Should we adopt this cat?

[sleepcrisis]

Hi, I posted on here a few months ago with a million and one concerns about getting a cat, whether it would work with our lives and our DS and our new baby (on the way, due March/April). We came to the conclusion that it should not be a kitten as we don't have the patience or time to play with and train etc. And that we should get a cat that can catch mice ( we have them, yuk) and that it should be relatively well trained so we can keep it downstairs and away from the baby, and that it should be good with kids.

Anyway, we soon forgot about the whole idea and have not got ourselves a cat. I was quite happy not to bother.

We have moved into a new house and the old owners have a lovely little 3yo cat who is apparantly great with kids although we don't know much more than that. All we do know is that she still wants to live here. They only moved around the corner and she goes missing for weeks on end but ALWAYS comes back here. We are repeatedly having to call them to come for her with the box and take her home, in fact she was rescued last night and is back here already this morning trying to come in. DH is a bit in love with her as is DS (2yo).

They have offered her to us and I don't know what to do! She has been coming back here weekly for several months now and their only other option is to rehome her miles and miles away so she can't find her way back. They're worried about her and so are we.

What would you do? And what Qs should I ask them re this cat - I don't want to end up taking her on out of pity and then realising there a million things I didn't think to check or ask about and end up regretting my decision.

I have never had a cat before (DH has had them as a child and up until student days)

Help! Am in danger of getting carried away with my emotions but is that a bad thing? She is very cute...

Right away, I'd say. is she neutered and up to date with her shots and vet checks etc?

i would say that it looks like she wants to live with you and your family, and being as she knows the house you wouldnt have to keep her in to familiarise herself,

if you decide to take her on things to ask old owners basically is what food she eats, is she microchipped as you would have to change the details, is she up to date on vaccinations is she neutered, when was she last wormed and flea treated. which vets is she registered with.

i know a lot of people let thier cats onto beds but i dont i keep the bedroom doors shut and cats out especially being as you are having another baby will define territory before baby arrives

Make sure she is neutered, de flead and wormed. try and keep her territory to down stairs.

I think its a perfect way to get a cat given the things that put you off before.

What do you mean should you. She is not moving out any time soon, you are her new slaves and she knows it.

Tell present owners you will take her on after a vet check and as long as she is microchipped, neutered and vaccinated.

Thanks for the replies. Well we have never actually let her in the house or fed her. Just felt that was going to confuse everyone as it had never actually occured to us until yesterday that adopting her was an option.

So as far as we know, she only comes to us because she knows her owners will come for her? But having said that, why would she bother coming all the way here everyday.

We started to have a bit of a wobble about it yesterday - vets bills, insurance, holidays, etc etc. Plus all this wandering around has been going on so long, maybe she's gone a bit feral and would just keep wandering off from us too? I don't want the worry of an absent cat...

Still pondering.....

You're right to think about the practicalities, including the financial aspects, before it happens properly but personally, I think it's great for kids to be brought up with a pet such as a cat.

Is the money do-able? (Other posters might comment on their own typical costs - I don't have insurance for Seniorboy, mainly because of his age, but apart from that, I manage the costs because it's so great having a cat around.)

As to the wandering off? That's a possibility everyone has to face if they allow their cats outside but remember that cats are intensely practical animals. Why should they go away if they have a loving home and three squares? Sounds to me as if you've already been adopted to be honest.