Cat as a pet

[Momtoprincess]

Hi all, I wanted to get some advice from cat owners.
My daughter has always wanted to have a cat, but I did not until I knew I could look after 1 and give our love to it and also space.
My daughter really wants one now, and I think it is time to get one. A few questions I have are, how are the cats when you leave them home to go shops or school run. What do you do if you have to stay away a few nights?
Do you only keep them indoors or let them out?

It's a slippery slope. Once you get one you realise life is so much better with a cat in your life. Then you think..."maybe I can have two". Then your life revolves entirely around fluffy creatures that wrap you around their little fingers like nothing else. Be warned ...!

We've always let ours out once they're settled and happy. Always allow at least 6 weeks when adopting or moving house. For kittens it can be longer waiting for them to be old enough.

Cats are pretty chill and fine if you go out for the day. They can sleep 23 hours a day so as long as they've got water/cat flap/litter tray/food they will very happily entertain themselves for a few hours at a time.

Ours is grateful when we get in as is very sociable but it's not like leaving a dog where they cry etc.

Getting two is a good idea. Especially for kittens or if you're out a lot as they can play with each other. It does mean they can be a bit less affectionate but not always.

We find them very easy pets for the effort required. Very lovely company and I wouldn't want to be without a cat or two at home.

Find a good cattery for when you go away unless you have someone who can feed the cat/s & clean the litter tray. Please look at rescue centres as there are lots of lovely cats in need of a good home. We had a cat from cats protection recently (she is 9) and its like she has always been here, she's gorgeous. Adult cats are less excitable than kittens, I had a new kitten years ago and he climbed the curtains, Christmas tree etc. We have a cat flap and she goes out as and when she wants.

If you go to a rescue they will match you with a cat who fits your circumstances and will advise you if it needs outside access. They are fine to be left for short periods. If I go away overnight I ask a neighbour to pop in and feed mine but I have also paid a cat sitter as well. Please rescue if you can, shelters are struggling at the moment.

Owner: « Will you be alright while I’m out, darling ? »

Cat « Don’t bang the door when you come back, please, you might wake me up».

Easiest pets in the world. They need so little and give so much.

I can leave a cat sleeping on my bed, go out all day and the wee tyke hasn't moved an inch when I get back.

My friend feeds them when we go on holiday. I feed hers. Or, our teenagers do.

If you look at https://catchat.org you can find a list of your local rescues. The ones where all the cats are fostered in volunteers’ homes will know exactly what they’re each like to live with, and should be able to find you a good match. They might also be able to recommend a cat sitter.

Cats are amazing and I would not want to be without mine. They are not hard to look after - you can be out at work all day and they will be fine. You can get a cat flap so that they can go out if they wish, although don't let them out straight away as they need to become accustomed to their new environment first. I let mine out but I keep them in overnight, from around 10ish to when I get up so that I know they are safe.

Rescues are the best places to get them. If you get kittens, it's good to get two if they are already together in the rescue. The rescue might not let you have only one as that isn't in the cat's best interests. They can keep each other company when you are not there. For older cats, one is ok if it's already alone. If I am on holiday I usually get someone to stay in my house, like my mum, but you could use a cattery, especially if you do it from the beginning so they are used to it. If you are only away for one night, you can get an automatic feeder and the cat will be fine.

I agree with the other poster, if you go away for a few days use a cattery. Someone popping in just to feed it is not good enough. Cats need caring for, litter trays cleaned out, safe place to sleep, and company.
There was a poster on here who agreed to look after a neighbour’s cat, only to find it involved far more work than she thought. Catteries aren’t cheap but you have to allow for it when you get a cat, plus get good insurance.
Also, consider things like whether you are next to a busy road, whether you will have a house or outdoor cat.

Cats are probably the most low maintenance pets you can get. They are fine if you go out for a full day. If you go away for a weekend you will need someone to come in and feed them however. Or you’ll need to book at Cattery. Personally I pay a local pet sitter to come in once a day and feed and clean litter trays etc.
Mine go outside, they would not be happy as indoor cats.
I would get 2 if you’re getting kittens as they do like to have a playmate. Or I would get a bonded pair of adult cats.
Make sure you can afford vet bills or get insurance. Vet bills these days can easily run in to thousands. You need to be aware and able to afford a pet before you get one

Definitely get a rescue. Kittens are hard work, adult cats are easy.

My old rescue boy is nearly 17. We got him at 3 which was SO much easier than getting a kitten - yes they're cute but........

He's fine if left alone for the whole day if we're out and we sometimes leave him overnight and give him a self service buffet of food - I'm sure he probably eats it on the first day!

