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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Want a cat but work full time

32 replies

polexiaaphrodesia · 31/01/2013 17:34

I have always grown up with cats and now DP and I have finally got our own home we are keen to rescue an adult cat.

However... we both work full time and there is no possibility of putting in a cat flap (back door is french window). I would prefer not to have an indoor cat but want to ask your opinion on having a cat shelter/ cat cabin in the back garden with food, bed, water etc. Has anyone got one of these and does their cat actually use it? We would keep the cat inside with a litter tray on very cold or very wet days. Are Cats Protection or Rspca likely to turn us down aa potential cat-adopters without a cat flap to the house?

OP posts:
StuffezLaBouche · 31/01/2013 17:37

I work long hours (out the house approx 630 till 5 or 6pm)
I got my kitty when he was 9 months old and he's fine. He is an.indoor cat though.
I just make sure i give him lots of play and cuddles in the evenings.

Sparklingbrook · 31/01/2013 17:38

Do you have a shed you could put a catflap in or into the garage?

SilverBellsandCockleShells · 31/01/2013 17:40

I don't know what Cats Protection will make of it, but our cats are happy living outside in their shed, which is actually an old lean-to. They have cat-flap access, food, beds, water and a few things in there to entertain them, plus a heater which is on a thermostat so comes on when they get cold. We let them into the house when they're around, but they're happy outside too and always enormously grateful for a cuddle when they can get one!

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 31/01/2013 17:41

No shed (yet!)but we do have a garage although not sure if you could put a cat flap into a metal garage door as we have no side door to the garage.

OP posts:
Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 31/01/2013 17:44

I've been looking at cat shelters online but knowing feline behaviour Grin I can see that a specially purchased cat shelter may be met with Hmm from the cat!

OP posts:
Cantbelieveitsnotbutter · 31/01/2013 17:45

RSPCA wanted me popping home at lunch & to have 2 cats.
But the cats were fine (even when i changed jobs so couldnt pop back)I'd leave a window for them to come and go and they were fine.

catladycourtney1 · 31/01/2013 17:52

I have a work friend who successfully adopted a cat from Cat's Protection and she works 12 hours a day (she has two jobs). But she ended up sending it back because she felt guilty. I have to say I think it is a bit selfish if you're out most of the day.

People will probably tell you to get two cats to keep one another company, but this only really works with kittens - older cats are much more likely to take an instant dislike to the other and this can lead to territorial aggression, urine-spraying/marking, accidents and distress for one cat if the other is "guarding" litter trays, and all sorts of other problems. They can (in most cases, anyway) be brought together in such a way that they accept each other, but this takes a lot of time and attention, and they can still turn on each other. Having a cat flap can also cause similar issues, since the cat perceives it as a breach in the walls (which it is, really) and will be constantly anxious about other cats getting in, especially if that ever happens (and magnetic collar-activated catflaps have their own set of problems).

I know at least our branch of RSPCA won't rehome kittens if they won't be let outside, but that doesn't mean you need to install a cat flap. They're happy to rehome older cats to indoor-only homes if that's what they're used to, or they've had a bad experience outdoors, as are Cat's Protection.

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 31/01/2013 18:20

Thanks everyone for the replies and for the advice. We certainly want to give this as much consideration as possible rather than rushing into things.

I think I will give my local Cat's Protection a call to see what they think of the situation I've described above and potentially ask if they could do a home visit to assess our house and outside space.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 31/01/2013 18:35

That sounds sensible polexia. At the moment the cats at the Cats Protection have no home so they would prefer to rehome a cat if at all possible, and consider all circumstances.

MrsOakenshield · 31/01/2013 18:39

we had sliding french doors and when we got our cats we got the doors replaced by double glazed french doors with the botom bit on both doors a white panel, into one of which we put the catflap. Sounds extreme but as we were also at work all day we wanted a catflap. (we actally got the whole kitchen done at the same time so in effect ended up with a £15,000 catflap Grin).

We were turned down by Battersea Dogs home because of being at work but the rescue centre we eventually got our kittens from said, quite rightly, that our house was better than their rescue centre, and actually wanted us to take more than 2!

tipsytrifle · 31/01/2013 19:27

I got a large bunny hutch for the yard by way of shelter. I removed a small middle grill to make a little doorway, put straw and old jumpers in ... cats love it!

I'd also recommend getting two cats because, contrary to popular opinion, they are social beings and need companionship. You may well find that there are two cats in a rescue centre hoping like crazy that they aren't going to be separated after whatever drama rendered them homeless.

Could you maybe fib a little about coming home at lunch time if you're asked? *oops ...

milktraylady · 31/01/2013 20:07

Or you could get a cat that is a bit dim?
Our (sole) cat is in during the weekdays, has a run around the garden in the morning & evening. Obviously out all eve in the summer. Having been off sick the odd time I promise you she sleeps 22 hrs out of 24, even if there is someone in who will let her out- just not interested.

She is a pedigree & DH is convinced she is a bit thick, but a lovely wee cat & seems very happy!

