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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

Dog person- tell me about cats please

73 replies

code · 16/09/2014 21:41

So I've always had dogs. Soppy daft fun ones- labs and spaniels. Unfortunately I can't have another as I work 3 long days a week.

Cats seem to like me in that if I visit someone with a cat it will sit with me / on my lap. DH's family have cats so he grew up with them. I would love a house pet.

I think we're ready for a cat, we have a gaggle of rabbits in the garden but they're in secure hutches/runs and well used to the neighbour's cats. An elderly hamster only inside the house. DD is 9 and very calm / quiet / good with animals.

Please tell me- this might be a daft question- but are there specific cat breeds who are a bit similar to dogs in bonding to humans and being affectionate? It would be a bit disappointing to have an aloof cat (of course I would love and care for it though). Male or female? Happy to do grooming, etc as we have long haired rabbits.

If so please recommend and guide me to how I can find out more. How do you find a good breeder? Thanks!

OP posts:

MrsPnut · 18/09/2014 21:54

Our first cat we got from a rescue and we chose him because the minute we sat down he was trying to get on our laps.
He was a very friendly cat but it all had to be on his terms, he did scratch dd1 occasionally but we were very sad when he died.
Cat 2 is a Maine coon that we got from a friend when she needed to rehome her, she is the soppiest cat in the world and will put up with being carried around like a baby by dd1 and being slung over dd2's shoulder with only a look of resignation on her face. She likes to play and loves snuggling with us, she also talks to you and has the dog under her control too.

catsrus · 18/09/2014 22:13

I've had moggies for 25 yrs, often sibling pairs (never less than 4 cats or more than 6!) and yes, as said up thread, they really all are very different. I have 4 ATM, and the older sibling pair couldn't be more different. One of them just doesn't like cats or dogs and thinks she is a person, her sister is the house matriarch and likes everyone. She's kind to the younger cats and friendly to the dogs so long as they acknowledge her status. Both are lap cats and like to sleep on the bed too. I would advise going to a rescue, you will bond with a kitten or cat and that will be it - we got the youngest two from the RSPCA, not related but both as kittens.

They do choose who they bond with - as do dogs in my experience. I have had 5 VERY special cats out of the 12 I've had, and two very special dogs out of the nine dogs we've had. Not that I didn't like / love the others, it's just that sometimes, like with people, there is something very special in the bond you have with them. One of the sweetest bonds I saw was my youngest dd with a rescue dog. She was with me when we first saw him (we were not looking for another dog!) and something happened when he saw her and she looked at him. he was already an old dog and only had a few more years, but he also bonded with one of the cats, it was adorable .

TerrifiedMothertobe · 18/09/2014 22:14

In 35 years of cat ownership and 8 cats, I have only had one cat who wouldn't socialise. And that's because she was timid (4 very noisy children).

As an adult I have adopted rescue cats, none had been shy or retiring. They have adapted to their surroundings.

I personally like moggies. Tend to be very friendly, super healthy and few
Physiological hang ups.

Cats protection are great, and if him have any issues. They will take them back and regime them.

Out current cats are 8 and 4, both moggies, both rescue cats. Birth gorgeous and tolerate their beautiful house being over taken by two small children, so tolerant.

Go for it. To be owned by a cat is an honour. Believe me.

Woozlebear · 18/09/2014 22:27

Please don't buy a pedigree. Just go get a rescue moggy. Shelters are full to bursting and of you know you would prefer a certain personality, you can get an adult cat where you can see more clearly what you're getting in terms of character and make sure you click with one.

I don't like to say it, as I'm very much the sort of person who just gets the sorriest thing the rescue has and loves it to pieces no matter what, but we ended up with a tortie and she is like having a puppy. She's incredibly loving and possessive- she greets me at the gate every day, follows me round the house, and spends all evening shouting at me to go to bed so she can cuddle me all night. This is 'tortitude' apparently and is not uncommon. (She's also a vicious over- excitable destructive bugger.) But I hate encouraging colour bias as black cats have a hard enough time anyway. I've known special, adorable cats of all coats.

Our other is a shy timid tabby who hid under a bed for a month and has turned into the most rewarding, sweet chatty soppy creature who flings herself on the floor at the sight of us for tummy tickles and shouts at us to sit down so she can jump on our laps and howls in the night just so we'll come down and carry her up to bed where she kneads us and purrs fit to bust for hours.

Honestly, I've had them all my life and all cats are fucking amazing if treated right ie worshipped and fawned upon. They just need to do a bit more of the running than with dogs, but you can have an incredibly close bond with a cat.

nooddsocksforme · 18/09/2014 22:47

do you have a cat protection place near you-when you go to look they have a blog about every cat which tells you a bit about their character, whether they are friendly or nervous, how they are around children etc and it makes it much easier to decide

Wolfiefan · 18/09/2014 22:55

Whereabouts are you? We got our two from a rescue place in Surrey. Both a year or 18 months. Old enough to be left for a bit but young enough to play!

girliefriend · 19/09/2014 16:06

Woozle we have a tortie kitten and there is def a lot of personality there!!

