Aibu to really want a cat?

[inerja]

Kids getting older. I really want a cat.
what haven’t I considered? They seem easy to toilet train and I don’t go on holiday much. WFH.

I mean, it doesn't sound like you've considered that much?
What are the roads around you like? Vets bills? Insurance? Entertaining the cat, especially while young? Poisonous plants in your garden or around the house?

Hair, hair everywhere

Birds, mice, and other small rodents brought in dead, alive, and sometimes partial

Demanding attention at 3am

Need to arrange cattery or pet sitting if you go away

Costs

But I wouldn't be without mine.

One is currently sat on the windowsill washing it's arse and giving the neighbours a lovely view.

Very busy. Live in a big city (Paris) so the cat would not be allowed outside.
no garden just balconies.
Vets are good

You don't really say whether you mean cat or kitten - but I'd be tempted to rehome ratehr than get a kitten. Kittens are quite hard work and I'm convinced you need two to keep each other occupied.

Cats are pretty easy to keep - but think about whether it will be indoor or outdoor. Ours have always had a cat flap and have come and gone as they pleased. And also brought 'presents' in. I hated catching mice they'd brought in.

They also caught birds too.

They own you. You don’t own them 😂😂

I know, I'm just their butler

They give so much love and are mostly self sufficient, go on, get one

There are cats who can only live indoors. Perhaps ask
a rescue for one of those, not all cats can cope with indoor life.

Make sure you know what you would do if you go away overnight. Make sure you can afford vet’s bills and insurance.

other than that, enjoy! I love my cat and could not live without them in my life

I think they do better in pairs. You need 2 cats.

Cats are chancy, in that unlike dogs there is no guarantee that you will get anything out of it as a pet. My friend adopted a cat, it (the cat) was spending a lot of time in my friend’s garden and she found out which neighbour it belonged to. Turned out the neighbour had just got a dog and was happy to let the cat go. However my friend hardly ever sees the cat except when it comes for food, it’s an aloof little thing and gives her no affection at all.

Get a cat!

Balcony… escape route? Would it potentially go spider-catting between balconies and get stuck/ trapped?

Go to a rescue. They usually ( if they're a good one) ask relevant questions around suitability, and will match you to the right fit for you. Bare in mind some cats are worse than dogs for neediness, almost toddler like.
Mine digs up the carpet if I shut him out of the bedroom, complains when I don't wake up on his demands & rules the roost. I wouldn't be without him

Ah. It's quite common for people to have indoor cats in Paris I believe. You'd have to fully enclose the balcony like a catio though, as cats can jump.

It’s utterly heartbreaking when they die. Still miss mine every day and it’s been 13 years. Wouldn’t have missed my 18 years with her though.

Do you own or rent your apartment? We love our cat to bits, but she has destroyed the walls in some places- I'd hate to think what a landlord would say!

I massively regret getting a cat. Really make sure you're a cat person 24/7.

I like cats, but only when they live at others people's houses, it turns out.

.

I adopted a stray. He spent his life on the streets and is currently being converted into indoor cat. He took to it like a champ although I am spending a fortune on "enrichment". He is very low maintenance, certainly nothing like having a dog!
I'd say go for it.

Go for it. You won't have to deal with mice/ birds if it's an indoor cat. Litter tray will be essential you'll have to change it frequently. May claw your carpets or sometimes furniture, they're all different. Remember vets bills can be expensive. A loving cat is great company. I would go to a rescue for an older cat that is used to an indoor life. Sounds as if you can offer a lovely home.

They’re the ideal companion. Get a Maine Coon (they’re the friendliest), keep it indoors (or limited to a cat proof garden or catio), and get the insurance just in case (or put money aside every month in a savings account so that if something goes wrong you can afford to fix it (unless you have no worries on that front).

Make sure to use a registered breeder, or a shelter, not some random who is breeding their cat with no concern for the health issues etc.

And enjoy your new owner.

I have indoor cats and they are such a wonderful source of joy and love and companionship. In your position I’d try to adopt (though I’m aware that’s hard sometimes as shelters can be so very restrictive) but an older cat that is accustomed to single cat indoor living and just needs someone to love and have love them would be ideal for you. For kittens I fear you’d need two as they benefit so much from one another. I’d never have a single kitten.

Ah didn’t see this bit before I posted. Definitely a Maine Coon if you can be sure he will be safe indoors. They are the best buddies.

I use Bitiba for bulk ordering of litter and food, and this always works out best. Intersand classic, clumping litter doesn’t track and clumps perfectly without smells, you can even get it scented too. I think that’s it.

People have listed the negatives which are true but basically if you love your cats as much as I do it's irrelevant.

On paper my cats are basically like two smelly benefits scroungers. They are demanding, spoiled and unbelievably lazy and often stink. And they don't even catch anything.

But I am utterly besotted with them. Wouldn't live without them.

I'd love one (because I love them and also because we sometimes get mice) but I couldn't bear it when it died. I also CBA with getting someone to feed/catsit if I'm away.
But get one! I'd go to a shelter, and specify that you need an indoor-suitable one. Or could you make your balcony cat-safe?