Cats are a pain not?

[31133004Taff]

AIBU that cats are indeed a pain to live with?

Have had dogs my adult life but now it’s not reasonable to have one.

People highly recommend a cat and I can see the appeal, love the idea of coming home to a friendly purring cat. Regularly check out the older cats on the local rescue centre listings.

BUT ... Is the the reality being woken up at ungodly hours by drooling and head butting; gifts of rabbit, mice, bird entrails; decimation of my wild birds; howling scraps; peeing in dark corners.

Am I unduly influenced by the trials and tribulations of cat ownership on MN?

Mine have started bringing birds in . Well twice it's happened but in a short space of time. They used to lie on me all the time and always wanted cuddles but ever since I've started letting them out I very rarely see them except from meal times .

You need an Ollie like mine - older rescue. His thoughts are mice are friends, not food and why would he hunt when he can just send the human to get him good food? Also his bed is very comfy so he would rather just stay there
Downsides are he is a little too affectionate and insists on cuddles, kisses and gazing adoringly at me which is a bit weird if you wake up at 4am to find a cat blinking at you with its paw on your arm. He also spits at dogs
Mostly he's like a cross between a very small affectionate dog and a stuffed toy. Won't go on kitchen counters, picks his way across stuff so he doesn't knock it over, won't wee outside and would never dream of scratching anything

I've had both dogs and cats, presently have a Siamese cat (dog) and hes so much easier than a dog despite being one of the higher maintenance breeds.
He does kill things but he's learnt not to bring them in , as well as to fetch , sit and give a paw. He's ace x

We have 2 and 4:44am every morning is their alarm time of choice! Every fucking morning!! Plus the gift of a half dead blackbird this week really got my Sunday off to a good start 😒. They shed everywhere and one of them destroys bog rolls for fun 😩. But (and this is very important) I love them so much! They’ve got such cattitude 😁😆

Our cat is a rescue. We got her when she was three years old. She was found in someone's shed, very pregnant. We imagine she was probably a stray as she was very timid - even now she won't be picked up and won't sit on furniture as she just doesn't seem used to it.

She does hunt - it was the only way she survived for quite some time I would imagine. She has sometimes brought us 'gifts' - including live ones! But that's just what she is and it's her survival instinct.

But, she has blossomed in the three years we've had her. She's our shadow, where we go she follows. Loves a head massage and it's great to see her look 'happy' when she's got her head in my hand. She's never bitten or scratched anyone - even when we take her to the vets or do her flea drops.

All in all she's really easy to look after. Feed her, give her a nightly stroke, a brush now and then and let her out. If she is in when we've gone out for the day she's waiting at the door for us. If she's out, she'll shoot down the garden as soon as she hears us. She has a litter tray but doesn't use it very much now. She'll wait for the morning and will be let out then.

She has a cat scratching 'arch' and post and we've never had to warn her off scratching the furniture past the first two weeks. We got Feliway (or whatever it's called) as she was clawing to mark the terriotory. It stopped within a couple of days and she's not clawed furniture since. The stair carpet did take a battering a while ago but she soon stop when we did a sharp 'no'.

We're just really glad we got her - she's a lovely cat and I can't imagine life without her now.

Definitely go rescue if you want a house trained cat. I've never had kittens - always gone 6 months plus.

@31133004Taff don’t get a cat just cause you can’t have a dog.

Cats are all unique, it’s a lottery you could end up with one with any personality/bad habits/ health issues.
You don’t sound like you’d cope well with a cat that’s not exactly how you’d like it.

My cats bring gifts. Not often, but they do. As for the other stuff on your list, I've never experienced any of that with ANY cat I've lived with. In my life, I've had 13 cats. Not one has pissed in any corner, dark or light.
I also have a dog, my mate... my soul mate really.
I don't compare the animals. I love my cats and my dog and they really are joyful blessings in my life. They make life more.

