2 different breeds of cats = OK? And other cat questions

[sunama]

Hi,

I am thinking about buying a cat. Well, originally, I was going for a dog, but have decided against it as it will be left alone for upto 8hrs/day, 4-5 days/week. Apparently dogs donot take kindly to solitary confinement for 8hr stretches.

So, anyway, I hear that cats are much more independent and can be left alone for extended periods, especially if they have another cat to keep them company. Just to confirm, is this true?

With the above in mind, I am considering buying 2 kittens of approximately 3 months old. Rather than buying 2 kittens from the same litter or breed, I would like 2 different breeds. At this stage, I am thinking of a Bengal Kitten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_cat and a Maine **** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_coon. These cats will be pets and shall be neutered/spayed. I was thinking of getting a male and female of either combination.

Q1. Is it ok to keep 2 breeds like this or is it better to stick to the same breed/litter?
Q2. Will they keep eachother company while I'm out of the house?
Q3. In terms of sexes, which would be the best combination for me to buy the cats: 2 males, 2 females, 1 female & 1 male?

Not letting them out
I'd also like to point out that as these are more exotic cats, I wouldnt really be happy letting them out of the house. If I let them out in my garden I fear they will climb up trees and begin to roam the neighbourhood. The Bengal especially is a £500 cat and has been known to be held to ransom. Even if I increase the height of the fence to say 9ft, the Bengal cat should be able to negotiate this with ease. To this end, they will be house cats, but wouldnt this be bad for their health? Is there any alternative? Do I buy them some contraption for them to exercise? Is the only other alternative to exercise them on a leash - maybe take them on a run? Perhaps a cat breeder can give me some tips here.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ideally I did want a greyhound, however, leaving it alone for 8hrs/day would be cruel, so I am looking to revert to 'Plan B': cats.

Thanks

 

[unclelonghair]

Maine Coons are active cats, and I don't think they would be very suited to a life totally indoors. If you want the perfect house cat I would suggest a Burmese. http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/Burmese.htm
I had a brown Burmese boy for 15 years and he was the perfect companion. I've now got a 12 month old Lilac girl and she's totally adorable. You can see her here. She was about 6 months old when that was taken.

 

[sunama]

The problem I find with the Burmese breed is that they are little too dainty and fragile looking. I presume when touching them, they also have the dainty/delicate feel to them? I prefer something a little more robust.

The reason why I went for the Maine **** is their large size, while the Bengal is exotic looking and capable of behaving in a non-domestic cat, kind of way. It is also capable of physically doing things that other domestic cats cant do, eg. jumping up very high, with easy. Ive also seen videos of Bengals and they can move like lightning when they want to. Clearly, their senses are razor sharp.

My gut feeling is that I will have to let them outside in the garden. Ive heard though, that Maine **** cats tend to be very bad at crossing roads, which means that letting it out could lead to its death.

Can cats be trained to be let out in the garden, but not stray outside of its vicinity?

Would it look homosexual if I were to take these 2 cats out on a leash? Ive not seen this sort of thing.

 

[Dolph]

Will do fine in the house, and the two cats should get along fine from a breed point of view. Obviously individual animals can sometimes be different from the normal though, but if they are both young it should be fine.

Cats are hard to train, mainly because they don't want to be, rather than because you can't train them, having said that my future inlaws have a daft persian that won't go beyond the garden walls...

I want a bengal...

 

[unclelonghair]

Burmese are anything but dainty - they are often referred to as "velvet bricks".
Both of mine have had very dog-like tendencies in that they love to chase and fetch. If you stop playing with Lily she will get her toys and drop them on your feet to remind you that she hasn't finished playing.
Oriental breeds are also fairly easy to harness train.
They are also cheaper than Bengals - usually between £300 and £400.

 

[drunkenmaster]

it would look a little weird taking a cat on a leash, seen a couple people do it now and then, as in like twice in 20 years

i think my parents took our old cat for a walk on a leash as she was most definately an outside cat and had something wrong with her was on antibiotics or something she was going mental not going out, borrowed a leash and took her out.

had a while without cats, got two last year at 6-7weeks old and they are freaking awesome, still incredibly playful, downright mental at times, freaking funny or cute all the time.

I've heard you can keep cats inside all the time, more sedate breeds i guess would be better but, its a case of they can't really miss what they don't know to a point. if they never go out they can be happy, but if they go out a bit they'll probably be miserable kept in after that.

