CAT HELP

[softmusk]

hi me my dh and 2 kids 1 and 2 are about to move in to our first home after living at my mums and i would like to get a cat my mum has four so the kids our use to living with them, i was just wondering a few things
do boy cats spray once they have been done ?
are most kittens litter trained when get them ?
what age can u get cat done ?
and do kittens and kids work
my mums cats were all over the age of one once my kids were born
thanks for ya help

Our cat didn't spray when done. Not all kittens are litter trained, depends where you get it from! Not sure what age cat could be done. I would not recommend a small kitten with a baby, a kitten can be a handful, and can scratch and nibble. Have you thought about a rescue cat? Possibly visit a local recue centre for more advice? All cats from rescue centres will be 'done' and have vaccinations etc.

our cat never spayed, we had his bollox chopped at 6 months (earliest we could)
We had 3 cats growing up, all fine, but my 3 year old tom is not my 6 month old ds biggest fan.

I'd agree with the rescued cat option unless you really want a kitten.

Big advantages are the staff should know a lot about the cat's temperement and whether it will be suitable with kids, you'll know if it's litter trained or not, it will already be spayed (sp?) and vaccinated etc.

I think that boy cats can still spray if they are neutered quite late in life but should be ok if done as kittens/young cats before they get into the habit.

temperament even...

my cat sprays, he was done at 6 months. Apparently it's a territorial thing - there is a pitched battle going on round here between at least 3 cats.

I had 2 kittens when ds1 was 5 months old - it was no problem, but then ds1 went to day nursery at 6 mths.

I've just taken on a kitten from a vets that was rescued by the RSPCA fund, he is disabled (he has a leg and tail missing, and is awaiting an op to have some of his jaw removed) and I don't hink he will ever go outside- too nervopus, was attacked by people (gggggr ). However, he is an adorable little thng and just 5 weeks after coming here curls up on the pillow all day with DH (who works nights) and is a really lovable part of the family. Our older cat is 8, and was rescued, he's a perfect family pet.

Problems like spraying imo do go with the op, and kittens and kids HUGELY work. Most kittens are at least partly trained by their mums, however ours wasn't yet it only took a week. And that was for a particularly traumatised cat, and we had to be regarded as specialists to get him.

Hiya

I'd say 'yes" to most of your questions,
but maybe recomend going for a slightly older kitten if you want to be sure they are litter trained......

over the years I;ve had problems, & seen friends too, with kittens, that were probably taken from there Mums a bit too early, & they seem to be the ones who hav the moste "tiolet" problems.....

I well remember my friend who found what was probably a feral kitten...tiny little thing, be lucky if it was 4 weeks, found abandoned behind some bins near where she worked,
she had hell trying to stop it wee'ing on her bed, & generally just use a litter tray.... she got there in the end, but must of took about 6 months, & a hell of a lot of washing.... not what you need when you have young kids??.

Rescue cats are great, mine have mostly been, & the 2, 6 months old ones took on 16 years ago, were brilliant toilet wise. from day 1........

the biggest problem I ever had with a cat, was a pedigree Chinchilla Persian...beautiful, but wanted so much pampering, & his own way
& if he didn't get it....... he'd wee on my stuf, & rip things up.....
he once p'd in my brothers suitcase, (he'd just arrived to stay with me) because he refused to give him more of his chicken.......
he got so bad I had to give him away, he went to a gay friend who used to cat sit him for me...... he was the most pampered & well behaved cat I'd ever seen after that, like he'd had a personality transplant.

I still have Polly, 1 of the rescue cats from 16 years ago, shes been great friend. & beautiful too,
but very feisty & can be very vicious.... she even saw off a burglar once, ripped him to shreds,

so I was very worried how she would be with my Daughter when she was born 4 years back.... but shes been great, never hurt her, though she has warned her a few times, shes never even broken her skin
I've come to relax, & now they are great friends,& Polly sleeps on my Daughters bed, so I think even in the worst situations, like an old Cat & a new baby, cats & kids are a great mix.......

& my old Tom stopped spraying when he was snipped too

xxs
Lyn

PC

Poor little thing. People who can do that sort of thing to an animal really scare me. I hope the kitten has a long and happy life with your family.

That's another great reason to get a rescued animal. There're so many sad stories - even if it's just that the pet is now unwanted and it's lovely to see them give so much back when they get a second chance

so if my boistorious dd who is 25.5m..i wud better to get a cat and not a kitten?