I've not read the whole thread but to the poster on the first page who said they normally don't hunt past 6 can you come tell my 23 year old cat that 🤣

I agree with @CazzaCat. Don't get a cat as an alternative to a dog. They really are very different animals.

I wanted a cat as I've always had them in adulthood. I grew up with dogs though. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs. I just don't like the 'maintenance' side - walking x number of times a day in all weathers for one!

I like the independent side of cats, but that can put some people off. A cat chooses when it wants to be with you. Ours will sit out on our patio until 10pm at the moment. You can call, you can show her food - if she's wants to stay out til midnight, she'll stay. Even a well trained cat isn't always as obedient as a dog!

And, like rescue dogs, you can't tell what you'll get with a rescue cat. You have to be happy to take the rough with the smooth. As I said, our cat is not a lap cat. My previous cats all were and I found that a bit off putting at first - I must have been the only person trying to encourage their cat to sit on the sofa instead of getting off it! But that's the trade off I'm happy to do now.

The morning headbutts Iget from DCat are the best thing about waking up. They are way easier than dogs so long as you aren't one of thoes people who believes that just because they aren't dogs they need no special understanding regarding their behaviour, wants and needs.

My 23 year old cat is a pain in the sence that she is an attention seeker. You sit down and she's there looking for scratches. I also have a 9 week old kitten who is making my 5 year old laugh like she hasn't since lockdown started. I wouldn't be without either.

Neither of mine bring me dead things. One is too lazy to hunt and the other one is too stupid to hunt.
They dont wake me up- I do let them roam the house when I am asleep but they've soon learnt that if they wake me up then they go in the kitchen.
We get the occasional hissy spitty from them but its usually when number 2 has annoyed number 1 cat. No1 cat is in charge in this house and likes to remind no2 about it.

Right now one of them is asleep on my bed and the other one is asleep on the landing in a patch of sun.

My last cat still hunted at 16. (Rats and mice.)

My cats don't pee where they shouldn't. Or wake me up at night.

One is elderly and a bit of a drooler when she's very happy and cuddling, but I love her so I'm happy to put up with it.

I love them a lot and will always have a cat or two.

I have 4 overlords and none of them behave like your list OP
I miss my beloved lab who died 15 months ago but by god the cats are much less hassle!

My cat does none of that. She's too lazy to hunt. Gratuitous picture attached. This is a yawn.

My cats are utter bastards. YANBU @ OP.
I help neighbour out with dog. Much as I luffs the dog, my cats still easier. Only diff is you know the dog loves you back. Cat... meh. Loves your warm bed, at least.

My cats are despot rulers. The least trouble is my older black cat, luckily I have to get up to go to the toilet around 3/4 am, so I don't mind.

I'd go for a older, rescue black cat.

Cats may be good pets for their owners, but they can be a bloody nuisance for everyone else.

I have mine trained to wake DH if they want breakfast.

And they usually wait until he's up anyway. They will catch the odd mouse that's already in the house.

You sound like you'll be a fine cat servant owner.

@thecatneuterer

Yes to the hairs! my daughter got this card for my mums birthday

I have twin boy kittens after our old much loved cat was put to sleep in August. I have a horrendous phobia of mice rats etc so couldn’t have a cat flap because I would be petrified of suddenly bumping into a dead or even worse live mouse running around. They are more or less searched before they are let in so “little gifts” are left outside for my husband to either bury or let go. That works for us. They are kept in at night and although their sleeping place changes they don’t scratch or whine to go out. As soon as we wake we let them out and they are fine with that. It’s true that I have seen on other mumsnet posts that you become a cat slave though, as the other day one of them was outside miaowing to come in, ( or so I thought) but when I opened the door to let him in, he rolled on his back to show me his tummy. Apparently he didn’t want to come in he just fancied a tummy rub!! ( which obviously being a cat slave as I am, he got) before he turned over and then went running off to play some more.

My cat is has a litter tray, never had an accident outside of it. He is an indoor cat so doesn't hunt and he doesn't wake us up early either. He loves a fuss and a cuddle, but will take himself off when he has had enough.