! My eyes get puffy, runny nose, etc. So that’s my excuse for a cat (and pet) free home :)

I felt the very same way about a dog.
We now have three dogs. Three. We have three kids and three dogs. Did I mention that they are big dogs? I love them dearly. :)

ah the furminator is everything! It will make such a huge difference in the amount you sweep up. Just make sure you have the right kind for her hair length. I’m so happy that you gave cats a chance! I think it just takes the right kind of cat and anyone can be hooked. They keep life interesting [not that you were lacking in that department] ;)

Also, maybe when she is a little older… look into the Litter Kwitter. I know I sound certifiably insane but I hate litter and this worked for us. And if that’s way too far for you to go mentally, we personally love Worlds Best Cat litter and a second box using the breeze system that they use for number one. And the litter genie cuts down on smell and that’s awesome. Good luck!

I laughed at the Pet Sematary comment…good golly that’s a freaky movie, and that cat! So happy she found your family and a wonderful home. Enjoy your furry baby : )

What a cute cat! It really does sound like you hit the cat jackpot. We have a dog that we got spur of the moment. I always knew I’d have a dog, but I thought it’d be a couple years before I got one.

I have been obsessed with dogs for as long as I can remember. My parents used to call me Dr. Doolittle because the neighborhood dogs would always flock to me. With that being said, when my little sister turned 11, she got a kitten for her birthday and we all adored her. My boyfriend’s parents also have a cat who is a wee bit bonkers. Not sure what, but something is just a little off with him haha. My boyfriend loves cats though and we just recently started entertaining the idea of adopting a kitten. We do have a 70 lb hound mix that we adopted 2 years ago though and we aren’t sure how he would feel about a cat in his territory!

Awww so excited for your family that you took in sweet little Cheetah! I have always had a cat (also have a dog now too) and they are so wonderful! They are the best cuddlers! Enjoy! :)

Hooray for new a new fur-baby! Check out Purina’s Yesterday’s News Litter. It’s made out of recycled paper and doesn’t have that distinct litter smell.

Awwwwwww! She’s beautiful!

I never had any pets growing up. My mom was allergic to cats and my parents said a dog was too much work.

When I was finally settled into a place that was just mine I adopted Molly. She was the smallest and most timid of the litter…..until I got her home. But I wouldn’t change a thing. She has LOTS of personality.

Then at the beginning of July I went into a pet store to get Molly some treats and a little kitten was sitting there waiting to be adopted. I left with her shortly after. I think Molly thinks I have betrayed her by bringing an intruder into her home but Maxie is such a doll and I’m hoping once Maxie calms down a bit, Molly will warm up to her more.

Yaaaay for cats! (I would still love a dog too though ;))

So stinkin’ cute — and your daughter looks totally smitten with her! If you are not declawing her (which I hope you are not!), I would suggest the Purrfect Post cat scratching post http://www.purrfectpost.com/ … they are a bit pricey but a total furniture saver! We have one cat but two posts because he likes to scratch in our family room plus our bedroom, so the post totally saves our sofa, chair, and bedspread. And if the post wears out, you can just order a new post (and not the entire base).

Congratulations! Folks have commented on the scratching post drill, and you definitely can train kittens to use the posts and not your furniture. Keep an eye on kitty and notice her habits – if she heads for the same chair for scratching, put a scratching post there. We also bought several disposible cardboard scratching boxes from Trader Joes and attached them to the wall.

I am a veterinarian’s daughter so I grew up with lots of animals and love cats especially. My husband is a city slicker and his parents bought one outdoor dog when he was scared of them when he was little. Needless to say he wasn’t a cat person. A Maine Coon mix found his way to my back step while we were dating and my now husband is the one that wanted to take him in if no one claimed him. We were nervous when our daughter was born since he’s not de-clawed but she hit him on purpose the other day and he just ran off instead of retaliating (thankfully). Nine years later, he’s still one of the best cats I’ve ever owned.

Congrats! I just love cats! Cheetah looks a lot like my cat who I think is part Maine Coon. My cat is 12 years old and going strong. I never get tired of all of the cute things she does and our kitty cuddle sessions every night! Have fun with her!

Excellent. I’ll look forward to future posts about how you custom-built a cat tree or incorporated cat-wall elements into some room’s design ;)

Aw, she’s adorable! I often marvel at how those crazy furry creatures manage to sneak into the hearts of people who are “not cat people”.

Have fun learning all the exciting and insane things cats do! My tiny kitten used to carry huge potatoes around the house and leave them on people’s beds. Another would always race past me while I was folding laundry, jump up on the couch, and take off with a rolled up pair of socks as she went. Every laundry day. The hilarity never ends!

Three things that have saved my home from my rough and tumble kitties over the years:
1. As someone else mentioned – claw trimmers. It’s pretty easy to learn to do, and reduces the risk of scratches to you and your furniture.
2. Scratching posts – vertical and horizontal (some cats have a preference), away from furniture that might also be enticing to scratch.. The cardboard ones are great (or logs with bark can work and look great too), and there is no confusion for the cat. e.g. carpet covered posts can result in them scratching other carpet in your house.
3. Nature’s Miracle stain and odor remover. It works, and will save your furniture/carpets if there are any accidents.

