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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get a cat

61 replies

girlwhowearsglasses · 18/03/2013 14:04

namechanging.

I do love cats. I pestered my parents at the age of four until we got a cat. My mum bred pedigree cats when I was a teenager.

I have never had a cat as an adult - I have a parrot instead, and three children (DS1, 6, DS2 and DS3 - 4 years old)

A few of my friends who got cats when they left college are feeling sad because their cats have died recently - so I see how hard that bit is (and ill old cats are a big responsibility too).

I have resisted getting a kitten partly because I am only now leading a poo-free life now my boys are out of nappies and at school. This is something I am relishing somewhat (twins - poo is ever present)!

I have always thought I would like a cat 'sometime' in the hazy future. I also wouldn't get one lightly. Like having children, this is one of those things you can find yourself thinking a bit too much about. The catalyst here is that we have mice - running across the living room, squeaking, the lot. We also have a very old house with no hope of sealing off mouse tunnels and nests in the walls, under the floors (really we would have to pull the house apart). My DP has been muttering about getting a 'mouser' and I have been resisting since Christmas.

My question is - is this just going to be yet another housekeeping responsibility to add to the long list involved with three children, or is it going to be great for me and the children, and enrich our lives? I really loved my cat when I was little (and I was heartbroken when he was run over - really heartbroken)

OP posts:
bonzo77 · 18/03/2013 17:15

Get one. My cat is no effort and little expense. I lock her in at night so no fighting but she still hunts. Food costs about 30p a day. The only big expenses are insurance and cattery once a year when we go away, about £100 each.

Original poster
girlwhowearsglasses · 18/03/2013 17:18

Does it actually work - do they really really scare off/eat mice though?

OP posts:
SamuelWestsMistress · 18/03/2013 17:21

We got outré from the CPL. They're a great charity! We did this with our two ten years ago and i always maintain i would aways get cats from there. Sadly my wonderful beautiful and favourite cat was run over several years ago (I still miss him) but we still have the pissy shitty dribbly bastard other one

Sparklingbrook · 18/03/2013 17:24

Envy It is never unreasonable to get a cat. Get the local Cats Protection website up and have a browse......

gilly86 · 18/03/2013 17:27

Can't help with that... Both of my cats are house cats. 1 refuses to go out and has a real fear of the outside world... he also suffered from anxiety and overgroomed to cope with his anxiety. He licked off all the hair on his legs and tummy and our last resort (after trying many many things) was to get a kitten so he has a friend. Worked immediately and all his hair grew back within a month or so. And they are good friends! we didn't want 1 house cat and 1 outdoor cat.. So they are both indoors. Shame in a way but they are both so happy and adorable and we love them so much!

We don't have a problem with mice... I thought we would - we live in an old Victorian terrace in central London and some of our neighbours have nice but we don't.... Unless we DO but just don't know about it cos the cats deal with them! Lol
X

gilly86 · 18/03/2013 17:28

Mice not nice!

Corygal · 18/03/2013 17:32

yes - cats do get rid of mice. If you're infested it might take 10 days or so, but they work better than Rentokil.

Original poster
girlwhowearsglasses · 18/03/2013 17:44

yes, Rentokil crap. mice eating LOADS of poison. I think they like it. Last night I had a party under the floorboards in the bedroom "eeek? eeek" "EK!" " EEEEEEK!" scrabble scrabble. "EEEEEEk!" and so on.... The previous owner of house took plaster off walls, and put plasterboard on walls. Hence lots of lovely spaces and voids 'behind the scenes' for mouse parties. Never buy house with plasterboard. (plus it hides any damp that is behind the bedroom wall - surveryors missed it)

OP posts:
DangerousBeanz · 18/03/2013 17:48

We have a mouser, a fluffy gingery git of a mouser that leaves his victims on the carpet in the dining room. Be prepared to make sure you are always up before the DC so you don't experience them stepping into disemboweled remains in bare feet. But mousers are often birders, frogers, molers, baters, rabbiters and squirrelers too.
Having said that he is a big soft lump who is fantastic with our dd 3 and our home wouldn't be the same without him. So much so that we are thinking of getting another Grin

Sparklingbrook · 18/03/2013 17:50

My old cat would kill the mouse then eat it just leaving that bag of whatever it is. Sparkling Cat kills the mouse but leaves it intact and presents it to us as a gift.

