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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.

I'm considering getting a cat - what are all the downsides?

75 replies

Bursarymum · 09/05/2015 16:55

My daughters have been nagging me for a cat for about 18 months. I always had cats growing io and I would like one myself but I need to know all the disadvantages so please tell me them before I decide one way or the other.

Also, is it better to get a pedigree or a moggy? I can see that movies now seem to cost £100 at least! Which is very different from when I was a child and they were free to a good home.

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ragged · 09/05/2015 19:09

And they stink, my last comment. Fur, breath, poop. Not as bad as a dog, mind.

ragged · 09/05/2015 19:11

@Momagain1: do you have problems with your indoor-only cats getting fat?
We left ours shut indoors for 5 days once (friends visited to feed): both cats were much fatter when we got back. They nag so much for food, I think it'd be a challenge for them to stay trim without going outdoors.

Mostlyjustaluker · 09/05/2015 19:13

Coming home to find piles of sick every where to find he has eaten something inappropriate (tin foil), lots of stress and money. Then suspected broken tail, more money.

Fignting with other cats and making lots of noise making you feel like a bad cat mummy.

Presents of dead, live, barely live animals or their parts.

Weeing and pooing not in the litter tray.

Being sick on your bed in the middle of the night.

Having to make sure we are at home in time to feed him.

FenellaFellorick · 09/05/2015 19:18

You could end up totally potty about them. Hand making luxury cushions to go on their personal sofa Grin

I'm considering getting a cat - what are all the downsides?
Mouthfulofquiz · 09/05/2015 19:21

If cats didn't poo they would be amazing pets.

Zippea · 09/05/2015 19:27

I've got two cats (brother and sister) and I honestly don't know I've got her. She is no trouble, a complete floozy and daft for my DD's.

BoyZipCat is a complete pita. He does not like people, noise and people. He hates people. He loves food and isn't fussy what it is or who is belongs to. He is very jealous, if I speak to anyone he has to be on me (not near me - on me). He moans a lot and is currently telling me off because I'm not paying him attention and holding his hand. He sleeps on my chest and is so heavy I often wake thinking I'm paralysed. When I'm not in bed he sleeps on my mobility pillow. He drinks my drinks (thankfully I don't drink) and does the smelliest poos in the tray just before someone is due to visit our home (the vicar visit particularly stands out).

That all said, he is my pita and I love them both dearly.

Bursarymum · 09/05/2015 19:37

Is it not advisable to get pet insurance? I actually have it for our guinea pigs Grin

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Bursarymum · 09/05/2015 19:38

Thanks for replies. How much do they cost to feed?

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cantbelievemyeyes · 09/05/2015 19:44

Fenella that cat sofa is fabulous- would love one for my old lady but she won't sleep on any kind of dedicated cat furniture at all. Just people things/ places she's not supposed to use.

My last couple of cats have been adult, indoor only pets I've rehomed from people who can't look after them any more, so I've escaped some of the kitten behaviour/ outdoor related ones. For me the downsides are long ginger hair absolutely everywhere; accidental damage to things like sofa and cushions where she jumps up on them; (deliberately) using the litter tray at meal times/ when visitors arrive; the occasional standing on wet furballs (always when barefoot); costs of having a cat lady come to care for her when we go away.

Cost is an issue, particularly as they get older. Vet bills can be horrific- when the sister of my current cat got sick we spent over £2000- a couple of vet visits for exams and enemas, then one exploratory surgery which unexpectedly found very advanced terminal cancer. Just a couple of days after diagnosis we had to put her to sleep. That £2000 was for all of that treatment plus cremation. We didn't have insurance, having thought we could just put the money we'd have spent in savings. We'd had her a ew years and the savings came nowhere near covering it. Remaining cat was insured immediately! She's 15 now and insurance costs around £30 per month and she's in good health with no conditions yet. Food (fancy cat pate- she loves it and won't eat anything else) and litter cost us another £30 a month, so at the moment that's £60 a month. We're going away for a week soon and it's costing £130 for a cat sitter to visit her twice a day for the week.

She's a total dick sometimes, and as she gets older she's less sociable but she's still highly entertaining and I love her to bits. For me the biggest downside is losing them, but you get many good years with them first hopefully!

BishopBrennansArse · 09/05/2015 19:44

All cats are bastards.
Utter, utter bastards.

I love them to distraction, though.
I have 6.

FenellaFellorick · 09/05/2015 19:52

Gorgeous isn't it?

Costs for her monthly
12 insurance
10 healthy pet club
20 cat litter
15 hills (dry cat food) sometimes more than 15
15 wet cat food/food treats

annual check up and annual boosters etc

One off purchases
litter tray
cat flap
water bowl
food bowl
grooming mitt
bed
microchipping

I'm sure there's more but I can't remember

lechie · 09/05/2015 20:31

I've recently got a rescue cat for the first time and we're all totally in love with her (except DH, who tolerates her at best).