Oh, one last thing, a happy cat it a cat with a box. Any box will do.:)

Welcome to the world of cat servitude. I have had cats my entire life. I currently have 4 (only planned on having 2). I can’t imagine life without them. I had a maine coon once. She also had a silent meow like Cheetah. I look forward to how you design around the litter boxes (vets say you should have 1 more box than you have cats). I have 5 that I need to figure out a better solution for,

I’ve been a cat person my whole life. When we lost two of them within a month of eachother in Winter 2012, we took a pet-break. It was much needed. But that void eventually needed filling and much to my surprise, we got a little maltese puppy. I never imagined owning a dog in my whole life. I didn’t dislike dogs, I just wasn’t a dog person. Too much work for this busy girl. As it goes though, I am so insanely in love with that pup. I didn’t know love like that was possible. It’s a bit different than cat love. My affection for felines hasn’t waned and there’s a good chance we may get one in the future, but having a dog has changed my life in many positive ways and it has been the best thing to ever happen to our family. I now know that I am not a cat or dog person, but an animal person :) Good luck with Cheetah!

I have to send you photos of the ingenious cat bathroom we created. We have an attached garage, so my husband put a cat door on the wall between the living room and garage. He then created a “bathroom” out of 2×4’s and wire mesh. The front wall is hinged and swings out-easy access to clean the litter box. The cats love it! They use their litter box in privacy, no litter in the house. It’s the best! They also love to sit out there and watch us in the garage.

I’ll send you pictures soon. It’s been a life-saver.

Congratulations! The only advice I’ll offer that you might not find out until too late is: trim her nails early and often. With mine, I started with just one paw immediately followed by treats every 5-7 days. Eventually we got to all four paws every 2-3 weeks, followed by treats. They’re 7 and 8 now and I can still trim their nails easily by myself. What you don’t want is to end up with a cat that you have to take to the vet once a month just for nail trims.
Congrats again and I’m raising a glass (tea) to all of the cat related fun, snuggles, and projects in your future!

Rachel – my cat has to be tucked in too! If her head is under, or her body is out too far, she stands up after ~10 minutes and then meows at me to be let back under the covers (I have to lift them up for some reason). This will repeat all night. If I make sure the covers are up to her neck, with her head out like a person, she sleeps through the night! So I don’t think you’re a crazy cat lady! (Which probably just means we both are. :))

Hello from a long time lurker :) Your little kitten (and kids too) is absolutely adorable! I always say that I’m not a cat person. However, every time I meet a cat I say “well, I’m not a cat person but I really like you!”. Your post is very timely – my husband and I had our girls at the pet store last weekend and we saw two adorable gray kittens from a local shelter that were/are up for adoption. Man, did the girls and I want to take them home! Even my husband was starting to crack and admitted that they were adorable. Unfortunately, I decided with a 5 year old, an almost 3 year old, a high energy dog with a tendency to kill small groundhogs in the woods, an aquatic frog and three guppies it was probably in everyone’s best interest that the kitten go home with someone else. It kind of makes me want to move to a farm…and get a goat too! I wish you the best with all of the living things you’re taking care of now :)

What a sweet little baby! I’ve always been a cat person, but my husband had never been around one and was dubious. I eventually convinced him to let us get a stray kitten our friend had rescued, and he immediately fell in love. Cats are the best pets, in my opinion. Pretty self-sufficient, but still available for affection (on THEIR terms, haha). I’m so glad your family has a new, furry member to love.

Ahh, Maine Coons (and any mix with Maine Coon) are the best! Such a great temperament and so loyal. So excited for your family to have discovered the pure happiness of sharing your home with a cat!

It’s about home indeed. Very cute post. Congrats on Cheetah! I am glad it worked out so smoothly with the kids. You will be vaccuming more. And buying the rolls of sticky pads to remove hair from your clothing.

Nicely written Dana,

I am no cat person either and your story makes me wonder if I should try too. But I too have a hundred questions popping in my head about the space, care, food, litter, sleep, play, vaccines, safety… as you said, may be excuses, may be just scared or lazy?? But this post makes me wonder again.. Should I try???

Best of luck and have a happy time with Cheetah.. feels like whole “house tweaking” home is complete..

Anima

We were the exact same way about cats. Always thought we were NOT cat people. I always said I loved kittens but hated cats and therefore would never get one. After my husband and I got married, we decided to go look at the kittens at a local shelter. But that’s it – we were just looking. We came home with 2 kittens an hour later.

We’ve had them for a little over a year and we love them! They are the best cats in the world. They will snuggle and hang out with you and they understand what they are not allowed to do (scratch on furniture, get on the kitchen counter, etc.) They know their names and come when you call. People say you can’t train a cat but you can! So happy for you and Cheetah. I personally think a pet is one of the best experiences a child can have and I’m sure your kids are ecstatic.

Looking forward to hearing/seeing your thoughts on how the house decor is holding up and what/if it will change.

now that you have one, you will love cats.
i am a cat person to the core – they are so sweet and interesting!
my cat is a main coon and a manx mix…main coons have such interesting personalities – can’t wait for y’all to experience cheetah’s developments! :)
yay!!! she is truly beautiful!

First, I wanted to clarify that your neighbor is misinformed–just because a cat is a tabby, does not mean it is a Maine Coon or a Maine Coon mix. Tabby markings (often called tiger stripes) in cats is the most dominant or “wild type” coat pattern in domestic cats. It comes in three basic patterns, so tabbies often look slightly different, but the gene for tabby coloration is very common in random-bred domestic cats. It is true that Maine Coons are most often tabby patterned, but they also come in many shades of solid colors and bicolors; the tabby pattern is, by no means, exclusive to the breed. And the most important defining characteristics of the Maine Coon breed is an unusually large size, large bone structure, and long, full coat, particularly the tail, none of which your little kitten has.

