Cavies and kittens?

**ms pixie riot** · #1 07-10-08, 11:08 am

Who here has both? Did you have the cavies first, or the cats first?

I've wanted kitties for years, and a friend's cat had kittens... she's having a LOT of trouble finding homes for them, and they will end up in a shelter if no one wants them. :-( I would really like to take one or two, but I'm not sure how it will work with having cavies in the house.

I'd really appreciate some advice from those of you who live with both!

**Newpiggiemom** · #2 07-10-08, 12:04 pm

I have one cat and three pigs. The cat is occasionally interested in the pigs but mostly ignores them. I have a top on my cage but once the cat decided she wanted to be a pig and went into the pigs' floor time area.

I have seen lots of people's pictures of cats with their piggies. I wouldn't leave them alone though.

**paula.m.moore** · #3 07-10-08, 12:11 pm

I have a cat. He's rather frightened of the pigs.

Put a top on your cage and make sure the cats can't get in and don't leave them alone without your supervision and I think it would be fine.

**krittercrazy** · #4 07-10-08, 12:21 pm

I have 5 cats and have not had a problem with the cats trying to harm them. The problem I did have was the cats wanting to use the guinea pigs cages as litter boxes so I have lids now to keep the cats out.

**VoodooJoint** · #5 07-10-08, 12:56 pm

Cats and GPs usually get along fine but keep a playful kitten away from the GPs. Kittens usually play to rough and can easily injure a GP accidentally.

On another note; Is your friend going to be getting her cat spayed? I hope so. Over 4 million animals are euthanized each year simply because there aren't enough homes. The world does need more animals being born. Your friend should also be paying to get all of those kittens spayed/neutered BEFORE placing them in homes in order to help keep this cycle from repeating.

If she is not going to be getting her cat spayed or if she purposely allowed her cat to breed then you should not be taking any kittens from her. Let her deal with the guilt and shame of dumping these kittens at the shelter. Then you can go to the shelter and rescue one but do not take away her responsibility towards those kittens.

**ms pixie riot** · #6 07-10-08, 02:30 pm

It's her sister's cat, I don't know if she plans on having it spayed, I don't really know the sister.

Sadly, I couldn't afford to rescue them from the shelter right now if she dumps them there. It will be a few weeks before I'm going to be back to full income (I'm finishing paying off a few big bills), so food and litter and toys and an initial vet visit are going to tap me out til the end of the month... and if they were at that shelter and I waited until then, they might not make it. It's not a no-kill shelter here.

**PrayerWarrior** · #7 07-10-08, 02:33 pm

Like people have said, you should be fine with a lid. I have two cats (had them before the pigs), and one is terrified of the pigs, and the other is curious, but won't get too close when the pigs stick their noses at him!

Good luck with everything, Pixie.

**VoodooJoint** · #8 07-10-08, 05:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms pixie riot

I couldn't afford to rescue them from the shelter right now if she dumps them there.

You can't afford to rescue? Can you afford to spay and neuter the animal? Get it the shots it will need as well as treat any illness and/or injury it could get? Those are all VERY important things to be able to afford if you are going to get a cat. It is irresponsible to get a pet if you cannot afford it.

**ms pixie riot** · #9 07-10-08, 09:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

You can't afford to rescue? Can you afford to spay and neuter the animal? Get it the shots it will need as well as treat any illness and/or injury it could get? Those are all VERY important things to be able to afford if you are going to get a cat. It is irresponsible to get a pet if you cannot afford it.

That's why I said I couldn't afford a rescue _right now_. Next month, as I said in my post, I will be back to my full income. Then there is money for spaying, shots, etc etc. The kitten doesn't need to be spayed the first day it comes home. The money just doesn't exist right this moment, which is why I said that I worry whether the kittens will still be there then.

I absolutely do not lightly enter into taking on the responsibility of a pet.

**ittybitty98577** · #10 07-10-08, 10:04 pm

I have two kittens that were born in the house. And I also have an open cage. The kittens just look in through the grids or they will stand up and rest against a grid. But when they were younger like 5 weeks I think, the kittens and pigs had floor time together. I think since they are so young the dont think of them are prey animals more like weird looking litter mates. But I dont know if it will change in the future. I hope not...

**Ziggy&Herald** · #11 07-11-08, 12:53 pm

I have 3 cats inside. They were all adult cats when the pigs were brought in. Two of them are afraid of the pigs and wont go any where near them. The other loves the pigs. He likes to lay with them. I do have a problem with the cat stirring around the litter boxes in the pigs cage if he is in there, but he doesn't use the bathroom in it.

Kittens are more playful and interested in everything. A long as you have a lid on the cage, I think you should be fine.

**luvsgiraffes** · #12 07-19-08, 02:12 am

I had my two cats first. When I brought my girls home I put a lid on the cage for the dog. One cat looked at them, then really could care less... the other I think is afraid of them. I think keeping an eye on them when they have a chance to be together should be fine. (Just don't let them play together or be together without supervision)

Also, you can teach a kitten when it is behaving inappropriately with the piggies (clawing the cage etc)

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