Rehoming a pair of cats- any advice?

[Rosie2000]

We have been thinking about getting a cat/kitten for some time.
I would prefer to rehome a pair of (youngish) cats rather than kittens. I live with my four children -aged 10-16- and I have had cats before but not since having the children.
I’m usually out the house all day, kids back around 4 but they spend a few days after school with their father on alternate weeks. I currently rent, landlord has no issue with us getting cats or a dog. An issue would be installing a catflap but there is one solid door to a lean-to off the kitchen I could potentially put one in.
I have seen a pair of cats on the RSPCA website and just wanted to make sure I had thought of all possibilities before completing the application. Can anyone offer advice on rehoming a cat- insurance, cost of food etc, I would be very grateful. I am alone every other weekend and having some company would be wonderful- even a fickle cat

[thecatneuterer]

The main issue would be how safe is the garden? Is there easy access to the road? (the best situation would be a house in the middle of a block of terrace houses with adjoining gardens as is common in London). And what is the nearest road like?

Everything else sounds fine.

[bluebluezoo]

If you’re renting, how stable are you?

Bearing in mind cat can live 15-20 years on average, your current landlord may be OK, but it’s difficult to move with pets.

[BovaryX]

I agree with those saying cats can live 15 years or more, and it's a long term commitment. If you get two, I would strongly advise that you make sure they get on well with each other. Maybe siblings? Or cats that have been together? Your local rescue should be able to advise on that.

[thecatneuterer]

Yes having cats will certainly limit your ability to move. Not only do you need to find somewhere that accepts pets, you also need to consider how safe it would be for the cats.

[Vinorosso74]

It is definitely worth thinking about the long term as others have said as some landlords are funny about pets. Will your current landlord provide a letter/written confirmation that you can have a cat(s) as some rescues will require that.
The rescues are normally clued up on which pairs are bonded.

[Rosie2000]

Thank you- yes it’s a bonded pair I have seen.
I’m hoping to buy a house in the near future.
There is a country lane behind the house. The garden is not secure but previously when I have had cats they have just gone off where they want, is the expectation now that they only stay in your garden? This will not be possible so will tell the rescue centre this.
I appreciate all the advice, lots to consider.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

If your move is in the near future then wait till you move .

There will always be cats sadly .

We put a micro chipped catflap ( about £55) into a glass French Door ( this was IIRC about £250ish)

Cats were £80 each ( neutered/chipped/vaccinated)

Food about £15 every 10 days , add extra for treats

Insurance , I don't know , DH set this up but it wasn't ££ my two are young .

When we were Cat Searching , the CPL wanted to know about roads, garden, DC (mine are young adults) , things like any plans to move ./ building work.
They were very Judgey when they came to fit their glass panel. We had to give them measurements + the door and wait about 3 weeks. Had to herd the cats upstairs and let a stranger in !

Mine are well settled now but I think any changes would un-nerve them.


Two cats are lovely , they can play , ignore each other , chase each other .
You need a Black Cat in your life . We got two and still cannot tell the blighters apart some days
So my Top Tip - don't get identical twins !

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

They were very Judgey

The cats were Judgey , not the lovely CPL

[thecatneuterer]

No, there is no expectation that cats would only stay in your garden. Only that they shouldn't have easy access to any dangerous roads, which doesn't seem to be the case for you.

[Elouera]

Along with what others have said re-long term, who will pay for the cat flap in the current rental? You or the landlord? I'd get it in writing who will pay and that landlord is indeed happy/ok with having their door damaged to accommodate it.

I actually walked past a home yesterday where they had used a sash window as a catflap! Window had been proped open and a large strip of wood put across the gap, with a cat flap in the wooden strip. I have no idea how secure this was, as surely someone could just push the wooden strip in, but maybe there is a commercial option available for windows?

[redwoodmazza]

We got a pair of brothers from Cats Protection about 9 years ago. I had only ever had a single cat until then but decided 2 would be as easy as one to look after. They are.

They don't snuggle up with each other at all but have 'pretend' fights every day! They like to be in our garden but also wander around the nearby neighbourhood. I think it's unreasonable to expect a cat to remain in just the garden - unless maybe it's an older cat who wants a quiet life. A boundary fence to us is just another challenge to a cat!

We had an issue with a local 'thug' cat coming through our cat-flap and fighting our two in OUR house. We then invested in a cat-flap that is activated by their microchips which cured the problem.

We have never taken out pet insurance but put aside the equivalent monthly amount to have ready for any emergency.

They were fed on Felix cat food in Cats Protection - but now won't eat anything other than Lidl! They have a constant supply of cat biscuits from a shared dispenser but they have their own dishes for wet meat from pouches. I tend not to feed them together as one prefers the gravy and pushes the other out of the way to eat it from his dish too.

