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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.

Original poster

dog person pondering cat..queue up to tell me to GET ANOTHER PET

51 replies

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 13/03/2015 09:13

I'm trying to be efficle about this- can anyone help

I'm thinking about: gumtree , indoor cats and also cats with dogs

be kind...Wink

me, OH and all the dcs (11-17) would like a cat.

I was thinking of either rescue OR gumtree- but only those cats who aren't for sale, just the Sad ones who say they have to give their kitties away for free because landlord/asthma/moving

...am thinking that, as with dogs, buying a kitten off gumtree is encouraging people to breed cats for ££s. With dogs this is a pretty horrid and desperate industry: I assume same for cats, too?

if I do a search on a rescue site, the minute I type 'have dogs' in the search box, all the potential matches go POUFF- another reason to ponder gumtree

another potential issue- I have always assumed that keeping cats indoors is cruel, without really thinking about it. Now am not so sure. I have busy roads, foxes, and notices for THREE missing cats (new ones) just between here and school. Also lots of wildlife- frogs, birds, squirrels- which I rather like and would rather not be party to murder of Wink nor do I want to be picking up parts of unidentifiable digestive systems off the hall carpet

So am thinking- how about indoor cats, from a rescue or gumtree- ie ones who have never been outdoors and so won't miss it, iykwim...

third issue- DOGS. I have two staffies. I know what you're thinking. But they are NICE staffies. And don't say 'oh, well, they all say that' -they are smashers...we would be very, very careful re introducing them. The idea would be that, when there's no one around, the dogs have the dining room and the cat/s everywhere else including upstairs, until all get used to each other.

Oh and there is normally someone in the house- the longest there are no humans around is about 3/4 hours- usually much less, so they would have a lot of company...

what do you think?

should we shelve the cat idea?

or is indoor/rescue/with dogs a goer?

OP posts:
Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 13/03/2015 22:14

sozzles, that sounds flip

but introductions would be handled very carefully, and the cat would have somewhere to go to get away if necessary- the stair gate would stop the dogs from following

(tho am anticipating hedog will be quite terrified most likely. It's shedog I'll have to be careful with)

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 13/03/2015 22:18

You really want a cat don't you Grin

Reminds me of me 6 years ago!.

You'll need to bolt the door of the dogs room, some cats can open doors.

Haffdonga · 13/03/2015 22:24

Blimey. Thought for a minute you had a hedgehog there as well. Sorry Hedog

Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 13/03/2015 22:34

I wish I did have a hedgehog sometimes instead of hedog and his gloomy puss

he is gazing up at me all morose like

he knows I am plotting

good point fluffy. I shall get a bolt so the dogs can lock it from the inside

...here, hang on! Wasn't it you who said get another dog??

Shock
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 13/03/2015 22:43

Yes but you are set on a path of self destruction & cannot be saved.

I have tried & one day when you are trying the fourth brand of cat food that week, each one pricier and harder to source than the last and the cat still holds out for gourmet pate with biscuits served on the side (not sprinkled on top or in a dish because that's wrong) you will remember me.

Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 13/03/2015 22:51
Grin

well of course I'll never get to that stage. My cat will get what it's given and be happy with that that's what I said about the dcs before they were born

Wink
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/03/2015 06:46

It will sleep all night & not poke you in the face at 4:30am for food as well won't it?.

You could actually rehome two cats, on a serious note, you will see pairs for re homing who are very close & can't be separated.

Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 14/03/2015 08:32

Do you know, I was just this minute thinking about rehoming a pair, as there seem to be a LOT of indoor pairs looking for a new home

I was also wondering whether, if a cat has to be indoors, it's more interesting/stimulating to have another cat around so I would feel less guilty

Blush
OP posts:
Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 14/03/2015 08:38

...am pointedly ignoring your other comments btw because I know it is all made up

Next door's cat used to come in my room (this was strictly forbidden-she used to climb up on the extension roof and shoulder her way in) and sleep on me all night

Apart from the fact that she had to scratch herself an adequate sleeping patch for 30 mins and weighed a fucking ton, we would sleep like babies for ten hours on the bounce

I know that ALL CATS DO THIS

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/03/2015 08:57

We need photos of the new cats when they arrive.

Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 14/03/2015 09:10

Lol

'when'
'they'

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 14/03/2015 09:12

Yy get two indoor cats and this cat tree. Smile

dog person pondering cat..queue up to tell me to GET ANOTHER PET
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/03/2015 09:43

That cat tree is epic Sparkling, any cat would be delighted to ignore it & play in the box it came in.

I love the turrets. Nothing says class like a turret.

Sparklingbrook · 14/03/2015 09:46

I am actually going to treat SparklingCat to one but maybe no that exact one Fluffy, even though it is ossum. Grin

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/03/2015 10:01

She'll still prefer the "pretending I'm stuck on the roof and having a ride in the laundry basket" game.

I don't buy ours too much. He can't be the most abused cat in the town unless I abuse him a bit.

Sparklingbrook · 14/03/2015 10:07

We played that just the other day Fluffy. Hmm

Original poster
MuddhaOfSuburbia · 15/03/2015 10:05

That's very nice, but I think I might make my own cat tree by just opening random drawers for now

A cat rescue I'd emailed a while ago phoned yesterday-she was smashing, really helpful, had dogs herself and we chatted about the ins and outs (well mostly just ins) of indoor cats. They get lots-and lots of inseparable pairs, too

She was happy with our cat/dog diplomacy plans too Smile

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

We're going to have a looky in the Easter holidays (on hol the first week)

I will be back

And you will be SO glad that posters have a four pics a day limit

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 15/03/2015 10:42

6 photos a day.

You'd better buy a cat carrier then Grin

Sparklingbrook · 15/03/2015 10:44

Yay!!!!

RandomMess · 15/03/2015 10:51

How lovely. We've done the opposite - have already got 2 rescue cats and have just taken on a rescue dog Grin

Cats are disgusted but still want cuddles with us!!!!

I'm very much a dog lover but our cats have melted my heart towards cats too. I don't let ours sleep overnight in our bedroom; I like my sleep far too much...

PfftTheMagicDraco · 15/03/2015 11:12

Bloody hell woman, whoever you are who posted that link! I knew I shouldn't have clicked it. Three cats is enough! Now I need more.

loupylou2u · 15/03/2015 11:21

I have nothing much to add except I'm vv jealous that you have 2 staffies op!

We had a staff who was hand on heart the most gentle, soppy boy you could meet. We got him at 12 weeks and he lived to 15years. Never did that dog growl or snap at any one - cats or humans. When I had dd and bought her home from hospital it was like he knew - I walked in and instead of the usual happy bounding around he did when anyone came in, he simply stood, tail wagging. Dd crying never phased him, not did the heavy handed toddler petting. He actually helped my friends son overcome his dog phobia. We introduced 2 cats in the space of a year and he was fine with them.

I miss him very much Sad

We now have 5 cats and I'm very much a converted cat person Grin

Good luck!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2015 18:13

It's nearly easter.

Have you looked at any cats?.

SilentBob · 27/03/2015 18:27

I have 2 stories of success to chare with you here, OP

  1. I had a Staffie (deaf), an Akita (blind) and a Mastiff cross (no impairments, just stoopid) and introduced not only 2- count 'em- 2 kittens but also 2 ferrets with resounding success. All of these pets were rescues, with little or no known history and it all went without a hitch. Ish. Obviously there were times when the ferrets escaped and all hell broke loose with me helicoptering all over the joint but no damages to report and we all lived harmoniously until death did us part. Not me, btw, I am not posting from beyond the graaaaave.
  1. Having lived rurally for years with my (now 3) free-roaming cats, they are currently having to live as house-cats due to built-up area and fast moving traffic. They jeffing well love it. I bought a harness and lead to take them out in case they were missing the great outdoors. They just sit down as soon as they are in the open air and look at me with an air of disdain.

In short (too late?) do it, you're well prepared and in good company Wink

lookingforbaubles · 27/03/2015 23:46

i have a big dog and little dog who both liked a bit of a bark at any passing cat, for some strange reason a very manky skinny stray cat decided to make base camp in my sons down stairs bedroom last summer

he then decided the kitchen was an ok place, sitting on top of the freezer while the dogs sniffed about

id never have believed my dogs would be ok around a cat but now they all sit together looking out of the open door to watch the rain -hes a very silky fat cat now Grin