Tell me the pros and cons to having a cat- or any tips.

[MunchBunchYoghurt]

I have never had a cat in all of my 35 years but we have been considering for some time now in getting one.

I will research thoroughly and as part of that research I thought, who better to ask than the people of Mumsnet.

Please tell me the best things about having a cat.
The worst.
Any tips or advice.

Thank you 😊

The dead bodies they bring home. Worse, the live bodies they bring home.

Best - furry head boops
Worst - the death count . 3 or 4 mice, bats, rabbits, frogs, voles, shrews etc a day during the months of march to... well, february.

Best...easy pets but can be very loveable. We've got two girl cats who are neutered and have brought home 'presents' 3 or 4 times between them in 5 years so they are not hunters.
Worst - nothing really, being woken at 6.15am each morning for brekkie probably

Cats are wonderful. Had them all my adult life - currently have three. All rescue moggies. Cats have great personalities - some cuddly and loving, some less so. Very beautiful animals. Some don’t shed (some really do!) On the less positive side, they can shred your furniture (again, not all do), can bring you in little ‘presents’ if they are hunters (mine don’t, so again it depends on the cat). They can live a long time (never long enough!) and vets bills can be expensive, as with any pet. Go for it, op.

Urgh, yes...the bodies and half deads they bring home....😩😩😩

But....they look like this ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Oh yes I forgot about the hunting!
I will definitely not like dealing with dead / half dead animals but I’ll leave that for the DH.

They don't love you. If you want a pet who gives something back then anything but a cat.
I grew up with dogs and cats but developed allergies as an adult so was never going to have pets. When DS was 12 he was going through a n unhappy phase and begged me for a cat. I caved.
The cat is still here but DS is grown up and gone.
It has never sat on his lap (nor anyone elses). It will swipe you as you walk past and is not averse to biting the hand that feeds.

Can't think of any pros.

The disdain, contempt and barely disguised disgust.... right up to that moment when they decide "oh alright human, you're not so bad, I think I'll keep you". It's the most rewarding victory you can experience.

Waking you up in the middle of the night by walking over you.
Having to sleep scrunched up in a bone aching position because, if you move, you will move your cat out if it’s comfy spot.
Making you get up to open the door to let them out only to stand there, letting the cold air in, then decide not to go out. To be repeated 7 times in half an hour.
Cat poop stinks.

When they purr it makes you feel so happy. It’s so pleasing to hear them content.
When they sit on your lap you feel special and “chosen”.

Is there any way to guarantee getting a friendlier cat.
I know a friend of mine has a very scary vicious cat 😬

I have one with a dodgy stomach. Cat shit really feckin stinks. Wish I'd not got another. My 1st cat was fabulous and I loved him so. I will not be replacing this one when she goes

@TwoBigNoisyBoys

Awww I’ll take yours please!

Our cats bring us love, fun, comfort and joy every day. We love them so much, and our lives are very much enriched by having them.
They also bring kills and bills.

Mine have never been allowed upstairs. They are shut downstairs at night.
I keep them locked in at night - prime hunting time is dawn & dusk - & always give them a few treats at bedtime to ensure they come in.

They are great characters, independent but affectionate & interesting.
Good pets if you work all day

Pros - cat cuddles are the best
Cons - not being able to move despite dead leg/needing to pee/ having things to do because of said cat cuddles

The litter tray! We got our kitten - now almost a grown up cat - last November. She was neutered just before Lockdown and has barely used the litter tray since. Now it is dark and rainy she just sits looking at the weather and then shits like a demon on her litter tray like some sort of dirty protest, staring at me like the weather is my fault! God the stench!

If you're thinking of getting a cat which goes outdoors then the downside seems to be the number of times they go missing for days on end or worse end up dead at the roadside - if our local Facebook page is anything to go by (and I live in a rural area not a town/city.

The worst is cleaning the litter tray / hair balls.

But mine are both so affectionate and have very distinct personalities, and they’re so cute!!

We have a lovely old Siamese, always only gone outside on a harness so no presents.

But being older he is pooping around the house now, throwing up more and shouting more at slightly random times.

He has covered the house in cat fur and does bite some people.

He has been a great cat though. I will cry buckets at the end.

My cats are 5 and have never ever brought anything home.

Worst thing: smells and the panic you when you hear them wrenching on your carpet somewhere 😂

Best thing: they are actually wonderful for your mental health. Both of mine are very affectionate (although my old cat was aloof) and just having someone to talk to when you get home is lovely.

My cat has never brought anything dead home. Or alive. She's spectacularly bad at being a cat. Utterly useless at hunting, scared of her own shadow, doesn't like being touched, never sits on my knee. So gentle natured though...I do love all her furry ridiculousness.

But they are cute!

My cat is beautiful. Love him, he's affectionate, funny, great with the DC and so easy.

Down side is he has scratched a bit of the carpet, not dreadfully but I notice. He has to be in every room otherwise he scratches the doors and digs to flooring. He has been late home a couple of days and it's horrible when he's late.

Amazingly affectionate interactive and easy pet.
They will tell you what they want and that includes waking you up for breakfast at 6.30 am every day and no not always in a way you want to be woken!
They bring dead things home and leave them in your shoes or drop them in your head. They will fight with your naighbours cat or steal from somebody's house ( fancy returning underpants to your naighbours??? Yep I have had to do that).
They are not pets they will take over your house, bed , sofa and it will be their house, they are companions.
How have you survived without a cat?