The great thing about a rescue cat is that they've already got their personalities so you can choose a cat to suit you... Dh's biggest fears about the cat was the presents and it jumping up on work surfaces. Our 8 year old cat does neither - we were able to ask this before we chose her.
Thankfully, we've got a cat that fits our family and needs.

As for costs, our monthly costs are:

Insurance £23 (maximum level of insurance)
Cat litter £13
Dry food £13
Wet food £12
Worming / Defleaing treatment £20 every 3 months.

Plus annual vet check up and booster. - £40.

We wouldn't change her for the world!

Bursarymum · 09/05/2015 20:54

Thank you all so much - your replies are very helpful.

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Butterflywings168 · 09/05/2015 21:32

What Stinkers, Tcn and others said. I am in the process of getting a cat from Cats Protection. £50 but incl neutering, vaccinations, microchip etc so a bargain.

RubbishMantra · 09/05/2015 22:09

That photo's hilarious Stinkersmum. Casual hand shandy.

ragged · 10/05/2015 11:15

I'm half wondering if I should reconsider insurance; my 3.5yo moggies have the auto-immune disorder neck lesions. Vet says they are doing fine, no need for extraction but keep an eye on it. Still, even one tooth extraction would cost £££. Could I get any insurance to cover the condition now that it's been identified, even if no anticipated need for treatment in short-run? Have I made a mistake by not bothering with insurance so far?

My running costs are £5/cat per week, that includes everything, including posh food, except no insurance.

FenellaFellorick · 10/05/2015 13:27

You might struggle with pre-existing conditions.
My cat's insurance excludes eyes for 12 months because she had just had an eye infection when I took out the policy!

Squeegle · 10/05/2015 13:34

Cat insurance a must these days £34 for two for me.
Our two came from cats protection; they're no trouble really and the kids love em. They're both a bit short sighted so no success hunting which is a blessing Smile

I'm considering getting a cat - what are all the downsides?
Stinkersmum · 10/05/2015 13:38

If a condition or potential issue has been acknowledged before hand by your vet, even if you haven't had any treatment, most insurances won't cover it. Pet Plan certainly won't.

Bursarymum · 14/05/2015 13:46

I've decided to go for it. I think we're at a point where we're ready. Thanks for all your advice. We are getting a ragdoll cat.

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RubbishMantra · 14/05/2015 17:15

Ooh, exciting Bursary! Adult cat or kitten?

I have 2 feline beings. MCat and Little Monsieur. My little Devon Rex came to live with me just under a year ago. Very different in looks to a Ragdoll, but has a similar trusting and friendly nature.

He's the happiest, sweetest natured little being I've ever met. He likes to climb legs, so he can ride around on shoulders.

The only downside I can think of is crapping in my lavender, therefore killing it. (Lavender, not the cats) Oh, and when living rurally, waking up to the odd partridge running about, that MCat somehow brought in through the cat-flap. Oh, and checking shoes for mice before putting feet in them. Aaannd, the lower portions of baby rabbits, festooned about the place, Jack The Ripper style. Brains obviously tastier than legs. He always ate the heads. But, on the bright side, he grew out of it, and rarely commits acts of murder anymore.

Ah, just remembered. Worse thing about owning a cat is when they stay out after their curfew. Terrifying. You need to get your feline friend addicted to Dreamies at a young age. If you rattle the packet and they don't come running, that's when the worry begins.

Corygal · 14/05/2015 22:31

Congratulations OP! Keep us posted.

Mr Cory the fat tabby is my life, which to some ignorant people might be a downside. But his whistly snoring on the bed (on my face) all night, the rampant mewing for snacks 18 hours a day and the thunderous purring when I get in from work is worth a life of domestic servitude.

cozietoesie · 14/05/2015 22:41

We had to go in a taxi today and the taxi driver, on seeing the carrier, said wonderingly 'You know, I never used to be a cat person - until my boy came to us last year.' And then talked about his 'Big Tiger - and how he couldn't be without a cat now.....' until he dropped us outside the vet practice.

Just go for it - you won't regret it. Smile

Bursarymum · 15/05/2015 11:07

We're getting a kitten. She's a seal point. At the moment thought she is only 6 weeks old and still tiny so we will have plenty of time to get things ready for her. So now we have to think of a name for her as well. They are quite big cats aren't they and have quite a presence about them so we need something fitting.

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cozietoesie · 15/05/2015 12:13

Ah - you'll need to post a picture of her now. (It's a rule here.)

Smile