Best kind of cat?

[Elidor]

Have we had a poll on this lately? There are too many great cats to shoehorn into a ten-choice poll. It could be a Maine Coon or just a mongrel lap-cat, or anything in between.

I've always adored Burmese cats: little black panthers. We had two when I was a kid. Tamil, the mother, was fairly mellow, but Baranoff, her son, was the terror of the neighborhood. Although he was fed twice a day, he often brought home game to eat. Squirrels, birds, chipmunks, snakes - he killed everything that moved. And he so habitually beat up every other cat - and dog - in the area that we had people threaten to kill him several times. Fortunately, he lived to a ripe and contented old age, the rascal.

This isn't him, but a similar coat:


Baranoff was a deep chocolatey-brown all over, with not a single highlight except a small area of less-dark fur under his chin. His muscles rippled like a panther's, and he was swift, deadly, and deeply affectionate and companionable. One of the best friends I ever had. All the burmese I've known are like that, fierce and true and loving and loyal, almost like dogs at times.

But I guess the best cat is always the one you're with.

[bertha katzenengel]

1. super-pound-mutts rescued from the needle!

:bounce:

I'm partial to cornish rexes today... a few weeks ago it was sphinxes... have always loved tabbies & torties...

but the best cat is the stray, the feral, the mutt, the pound kitty. :bounce:

[Sanity Claws]

2. Thanks for telling us about your Bengal

I've just never had experience with different breeds and am not familiar with the special talents or personality traits of the breeds. Although I've been owned by a few cats in my life time, they've all been pound kitties, you know DSH. One of the two I have now may be a Maine Coon cross. In any event, I loved them all.

[Left Is Write]

3. My favorites are orange tabbies.

But I like Maine Coons also. And gray tabbies. Really, though, I'd take just about any cat.

[Guava Jelly]

4. anyone but my cat Obie

He is an @$$hole.
cute as hell but a total jerk.
He was a reserve kitty for Bayers animal testing he wasn't used so they were going to put him down..So we adopted him.
This is going to sound crappy but I think they raise these cats to be jerks so they dont feel so bad torturing them.
Who am i kidden i love that lil bastard.
he is a mackeral tabby with a racoon like tail

[Sanity Claws]

6. Tell us why you think he's a jerk

This is your chance to get it out of your system!

[Guava Jelly]

7. he terrorizes my old cat barney relentlessly

He has never seen a toilet paper roll he hasn't shreded.
He likes running out the door and making me chase him own 2 flights of stairs.Oh and he busted our Large tv by trying to get to a straw in a glass of pop Knocking the tv of the stand.
On the other hand he fetches soda pop caps like a dog.
And he is good for a hug

[Lorien]

22. Hey, that's my cat's nickname! Is it short for anything?

My Oberon (Obie) has yet to act like an asshole, though. He's even great with foster kittens!

It was wonderful of you to rescue your Obie, even if he is a jerk.

[Guava Jelly]

41. My lady named him after her friend Sue who died of cancer

obie is short for oberhelman

[flvegan]

5. The best ones are rescues

Shelter/pound/rescue cats are the best. Who the hell knows where they came from or what they are. Like most people, it doesn't matter. It's all about personality.

[Elidor]

8. Yes, personality means much more than breed

But I think some breeds have a lot of personality in general. Still, many of my furry friends have come from shelters in subsequent years, and cats in general are so excellent that it's hard to find fault with most of them. I've only known a couple that I didn't like.

[Lorien]

26. I do fostering, and there are some breeds I'm less than crazy about

I've had two purebred Bengals and they were both hell to have around the house. One of them I adopted out three times, and each time she came back to me! I had always said that I would keep any foster that I couldn't find a home for, but I DREADED the idea of keeping her. I finally did find a home for her with an older couple that had no other pets. Here's a pic of the badass:



All of the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest cat mixes I've had have been wonderful, though. Siamese are great too-if you like a very interactive, talkative pet. Purebred cats have strong and distinct personalities just like purebred dogs do, but it's important to match those strong personalities to the right human.

[Robeson]

43. Agreed.

...All three of mine are rescued kitties. And I have 4 ferels outside. But hey, I don't need to preach to the choir....;-)

[AirmensMom]

9. I can't say ...

We have three different kinds and I don't want any of them to feel inferior. :silly:

You're right, though -- it's the one you're with. :loveya:

Satchmo and Sabrina are Abyssinians. Very affectionate, cute, baby dolls. Sashka is a Russian Blue. She's Daddy's girl. Very sweet, but she wishes she was an only cat. She does NOT like to share. Sophie is our fluffy tuxedo Petsmart rescue. She loves everybody, even strangers. We call her the vacation cat because she adopts all our house guests.

