Well. We adopted two pets.
ATTENTION: There are pictures of a guinea pig in this post. Proceed accordingly.
I've never been much of an animal person. People are more my jam.
But.
Some of the most important people in my life are animal people, so, because I love them, this happened.
Sonia and Zoe had been wanting a guinea pig for a while, and when Zoe's hamster, Huckle, died this past fall, that really upped the hankering for a piggy.
They'd been keeping a serious eye on the animal shelter website, so they knew that the shelter sometimes has guinea pigs as well as cats and dogs.
So, one Saturday, they went over with Mr. FG and adopted a pig.
Guinea pigs are actually free at the shelter, so Sonia and Zoe just had to buy the supplies and cage.
Zoe had been saving up to buy a new tablet, but she decided she wanted a new pet more than a tablet. 😉
Anyway. Leslie the piggy has been at our house since the end of November, and Sonia and Zoe love her to pieces.
She's possibly the most well-cared-for, spoiled guinea pig on the planet. No shortage of love!
And she's a sweet, gentle pig who loves being held and petted.
So, that brings us to the second pet!
Lisey has been wanting a cat for a pretty long while, and Mr. FG took her over to the shelter to see about signing up for a foster care program, just to try out cat ownership.
But the foster program mostly has kittens, and cute as they are, kittens are really not the best way to try out owning a cat.
Anyway, eventually he and Lisey stopped by just to look at the cats 😉 and they found one they really, really loved.
So, the girls and I went back a few days later so we could meet the cat, and she came home with us.
Normally, there's a fee to adopt cats. But they've been a little overrun with cats of late, so there was no fee (and rabies shot/spay and neuter/microchip is free too!).
Meet Shelly!
She's 7 years old, and she's a super friendly and gentle cat, which is perfect for a household of newbie cat owners.
The cat has kinda made her home in Lisey's room, so she sleeps with Lisey every night, which is very sweet. Lisey is, in her own words, ecstatic. 😉
Everyone else in the family is in love with the cat too, even Joshua (his Instagram stories feed is now 50% coffee and 50% cats, whereas it was about 98% coffee before.)
We've never had a non-caged pet, so this is kind of a big step for me.
But, having a cat hasn't been as messy/smelly as I was worried it would be, and so far, we haven't had too many scratching problems (crossing fingers!).
She IS a really nice cat, so I'm pretty won over. Plus, the fact that Lisey is ecstatic is a big selling point for me. 😉
Zoe does still really, really want a dog, but oh man, I think that's where my boundary line is. A cat, a guinea pig, two geckos, and a fish seem like enough animals for one house.
So. Consider yourselves officially up to date on the new members of our family now!
Cool!! I'm very much like you, more of a people person. But you're going outside your comfort zone in getting those pets, so no doubt you'll learn and grow from it in some way. And those guinea pigs are kind of cute little buggers....
I'm more of a people person too. And by people, I mean my own kids. I once asked hubby if he wanted to keep pets, and he said he only wanted to take care of our own children. Fair enough!
I used to want to have a cat, a dog, a rabbit, and fish when I was little. But that quickly changed as I assumed more responsibilities and work as an adult. However, hubby and I might adopt a pet once we become empty nesters! 😀
How exciting! I'm definitely a dog person, mostly because of the litter box thing. I did share a house (when we lived with my mother-in-law--she tends to collect animals) with one very nice, polite, and well-behaved cat I could tolerate. And with two other cats, but I won't talk about them. 🙂
Litter box is way less gross than picking up after dogs!
I have to agree with that! We’ve had two cats as long as we’ve had kids (12 years), and the older kids the past few years have really not liked helping deal with cleaning the litter boxes. And for years now they’ve all been begging for a dog. Well, that all changed a few months ago when we raked leaves for some friends of ours who have two dogs. The friends had scooped up as much dog doo as they could find before we came, but there was still plenty of it hidden underneath the leaves. So we not only got it all over our shoes, but also all over our gloves and even some on our jackets from picking up the leaves. The kids were thoroughly grossed out. I asked them later if they still wanted a dog and the answer was a resounding "NOOOOOO!!!"
That's precisely my thought. A litter box seems so, so much less gross! And so much more contained!
I've only had dogs in the country. No picking up anything, as they can go far away from the house on their own. If I had to leash-walk a dog with a little baggie in hand? Probably no dogs for me.
That makes total sense to me!
We lived in the country when I was growing up, and my dad trained our dog to poop in the woods...the other he could do in the yard, but if he had to poop, he went to the woods. No clean-up (though we did have to rake a path for him every fall and keep a path shoveled every winter)
We have a dog and after having hamsters and other small animals...a dog is about 6x the work as a guinea pig 🙂 and we only have a medium size dog that's 35 lbs. I have considered training my dog to go on the actual human toilet like those YouTube dogs but...that would require a miracle!! 🙂
Congrats on your new additions!
