Question regarding one of my birthday presents...

[deathpixie]

Okay, so the birthday gift from the roomie (and the one that got the most squeeing) was a litter box/carrying cage, a couple of food/water dishes, and a catnip toy. No, he's not trying to make me the apartment cat - basically it's his way of saying that we can get a cat. Possibly two, since they look after each other better that way. I'm planning to go to one of the shelters and pick myself out a kitty (or two), but I haven't done it yet because something occurred to me the other day.

Dexcon is coming up (August 3-6, btw), and we have quite a few people doing the usual and crashing with us before and after the event itself. I'm aware there are a number of people of my acquaintance with serious allergies, plus there's the fact an apartment full of people may not the the easiest thing for new kitties to deal with. Summer is also the height of kitten season, so there would be a lot more choice out there for me if I leave obtaining said kitties until August.

So, here's where I ask for advice. With a poll!


[Poll #985507]

Comments

[medievaloracle.livejournal.com]

KITTIES!!! <3

[alestar]

Shoot, it's already good of y'all to open your home to us-- you shouldn't have to postpone for months something that you want now just to accomodate us.

As for "too many drunks" (ahhahah) = kitty trauma, I don't think that's too much of concern. In the event of drunken stumbling living room clusterfuck, the kittens could always chillax in the safety of somebody's bedroom-- right?

[cynjen]

Although I don't think there's any reason not to get a cat now, if you don't see one you like at the moment the summer=kitten season does sound promising.

[ferox.livejournal.com]

re: drunken people = scary? my cats are afraid of the doorbell. boo was terrified of a vacuum, but peter and mouse couldn't care less. peter is afraid of plastic bags, while boo used to curl up in them. it's really just the cat, sweetie.

[nute.livejournal.com]

Puppy!

[dreagoddess.livejournal.com]

I suggest waiting until after DexCon. DreaCon was always traumatic on PsychoCat, and that was after he was already well-established and comfortable at my apartment.

But congrats!!

[winterknight.livejournal.com]

get your kitties when you find the right ones. there's never a 'right' time for any of it, but all that matters is that you find a kitty or two that are right for you. i'm glad you're going to get to share your life with pets. :)

[kitchendinah.livejournal.com]

Ooh, kitties.

I'm all for the instant gratification,(KITTEN zOMG!) but there's something to be said for waiting until the end of summer when it cools down a bit. I love my little monsters, but I loathe when they decide that I am the best thing in the world to sleep on in the dead of August and/or hog the fan. Plus, Dexcon.

And can I highlyhighlyhighly recommend looking into kitty health insurance (if they have it in Canada?) I know it sounds like a ridiculously dorky thing to waste money on -- I certainly thought so -- but after a year of stomach surgeries and somewhat insane vet bills I really wished I had it.

[dumbphilomel.livejournal.com]

I voted "other", which is two fold:

(1) I got my bunny in the fall, when I wasn't sure it was a good time. Best damn thing I ever did for myself.

(2) It's your birthday present--and I totally volunteer to drive you to the Humane Society and back with kitty on a weekend of your choosing. I know where it is, and don't mind going. Plus they have a lot of cats/kitties right now--you can check them out on their website--you'll find one whenever you go. I'd suggest choosing a time when they have adoption promotions, though--they have them quite often--because they waive fees and such like then.

(3) If there's someone with a serious allergy that you can vouch for that I don't know, they can probably stay over here if they want (unless they're also badly allergic to bunny). Or you can sit your kitties elsewhere for the week as another option, if you think all the people will make them nervous.

[caliban18.livejournal.com]

Would you like one of our cats?

[caliban18.livejournal.com]

Hope is concerned that this may be taken to mean that I am actually attempting to give away one of our furballs so I am now adding the obligatory ;) so that there is no doubt that I do love each and every beasty under our roof. Unless of course you would like one of them. In which case, would you like one of our cats?

[bittertwist.livejournal.com]

We got our sister kittens on August 4 (three months old). Five days later, my dad died and 14 days after that, a friend. We had MANY people staying here nonstop from August 10-25 and the kittens did SUPERB. In fact, they went from being completely antisocial - and maybe a little feral in Pixa's case - to being complete people cats. Now, they both love pets, treats, laps, and to stay in the home.

The fact that you have a couple months with them BEFORE DexCon is a bonus. I wouldn't worry too much about them having too many people to deal with, especially if at least one other person loves cats.

Shaiyela

[frito-kal.livejournal.com]

Did not vote, because really, I think it's up to you guys, and it'll depend on the nature of the cat/s in question. Some cats are people-cats, some cats only love THEIR people.

If you do acquire cats before Dexcon, maybe for the sake of the allergic, take in a stock of allergy medicine, or remind people to bring theirs?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

Well, as far as the drunk people go, it's really something that varies according to the cat. Flashie and Greyie were (and in Greyie's case, are) fine with large numbers of noisy drunk people - Greyie loved the attention at my 21st, as did one of the dogs. The other one hid under the house. ;) I THINK Molcron was a bit shy of people, but then he also used to attack dogs, so. :)

And Menaleus (housemate's kitten) is an attention whore who loves it when people stay here - we get new people to give him a fish treat and he's there friend for good after that.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bounce_/]

Oh, and Menalus and Flashie both started out feral and they ended up fone with people. Grey didn't - she came from my aunt who told a five year old me and my three year old sister to ask our mother if we could have a kitten. :)

[qodarkness.livejournal.com]

I used to be cat-sneezish and probably still will be if they sleep on my face but having had two flatmates with cats in the last year, the major issues have subsided (the eye swelling thing was the not fun bit but that's now okay).

*sigh* I still want a pony. Even harder to fit in a sharehouse than a kitten.

A

[technophobia.livejournal.com]

I do not have anything coherent to say, merely this.

OMG KITTENS MEW MEW!

...nothing to see here, move along.

[seraangel.livejournal.com]

KITTY! May I pet one and call it George? *hee*

[qbmuses.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'm with Nute, "Puppy!" :-)

No seriously. Ignore the dog person, here. Do what you want! Kittens are SO adaptable and the earlier they're socialized, the more friendly they'll be. But mostly, Congratulations! Go lookit some fluffy kitties.

[amythyst7.livejournal.com]

Kitty! Plus, living at that apartment the kittens will have to get used to drunks eventually... *runs and hides*