Good luck.
Go for it!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Add on - litter ( I get huge bags of Cats Best from Amazon. Lasts ages but the outlay is £ . About £50 for two 13kg bags ) Depends on what you want to use , what your cat likes .

Tray/s
I got one of those honeycomb rubber mats that I pretend to myself traps the litter . It does (sort of)

Boarding - if you go away , add this onto the price of your holiday . I paid my DC to look after them when I went away . I know they're Family Cats and after my DS said he would've done it for £0 . After I paid him

Vaccines , worming, flea drops .(for 2 cats)
Vaccines were £38
Worning £17 (3 months)
Advocate drops £53 (3 months)

• VAT
  
  Bear in mind , you cannot get a Vet at the moment for routine appointments .
  I don't know if any Rescues are re homing right now - but you could ask to buy a supply of tablets/drops until you can get to the vet . ?

[thecatneuterer]

We have never taken out pet insurance but put aside the equivalent monthly amount to have ready for any emergency.

That's fine. As long as you have access to at least £3000 in savings/possible and serviceable loans from day one. If you do, then you can risk not having insurance as it may well work out cheaper. If you don't have that sort of amount in savings you could spare if necessary, then you need insurance.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I know you're posting for Advice but what you Really Really want is gratuitous Cat Photos .

Here are my Stealth Panthers ......... lazing

[redwoodmazza]

@thecatneuterer
Luckily we do!

[Vinorosso74]

I am definitely in favour of insurance and a decent one too with lifetime cover. Vet surgeries tend to know which insurers to avoid.
Our old girl ran up some horrendous vet bills in the last 3 years of her life. We switched insurers (to Petplan, unfortunately she was too old for lifetime cover) and they paid out £6k over 2 years (3k annual limit) but we still had to pay out an equal amount as we didn't have lifetime cover.
Current lad ran up bill of £2.5k last year (we have lifetime cover up to £10k a year for him). It costs us £50 a month which isn't cheap but it depends on where you live-we're London and if I get a quote at my parents address it's £20 less.

[Rosie2000]

I just typed a long reply that disappeared but thank you so much for all your replies!
Landlord has been in touch and offered to put in cat flap.
With regards to litter trays I imagine they will need one to begin with can they then be trained to go outside? This is what the cats I grew up with did.
I’m going to contact the rehoming centre- RSPCA- and send in an application form. We may not be accepted with my being out all day anyway.
Thanks again- you lot a fab

[bluebluezoo]

We have never taken out pet insurance but put aside the equivalent monthly amount to have ready for any emergency.

That's fine. As long as you have access to at least £3000 in savings/possible and serviceable loans from day one. If you do, then you can risk not having insurance as it may well work out cheaper

My first cat over 20 years ago had health issues. I got insurance quotes which were £££££ plus didn’t cover her head, neck, cardiac or respiratory systems.

I started putting £15/month in a savings account instead. It amuses vets when they asked if she was insured and I’d say she had her own savings account and could afford it!

Fortunately I never really needed it, so my second cat had an “inheritance” and is now independently wealthy! I think she has about £5k currently...

If you can I’d suggest putting aside about 3k in lieu of insurance. Set up a dd for the “premium” and that will do in the majority of cases.

[JKScot4]

Bear in mind they do need to be kept indoors for at least 4 weeks.

[thecatneuterer]

If you want a pair then being out all day shouldn't be a problem.

[Bananabixfloof]

With regards to litter trays I imagine they will need one to begin with can they then be trained to go outside
Al my previous cats have trained themselves to only go outside. My current cat is a complete wuss in winter or on rainy days and uses the tray. So I have a permanent litter tray used all the time in winter and occasionally in spring, summer and autumn,.

[thecatneuterer]

With regards to litter trays I imagine they will need one to begin with can they then be trained to go outside? This is what the cats I grew up with did.

No, you should always have a litter tray available. Cats often don't like to go out - for example if it's raining, or the ground is frozen, or there's another scary looking cat/fox outside. So they may choose to go out but you should never aim to take the tray away. It's also very useful as it will be obvious if they get cystitis/blocked bladder etc, which it wouldn't be if they didn't have a tray.

[Vinorosso74]

Our lad prefers the garden but he has a litter tray available for overnight etc. He may not use it for weeks but it's there. I wouldn't like to be without a loo!

[Rosie2000]

Well the pair I was interested in have been reserved but I’m putting in an application in the hope s as mother pair come in. The shelter said it’s quiet at present but they are expecting an influx in the coming months. Thank you again- hopefully I’ll be back again when the right ones are matched with us.

[thecatneuterer]

Yes we are just heading into the start of the 'influx' months. I'm sure you'll have your new family members fairly soon.