Stan Brown wrote:
> I know this is a dangerous admission on Usenet, :-) but I'd like
> advice.
>
> I've been ten years without a cat, and I'm thinking of adopting a
> one-year-old neutered male from the shelter. I worry, though, that
> it may not be a good idea because I'm gone every weekday for work for
> 9.5 hours counting commuting, and during the summer I'm often out
> doing yard work. The last time I had a cat, I was working from home
> so there was plenty of time to play with him and make him feel secure
> as he adjusted to his new home. Then a couple of years later when I
> had outside work again I didn't worry about leaving him.
>
> But this time he'd be on his own most of the day, right from the get-
> go. He'd be the only pet in the household, and I'm the only human.
> And he'll be exclusively an indoor cat -- I'd do that anyway, but
> it's especially im****tant since he was declawed before the shelter
> got him. What do y'all think?
>
> And assuming that I go ahead with the adoption, is there a helpful
> FAQ about choice of food, choice of litterbox and litter, and so
> forth? I know I can look in the newsgroup archives, but there are so
> many contradictory opinions that I just get confused. Is there some
> good authoritative source?
>
> Thanks!
>
You have been clean for over eleven years. We never are
completely cured though. After all those years, your resolve
has weakened and you have already contacted a dealer. There
are many anecdotal re****ts that cat-keepers have lower blood
pressure, higher spirits, and may recover sooner from serious
illness. It has been shown that holding breath while cleaning
a litterbox improves lung function. Stan, after successfully
allowing your body to deteriorate for over a decade, do you
really want to risk slowing down (or even reversing) that trend??
Then go ahead and do it. Two may keep each other company, but
I don't think that's a requirement. Over the years, I have had
one to as many as four at a time. I think two is best. It
completely obscures whodunit when a bit of mischief happens and
they can take turns walking back and forth between you and the
keyboard.
I hope there's somebody to give you a little welcome-home bump
in the ankle soon! Let us know.
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