Speaking of cat hair......

[Okie_girl]

Oh dear lord, I know I shouldn't do it, but I think I am about to adopt a new kitty. I lost one about 3 weeks ago, she *almost* made it to 19. We've discussed that we do NOT need another cat, until more attrition takes place. However, I have always wanted a maine coon, but wasn't willing to pay $500 and up for a cat, especially knowing there are so many sweet babies that need good homes.

I happened to look at the classifieds in the paper today, and there was an ad for maine coon kittens at an extremely reasonable price. The little girl I'm thinking about will likely be a whopper, her father is 31 pounds, and her mother is 24. I'm going to look at her in about an hour. Her owner says she's a real sweetheart, follows her around like a puppy.

I have absolutely no business getting a new cat. But a maine coon....... The only thing that would be better is if she were orange (she's silver/blue, according to the owner).

 

[Missy]

Oh Okie, I am so sorry for your loss! Big hugs! It's so difficult losing a beloved member of the family no matter how old.


Go for it girl!! Save another life!!!!!! 100% you are doing the right thing because you can give him/her an amazing loving home!!!! Sending good kitty dust your way!!!!

 

[Okie_girl]

Oh Okie, I am so sorry for your loss! Big hugs! It's so difficult losing a beloved member of the family no matter how old.


Go for it girl!! Save another life!!!!!! 100% you are doing the right thing because you can give him/her an amazing loving home!!!! Sending good kitty dust your way!!!!

Aw, thanks, Missy! Yes, it was so very difficult to lose our old girl, she was the sweetest cat ever. I still miss her so very much.

Thanks for the good kitty dust! I knew you would understand!

 

[movie zombie]

we were down to 3 cats after having 9 with Rusty's dying of cancer 3/26.

on 8/1 i brought home a 10 week old kitten. we did not need another cat but the house seems "empty" with only 3. harley has cancer and at age 18 is in remission so the timing was actually good. the opportunity to get a cat w/o baggage was too great to ignore.

i say go for it!!!!!
after disease and death for so many years in our feline population it is an absolute JOY to have this little one around.

when opportunity knocks, i believe you're a fool to not go for it. just make sure the personality will be a good fit with the existing household furbabbies. i can't stress this enough. even as a kitten personality comes through.

i encourage you to bring some joy [and, yes, some additional work admittedly] into your home!

and pictures are mandatory!!!!!!

 

[lulu]

Have you looked into a Maine Coon rescue? There may be one in your area.

 

[Okie_girl]

Well, the deed is done! New family member is home, and so far, so good! Here's a couple of crappy iphone pictures, I'll try to get some more later, once everyone is acclimated. One of the pictures is one of the older cats checking her out.

Her name is Nora, and there's a bit of a back story to that. My grandmother, who passed away over 30 years ago, always talked about a kitten she had when she was a little girl. Of course, the kitten's name was Nora. I've always wanted to give that name to a kitten, so here we are.

Lulu, I did look into maine coon rescues, but the closest to me is about 3 hours away. Not that that was too far to go, but with the household of cats I've already got, I think a kitten will work out much better. The older ones can get their bluff in, if you know what I mean.

She is an absolute doll baby. So far, she seems very laid back. Oh, and I was wrong about her dad, he is only (ha!) 29 pounds.

 

[movie zombie]

next stop: vet.

and i read something that i knew but didn't adhere to: keep new kitty separated from others for 2 weeks because of worms, etc. don't want them passed to you and/or your household felines.....vet wrote about forgetting to adhere to the rule himself.

and i certainly did not do that with Parkour.....

Nora is a great name! welcome to the pricescope family, Nora!

 

[Okie_girl]

Yes, MZ, you're right, next stop is vet. The father of the lady I got her from is a retired vet, so she provided me with all of her shot/medical records. But still, a good going-over is in order.

Nora says thanks for the welcome!

 

[tyty333]

Ob gosh...she is cute! I'm so excited for you. Its really hard to lose a loved one but so glad you still feel like you have more love to go around. My cats are only 16 and 18 lbs and I think the are big! You'll have to keep us posted on how big she gets!

 

[oranges]

congrats on your new addition-- Nora is super cute

 

[lulu]

Very cute. Congratulations!