Do you use a fleece liner for the cage? I have thought of trying that out but was worried if it would start to smell bad?! We use pine shavings and newspaper which is way cheaper than paper bedding, but I am sure the fleece lining is way cheaper.
Elizabeth, I use the fleece liner for my guinea pigs and don't have a smell issue at all. I have basic sewing skills, found a "How to" video on You Tube and made two liners with fleece I picked up at Walmart. I have a pretty large cage and it just became too costly with the disposable bedding and my pigs eat the newspaper.
I know it starts to get pricey quickly. I think I have some fleece in my fabric bin, so I think I will make one today:) Thanks!
Yeah, Sonia and Zoe have fleece, with puppy pads underneath. The smell actually seems to be less than it would be with regular bedding, which is nice. A big advantage is that you can easily scoop the poop every day because it just sits on top of the fleece.
Awe. So cute. We adopted 2 cats in February of last year. I am not a cat person, but these 2 have wormed their way into my heart. They are brothers and so great. I truly believe pets bring out a different side and a much needed side. (My husband and kids still want a dog but I told them not until we move to a house with a backyard and not on a busy street. )
Congrats on the addition to your family . Just a heads up about Piggies, they are much happier with a partner . They tend to get depression and wither without a companion.
I was going to say that too. Even with lots of attention, they really need piggy companionship. Sorry to break that to ya...LOL
I saw the first pig and remembered it said two, and I was like, whew, they got another! Some countries even require pigs have a friend as it is so important for them.
I'm so happy for your guinea pig and Shelly that they have found a new forever home with your family! Shelly especially is beautiful. I have a special place in my heart for tuxedo kitties. It makes my heart happy to see her sweet face and to know that she is fitting in!
I'm filled up on animals too! A (young) dog, 2 (elderly) cats, 10 chickens. But we talk about getting bees, and meat rabbits. I think we are crazy! Glad everyone loves the new family members!
If you have scratching problems, you can get claw caps for the nails. We’ve done that the years we rented. You can get super cute colors too. Much easier than nail clipping and less cruel than declawing.
This sounds a lot like Kitten Mittens (search YouTube if you don't get the reference.)
Have the vet give u a tutorial on clipping claws. We have three cats and i clip them all about every month. They learn to tolerate it and u learn to be fast. Also make sure u have several approved scratching options for her to use.
I was sure my whole life--I'm in my 40's--that I was not a dog person. I didn't dislike them, I just wasn't drawn to them, don't like wet dog smell, didn't think it was worth the extra hassle--just wasn't me. It wasn't lack of exposure, we'd had dogs when I was growing up, but I was indifferent, and didn't want the bother, especially when the kids were little. The kids aren't little anymore, and because the rest of the family really, really wanted one, we got a German Shepherd puppy almost two years ago. The rest is history. My husband says it's impossible not to love something that loves you so much. I cannot believe how much she has added to our home. Not to say it would be like this with everyone, but I never, ever, ever would have believed I had a dog person hidden inside me. There is extra vacuuming now, and I grumble a bit occasionally about dog hair on things, but it's ok. I never would have believed it would be ok...
I'm still digging my heels in when they talk about getting another one, but I'm afraid I see another about face in my future if we do. Crazy.
Dogs do have a way of wriggling themselves into one's heart! We have a shepherd/husky/terrier mix, and he's the best! Never had a dog growing up and it took less than a month for me to be convinced that a dog would be spectacular. I haven't looked back or regretted that decision!
My mother told me it would happen, that wriggling into one's heart, but I laughed at her and told her I just wasn't a dog person and that it wouldn't happen to me. The laugh was on me. We have two cats, too, and I love them dearly, especially our Maine coon. He's getting old now--16--and I don't know what we're going to do when his time comes. He grew up with the kids. I can't even think about it.
Aw, yes! Cats are the best! Congrats!
We have had all those pets Except for the guinea pig...We had our gecko when we lived in Kenya. His name was Iggy and he was a favorite. We also had while there 3 love birds..Huey, Duey, and Legless Louie. We should only have had 2 lovebirds because they do better in pairs, but Legless Louie was missing one leg and didn't pass away due to the malformation, so he continued to live with Huey and Duey. We have also had a a number of dogs through the years...by far my favorite pet to have! Congrats on the new additions!
This is the best! And kudos to you for adopting from the shelter. I wish more people knew how important that is. I had a cat just like that one when I was growing up!
Thank you for saving 2 innocent lives by going to a shelter!!!!!
I got a guina pig when I was in grade school. She had such personality and was very adament when it was time to eat. I still had her when I went away to college so then my poor Mom had to take care of her.