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 31/01/2013 20:28

milktraylady I like the idea of a dim cat! Grin

Actually there was an older cat on our local rspca website a few weeks ago who was used to being let out in the morning and evenings for a potter about in the garden but was othewise pretty happy to sleep indoors for most of the day. I think he was in the process of being rehomed but he sounded like he could be my dream cat!

tipsy glad to hear your cats like their cat house. That's definitely the sort of thing I was looking into getting and then spending the summer in the garden introducing the cat(s) to the idea of using it!

OP posts:
sashh · 01/02/2013 07:38

An older cat would be good for you and you for them. They sleep most of the time but all cats play like kittens, well until they are about 20.

I've recently started work so I'm out 3 days a week 7.30 - 5. She goes out in the morning for her usual kitty adventure and is home all day.

I do get told off when I come home. But then she tells me off if I have a bath.

milktraylady · 01/02/2013 13:03

Ha yes every time I have a bath my cat has a good look in the bath & sniff, as if she's about to jump in. Luckily it hasn't happened (yet!)

Corygal · 01/02/2013 13:52

I worked ft when I got Mr Cory - he is an indoor cat. I bust a gut to decorate the balcony with interesting branches, plants and scratchers; played football with him nightly; cuddled and conversed incessantly.

Nothing doing. His favourite thing is sleeping on me, and he deliberately gets cuddly when I am trying to get up. Going out is a personality decision from a cat - they'll let you know if they're bored, trust me.

woozlebear · 01/02/2013 15:16
  1. You can put cat flaps in glass
  2. You could get a deaf/FIV cat or a cat who has never been outside before?
  3. Have you considered fostering cats? Your arrangements might be more suitable as fostered cats aren't allowed outside and some charities will build you a little chalet in your garden for them to live in.

Working full time not a problem (although Battersea and RSPCA will possibly sneer at you but most other places will welcome you with open arms.) As long as the cat has access to a garden or plenty of stimulation indoors (assuming indoors is suitable for that cat) cats are fairly self sufficient. You could try to get a slightly less sociable one so it doesn't mind - one of ours is uber uber friendly and she does miss us during the day, which I feel bad about.

Lovethesea · 03/02/2013 20:54

We don't have a cat flap, but we have a summerhouse with a door left open all the time for the cat to shelter in if we are out. In decent weather he has breakfast then wants out for the day, hunting and eating out, then comes in for food around 5pm. So he'd be great for you!

He sleeps in overnight on our feet and is happy pottering indoors in snow. We have a litter tray as backup but in good weather he uses it about once in 3 months.

Lovethesea · 03/02/2013 20:55

Meant to say - he's a cats protection cat. They wanted some garden shelter and him in at night.

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 03/02/2013 21:35

Thanks lovethesea our local Cat's Protection people are at the Pets at Home near us in a couple of weeks' time so I think I'm going to pop in and have a chat with them and have a sneaky peek at all the cat accessories.

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Poppetspinkpants · 08/02/2013 09:26

I was working full time when I took on my cats. Cats Protection were fine with it, I ended on taking mother and daughter tabbies (2 and 1).

Mum tabby passed away in 2011, daughter is currently curled up in front of the fire at the ripe old age of 17.
She has a microchip cat flap so no strays, food and water all day. She rarely goes out apart from the essentials and is quite happy on her own all day.
You can easily fit a cat flap in a glass door BTW. I would recommend rehoming a pair if you're prepared for double the costs! :)

thecatneuterer · 09/02/2013 18:59

I volunteer for a cat rehoming charity and in this situation we would recommend a bonded pair of adult cats that would be happy to stay inside most of the time and could keep each other company. Many cats come into shelters in pairs and look for homes in pairs.

Also it is possible to put a cat flat in glass. If it's single glazed then you just need someone who can cut glass to cut you the hole. If it's double glazed then you will need to have a a new glazed panel made with the hole in it. Most double glazing companies can do this and the cost depends on the size of the pane to be replaced.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 09/02/2013 19:03

we got an older cat when we both worked full-time
i worked from home for a bit, and the cat's routine was:
7am - up, breakfast, wander about a bit
8am - back to bed
4.30pm (the sort of time I'd return home when working in the office) - get up, have a snack, potter around for the evening
11pm - back to bed

thecatneuterer · 09/02/2013 19:13

I agree completely with Charlotte. An older cat (10 +) would also do the job. Also they are more difficult to rehome than young cats so you'd be doing a good thing ...

lozster · 10/02/2013 20:56

I have a cat who i adopted after she had been living rough for months in our street. we toyed for ages with the idea of getting a cat flap as we were both out the house for up to 12 hours. However i read a couple of cat behaviour books (vicky hall I think) that said that cat flaps can make some cats anxious in the house as they feel a need to guard them and never feel safe from predators. Our cat was a nervous girl anyway so i bought a Katkabin in time for winter and trained her to use it starting her off with it inside baited with treats. She goes in there or under a bush until I come home and is perfectly happy.

Interestingly vicky hall also recommends not getting more than one cat as she says they are solitary animals. Our girl blanks other people apart from us so I don't think she hankers after another puss to hang out with to cramp her mousing style.