Cats as pets - what do you wish you'd known?

[KiplingAngelCake]

We're considering getting a pet cat or dog next year. DH and DCs are super keen, but I'm a bit lukewarm about the idea. I've never had or wanted a pet, so this is new territory for me.

We are erring towards a cat, as we don't have tons of space and I'd be worried about a dog getting enough exercise as DH and I work long hours and DCs are too little to take a dog out alone.

Anyway, just wondering what you wish you'd known before getting a pet cat? Thanks!

Even if you buy scratch posts for every room, they will still prefer your sofa/door/rug (anything they can get their claws into).

Cats don't smell but their food and litter really does - your house will occasionally be smelly.

But the biggest one - I wish I'd known how much they end up stealing your heart because once they're gone, it's heartbreaking!

Some cats are not pets. They just live in your house. We've had many cats over the years and one in particular, whom we loved regardless, was not a pet. She didnt like cuddles, or going out or the other pets, or general interaction.

They worm their way into your hearts - breaking them to bits when they die/go missing etc.

They also can bring lots of love and joy. I don't recall us ever not having cats when I lived at home and they became surrogate members of our family with lots of happy memories.

Agreed with above! I wish I'd got a cat sooner. I grew up in a house full of dogs so never imagined I'd become a cat lady!

Mine are good about using the scratch posts. But remember you will never be able to train them...they do their own thing always. And you don't have to walk them when it's lashing down.

The only downside is the occasional 'present' they may bring you.

Oh and DO NOT bother buying cat beds. Total waste of money. They will sleep on the bed/sofa/washing basket/windowsill/handbag.

The killing sprees. Have never had to deal with so many mauled birds, mice, squirrels.

The wrecked relationships with neighbours after one too many cat attacks on a neighbours cat or cat jumping in neighbours open bedroom window.

The feeling that if a complete stranger vaguely waved a bag of cat treats in their direction they'd leave you for good, without a second thought.

If our cat was a person we'd think he was a complete t*at. But as he has four legs and fur we ingratiate ourselves. Go figure.

And they spend a lot of time asleep, while being constantly alert for the opening of the fridge door.

They are arseholes, small, fluffy, wonderful arseholes.

And there is NOTHING NOTHING you can do when you hear that patter of paws on the landing in the middle of the night other than get up and get them anything they want. Because if you don’t THEY START VIBRATING. But then you google it and they come up because they miss you and you look at the little furry face and just think.
‘Let me be’
But they don’t and then one day you stop fighting it and you resign yourself to being their servant to cater to their every whim. From moving out of your chair so they can sit down, to incorporating a five foot cat tree into your living room decor because it makes them happy, to spending £4.50 on three tins of John West tuna because they don’t like the other brands.

But the worst is lying awake at night wondering if you’re a good enough servant... are they lonely? Are they bored? Have you flead them? They haven’t left the house in days; are they ill? Do they need more toys? Until you take them for another £80 consultation at the vet to be told there’s nothing wrong.

Also you play with them and you let them scratch your hands to make them happy except when you try and wash up it burns from the dish soap and everything smells mildly of fish.

And you greet the cat before you greet your kids.

And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

I have a dog and a cat. I got the cat first but there's no comparison between the two. The dog is a real companion, he's loyal, affectionate and so much fun. The cat is a pretty furry thing that wafts around the house/garden and lets me pet her occasionally. I leave the dog for long hours during the day and he's absolutely fine (he's older mind, you couldn't do this with a pup). He only needs about 45 minutes exercise because he's quite small and this is plenty. You could look at rescue dogs and gauge their personalities.

I have grown very fond of the cat and she's lovely to look at but if you want an interactive pet, go for a dog!

Also when they bring bits in 🤢

I underestimated how much I would fall in love with them and it's like worrying about your kids if they are not home when it's dark.

I also learnt that dead "presents" are easy to deal with but the ones I hate are the sad, little, half-dead ones or the running-around-the-living-room ones

Keep them in at night from when they are kittens. Then it will become a habit, and you won't have to wander your garden with a torch regretting that you gave them that stupid name, that you now have to shout out. It will also cut down slightly on the number of 'presents'.

You will fall in love. Hard. No matter how snooty, fiendish, violent, standoffish, smelly, demanding they are, you will LOOOOOOOVE them. There's just something about a small buzzing creature with big trusting eyes.