Ours started to go out fairly young as they were fascinated and would sneak out every time a door opened. they are very good so far at staying out back of the house rather than out front, long street with LONG gardens so they've got lots to do though theres train tracks out behind our garden which hopefully noise and the drop down to tracks will keep them away. Foxes are a big problem in london and we are scared ******** that they will get eaten but really its a risk that has to be taken. they can climb very very well and very fast and plenty of tall tree's about so should be safe enough through escape.

it really depends on your area, how big your garden and ones connected are to if you want to try to keep them inside/go for more sedate breeds.

cats would definately be the better breed to go for if you're out at work and no one else around. cats are fine outside on their own in the day, preferably with a catflap so they can rest/escape to safety. our two cats amuse themselves a lot especially when locked in so two is a good idea. we have male and female, they are playful, might be a good choice. at a guess i think two male cats from diff litters might be a bit meaner when fighting each other and prone to fight more, two females the same maybe, i really don't know.

Dog's you just can't let out on their own at all, ever, and being left at home for long hours is really hard on them afaik so i wouldn't go for a dog.

 

[sunama]

Burmese are anything but dainty - they are often referred to as "velvet bricks".
Both of mine have had very dog-like tendencies in that they love to chase and fetch. If you stop playing with Lily she will get her toys and drop them on your feet to remind you that she hasn't finished playing.

I think my problem is that I have my heart set on the larger, more exotic cats (not that the Burmese isnt exotic). I still feel that it doesnt look robust and I might end up inadverdantly, one day, stepping on it and injuring it severely. The physical look of a Burmese just isnt me, even though the personality traits you describe sound ideal. I would love to have a Bengal cat that behaved like Lily.

Do Burmese cats chase/catch/eat mice btw? I strongly believe that cats should be good at hunting.

Oriental breeds are also fairly easy to harness train.

Harness? Are we talking about a leash here?

They are also cheaper than Bengals - usually between £300 and £400.

Cost isnt really too much of an issue. My thinking is that the cat(s) will be with me for the next 15yrs or so, hence, £100 here or there isnt going to make much difference.

I dont believe in spoiling animals. IMO animals should be treated like animals and not humans, however, where needed I am prepared to spend vast amounts of money, should it be necessary.

Thanks for your advice guys, keep it coming. The last thing I want to do is go and get myself kittens, only to discover a few months down the line that Ive made a big mistake.

 

[sunama]

it would look a little weird taking a cat on a leash, seen a couple people do it now and then, as in like twice in 20 years

What if I make the cat wear a pink coat and I wear some tight pink shorts, with "spank me" on the back? You think that would make the leash thing look more palatable?

I've heard you can keep cats inside all the time, more sedate breeds i guess would be better but, its a case of they can't really miss what they don't know to a point. if they never go out they can be happy, but if they go out a bit they'll probably be miserable kept in after that.

The breeder of the Maine **** that I am thinking of getting is based in Morden. She doesnt let her cats out as she states that the Maine **** breed is a little oblivious to traffic. So, for their own safety, she doesnt let them out. Ive seen her website with pics of her cats and they look pretty healthy and in good nick.

Foxes are a big problem in london and we are scared ******** that they will get eaten but really its a risk that has to be taken...

I used to live in Streatham and the foxes there were terrible and bold. At night they would come out in numbers and hunt the trash cans in packs. As a human being I felt intimidated. As a cat, it would be down right dangerous. The problem with the Bengal cat is that they are very brave and bold, which means they dont know when to back down. This worries me.

it really depends on your area, how big your garden and ones connected are to if you want to try to keep them inside/go for more sedate breeds.

My own garden isnt the largest, though there is plenty for the cats to do. Its extremely mature with plenty of vegetation. There are plenty of gardens either side of us. Cats often visit my garden, though these cats are not like Bengals or Maine Coons.

at a guess i think two male cats from diff litters might be a bit meaner when fighting each other and prone to fight more, two females the same maybe, i really don't know.

The male Bengal would attempt to be very alpha, however, the Maine **** wont be easily over awed as it is one of the biggest breeds around. This is why I thought of partnering the Bengal with the ****. A Burmese male cat, for instance, would get dominated by the Bengal. Unless I get a female Bengal and a male Maine ****. A male Bengal would be nice though as it would be larger, more athletic and just more physical than a female.

Dog's you just can't let out on their own at all, ever, and being left at home for long hours is really hard on them afaik so i wouldn't go for a dog.

I was bitterly dissapointed. I really wanted a greyhound and was prepared to spend upwards of £5k on the garden to get it "Greyhound proof", but I just wasnt prepared to have the dog barking its head off, while I was away. Eventually, it wouldve got taken away.

