Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a cat when I don’t like cats?

122 replies

Livvielo · 09/09/2021 03:40

AIBU to consider getting a cat when I don’t really like cats?
I don’t HATE them - note: I’m a vegetarian. However, I don’t see myself a ‘cat person.’
DD’s 8 and 11 have wanted a cat for a while now. DH is keen. He had cats growing up, and his mum has 3 cats- we’ve catsat them on a few occasions. I’m just thinking if it would maybe sense I don’t really like cats and if that would really be fair. Or if it would be perfectly fine being loved and cared for by the rest of the family?

OP posts:
BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 09/09/2021 03:42

What's bring a vegetarian got to do with it?

It's really up to you abs your DH whether your get a family cat.

Original poster
Livvielo · 09/09/2021 03:43

@BunnytheFriendlyDragon

What's bring a vegetarian got to do with it?

It's really up to you abs your DH whether your get a family cat.

I thought it was relevant to show I don’t hate animals.
OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 09/09/2021 03:45

I know many people who weren't cat people until they got a cat.

Longdistance · 09/09/2021 03:51

Not a cat person? That’s not going to last.
My df had dogs growing up and intermittently owned them in his adult life. I acquired a cat and it ended up being his little mate. When I was away with work my df would go to my house, feed and play with him. He was going to get peace to read his newspaper as well, but my cat was being fed and played with by a non cat person.

Justmuddlingalong · 09/09/2021 03:54

The cat will make all decisions. Including wether or not you're a cat person.

EwwwCoffee · 09/09/2021 03:55

That depends, OP. Will you be kind to it? Show it affection? Care for it? Be understanding of its foibles and potentially annoying habits? Treat it with compassion? Clear up its sick and poo and shed fur without animosity? If you can say yes to all of that, you’re probably ok to get a cat for the sake of the rest of your family. Go to a rescue and look at adult cats - they often get overlooked in favour of kittens, but one advantage of an adult cat is that their personalities are more established, so you can look for a cat who’ll best suit your circumstances/preferences (lap cat, more outdoors, high energy, etc). Plus of course adoption is just the right thing to do Smile

If your answers to the questions are largely no, I wouldn’t do it as it won’t be fair on the cat if you’ll be (realistically) taking on a lot of the care work but it’s only tolerated at best.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/09/2021 03:58

Cats love dog people. Bastards sit on my lap every bloody time. Then you have to stroke their stupid fluffy selves. Grrrrr.

PersonaNonGarter · 09/09/2021 04:01

OP, go to the local cat shelter on your own and pick a cat that you would like the best. That way you’ve got a bit of ownership.

Definitely get a cat though if you can provide a loving home. They really do make a house a home.

RazorSharp · 09/09/2021 04:12

@Justmuddlingalong

The cat will make all decisions. Including wether or not you're a cat person.
Totally
FlowerArranger · 09/09/2021 04:15

Absolutely go and visit a cat shelter.
Not with a view of getting a cat that day.
Talk to the volunteers.
Cuddle a few cats.
See how you feel.
Cats.... they grow on you...

user1471548941 · 09/09/2021 07:35

This is my “not a cat person” DH… just saying…

This happens the minute he sits down every evening! He is the cat’s favourite and the cat is his favourite… 🙄 guess which one of us was desperate for a cat?!

Cap89 · 09/09/2021 07:40

My mum agreed to get a cat because my dad and I wanted one. She had no interest, she’s really not an animal person in general. This was 20 years ago. Somehow that cat is still alive. My mother will be devastated when she dies - but she will not admit it, for she is ‘not a cat person’…

SarahBellam · 09/09/2021 07:43

Well at least we know you’re not going to eat the cat.

Fernie6491 · 09/09/2021 07:46

My DM really didn't like cats at all.
Consequently every time she came to our house our two would make a beeline for her lap.
Presumably they did it to annoy. She never grew to like them! 😄

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 09/09/2021 07:49

I am a cat person.

The thing about cats is that (unlike dogs) it's quite possible to happily co-exist with them with relatively little input from yourself. Basic stuff like feeding and litter tray needs to be done, but otherwise they are often quite independent.
The only warning is that if you are very houseproud you may struggle.

TheChippendenSpook · 09/09/2021 07:49

@SarahBellam

Well at least we know you’re not going to eat the cat.
🤣
Sparklfairy · 09/09/2021 07:49

@Justmuddlingalong

The cat will make all decisions. Including wether or not you're a cat person.
Yep this! Grin

Although I generally like cats, my DM moved a cat i absolutely did not want there when I was living there (for my own reasons). We are now best friends. The cat charmed me completely Grin

LittleBearPad · 09/09/2021 07:52

I’m not sure not wanting to eat animals is relevant.

If you’ll be kind to it, look after it why not

BlueistheNewme · 09/09/2021 07:52

I wasn’t a cat person, until I got one. I was scared of cats, but the teenagers wanted one. I knew I’d be happy to look after it etc so went ahead. I love her to bits now, and am not scared of cats anymore.

Shade17 · 09/09/2021 07:53

YABU. Fucking vile things!

StillMedusa · 09/09/2021 07:53

My DH isn't a cat person. Or a dog person. His family didn't really do pets.
In our 33 yr marriage so far we have had numerous cats, and now a dog (oh a stray cat we adopted 6 months ago)
He has accepted his lot :) ...and drops his bags when he walks in from work so that he can be ready for the dogs love fest greeting Grin

I do the bulk if the animal care and that's fine.

Cats do have a way of worming into your soul and there is nothing like a deep contented purr...

But an older settled cat would be way better than a cute but destructive kitten!

AuntieMarys · 09/09/2021 07:54

I'm veggie but don't particularly like animals 😀

userxx · 09/09/2021 07:58

@Shade17

YABU. Fucking vile things!

I agree, I'm suspicious of vegetarians.

ShroomShroom · 09/09/2021 08:03

Like others DH wasn't a cat person but he didn't want a dog either and the rest of us wanted a pet. We got a rescue cat. DH is now very much a cat person Grin

Mercurial123 · 09/09/2021 08:04

@Shade17

YABU. Fucking vile things!
You sound delightful.