These are outdoor mice, haven't got any indoor ones. except the one she brought in alive and it took us 3 hours to catch. Sad

ComposHat · 18/03/2013 18:03

Cet cat get cat.

We had mice probelms and I have been desperate for a cat for ages but my fiancee wouldn't allow it, until she finally cracked when the mice disturbed her on the loo. She them rapidly agreed and scanned the rehoming places for a cat with the face of a killer. Needless to say, Poppy our lovely Tortie hasn't caught any mice and my fiancee is utterly besotted with her. I have had to talk her out of getting another cat. (Poppy - diva that she is - is very much an only cat and wouldn't like the competition)

We got her from the Scottish equiv. of the RSPCA and whilst she isn't a mouser, the mere scent of her keeps the mice at bay.

My preference is for a mature cat, no flying round the flat, no climbing the curtains, no toilet training issues and she came neutured and microchipped and with all her jags up to date.

Sparklingbrook · 18/03/2013 18:04

Shock at being disturbed on the loo Compo.

ComposHat · 18/03/2013 18:09

It happened a few times to me, but she was beyond terrified.

We still don't get to wee or poo alone, Poppy often follows us in and stares intently from the edge of the bath. Most off putting.

Sparklingbrook · 18/03/2013 18:12

Sparkling Cat likes to roll about on your feet when you are on the loo. Can't concentrate at all.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 18/03/2013 18:12

We've had mouse problems before - from the live mice the flaming cats have brought in and dumped.

Original poster
girlwhowearsglasses · 18/03/2013 18:15

Also, what do you do if you go away - we often go to the gramps and inlaws for weekends - up the motorway - but they have a cat and a dog of their own.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 18/03/2013 18:18

I know of a few people who take their cat with them when they go away for weekends. other than that could anyone pop in/move in? Other than that the cattery?

BertieBotts · 18/03/2013 18:24

Ask a neighbour to pop in and feed them a couple of times a day, if you have one.

TomArchersSausage · 18/03/2013 18:27

We adore our cats. They've brought nothing but joy.

But yes no denying the injections, vets bills, cattery fees, flea treatments are a big financial consideration. And whilst they don't need much daily care, there is some cleaning up and the occasional accident.

Also I think relying on a cat to be a 'mouser' could backfire. Mine catch birds and mice at will, but they have to be in the mood. Cats do what they like when they feel like it.

NettoSuperstar · 18/03/2013 18:30

You have to get a cat, cats are fab.

I got one last August, a kitten, but a house trained one, I'm getting another once she's born (friend's cat is upduffed!).
She's enhanced our lives so much, is just so gorgeous and I can't imagine life without her.

All we do is feed her and clean her litter tray, and that's it.

She does have a fondness for walking round on my tummy in the night, but I'll ignore that for now Grin

ComposHat · 18/03/2013 18:31

sparking rolling around but her litter tray is on the loo

ComposHat · 18/03/2013 18:33

pressed send too soon... anyway over Christmas our bowel movements got in sync so we'd trot off together. but the starring is very off putting.

Stangirl · 18/03/2013 18:37

I have always loved cats. I rescued my two Maine Coons via Gumtree 6 years ago and am currently fostering a third cat for a friend. I have 2 small kids and the cats are no bother at all. Use good quality dried food is my tip for ease.

QuietTiger · 18/03/2013 18:44

Don't get a cat for mousing, unless you interview it to check whether or not it is a member of a union first.

We have 9 cats and even though several of them are capable of carnage and slaughter outside on a daily basis, "union rules" seem to be that there is "no hunting in the house". We've had a mouse living in the kitchen now for 8 weeks, and can we catch the bloody thing? Can we buggery and the cats are USELESS!!

SuburbanRhonda · 18/03/2013 18:54

Some cat rescue centres don't home kittens where there's a child under 5 (RSPCA, I think), but others might. Celia Hammond has loads of long-term residents who need fostering to get them out of the cattery environment. They have a branch in Canning Town as well as Lewisham - don't know if that's the part of London you're in.

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