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

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

The litter tray

dd would like a cat...

34 replies

paddingtonbear1 · 05/02/2014 21:15

... but I am not sure. I like cats, and dh wouldn't mind having one, but I'm a bit worried about my leather sofas (our house is quite open plan, so it's not easy to shut the lounge off). Also, there's not currently anywhere to put a cat flap. I don't really want one in the wall or front door, and our back patio doors are sliding! We're out all day during the week. Would this really matter or should I just say to dd that it's not possible? I've put her off for now, but she keeps asking. SIL didn't help by telling dd while she was on hols that if dd did well in her maths at school, she could persuade us to get a cat! (SIL didn't ask us first if this was ok..) Dd did do well, after struggling before, so I feel a bit mean saying no now.

OP posts:

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thecatneuterer · 11/02/2014 23:17

An older cat is a good idea. And you can have a cat flap in sliding patio doors (there is a photo on my profile of mine). It costs quite a bit though as a whole glass panel will need to be replaced.

paddingtonbear1 · 11/02/2014 20:39

Thanks all so much for your replies - I have a bit to think about! Methe your kitten looks gorgeous :) I wouldn't want my sofas to end up like your chair though...
If we decide to go for it I think we'd get a cat not a kitten, from a rescue. I wouldn't mind an older cat either, and I know they can often be overlooked for rehoming.
If we could afford it I'd get the sliding doors replaced, but not yet.. we do have a garage so that could be another option for the cat flap.

OP posts:

HelloBoys · 11/02/2014 13:54

what you could do is get 2 cats (don't be daft like I did and get brother and sister who hated each other) get 2 sisters or 2 brothers. from kittens.

that should solve them being lonely.

I have a decorative bit of cloth along top of 1 leather sofa, cat does scratch rest sometimes.

Migsy1 · 08/02/2014 19:40

I've had 4 cats and all have wrecked the sofas! It is one of the downsides of having a cat. I think there is something that you can spray on the sofa to put them off.

qazxc · 08/02/2014 09:17

Could you look into fostering with a view to adopt. Tell your DD it's only a foster so that she doesn't get to attached. Most local animal charity would be more than delighted for you to do that (mine is always short on space and will provide fosterers with all the cat needs whilst you foster). That way you get to "try before you buy" and make sure you get a cat that suits your family.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 07/02/2014 21:42

We adopted a pair of one year olds from a rescue in October (our DCs were 9 and 7). They scratch the furniture a little, but haven't actually done any serious damage. It has all been pretty straightforward and the DCs adore the cats.

Our friends have the same problem as you WRT catflaps, they have put one on their summerhouse and put food and water in there during the day, also cat baskets, they let the cats out in the morning, cats can use the summerhouse during the day, then get them in to stay in at night, seems to work well, have you got a garage or shed you could do that with?

MrsOakenshield · 07/02/2014 21:35

hah, our cats have ignored every scratching post we've ever got - why on earth would they scratch that when they have the sofa/stair carpet/us at their disposal.

MrsOakenshield · 07/02/2014 21:34

we got our sliding doors replaced when we got our cats (the sliding doors were here when we bought the house) - we got the kitchen done at the same time so it ended up being a £12,000 catflap .

and they, when kittens, scratched our leather chair to bits, but that's because when we played with them we were encouraging them to jump on them, which was a bit stooopid.

You need to embrace these things. Cats can be lovely pets, especially for a 10 year old!

TamzinGrey · 07/02/2014 21:28

We placed a big kitty scratching post right beside the sofa that our little madam was attacking. Problem solved.

Scarletohello · 07/02/2014 00:10

Have you thought about fostering kittens? Have them for a while to see how you get on? Of course you may fall in love with them and not want to give them back..

Thecatisatwat · 06/02/2014 23:33

Tbh the cat is far more work than my 7yo.

Hope we haven't put you off too much Paddington.

