Talk:Cat adoption

Created article

This used to be a redirect to Choosing a cat. But "cat adoption" is one of the hot terms driving traffic to sites like WP and CZ. And WP doesn't even have a "cat adoption" article. So, created it, hoping to bring more traffic in. Wrote from scratch. Will put links to "Choosing a cat" in the related articles.--Thomas Wright Sulcer 05:26, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

The article pretends that all cat adoptions are through the humane society. My own experience (in Holland and the US) is that "word of mouth" is more usual. You know somebody who knows somebody with kittens, you go and pick the most adorable. What does Howard, our acknowledged cat expert, say about it? --Paul Wormer 08:58, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

Rhonda, editorial adviser and expert in marketing, fashion, dog training, social networking and party planning, and possibly world domination in a benevolent way

I consulted experts. Seriously, I think it varies with location. Rhonda, Mr. Clark, and the late Ding were adopted through a cat rescue society given space in one of the large pet supply stores, when I lived in suburban Washington D.C. Here in a more rural area, word-of-mouth is common, as well as volunteer rescuers.

With Rhonda, it's a good question who adopted whom. The practice, at the rescue group, was to open the cage and put the kitten or cat in one's arms. When Rhonda's cage was opened, her sister ignored me, while she leaped into my arms and began vigorously licking my nose. The rescue person and I looked at one another and agreed that we had been given directions. She and Ding were kittens; Mr. Clark was an adult, and they were put together to check compatibility -- Mr. Clark immediately began to groom them. Once we got home, admittedly with a martyred expression, this former tomcat then let the kittens "nurse" on him to keep them calm.

The late Chatterley appeared in our bathroom window.Howard C. Berkowitz 09:07, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

Paul, you're quite right; my family adopted several cats from neighbors, and gave some away to, same method. Totally slipped my mind, thanks for your suggestion, I changed the text; feel free to expand on this if interested.--Thomas Wright Sulcer 13:18, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

Don't forget about the cats that adopt their new families. When I was a kid we had one show up at the back door out of the blue and it stayed for ten years. Chris Day 15:11, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

--Thomas Wright Sulcer 15:54, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

Good idea btw.--Thomas Wright Sulcer 15:54, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

Tom, with your naming caption in the article, I dashed off an article on Rhonda's namesake, Gen. Rhonda Cornum. They are both petite, charismatic adrenalin junkies afraid of nothing. Howard C. Berkowitz 17:40, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

But since when do cats like to be walked? I've never been able to walk a cat. I did have one who liked to climb up my body with its claws (I was wearing jeans and several layers). Amazing kitty. And he would walk along my arms when I was driving.--Thomas Wright Sulcer 13:34, 22 April 2010 (UTC)

Kodiak (Cody) thinks he is a dog, and runs out with them when they play in the yard. I've known several cats that are leash-trained; the trick is (usually) starting early, and then using a small dog harness that spreads the pull, rather than a collar. I should note that the biggest dog has assumed some cat characteristics, so we not infrequently have a 70 pound dog lying on her back on the back of the couch.

We've stopped using the cat carrier for Mr. Clark while he's in the car, and, in some cases, even in the veterinary hospital. Yesterday, he stayed in my arms for 20 minutes or so while waiting for a blood sample, did complain when being taken away, but settled back in when he came back. In the car, he'll sometimes sleep, sometimes look out the windows, and, since he's a large orange Garfield lookalike, sometimes gets on the back deck, stretches his paws against the window so he can get sun on his belly, and looks exactly like one of those Garfield dolls with suction cups. Since we have a construction project on our street with cops letting only local traffic through, he and the police now recognize one another.

I am thinking about putting a text box on the herding cats article for the critics, explaining that it does explain some idiomatic uses, and, further, it is not impossible for an encyclopedia to have humor. Howard C. Berkowitz 14:09, 22 April 2010 (UTC)