Present for a four year old who really wants a pet cat?

[BeefTomato]

DD is desperate for a real pet cat, which unfortunately is never going to happen. I want to find her something similar, but feel like she's too little for a Tamagotchi. Is there anything out there that I haven't thought of?

How can you not want this

You could get a soft toy cat- but make sure you get the color she wants. You could also visit a cat shelter and play with the cats.

How about a visit to a cat cafe?

@YesQueen - that is a brilliant idea

@SimonJT Not all those costs are essentials. We never use catteries when we go away. A neighbour feeds them and we feed their cats in return so no costs there. And I've always had cats that use the garden, never litter trays as they do smell, definitely. So that's not a necessary cost either. I agree vaccines, defleaing meds and insurance are necessary along with the food bill. But the pleasure! I'd never think of playing with the cat as a high maintenance activity. It's such fun - free therapy, more like!

The cat cafe near me is cheap too plus they do cake and milkshakes!

My DD was obsessed with having a cat of her own from the age of 1. We have two pets ones but they avoid her. We bought her a little toy cat that meows.

We got a second hand cat bed, a little bowl and a old biscuit tin. We filled the biscuit tin with dry pasta and DD moves the pasta from the tin to the bowl to feed her cat.

We also got the cat a blanket. And we took DD to the pet shop and she picked some cheap plastic balls and fluffy toy mice to give to her cat.

She plays endlessly with this set of stuff!

My DN is desperate for a cat but DBro is allergic

I bought her one of those Fur Real things but it's pretty shit and no substitute for a real pet.

Your objections are pretty flimsy tbh.

I have cats for the past 25 years.

Never paid insurance, rarely had to pay vet fees for anything.
Flea Treatment, yes
Food, yes. You easily learn which ones are stinky, and can provide dry food plus water which is a good option.
Cattery - never. Just provide cat feeder for short trips away, and family/friends for longer trips
Litter - only when kittens/house training. Otherwise they go out through cat flap.

Get your poor DD a little kitty!!!

@StCharlotte I average around 1 bag of wood litter every 5 days give or take a few days (indoor large Male cat) and from Tesco that's £4.50 so at least £20 a month 😊

Little shit!

To anyone saying no insurance - I recently had a 4.5K vet bill... luckily insured. Not worth the chance IMO

My 4 yo dd has 2 pet cats and is still obsessed with cats and being a cat, and dogs! I agree with the meowing toy, basket, bowl, ‘cat’ food, cat blanket etc, good imaginative play.

I can’t agree that you can smell cats though - cat litter, yes, but not cats. But someone that doesn’t want a pet shouldn’t do it for anyone else!

@DoubtingMyPatience
Thanks for making me smile .
I used a litter tray for 3 months .

I read it just after another post on expense of their cat gave £15 per month for cat litter !

Many cat cafes don’t accept young children. Could you sponsor a rescue or a pen at a rescue centre?
And cats should be shut in at night and should always have access to a litter tray.

Kitties are less trouble than children by miles. And very important to develop empathy and responsibility; don’t be too set against having one. We have 2 and they’re no trouble, and lots of love.

@wolfiefan; I don’t understand why you’d say that. Our (12 year old) cats always go out at night and don’t have a litter tray. They also don’t hunt as they have poor eyesight, but that was an unforeseen bonus!

It’s recommended that cats stay in at night. Statistically they stand a much higher chance of injury or accident.
I don’t understand all these posts suggesting the OP get a pet she doesn’t want for children who won’t care for it for the next 20 years.

We don’t have a litter tray and people pop into feed our cat when we’re away. She isn’t fully vaccinated either. (Is that really bad?).
She is v cheap and we adore her, she’s my DS’s first best friend and is very comforting.

Get a cat !

Our cat flap is permanently open so dcat can pop out to the loo any time day and night. She doesn’t need to be locked in at night.

@MrsRufusdog789 ah yes, I did try that 24k gold nugget cat litter but I found the poop scoop wasn’t up to the job and funnily enough the cat shite was tarnishing the cat litter.

What absolute rubbish. They’re happy to shite on a newspaper as kittens

@Chewbecca cats should be in at night and why on Earth don’t you vaccinate?

I can't believe people are suggesting a real cat for a 4 year old. 🙄

Your objections are pretty flimsy tbh

No they aren't.

I disagree that cats must be in at night, that’s an opinion, not a fact.
Not vaccinated because we rarely visit the vets. No cattery so no requirements.

Echoing the cat cafe recommendation.

Husband is very allergic so a pet cat is never going to happen. A trip for me and my son to a cat cafe in the school holidays was a real treat for him

I've had several cats and they haven't been smelly. They all went into the garden to wee so no cat litter except at first. Yes, vets are expensive but most animals don't have to go to the vet that often. You could probably ask someone to come in and feed while you're away, that's better than a cattery. What's so terrible about cat food? Even if you're a vegan you can't expect animals to be the same.

Your daughter wants a cat, in your place I'd consider it. Four is about the right age too, before that they play a bit rough with them.