These are so helpful! I keep thinking I am over my cat want but then here I am again, housesitting and dog and cat sitting. Joy has been curled up on my lap, purring up a storm and kneading my leg with her paws (feels so weird!). It's very endearing. I really love her.
If you will not tell, I brought her inside for a little bit just to see. Yeah, she's not allowed indoors.
But I brought her in and other than being loud by the door for a while, she's been great.
I don't know how much is just her being 'Joy' and how much is just cat behavior in general. She is SO sweet and meek. I have never ever seen her bite or try to. You can pick her up and she loves it. She has hissed at the dogs some. But overall, she is very easy tempered. Very loudmouthed though and demands petting quite a lot (by being loudmouthed). Even when she's outside, she comes to the door she yammers on wanting pets. She is also pretty 'biddable'. That's not the right word, really, but I am drawing a blank. I've of course done some treat training with her. I'm getting a decent recall for a cat really quickly, lol. It's very interesting, she's a really intriguing animal to me just because it's so different. But the more I'm around her, the more I'm thinking I might want to try one.
I almost have thought about asking if I could just have her. She's 16 and old but I feel so bad for her sometimes. She seems happy enough but I know she's fed crap food and kept outside, declawed all the time. I think she'd adjust indoors easily. But I know the answer would be no.
I think if I do get a cat, I want one similar to her as a 'first cat'. So I'm thinking an easy going adult? Is there a good way to find that? I'm thinking shelter would be the way to go. I've heard a lot of cat rescues are interesting to deal with. Doubt I'd qualify with no cat experience.
Oh and one thing that is negative is that Mia, while good outdoors with the cat, is not so great indoors. The cat is VERY interesting. She wants to play with her and lick all over her. Joy is very tolerant but Mia is persistent. It's been a little bit since I brought her inside though and Mia's ignoring her unless I pick her up. When I pick Joy up, she starts barking at her and whining and trying to get to her. I think this will be easily overcome if she gets used to a cat though.
Then I keep thinking I'll be the crazy person with 3 dogs and a cat in a few years lol.
Oh and my mom was allergic to cats so I'm mildly worried I could be. But I've handled joy so much and not had any problems without doing much special. Think it's safe to say I'm not allergic?