Tell me why I should or shouldn't get a cat

[whoknewthat]

DS wants a kitten. He's 6. DS2 is 3.

I know nothing about cats. I'm a dog person. DH hates dogs and says cats are easy but I suspect this is his way of doing nothing for it and leaving it to me.

So - should we get one?

My main reservation is dead things in the house.

My other questions

• can you fit a cat flap into double glazed doors?

How much do they cost (food, insurance etc)?

Is it a given they will destroy the furniture?

Our cats who have just turned one do bring in dead mice. They also bring in mice that arent dead and subsequently escape and take up residence in the sofa and kitchen cupboard!
We had the bottom section of our double glazed door replaced with a white panel. Dont know the name of it but its plastic covered polystyrene. Our neighbour is a window fitter and gave it to us we cut a hole in it and fitted the cat flap.
I spend about £7 a week of dry food for the 2 of them but dont have insurance. It worked out really expensive so i just have a £30pm DD into a special savings account for vet bills.
Neutering cost £100 cant remember how much the injections were. I also pay for worming tablets and flea treatment about £40 every 3 months and it covers both kittys.
They have ruined our leather dining chairs as they liked to climb up them and chase each other along them but theyve grown out of the scratchy phase and only scratch the doormat.

We have two rescue cats who are about 2 and 4.5 years. I always thought I was a dog person as we had dogs when I was growing up, but having recently added a puppy to our family I've decided I'm leaning towards being a cat person . You don't have to pick up their poo for a start, or take them for walkies in the rain!! I suppose like any animals they all have their own personalities. My boy cat is very affectionate and playful but also spends a lot of time outside, whereas my girl cat follows me around the house waiting for me to sit down on my lap, but she doesn't like anyone else in the family . They both try to catch things but thankfully are quite unsuccessful. The girl cat does like catching frogs but then doesn't know what to do with them, she doesn't kill them - I usually have to catch them and put them back in the pond. She's only brought a live one into the house once!!

The girl cat will also scratch the sofa and the carpets but my boy is happy with his scratch tower.

We have a glass back door so didn't have a catflap. TBH, we haven't felt the need. We keep them in at night and live in a quiet cul de sac so if we aren't in and they want to come in they just sit by the back door till we come home.

Insurance - we pay about £14 I think for both per month from Tesco. TBH I often wonder if it's worth it as I've never used it yet.

The only thing I would say is that, like with dogs you have to be very careful with little DCs and cats. DS2 pesters my girl cat sometimes and has had a couple of scratches from her. Luckily nothing serious but I do have to make sure he doesn't wind her up.

I don't know anything about kittens, but I would really recommend getting a young cat from a rescue if you can. We had no toilet training problems as that was already sorted, the boy cat was 1 year old when they came to us and like I said, he really is a young boy, very playful and fun.

I have two very different cats owned from kittens both of them. My beautiful moggy girl and posh arrogant boy. Beautiful moggy girl loves her family wants to be with them all the time once in her 14 years killed a pigeon, but it was all so distasteful she has never bothered since. Posh Arrogant boy alternates between loving and hating his family at the drop of a hat, he is personally working to decimate the worlds rat population and trophy kills birds (never the saw species twice).
They are easier pets than dogs mostly self caring.
As a vet first vaccs are about £60 neutering about 60 to 70 boys are cheaper than girls. Look very carefully at insurance having just racked up £800 in 3 days on a cat that has been in a road traffic accident costs can build up quite quickly even for relatively mundane disease. If you are looking to save for the worst you need to be thinking several hundred pounds per year.

Dead things arent so bad.

Live, injured things running around are much worse. I use a pair of DH's sock over my hands to pick them up.

Amazon sells cat flaps for glazed doors, get a cat mate one, not a staywell. Cat mate ones have a brush seal to keep draughts out.

Depends in what way you see yourself as a dog person. Dogs will give you that adoring unconditional love, but IMO (as a cat person) they are too much so, I find them clingy and demanding, you have to put in a lot more, etc. Cats are more independent, so if you're used to dogs it can seem like they don't "love" you in the same way, and of course you can't train them.

DP is a dog person, he tolerates my cat, and he can be affectionate to him, but he doesn't love him the way he loves his dogs, or even his sisters' dogs.

Like all animals, there's a strong element of personality. I wouldn't get a tiny kitten personally - there's a lot of work, and litter trays etc. Rather get a slightly older cat - still young. Although small children do love a kitten...