That is so great that you adopted adult animals and rescued them from the shelter. The babies/kittens always seem to easily find homes but it's harder for adult animals. We lost our cat last year (16 years old) and finally decided we were ready for a new pet. We adopted a 4 year old cat at the shelter just before Christmas. He has a lot more energy than our old cat but we love him already! Congratulations on the new additions to your family!
My daughter has a rabbit. We've had a dog. I am so not an animal person. The rabbit is fine, but dang are they messy! They use a litter box like a cat, but they get hay everywhere and need a little room to roam. A cat would be better but we have 2 allergic household members. My daughter would have preferred a cat or ideally a dog. I kind of wish we'd done the dog over the rabbit to be honest. More interaction!
I tend to view rabbits are more farm animals or pests. It's kind of funny that people keep them as pets. Like you said, there's not much interaction.
My daughter had two rabbits, Peace, and Love, and they were the crankiest, uncuddliest anumals ever! Not what she had hoped for, but she loved them anyway.
And we had 4 Guinea pigs. Adopted a pregnant lady. Much more cuddly. That sweet noise they make
The worst part is my daughter is a junior in HS so us parents will be inheriting the daily care of the rabbit in another year and a half! Pet rabbits usually live 5-8 years, so I may have it for several years unless my daughter consents to let someone else adopt it.
Oh man, that's a little rough. Joshua got two geckos when he was younger, and they live a really long time. I sometimes wonder if I'm going to be taking care of geckos for a few years during his college stage!
Geckos as pets? That seems weird to me, but I live in Hawaii, where they have taken up residence on the porch, in the shed with the lawn mower, and in our hot water closet. They make their way in and out of the house and squawk at us sometimes. Now, I will concur that rabbits are messy with the hay. I don't know if dogs are easier or less to clean, though. I got so tired of chasing dog hair tumbleweeds through the house that I bought a roomba. Our animals have all been rescues. Our dog is our first and will be our only dog. He's great, and it has been great having kids and a dog. He's literally traveled the world with us. Having a bunny was great, too, more so than I ever thought it would be. Our little 3.5 pound lion head bunny had so much personality and brought us so much joy. We might foster a bunny in the future; it's a four month commitment and it wouldn't saddle our bunny-loving daughter with a college roommate.
We have so much creativity relating to our cat. Stories and comic strips. And endless love for this furry creature. Enjoy! Author Dick king-smith writes all about
G. Pigs. We read them all and learned a lot.
Science diet cat food keeps litter boxes less smelly. Always a cheaper way to buy it on pet websites. Keeps them really healthy.
So... let me tell you a story about me when I was... 15? HA.
We had just moved from Texas (which I loved) to Wyoming (which I loved a lot less at the time). I moved the summer before starting my Junior year of high school. I was alone. And petless. I went over to the mall pet store with a friend and her boyfriend. The boyfriend was 18. He signed for me to buy a kitten, which I promptly brought home, with full supplies, and hid in my bedroom. Before my parents came home, I bought my mom a bird (she had wanted one). Sort of... like a diversion.
My stepdad came home, saw the cat run out of my bedroom, and tattled on me. My mom came and looked, at which point the cat climbed up her leg and purred like crazy. She saw the bird after... and then let me keep the cat.
Cici is now 17 years old, and grouchy as heck. But they LOVE her, and she stayed with them even when I moved out.
So... it gets better 😉 They were against having a cat too until this one 😀 (I now have two of my own...)
Haha...a diversion! So sneaky.
Congratulations on the new additions!
I LOVE that you guys adopted a middle aged cat. They're so often overlooked at the shelter, so it's wonderful that you chose one. Seven is a great age, too, they're usually well past the age of tearing everything up, but still have plenty of good years left. An older cat was a much safer choice for Leslie, too.
You probably know this already, but Chewy.com is usually about the cheapest place to get pet food and supplies. Chewy boxes are a regular thing at our house! 🙂
They are adorable! Funny ehough, I am the opposite in that I am holding out on not having any caged animals in the house due to not wanting to deal with the smell, mess, etc. We just have one large dog at the moment. My kids are cat crazy, though, and would go bonkers to have one. Unfortunately, their father is super allergic to cats, so it is never going to happen. This weekend, my three year old was even trying to convince me that her father could live upstairs in the bedroom and the cat could live downstairs. My poor husband.
My cousins love cats but one of them is allergic, they found out it's actually not the hair he was allergic to but the saliva that the cats lick all over their fur. They got an absolutely gorgeous long haired non-allergy cat that had a beautiful nature.
Glad that you went to a shelter. My wife used to volunteer at the local animal shelter and it was amazing as to how much more economical it was vs a pet store. Of course, the local pet stores now only sell supplies and refer you to the shelter for a cat or dog.
We're pet-free because I have allergies and actively dislike furry animals (too many bad experiences as a kid and I don't want to feel nervous in my own house.)