Your cat is a “domestic shorthair” and her coat color is “black tabby.” I can’t be positive from what little I can see of her in these photos, but it looks like she is a striped tabby, which is properly called a mackerel tabby. Here is a great link for information on tabby characteristics: http://messybeast.com/spotted-cats.html

Finally, I wanted to post some information on the all-too-common practice of declawing housecats. I know this advice is totally unsolicited, but as soon as you said you had adopted a kitten, I started worrying about this. Please do not declaw your cat. Declawing is nothing like having your nails trimmed, or even losing a fingernail; to remove a cat’s claws, the veterinarian must remove the bones in the feet to the first joint. It is a horribly painful procedure with a nasty, painful recovery for the cat. I have been a cat rescuer for 15 years; we often see declawed cats abandoned at shelters because of litterbox problems and temperament changes–these are both extremely common results of being declawed. During the painful recovery, when cats must learn to walk on the backs of their feet in an unnatural way and experience a lot of pain, they begin to associate the pain they feel with their litterboxes (the pain is exacerbated by the digging behavior they naturally perform and also the typical stance they use when defecating, with all four feet placed close together). So they avoid using the litterbox, hoping to avoid the pain. It is a vicious cycle.

Temperament changes are just as common, although they are more common among cats declawed as adults and cats that live in multi-cat households. But declawed cats sometimes become shy and/or aggressive toward other animals and children after being declawed; it is believed to be because they realize they have no means of defense.

Declawed cats also have difficulty jumping and balancing. Without their claws to provide traction, they often miss their jumps (or make several small practice jumps first), and many, some cats more than others, often fall off their intended targets. Having owned declawed as well as normal cats, it can be heartbreaking to watch declawed cats try to jump and exhibit normal cat behaviors.

There is also a difference in how the cats walk, which places more weight on the backs of their feet. Personally, I find the unnaturally small feet of my declawed cats very uncomfortable when they walk on me and knead my lap, whereas I have no problem with my clawed cats doing the same things. All of their weight being concentrated in a much smaller area makes them feel super heavy with each step.

I hesitate to link you to information about declawing on the internet. I don’t know a source that is totally honest and presents both sides of the equation, so I wont provide you with a link. But I just wanted to present this plea, as a cat lover, that you please keep your cat whole. I know you love your home and furnishings, but often the side effects of declawing are worse than simply trimming your cat’s nails regularly.

I have a supply of lint rollers in waiting! haha.

I always end up with unexpected pets. My theory is that they find you – and your life will be better forever for it! So happy for you guys, to find the perfect pet for you is really like heaven on earth.

Cat bathroom?! Mind. Blown.

Thanks for the link and advice! I’ll take all I can get!!

Fake meowing?! Fascinating.

I never knew the story behind your cats or Bonus’s name. So cute!! P.S. – I immediately thought of you when we brought Cheetah home. You have such a lovely home with two cats. Surely we can handle one! We’ll see…

A puppy that meows…I love it.

Thanks for the tips!! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the furniture to some extent. So scratching post and trimmed claws it is!

Do you have your cat shaved in the spring then? Sorry, I have a lot of questions still.

Cheetah does like water! She’s verrrrrrry interested in the bathtub and my cousin said she doesn’t mind baths. (I haven’t bathed her yet. Is that something I’m supposed to do?)

Cat lady here. I love when I hear about reformed “non-cat people”. Cats are the best!
I never understood it, Why are so many people afraid of cats!? It takes time to get to know and understand a cat, but it sounds like you have a great cat for a first timer.
I have two cats and one dog now. My second cat just appeared in our shed one day. It happened to be just a few weeks before we lost our beloved dog to a brain tumor. I don’t know what we would have done without her. She is the sweetest and cutest tiny little cat, and also happens to now be best friends with our rambunctious puppy.
You may find that there are all sorts of controversial subjects when it comes to your cat. I’m sure you’ve heard all sorts of opinions about declawing a cat. I have found with my cats if I provide them with plenty of scratching posts I have no problem with them scratching my furniture. Another big issue with cats is whether or not you let them outside. We have a cat door. It gives them so much freedom, and lets them get that crazy energy out. Otherwise, I think my big cat would beat up my small cat daily.
Whatever you choose is best for you. However, cat people are very opinionated, so you may not want to share all of those details.
Also, cats love cat wands. They are basically a stick with a string attached and a toy at the end. You can mimic birds flying and that sort of thing and they go crazy. It is hilarious to watch and so much fun for the cat.
Good luck with little Cheetah!

I can’t help but comment on this conversation! My cat (who also somehow chose me against my wishes!) was also an under-the-covers-cat. He would paw until he made his way under and then he’s go allll the way down to my feet, or, better yet, curl up in the crook of my knees. He passed away 2 years ago and we all miss him sooo much!

No, cat’s don’t need bathes often at all. And you KNOW if/when she does need one. Our kitty is about 17 years old and while we plan on taking a break from animals for a while, I know that we’ll end up getting another cat eventually. I’ve always been intrigued by the main coon breed – I have a 2 yr old son and another on the way…I think this will be a great breed for them when we are all ready!

