Cat owners what advice, thoughts, tips, things to consider would you give to someone thinking of getting a cat?

[BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree]

• ie me.

It's something I've thought about for a while and told myself I'd consider properly in 2011......which is now appears to be !

Now, I like to think of myself are reasonably intelligent, and I have thought about it on my own, and we had pets when I was growing up (though no cat as my dad was allergic to them) - dog, rabbit, fish, rats (eek!) etc so I'm not a stranger to pet owning - but it's been a long time.

So your pearls of wisdom of things to consider (no matter how obvious they are ] would be much appreciated.

Oh - and where would I go about finding a cat once I've made sure I'm ready for one???

I would tell you consider the fact that everything will be covered in hair always from your clothes to your carpet to your cutlery.

They will bring home dead (and occassionally live) presents for you in the form of mice and birds.

Cat litter stinks and cleaning it out is not nice at all, but if you don't have it chances are Mog will shit in your wardrobe when it's raining.

They like to go out of the back door only to walk around and ask to come straight back in the front way.

They will sharpen their claws on your best cardi just because they can, no matter how huge their scratching castle pole is.

And bear in mind a healthy cat can live well into it's 20's. It's a long time to commit to something if you are 110% certain.

blimey Dooin - my (theoretical) cat will have to get over the back wall, down the alley to the bottom of the street, walk along there and then back up the front side of the row of houses

Not bothered about the presents - friends cats in Zim used to bring in all sorts of weird and wonderful gifts for us (I spent most of my spare time sat on the sofa at their place) the likes of which creatures I'd never seen alive or dead before - I have at least seen dead mice, birds, rats, bats, frogs etc before.

No best cardigans (actually no best anything ).

I'm 150% sure about getting one. It's been on the cards for far too long and now at last (LL dependant) I can at last have a pet in my home again

so, what's the verdict form the LL?

dunno - have only just woken up

I am jealous. I had intended a nice long lie in this morning. My tummy had me up 2 hours before I normally get up.

well it wasn't a proper lie-in - I was up and down and calling children up to lecture ask them to behave from about 9am.

Make sure you have really really really considered what you will do when you go away. It's great if you have a couple of cats, and they don't need a litter tray and you have a friendly neighbour who doesn't mind doing food and stuff for a bottle of wine. It's fine if you have a cat who doesn't mind the cattery. It's not so great of you have a neurotic cat who is traumatised by any visit to such a place and a husband who is far too of a soppy softie sensitive kind soul to leave her/him there for even one night. Result - a cat who comes everywhere with us, long detours to my parents' house to leave the cat with them on the two occasions we have gone abroad in the last six years, overnight visits cut short as we have to dash back to feed the cat her breakfast etc Having said that we adore her and wouldn't be without her for anything!

Aries - I have considered that .

exH is actually quite reasonable when he wants to be and would probably do it if asked, and if not although my neighbours are a bit shite I have plenty of church friends who I know would quite happily pop in and "sort" the cat out.Not that I tend to go away much anyhow

Am just waiting for an opportunity to pop upstairs (don't want the boys to over hear the phone call just incase the answer is no) so I can ring LL.

good luck!

Got two kittens from same litter and this has been really successful. They are now 4 and we don't have insurance and do yearly vaccs (£120ish for both) and deflea/worm at home. I feed Iams and it is always on offer at one of the big supermarket so buy in bulk.

I was going to mention neighbour too. I have a lovely one who will let them in/out and feed and we use litter if we'll be away (i.e. a week at Christmas with no probs although they were in a huff for a few days when we got back!), but apart from that, they do all their business outside although one did shit in my wardrobe last month.
Highly recommended and much easier than other animals. Ours tend to be pretty independent and rarely want cuddles as they have each other for that - are like a 2 headed cat at night - v sweet. This suits me fine as I got them for dd1, not me I'd prefer a dog any day but can't get one at the mo due to work/space etc.

Good luck, they do make the family complete in a way

We use Iams and store it in a covered bin. We buy a 10kg bag from pets at home and this lasts for 3 months or so. £40 for 2 cats for 3 months is not bad at all. Works out something like 24p per day per cat.
We do give them occasional pouches of cat food, but they do have large lasagne dish which is kept clean and full with fresh water every day. Plus what they steal from yoghurt pots and unattended plates left by the side of DH's armchair.

'blimey Dooin - my (theoretical) cat will have to get over the back wall, down the alley to the bottom of the street, walk along there and then back up the front side of the row of houses'

A minute tops for a normal cat - prob 30 seconds for a hungry loving cat

well regardless - I phone my LL earlier today - no reply. So I sent him a text wishing him a happy new year and asking (very nicely) if he would mind if I got a cat.

I have just this second had a reply - he has no problem at all with us getting a cat

yay!!

Now, would you get a cat or older kitten, or are you thinking of starting out with a teeny tiny fit down your bra size creature or 2?

Yay!

Just thought i'd add that my cat uses cat scratching posts (Lost interest in the sofa after i put one in front of it). I started her on it by dragging a piece of string across it - she went to get the string and realised how lovely it was to scratch!

Great! And a huge cheer for asking advice on here about what a cat needs. It's lovely to see.

I just told the boys as well (the cat is really for meeeeeeee - but I know they've been asking about a pet at home for years too) as I didn't want them to get their hopes up just incase LL did say no.

They're very very happy boys (and DS2 is going all gooey eyed and a bit sad as I'm showing him some of the Cats on the Cat Protection league website and the information about them).

That's great news! Cats Protection are great, got two of mine through them and the lovely lady who fostered one of them as a kitten still exchanges Christmas cards six years later.

Well my Cats Protection League cat has just come bounding into the room so obviously she wants to wish you all the best too (and she does use her scratching post, although is not averse to a go at one of the sofas also).

CPL advised us against getting a kitten because of ds' age (5) - I preferred to get one that was litter trained anyway, to be honest. She's not wildly affectionate but she puts up with ds quite well, he is very good with her too. And she is very sweet. Good luck!

Hooray! We are just awaiting home visit from the RSPCA and hope to be bringing our new moggy home within a week or so, I've reserved a lovely one-year-old girl, can't wait :)

I think probably going for cat to be honest - rather than a kitten not because of the litter training - but although my boys are generally very sensible, and love animals I have visions of poor little kitty getting squished in one of their slightly less sensible /not paying attention moments. Especially if it's an ickle teeny one.

ok talk to me about the home check.

What will they ask, what will they check?

Is it going to be a huge huge thing that I don't have a cat flap (LL is fab but I think asking to put a cat flap in his door is pushing it a bit too far - even if it is a wooden door so easily done ).

they will check that you don't live in a potential death trap for kitty, they will ask about where you would put litter tray etc, usually ask to see the garden if you'll be letting it out. That sort of stuff.

Get a short haired cat (and I mean short) - they won't moult all over the carpets and furniture.
I trained mine to stay downstairs and off the furniture most of the time whenever I was around; although sometimes came home to find her bounding down the stairs with a guilty look on her face