My little girl LOVES cats. I mean she LOVES them. The child has a huge heart of gold when it comes to cats.

We have a cat named Midnight (see attached photo). This is one of the most antisocial animals I've ever seen in my entire life. She does not want petted, bothered, touched, loved - nothing. My daughter gets so upset, like her feelings are hurt, that Midnight does not want to sleep with her or lay with her or anything. She loves her kitty but the antisocial cat doesn't show any sort of owner affection like most cats do.

So this stray has been coming around - darling cute little thing, boney and scrawny. We fed it the other night and tonight it came back (I don't know if it's a he/she, can't tell for sure!) It ran earlier when we came up the drive but later on came back to the porch. My daughter brought her in and gave her a name. This cat purrs like there is no tomorrow and lays with my daughter, on her lap - she's acting like my daughter wants the other cat to act.

Now normally I'd say okay she can just stay and we'll have 2 cats. But I cant'. We are only allowed to have 1 pet in the house. I cannot have 2 cats.

My daughter doesn't want to get rid of the antisocial cat but she's got this cat now that is just lovey and enjoying being inside.

She doesnt' know what to do. I can't make the decision for her. She loves the antisocial cat but this other cat is reacting how my daughter wants a cat to react with her.

She's actually sleeping in the chair right now. I tried to tell her we could keep her as our outdoor cat but she's afraid she'll get into fights with other cats. I tried to explain to her that she's used to that, that is how she has lived but she's 9 - she doesnt' get that.

The antisocial cat is confused I think. She's hissed at this other cat a few times but just keeps sniffing around her.

Keeping this other cat would mean getting rid of the other one (there is a farm here in town I could take her to if I had to) but it would mean having to take her to the vet to make sure she's got shots and wormed and stuff. That would take money I don't really have.

Thoughts anyone?

I think you should keep the nicer cat. The shots can wait until you have more money. But if your daughter really, really loves the bad cat I guess the nice one can stay outside and hopefully it won't get hurt.

Of course, there's secret option #3: keep both cats and lie to the landlord.

Originally posted by Microprosa
I think you should keep the nicer cat. The shots can wait until you have more money. But if your daughter really, really loves the bad cat I guess the nice one can stay outside and hopefully it won't get hurt.

Of course, there's secret option #3: keep both cats and lie to the landlord.

She's on the phone with my friend in NJ just crying her eyes out. She doesnt' know what to do.

Can't do #3 - I live in public housing and they inspect here. If they came in and found 2 cats I'd be in huge trouble.

We just tried to put the nice one outside and she scratched the door trying to get back in. she's climbing all over my daughter right now. I mean climging all over her.

Oy. :confused:

Originally posted by Microprosa
I think you should keep the nicer cat. The shots can wait until you have more money.

But with her being a stray shouldn't I be worried about her being sick?

Get rid of both. No point in having a cat that just keeps to itself and avoids human interaction. The other one is crawling with diseases. You can always get a brand new kitty for free.

Originally posted by Microprosa
Of course, there's secret option #3: keep both cats and lie to the landlord.

My aunt did that for awhile. She's got 2 and she would put them in a kennel if she expected the landlord to come by. She got sick of it though. Then it cost her a $300 deposit.


Well, if it were me, I'd get rid of the first cat. The way I look at it, the whole purpose of a pet is something to love, play with, etc. A cat that couldn't care less if you were there as long as you feed it is almost a waste of money. But then I've never had a pet in my life. I'm just thinking about my aunt's kitties. I like them because they actually like people, not just sitting around staring at the wall and sleeping.

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
But with her being a stray shouldn't I be worried about her being sick?

Yeah. Who knows what she's been thru, especially if she were as scrawny as you say.

Originally posted by Dutabi84
Get rid of both. No point in having a cat that just keeps to itself and avoids human interaction. The other one is crawling with diseases. You can always get a brand new kitty for free.

If you weren't going to offer me some helpful advice I'd have preferred get no answer at all.

You apparently have no children and don't understand their affection and attachment to things.

I doubt this other one is crawling with disease but I know I need to take her to the vet.

She's decided to keep the affectionate, the 2nd, cat. IT's shown her more affection (and is sleeping with her right now) than the other cat has in almost 3 years.

Get rid of the older cat. It doesn't seem like it wants to be around people anyway. It might be better off living on a farm or you could just take her to the Humane Society and they will make sure she gets her shots and stuff.

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
She's decided to keep the affectionate, the 2nd, cat. IT's shown her more affection (and is sleeping with her right now) than the other cat has in almost 3 years. i think she made a good decision... but it would be wise to take her to the vet ASAP

I agree. The cat may not be crawling with diseases, but probably has worms and fleas if it's a stray. It sounds sweet and like your daughter made a good choice :)

Well that was a LONG night with the 'new' cat. She meowed ALL night long, non stop. I dont know if she was upset that we were trying to sleep, if she wanted outside, was hungry - I have no idea.