She is very naughty (steals food of the plate, hides and jumps you as you are walking past, harasses our other cat) but also so sweet she loves attention and is ridiculously soppy

Have also heard that black cats out number all other cats in rescue places, am as to why this would be the case?

OP please come back and tell us you are considering a rescue kitten/cat?!

Original poster

code · 19/09/2014 18:00

Hi,
I've sent lots of emails to different places and people have been very kind and helpful. I haven't yet made up my mind but will be visiting a few places to get a feel for which cats we would be best to help. It's sad that so many are in rescue, really unfair. And so many stray/feral.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/09/2014 18:03

I think black cats are less popular due to superstition etc. Theres two near us who are like little panthers.

MuddyWellyNelly · 25/09/2014 23:51

OP did you go to see any? I'm hoping you will come back to tell us you've come home with several as you couldn't leave them behind!

Dancingdreamer · 26/09/2014 00:28

Do look at a burmese cat. They are famous amongst all the cat breeds as being the cat which is most like a dog. We have 2 sisters who are incredibly friendly and love to snuggle on anyone who will let them. Fantastic with our kids, never scratched (except accidentally) and like to be picked up for a cuddle. Easy maintenance. Just need feeding and happy to be left alone all day (although rarely happens).

We were told by our vet to ensure we handled them loads when they were kittens so that they got used to people. Def worked with ours. Otherwise they are totally untrainable. Climb on tables, work surfaces and destroy fabric sofas. But gorgeous.

Look at the Burmese Cat Society website (think there may be 2 societies). They give lists of breeders with kittens.

Original poster

code · 26/09/2014 10:22

Thanks everyone
Haven't seen any cats yet, still doing my reading and talking to people. Thanks for all the information.

OP posts:

RubbishMantra · 26/09/2014 12:08

I have a moggy and a Devon Rex.

I adopted the Devon as a friend/brother for my mog.

I think you posted something about a cat with dog-like traits? Well that's definitely a Devon. They are broadly described as a cross between a cat, dog and monkey. They don't do well on their own though if you're out all day, so would need another cat for company.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2014 15:59

How are they getting on now?

CMOTDibbler · 26/09/2014 16:08

I'm on cats 3-5 currently. My first cat of my own was incredibly friendly, almost obsessively about me. Cat2 was more DHs cat, but also very loving.

Of our current (all rescue) cats, cat1 isn't very loving but we knew that as she'd been in rescue a long time and has issues. cat2 likes to sit by you on the sofa and sleeps with us. cat3 is always around, sits with us, sleeps with us. He's quite dog like in many ways.

Ours have been from the Cats Protection League, and they are fab on recommending which cat for what you want

loraflora · 26/09/2014 17:16

I've had 2 mogs, both female. Both were affectionate, cat 1 more with DH. The 2nd one seemed very nervous while in rescue and because of that, she had been hanging around longer than most. We thought she might be a cat who just eats and goes out, avoiding us, but she turned out the opposite as soon as she settled. She's very loving and sits between us on the couch and miaows for cuddles.

RubbishMantra · 26/09/2014 20:54

Do you mean my cats Fluffy?

They are like proper brothers now. The other day, MKitten knocked over a big sheet of wood. MCat ran towards him, giving a concerned miaow. Then biffed MKitten around the head.

Mcat has taken to pinning down his little brother, so he can forcibly groom him.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/09/2014 20:57

That's lovely, obviously telling him off for nearly getting hurt I'd like a kitten but f cat is aggressive to other cats.

Apart from the black farm cat he used to know. Who must have dirt on f cat.

Liara · 26/09/2014 21:00

Maine Coons are very, very dog-like cats. They follow us around all over the place, and one of them sometimes even goes for a walk with us when we take the dogs - that's a 1.5-2h walk btw! Super affectionate and very companionable.

I've had moggies who were a bit like this but it's a bit down to the luck of the draw - all my Maine Coons have been like this and everyone else I know who has them says the same.

Canshopwillshop · 26/09/2014 21:05

The most 'dog like' cat I've ever had is my gorgeous male Bengal. Just google the breed and you will see that they are very dog like. My boy plays fetch, he greets me when I come home, he loves playing and cuddles, he adores the children and gets involved in whatever they are doing. Yes, he's quite vocal but only ever in the daytime. Ive owned several cats before but i highly recommend this breed to anyone who is used to a dog.

MrsPnut · 26/09/2014 21:14

Our Maine coon grooms our youngest child every morning to wake her up. She obviously doesn't think much to her washing skills.

RubbishMantra · 26/09/2014 21:28

Devons are pretty bomb-proof Fluffy. MCat hissed and yowled and growled at him for months before making friends. MKitten never gave up with his campaign of making friends with grouchy B&W boy. Every time he got hissed/spat at, he just cheerfully went on his merry way. Never once returned any aggression to MCat.

If he were a person, I reckon he'd be one of those slightly annoying constantly cheerful types, seeing the silver lining in everything. MCat has the angsty soul of a tortured poet...

cozietoesie · 26/09/2014 21:47

My first cat, many many moons ago was a Siamese and I've had a Siamese as my special cat ever since. I've had others, some of them great and noble beasts, but I couldn't live now without a Siamese around.

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