MetaChat - Ack!! Help!!

So, there's this place just behind my house that mostly sells birds (fancy pigeons, song birds, etc.), but sometimes they have other animals, though I've never seen kitties there before. And now they have this:

≡ Click to see image ≡

(v. blurry, but these three old guys were all standing around me, making me nervous, so I just made a really quick snap)

And I think I'm in love! There are so many reasons not to do this, though: 1) I'm poor, which means that buying one (or both! eeeeeek!), getting the checkup, the shots, then the spaying is going to be a stretch (and, frankly, an indulgence).

2) I'm quite allergic to some cats, slightly allergic to others, and some don't bother me at all.

3) When I had cats before, I always had a close friend next-door-neighbor type person who could check in and take care of them while I was gone. Not so, here. It would be a distinct inconvenience for my sister in law, for example, to have to do this for us, should it come up.

4) Mister taz is going to be all "hella, no!", but every time he has a few drinks and I express my kitty longing, he goes into total sucker mode and says "yeah, we can get a kitty".

5) I really don't think I can afford both... And I hate to separate them. I'd love to get them both, actually - but finances argue against. If I don't get one, maybe someone else will get both.

7) I'm not going to have all the fancy options of cat food and litter that you guys in the U.S. and U.K. have... Of course I would look for the best stuff, but it's not really a very pet-centric society here.

Now... Let me catch my breath, and I'll cover the "arguments for", which should take a lot less space!

posted by taz 22 October | 04:58

i can't so i want you do do it for me
as it is suppose to be the perfect time for em to but i can't.
if you get it use to bathing or use different things (expand later) and feed it healthily, it won't be as allergenic
and siamese are said to be less allergenic

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:00

you probably shouldn't but he'll end up liking them as long as you don't let him know you know

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:02

don't do it

do it

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:03

Siamese taste damn good. But it's twice the work getting them in the pan.

posted by loquacious 22 October | 05:05

Hm. Looks like I missed "6". Fill in "small apartment" in that slot.

Now the "for" argument: I WANT. I WANT, I WANT. I miss having a kittycat... My last one lived to be unbelievably ancient, so I think I'm a pretty good person for a kitty to live with.

I have a small apartment, but a huge balcony... so he/she/it/they could sort of be indoor/outdoor cats if they/it wanted to. The huge balcony also connects to our building's rooftop making it a really big, fun play area... (though they/it could also conceivably get away, by going on further to other rooftops, etc.) I've never seen any cats around at all, though, so it seems probably pretty safe on that score.

Mister taz will definitely love the kitty if we get it... He's a total marshmallow heart.

That's about it for the plusses.

posted by taz 22 October | 05:07

me too but can it be the metacat with me?

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:10

i'll check with the powers that be if you like but then i'd have to shake off this lingering insobriety and my mom
(leaning toward doing that anyway)

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:12

how could he not, with your sweet tooth

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:12

There's another kind of strange element about this, which is neither a plus or minus, I guess... just odd. These kittens only cost 50 euros (that's maybe... I dunno $65-70?). I've never checked prices before... but I just did and saw siamese kittens (with papers, etc.) selling for $400 that look exactly like these. There's not going to be any of that "check-the-background-of-the-breeder", etc., stuff with these, though. It's just not like that. This is much more casual, obviously - plus I would never be able to afford it the other way.

(But I have always wanted a siamese or two, ever since I was 12)

posted by taz 22 October | 05:19

you want to breed them? i thought you only wanted a need a home kitty
ok, let me shake off the synthehol and check some stuff

posted by ethylene 22 October | 05:21

no! I don't want to breed them at all! On the contrary, I would definitely get them spayed.

posted by taz 22 October | 05:22

or neutered. I don't even know the sex at this point.

posted by taz 22 October | 05:23

Also, I should probably clarify the situation here. Normally, I wouldn't buy a cat - I just wait for one to adopt me, but it's different where I am. There are many, many "free range" cats here, but they are completely uninterested in getting into any kind of a relationship.

