Choosing between two cats to adopt

[Pluto30]

Hi everyone,


We lost our cat - 20yo - in May, and said we wouldn't get another. However, we follow the FB page of our local shelter and see cats coming up often. We thought we'd consider getting another cat as we do miss our old cat.

We initially saw a post about a female cat who has been there for 5 months. She's always been in with another cat as she's apparently very social and confident. We went to see her today and she was very affectionate: licking us, grooming the other cat in the enclosure etc. But we worry because she's quite small and very agile, and apparently "likes to play". We have two dogs so would like a cat who is able to stand her ground a bit, but we worry that if she's very demanding of attention etc. that she might resort to scratching furniture, curtains etc. But we feel bad as she has been there 5 months and has seen other cats come and go in that time.

The second cat we didn't intend to look at. He's about 3, they think, a great big fluffy boy. He's got FIV, however they assure us that if he's kept inside and in good health, he should be fine. We think he'd be able to stand his ground better with the dogs, and he was very eager to get our attention. What we worry about is him getting out of the dog door and wandering. Also, worried about having a male cat inside. Do they spray? He'll be desexed before he comes home...

I suppose we're just anxious about which of the two would be more suited to us. Both have something that pulls at our heart strings, but getting both is not an option.

Any advice would be wonderful.

[MsMims]

Did the shelter not tell you to keep him in for a few weeks while he settles? I really wouldn't allow him outside so soon. He needs to bond to you and orientate himself first.

[viques]

I am so glad you found your new boy. I was reading through and thinking "neither of those cats is right for your situation, go back and look again". And you did!

[Pluto30]

Nope.

He's been fine though. When we aren't here, I shut him on one side of the house so he has access to the laundry (where his food and everything are), two bedrooms and a sunroom, and when we're here, he has free roam. He's been coming in and out all afternoon. He bolted back through the door when he heard me get out his food.