I'm definitely more of an animal person ☺, as is the entire family. I've had cats and dogs my entire life; but we're just a cat family now. Our cats have all either just wandered into our lives and homes or we've adopted them from the shelter. All of them are indoor cats, and they range in age from 7 months to 15 years. My son, who's only 13, has never been without a pet. We have 3 tuxedo cats, like Lisey's Leslie, who is lovely, btw. One of our females actually fetches and brings items to us, talking the entire time.
Thank you not only for adopting from a shelter but for adopting adult animals. As for a dog -- you see how easy it is with Shelly because she's not a wild kitten? It could be that way with a calm adult dog too. I myself have only adopted adult dogs (with the exception of one, and he was 5 months old at the time and extremely calm -- never really acted puppy-like except for the not growing a brain until he was almost two part), and I have never regretted missing the cute puppy stage. To me, it's just not worth it. I like knowing what I'm getting in size, temperament and personality. So don't discount an adult dog -- you may turn into an animal person yet! 🙂 Congratulations on your new family members!!
What a gorgeous guinea pig -- I didn't know they came so beautifully colored. The cat is, of course, lovely, because to me, about all cats are. I second the idea of getting claw caps -- I hear Soft Paws is one such company, but I've not used any so I can't say which is best. Lucky for me, our three cats (!) and now the outdoor stray that has decided to "adopt" us, don't claw the furniture. We live in the country and they can safely go outside in our yard at will, where they claw the trees. We have a rescued dog, too, and did have two, but the eldest just died very recently. They add so much to our lives. The goldfish in our small outdoor ponds aren't as interesting, granted, but our grandkids love to feed them, and it is actually amusing to watch them come to us when they see us with food. Plus, we've have two successful hatchings of baby fish out there, which really delighted the kids. Still trying to figure out what to do if we keep getting more fish....
Shelly is a beautiful girl! And did you know that black cats are the least adopted cats? So you have done a really good deed. Currently, we have one (large) dog and FOUR (yes, four - ugh) cats, two of which are black. We did not plan this, nor did we ask for it, but we have a hairy house. Our daughter moved to Baltimore, and we took in her dog and two cats. They are all the sweetest things, but I dust mop every day. That being said, I do enjoy them a LOT! Properly socialized, cats are loving companions and a lot of fun.
Congrats on your new family members! I work at a shelter and am a cat behaviorist. So many people freak out about possible scratching, and it's usually pretty easy to avoid. We always suggest having a vertical and a horizontal scratching space. Studies suggest that cats prefer sisal rope scratches for vertical scratching and cardboard for horizontal. You can entice them with cat nip, if your kitty likes that. The most important thing is to trim your cat's nails regularly (weekly/biweekly/monthly depending on how quickly they grow). You can get great cat nail trimmers at the Dollar Tree. We have 2 cats of our own and are a high volume kitten foster home, and don't have anything destroyed by cats/kittens. Puppies on the other hand have destroyed SO many things lol!
Thus far, she doesn't seem to be interested in the scratchers. We have cardboard and sisal. She's mainly just tried scratching on our rugs. We bought some catnip spray and sprayed it on the scratchers, and she's still not interested. Any ideas?
Real catnip flakes? And bring her over and physically show her how to scratch it and gently take her paws and scratch it. Also is it slightly out of the way and (the horizontal ones) against a wall so she can get some traction?
We have 2 cats, 10 & 12 years. One cat prefers the sisal scratching post but the other prefers the post on the kitty "tower" (platform for cats) and a bare 2x4 in the basement. We're hoping the house doesn't come crashing down some day as that 2x4 is on a bearing wall supporting the upper floor! 😉 We are also afraid we will be asphyxiated by cat hair in our old age. They shed so much, especially in the spring, we must be breathing it in. But we wouldn't trade them for anything in the world! They ARE our furry children (our human children are grown).
The sisal scratcher in your photo is one made for kittens. Cats need to be able to full stand up and scratch; thus we usually recommend a good cat tower, as they are usually tall enough and have built in scratchers. As another commented, real cat nip v. the spray. Also, not all cats prefer cat nip. A large majority love silver vine, and many like valerian and Tatarian honeysuckle.
My cat prefers a carpet scratching post rather than sisal.
Yay!!! Thank you all for adopting!
I grew up with a menagerie in our house and it was such a great experience as a kiddo. And cats are so much fun! I'm a crazy animal person so the years I went without a cat were torture.
Don't get me wrong - cats can be messy. But it depends on their personality. Naturally our cat Zap is a pistol and destroys everything he touches lol.