There are tons and tons and tons of tavernas around where I live, and they all have outdoor seating which is where everyone sits when the weather is fine, and cats get food from the patrons, probably from the restaurant, and there's lots of stuff thrown out by the meat markets and fish markets... So while there are lots of street cats, they are all well fed and healthy and not into being petted or hanging out with us two-legged types.

posted by taz 22 October | 05:30

Oh dear taz, that's a lot of problems you've got listed there - certainly too many for two kitties but one might be OK. Maybe you should run this idea by the other people involved and see what they think. And you should find out where your local vet is and how much they're likely to charge - it may not be so bad.

posted by dodgygeezer 22 October | 05:35

The only other person is mr. taz, really. I wouldn't ask a friend (or family) who doesn't live nearby to take care of him/her while we were away... I would need to cultivate a person in our building. Weird, but what the hell. Or... well, I don't have any students right now, but when I do, they always love me and would be totally glad to do it. (they come here for lessons anyway - plus I could trade lessons for kittycare!)

mr. taz always has adoring fans who'd be more than pleased to do it, I'm sure... so that part could probably be worked out, though not as simply as having a close friend right next door.

But I don't want to twist the argument too much; obviously when you have seven reasons against, and basically one reason "for" it should be kind of a simple choice... If you aren't an incredibly spoiled aging child like I am!

posted by taz 22 October | 06:01

you just said part of what i wa going to say
gimme a sec to pull it together

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:04

And, yes... I definitely need to find the closest vet, and get some info. There is a pet supply place nearby, and the lady who owns it seems to me to be German, or maybe Scandinavian (maybe it will turn out that she's regular Greek, but she doesn't look it at all)... What this means is that if she is, she probably is a serious animal lover, and might have really good advice about that. I'll try to talk to her on Monday. (Kitties might even be gone by then).

Also, I'm a no slagging on da Greeks, but as I said, kind of a different pet culture here... Not so emphatic, let's say.

posted by taz 22 October | 06:12

ok, i'll just blurp up something quick:
what if mr. taz decides he's sweeping you off to a bunny covered hillside in italy tomorrow? isn't that all fun and romantic?
aren't you a fun loving romantic?
i think the idea of the kittie(s) is also romantic and it will end up with him happier about it than you, because you might end up cleaning cat poop while wishing you were in italy

and it seems to me i shouldn't blow off my mum today

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:14

ok, now i'm wondering if today won't be a bit taxing
oh well
so it is
it'll pass

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:17

bunny, kitty
bunny, kitty
my mother my sister
my mother my sister

it's chinatown, jake

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:19

either way, someone's living in it already
and it is us
soemone link that baby!

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:20

can we name one sAhmone?

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:21

someone slap me out of it
"Jesus, snap out of it!"
-- Judas in the last temptation of christ
a HISSTerical movie that needs audience participation

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:23

Heh. Well, there's absolutely no question that I will be the poop cleaner. My income is spotty and unreliable... so even though he also works freelance, he's the one with roots here who can work the connections, etc., and it's his money that we rely on, so the housekeeping is pretty much up to me, and I don't feel the tiniest bit resentful about that.

And besides that, even back when I made more money than he did, the kitty stuff was my thing, really. He was one of those guys who fell in love with a cat-girl, and ended up with the girl... and the cat.

posted by taz 22 October | 06:26

Mrs Geezer does the poop but there's a reason why. Before we got the cat she was very insistent that she feed the cat, because then the feeder is mummy (unsurprisingly Poppy follows her all the time). I reasoned that if she was going to do that then it's only fair she should do the litter tray too - which she was happy enough about.

Having said that I often end up cleaning up the vomit and hairballs. Oh and and a few weeks ago Poppy was grinding her arse into the floor because she had a klingon - it fucking stank like hell and I had to clean it up cos it was making Mrs Geezer retch. So, you know, I didn't get off too lightly.

posted by dodgygeezer 22 October | 06:35

but if sunday turns out to be check out the bunny day, will you be ok with not having a kitty?
or is it fuck the bunny, KITTIES!

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:36

because she had a klingon -

yes there was spotaneous laughter

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:37

at least it's not her glands
stinky fear glands

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:38

you guys are the best "while working towards sleep deprivation" companions ever

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:39

capslocked pirates be damned
we have viking babies and people in bunnies
with a marked lack of capitalism

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:41

but much endeavor

[is trying to pick between incredibles dvd, sideways, arrested developement disc one, or mystery disc]

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:43

here's a story you didn't need to hear:
my cat and i lived with a girl who got a cat who would eat his food and shit pudding.
swear to [pickagod]
so after a long time of... pudding
(so sorry puddinghead)
i asked her to clean the litter box as she never did.
she freaked out, cleaned the litter box and the cat ended up living with the neighbor that day.
all unknown to me asked what about bob to a different friend.

that pudding was bananas.