Our cat started on the furniture but was easily distracted with a (very large) scratching post. he brings in mice or birds now and again. he gets into fights so we've had to take him to the vet once or twice for injuries. Most are self healing but he got an eye infection from one which required antibiotics. And yes, like with all pets, small children hhave to learn to be gentle with them. But that's true of dogs too. Most cats will leave the children alone if they're left alone but might scratch or bite if they're manhandled by small people. our cat on the other hand lies there looking resigned when DS is pulling his ears or tail (although I suspect that once DS is a bit bigger, the cat will be less patient. He seems to know the difference between small baby cluelessness and big baby's cruelty).

If DS wants one, I'd get one. They can be wonderful pets and you're far less to suffer from a very high maintenance animal if DS becomes less keen on constant love and attention for the cat.

My female cat catches everything and fortunately most of the time they aren't dead which of course leads to chasing frogs and mice around the kitchen! She sits on your lap when she wants too. My male cat couldn't catch a cold. He's the most chilled out cat ever, but I did research breeds first as I wanted a big furry lap cat. He's a Selkirk Rex. Kids adore him and he loves nothing more than being ball boy when they play table tennis. Though we also have a springer spaniel and I'm sure he thinks he's a dog.

That was meant to read cat thinks he's a dog. The dog thinks she's human but that's a whole different thread!!

3yo is a bit young, Local RSPCA won't let you have a kitten under 6 months if you have a preschool child in the house. 3 months ago, From CPL, we got 2x4.5 month old kittens before youngest DC was 4yo luckily our kittens are like rag dolls & have taken well to a bit of pulling & funny holding (not cruel, honest, but not ideal either). Hard to find an older cat rated as suitable for young children, so you probably have to get a kitten age 6-12 months, still malleable & tolerant.

We got 2 kittens to reduce the child load on each kitten. Two is 4x as fun as one, though, being litter mates they live together well & are very cute together. Lots of funny play fighting.

Costs: Combined £100 in adoption fees & one off equipment (carriers), £7/week each in other running costs, which should go down to more like £5/wk in time (no more big medical until elderly I hope, and they now mostly toilet outside).

Worming 3-4x/yr depending on hunting skill, said vet.
Flea control in warm months at least, this was my huge fear, I dread bites.
Their poo makes the bin STINK. But probably no worse than a dog could.

Mine are not insured, it's not cost effective on average/statistically.

Furniture... hum. They are half good about using the extensive cat tree scratching area DH created, still go for sofas & floor carpet a bit.

We manage without cat flap, I leave them out in good weather/day time. Ours kept in at night, removes a large number of problems! No "presents" brought home yet. Only significant problem is neighbour dog trying to destroy his fence to get at them. (sigh)

They are disgusting in lots of ways, entirely instinctive, and very very stupid. But cuddly & low maintenance otherwise.

My 3 year old is fine with our cat. He wasn't at all at 18mo/2 years or so. As he got older it was easier for him to understand that the cat was alive and he keeps away from him now generally, unless he's on my lap then he'll come for a stroke.

My house is full of fur and stinks of piss.

The inconti-cat wees over the edge of the litter tray, and would rather piss indoors than out because he is old and a bastard.

You can't just get rid of them because they are old and a bastard.

at nagoo.

Sparkling Cat brings dead things home but just leaves them whole on the patio for us.

Litter trays aren't pleasant, but it's only for a couple of weeks until they can go out.

I love Sparkling Cat, she lies on me in bed purring like a train and stroking my face with her paw. I couldn't imagine not having a cat.

I got some basic black storage boxes from supermarket (about 10" high sides) to use as litter trays; stroke of brilliance & inspired by friend with 5 cats who has similar. No more bums hanging over the tray or litter pawed out in all directions! Result. We need them for wee since cats in all night, but cats seem to hold their bowels until they go out in garden, nowadays.

I'm definitely a dog woman and didn't realise this this UNTIL I got a kitten as I was missing something 'furry' around the house. I just don't get the cat and can't bond. He gets on my nerves when he climbs on my knee and sinks his claws in to, apparently, tell me how much he loves me.

I have since got a dog and we get on brilliantly!

Poor cat .

Don't make the mistake...although if you're like me you'll have already made up your mind and get one anyway despite what people think.

I was wondering same, Riverside.

