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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

What I wasn't expecting when I got cats

50 replies

Leaningtoweroflisa · 05/09/2017 20:31

I love my 2 kittens. I thought I would when I saw their adorable faces in the ad, and I knew I did when we met them for the first time.

I was expecting the hassle, all the cleaning poo from litter trays, furry butts and little paws, all the washing cat dishes, feeding them, buying food, buying litter. Taking them to the vets, grooming them, doing flea and worm treatments.

What I wasn't expecting was how much they love me back.

I thought cats were aloof. There's all the jokes about humans being cat slaves, etc. I've never had a pet cat but I have been around them, admittedly farm cats that would come for a fuss and friends' cats.

I was wrong, or I just lucked out with my two soppy sausages. I was expecting to love them. I was not expecting them to enrich my life in return.

Very soppy I know but Siggy is lying asleep on my lap, he put his head on my arm, did a big sigh and now he's dreaming with kitten snores and twitchy paws...

OP posts:

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Toddlerteaplease · 05/09/2017 20:34

I couldn't agree more! Mine are very bonded to me and I know it's not just cupboard love. When I went to pick them up from their first cattery stay, Snorg came out of her castle at the sound of my voice. Took one look at the cattery owner and hissed at him! Made me feel all warm and fuzzy!

Boatmistress17 · 05/09/2017 20:36

Op without pics to confirm your post I declare you a troll. . .

Toddlerteaplease · 05/09/2017 20:36

Snorg likes to sleep tucked under my arm with her chin on my shoulder. Too cute. Fatty jumps on the sofa and yowls till I fuss her.

KickAssAngel · 05/09/2017 20:38

One of mine follows me around the house, and often puts his paw up on me, just to check that I'm there! Sometimes at night he pats me and snuggles in, just making sure that I still love him. He sits on my lap or lies at my feet all the time. He will sit and gaze into my eyes for ages, and pat me to do it if I'm not giving him enough love. I have to make time for cuddles every day or I feel mean.

The other is less attached, but still friendly with all of us. They both love scratching and tickles at any time.

IrritatedUser1960 · 05/09/2017 20:40

Oh yes, I still get the paw of ownership from my 15 year old female cat, she puts her paw gently on my arm and looks lovingly into my eyes, it makes me melt :-)

ocelot41 · 05/09/2017 20:42

Mine follows me around like a wee shadow. Mrrows if she can't see me. Does silent purrs I can't hear but make her whole body vibrate. Watches for me at the window and then comes running down when she sees me turning up the drive. I am Her Person.

metalmum15 · 05/09/2017 20:43

Toddler is your cat really called Fatty? I have visions of you shouting him/her out the back door and one of your neighbours being in their garden and getting slightly offended 😆

metalmum15 · 05/09/2017 20:43

Toddler is your cat really called Fatty? I have visions of you shouting him/her out the back door and one of your neighbours being in their garden and getting slightly offended 😆

Original poster

Leaningtoweroflisa · 05/09/2017 20:44

Aw sorry, got too carried away. Siggy is now eating tea, so photos coming up... Siggy is my cat, he jumped on my lap when we went to get them and started purring right away and that's not really stopped (bar 2 days when he got at some chicken fat, had the runs and I kept cleaning his arse)... Starry is my DS's cat (who loves me more, DS is blissfully unaware and that may change as DS gets older and more cat friendly!). He's smaller but the more dominant and bossy of the two.

OP posts:

Original poster

Leaningtoweroflisa · 05/09/2017 20:44

Siggy is grey, Starry is white and getting ever more ginger by the day

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ocelot41 · 05/09/2017 20:45

I think Fatty is an excellent name for a 🐈! Yours are indoor aren't they Toddler? Good job mine is too - couldn't face shouting Precious Puss Girl over the garden fence!

metalmum15 · 05/09/2017 20:47

ocelot 😀
Op beautiful cat!

metalmum15 · 05/09/2017 20:47

ocelot 😀
Op beautiful cat!

AlwaysDancing1234 · 05/09/2017 20:47

We got our lovely rescue cat a year ago. Without sounding like a soppy bugger he has enriched our lives in so many ways.
He always knows when DS is struggling (he has ASD and anxiety issue) and will seek him out and just be with him and snuggle.
When I was very ill a week ago he came and laid on me in the bed like a hot water bottle with his face right close to mine.

AlwaysDancing1234 · 05/09/2017 20:48

Aw they're gorgeous OP

Original poster

Leaningtoweroflisa · 05/09/2017 20:50

Aww I love hearing all the loving cat stories! Yes the gentle patting paw is adorable too. They're great wee chums and sleep with their arms round each other sometimes and lick each other's faces. My MIL's cats hate each other so she was a bit jealous when she came to visit (the cats>DS>us), thought we'd have to frisk her on the way out!

The only issue is they get jealous of whoever gets the lap first, the other glares for a while and then piles on...

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Scribblegirl · 05/09/2017 20:53

Oh I hear you OP! I'm currently trapped under a snoozing kitten which is annoying because I wanted to get a glass of wine for Bake Off

Our two are 9 months and I had the same preconceptions. Never expected this much love. The other day Merlin and I spent a good couple of minutes winking back and forth at each other

Original poster

Leaningtoweroflisa · 05/09/2017 21:05

Thanks! They are both gorgeous but Siggy is just 😍 I feel bad for starry as he is actually a handsome boy but he's out shone by his brother!

What a lovely cat always how great for your son. Dogs get all the credit for coming to give comfort! Siggy did that to me when I was sobbing my way through the end of the last Farseer book but I thought I was imagining it, cats don't do that? Lovely to be proved wrong.

Yes, snoozing kitten plus bake off is pretty aces though!

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Toddlerteaplease · 05/09/2017 21:06

Metal. Fattycat and Snorgmaiden are the nicknames my sister gave them. Their real names are Magic and Maia. (Names the rescue gave them.) yes they are i doors but go into the back garden. Forgot about the paw. When Snorg was critically ill, I went to visit at the vet and was cuddling her and she reached out and touched my face with her paw. I knew she appreciated me being there.

Original poster

Leaningtoweroflisa · 05/09/2017 21:19

toddler I love their names! Poor Snorg, to be so ill and the wee paw to come out, I'd have been in bits on the floor!

OP posts:

AmyGardner · 05/09/2017 21:24

Our cat is my first ever pet so I had no clue what to expect.

I wasn't expecting to be able to understand him. I know when he wants food, and he has a different sound for wanting out. He has a lovely wee chatter he reserves for birds in the garden. And I swear he goes 'hi' when he comes in.

Boatmistress17 · 05/09/2017 21:27

Worth the wait op!!

Scribblegirl · 05/09/2017 21:33

Oh amy I'm totally the same - I know which miaow is for what! I never expected that

(Also, fab username - kittens have been accompanying me through a full rewatch of the WW recently!)

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 05/09/2017 21:35

Aw, I'm jealous of all your snuggly mogs. My dear old LandingCat was a real snuggler, and thought I was his mum, basically. I still miss him.

BiteyCat is getting better than he was - he allows scritches and occasionally even sits on a lap this days, but is generally off hiding up on one of the beds or in the garden. And he likes DH better than me, the ungrateful wee toerag.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/09/2017 21:47

I find it really bizarre that I am the only one who knows what they want and their likes and dislikes. Particularly when my parents ask me what they are doing/wanting. One of the few things that makes me fell like an actual adult!

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