Is a cat our best bet?

[tvlover1234]

Hi all,

Moving into our first home and I really want a pet. I've always always had dogs all of my life growing up. I would love a dog but I know with us both working full time(although can pop home for lunch for an hour) it would be unreasonable. Our other option was we called drop the dog round my dad's through the day where he had 2 dogs(where I currently live).

I've never been a huge fan of cats partly because I've always loved the affection dogs hace given me. Always happy to see you. Cuddly etc. Plus every cat I've ever known bar one had took a dislike for me I swear lol.

I've read a bit about house cats and how they're more dog like? Particularly Ragdoll cats? With a house cat would it be reasonable to leave them 9am and come home 1-2 and alone from then till 5? Monday - Friday.

I've never had a cat let alone a house cat.

A usual outdoors cat doesn't appeal to me as I would worry horrendously that something would happen to them. A fight or get ran over etc. Or just generally wander as they do!

Thoughts please? Nothing harsh. Like I said I'm only looking into it atm.

Sorry for typos. Getting used to my new phone!!

Nothing harsh here!
Our old cat lived to 19. Can you really commit to 19 years of caring for an animal you don't sound all that keen on?
We got our cats. Pair. Adult rescues. We worked full time.
Never had a house cat. What if it got out? I know some cats need to be kept in due to medical issues. But most like to get out and about.

I don't hate cats don't get me wrong but they've never seemed to like me! Is that just their nature? Myboyfriend cat is pretty feral an attacks you till you feed him again and again lmao.

My friend has two house cats and they're lovely. Sit on my lap even speak to me! Which I love.

I absolutely adore dogs but feel being left for 4 hours home for lunch and then working 3 hours again a day is too much for a dog to be left? I don't know. In our house we all work shifts atm so our dogs are never alone at one time.

Are cats good with children when we have children in future? I'd never trust my boyfriend cat with me let alone a baby so that worries me too??

Obviously child would be supervised. I wouldn't ever leave a child unsupervised with an animal of course. But I mean even supervised my boyfriends family cat would go for a child!

I would not get a house cat on the basis that it is more like a dog. Sounds like what you want is a dog!

A cat may or may not take to children. Mostly, it will run and hide from a young child (mine did) and children only really get old enough to understand how a cat should be treated from about 8 years up. Mine lived with children in the house but simply keeping out of the way until they went to bed.

Cats tend to like humans based on their personality and also how socialised they have been from birth. It also very much depends on the body language of the human. Cat hate being approached, they like to dictate the contact. They also like being stroked around the head most as they cannot lick there.