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:47

--me until i asked--
or add a line break

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:48

eth, I've actually talked about the sad bunny situation thingy before... We totally can't have bunny. We have cable everywhere just from our own computer (& etc.) stuff, but mr. is a sound engineer, and he has cables around all the time in between jobs, in between getting put away somewhere... We're in constant state of cable wire mayhem... And bunnies are known to love chewing that shit. It's a definite no-go on the bunny, unless we were to keep it caged constantly, and that wouldn't be fun for any of us.

dodgy, between me and mr., I have the stronger stomach, so I don't even make him do the nastiest stuff. His very wise and logical reasons for being against (until I soften him up) are all completely valid... but he doesn't need to worry about that stuff. He already knows that, though, since during the first eight years of our lives together we had a cat... It's just that she was mine already, when we got together.

posted by taz 22 October | 06:49

i meant "bunny on a hillside" bunny, not "poop a lot 'til you die" bunny

look, woman, you want a cat, you'll get a cat, dammit

just remember, no checking in bunnies for who's living there for you, missy

he'll love it and end up all "they love me more"

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:55

the real question is do we get to name it
either one, bunny on a hillside or kitty
bunny on a hillside is sounding like a great ep title

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:58

the bunny on a hillside naming may involve someone going there and planting a flag

*raises hand*

posted by ethylene 22 October | 06:59

he'll love it and end up all "they love me more"

yeah... that's why we never had children - I always knew they'd love him more.

kidding!!! Kidding! ...But they would.

posted by taz 22 October | 07:00

ah the patter of kitty feet
kittie feet are cute, dammit

posted by ethylene 22 October | 07:02

i have access to some very cute siamese my brother rescued
if you just have some siamese thing

they have absolutely no manner, though
[may even link up pictures in a bit]

posted by ethylene 22 October | 07:05

and apparently are mostly ass button

(in general, i don't know about the two i mentioned)

posted by ethylene 22 October | 07:06

what's the record on these things?
is there a comment number to beat?

posted by ethylene 22 October | 07:30

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by ethylene 22 October | 07:33

??

posted by taz 22 October | 07:39

could somone claim this image please?
≡ Click to see image ≡
i need an explanation

posted by ethylene 22 October | 07:53

I don't recognize that creature, but I think he's nuts.

posted by taz 22 October | 07:59

At least we don't have to see his Red Riding Wood

posted by dodgygeezer 22 October | 08:04

it's All Ball and Koko reincarnated
and it's making me dizzy

posted by ethylene 22 October | 08:08

so if people start shouting we can say "for six oh six oh sake"?
meh.

posted by ethylene 22 October | 08:11

Sounds like it was meant to be, taz. Do it, you know you want to. Just look at that widdle sweetie peetie face...

I set myself a date for decision like this, as in, "if they're still there on Tuesday, they're MINE".

posted by puddinghead 22 October | 08:48

God taz, don't ask me - I would've already have gotten them. One needs to keep me away from kitty-shops, obviously. Can't we do a little collection from the all kitty-suckers (like me) here so that you can buy both kitties? (Though raising two is a bit of a handful it's great when they are older).

posted by dabitch 22 October | 08:57

heh

I guess I'm going to see how much of a fight mr. taz puts up... though I totally owe him a longterm karma decision from the time he convinced me that we should buy a white couch.

posted by taz 22 October | 09:18

That's "sofa", btw, or maybe "divan"... Doesn't matter. What matters is that we ended up with a white one, which anyone who knows us would tell you is a really bad idea.

that deserves a kitty in terms of payback. I think.

posted by taz 22 October | 09:29

Also, puddinghead... I was sort of thinking something like that. I first noticed them on Friday, saw them again on Saturday, and now won't be able to see them 'til Monday. Maybe, if they are there on Tuesday, they're MINE. Or one is.

or maybe not.

posted by taz 22 October | 09:35

[my irc picks for cat names: Wonderfalls and Thunderballs]

posted by ethylene 22 October | 09:40

I've always felt that one cat can be lonely, two cats keep each other company, three cats keeps things interesting. Right now I have two cats: Buckaroo Banzai (aka Big Kitty) 16 lbs and Penny Priddy (aka Little Kitty) 7 lbs. They are brethern and cistern. There was Peggy Priddy (aka Middle Kitty) but she passed away a couple of years ago.

I suggest you go and nuzzle them for a long period to check the allergy thing. This is very important. If you don't have an allergic reaction, you'll be hooked, so the problem will resolve itself.

Oh, yes, two cats definitely. Much more fun.

Here kitty kitty kitty.

posted by warbaby 22 October | 09:42

I've checked this out a tiny bit, and it seems it's hard to tell from when they are kittens. Evidently kittens are much less allergy-making... But maybe I'm wrong on this.