Who is actually going to look after this animal, feed it, clean up the sick, remember when it needs flea control, buy its food, chase down the unwanted gifts mice? If OP will get that workload, I am minded to suggest that OP's DH should get over his dog aversion & allow the family to get a pet the OP would truly love & can actually love you back unlike cats. Dogs are everywhere in society & incredibly valuable to know what they are like, how to interact with them.

Cats can live 20 years, big commitment. Rats are a lot like puppies btw, OP, but only live 3 years & more fragile. Still much cleverer than my cats, though.

The cats my mum got for me when I was 6 are still alive now.
I'm 24 & moved out when I was 16, so she's had a few years of being a mad old cat lady, everything we owned was covered in cat hairs because the washing basket was their home.

I would wait a few more years tbh...My siblings & I all got bored with our hamsters, so my mum ended up doing all the cleaning etc.

If you are going to get a cat, get a rescue cats...lots of shelters in London are having to turn away strays as they have no room. :(

My cats have never brought me presents or caught anything except spiders and flies - clever babies :) They are exceptionally affectionate and very dog like. Follow me everywhere, always on my lap purring etc. Look for 2 older cats already established in their behaviour from a rescue. They don't have to go out if you don't want them hunting and getting in scraps with other cats. Similarly you can get outdoor cats that will do their business outside, but may be a bit less affectionate and on your lap. Your choice. If you go to a good rescue and discuss your requirements they will be able to advise :)

I too am a cat owning dog person.

We rescued an older kitten (who had already been rehomed once) when dc was a toddler (18m-2yo perhaps?) thinking that the cat would be easy/low maintenance/a wonderful addition to the family.

Now don't get me wrong, he's a lovely cat. Can be affectionate on his own terms, has never so much as swiped at dc or visiting children etc.

But he's still a cat. I've had a number of different pets over the years and agree with a pp about the inability to bond with cats.

He's well looked after and I worry myself sick if he doesn't come home at the usual time, but there just isn't the same integration as there is when you have a dog in the family. He's less a part of the family and more just a pet iyswim?

And that's before you start having to rescue them from high places or from behind bookcases/remove dead things from the house/remove live things from the house/clear out litter trays (cat crap smells terrible no matter what they've eaten)/pick ticks off them/pull their claws out of your arm.

I walked my sick dog three miles to the vet and then slept on the sofa next to him the day before I gave birth to dc1. I cannot imagine doing the same for the cat!

H&P! It's nice to hear from fellow none bonder! LOL

Insurance is definitely worth it. I couldn't claim anything for years until she had a scan costing over £2000 and I have been repaid payments for the last 7 years.

I have a rescue cat who is now 8. I wanted a dog but was told by controlling ex that I could have a cat. I was told what colour/pattern it would be (very specific), and what it would be called.

Despite her not being my dream pet I love her very much. I fell asleep last night with DS next to me in bed and the cat on top of me and felt so chilled and happy.

I do think getting a cat can be a bit of a gamble in that they all have very different temperaments. Mine is very very timid - we got her as a kitten from the rspca and I'm pretty sure she was mistreated. She is very loving towards me though but anyone else she's gone and in hiding. She has always always gone in her litter tray, and is by her own choice a house cat. I know someone who got a cat and it was absolutely CRAZY it raided bins depsite always being fed, launched onto the family's heads/hair, scratched everywhere to bits, the list goes on. I also know a family who have a big fat moggie that is SO docile. One of the daughters like to dress it up in baby clothes and push it around the house in a pram and the cat lets her! Like I say, luck of the draw.

My cat barely ate until she got to 7, and now eats twice as much. She also was never sicky and now is very much so. She is flea'd and wormed and vet checked over, etc we think it's just changes to her body due to her getting older. So also bear in mind your cat may change with age too. They can live to 17/18 - they are a long term commitment.

I must admit I'm more of a dog person really but I do love my cat.

ragged I am going to look for those high sided boxes, the litter coming over the sides really annoys me but I've already tried the sided and roofed type litter trays and she's scared of them. An open box with higher sides might be just right.

My litter boxes look much like these only in black, £1 each in Sainsbury's.
Friend has similar ones that don't get wider at the top, I guess those might be even more stable, harder for animal to tip over.

CPL lady said that many people get litter boxes that are too small; definitely some of those sold look too small to me (less than A4 footprint). Needs to be A3 sort of size, I reckon.

This is good knowledge, thank you.

So basically it's pot luck what cat you get.

Would push for a dog but not sure I want the whole picking up poo thing (nobody did it last time I had a dog)