So this is what I've decided to do.

The old cat is going to go to the Humane Society.

The 'new' cat is going backoutside where we will still feed her but she's not coming back in.

I'm going to the pet store this week and will buy my daughter a new kitten that I know has shots and is wormed. The antisocialness of the old cat isn't something common so hopefully a new cat will be playful and lovable like my daughter wants and everyone will be happy.

If you weren't going to offer me some helpful advice I'd have preferred get no answer at all.

Sorry for giving my opinion. Just saying what I would have thought would have worked best.

You apparently have no children and don't understand their affection and attachment to things.

Nope. But beleive it or not, I used to be a child. Infact, I had a much similar situation. My mom brought home two cats, one very anti-social and fond of using its teeth and claws on people. The other very affectionate. We got rid of the first one, and I held no grudges.

I doubt this other one is crawling with disease but I know I need to take her to the vet.

Considering it is a stray, and depending on how long it has been stray, there is the chance it has a disease that could shorten its life considerably. But who knows, maybe it's just fine.

She's decided to keep the affectionate, the 2nd, cat. IT's shown her more affection (and is sleeping with her right now) than the other cat has in almost 3 years.

I'm no vet, but I'd have it checked out before there's a whole lot of cuddling going on with that cat.

Originally posted by Dutabi84
[B]

Nope. But beleive it or not, I used to be a child. Infact, I had a much similar situation. My mom brought home two cats, one very anti-social and fond of using its teeth and claws on people.


My mom's sister used to have a cat sort of like that. The cat would hiss at everyone.
I don't understand why anyone would want to keep a cat like that for a pet. I have a cat that will nip at people's hands and feet every once in awhile if something bugs him in some way, or if he is in a playful mood, but he never tries to seriously injure anyone. And, he only nips people he knows like myself and my dad. I always wear slippers when I play with my cat because I don't want to get hurt. I keep telling my dad to only let the cat play with his feet if there are slippers or shoes on his feet.

Sometimes if I bug my cat too much he will try to jump onto my leg and bite my pant leg. I guess his way of saying "Don't mess with me." ;)

I am not a cat person but the only cat that I liked was my daughter's.

It was a good mouser!

Sadly Amy the Cat got hit by a car and is in cat heaven now:(

My uncle's cat got hit by a car this morning and is now in cat heaven. :( :( :(

It was an outside cat.

We have a cat here. We got it in the Summer of 2001 when she was just a little kitten(she was only 7 weeks old I think) and we have had it ever since. She is an indoor cat, only has gotten out a couple of times. She's lazy as heck, just lays around all day. She is very talkative around me though, and she sometimes likes to nip at my hands, but it's never in a bad way.

I have (counts on fingers) six cats! They drive me crazy and they are a lot of work, but I love them. Money is tight around here so if they are sick or something, I use my own remedies. Garlic seems to kill worms in pets. It worked for both my cat & dog. We just sprinkled garlic powder in their wet food and it killed the worms! You can also use regular garlic. My mom just minces some raw garlic (like half a clove) into the cat's food; you'd probably have to use less for a kitten.

Originally posted by Blair85
I have (counts on fingers) six cats! They drive me crazy and they are a lot of work, but I love them. Money is tight around here so if they are sick or something, I use my own remedies. Garlic seems to kill worms in pets. It worked for both my cat & dog. We just sprinkled garlic powder in their wet food and it killed the worms! You can also use regular garlic. My mom just minces some raw garlic (like half a clove) into the cat's food; you'd probably have to use less for a kitten. i just do that so they'll have really bad breath and people will be less inclined to steal them :nod:

An antisocial cat named Midnight...All Mama's Family fans, does Iola come to mind?:lol:

Originally posted by Blair85
Money is tight around here so if they are sick or something, I use my own remedies. Garlic seems to kill worms in pets. It worked for both my cat & dog. We just sprinkled garlic powder in their wet food and it killed the worms! You can also use regular garlic. My mom just minces some raw garlic (like half a clove) into the cat's food; you'd probably have to use less for a kitten.

Cool! I never heard of using garlic cloves to kill worms before. Neither of my cats have had worms for a long time if not ever. Well, the youngest which is about 2 years old has never had worms and the other one that's about 12 or 13 years old now I don't remember her ever having worms. I used to have another cat that had tapeworms a lot and my parents always had to give it dewormer. I'll have to remember the garlic cloves if I ever have a cat that gets worms at some point in the future.