Does someone have the biscotti signal?

posted by taz 22 October | 09:51

I hate you because you forced me to go to petfinder.com and look at kittens. First, my roommate doesn't want me to get a cat. Second, I could only get one anyway, leaving all those other cute kitties behind.

Now I'm very, very sad.

posted by kmellis 22 October | 09:55

(And I'm totally in love with the Siamese kittens you've found.)

posted by kmellis 22 October | 09:56

aw! Me too!

If god didn't want me to have them, then why would he put them there in that totally obvious place that I pass by every day, that never, ever has kittens? Why?

That's what I think.

posted by taz 22 October | 10:02

sure, blame god
*sheesh*

posted by ethylene 22 October | 10:13

so... that's totally a joke, right, eth? I mean, I know it is, but... it is, isn't it?

posted by taz 22 October | 10:19

wah wah wah
but the real question is
should i politely reschedule with my mom

posted by ethylene 22 October | 10:22

oh, you already know you're gonna go get you some catscratch, so scoot
if they are still open
go get you some kitties
if not
you have a night to think about it all over again

posted by ethylene 22 October | 10:24

it's PUrrrfect for me
someone had to do it
vicarious kitties

actually that kinda sucks but oh well

posted by ethylene 22 October | 10:27

i can't have kitties, you must then have kitties
it's very simple

if he has the enormous swaying balls to bring them back
he'll do it
stare right in their kittie faces and say
"i rebuke your cuteness"

let 'im try

and finally
≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by ethylene 22 October | 10:31

oh,eth! you make me laugh so much.

But mr. taz isn't really the problem. In fact, on the list of problems, I guess I'd put him last. He will end up being even more fanatically in love with any kitten/s we get than I am, probably.

posted by taz 22 October | 10:51

taz, sometimes when I can't decide, I use the "if it was meant to be" method. Set a date a few days hence while you mull it over and decide if it's true love or just lust. If the kitties are still there on decision day, they were meant to be yours. If not, well, then... maybe some future kitty is meant to be your destiny.

posted by madamjujujive 22 October | 12:06

look
you want it, you got it, toyota

and madame? that is some wicked juju

posted by ethylene 22 October | 12:10

good gravy i want a kitty
evil
you are all evil

posted by ethylene 22 October | 12:11

Good God, woman!!! Stop listening to those people!

Get out there, RIGHT NOW, and start nuzzling those kittens.

Sheesh.

posted by warbaby 22 October | 12:15

heh, ethylene, I was saving that for a special occasion

posted by madamjujujive 22 October | 12:21

ethylene, that's from a Japanese commercial with a human dressed (obviously) as an exceedingly large Tanuki, which is a 'racoon dog' with large, erm, man-friends. Wikipedia.

posted by moonbird 22 October | 12:58

I haven't read the rest of the comments (so many!), but I think you should go for it. Having two cats isn't any more expensive than having one. And, in fact, it's probably cheaper in the long run -- they'll scratch on each other instead of on your furniture. Ditto for the going away for a few days -- with two cats, you can leave them a huge amount of food/water and let them be for several days. They'll miss you, but they'll get over it.

And as for your regional lack of fancy feast choices? Cats eat bugs. Enough said.

Do it.

posted by mudpuppie 22 October | 13:12

i vote no, sadly. maybe get a friend to get one, so you can be an aunt? (the expense and the allergy things tip it over for me, even tho kittens are adorable--think of it as seeing unbelievably fabulous designer shoes in a window or something--lust after them but don't buy.)

posted by amberglow 22 October | 13:14

Oh, and as for allergies, after a while you'll build up a tolerance. No? I think so. I really think this is true.

posted by mudpuppie 22 October | 13:15

Do it.

You take those kittens home, and everything will fall into place. You'll never find yourself saying, "Damn, I wish I'd never gotten these kittens."

If you don't get them, you'll regret it. You know this.

posted by mudpuppie 22 October | 13:18

I'm another "yes" vote. And get both of them. A second kitty really isn't much more expensive than two. Quite often you can work a deal out with your vet for half price on the second kitty or something similar. I've had single kitties and double kitties (and triple kitties when I added a pair to a single) and multi-kitties are always much happier.

As for allergies I've heard that Siamese are one of the least allergy-inducing cat breeds. Anecdotally (is that a word?), I have a S-I-L who is allergic to cats except Siamese and the related Oriental breeds. I have a family friend who is allergic to all cats. She takes an over-the-counter antihistimine and that takes care of any symptoms. Good housekeeping (bleh) can help with the allergens. Keep carpeting and fabric furniture well vaccuumed. Get good filters for any sort of air-circulating machinery (furnace, a/c, etc.). Keep animals out of your bedroom (not fun, but may be necessary).

