Page 2 | To get a cat for my daughter

DuchessOfSausage · 05/07/2023 23:05

Get a cat, I wouldn't be without DCat.

lookingforMolly · 05/07/2023 23:17

My best mate has an 8 yr old & they got a kitten which has turned out to be indifferent to her sadly (some cats are!!) and she actually prefers my very affectionate cat!

Cats' temperaments can vary massively like humans'. Some breeds are more suitable for living indoors but that would involve buying a pedigree from a breeder which isn't good.

My cat is an indoor cat by accident as she suffers with anxiety and despite (or due to) being abandoned outside she will not step foot outside now!! If she hears the door keys she vanishes into the lounge.

Some rescue cats have quite serious issues (like anxiety issues) which can take months or in my cat's case, years to overcome.
Yet the rescue never warned me. She is a lovely pet though. But very needy, more like a dog.
With indoor cats of any kind you have to remember that you are their whole world and any changes to their environment potentially stress them out immensely. For up to 20 years.

Cats can be expensive too!!
My cat sheds a lot of her long fur, so I've had to buy a special vacuum cleaner.
I replace her litter very regularly so it doesn't smell, clumping litter is the best and can be over £10 a box.
She's developed chronic pancreatitis so her food costs nearly £9 for 10 pouches (3 a day).
She's insured but now the premiums are loaded due to her asthma & pancreatitis. So £29 a month, but an emergency such as out of hours sickness injection with no insurance would be difficult for me to fund.
Plus there's 4 weekly flea treatment, & worming treatment.
Also I have to replace her scratching post every few months to keep her off the sofa.. it has to be substantial as she's a big cat so the one I get is £28.

lookingforMolly · 05/07/2023 23:18

Oh yes forgot, you have to play with indoor cats regularly as they get bored. Mine loves her catnip toys & bouncy balls.

Mademetoxic · 05/07/2023 23:22

Sigrid1789 · 05/07/2023 22:19

Thank you for your kind comments. I had a cat for many years, but we lived in the countryside and had my husband’s family to help us out when we were away. It’s a different story to have a cat in a flat, in London, with a kid and nobody to help out. I have posted here to ask for people’s feedback on the practicalities of owning a cat in a flat. I thought it’s better to ask to evaluate if this is a good option for a cat and our family. No need to be rude.

Show quote history

That's not being rude. It's being practical.

Cats can live for 20+ years. Are you prepared to pay for vets bills when the cat becomes poorly? My cat (he is elderly) costs a fortune a month, but I do it because he is part of my family.

Children want many things .... They need to learn that cats are a big commitment.

Cats are not just for Christmas as the saying goes...

smilesup · 05/07/2023 23:26

If you are going to force a cat to be an indoor cat. Make sure it's one that's already an indoor cat and get it from a rehoming centre. Cruel otherwise to limit their life for your daughter's (probably short) interest in it.

NeedleFeltedFox · 05/07/2023 23:31

rabbits aren’t particularly good pets for children and need much more space than you think. Guinea pigs are noisy, messy and can be smelly.

whatever pet you get you’ll have to be prepared to be the cater for it so if you don’t want one don’t get one

Righttherights · 05/07/2023 23:36

Rabbits are really tricky, can be expensive to look after, and need lots of outdoor space IMO. You’d need a pair too. Not the cuddly toys you’d be expecting and vets bills crank up for things like teeth. Also prone to gut issues.
Never had a pet rat but heard amazing things about them…. But the tails?!

Righttherights · 05/07/2023 23:39

Meant to add rabbits can last for a fair few years too so your DD will probably lose interest - ours is 8 now!

SallyWD · 06/07/2023 07:33

smilesup · 05/07/2023 23:26

If you are going to force a cat to be an indoor cat. Make sure it's one that's already an indoor cat and get it from a rehoming centre. Cruel otherwise to limit their life for your daughter's (probably short) interest in it.

Very wise words

Otherlover · 06/07/2023 07:38

I think op is getting bitchy comments 'pony, you won't be a good pet owner' unfairly. It was plenty obvious the 'easier than a sibling' comment was tongue in cheek. She's here asking about it, maybe she didn't realise there is a cats board, it doesn't mean she won't be good pet owner. People get pets for companionship all the freaking time, it doesn't mean she's spoiling her child but some people are incredibly judgy when it comes to only children. Plenty of families get a dog or pets for the children to have companionship and learn responsibility. Plenty of adults are absolute twats who neglect their pets. It's unfair how some posters are being unwarrantedly hostile to the op.