As an FYI, if you find you need to travel with your cat or are having any sort of behavioral problems, as your vet about a product called Feliway. You can check it out at feliway.com. It is a product that mimics a cat pheromone and is calming to cats. It comes in different forms (sprays, wipes, diffusers) depending on your needs. When my mom moved over to my side of the state, we wiped down the cat carrier with it and I plugged a diffuser in the room where he would spend the most time, and it was a super smooth transition for him. He was probably 7 or 8 years old at the time and I was worried about how well he would adapt to the 2 1/2 hour trip across the state as well as living in a new home, but it was a non-issue, and I think Feliway really helped with that. I've had other friends who have also used it for various kitty-cat needs and they have said the same thing. Now if only they made it for humans! 😉
Yes! We ordered the plug in and the spray, and it does seem to have helped her feel more comfortable.
Another tip: if you have to take her to a new place and you want her to feel at home, butter her paws. She'll immediately start washing them, and will enjoy the butter so much that by the time she's done she'll feel totally relaxed. It's worked every time we've moved to a new place or taken a cat somewhere to stay while we're away.
I always envisioned myself having a dog (I grew up with them) when I reached adulthood, but I am now a huge fan of cats. I grew up in the country and our dogs were mostly outdoor dogs, so I never had to deal with the challenges dogs bring when you live in suburbia. Well ... we are in suburbia now .... and the thought of making sure a dog gets enough exercise and the doggie doo-doo is taken care of when we get one of our frequent winter storms is not exactly enticing. I wanted our kids to grow up with a pet, so we got a cat (Maine coon--boy, are they sweethearts!). I suspect that once you get used to Shelly, you will gradually find yourself being won over.
Congratulations! There are three cats and two guinea pigs in this house!
I've read that guinea pigs benefit behaviorally from not being the sole guinea pig, so since they're free (and really won't be much more cost in food/supplies), you might consider getting a second one.
Yes, we're thinking about it. We thought at first that this piggy might be pregnant, so we were waiting to see what happened with that. She appears not to be, after all, though. So maybe we'll see if we can find her a friend at the shelter.
Wow! I’m a cat person in a home with people allergic to cats, so no cat for me. It was SO nice of Lisey to adopt a cat instead of a kitten. I know the kittens are more popular, so you made Shelly’s day by adopting her. She is absolutely beautiful too! I love tuxedo cats!
I think it's really nice of you that you were flexible for the sake of your kids! Good momming. I'm an animal person (people stress me out) so I have confidence you will gain additional appreciation for the non speaking creatures 🙂 I adore dogs as well as cats (I don't really get why there is such a dichotomy between dog vs. cat people) but all we have right now is a cat. We rescued her as a stray kitten and it was one of the best things we ever did! She's 9 now, and is a perfect pet: no scratching, she doesn't destroy anything, she's tolerant of my little kids, she doesn't eat much, she's cuddly and sweet, etc.
Also I'm so glad your hubby and kids went to a shelter for rescue pets. Overrun shelters is a pretty clear indicator to me that shelters should be our first pick. When my kids get a little bigger, we will definitely be adding a rescue dog to our family. Good luck!
This makes my heart so happy! I was never a cat person until I got one via marriage ... now we have two, and I love those fluffy things. Cats are a great non-caged pet, since they are pretty low maintenance and naturally clean animals. The guinea pig is super cute too, but I'm wondering ... do the two get along?!
Oh, I love the fact you have a kitty! And what a beautiful cat, I love the white whiskers! (Shameless cat lover here, we have 5!)
Also, in the advice front. There is a cleaner called Natures Miracle stain and odor removed that is wonderful. It is at pet stores. IF there happened to been an accident (one of ours was famous for tinkling on the bathmat) this stuff pragmatically breaks it down. Cat urine tends to be a bit potent! BUT it also works fabulous on fastball stains, and blood etc....so it has a lot of uses. Well worth the money for many things.
*enzymatically. Autocorrect is not my friend!!
Sweet!
My daughter is such an animal person! We tried once before to have a dog, but she didn't work for our family (we adopted from a shelter, she was a high needs dog), but more importantly we found out through her adoption that I am allergic to dogs. My parents have a poodle and I've been around her without issue, so we thought I would be good with poodles...and we got one this last December only to sadly find out that I was allergic to OUR poodle. Sad, sad, sad....we had to find her a new home. I miss her more than I thought I would!
I have several sisters who live in the area, who are very allergic to cats. So it looks like we are going to be a petless household!
It is so awesome that you guys adopted from the shelter and adopted an adult(s) too. It is really wonderful to know two fur balls found a new, loving home. Thank you for sharing!
I grew up with cats and have a cat now; the only time we had scratching problems was when there were too many in the house (5? Yeah...) or when we didn't have enough scratching posts or the kind the cat preferred. I think every cat is different - some like carpet posts, some like raw wood posts, and some are okay with the cardboard ones.
When I lived briefly with my parent's after college, my cat started scratching the door frame as a territorial thing - my mom had several cats already. When I moved out, she kept doing it but I was able to break her of the habit by using some citrus deterrent spray from the pet store and (temporarily) putting some double sided tape on the area where she scratched. After a few months, she got used to it being uncomfortable and never tried again, even after I took off the tape. No fun, but it was temporary and it worked.