Cats can be left alone for several days, unlike dogs. Add an extra litter box, huge bowl(s) of food and water and you can be gone four or five days. You can probably be gone longer, but it depends on your nerves (I hate being away from my beasties).

I really hope this helps, taz. As you already know, animals can add a lot of good things to your life.

posted by deborah 22 October | 14:09

If you don't buy them, they'll be split up, and that's the saddest thing I've ever heard. If they're only 100 euros together, I'm guessing it'll be another 150 euros for spaying/neurtering, tests, and shots. Of course, here in America we have low-cost animal clinics for people like you and me, who love our kitties more than we can afford them.

If you want to talk about adorably expensive kittens, let's talk about housecat-wild cat crosses. I've driven by this place before, and only the thought of being able to eat next year keeps me from buying a few.

posted by muddgirl 22 October | 15:38

Do it!

* sings We are Siamese if you plee-eez, we are Siamese if you don't please... *

posted by mudpuppie 22 October | 16:19

"...if we like we stay for maybe quite awhile..."

posted by muddgirl 22 October | 16:37

I like pets but from what you described, I would probably vote for not getting one/them, they are very cute though and had a kitty of your pictured variety a while ago, mine was a Birman. Main reason for my opinion is the point about your sister in law/inconvenience etc, but good luck with any decision you make.

posted by Chimp 22 October | 17:43

"Tanuki's testicles swing back and forth even when there is no wind blowing."

thank you, moodbird

btw the very allergic parents have no problems keeping bro's siameses but they have no manners whatsoever
but they declawed them
*shudders*

posted by ethylene 22 October | 18:19

be wary
≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by ethylene 22 October | 19:06

I still think getting two would be a mistake, but who knows. One kitty, however, is better than none and is good for the soul.

posted by dodgygeezer 22 October | 19:57

Ooh! I want one! From what I can see in the photo, the kittens look like Seal Point, Old Style or Traditional Siamese as they don't seem to have the really pronounced wedge head of the newer Siamese. I hate not having a cat around, so far the past couple of weeks I've actually been looking for a Siamese kitten but sadly they are way out of my price range as they cost 300 to 400 hundred dollars here and I just want a pet, not breeding stock, so I’ll probably get a moggy but if I could get one of those kittens taz, I‘d do it in an instant!

The Traditional Siamese grow up to look like this I don’t find the Wedgies as appealing when they are full grown but they definitely seem to be the more popular of the two.

As far as I know, Siamese cats usually litter-train their kittens themselves so you shouldn’t have to deal with many “surprises”. They are very vocal and “talk” to you all the time but not everyone likes the sound they make which is deeper than other cats.

I had a Seal point Siamese years ago, it could retrieve like a dog and would ride around on my shoulder whenever it got the chance. I never got sick of just watching this cat, as everything about it was graceful and beautiful, like a living piece of art. I looked after my cat’s sister for a few months while the owner was sick and was a bit miffed when it had the cheek to prefer it’s sister’s company to mine. I’ve found the same thing with moggies we’ve had since so I guess it depends on how much time you want to spend with the cat as to whether you get two or not. They occupy themselves better, are twice the fun but also twice as naughty!

I’ll be watching the papers closely over the next few weeks as the litters of kittens are ready for adoption about now. A few months ago, my golden eyed black cat got run over and my 21 year old Boss of the house Ginger cat had to be put down. I’m ready for my new cat now. I can’t wait.

posted by Tarrama 22 October | 23:59

deborah and mjj, you're killing me with those photos!

Tarrama, I've been reading about Siamese traits and habits this morning, and they seem very appealing - intelligent, healthy, affectionate, playful, "cuddlers". And of course, like anything else on the internet... getting terrified: "what if I can't find the right kind of catlitter" after reading dire warning of clumping clay litter... "how to protect against fleas" after reading nightmare stories of flea products. Yikes.

I still haven't decided. I'm going to see about veterinarians and pet supply tomorrow... and, of course, see if the kitties are even still there.

Also, I was thinking that the ideal thing would be to try to find out if someone in our building has pets, and, if so, make a care-agreement to watch each other's pets when the other is away, though as I mentioned, there are fewer pets here generally, so this may be unlikely. Still thinking about possible solutions on this question. Still thinking about all of it, really. But still dying to cuddle a kitty.

posted by taz 23 October | 01:06

It's love at first sight.

posted by warbaby 23 October | 02:06

22 October 2005