Here’s a tip for trimming claws – to start with, ease into it. Wrap her up in a towel and cradle her in your arms like a baby – softly touch her feet and grasp her toes to force her claws out. Let her get used to that position and having you mess with her feet. Give her some treats afterwards and do that a few times before you actually clip her claws. Then, when you are ready to clip, start with one and see how it goes. Don’t force it and over time, she’ll be completely fine with it. You can even give her a treat and/or a break after each foot. If you are lucky, she’ll be totally fine with it right away!

Not to mention biting. Declawed cats often learn that their only defense is biting, and cat bites are a serious medical issue, Some people believe that it will be safer for their kids if the cat is declawed. However, a scratch is easy to clean, disinfect, and bandage, but a bite basically injects oral bacteria deep into the tissue. Frequently cat bites require oral antibiotics as the infections can worsen rapidly. Though as I type this, I realize that as a former pharmacist Dana, you probably have experience with this.

You’ll also probably notice that she gets more vocal as she gets older – cats mostly meow for their human’s benefit!

That’s AWESOME!!!!!! We’ve thought about doing something similar.

I’m amazed that architects and home builders aren’t more pet friendly in their plans – i think there would be such a market for things like pet bathrooms. Dogs are starting to get some leverage (think doggy showers in mudrooms etc..) but cats keep getting snubbed!

I soooooooo want a goat! They just make me laugh!!!

Awww, she’s adorable! Don’t worry, she won’t have any accidents – cat’s aren’t like dogs that way. They don’t even really have to be litter trained, they just innately know to use the little box.

Your cat is so cute! Please don’t declaw him. Get a scratching post, the cardboard kind are great and the taller the better as cats like to stretch up as they scratch. And make sure to neuter/spay.
A cat just makes a home more “homey”!

What a beautiful, beautiful cat!!! Agreeing with Susie to not declaw. You’ll need to keep up with trimming her claws, but she’s young so you can probably train her (just burrito wrap her with only the current paw you’re working on, pet her and talk to her softly, and maybe give her a treat afterwards.. let her connect claw trimming time with bonding and snack time!)

I’ve had my cat Yoda since she was born underneath my bed when I was 10 years old… she is now 18 and a half! She’ll be 19 in April. When I moved in with my fiance last year, he liked referring to this apartment as her retirement home. She now has thyroid issues so needs medicine every day, but I give it to her in wet food so she’ll bug me every morning until she gets it! She’s also at the age where she’s beginning to have cognitive issues, but she’s still as sweet and cuddly as ever.

Anyways! Sorry for the long comment. So happy you were able to give Cheetah such a loving home!

Big-smile story. You’re already learning the truth of the adage: dogs have owners, cats have staff. :) Enjoy. Whether or not Cheetah is a Maine coon mix–our cuddly (and large!) rusty black Maine coon mix, Muttley, is indeed a dog in cat’s clothing–it sounds as if you have a sweetheart of a kitten there. Enjoy her and the richness she adds to your family. And please, please don’t even consider declawing her, for all the reasons others have articulated.

Decorating with cats is an interesting challenge – and drastically changes with the personalities of different animals. We have three cats, all black and white, and it has been quite the learning experience to find things that work with our aesthetic that go well with the cats – our cats are big on jumping on things and knocking down knick-knacks, and have destroyed any plants that I’ve tried to have in the house.

One note about plants – never allow lilies in the house, either potted lilies (like Easter lilies or peace lilies) or in a bouquet of flowers – the pollen is extremely poisonous to cats and can frequently cause kidney failure and death, even when only small amounts are inhaled by the cat. Several other common house plants are also dangerous for cats, including “dumb cane” and a few others. The Humane Society has a great page describing plants that are safe and listing toxic plants for pets as well. Several types of grasses are great for indoor cats and good for their health to gnaw on, if it turns out that your cat likes to chew on plants.

A note about Maine Coons (my aunt breeds them, they are great cats, and known for having tiny voices!): they don’t reach their full maturation and size until 2 years (and have an extended adolescence), and are known to love water. Once their adult coats come in, they can get bad mats and may require frequent grooming. I recommend the “Furminator” comb – it’s fantastic for long-haired cats!

My husband declared himself “not a cat person”. He had some bad memories of his Grandma’s cat chasing him as a kid. When we moved into our new house there was a neighborhood cat that kept visiting us – one time even coming in through the slider and looking around like, “This would be a great place to hang out”. Needless to say my husband now has a new friend in Roosevelt the black cat and the two take naps together all the time! Only bad thing is he was an indoor/outdoor cat (we couldn’t deny him being outside since he had already been that way when we met him) and he likes to bring us “presents”. So you’ll be lucky and not have to dispose of dead little critters. But, one of the best things about having an outdoor cat is we don’t need a litter box – all their business is done outside!!

Hello, #crazycatlady here with an important announcement: With the addition of Cheetah, this blog has become the best blog on the internet. That’s it, I said it. And anyone who says otherwise better not find me in a dark alley. Enjoy Cheetah and I hope to see more Mabrey/Cheetah pictures!

You should check out this post from Cuckoo 4 Design. Her cats are mostly indoor cats so she built them an outdoor encloser. So cool! Love this idea for inside cats!

http://cuckoo4design.blogspot.com/2012/05/cuckoo-for-my-cats.html

Yay!!!!!!! So happy for you!!!!! Please post often about her. :-)

I ditto what others said about not declawing… trim her nails, give her scratching posts (or a cat tree), and she’ll be fine. You might initially keep a spray bottle of water by the couch in case you catch her in the act of scratching it.