I forgot to say how easy cats are to look after. You can go out to work all day or evening and they look after themselves. You can have a day out and not worry about rushing back like you have to with a dog

How long they can live. I am not a cat person, but DH is. So we got a cat. She lived to be 20. I did grow to love her very much, and was very sad when she died.

You will never own a cat, they own you.
They aren’t easy to ‘train’ like a dog, dogs are obient, cats do whatever the hell they want, and they only love you when you need something.
I have two cats and they are real sods sometimes but I love them!

The cat hair, the sheer amount of fucking cat hair.

I can cope with the scratching , the bringing of gifts and the clearing up of cat poo but god the hair.

They scratch your furniture.
If they refuse to go out you are stuck with a litter tray.
The hair everywhere is vile.

I was a first time cat owner. 18 years later I am still not convinced. She won't be replaced.

To get a phone with a bigger memory from all the pics of them. Mine are indoor cats. No presents and hugely loyal and affectionate. No damage to any furniture etc other than my left front shoulder that has been pounded to submission. That they can snore very loudly for a small creature but don't smell. That they can be VERY picky with toys, gifts and food. That you can train them a tiny bit but they can train you to do anything. And that you need to cut their nails and brush their teeth from as soon as you get them

You become their willing slave.
Cat hair on all soft furnishings
Precious furniture or new carpets become scratching posts.
They eat pot plants and cut flowers
To show their love they give you presents of voles. shrews and mice.

But they are also furry, purry, staggeringly handsome, much more affectionate than people say, very low maintenance - feeding twice a day and cuddles by mutual agreement is all. No daily walks. They don't care if you're out all day. They are very chilled and loving.

I've always wanted a dog and never had one, but I couldn't bear to be without a cat. They make a house a home. DC adore our cat. he's a great de-stressor. Good during exams.

Cats are amazing and soooo easy. I say so easy - I realised this after we got guinea pigs and realised how much harder pets in cages are.

Cats are awesome. Get two!

When I had moggies I didn’t like how many ‘presents’ they brought back for me. Usually headless

Also not a fan of how much my old cat meowed. It was so loud and screechy! Although once they are your pet you find it annoying but in a loving way.

I really love my cat, I wasn’t expecting to feel such maternal love for him. Even dh who isn’t a fan of pets loves him.

Ours sheds a lot of hair. They can scratch expensive furniture. Their litter smells very quickly. That said I would have another cat, I wouldn't have another dog.

I love my little twinkle toes. Have had him for a year. He is a nine year old black cat. And I love him. He sleeps right up in my neck next to me. Or on my feet st the end of the bed.

The mice are not great. But I’m working on that one. But I love him and I wouldn’t be without him.

I have had dogs as well. And if I had to choose I would now get a cat. Your not tied to the house and leaving them for short periods. I have someone come in once a day when I’m on holiday. So very easy.

He’s my boy. And I love him.

If you get a cat, get a covered litter box, contains some of the litter and smells less.

Learn to be a servant and to be treated with disdain. Tintycat ignores me and loves the GOD (dp) cats words not mine, to distraction. Even though I feed him, look after him, clean his litter box etc.

I still love Tintycat to bits and occasionally he will even throw a few purrs my way, mostly when GOD (dp) is out. Luckily Tintycats baby brother, little Tintycat is a bit daft and loves me and sits on me and purrs a lot. To be fair little Tintycat will sit on and purr on anyone.

I have had cats since I was a child. They all have very different personalities. Often, cats are very affectionate. My cat will always use choose to be where I or the DC are, preferably sitting on one of us. Not so much DH, who is less keen on her!, However, some cats are very independent and aren't into sitting on laps.

We have always been able to train our cats not to go into certain rooms and not to scratch furniture by telling them off, but we may just have been lucky. My cats have always refused scratching posts and prefer a mat or scratch bed. Get a cat flap so they can come in and out as they please.

If possible, get a cat from a rescue centre as there are so many unwanted cats and kittens. Be warned that if you want a kitten, they are often only rehomed in pairs. However, adult or young adult cats are lovely pets - they are often still playful and less likely to nip or scratch. I've always rehomed young adults.

Make sure you have them neutered and remember that you will need funds for annual vaccination and regular flea/worm treatments. Pay for insurance - it can be very expensive if your beloved, uninsured pet is ill or injured.

Oh yes, forgot to say cats are lovely he easiest pets to look after. They don't need much other than food and a warm place to sleep. You can leave them during the day and as above, I just get someone in once a day when we go on holiday.