Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yesterday]

I have recently moved to a larger (single) apartment and having been thinking about getting a small dog or a cat.

Actually i would prefer to lean towards getting a cat - due to the fact that I am away from home for at least 10 hours per day and the dog might annoy the neighbours by continual barking if bored - and also because dogs make messier (dongs) and the smell is worse? - I think.

However - I am also unsure about a cat - do they smell a lot if not properly house trained? is it easy to house train them? - do they get bored if noone is at home? do they accidentally knock things over and have bad habits? etc etc....

I have a beautiful apartment and always keep it perfectly clean - I would like to know from other pet owners - what you think - should I get a pet - how difficult are they for apartment living - and what problems do they cause ...... Also - are they easy to maintain - what special treatment/medical stuff do they need and is it the right/wrong thing to contemplate?

[schwa]

Cat sounds more suitable for the situation you describe -- they tend to be independent, self-amusing, self-cleaning. Takes a bit of effort & affection on your part to work out the rules of happy coexistence but its not difficult.

Premium dry catfood & fresh water is all the sustenance they need. You'll need a good scratching post to train them away from your furniture (which if its naugahyde you got problems). Good litter in the litter box your cat's happy & no smell. Desexing around 6 months old should be your only major visit to the vet.

A kitten will mess around with your houseplants, maybe put clawmarks in your wallpaper (not a big deal to landlords here), & cause unexpected havoc, but nothing too serious. An older cat will be more sedate. 2 cats will play with each other but one alone will find more mischief. Only one you'll need to find some daily playtime together.

It is a commitment. If you're not here for the long haul you need to give some thought beforehand to what after. A healthy cat will live 10 to 15 years & if its loved & well cared for for a year or 2, abandonment in Korea would be a cruel fate.

My 2 are very gratifying & a lot of fun.

[phaedrus]

Cats basically house train themselves. Get a covered litter box and scoopable litter, if you can find that here, and you'll have no stink.

Cats are mischievous though, so plants and curtains and stuff may get a little damaged if you don't discipline the cat. Overall though just set the standards from the start, and you'll be fine. Cats are maintence free basically. They require food and love. No walks for poop, no walks for exercise, they don't yap too much. They are great.

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs too, but not in Korea. I need a big dog, and that would be torture for me and the dog here.

I think cats are great for bugs. If there is a bug in your apartment, the cat knows where it is. Its like bug radar. Really!

Be careful about returns to home though. I think animals have to be kept in quarantine for six months in Canada at least, not sure about other countries. This is why I'm waiting till I go back home for good to get an animal.

[VanIslander]

I've reversed my stand on the issue of responsibility.

I used to think that if one couldn't commit to more than a year or two, then getting a young cat is irresponsible unless you go out of your way to find a good home for the kitty afterwards.

Now I think get a cat by all means if you live in Korea because whatever attention, or lack thereof, you give will undoubtably be better than the fate awaiting 90% of cats in this country.

Do what you can to make even one cat's life a bit happier. Don't worry if you're providing less than you should. Food, water, shelter and ten minutes a day of affectionate petting is good enough, I now think.

I haven't gotten a cat yet, but I think I will soon.

Hope you get yours soon too.

[Ya-ta Boy]

With the right kind of living environment, I think dogs make better pets. But for an apartment-dweller who is gone for 10 hours a day, a cat is a better deal.

Last summer I got two kittens and I couldn't be happier. And I think they are also happy. I started with one, but her litter mate showed up and I felt sorry for her, too. It was a good decision though, because they keep each other entertained and are not at all jealous.

Be sure to get your cat shots in the first few days.

One or two days is all it takes to house break a cat. It depends on how quick you are at catching it during the act and dumping the cat in the litter box. If you miss the actual deed, clean it up with a paper towel and put that in the litter box. The cat will follow the scent the next time.

Buy a SQUIRT gun and fill it with water. Keep it handy for when the kitten does something you don't want...like bat the house plant. A quick squirt a time or two and the lesson is learned.

If you get a female, be sure to get the surgery done before puberty sets in. I made the mistake of waiting too long. Valentine's Day weekend was hell around here. OC was yowling for an hour or so at a time.

Be prepared for half of your Korean friends to freak out when they see a cat in your apartment.

We live on the second floor. After 3 months I took the cover off the newspaper delivery hole in the door and covered it with a piece of plastic to keep the mosquitos out, so the girls can go out and come in at will. (We live right at the foot of a mountain on a dead-end street, so they have a great cat-friendly area to play and hunt.)

Expect a few minutes of mandatory snuggle time when you go to bed. Alley Cat has to have her tummy rubbed and Other Cat demands a head and jaw scratch.