Corygal · 06/02/2014 18:46

Little Mr Cory, my tabby, has shredded an expensive leather sofa and is currently ripping the guts out of a 19th-century chaise longue. He really enjoys himself, bless the little fellow.

You don't mind because your pet is so much more lovely than a boring old bit of furniture. Also, pet destruction sorts the sheep from the goats human-wise - no one likes a prude. And most cats don't do it.

teenagetantrums · 06/02/2014 18:38

our two cats destroyed two leather armchairs when they were younger, now just one likes to attack the sofa and ignore the scratching posts, i couldn't lock them out of the lounge when i was out due to open plan. A cat will be ok indoors if you have a litter tray. its a good thing i love them they are quite destructive, one knocked the pile of washing up on the floor last nigh breaking 6 plates and two glasses.

sashh · 06/02/2014 18:02

When I got my sofa the delivery man said cats wither attack them or leave them alone. Only one of my fosterers did any attacking.

I don't have a cat flap. I sleep with my bedroom window open so she comes and goes as she pleases when I am in but she is locked in during the day.

qazxc · 06/02/2014 17:24

We have 2 indoor cats. They have plenty of scratching posts so leave the furniture alone. I got them from a local animal charity as adults so they were already housetrained and neutered. I only ever get adult cats as you know what kind of character they have and have gotten over the mad kitten stage. You also have plenty of choice as most people want the cute little kittens.

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/02/2014 17:14

The chairs like a kitten growth chart, "when we first had her she could only reach here but now she can scratch all the way up, which is nice".

Methe · 06/02/2014 13:04

Devilcat is right, she's like a whirling dervish and very destructive! It's a good job we think she's great and were all onside when we got her or it could have been bad for her. Several people I know have had kittens and then rehomed them as teenagers as they couldn't cope with them.

Dh does get annoyed with the fact that she'll wreck anything she can though and this chair really is beyond repair and so's the carpet at the top of the stairs, the fabric doors on my wardrobe, the back of the poang chair in my bedroom and various sets of curtains

Kittens are hard work. Far harder than I imagined.

Wolfiefan · 06/02/2014 12:53

We had two cats and never had a cat flap. They have never touched the sofa but used to shred the divan! I agree with not getting a kitten. We got ours from a wonderful Surrey rescue.

cozietoesie · 06/02/2014 12:49

Gorgeous - but Debilcat eyes.

I usually go in for 'sacrificial' pieces of furniture or carpet. It makes the house look a tad disreputable unless I have forewarning. (Thank Goodness for throws.)

Methe · 06/02/2014 12:45

I've uploaded a photo in case you wanted to see the chair and the offender

Methe · 06/02/2014 12:42

My kitten has destroyed my leather chair in the 4 months we've had her. It's impossible to keep them off the furniture if you live in an open plan house.

cozietoesie · 06/02/2014 12:34

Ah - I can tell that that's the voice of love speaking, albeit a tad exasperated.

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Thecatisatwat · 06/02/2014 12:24

My advice - don't get a tortie and don't put a cat flap in unless you don't mind muddy footprints over all surfaces..... In fact do you want a tortie with constantly muddy feet, free to a good home?

cozietoesie · 06/02/2014 06:29

Gosh Yes - I almost forgot. There's a quite lovely black kitten up for grabs to a good home who is known to The Litter Tray. Depending on where you are.

You can read about her and see her and her litter mates \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1905626-Litter-of-kittens-found-paging-experts-please?msgid=44190223\here.}

Nandocushion · 06/02/2014 03:26

Leather sofas are not an issue - none of my cats have ever touched ours. Fabric furniture is more of a problem.

If you get an older rescue cat like cozietosie suggests, you can ask for an indoor cat, and you won't need a flap, and you won't have to worry about whether you're around during the week, and you won't have to worry about how to explain to your DD when the cat inevitably gets run over or goes missing. And you won't need to worry about any of the myriad diseases cats get when outside, or fleas, etc.

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