My husband did an Ikea hack to enclose our cat box in a dresser (with a cat door on the side and a drawer that pulls out for cleaning). I absolutely love being able to hide it!

We are so on love with our two rescue kitties, and are so very glad that you rescued this little sweetheart. She will enrich your lives so much!!!!!

PS: So glad you’re keeping her indoors as it will keep her safer and extend her lifespan!

I agree with Carol! I already loved your blog, but add a kitten? Please.

I was never a cat person until my husband and I decided to go to a cat show “just to look.” And then we stopped by the SPCA presentation, “just to look.” And then all of the sudden we were adopting two kittens (siblings). But then I realized that in doing so, we’d be leaving behind the third littermate, and HOW COULD WE? So that’s how we ended up with three kittens. And once you have three, it’s really easy to get to five. Which is what we have now. (I know, we cray.) But, two of our cats are outdoor cats, so it’s not as crazy as it sounds. I swear.

As a recent cat person who has learned A LOT in the past few years, here’s some advice:
1. Get a scratching cube – they have them at Target, they’re really cute, and although they’re about $20, which seems SO steep, they last forever. Our cats adore them.
2. On a related note, watch out for all of your beautiful upholstery. Since you only have one cat, and she seems so well-adjusted, it might be easy to keep her from scratching. If you catch her doing it, just clap, shoo her away, spray her with a water, etc. I’m especially worried about your leather couch (is that weird?), because it’s so pretty, and I would be heartbroken if it was damaged. Oh, and keep her nails short. Oh! And please report back on whether she’s even interested in the leather. I’ve always wanted a leather couch, but with 3 indoor cats, I’m terrified of spending the money.
3. If she pees in the house (and oh my goodness, I could write a whole blog on cat pee, but that would DEFINITELY be weird), use one of two things: vinegar and/or an enzymatic cleaner. We have one called “anti-icky-poo” (I know) and it works well, but we use vinegar most of the time. (Cat pee is one of those topics that makes me think that cats are just the worst. But most of my problems come from having 3 male cats, which obviously you don’t have.)
4. If you get another pet down the line, maybe don’t get another cat. Although it seems reasonable to want to get a little friend for your kitty, cats really are solitary, and a completely normal cat can freak out when you introduce a new cat. And then the peeing starts. Trust.
5. Feed her cat food that doesn’t have corn, wheat, or soy in it. Cats are carnivores, they need meat. And corn will rot her teeth, leading to vet bills and general sadness.
6. You’re so lucky she doesn’t shed. I mean, once the weather changes, let’s talk, but for now enjoy it!
7. Cats really are awesome. Like you and Steve, I don’t have the same base-level appreciation as people who grew up with cats might have, but I think that almost makes it better. I get to notice all of these funny things as an adult. Also, cats are just so funny and weird, but it’s this private, domestic weirdness that only the family gets to see. Cats aren’t performers the way dogs are (or can be). I think that’s why there are so many cat videos on the internet, because it’s this secret thing.
8. I nearly forgot: LASER POINTER. Don’t get the crappy $3 one at PetSmart, spring for the $10 one on amazon. It’ll last so much longer, and you can replace the batteries. It’s really important for cats to get exercise (especially indoor cats, and especially Main Coons, as they tend to be on the larger side). My cats also like those little felt mice they sell by the dozen at PetSmart. One of our cats even fetches, like a dog. It’s pretty cute.

Anyway, good luck with your new kitten! Kittens really are the greatest.

I loved this post! I laughed out loud when I was reading this, especially the part about the water! :) I too, do not consider myself a cat person, so I think I would find myself in a very similar position to you if this ever happened to me. Cheetah is adorable and she is lucky to have such a loving home!

I used to dislike and be scared of cats until my college roommates talked me into getting one for our apartment. Turned out, I was the only one who took care of her. I’ve now been out of college for over 7 years, married with a baby on the way and now we have TWO cats that we absolutely adore! (We wanted to give our other cat a companion.) Our cats never use the bathroom outside of the litter box which is great and they are really cuddly and lovable. I’m sure this has already been mentioned, but the furminator and the litter genie are life savers! Congrats on your new addition!

That’s it, I could not think of the name lint rollers to save my life!

I forgot to say that picture of Mabrey is ADORABLE!

Congrats on the newest family member! Just a note on nocturnal behavior, cats will often sleep after eating so feed Cheetah before bed. If Cheetah gobbles her food in one sitting rather than free range try to get her down to once a day feedings by the time she reaches maturity (7-8 months old, when her adult teeth begin to come in). That should mitigate the late night antics as well as early AM “feed me” wake ups. I’m sure you’ve spoken to a vet at this point, but when she starts to get her adult teeth is also when you want to get her spayed.

I like to think a house isn’t a home with out a cat, so glad to hear you’re enjoying your newest “tweak”!

Oh wow! So much good stuff to take away from your comment. Thanks for sharing! One minute I feel like we’ve got things under control (for the most part) and the next minute I realize I am still a complete idiot when it comes to cats.

This post warms my heart. :)

I am officially the lamest cat mom ever.

Awww, so awesome!! We’re animal fans at our house, both having had cats and dogs (although I was always quite allergic to cats; just pushed through). As adults, I think we always assumed we’d get a dog first, but while we were out to dinner with friends at our future wedding reception location, a cat came out of the blue. After a stormy night, we went back first thing the next morning and picked up the almost-dead orange tiger cat. He ended up at the vet’s for a week, but he’s been the epitome of silently appreciative since then. Years later, we now have 3 rescue cats, all so different and all so special and sweet, we can’t imagine not owning them. Enjoy your own pet journey! So glad the whole family’s loving her!!!