 

[sonnyjane]

I wonder if my 9 yo kitty is part Maine Coon... he is 19 pounds!! He is huge though.. not obese (although he has that "pouch"), just VERY long/tall. The cat food bag and the internet all say that the average adult cat weighs 8-11 pounds and I can't even imagine my cat being that tiny!!! Here he is stretched out on the couch:

 

[Missy]

Ooooh Nora is a beautiful baby!!! Welcome to PS Nora!!! Thanks for sharing her pics Okie- she is a wonderful addition to your family and she is one lucky little kitten!!

 

[Okie_girl]

Tyty, thank you, Nora is just a doll. You're right, it is so hard to lose one, but I cannot imagine a house without cats. I had no intention of getting another one any time soon, but at MZ said, when opportunity knocks, sometimes you must open the door. I will definitely keep you all updated on her growth, I'm hoping she turns into a big ol' gal!

Oranges, thank you! I've been following your story of Jinx and your new kitty (I'm sorry, I can't remember his name off the top of my head), and I was so happy to hear that things are going so well.

Thank you, lulu!

Sonnyjane, your boy may definitely have some maine coon in him! 19 lbs. is a pretty good sized boy! My cats are all probably between 8 11 pounds (well, I have one very "fluffy" girl that weighs in at about 13), so yours is definitely larger than the average. Is he pretty laid back? That's supposed to be a trait of the maine coon.

Thank you, Missy! I have a friend who always says my animals are lottery winners! Guess Nora won the lottery, too.

So far, she is doing really well, and the other cats seem to be fine, with the exception of one. My precious Amelia has been under the bed since she first caught sight of Nora. I think she is mad because she's no longer the baby, but I told her she will always be my baby. I'm hoping that within a day or two, she'll be back to her usual shenanigans.

 

[sonnyjane]

Sonnyjane, your boy may definitely have some maine coon in him! 19 lbs. is a pretty good sized boy! My cats are all probably between 8 11 pounds (well, I have one very "fluffy" girl that weighs in at about 13), so yours is definitely larger than the average. Is he pretty laid back? That's supposed to be a trait of the maine coon.

Oh man, really? I don't know anything about Maine Coons other than they are big... I need to research them more! He is SUPER laid back haha! My mom has two cats, but I only have my one big guy. She came to visit me earlier this year and would always say "I feel so bad for Tiggy, I bet he would want a friend to play with! He must be so lonely!" Well... I went to work for 8 hours and she stayed at home all day with my kitty... and when I came home from work on that first day, she said "I was so wrong! He seems so happy being alone!" Last night he spent 5 straight hours sitting on the porch watching birds in the trees above us. I freaking love him. He comes when called like a puppy, and then just sits with you and watches TV. It will break my heart when he goes. We have been through so much together (health scares - both his and mine)... I just try to enjoy every second that I have with him.

ETA: Ooh I just read some MC personality traits and they fit my little buddy perfectly!!!
"While Maine Coons are highly people-oriented cats, they are not overly-dependent. They do not constantly pester you for attention, but prefer to "hang out" with their owners, investigating whatever activity you're involved in and "helping" when they can. They are not, as a general rule, known as "lap cats" but as with any personality trait there are a few Maine Coons that prefer laps. Most Maine Coons will stay close by, probably occupying the chair next to yours instead. Maines will follow you from room to room and wait outside a closed door for you to emerge. A Maine Coon will be your companion, your buddy, your pal, but hardly ever your baby.

Maine Coons are relaxed and easy-going in just about everything they do. The males tend to be the clowns while the females retain more dignity, but both remain playful throughout their lives. They generally get along well with kids and dogs, as well as other cats. They are not as vertically-oriented as some other breeds, prefering to chase objects on the ground and grasping them in their large paws -- no doubt instincts developed as professional mousers. Many Maine Coons will play "fetch" with their owners."

He loves to play fetch with twist ties

 

[justginger]

Nora is a gorgeous new addition! Congratulations, she looks lovely.

It is very difficult to figure out if 'mutts' have any particular breed in them, and many do not have what you may think they do. I've seen people convinced they have a Maine Coon due to size, Turkish Van due to coloring/hydrophilic, Bengal due to spots, etc. Every time they're just a moggie - even I've been duped! Even moggies get big, like water, play fetch, and have spots, lol. Most of these breeds are very expensive and rare (especially in my area), so crosses just do NOT occur. No one will let their purebred Bengal become pregnant with a run of the mill stray - it's a waste of a litter to a breeder. Even when they retire their breeders, they will rehome them (generally for free) STERILIZED.

