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.

Cats make lovely affectionate companions . Easy to look after and self sufficient. I wouldn't be without my 3 .

There's a lot of truth in this post, my parents had indoor only cats when I was growing up but those cats always had the urge to want to be out though so for you OP, I would say you need to at least turn your balcony into a catio to satisfy your cats have some sunshine and fresh air because what you don't want is cats that try and make a dart for open doors and windows and of course with heatwave summers as they are, you can't sit there with all your doors and windows shut either.

You also would have to get kittens ideally so that they are used to that indoor life from the start but that if course means neutering, chipping, vaccinating.

Make sure you get pet insurance!

Also be aware of how faddy cats can be with food, what they'll eat one week, they may not the next and they may want the expensive brands!

I do adore cats though, they give you some laughs with their personalities and quirks.

I completely agree with this as the owner of several cats. People who’ve never had a cat assume they’ll be much easier than dogs, and they are, up to a point…I’ve known many people who thought having a cat would be a doddle and within a couple of years the cat was either shoved outside permanently or rehomed.

To be fair though I've had multiple cats for the best part of forty years - and on the whole they really are incredibly easy to look after.

It all depends though, it gets a bit more difficult when you realise you have a cat with sensitive skin and they need special food and they have a tendency to over groom to the point of bleeding or they get injured, have surgery and have to have cage rest for weeks. We have indoor/ outdoor cats and it's not necessarily our own cats that cause the stress, it's the unneutered strays that want to be in your house and spray everywhere and force you to get a microchip cat flap! Then there's the stress when the microchip cat flap stops working and your own cats can't get in! We had an unneutered stray that used to come and look in the windows downstairs in the very early hours of the morning, every morning for about 2 months and our cats used to scream the bloody place down! It wasn't fun!

Any colour as long as its black.

Wish I'd taken that advice, got a black, tabby, and white. The hair stands out no matter what colours I wear

They also get old which comes with its own issues. Mine is now 13, she doesn't play any more, sleeps all day and I regularly have to switch her food to different brands as they start irritating her insides. She's very affectionate and has never gone for anyone, she's still cute in my eyes but definitely no longer the same kitten we brought home from rescue.

I thought he was calling me a witch 😂😂