Click on the link above to see the pictures. Please don’t mind the kitty treat just deposited. Every time I clean the litter box, Gus has to use it. Immediately!

Aw cute!! I’ve had a Balinese cat for 8 years this fall. I couldn’t imagine not having her. Her name is Ferrah.

It’s good that you bought a Furminator, because long haired cats will shed! I recommend using that or brushing her regularly. I also recommend getting hairball formula food once Cheetah gets older. When long haired cats hack up hairballs, it’s more like throw-up. I use Purina ONE Smartblend and it has helped a ton!

Also, I am all for getting cats declawed unless you plan on letting her outside. My cat is strictly indoors, so declawing was the best thing. She doesn’t bite or nip at people. She still has her back claws and it has actually ruined couch cushions because they’ve gotten caught and pulled on the fabric. It also injured her claw when they got caught so that required a trip to the vet. She still has that instinct to sharpen her front claws even though she doesn’t have them. It’s kind of funny to watch, actually.

My husband is not a cat person and I catch him all of the time cuddling and petting her (I had her before we met…I was a packaged deal ;) ) You’ll get used to her in no time!

What a beautiful kitty! My own cat is part Maine Coon — it’s such a beautiful breed. She started out small and now is quite big (!!!) but so cuddly and sweet and mild-tempered. Congrats on the new addition!

I’m also a rare/never commenter joining the cat love fest! We hemmed and hawed for literally years about getting a cat because I was worried about the scratching and shedding…..then a stray showed up outside of our apartment and never left :) I also feel like we won the kitty lottery- he is completely litter box trained, and went straight to the scratching post, plays just enough to be fun and sleeps in my lap while I work from home! It’s only been a few months, but I can’t imagine what we were so worried about.

My only tip (I’m new to this too)- Pet Fusion sells pretty stylish (but pricey) cardboard scratchers on amazon. We have the triangle one that allows for vertical and horizontal scratching.

I said exactly the same thing: I am not a cat person. I actually was bitten twice by a neighbor’s Siamese cat so I was very frightened of them. One day I met a terrific man and we fell in love and, guess what, he was a CAT person. I gradually became accustomed to the cats and found out they weren’t going to attack me and eventually I grew to love them as much as the man! Having said that, two cats are good together because they have a buddy to play with. If they get to go outside, there are more risks with disease, injury and fleas! We have kept our cats inside cats, front claws removed. Our vetinarian has kept us informed of everything we needed to do for them. One point….at about 6 months or so, if your “she” spends a lot of time at the window making weird sounds, it might be time to have her fixed. Those sounds can be bothersome and once our kitten was fixed, she settled right back down and thing have been great! Good luck. I know you will love her. You might find you’ve become a CAT person too!

Priscilla Presley is the best impulse purchase I ever made (yes, my cat has a first & last name…she IS a lady, after all :) ). After I brought her home from the Humane Society (because my roommate ‘thought it would be fun’), it was all downhill from there. I bought my condo a year later and my ‘wish list’ for the cat was bigger than the one I made for myself – I managed to score a larger ‘walk-in’ closet next to my kitchen that is strictly for ‘Miss Priss’. I keep her AUTOMATIC litter box, food, water, toys, etc. in there without having to use other public areas (like the bathroom or spare bedroom) (I can’t stress enough – AUTOMATIC LITTER BOX). Now my cellphone is full of cat photos and baked goods. Clearly I’m a crazy cat lady with a horrible sweet tooth. Like many of the readers that commented before me, I didn’t know I was a cat person until I brought that little fur ball home with me. She’s definitely got her quirks (ugh…she wakes me up AN HOUR before my alarm…EVERY. SINGLE. DAY., if she wants her belly rubbed she’ll scamper in front of you when you walk and then fall to her side so her tummy is exposed, and in the winter she sleeps on my stomach. you don’t realize how much heat radiates from a cat until it’s sleeping on your stomach for a few hours and you wake up sweating your balls off :) ) but I have to keep myself from wanting to squish her face because she’s so darn cute. I’m so excited you decided to adopt Cheetah! You won’t regret it!

This post made my day after having a rough day! Your “cat’s drinking water” comment made me laugh out loud, which I needed:) I am a cat mama. Norman came into my life almost 6 years ago, and I can’t imagine not having my little snugglebug in my life! He acts like he is part human at times, and my friends and family get a kick out of his personality…as do I! I’m an animal lover in general, but there is somethine special about a cat:)

We had a cat who would play a game with our severely retarded daughter and cuddle up to her backbone to comfort her. Another was a healing cat and would cuddle on any kind of boo-boo.(it is actually a good thing) and one who finally learned he was loved by us and I woke up one day to find his head in the palm of my hand. Do not be afraid of cats, they are advanced beings, and much like children. We have another now, found on the streets much like your Cheetah.