Great example, these guys, all from the same calico moggie mum:



Little Jasper in the front (this was at 5 weeks old) grew to look so Birman, all of the prospective new families thought he was pure.

 

[lknvrb4]

Congrats, she is really cute!

 

[movie zombie]

cute overload, ginger!

that tuxedo is way to cute...great facial markings!

 

[Okie_girl]

Sonnyjane, your Tiggy sounds like an exceptional guy!

justginger, thanks, and indeed, that pic is cuteness overload!

lknvrb4, thank you!

Nora seems to be settling into her new home quite well. She's been exploring, and going to the litterbox like a champ! She's got quite the motor for such a little thing. She's very curious, but also very sweet and pretty darn calm for a kitten. The other kitties are taking it all in stride so far. Amelia, who spent most of last evening under the bed, has already gotten back to her usual sassy self. I think all is well in the Okie household!

 

[Okie_girl]

I can't resist posting another picture of sweet Nora. Here she is, sleeping with her new brother. And if you look closely enough, you can see Miss Sassy Pants Amelia in the top left corner. Still need to get a decent pic of Nora, but I thought this was pretty cute.

 

[sonnyjane]

Ahhhh! Too much cuteness lolol!!!

 

[justginger]

That photo is SO sweet!

 

[Maria D]

So adorable, congrats!

How is it that you bring a new cat home on the 10th and it's already cuddling up to the other cats on the 12th?! I've always tried to do the new cat introductions the "right" way, keeping them separate but letting them sniff spaces, etc. and the best outcome has been mere tolerance -- the worst being outright hatred!

Here's my cat that was adopted from a shelter as an adult. We've had her for 11 years and she has yet to meet a cat/kitten that she's liked. She may or may not be a Maine Coon, but she is from Maine!

 

[Okie_girl]

Thanks, sonnyjane and justginger, I thought that was so adorable!

MariaD, I think so much of it has to do with the older cats' personalities. Little Man, the one curled up with Nora, is about the sweetest cat I've ever known. And, really, I think it was more that "this new little thing is in my bed....oh well, guess we can share." Although, for the most part, my older cats have been pretty nonchalant about the whole thing. My two younger cats (3 and 5) have taken a little longer to get used to the idea of a new one, but they've just kept their distance so far. And I do have one grumpy old man who merely tolerates the rest of the kitties, and is not particularly happy about the new addition.

Your girl is beautiful!

 

[Okie_girl]

Shoot me, I can't stop!!!!! Couldn't resist this picture of almost the entire gang. Backsides of most, but still pretty darn cute.

 

[yssie]

Eeep!

Nora is..

Okie, your pics of your brood do nothing for my resolve! I LOVE the pic of her curled up with her new brother

 

[Missy]

Thank you for all the cat pics!!!! So precious!

 

[Okie_girl]

Yssie...obviously, I have absolutely NO resolve, so I am no help. Oh, and this is the brood minus 2. So, you're up to 4 now, right? Plenty of room for more!!!!

Missy, thanks, you enabler, you!

Okay, I swear these will be the last pics I add until Nora does something outrageously cute or she becomes a 15 lber, whichever comes first. I love the ear hair...and the extra large ears. And, I promised Amelia that since she is a little bent out of shape about not being the baby anymore, I'd share a picture of her.

 

[Missy]

OMG Okie, I am in love with your sweet sweet furbabies!! I want more kitties!! But since my dh would probably not like that idea (for now that is...give me some time ) I will have to live vicariously through all of you guys. More pics please!

 

[yssie]

Yssie...obviously, I have absolutely NO resolve, so I am no help. Oh, and this is the brood minus 2. So, you're up to 4 now, right? Plenty of room for more!!!!

Missy, thanks, you enabler, you!

Okay, I swear these will be the last pics I add until Nora does something outrageously cute or she becomes a 15 lber, whichever comes first. I love the ear hair...and the extra large ears. And, I promised Amelia that since she is a little bent out of shape about not being the baby anymore, I'd share a picture of her.

So, I suspect we'll be getting more pics in a couple of days!!
Not that I'm complaining - she's beautiful, ear tufts and all

I was SO tempted at the shelter yesterday. There was a little girl with dark brown eyes - puppy eyes, not a hint of green in them at all! DH wouldn't let me ask to cuddle her until I promised I'd put her *back* afterward...

Ohh Amelia has gorgeous eyes too, though little Nora wins on the ear hair