 

[drunkenmaster]

tbh our female seems to scare the crap out of the male. he's massively bigger(well a good 1/4 bigger now) but if they are playing with a toy, she rarely rarely does it but sometimes get clingy and doesn't want him to play with it aswell, she'll growl this ridiculous kitteny growl and he freaking cowers around corners when it happens

i think its more they are very friendly cats but if she's in a bad mood he knows not to push her buttons or she'll smack him one. both been neutered, i do think he's become more of a softy, but he was always a softy.

to be honest, breed , i dunno its personal choice. we got some fairly local from a family whose cat had a litter, checked out the cat and house, was healthy and clean, the whole little looked strong. to be honest, theres a very real chance something could happen to a cat and you kind of have to accept that risk, losing a cat isn't nice at all. But in the end a cat's a cat, most are very curious and like to wander. Some cats will be perfectly happy indoors 99% of the time, some will be unhappy unless outside 99% of the time, you can't really know what personality the cat will have so i wouldn't count on being able to contain it.

Foxes are very bold here, they've chased our cats for sure, they are good at coming back before dark so we lock them in past a certain point, have found them up a tree with foxes at the bottom waiting, if they are gone for long in the evening we have a look and scare off foxes. but they are smart and quick and most cats won't do anything but run at the sight of a fox, which is great. they've been ripping our bins apart weekly for years. WD40 spray can, they seem to hate the smell, put a little on the bins and they mostly stay away now.

if you do want to at least try keeping them indoors them i'm fairly sure getting two would be almost required. but ours were utterly desparate to get outside as they could see through windows and see other cats out there and birds flying around. we let them out quite early but they were very tame, wouldn't go far and would come back for food if we clinked their bowls.

scariest thing so far is when at 3 months or so they started climbing to the top of 10 metre tree's, he is terrible coming down, jumps 2 metres to a tiny branch, slips off to another branch, thankfully he's simply to heavy now for the higher branches to support him

get some, you won't regret it. but no pink clothes with writing on, please.

EDIT;- and none of that clothing for the cats either

 

[Makunouchi]

A quick question here: how the hell do you go about buying a cat?

After my dog moved to france im thinking of getting a cat as i like something to look after and like having the company, but i dont want to go down to the local rescue center and pick up an ally cat, id rather get a certain breed that has tendancies that i like, but how do you go about searching for them?

 

[badbob]

If you're out all day, you really have to let them out...use collar with radio chip, with cat flap. My cats would go up the wall leaving them in all day, with no company except each other.

I think in your circumstances you shouldn't have a cat.

 

[sunama]

First do a google search on general cat breeds and after many hours/days you will begin narrow it down to a few specific breeds.

Once you have targeted the chosen breed you need find a breeder. Once again, google would be a good start. Also, try using www.pets4homes.co.uk to search for your chosen breed. The ads on that advertising board often has websites to breeders, which give you an idea of what the breeders are like and images of the manner in which the cats are being bred. Its upto you to do the search on which cat you want and the breeder you want it from. With uncommon cats, it can take a while. Originally, I wanted a Savannah, but there is a good reason why they are so rare - the waiting list is long and slow moving.

I am finding that with the Bengal cat, I might have to travel as far as 150 miles to get it; so it will be a long trip. It depends how important to you it is, I guess. Some people are happy to pop down to their local rescue centre, with no research and just pick something up they like the look of.

Have you got a particular breed in mind?

 

[sunama]

If you're out all day, you really have to let them out...use collar with radio chip, with cat flap. My cats would go up the wall leaving them in all day, with no company except each other.

I think in your circumstances you shouldn't have a cat.

 

[badbob]

Our cat is really effentionate, he loves being around you. Sleeps right next to your head, follows you around the house, runs outside, runs away looks back, hides in the bushes, wants you to run after him then runs away again, then walks back etc..No doubt if he was alone all day his character would be different.

If you've got a "wild cat" then I would have no problem leaving it alone for a day...I'd probably just get a tomcat/farm cat that you know will be ok for long periods, coming inside during bad weather.

A mate has something like 9 days and 7 cats, the cats are left indoors. They don't have the personality and curiosity of outdoor cats.

 

[russ0r]

I'd let them out.
If you're gonna be there to keep them company all the time it wouldn't be so bad, but if you're out all the time they'll get bored. Being locked in a house all day isn't particularly entertaining for a cat once they've explored it all.