Great advice here. Definitely spend the money up front on a high quality food. She’ll be much healthier in the long run.
-In terms of water, cats generally drink less than they actually need and don’t like to drink near their food bowl. We’ve had great luck putting a couple of small water dishes around the house and refreshing them daily. I’m sure she’ll also be exploring sinks and bathtubs soon!
-It’s also incredibly important to check out your houseplants for cat safety. Succulents are generally a good bet but many other common indoor plants are very toxic to cats.
-Our guys (2 brown tabby brothers) love the laser and all manner of crinkle and feather toys. I’d also recommend buying her a cute igloo style bed. It’s great for colder climates and provides the kind of protected space cats love for relaxing. We love the AlphaPooch napper cat den, which coordinates reasonably well with human decor.

Sounds like Cheetah is a great addition to the family. So glad you guys decided to become her forever home!

Congrats on your new kitty! Just FYI though, if you really dislike her name: cats do not give even the tiniest of craps about what their name is. Dogs would, cats definitely don’t! Name her whatever you’d like, she’ll likely never respond to it no matter what, and you’ll probably default to calling her kitty most of the time anyway! :)

This is probably the most adorable thing I’ve ever read. My heart melts for Cheetah! Congratulations.

I do get him shaved every spring- it takes about 9 months for his coat to come in completely. He’s long haired so when he’s shaved he’s not naked- he just looks like a regular shorthair.

Congrats!! I don’t have a cat (my very allergic mom couldn’t visit if I did), but pets are fantastic. I will say, we got a rescue pup and the biggest change we made was to put him on a good quality food. I will never skimp on that again! It completely cleared up all intestinal issues he had, and it’s just so much better- more protein, less grains (or even grain free). She’s super cute and I can’t wait to hear more.

Thanks for the info!

Here is a fact about the fictional idea that Maine coon cats have M mark on forehead:
Maine Coon info #2: If a cat has a tell-tale “M” mark on its forehead, you know it’s a Maine Coon.
False. This myth is still out there. It has some basis in fact, though. The Maine Coon Tabby pattern will have a distinguishing “M” on the forehead.
But, Maine Coons can be many other colors or patterns, and any tabby cat can have an “M” on its forehead. The M, in and of itself, is not proof positive of having a Maine Coon.

My little 8 lb. cat has the M mark and is definitely a tabby. As the facts are, any tabby can have the M mark.
And there are all white Main coons! No M at all.
You just have an adorable kitty! I once had one which looked so much like yours. She was part Persian and part tabby. She had the softest fur ever!! She was also very quiet and such a lovey!
I have had a LOT of cats of various types in my 62 years. Each one has their own personality and after owning at least 45 in my life, I learned a lot! Some love to be with yu a LOT, some come when they feel like getting attention, some are loud, some quiet, some purr so quietly you can barely hear, others sound like a motor, some will love to cuddle in bed with you, others want their own space. It is a wonderful learning experience. You can teach them tricks! I have always had a garage attached to my house so leave door opened a crack and cats are trained to open it to go use litter boxes. It always closes to the crack behind them. Easier to clean the box when in garage! I am a dedicated cat person.
Every cat does have the bad habit of scratching so get her trained to keep away from furniture asap! Water squirt guns (toys) are great in training cats to keep off things, stop scratching, etc. I always kept one in most rooms while training. Good luck, be patient and enjoy!

Oh, almost forgot!! Look up catios. It is a patio area built for a cat to enjoy the outdoors and be safe. There are some amazing ones to build. Some have runs around and places for them to perch and shade for hot days! Here is an exceptional one:
http://catioshowcase.com/
Be very careful of the kinds of plants the cat will have access to as many are poisonous for cats (and dogs) and cats love to taste them! You can check which ones are bad at this ASPCA site:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
When I move to my new home, I am going to create a catio for my cats.
Here is another great site to see them, and Jackson Galaxy is the GURU to cat owners!
http://jacksongalaxy.com/category/catification/outdoor-enclosures/

I wasn’t a dog person for the longest time. I was animal free until I lost a baby, my second pregnancy, my first with my husband. We adopted a cat. She was a holy terror. We gave her to someone else and she later died. She was very abused and was older. Later, we adopted 2 cats. A striped one, lighter than yours and a grey and peach tortie. They lived with us for a long time. They were both kittens. Then, we added a puppy to the mix. And then another puppy. Then, I found a kitten. So, at one point, we had 3 cats and 2 puppies. We gave away all if the kittens and the youngest puppy died (she was the runt and sick when we got her, we didn’t even know). Now, we have 2 dogs. I can’t imagine my life without our animals. I used to be terrified of dogs and allergic to cats. We still get updates on 2 of the cats, they are both happy. I know we gave them a good home but it was time for them to move on to give others love. I know you will be happy with your kitten!

Extra, how cute!

We had three kittens born in our yard and then abandoned at two weeks old in the middle of winter! My husband said he hated cats but they soon stole our hearts! We gave one to a new home, and we kept two. We couldn’t imagine life without them! They are the BEST pets! They are easy to care for, so loving and affectionate (but not overly needy), and they blend into the flow of our daily lives. I NEVER thought we would be cat owners, but sometimes the unexpected gifts are the best ones.

How meant to be – she has an “M” on her forehead for her new last name! ;)

She’s a lucky cutie. We are clearly animal people with three dogs and two cats. The husband was never a cat person but is totally in love with ours now. So glad she is getting along so well with the kids too.

I love cats. We got one of our own, she’s the most cuddly cat I ever had. Good luck and lot’s of fun with your cat. You’ll soon discover all the weird quirks and qualities that come with the feline species.

Congratulations! I’m so happy for your family!

