Experienced cat owners...come talk to me

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Hi all. I would love to get a cat to join our famly - me, DP and our two DDs (toddler and baby).

I grew up with cats from birth to when I left home at 18, but my current home set up is so different from my parents house that I don't know where to begin.....here are my questions.

We live on a busy road in a London flat (tho we have a big garden). Is it "better" / "safer" for town cats to live indoors and have a little tray or be outdoor cats and we put a catflap in the back door?

Are litter trays a total pain?

Is putting a cat into a cattery for holidays really an option or do they hate it?

When getting cat used to baby / toddler I assume you just watch carefully and make sure children don't grab at cat etc. does the settling in process take long?

Its infinitely kinder and healthier to allow cats access to outdoors, but if your road is busy you are highly likely to have a flat cat in a year or two. If you really want a cat then I would put serious thought into getting an older cat (they don't have to be ancient, middle aged cats still have many happy years ahead of them) as they often don't want to wander as far. You may be able to find one from a rescue that is well adapted to an indoor life, but often these cats are quite timid, and would be better suited to an adult only household. You could also try cat proofing your garden for the best of both worlds, but as often you need to roof the garden for this, most people don't. Unfortunately keeping a cat in a flat in London with children is not an ideal situation and there isn't an easy answer.
The answers to the last two questions depend on the individual cat - some are more easily stressed than others. Most dedicated catteries (as opposed to those which take both cats and dogs) are quite pleasant, cat centred places and while any removal from its home turf will be stressful for the cat, it is a viable option. Hiring a pet sitter is likely to be possible locally too.
Our extremely tolerant, laid back, bomb proof cat has had two incidents with our toddler where he ended up with a scratched face. But no real harm done to either party. She learnt more from it than he does and avoids him now. We have baby gates up infront of a couple of rooms with seats in for her so she has an escape route. Also places up high for her to escape to although these get less and less useful as he grows... Again, it depends on the toddler and the cat, some cats will crack under less provocation (or get stressed and start weeing on the carpet) and some toddlers will push their luck more than others. We are still super vigilant if they are in a room together and its been 18mths now.

Niggle, thank you. I agree with you and I guess that's why I was posting because I so want a cat (I miss my childhood pets so much) but I know my situation housing/family wise isn't at all ideal. Was hoping to hear success stories.... I would love an older/lazy cat who just wants to cuddle inside. A pet sitters a good idea, that would solve at least one of my issues.

I agree with niggle. A rescue should be able to find you a middle aged/older cat that is very laid back and so ok with children, and which isn't bothered about going out.

Even with a laid back cat you would still need to supervise interaction with a toddler.

I find litter trays no bother really. If you use a covered one and a good quality litter that doesn't smell you should be fine.

People do put their cats in catteries quite successfully. But I would advise getting to know your neighbours with a view to being potential cat feeders.

Maybe I'll ask our local rescue place and tell them our set up.

IME a really busy road is actually safer than a road than occasionally a single car goes down fast. All my RTA patients come from quieter roads. My own road a main A road with a M&S depot on it so artics day and night the cats never go near far to busy. My cats never go out the front.

I suspect any cat we had would not venture out front (busy, noisy road) when we have a large-ish quiet-ish garden at back. Do you think older cats would be content to be indoors with litter tray most of the time, then just go out in back garden when we were around....or is not that simple....are they either outdoor or indoor?

Yes many older cats really have very little interest in going out. But it all depends on the cat. However my old cats that do go out never seem to want to venture further than my back garden, and only want to go out if it's warm and sunny.

I would speak to your local rescue. They know their cats well and should be able to recommend one for your situation.

Sounds like a trip to the rescue tomorrow. My childhood cats went freely in and out of a cat flap and roamed wherever but that was in a village in the country so v different.

My two cats only go outside to 'play' for a short time and won't leave the garden. I just leave the living room window open for them whenever we are in. Otherwise they are very happy as indoor cats, though downstairs is completely open plan for them.

As for litter tray, since falling pregnant I have become very paranoid about it. Actually it is fine - in the past month I discovered a tray with 'ribbed' sides to stop litter being flicked out, and liners which can easily be lifted out and straight into another bag and then bin with no mess.

Choose a good rescue where you feel the staff know the cats well and will listen to what you need (something we didn't do) and I think you will be fine! Not experienced with cats in my own as opposed to parents' home by the way, but was in exactly the same position as you at the start of the year and so glad we decided to go ahead.

Do cats need all their injections if they just go outside to play? I don't think my parents ever got our cats injections, but I hear friends in London talking about it?

They should still have their jabs really. If they go out at all then they are likely to come into contact with other cats. And even if they are indoor only cats they can still be at risk as you can bring diseases (virus/bacteria) in on your shoes or hands from outside.

Here's a copy and paste from our website on vaccinations:

There are two types of vaccinations available for cats.
The basic vaccination is against feline enteritis and upper respiratory tract disease – (cat flu). This vaccination is recommended for all cats.

There is an additional vaccination against viral leukaemia (Felv). This is recommended for cats that go outdoors or cats that may be mixing with cats that may be Felv positive.

If your cats will be indoors only and will not be mixing with other cats they do not need to be vaccinated against leukaemia.

A booster vaccination is required once a year to maintain levels of protection against these diseases.

In addition to vaccinations your cat will need worming and flea treatment – our vet will discuss and advise you

I would say yes to jabs too - worst case scenario a cat could wander off further and get lost, at least they would be protected from disease/infection. Also planning on getting them microchipped over the winter for this reason despite them not going out much.

Yes microchipping is essential even if you don't think your cat will ever go out you wouldn't be the first to lose one through a moments innattention and an open window. Vaccination is advisable - if nothing else it will allow you the option in an emergency of a short notice cattery trip - they won't admit them otherwise and full vaccination takes 4-5weeks. If you go for a not-a-rescue cat (as with rescues this should have been done already) bear in mind females require neutering to prevent mammary cancer even if you don't plan on letting her out. Most people get the boys done anyway cos they stink!!

Thanks everyone. Am hugely hugely tempted....just a big commitment and I don't want the cat to be unhappy. Hopefully will be back with an answer soon!

Unless the cat has been kept indoors to such an extent it is now no longer capable of going out, outdoor access is always preferable. I've never kept indoors cats. A friend who had 2 cats for several years where she couldn't let them out discovered when she moved to a flat with a garden that they loved going out so even indoors cats may take to it.

My house is terraced do cats can only access enclosed back gardens.

So far as catteries, depends how long I am away, if only a few days a sitter coming in is fine, longer than that I feel happier if they are in an environment where they're being kept an eye on.
Litter trays are a bit of a pain. In my experience once a new cat is settled in and has got access to the garden they prefer the outdoors anyway.

Oh re vaccinations, if you want to put them in a cattery they must be vaccinated even if permanently indoors. Cattery has no way of knowing if your cats get out or not. If a cattery doesn't ask for vaccination records don't use it.