Now he's older he's in 90% of the time but has a cat flap and comes and goes during the night.

We got 2 kittens and now they are nearly 8 years old!

We have a microchip cat flap so they can come and go as they please. They got chipped and neutered around 4 months of age. When we go on holiday a cat sitter comes in twice a day to feed them and top up their water. We've used the same cat sitter since they were kittens so they are used to her.

Cats are fabulous. Nice if you can get two siblings so they have company. I will leave mine for a max of 48 hours with a timed feeder and a neighbour with a key to check them. Any longer and we pay a cat sitter to pop in once a day to make sure they have food and water. Ours are feral rescues though and spend most of their time in the garden. They do come in for cuddles throughout the day though..

Love my cats, though we don’t have a cat flap as feel it’s much safer to just let them out when we’re around rather than free roam. They meow and pat the door to come in and don’t go out after their evening meal (they come in every evening when I call them for dinner). One of mine follows we around and doesn’t leave the garden ☺️ she is a sweetheart

I've had ALL the pets throughout my life, and cats are by far the easiest to look after and most lovely. Mine are fine being left, cats are chill.

First of all, all cats do not act the same! How old is your daughter OP?
It is costly to have a cat and look after it - 50 pounds a year for vaccinations , a CATTERY is about 18 pounds a day. Cat insurance varies - mine is 30 and 40 pounds. I feed them good food and a dry bag lasts them 6 weeks. It's 60 pounds. The wet food they are on is 100 pounds a months. That's before you start with beds and toys 😂

I disagree with this. Ours are hugely stressed whenever they have to leave the house. Someone coming in to feed them is much the better option. We use our cleaner as she is already familiar to them. I can remember putting the family cats in a cattery when I was a kid and one seemed fine but the other would come back like a bag of bones. Not all cats are the same.

If you have a cat sitter, fine, but it’s not enough to have someone just feeding them, unless they are coming in to clean litter trays, get them in for the night etc. I imagine your cleaner does those things.

My cat sitter fed mine. Didn't need litter tray cleaning as they go to the toilet outside and had free access day and night to the cat flap. She visited twice a day and if the cats were there she'd talk to them and clap them. We also had wee cameras and an app just in case they hadn't been seen by the cat sitter and that put all our minds at rest that they hadn't gone awol.

Officially, my cat sitter comes in twice a day for half an hour when I’m away to feed & water them, change their litter trays & play with them if they want. In practice, I know she often stays longer. She’s a gem.

If I was going to be away for more than 4 days, though, I’d pay for a flat sitter. Especially if I was fostering a solo cat at the time.

Cats are pretty easy compared to dogs. You can leave them for several hours and they probably won't even notice. I've never left them alone for days though. I have left them overnight but always had my Dad popping in at least once a day to check on them, administer treats and general fussing. You can be guaranteed they will have puked in their water or food bowl if you don't have someone checking on them.

I don't let mine out as being pedigrees they are both thick as mince and lively to get stolen.

Top tip, if you want a kitten get 2 and they'll play fight with each other rather than clawing and biting your toes relentlessly the first few months.....

Oh meant to say as for cost, I put £50 a month aside to cover pet insurance and food and this is enough to cover the annual vaccination and the excess if I ever need to claim on the insurance as I never spend the whole £50.

Cats are the easiest pets to look after. Mostly they like access to outdoors. We have a catflap as mostly people are out all day and we like her to have free access - we plan to have a microchip one fitted as have had the occasional neighbourhood intruder. If you're home more often you could just let them in and out through the door. Some people lock them in overnight and have a litter tray. It's up to what suits you and your pet best. We have a catsitter who comes twice a day to feed them when we are away. Cars often prefer to stay in their own home.

Mostly they are happy so long as you feed them, give them a warm comfy place to sleep (preferably a lap) and some outdoor access or play opportunities.

I have several cars and I love them to bits.
they’re not the cheapest pets in the world but they are some of the easiest. I don’t think a house is a home without at least one cat.
I would say get two kittens, or an adult from a rescue. People say the kitten stage is hard work but genuinely I disagree, they are a lot of fun. They will climb your curtains or Christmas tree, hide in your sofa and jump all over you while you are ttying to sleep. But they’ll be litter trained easily if not already by the time you get them. When we go away for the weekend or up to a fortnight I have a friend d who cares for them visiting twice a day. The cats are great friends with my neighbours who encourage them to visit.
they will need to be flea and worm treated and microchipped as well as neutered. At least 300 for this in the first year per cat. Plus insurance, food (£10 a week?) and litter, and kit like a bed, litter box, toys. Mainly they just want cuddles, a warm place to sleep, food.