Is this our cat-to-be?

[Zoidberg]

We're looking for a cat and the local rescue places have only one that we, with a young child, would be allowed, at the moment. She is a 6 month tortoiseshell, we saw her on Saturday and DD and I met her today, she was sweet and we stroked her and she kneaded my knees with her claws. The only thing is, I'm rubbish at decisions and can't decide whether she is "our" cat or whether we should wait and see what else comes along.

I'm going to sleep on it. Lots of posts here have mentioned just knowing when a cat was right for them and I haven't totally had that, but she is sweet and I don't know what else I'd be looking for. I've told the centre I'm interested, they want to know asap, although one person there said not to worry if we change our mind as the family cats always go to a new home pretty quickly.

Will I feel any differently about any future cat? If I wait will I look back and think, that was The One

I think cats choose their owners (rather than owners choose their cats) TBH!

Our cat had kittens many years ago and when prospective 'owners' came to see them a different kitten each time made a bee-line for the people. The kittens did in fact end up with the owners they 'chose'.

As for the one you saw, we had a tortoiseshell -totally bonkers but very, very affectionate.

Well she seemed very friendly with us, it's so hard to tell though when they must be a bit affection-starved in the centre. The more I think about it right now, the more I'm thinking, yes. Maybe another cat wouldn't have been all over us like that

And I did just Google tortoiseshells, had no idea they are famed for some strong personality, this one is so little and shy at the moment, wonder how she'll turn out.

Why don't you go back for a second visit? See if she behaves the same way?

We met over 50 cats at the cat protection league and most of them were very scratchy and some even tried to bite - esp when we went back for a second visit without the woman who works there - this cat sounds lovely and just right for you! go for it :-)

go and visit again, and if she likes you (not the other way round with cats) have her

its fate...you have been chosen

It's not always love at first sight.....with our cat;

It was a 3hr drive home. He puked after a mile. We had to throw the blanket in a roadside bin. He had a runny bottom after 2.5hrs. He screamed so much I was tempted to take him back/put him in the ditch . He literally never shut up. My nerves were ragged as I drove us home.

The first thing I had to do when we got him home was mop up the poo and clean his bottom, back legs, all paws of poo and sick.

And then he walked towards me, stood on my lap and gave me the most loving look, purring loudly and milk treading. He's been mine ever since.

We went to a rescue place and there were loads to choose from and we just couldn't decide. We decided on one and then his brother who had been sleeping the whole time just got up and climbed into our cat box so we thought we'd best take him - had no idea what he was like. Now 4.5 years later he's bonkers and has caused us plenty of worry with his tummy issues but we wouldn't be without him for the world.

We took our other two in without even having met them as they needed a home and they are fab - love them to bits.

If she was friendly then I'd take her - you will love her soon enough I'm sure!

Do not be fooled by the shy nature, I walked home one day with a cute sweet tortie following me (soooooo thin and full of fleas), anyway the sweet nature made us let her in (after door knocking), we spent two weeks trying to find her owner, and we kept her.
One her paws were firmly under the table (or on the bed, or any damn where else she fancied) her strong nature came out.
She is demanding, she meows LOUDLY when she comes in so she doesn't have to walk around to find us, as we shout her to tell her where we are, she chooses which bed she sleeps on.
However she is so affectionate, and loving and purry, and is really clean in the house.
She's owned us for three years now and for saying we never intended to get a cat I wouldn't be without her.

Thank you very much everyone, lovely stories here and you have helped me know I'm making the right decision. We are having this one, rang them today to say Yes and we're picking her up on Saturday. All a bit sudden but no harm in that; a lot of excitement in this house.

DP and I grew up with a cat each, for 18-20 years, but the parents looked after them, so I'm bound to be back here for advice.

You have to let us know how you get on with her? What's she called?

Lovely! Does she have a name or are you getting to choose that?

I think our cat also chose us, he used to be our neighbours, but her son was a bit rough with him, and she just let him out hoping someone would take him in, he'd gone missing at one point for 2 weeks

He kept coming in our garden and we put him back over, but one night I picked him up and he was kneading my jumper. Then she needed to stay at her mum's one time and asked us to have him for a bit and then just asked if we wanted him for good!

We knew him better than she did within 2 weeks of having him than she did after having him for 6 months!

I will She's called Lucy, we're not planning to change that.

i had a tortie, the brindle type, practically black with splodges.

She was the loveliest cat i ever had, she passed away very young, only a year, but the time we had with her was the best.

Some torties are crazy, ours was intelligent, loving to the point of silliness, and so beautiful.

She was called Pixie.

Go with your gut, you might be sorry.x

No don't change it, we kept our cat's name - Misty, and when I was about 15 my parents got a pedigree persian called Sophie. The ad in the paper gave a list of all the names of the kittens and when we were on the way to get her I remember saying that I hoped we didn't get Sophie (I thought that was a very posh name!)

There were 2 left, one was hiding and the other at our feet so we chose her and we all chuckled when told it was Sophie!

She sounds lovely.

My older cat: went to the RSCPA to choose, I wanted him but he's just been chosen by another family so I put my name down for his mother. Come collection day there was a mix-up (I think deliberate by the RSPCA lady who liked us more than the other family) and I ended up with the boy. He's amazing: has the most incredible social life and a massive fan club but always comes back to me at night for food and cuddles.

Younger cat: went to local rescue charity to look for cat. One was a bit scratchy. Other was quaking under a blanket. I sat down, looked under blanket; cat promptly crawled out, straight into my lap and started to purr and push his head against my hand. He really did choose me. He's still a bit of a scaredy cat and only goes out after dark but is massively more confident now. Visitors no longer mean him disappearing to the airing cupboard for the duration.

They're both great.

.

Thanks, it's going brilliantly, she's having lots of strokes and we've already opened the door from her original room and she's exploring the house (and trying to jump on my lap while I was bf'ing DD to sleep). We are all smitten.

Glad it's all working out well. We got our rescue cat about 3 months ago - lovely, friendly, confident, described by the CPL as "the perfect cat". She truly was whilst settling in. Now she has her feet under the table she's had to be renamed "Dr Evil", love her to bits though