Both Leslie and Shelly are beautiful creatures! It's sad that there are so many unwanted cats that you got Shelly free. (Yes, free is great, but the REASON she was free is sad.) Bless you for taking in Shelly. I don't know much about guinea pigs, but Leslie looks so soft and cuddly.:-)
I grew up with an outside dog/cats as animals were not allowed inside. My animal-loving daughter helped me change my mindset beginning with bugs/insects, then tree frogs (which she let go), fish, the biggie - a shelter adult Rat Terrier and finally a gecko which was a 5th grade class pet, followed by a companion gecko. So we currently have a dog, 2 geckos and 2 fish. I would have never chosen these animals but now that she is a busy teenager, I help care for all of them. The dog is my baby as I have spent the most time over the years at home caring for her d/t working part-time. She is 13 and I can't imagine life without her. I think animals provide so many benefits in a home - faithful, unconditional love that is extremely therapeutic and worth every penny, effort and inconvenience. I'm a converted believer that every child should have some type of indoor pet in their lives. Congratulations on the 4 legged additions to your family!
Awww... happy, happy!
p.s. You do know that the cat bed in that photo is upside down, right?
Ya know, it seemed that way to me!
And as a bonus, someone else who eats brussels sprouts!
RIGHT? Now, if only she ate larger quantities...
OMG welcome to the pet-owning dark side! I am a dog person (horrible cat allergy), but I love love love all animals so much. Shelly is GORGEOUS!
And THANK YOU for adopting shelter animals. All three of the dogs I've had as an adult have been shelter girls or otherwise unwanted. It warms my heart to know that I've given each of them a wonderful life and haven't contributed to overbreeding/puppy mills/etc...
Anyway, hooray pets!!
Your kitty is a Tuxedo cat. Black cats with white bibs. She has a very calm demeanor. Adopting an older animal is a very kind thing to do and I'm sure she appreciates you all very much,
Thank you for the “proceed accordingly” warning, I got a great laugh! â¤ï¸
I know some people are super squicked out by any rodent-like animals, so I figured I should give a heads up!
I'm not overly fond of rodents but if I ever were to have one, it would definitely be a guinea pig. Leslie, (love her name!), is pretty cute. And I'd rather adopt an adult cat over a kitten. Shelly is beautiful.
You and Mr. F.G. are super to support your children in their individual longing to have pets. What a wonderful gift!
I had a gorgeous ragdoll cat that I lost last June. He used to vomit after meals a few times a month, and I tried so many things for years, including bringing him to the vet for advice. I finally figured it out: there is something called "whisker fatigue". Some cats have sensitive whiskers and it is irritating for them to eat out of a bowl because their whiskers hit the sides. Solution: use small saucers instead of bowls. His vomiting stopped. I wish I had known that, and that his vet had known that. Also, avoid plastic and chipped ceramic for food/water delivery due to bacteria. Quality stainless is best, not the cheapo kind from China that might have lead in it or other harmful metals. Glass is also good, and you can pick up glass saucers at the thrift store.
Your new pets are gorgeous! I've always been a cat person myself too. I think they are so much easier than dogs. Some people are dog people and some aren't...doesn't mean we're bad people, but cats are so much less loud. lol...and usually easier to feed and clean up after. Enjoy the new pets. We only have one cat and a bearded dragon right now (love him too!), but we've had fish, gerbils, rats, and a dog before as well as many cats.
Congrats on the new pets! And thank you so much for adopting!
Have you heard of the series "My Cat From Hell" featuring Jackson Galaxy? Can be watched on YouTube and other ways too. He has so many great tricks to encourage healthy cat behavior and what to do to assure one's cat has a healthy lifestyle.
He's the dude that carries his supplies in a guitar case, right? We've seen a few episodes on vacation, when we have Animal Planet on the condo/hotel TVs.
I didn't know he was on YouTube too!
Awww, Shelly looks like a nice middle-aged cat who deserves the good life you guys will give her.
Awwwww, super cute! We have TWO guinea pigs (they really are nice pets) and one cat and that's about as far as I want to go, lol. Have fun (love the guinea pig's name) 🙂
You can pretend Sonia and Zoe named her after you!
I just imagined Leslie saying her guinea pigs are named Sonia and Zoe! LOL - my mind is weird...
This post made my heart happy. I thought you were lovely before, but adopting from a shelter.....you madam are a beautiful soul and so are your hubby and kiddos. Gorgeous pets and kids. Never commented before but have been reading for a few years and subscribed to your emails which I look forward too each week. I found you when I was looking for frugal ways to tighten our budget but as god works in mysterious ways it also lead me to yourself and a couple of other Christian womans blogs who helped improved my home and budget and more importantly my relationship with God. Thank you. Lisa D, Sydney Australia xo
Aww, I'm so glad you've found my blog to be helpful!