In my experience you'd be better sticking to 1 breed. We've had an oriental and a moggy for about 15 years now, and they don't get on at all. We've also introduced various orientals into the family in the last 15 years and our original oriental gets on with them great. Similar breeds tend to get on better with their own I think.

For combinations of sexes I'd go for 2 males tbh. In my experience they tend to get on better. Females tend to be much more aloof when they're younger, and don't seem to play with the other cats in the family as much.

 

[Makunouchi]

First do a google search on general cat breeds and after many hours/days you will begin narrow it down to a few specific breeds.

Once you have targeted the chosen breed you need find a breeder. Once again, google would be a good start. Also, try using www.pets4homes.co.uk to search for your chosen breed. The ads on that advertising board often has websites to breeders, which give you an idea of what the breeders are like and images of the manner in which the cats are being bred. Its upto you to do the search on which cat you want and the breeder you want it from. With uncommon cats, it can take a while. Originally, I wanted a Savannah, but there is a good reason why they are so rare - the waiting list is long and slow moving.

I am finding that with the Bengal cat, I might have to travel as far as 150 miles to get it; so it will be a long trip. It depends how important to you it is, I guess. Some people are happy to pop down to their local rescue centre, with no research and just pick something up they like the look of.

Have you got a particular breed in mind?

Well, sort of. I like the look of the abyssinian breed. But theres really only so much you can tell from reading online.

Really i want a cat that independant enough to go out of the catflap for intself for a long time, i like animals to actually do something not just sit there for the umusement of people, which is why i always used to take my dog ratting and beating (pheasant shooting). Are abyssinian's energetic or are they more lap cats? If you know that is.

 

[sunama]

Ive actually emailed some breeders of the cats in question to ask them about the sexes/breeds combination. Lets see what they have to say. I would actually prefer to have 2 males, but I thought there would be much fighting.

With regards to allowing the cats outdoors, I'm beginning to gravitate to have a cut run area in the garden that is linked to the house via a cat flap in the window. The area is protected with a wire mesh and prevents the cats from getting in/out. So they are safe in their area, while having access to the garden.

Do owners of pedigree cats even let them outdoors, as I've never seen a pedigree cat walking on the street; Ive only ever seen mongerals.

I was briefly thinking of getting an Ashera Cat (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=490429&in_page_id=1770), but at £13k, I would need to hire a security guard to make sure it doesnt get stolen.

 

[sunama]

Well, sort of. I like the look of the abyssinian breed. But theres really only so much you can tell from reading online.

Really i want a cat that independant enough to go out of the catflap for intself for a long time, i like animals to actually do something not just sit there for the umusement of people, which is why i always used to take my dog ratting and beating (pheasant shooting). Are abyssinian's energetic or are they more lap cats? If you know that is.

What about the Egyptian Mau - reputed to be the fastest domestic cat? It might be able to give a greyhound a run for its money. I'm pretty sure this cat will hunt rodents and be good at it.

I know what you mean about a cat that actually does something. I am actively trying to look for cat breeds that are active and always doing something. Ideally, I want a cat that either sleeps or is a real livewire - zipping from one end of the house to the other. If it sees a mouse, I want it to rip it to shreds. I'm not really into the sedate, lethargic cats that just eat and sit in your lap. Character and personality is important to me. Thats why I chose the Bengal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssinian_cat
Abyssinians are very active, friendly, curious and playful, and almost dog-like, but are usually not "lap cats", being too preoccupied with exploring and playing as they would in their natural habitat. However, "abys" will also usually adopt one person in the household and become their best friend, often becoming a lap cat as they are extremely affectionate animals. They are "busy" cats, and can get bored and depressed without daily activity and attention. Many Abyssinians enjoy heights, and will explore their surroundings in three dimensions, from the floor to their owner's shoulders to the top of the highest furniture. They are highly intelligent, and very independent.

 

[Makunouchi]

Wow, i really like the look of that.

I must just be really bad at googling stuff though, cos its just seems so hard to find people selling kittens.

 

[unclelonghair]

Do Burmese cats chase/catch/eat mice btw? I strongly believe that cats should be good at hunting.
Harness? Are we talking about a leash here?

Burmese are good hunters - the breeder I got mine from has a Burmese to keep the rabbits down on her property, as she lives on the edge of a village in the country. She kept one of Lily's litter to replace him as he's getting on a bit.

To walk a cat you really need a proper harness that fits round the neck and behind their front legs as they can pull out of a collar quite easily. Lily is quite happy wearing hers.