We should encourage people to adopt pets as too many are out there looking for a home. If you really look into it, very few people are suitable to have children or adopt pets but thankfully it's not about perfect environments it's about being good enough. I am sure, an indoors cat in a loving apartment is happier than in a noisy cat shelter living in a little crate with 20 other cats in the room.

There are FIV+ cats who NEED to be an indoor cat. When you're away there are catteries which I'm not keen on as they are chaotic and stressful generally. I have and would get a cat sitter who comes once or twice a day to check up on your cat, feed them, give them a cuddle, change litter. Some litter is better than others in containing odour and you do get used to it BUT there will be a smell in your home if you have a pet, thats just a fact. There will be more cleaning, more expense for vet/insurance, but you know this already from having cats previously. A cat sitter is also good to keep your home safe while you are away. You can find a cat sitter by asking at your vets, sometimes the staff there do pet sitting on the side of their main job.

EatYourFive · 06/07/2023 07:46

Some good advice here already. Only get a cat if you want a cat, not because a child wants one. I know so many people whose kids begged for a pet, promising to walk the dog or clean the litter tray - and guess who does all of that now? The parent of course.

Also definitely don't get a house rabbit unless you can dedicate a whole room for them, and yes I say them because you always need to have two, otherwise it's cruel. Rabbits need a lot of space and confining them in small hutches is also cruel. As already said they're are prone to health issues and are classified as exotic pets so vet bills can be very expensive. They also need a constant supply of hay and if you have hay in the house and free roaming house rabbits the hay gets everywhere, speaking from experience here!

EmpressaurusOfCats · 06/07/2023 07:56

If you do get a pet, have a look at https://www.flatcats.co.uk/ - they do screens to fit over windows so you can have them open without needing to worry about escapes.

Flat Cats Window Protection Screens for Cats

https://www.flatcats.co.uk/

Catsmere · 06/07/2023 08:36

KPops22 · 05/07/2023 22:12

My DD is an only child, so I figure this is easier to give than a sibling!

You don't sound like you would be a responsible pet owner. You don't just get a pet because your 6 year old child wants one. Post on the pet forum instead of chat to get some realistic opinions.

This. OP, do you know anything about caring for cats? They are not the low-maintenance pet people like to think. They require just as much close attention as a small child in order to be healthy and happy. If you’re to keep them safe they should be indoor-only, have plenty of enrichment and quality food. Plus they can live twenty years. Are you ready for that sort of commitment? You know you’ll be responsible for the feeding and care, your daughter is far too young. Tbh I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.

Deathbyfluffy · 06/07/2023 08:42

Floralnomad · 05/07/2023 22:50

Rats are the best small pet for children , they are like little dogs , interactive , friendly , actually want to be with a human .

You say that like cats don’t want to be around people - all of mine have been incredibly clingy!
Any more than 2 minutes of sitting down usually means I’ll end up with a cat on my lap demanding lots of attention 😅

stayathomer · 06/07/2023 08:48

I don’t know tbh. We have had different cat sitters come in while away and the cats have never settled. Disappeared all three times which was worrying. Took them to a cattery and they were ‘off’ with us for weeks😉 but they’re a mixture of indoor and outdoor. I’d also bear in mind your child’s age- we have one cat who’s amazing with kids, the other is finicky and scratches out of nowhere. As a young kitten you’d never have known the difference- both were just playful and friendly!

Otherlover · 06/07/2023 08:52

Catsmere · 06/07/2023 08:36

This. OP, do you know anything about caring for cats? They are not the low-maintenance pet people like to think. They require just as much close attention as a small child in order to be healthy and happy. If you’re to keep them safe they should be indoor-only, have plenty of enrichment and quality food. Plus they can live twenty years. Are you ready for that sort of commitment? You know you’ll be responsible for the feeding and care, your daughter is far too young. Tbh I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.

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They require just as much close attention as a small child in order to be healthy and happy

Absolutely not, as a mother and a cat slave this is entirely inaccurate, unless you are adopting a highly disabled cat of course.

Even clingy cats are less demanding than a dog. Cats are low maintenance compared to children and dogs.

Floralnomad · 06/07/2023 10:39

@Deathbyfluffy , I said small pet , meaning caged in response to the previous post about guineas and rabbits , I don’t consider cats to be small pets . Our adult son has Siamese , they are indoor with a catio as he lives on a very busy road , best cats in the world if you want interaction as they literally don’t leave you alone .

viques · 06/07/2023 10:46

Has your daughter got pierced ears? If she hasn’t then tell her if she doesn’t get a cat you will let her get her ears pierced the summer she turns 10. In my experience most children would rather have pierced ears without having to whine and nag for them than the responsibility of a pet.