They are very cute 🙂
I used to not be a cat person. I always grew up having a dog. My last job, most of the people I worked with had a cat. One even had 12 of them!! So I decided to get one. I still prefer a dog, but now I do love cats too 🙂
I agree with you on animals. I am not an animal person at all. But when I married my husband I knew that a cat was coming into our new household. It grosses me out to to have the cat walk across my kitchen counters where I prepare food. No matter how much you say no to a cat it still will get up on your kitchen counters. I recommend you get this:
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-PDT00-13914-SSSCAT-Spray-Deterrent/dp/B000RIA95G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516737527&sr=8-1&keywords=compressed+air+for+cats
Also you may want to create a cat enclosure this spring/summer under your deck or back yard when the weather is nice and the cat can enjoy the outdoors but be safe too.
Yay for adopting shelter pets! What pretty little additions to the Frugal Girl family. I know not EVERYONE is an animal person but it is so hard for me to imagine life without them. We had tons of animals as a kid - a dog, cats, chickens, rabbits, fish and whatever reptiles my brother managed to catch in the desert. I have just 2 quite elderly cats now (15 and 19!). I have had them both since they were kittens. When they move to the great beyond I think I would like to get a puppy and a kitten to grow up together.
We are animal people through and through. We have two dogs (a yorkie-tiny-and a Great Pyrennes-huge), two cats, a bunny, a hamster, a gecko, and a tarantula.
We're always ready to add more animals. There is a cat at the local animal shelter that we really want, and I want another Great Pyrennes or a Saint Bernard. My son also wants to get some anoles (lizards). And there is always a chance that we might get a chinchilla.
I just think pets make life better. 🙂
This is my favorite post ever! I have been rescueing animals, volunteering at rescues and fostering since I was a kid! One of my 3 cats looks exactly like your new kitty! Working with cats/kittens that neeed socialized has become what I am known for in our group and boy is it rewarding! 6 months ago we also adopted a dog that had spent her nearly 11 years on a chain. I am much more of an animal person than a people person!
All pets worm their way into our hearts, even goldfish! All pets poop too and no matter what pet you have you have to clean up after it. I’ve found over the years that small pets seem to be left longer between cleanups so seem smellier! My personal least favourite to clean is the kitty litter box! Ugh! Gross! But I do love the cat!
I never thought I was an animal person either. I started riding horses again about ten years ago (after a ten year break) but swore I’d never own one (too much work, too hairy, too expensive).
Then I met Bug. She was a rescue, surrendered by her owners because she’s not safe around children (due to a history of abuse).
And now I am mommy to a hairy little pony who is the terror of the yard and doesn’t even like to cuddle...and I wouldn’t give her up for all the tea in China. (And for those of you who think pooper scooping dogs is gross, allow me to introduce you to pony diarrhoea!)
It’s funny how life has a way of bringing personalities into our lives just when we need them.
Congratulations on your new family members. Our house wouldn't be home without out cats. 🙂
Welcome to and Congrats on the new members of your family. If there is no plan to declaw the cat( folks please don’t get started on this,I know but some folks do declaw) make sure to have lots of scratching posts about, bring the cat to them so they know and if you have too double sided sticky tape on places like the couch work wonders ,cats hate sticky.
Yeah, we got the sticky tape. And we did get a nice scratching post, but for some reason, she seems to be scared of it, even after we sprayed it with catnip spray!
My (elderly) cat loves a plain old cardboard box. She jumps in to hide and play and scratches the bottom of it. We jokingly refer to cardboard boxes as "cat traps". Try leaving a few around the house.
I read above she likes the carpet to scratch on. One of my cats does too and an extra piece of leftover carpet, in the place she likes to scratch on does the trick for her. All 3 of mine like the cardboard incline scratcher that is good size.....chewy.com. I have not had a problem with my kitties, even adopted older than yours scratching when I give a variety of things to scratch on Just need to figure out what she likes. We also have “window seats”my hubby made in the living room. They sit there and look out for hours! I guess I have enough kittie friendly areas mine do not even think about jumping on kitchen counters as someone above complained of......and I am thankful for that!
Oh happy days ahead with two new family members! We have three cats and my baby boy, Pip, is a tuxedo with a pink nose! If you don’t know, tuxedos are extremely smart and love to jump! All of my cats including the ladies, Arwen the alpha and Susie the middle child, are such a large part of our lives. The love they give us is amazing! Kudos for adopting from a shelter! Congratulations!
awwww such a beauitiful cat and a cute little piggy 🙂 thanks for sharing!!
