Off-Topic

Toys.

Consider getting two cats instead of one so that they have company when you are not home. You should also have enough litter boxes so that every cat would have its own, plus one more. so have two for one cat, three for two cats, etc.

Definitely make sure the cat is spayed or neutered, but that shouldn't be an issue coming from a shelter.

I have a few rescue cats and wouldn't trade them for anything, but they might take some time to warm up to a new environment. Always a chance they pee outside the litter boxes.

Hope that helps. Have fun!

All good advice. My cats are rescues and I love 'em to death. Naturally, younger cats can be easier to train but there a lot of people take joy in taking in older cats... breaks my heart to see the older cats in shelters.

Just spend plenty of time with it and having one will be fine.

You most likely won't have any behavior issues, but depending on the cat's background you never know. Honestly I can't think of any downsides, but I'm a cat person.

The last thing I would recommend is please don't declaw your cat. I know it means extra work keeping them from scratching things, but it's a pretty traumatic experience for a cat.

If you have two litter boxes and scoop them each night, you should be fine.

Litter is one of those things you don't want to be a cheapskate about. Buy the good kind and change the boxes completely once a week.

Did it once. Would never do it again.

get dogs instead.

Cats are intellectual animals. They carry mental baggage. Got one (two year old female) - loved it, fed it, clean litter box, blah, blah, blah. Noticed after a while it started getting more and more aggressive towards me and my ex and the other cat that I got as literally a newborn kitten and had the greatest personality. Turns out after repeated phone calls to the SPCA as this was happening they finally told me she had been abused. They failed to disclose that or truthfully answer questions (I asked) during the adoption process. Ex and I had our first child and had my arm shredded when I stopped the adopted cat from attacking the infant. Dropped that bitch off the next day at the kill shelter and didn't even bother to take my cage back with me.

Just my story. I would be very wary about the cat's background. Odds are the shelter, SPCA, whatever will not give you a straight story.

Cats in and of themselves are pretty good pets. Just be careful.

Just get a kitten/very young cat. Then chances are it wasn't abused and it grows up learning about you. artielange's story sounds like 1 in 100.

Stick your finger in the cage to play with it. Make sure it doesn't use its claws when it plays.

Dogs are better friends but 1000x or so harder and more expensive to take care of. A cat will stay home by itself for a week while you are on vacation.

If the shelter gives you a hard time, which they will, go to pet smart or petco to get one. They are cheaper and they are last chance rescues anyway. If you buy one, they save go get another one from the shelter.

Here she is!

hmm i wonder whose idea this was!