🙂

Springheels · 06/07/2023 10:57

We have an FIV cat and live in a flat. We rehomed a cat from Cats Protection. While saying that our flat is very large and on several levels.

My cat does have very many toys, tunnels and a cat tree. He loves to play and will concentrate for literally hours.

The litter tray is not that bad but in our case it’s on an upper floor out of the way.

We either get relatives or friends to look in on the cat once a day or hire a catsitter to come in for an hour and play. The cat has an automatic feeder.

My insurance is over £60 a month now, 3 years in. If you do go ahead please take out insurance and gets one that covers dental.

My daughter is a vet and sees many animals with rotten teeth their owners can’t afford to treat.

Original poster

Sigrid1789 · 06/07/2023 11:03

Otherlover · 06/07/2023 07:38

I think op is getting bitchy comments 'pony, you won't be a good pet owner' unfairly. It was plenty obvious the 'easier than a sibling' comment was tongue in cheek. She's here asking about it, maybe she didn't realise there is a cats board, it doesn't mean she won't be good pet owner. People get pets for companionship all the freaking time, it doesn't mean she's spoiling her child but some people are incredibly judgy when it comes to only children. Plenty of families get a dog or pets for the children to have companionship and learn responsibility. Plenty of adults are absolute twats who neglect their pets. It's unfair how some posters are being unwarrantedly hostile to the op.

We should encourage people to adopt pets as too many are out there looking for a home. If you really look into it, very few people are suitable to have children or adopt pets but thankfully it's not about perfect environments it's about being good enough. I am sure, an indoors cat in a loving apartment is happier than in a noisy cat shelter living in a little crate with 20 other cats in the room.

There are FIV+ cats who NEED to be an indoor cat. When you're away there are catteries which I'm not keen on as they are chaotic and stressful generally. I have and would get a cat sitter who comes once or twice a day to check up on your cat, feed them, give them a cuddle, change litter. Some litter is better than others in containing odour and you do get used to it BUT there will be a smell in your home if you have a pet, thats just a fact. There will be more cleaning, more expense for vet/insurance, but you know this already from having cats previously. A cat sitter is also good to keep your home safe while you are away. You can find a cat sitter by asking at your vets, sometimes the staff there do pet sitting on the side of their main job.

Thank you for your message. As you say, I was only after the practicalities of owning a cat in a flat. I thought it better to ask than to be sorry. I have a few friends with cats that only live in a flat and a friend who’s a vet, and she told me it would be fine. Here I am being vilified for even suggesting it. A pony comment was funny as my friend’s kid just started doing a pony club 🤣 No, my DD has no interest in horses

OP posts:

badluckorbadvibes · 06/07/2023 11:05

No because you won't be able to open your windows more then about an inch for years. That alone would drive me insane.

Someone said if you get the right food the poo shouldn't smell, that's, well shit. Of course it will smell. Poo smells.

KPops22 · 06/07/2023 11:08

badluckorbadvibes · 06/07/2023 11:05

No because you won't be able to open your windows more then about an inch for years. That alone would drive me insane.

Someone said if you get the right food the poo shouldn't smell, that's, well shit. Of course it will smell. Poo smells.

Shutters are the answer to that.

Springheels · 06/07/2023 11:09

@badluckorbadvibes you can get removable netting that fits securely, to put across open windows.

Original poster

Sigrid1789 · 06/07/2023 11:11

Catsmere · 06/07/2023 08:36

This. OP, do you know anything about caring for cats? They are not the low-maintenance pet people like to think. They require just as much close attention as a small child in order to be healthy and happy. If you’re to keep them safe they should be indoor-only, have plenty of enrichment and quality food. Plus they can live twenty years. Are you ready for that sort of commitment? You know you’ll be responsible for the feeding and care, your daughter is far too young. Tbh I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.

Show quote history

If you read above, I have owned a cat for many years, but this cat lived on a farm in NZ and then in a flat with a large garden, and we had a lot of help with her and could take her with us around NZ. Two friends are telling me it’s not a big deal at all. One just moved to NY and took her two cats with her. I am only asking for practical info - smell, what to do when away, whether it is fair to a cat to be locked in a flat, cats and kids etc.

OP posts:

Caradonna · 06/07/2023 11:21

No, I had a cat when young and it didn’t like me because it didn’t like me picking it up and cuddling it.
6 is too young to know.

To get a cat for my daughter

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