i Need A Cat

That's very generous.

Wait until they show him how to chase a red laser dot on the floor.

We also need to get on to the controversial subject of the kitty litter tray, which is the best one to buy and use. Two adult cats using one is not always easy. We have two cats and one stays outside a lot so does her business there. The other comes back into use the tray, will not go outside. But, occasionally the outside one gets stuck indoors and I think reluctantly uses it but sometimes pee's around it a bit as if in protest at it being used by the other. We have a rubber mat underneath it for spills and de-smell spray. (we have a glass panelled back door so no cat flap)

As to the box itself, we have tried them all aside from the expensive ones that uses crystals to soak up the deposits or the full sized thing that auto cleans the litter and has a toilet type outlet underneath it, real expensive.

The ones that rake through the litter are crap, poop gets stuck to the rake and when you try to remove the disposable plastic container where the poop goes you get soiled litter fly up in your face.

Went through two of them.

So we are left with the simple plastic tray which should be large, especially for two. Initially you may think only to fill it up with litter (a couple of inches) and scoop out the clumps every day or so. That is until the litter is saturated and you have to do the dreaded complete change! This, when you empty it, you will find loads stuck to the bottom so you have to put a pressure hose to it to minimise finger touching the yukky leftovers. (not to mention the fact that there is urine underneath the box)

So then you come across the Jumbo sized (it must be oversized large) drawstring bag liner to line the box with, and over the sides to the ground. That way you think You will just scoop daily and change the bag once a week, Pulling all the the litter with it, never touching it, simple, easy and clean. Just put a new one in and fill her up.

The real life practice is that your too tight to buy lots of litter and keep scooping until saturated. After several weeks of doing this the clawed cat symbolically tries to bury its deposits by scratching at the side of the box, thus partially destroying the bag. Then, when you try to pull the bag out you find it splits, or has already split, depositing litter into the box, back to the hose again.

We use the bag method, sometimes it goes ok, other times, less favourable.

The definitive answer would be for an adjustable slotted frame that would slide over the edges of the box so the cat will never touch the bag. Any Shark Tank entrepreneurs take note, a niche product waiting to be invented. Let me know when you have one for sale. I will be your first customer.

Properly clipping cat nails is not painful for the cat, nor is it a difficult task for many cat owners.

As some of you already know, I am a huge cat lover and have owned, bred, and raised more cats then I care to mention on this forum --> and my wife has clipped the nails of all of them without a single issue...even with our grouchy old grandpa Himalayan.

In-fact clipping the nails is so easy and painless (properly done) that she can clip the nails on our cats and it usually only takes about a minute and thirty seconds or less, and the cat is done and often seems happy the (formerly) super-pointy nails are no longer catching on things around the house accidentally.

No pain, no bleeding, no hassle. She scoops the cat up, sets the cat on her lap, fans a paw and clips away, grabs the other paw and clips away, often the clipping is done so fast the cat basically does not even seem to know anything was done at all.

Of course a lot of this has to do with the relationship you have with your cats, and the general relationship your cats have with people. Most of our kittens/cats have grown up to act a bit more like dogs than cats...following us around wherever we go, sleeping at the foot of the bed, chilling and lounging around wherever the most people are and action is, chasing balls, play fighting, coming to you when called etc.

If you have a strong relationship with your cats then nail trimming with a pair of sharp clippers should not be an issue, unless you do not pay attention, go overboard, and cut too much and hit the quick of the nail. If your cats will sit with you then the job is almost done...all of our cats will sit with us so that's not an issue, and as long as you have some good lighting you can usually tell how far you should be able to trim without hitting the quick.

Once you get used to doing regular trimmings all you need to do is trim a small amount each time, and often times the cats will get used to the routine as normal. It seems odd but I firmly believe some of our cats over the years actually appreciated getting their nails trimmed.

Here is my cat Super Duper using one of our stands. Super Duper passed away about a year ago rather suddenly. We found out as a terrible surprise that he was sick and was gonna go. He did fight valiantly and hung on for about 2 months before he closed his eyes for good. Hand feedings, hand hydration, medications, etc...it was a one of the saddest pet losses of our lives.



The small claws of young cats can do some damage if allowed...here is Super Duper eyeing the fish on the wind chime via the screens on my deck.



Years of use by big cats will destroy even the most heavy duty of cat stands eventually. Here is my old cat Mr. Izbister laying atop a well worn stand. Unfortunately old Mr. Izbister also passed away about 18 months ago or so.



Do cat stands work? Yes, they usually do unless placed too far out of the way or off of the beaten path. In-fact all of our cats scratch on only the stands because they know it's allowed...

Cats often grow to love the stands, and my cat Sweet Neesta was no exception.



Currently we have three heavy duty stands and all are larger than the ones you see pictured...a 4 foot 4 level, a 5 foot 4 level (custom built by a stand crafter), and a very large 6 footer with multiple cat houses, tons of perches, and 10 rope scratch posts built in.

Nope... we don't have a scratching problem around here, and as many cat owners know, some cats can be trusted on a screened-in porch and some can not. My cat Super Duper was definitely a "can not"!

FWIW, I don't think I would ever declaw any of my cats...and yes, I have had cat claws accidentally ruin a few items...almost always when an untrimmed nail gets hung up. I would never declaw a cat of ours, especially if the cat has already grown to an adult or adolescent with use of their nails. Cat's use their nails a lot and I would not disadvantage a cat by taking them away. If your cats are active and like to jump, climb, balance, play (or fight if necessary) etc. having nails will make his or her life much easier, funner, and fuller IMO. That said, I am sure some can find plenty of "exceptions"...

And yes, probably millions of happy declawed cat owners exist, and I am not disparaging their choice, but from my personal knowledge and experience raising and photographing cats for a very long time...trimming the nails regularly is probably the best way to go for most cats (and folks).

Cheers

-don

P.S. Props to you Claude if you go through with the adoption(s).