In case anyone missed one of the brazillian times I've posted this pic ...
:loveya:

[Elidor]

19. What a great bunch of critters

I like Sashka the best.

[AirmensMom]

25. She is a pretty cool cat.

Satchmo's my boy, though. Heck, we love 'em all. :loveya:

[Lorien]

27. What a gorgeous crew!

I've fostered a number of Russian Blues, and each was just wonderful (all were adopted by very loving families). I've always loved Abys and Somalis; they share a lot in common (personality wise) with my beloved Turkish Angora. And your Tux is quite a looker!

[AirmensMom]

29. Hey, Lorien!

Great to see you. :hug:
And thanks for admiring my babies. :loveya: We're pretty proud of our little ones. They're all special in their own way and we love how different they are. Yours are a pretty handsome crew as well!

[NV Whino]

10. Up to this point I had nothing but foundlings and rescue cats

But I'm lusting after an Abyssinian (or two). I love their personalities. There's a cat show coming my way in April so I might get one (or two) then. Wonderful critters. And I need someone to keep my present lumbering lunk of black fur in line.

[brentspeak]

11. The best cat is no cat

Sorry, my bias is showing; I was bitten by a cat when I was four, and it's had a lifetime effect on me.

[ET Awful]

47. You're nothing but an anti-catite

:P

[ForrestGump]

12. All of them

:-)

Well, most, anyway.

I love cats. Been around them my whole life, and I really miss having one now...not practical right now, unfortunately. But it's a matter of time before my cat-magnet powers bring a furry friend into my life again. I look forward to it.

[Elidor]

13. A cat could do much worse than an Elvis fan

:)

[ForrestGump]

16. I'm the king of the jungle, they call me Tiger Man

:D

:hi:

[Roon]

14. I like smoosh faces!

[stanwyck]

15. We have two Siamese

although they're really mutts. They look Siamese, though. We got them from the "unofficial" Paulding Co. Humane Society here in Georgia. A woman who finds home for kittens and puppies. She talks vets into free exams, shots, de-worming, etc. She brought kittens to work knowing by the end of the day she'd have homes for them. And we took two. That was 10 years ago. We also got two "beagles" (again...that's the predominant breed, they're also mutts) from her.
My daughter has a wolf hybrid pup (wolf/husky) which is a beautiful, sweet dog.
And, finally, we're ferret free. After years of being the unofficial foster ferret family (we'd take in the ferrets who got kicked out of homes where the parents were actually in control), we now have no ferrets. My daughter's ex-boyfriend took both ferrets.
I miss that boyfriend. He's a sweetie. I don't miss the ferrets.

[mitchum]

17. Tuxedo cat, but all cats are great

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Always the ones I currently own at any given time. *g* However

the two I have now are Maine Coon mutts.. I love their faces and their chirpiness.

[SofaKingLiberal]

20. two headed cats

[Lorien]

21. I love Maine Coon and Turkish Angora personalities

My MC (Oberon) is a sweet, loyal and somewhat goofy guy, while Puck (my Turk) is energetic, also quite devoted, very intelligent (often referred to as "the Border Collie of the cat world")and extremely quirky. She walks on a leash and has long conversations with everyone that she meets!

My beloved late half Turk Peewee-a runt and a rescue kitty-was probably the best pet I've ever had, though I certainly adore my current crew.

Oberon:





Puck:






Puck and Obie:

[AirmensMom]

30. Gorgeous, gorgeous kitties!

:loveya:

What are they doing in the bathtub?

[Lorien]

33. Hanging out and playing their own home movies

they are odd, eccentric beasts, but they keep my old domestic shorthair and I quite entertained. ;-)

:hi:

[AirmensMom]

34. Ha! Mine use the tub as an arena.

They bring in little lizards from the screened patio (stupid lizards!) and put them in the tub. Then all four cats chase the poor lizard around the tub. It's pretty funny.

:rofl:

Gotta love 'em!

[Lorien]

35. Gah! I'm glad mine haven't been able to catch them (yet)

Puck tries when she's on her walks, but she always narrowly misses them (thank goodness)! Ah, the joys of living in Florida! Hope you don't find little lizard bits around the house (Blech)!

[AirmensMom]

38. No, I rescue them before they get used up.

Put them back in the garden and let them recover. What I REALLY don't like is when they bring in those little black snakes. Satchmo carries them around in his mouth and it makes him look like he has a long mustache.

The lizards are pretty stupid, though. I saw one run under the screen door right into Sashka's mouth one time. She wasn't into hunting until then, but all the other kitties came over to see her new toy and she decided she liked that game. Now she's the best one of all. No lizard, frog, or snake is safe in our screen enclosure. :)

[bif]

23. Maine Coon Cat

We went out east on vacation a few times a couple years ago. And a lot of the B&Bs had Maine Coon Cats. They were the friendliest, most personable cats I've ever encountered. When our cat finally dies, even though we said we'd never get another cat, I'm getting a MCC. My wife's gonna kill me!