I think you’re more likely to have a Norwegian Forest Cat rather than a Maine Coon. Maine Coons are known for being rather chatty and loud, whereas the Norwegian Forest Cats are very quiet, with an almost silent meow. They look quite similar (and some even have the MC’s “M” mark on the forehead. In any case, your kitten is lovely!

I too have a beautiful cat (I once said I would never have a cat in my house)
One tip I would suggest is to use the Breeze pellet System instead of using kitty litter. It is a little more expense, BUT it is so worth it!!!!!

Congrats! We were never cat people either until we lived in the city and all our friends had cats we would catsit. Moby came into our lives by accident and she was already 8(?) years old. She was thee sweetest thing. We had her for only 4 short years and she died 5 weeks after we moved back here. No idea why, but I think she was just stressed and tired and done. We miss her like crazy.
Moby was easily trainable but the couch was our biggest problem, and why we almost didn’t get her. It was the best most wonderfully cat scratch friendly upholstery she could want, so the only way to keep her from tearing it up was to keep her off it completely. She would get on it when we weren’t there because we could see little indentations where she had walked, so then we’d have to cover it with foil where she liked to scratch it. Oh and she knew she wasn’t allowed on the kitchen counters from day one.
Laser pointers, peacock feathers and little spongy earplugs are the only toys she liked, and random cardboard boxes. We built climbing shelves in our window so she could climb waaaay up high. Cats like to be above you if they can and watch everything.
Also be warned that cats require a little dental hygiene too. We had adopted her late in life so her teeth weren’t cared for and we paid a zillion ($800+ NYC prices granted) dollars for a cleaning and pulling of a few. Look up brushing cat teeth, a word to the wise, or start saving.
Yesterday’s News litter is great, no dust so it’s healthier, Eco friendly too. It doesn’t clump but it’s easy to tell what’s soiled. We fed her Wellness and Natural balance wet food. She had allergies big time so we had to limit her diet. She also didn’t love having her nails clipped but I could do it two paws at a time. Someone mentioned a wrapping her in a towel which we call a kitty burrito, which is useful if you ever have to give her medicine. All in all she was a higher maintenance, low maintenance pet and a great, no the BEST little snuggler. We adored her. Once you have a good cat, you understand why people are nuts about them. Enjoy.

Sort of random, but can you tell me the maker of the agenda/planner that Cheetah is lying on? I’ve been looking at a lot of different options, and I’m intrigued by what that one looks like :) Thanks!

Ok, this is the cutest post ever! I’m so happy for your family. Dogs are awesome but cats are such easy pets and so sweet and cuddly. You won’t be sorry.

Ok so im totally NOT a cat person. Ive tried several times, but 1. Im allergic 2. I don’t trust them 3. Every cat ive ever encountered has been evil 4. I just like dogs better. With that being said Im so so happy you’ve got a new addition to the Miller clan. Shes so cute:)

It’s Sugar Paper from Target earlier this year.

I am a cat person and your cat is gorgeous. We’ve always had cats and if you find one willing to cuddle with you then it’s a keeper. I love your cardboard cat scratcher/bed and how it definitely balances out the ugly of the climber. Our girls are itching for another cat as we lost one unexpectedly in the winter and the one remaining is a ball of nerves. As for where they sleep, they mix it up but generally will stick to one room eventually. As for litter, if you want a happy cat, clean it out twice a day or get two boxes.

Growing up I always wanted a large dog. My sister got a cat and that was the end of that. I did have a hamster for three months. I now am a dog owner [for the last 7.5] years and he is small [17 pounds] and I love him! My BF is a cat person. He has three indoor and one outdoor. We recently combined households and the indoor cats and the dog have worked it out. I love it!

Please let me know where you got the wardrobe that houses your cat food and litter! Custom? I love it so much. I’m kicking my poor husband out of my closet and into a wardrobe but everything I’ve found is too traditional for my taste. Love your home, by the way. I show my husband your posts A LOT and he loves it, too. ;-)

The wardrobe is a PAX system from Ikea! Easy to customize to your needs.

[…] How does one go about keeping cute kitties out of Christmas trees?! You all were so helpful when we adopted Cheetah a few months ago. I’d love to hear your tips for surviving the holidays with a tree and kitty […]

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[…] one word? Smitten. She’s the fluffy pet we never knew we were missing. As you may remember, we adopted Cheetah at the end of the summer last year. Not knowing a thing about cats and having declared myself not a […]

[…] I’m not a wallpaper person. (I thought I wasn’t a cat person either and we all know what happened there.) But I kinda want to go for it. It’s just a […]

Maine Coon are THE BEST CATS!! you guys lucked out :-) Now I want another cat so I can get a Main Coon. We have a tabby and she’s the best, but there’s something about Maine Coons!

I also have a Maine Coon mix who loves water! Cats are generally pretty good about bathing themselves, but Anabel is extra-clean because she can’t live without bathtime once or twice a week (we use WEN pets in the tub.) And if I want to take a bubble bath, I have to make sure the door is closed well, or it ends up a bath for two. :l lol

Wow…the first part of this post is so incorrect. First, she never said Cheetah was a Maine Coon because she has tabby stripes but because of the distinctive “M” marking on her head, which my cats-only vet (Harvard B.S. in biology, Baylor D.V.M., several feline-specific certifications) has previously confirmed is a signature trait of the breed. Second, her color is NOT mackeral. Third, Cheetah is very clearly NOT a shorthair (LMAO).

Good information on declawing, though. Such an inhumane practice!