Pimp Your Pets

[Elvis_Christ]

Getting them in the bath must be a mission!

I'm actually warming to those kitties and they don't weird me out as much anymore.

I'd like to get a cat but everywhere I've moved into over the last 3 or 4 years has had a "No Pets" clause stated in the lease.

[cheebacheeba]

Ok, ok, so they do still have dander (and when they drool on my boyfriend he breaks out a little), but no shedding and plus you give them weekly baths, which controls the dander somewhat.

Dander-lions?

Hey I know this isn't really the place but I figured those that own/like animals would frequent this thread so it seemed appropriate enough.
So those that have followed my whole...?journey?...since the time I've been around would have seen me do a few things...I was with Playstation for a bit, then I did my cooking training and a bit of work there too, I've been trapped in a shitty office job for a fair while now (which is ok for what it is I guess), there's been some security training, and a couple of years ago you may recall me mentioning that I'd decided long term to work towards attaining a job that reflected my own personal values that I would be alright with myself, even proud of myself for doing.
In fact to go a little bit more into my reasons I was kind of put on this path by someone baiting my dog Loki a while back...I considered it the murder of a friend and I decided to dedicate myself towards stopping behaviour like this, or at least, holding back the wave a little.
So what I want, would be the role of a compliance officer/inspector with our RSPCA.
Now, I've started studies of "companion animal services" at an adult/continuing education college, and will be doing at least another 2-3 years until my studies are complete.
About a bit over a month ago now, on facebook of all places, there was a link to some jobs available at the RSPCA...in fact just one job.
Not the role I'm after in the end of course, but I guess you would say communications and dispatch?
So I applied thinking "what the hell", so after applying and emailling their department manager over about a week, I went for one interview (3 interviewers...fuckin' ambushed eh? ha) which I thought went "ok", I was pretty nervous, wasn't all that vocal but I guess I said enough of the right things, because a couple of weeks later they called me back for a "second interview" which in all honesty wasn't one, I just went in, met the manager chick I'd been emailing with, a couple of the staff, inspectors, and got showed around a bit, got to stay to see some of what gets done there.
Everything seemed pretty cool I guess.
So...I have not been told that I have the job as yet...
Though I have been asked to do a medical and provide my ID.
I have also been asked how much notice my current job will need.
So, I may be just a tad ahead of myself here guys, but I think I've got the job.
Like I said it's not the position I want to end up in...but a foot in the door of the organisation I want to work with long term, everything I want to attain is with the RSPCA and I'm so close to being there.
I will of course work towards what I want...and get the appropriate training given time and studies, and hopefully in the end I'll be there.
This is...seriously psyching me out guys...I mean I was going to work in security as a way in, I REALLY didn't want to have to do that...so, I'm now at least very close to having a full time job with the organisation, a job I can be really proud of and working towards a cause more than just making money for the first time in my life (Not that the pays half bad...).
Anyways yeah...just wanted to share.

- B.

[Scarebaby]

Originally Posted by ChronoGrl

Solution: Get hairless ones!!! ;)


Ok, ok, so they do still have dander (and when they drool on my boyfriend he breaks out a little), but no shedding and plus you give them weekly baths, which controls the dander somewhat.

Are there any other breeds of cats you can get that are 'anti-allergies'? Or is there only the Sphynx?
A friend of mine is allergic but she has found both dogs and horses that never cause her to break out.

[cheebacheeba]

Most people have allergies not to the hair but the saliva of cats, being as it is they're licking themselves clean all day etc, it mixes in with the oils on the tips of the fur as I understand it...so they walk around moving their spit onto people.
My GUESS is that the saliva is not any different in these cats, just that it's less portable and they don't leave it everywhere on the shedded hair that they don't have. Not sure if they groom the same way or not, but I'd assume since they get dry skin the saliva isn't going to be as much of a problem to those with allergies to it, it probably dries off pretty quickly.
If it's just that they don't have hair...you probably could...theoretically...shave any other cat, if you were so inclined.

That said this is purely conjecture on the basis of what I know about "cat allergies" and what the usual problem is.

[horrorzack]

This is my cat at an early age.