[Lorien]

28. They are indeed!

PM me when you decide to bring one home (I know a few reputable breeders, and sometimes they do adoptions). I got mine as a companion for my elderly domestic shorthair-Maine Coons are great with older cats!

[ForrestGump]

42. I love Maine Coon cats...

I love all cats, really, but I once knew a (communal, outdoor-living, dumped) Maine Coon -- he was mostly Maine Coon, anyway, without question -- who was a real character. Beautful beasties, too, and I kind of like the oversized aspect of them, too...I'm big, so I can relate. :-)

I've admired your furry friend ever since you first posted pictures here...pretty darned magnificent!

[chknltl]

24. This advice from a bicycle shop owner:

"The best bike you can possibly own is the one you will ride" (Garage bikes, no matter how pricey are no lnger best bikes).

So if I may modify that sage wisdom: "The best cat you can possibly own is whichever one you wish to provide a home for".
c

[barb162]

31. any cat is a best cat, but the rescues are the "bestest"

[Tallison]

32. Orange ones n/t

[leftofthedial]

36. the best kind of cat

is a dog

[MiniMandaRuth]

37. Russian Blues.

I had one for a while, but she ran away. One of the most unusual cats I have ever gotten.

Beautiful animals. They have a silver top-coat and then a plush undercoat, and the most beautiful green eyes.

[TrogL]

40. I've got a russian blue black tabby cross

Cat's completely psycho.

Some of her favourite stunts:

• You are not allowed in the bathroom alone. Get over it.
  
• Beating up a resident tom twice her size. Daily.
  
• Guarding the hall. Anybody trying to pass gets the whole hiss and howl routine.
  
• Purring and growling at the same time
  
• You are not allowed to use the computer mouse or keyboard if she wants to sleep there. Oh, you like stitches do you?
  
• Kill the cover mouse. Oh, was that your foot?
  

[Jamastiene]

39. I think some people call them "alley cats."

Domestic Shorthair, if you want to be technical about it. I have found that the best course of action when choosing the perfect pets is to let them come to me. And they always do. You see, I have the word "sucker" written on my forehead in invisible animals-can-see-it-only ink. The language is universal. The seek me out no matter where I am too. I can be 1000 miles away from home and animals know me. Went to visit a friend in New York once. It was the first time I would be staying at her parent's house. Her dog and her whole family had never met me before this. I was car sick once we got there and tired so I needed to sack out on the couch. In one synchronized motion, the dog and I hit the couch for a nap at the same time. The dog slept with me the rest of the night. My friend's parents said they knew they would sleep safe with me in their home even though they didn't already know me. They knew their dog liked me and that was enough for them to realize I was "safe."

I talk to animals when I see them. There is a cat that hangs out at the little gas station down the street. I say hello to the cat every time I go in to pay. In the past cats and dogs have brought me their babies when they were sick. They knew I would find out what was wrong and help them. It's just a thing with animals.

Strays are the best. Let them come to you. Be kind to them and they will. It is a mutual trust building bond that will last a lifetime.

[EFerrari]

44. Huggers.

I went 3 over my two cat limit when I was fostering. All three were little gargoyles who were pretty much unadoptable. Then, just before we moved, we couldn't place the twins. They had been abused and had spent months hiding behind doors and hissing at us. So, into the car they went. They're much better now, beautiful and hug even with their back feet! They still sleep together like kittens. We're really glad they live with us. :)

[purr]

45. I love my Sphynx.

I have 2 and they are the most wonderful cats I've owned in my entire life. When I sit down at least one of them will be sitting in my lap guaranteed. I also have both of them sleeping under the covers with me at night. Very social cats too, when someone comes in the house my female sphynx will run over and greet who came in. My male sphynx was abused and I got him from a Sphynx rescue so hes a little bit more reserved, but he has warmed up to me and is a sweet sweet boy.

Heres Osiris, my female Sphynx:



Heres Prince, my male Sphynx:



Now they have some hair - which they both got when they were fixed. As my breeder explained it to me, they will grow various degrees of hair when they get fixed.

[ET Awful]

46. The best kind of kitty in the world is a Quinn or Althea

:P

[RumpusCat]

48. that one in the cage at the pound

that catches your eye and starts purring the moment you pick it up. ^___^

[TX-RAT]

49. Bobcats

Found a young one ( eyes still closed ), around 12 years ago, raised him (MR. Spock)in the house until he was about 6 months. Slowly started him on the outdoors. He hung around here for about 6 years, coming up to the porch to eat, with the rest of the cats. I've got allot of bobcats on my place, my hunters have standing orders not to shoot.