I must say make sure your kitty gets a monthly flea treatment. Even 100% indoor cats can get fleas either by a person tracking them inside unknown or if kitty runs out of the house even for just a minute. You do not want to have to deflea a house. Trust me it makes head lice seem like a spa day. Believe me. Its been months and we r still fighting it. Sigh
I am so thankful we don't have to deal with fleas in my area--at least the kind that live on dogs and cats. Dry air and high altitude has its advantages sometimes.
yeah I feel like I'm more of an animal person than a people person. good for you guys. pets are great..we have a 16 year old cat and a 9 year old cat.
Aww, both the new critters and your family are adorable!
And I'm so happy that you decided to adopt from a shelter when we already have way more pets than willing homes! It's awesome to see your conscientiousness as a "consumer" expanding into this new realm!!!
I'm sure we can easily crowd-source any challenges you may encounter with your new four-legged family members. 🙂
I am so glad you went to the shelter, and adopted an older cat!!! It's just wonderful. And speaking as someone who has fostered over 100 kittens... It's a very different experience than owning a cat!!
Cat nails are very easy to trim, so I would recommend learning to do that. Please please don't declaw, it's super inhumane. As far as your cat being scared of the scratch post you got, here are some ideas!
- Different cats like different materials, cardboard, rope, carpet, so she may enjoy one type and not another.
- Cats also have preferences on directional scratching... Vertical like the scratcher shown, horizontal that you lay on the floor, or diagonal.
If the scratcher is the wrong height or stability (it wobbles when used), the cat won't use it. The one shown looks fairly short and unstable, so I wouldn't be too surprised if it isn't getting used (and if she tried to use it and it fell at her, why she might be scared). Since she likes the rug (but you don't want to teach her to claw the flooring), Trader Joe's has a cardboard flat one for like $6 that most all cats enjoy.
I hope you enjoy your new experience, and good luck!!!
I should have read comments before I posted above. This one is spot on!
Our home will never be without a cat.
And I would love a guinea pig, but I’m worried about the cat getting the pig!.
New-to-us-Cat was trained to scratch sisal post with treats. We would put his paws on it when he scratched the furniture. Then small treat after scratching post.
Recommend Yesterdays News litter. NO smell and lasts longer than scoopable, less mess.
Love, love, love Leslie! Tuxedo kitties are my favorite! I haven't given in to animals in the house yet, but we live on a farm, so there are plenty of them outside to enjoy! Maybe some day I'll give in to a house kitty though...there's just something about snuggling up with a soft, purring, warm kitty!
Congratulations on your adorable new family members!!
And how wonderful they were rescued.
I inherited my daughters's two rabbits when she went to college. One died last month and I am heartbroken. He followed me around the house. The other rabbit is so sad too!
My daughter is now a junior in college with two cats, a tourise, and a hedgehog!!
Squeeeee I love guinea pigs! And the cat is nice too. We have three dogs 🙂 but we are on a farm (so I guess we also have cows and chickens, but they are not pets)
I have heard that dogs and guinea pigs living together can be problematic. The guinea pig squeak can be too exciting for the dog, and tragedy can ensue -- which is one of the reasons we have resisted getting a guinea pig.
I don't know if this is actually true, I don't know what others' experiences have been, but I wanted to warn you to at least be aware if the push for a dog gets too strong.
I will never understand people who say " I'm not an animal person". They are the most loving( unconditional) souls in the world. We have 2 dogs and we just rescued another rehomed dog on Monday. We drove 500 miles to pick him up. My heart breaks when I look at him and see behaviors I know would never have been there if I had him as a puppy. New boy is a standard poodle. He's a year. I have another year old spoo that I got as a puppy. I also have a 6yr old wirehair dachshund who I spent $$$$ money on when his back went out( and he was paralyzed). To each their own, but you'll be surprised how much love you will get back from your new babies.
Aww, this is just lovely. What a beautiful home for these critters to come to when they needed one. I think it's awesome too the way you've let your kids follow their hearts. A+ for awesome parenting!! Definitely Kristen 2.0. 😉
Aww, thank you!
Awww, shelter pets are the best. We now care for the neighborhood feral cats, my neighbor trapped them, so they are fixed. One waits for me every morning and night waiting for its dinner. It no longer runs when I come out the door but hides under a pine and waits. I still feel bad they are outside especially during the -15 below temps but they are fed and watered.
Congrats on all the new pets!
Congratulations on the lovely new additions! One quick tip: I find my own kitties greatly prefer their flat scratching post to the stand up variety. I found mine at Trader Joe's, of all places, but I also wonder if it would be doable to construct one out of stuff you have on hand, because spending $7 on a bunch of chopped up cardboard is a little ridiculous.
Enjoy your animals- they're lucky to have you!
Oh, good to know! I'll check there.
I'm so happy for Lisey that you got a cat. I desperately wanted one growing up, but my parents did not like pets. I have one now that I am on my own. She sleeps with me at night, and it makes me happy every time.