BS: Cats

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: GUEST,999
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 09:04 PM

Well, ya got yer natural-born mousers

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: gnu
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 09:00 PM

Males over females for being docile and affectionate but every cat is a cat. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances. After that, it's up to you. If you can communicate with the cat, yer good and so is the cat. I never had any problems with female cats... that I couldn't work thru. Ya just gotta do the right things and train em right. Same with males. If ya know how, it don't matter. If ya don't, get a tom... but read up on it... lots of info on the net.

I still miss Maggie after all these years. Sad story. I hope she lived a good life with the ex after I refused to take her back after the ex took her away from me during the divorce. I was pissed that Maggie was being used as a pawn. She used to come to me when I called and she slept with me. She was... oh, nevermind.

I guess, in the end, it doesn't matter all THAT much about gender. It matters about the luck of the draw and that means you as well as the cat.

Good luck to both of you.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: ranger1
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 07:55 PM

We've had both males and females, with mixed results in both. My three most recent cats have all been female and all were extremely affectionate. One of them was my constant companion from the time I rescued her from the campground at the park I work at. She was the most inept hunter I have ever known. Our current cat is also extremely affectionate, but I have the feeling she is a natural-born killer. Fortunately for the small feathered and furred set, she is an indoor kitty, forever relegated to watching from the other side of the glass.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Raptor
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 07:07 PM

It will be an indoor cat for sure I love the birds. We have mice in the house I'm hoping it will evict.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Anne Lister
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 06:24 PM

Our female tortie is the most cuddle-able cat I've ever known. Not sure how good a mouser she is, as she has only presented us with dead voles so far (and not many of them) but she's certainly keeping them out of the kitchen, which her predecessor (also female but elderly and deaf) entirely failed to do.
She's also got a wonderful sense of humour, is very intelligent and is a superb companion.
I'm only managing to type this in a rare moment where she's not hugging me. (Extra affection at the moment after a weekend in the cat hotel, which she doesn't like - she likes being home, with us.)

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Bert
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 01:22 PM

...have accepted stroking then suddenly whipped round and scratched me...

If a cat does that you might want to get it checked for an ear infection.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 12:33 PM

Females are often good mousers, but I always prefer males for affection. The females I've known have accepted stroking then suddenly whipped round and scratched me, they seem capricious. I've had so many male cats over the years, and they've nearly all been extremely loving and gentle.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 11:10 AM

Had to have my queen put down last week, she was 18, kidneys failed. I will get another at some stage, queens are best.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 10:39 AM

I used to have a cat that I let go outside, and sometimes she would catch and eat a mouse. The result was tapeworms. According to the vet, the mice transmit tapeworms when eaten.

I also fostered two cats for a friend, and the same thing happened to them. In all three cases, they needed to go to the vet for treatment.

I say use traps to get rid of mice and keep your cat in the house. My present cat stays indoors 24/7. She is twelve years old and in good health.

As for male vs female, I have a friend with many cats, and in her opinion, males are more affectionate. (We're talking neutered here.) But I've had two females who are affectionate, members of the family, definitely.

Some people say that tabby cats make the most sociable pets. All of my cuddlebugs have been tabbies.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Bert
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 10:38 AM

As LH says it's an individual thing. You get two cats from the same litter and they will have completely different personalities.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 10:25 AM

I've had both, and I don't think it matters. Cats do have individual personalities. It's hard to generalize. Of course you'll want to have it neutered.

To be good mousers, cats need to be taught by their mothers how to catch mice.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 10:11 AM

In my experience the best hunters we've had were female. Perhaps something to do with the fact that female cats have to feed young, while male cats only have to make them? As for character the male cats we've had have probably in general been more docile (and fatter!) than the females, but the two females we had who were scratchy and needed 'respectful' treatment had both been abused so it's hard to make a clear judgement on that one..

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: GUEST,Seayaker
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 10:04 AM

If you want a mouser the most important thing is to get one with the right orientation.

Some cats I have known catch mice in the garden and transfer them to the house

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:24 AM

I think it's an individual thing. I've known both male and female cats who were real sweeties....and some who were self-centered creeps...some who were dullards...and some who were just sort of average.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: artbrooks
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:22 AM

We currently have one (very old) male and two female cats. All three are very friendly, to us and each other. None are mousers (not an issue here), although one of the girl wills chase the occasional dove or pigeon. We have had many cats over the years, and the only two mousers we have ever had were male.

Subject: RE: BS: Cats
From: Becca72
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:08 AM

I have had both and much prefer male cats. Females, in my experience, tend to be much more aggressive and bossy and harder to get along with. Of course, that is true of more than just female cats... :-)

Subject: BS: Cats
From: Raptor
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:03 AM

Should we get a boy cat or a girl cat? We have a boy dog who gets along with cats a the vet.And we need a mouser.