[ChronoGrl]

^^^ Awwww!! So cute! I just want to snuggle her! What's her name?

Originally Posted by Elvis_Christ

Getting them in the bath must be a mission!

I'm actually warming to those kitties and they don't weird me out as much anymore.

I'd like to get a cat but everywhere I've moved into over the last 3 or 4 years has had a "No Pets" clause stated in the lease.

Yeah, bathing them is an ordeal - It's gotten to the point that they've learned that filling the kitchen sink means BATH TIME so they run and hide... Even worse, Leeloo weeps while she's in the water, which makes me feel like I'm torturing her.

We were lucky about the apartment situation - About a year after we moved in, we asked our landlord and he wasn't happy about it, but let us get Ripley... We didn't ask about getting Leeloo; not sure how happy he is about that... heh.

Originally Posted by cheebacheeba

So, I may be just a tad ahead of myself here guys, but I think I've got the job.

CONGRATS, Cheebs!!! That's so awesome! What a great first step!!!

Originally Posted by Scarebaby

Are there any other breeds of cats you can get that are 'anti-allergies'? Or is there only the Sphynx?
A friend of mine is allergic but she has found both dogs and horses that never cause her to break out.

Like Cheebs said, the Sphynx aren't exactly non-allergenic... The fact that they do not shed makes it better for allergy sufferers, but they do still have dander - their skin is oily and their saliva affects people with allergies... When my boyfriend gets licked or scratched by one of them, he swells up a little bit. Fact is, though, since they do require bathing you're washing away the dander, so it makes things a little better. If you bathe them once a week, it would probably not be so bad.

It is said that Siberian cats and Abyssinians have dander that is less irritating to allergy-sufferers, but you'd have to spend time with the breed to determine your actual tolerance. So they still have dander, but apparently it bothers people less than that of regular cats.

That being said, do your research - We researched the Sphynx cat breed for quite some time before committing to them. We knew that they weren't completely allergy-free, but they don't bother the boyfriend as much as, say, my mom's cats do (she has two beautiful Maine Coons). Plus, the non-shedding aspect of it is really awesome.

[ChronoGrl]

WELL, it's Christmastime... So...

[horrorzack]

Originally Posted by ChronoGrl

^^^ Awwww!! So cute! I just want to snuggle her! What's her name?

Lol its a he. Lots of people make that mistake. His name is Taffy.

[cheebacheeba]

CONGRATS, Cheebs!!! That's so awesome! What a great first step!!!

Thankya, ma'am...hoping for the best...

[Scarebaby]

Originally Posted by ChronoGrl

Like Cheebs said, the Sphynx aren't exactly non-allergenic... The fact that they do not shed makes it better for allergy sufferers, but they do still have dander - their skin is oily and their saliva affects people with allergies... When my boyfriend gets licked or scratched by one of them, he swells up a little bit. Fact is, though, since they do require bathing you're washing away the dander, so it makes things a little better. If you bathe them once a week, it would probably not be so bad.

It is said that Siberian cats and Abyssinians have dander that is less irritating to allergy-sufferers, but you'd have to spend time with the breed to determine your actual tolerance. So they still have dander, but apparently it bothers people less than that of regular cats.

That being said, do your research - We researched the Sphynx cat breed for quite some time before committing to them. We knew that they weren't completely allergy-free, but they don't bother the boyfriend as much as, say, my mom's cats do (she has two beautiful Maine Coons). Plus, the non-shedding aspect of it is really awesome.

Gawd, Maine Coons are incredible! First time I met one of those I hadn't heard there was a breed of that size so I could hardly believe my eyes. I spent like half an hour admiring the size of his paws!
Abyssinians are also very very beautiful. They look like your guys, only with a little fur. They do seem like a nice choice but I've never owned (or had to pay for) a purebred so I'll have to be very careful when choosing.

Also, I'm glad you tell me to do my own research because that's the fault with a lot of pet owners. Recently I was all set on getting an adorable little bearded dragon (a small type of lizard, won't link in case of phobias) so I started reading everything I could find about them and now I'm definitely not getting one because they're incredibly high maintenance. Just moving them to a new apartment can apparently shock them into falling ill or even die! D8