We're getting a cat.

[Expectingkittens]

Posting in here for traffic really. My little boys (5+6) have had a shit year-think alcoholic arse of a father. We are all cat mad-my love has clearly rubbed off on my boys so I've decided to get them a cat. The eldest has asked many times, but the timing just wasn't right. Decided, fuck it, they both need this-really hoping it helps them to deal with everything that's been going on. Was just looking for cat advice..just generally speaking. I've had cats before, but when I was a carefree singleton living at home, which feels like a life time ago we're getting a Male cat and he'll be ready in 2 weeks. So bloody exited-keeping it as a big surprise for my boys.

Will your cat be a house cat? Male cats like to get out.
Get it neutered ASAP.

Adult cat or kitten?

Oooh how exciting! I sadly lost my cat a few months ago and and can't wait get another. I guess you are getting a kitten?

WE got 2 (M/F) from the CPL in May .

The male was so shy (we knew this in advance ) he hid under the sofa for the first week. He will now lie upstairs on DD bed happy to be chattered to and have his chin stroked . The female has been more outgoing since day 1 .

They are lovely animals but as you know from owning cats they are very single-minded .

My DC are late teens (17 and 19) and from the off I made sure they 'read' the cats' body language . If they are giving you 'Get Lost' signals , heed them.
If your DC respect the cat then he'll fit in as a much loved member of the family .

And they can feed and do litter too . (We all share Cat Duties here . Family cats )

This is our boy looking intensively at the camera
And our female on the day she arrived "Yes , this'll do nicely , I can see I can mould you people as I wish"

Definitely keep him as a house cat and take him out on a harness. There's nothing worse than cats being hurt or killed outside.

Oh and if you let your DC choose the name , remember it will be called out in the Vets Waiting Room.

My DS wanted to call our male after an Assassins Creed character ! That was vetoed . ( Ezio Auditore da Firenze wouldn't fit on his microchip )

Not much advice, have fun and enjoy your kitten. Make sure it is neutered early as male cats are awful once they reach puberty with spraying and roaming. Get a water spray bottle for when kitty climbs the curtains, soon it will just need to see the bottle before it behaves.

Get over to the littertray board on here and post pics so we can all ooh and aaah at your baby.

Definitely keep him as a house cat and take him out on a harness. There's nothing worse than cats being hurt or killed outside

See now I disagree . House cat only if he's used to being a house cat . But a neutered , microchipped cat in a safe area , away from roads and bring him in at night . That's as safe as anything.

Indoors or a harness walk is a half life for a cat .

My two were born in a garden They were indoors in CPL: then gradually allowed out . They survived being kittens wild . ( When I got them, they were listed as 'must have access to outside) Get a catflap that reads your cats microchip for security

They love being out , but they know to come in. I wouldn;t deny them the chance to have their garden. .

I'm so excited for you to get a cat!! Here's my boy, he's a year old now and has a cracking personality

I’m sure that you & your children will really benefit from having a cat in your lives. I adopted my cat at a low time in my life & she’s been such a faithful companion. I wish you all the luck in the world. X

Midgey91 Your cat is gorgeous, so like mine! Is he deaf?

OrcharD14 he isn't deaf, he can always hear the sound of the treat box opening and comes running over! He has a very tiny patch (probably no more than 15 hairs) or black hair. We thought he may have been deaf when we first got him. Is your cat deaf? Do you have a picture

If you live on a quiet road, there’s no need for a lead or harness. Cats love to roam and discover. Why make it miserable?
Make sure he stays inside for the first 6 weeks to get used to the house and its scents. Then let him out when he is hungry so he comes back in to eat.

Midgey91 Yes, she’s completely deaf &, consequently, an indoor cat. Her previous owners gave her up for adoption, when she was 2, as they didn’t believe that a cat & a baby are compatible. Their loss was definitely my gain as she’s adorable!

Midgey91 Sorry I forget to attach a photo!

Cats are the best thing ever. I have two. One is just mine (she’s not a massive fan of unpredictable kids) and the other is basically a little tart who will go where the lap is ready and hands are stroking. No loyalty whatsoever 😂😂
My eldest tells me the tart cat loves me the most cause she’ll let me walk around with her sleeping on me (I have no choice, she won’t take no for an answer lol) but tbh I love them both so much (the cats I mean) I couldn’t imagine home without them.

My boys are gentler and much kinder to animals in general since we got them because it’s taught them how to approach and be around other animals too.

Mine go out. One wouldn’t care, the other loves being out. We live in a safe area for them and everyone knows my cats are mine (pretty distinctive looking both of them) so I guess that depends on how you feel and where you live.

Definitely neuter and microchip ASAP and please get insurance. We lost a previous cat to heart issues which broke our hearts but also would have crippled me financially if I hadn’t had her insured. She was very poorly and needed tests and treatment which ultimately failed and we lost her.

Above all, enjoy! And show us a pic!

Awwwww fab. Congratulations to you and your boys on your new furry family member. 🐱
Remember pics are mandatory

I have 2 boys, neither go out, they are not fussed, just chill in the garden.

They sleep with us even though I said that would NEVER happen. The kids love them, my youngest has autism and they do keep him calm.

I agree with pp, make sure they know how to handle them and how to read whether they want fussing over or not. We have all been on the receiving end of kitten razor claws! Also we had to get rid of all our could curtains within a day and my plan of them not being allowed on kitchen work top lasted a week, they just used other bits of furniture as an obstacle course to get up there even before they were big enough to jump straight from the floor

So basically they do as they please

Yay for cats! My best advice would be to make sure he is microchipped and then if he will be allowed out get a microchip cat flap. And neuter him!

I have no experience of introduction casts and kids but I imagine you need to do a lot of talking with the kids about appropriate behaviour around him such as backing off when he has a flicky tail or leaving him alone when he is eating or sleeping.

If they are only 8/10 weeks old then you should not be letting them out roaming in 6 weeks. That is too young!! Also need to have the op before going out.

I may be a bit funny about it as we live in a busy city so cats killed by cars happens daily, plus we had some mutilated cats in our area last year. Unfortunately in addition to that there seems to have been a load of teens being violent towards cats recently.

I have 3 cats they are all indoor cats road right outside my house is horrendously busy.
I got Pip And Tim first they are brothers and 7 years old. I was advised to get 2 kittens together for company and play. They get on great are very affectionate to me and each other.

When they were 5 I began to think about one dying and the other left alone so I added Spice she's a Tortie and certainly lives up to naughty tortie. She's given the boys a new lease of life!! They all play run around like utter nutters and make me laugh every day.

I would always advise 2 kittens

We're getting a male cat and he will be allowed outside to adventure.

Loving the cat pics I'll definitely be getting him microchipped and neutered. It's a great area we live for a cat tbh. It's a cudi-sac and near some woods where he'll no doubt venture to. Keep him in for 6 weeks? Right, thank you, I wasn't sure how long it was. My youngest has autism too so hoping it will help calm him. They're both extremely compassionate boys, especially my eldest. Youngest will need lots of watching and guiding. Oooh, will definitely be getting him insured too. Thanks for all your lovely posts.

Please don't let him out until he is fully vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped.

The neutering will reduce the risk of him wandering too far / crossing busy roads following a female scent, and the microchip increases the chances of you being reunited if he does lose his way.

Kittens are so much fun, i'm sure he'll do you all good and give you many laughs!
We have three which we can't get to the vets for their vaccinations (they go mad) which means we can't get them insured, so we have a separate bank account which we put £60 a month into in case of emergencies (£1200 in at the moment) and the insurance was very expensive, then again I would have probably kept up to it if we didn't have three very highly strung cats.