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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

Possibly getting a cat - what do I need to consider?

102 replies

33goingon64 · 10/09/2019 22:14

DS is desperate for a pet. He'd love a dog or a cat but there's no way DH or I would have a dog. We both had cats as youngsters so can imagine it at least. I quite like them and it's just the downsides I need to work through.

Who will feed it and clean the litter tray (how often do you do that?!). How smelly are they? Can you make a cat be an indoors cat? Will it fight with the neighbours cats who are always in our garden? Is it best to get a kitten or a rescue cat? Do you go to a shop? I have many questions!

Feeding when we're away isn't a problem as our neighbours will feed it.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
33goingon64 · 10/09/2019 22:17

EH? I didn't mean for this to go in AIBU. Should be in the cat section! Sorry!

OP posts:
Notcontent · 10/09/2019 22:19

I am not an expert, but I am so envious as I adore cats!

Definitely don’t get one from a shop - a rescue from a cat charity would be best I think.

TheTrollFairy · 10/09/2019 22:20

You can’t force a cat to be a house cat if it doesn’t want to be. That would be really cruel.
Get a girl cat as they usually fight less than boy cats and if you get a boy cat then get it neutered if you get a kitten.
The litter tray needs cleaning (as in poo or wee removing) after each use and cleaning out the dirty try and washing will depend on how much they use it. If they are house cats then it will need cleaning more frequently.

Kittens ruin everything - they scratch your furniture, climb your curtains and pee pee on the floor when litter training.

Not really sure why you are asking who will feed the cat though... are you expecting to hire someone to feed it? If not then the answer is pretty obvious that either you or your DH will feed it after the initial novelty wears off

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2019 22:20

If you don’t want to feed it and change litter then don’t get a cat. Confused
An older cat that was used to it could be an indoor cat but getting a kitten and trying to restrict it could be a nightmare. Cat proof the garden?
You don’t buy a cat from a shop. Confused
Rescue unless you are desperate for a certain breed.
You have a lot of research to do. And TBH I wouldn’t get any pet if the most I could say is “I quite like them”. Old girl needed multiple pills each day, grooming every day, woke us up through the night and was sometimes sick all over the carpet. You have to do more than quite like them to put up with that.
Cats can live over 20 years. Know the cost and commitment. What if your neighbours move? Would you use a cattery?
How old is DS?

Shouldibeworriedaboutthis · 10/09/2019 22:20

Get two!!!

madcatladyforever · 10/09/2019 22:20

Don't forget they destroy furniture and sometimes carpet.

Notcontent · 10/09/2019 22:21

Just to add that I think having an indoor only cat is a bit cruel, unless it’s a very elderly cat...

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2019 22:23

Not content some cats need to be kept inside. Epileptic, deaf, sight impaired etc etc. Rescues sometimes have cats in that haven’t ever been let out and don’t want to go out either!

SamBeckett · 10/09/2019 22:23

I am also considering getting a cat , mine will def be a rescue from a local charity , so it will be neutered and chipped.
I dont particularly want a kitten and am quite happy to have a older moggy rather than a pure breed .
I grew up with cats , none of which were house cats so I dont like the idea of not letting it outside , but that said I do worry about it getting run over .

Shouldbedoing · 10/09/2019 22:24

I have an outdoor litter tray which is waterproof and avoids a stinky kitchen and scattered gravel. Will.look and link.

QueenoftheNowhereverse · 10/09/2019 22:24

Welcome (back) to the life of cat worship Grin

Litter boxes should be scooped often. Some say as often as they’re used, but we don’t (If nothing else, I’m not going to sit by the litter box waiting for our cats to toilet). We do it nightly.

How old is your DS? That might guide whether you go for an excitable kitten or a mature cat. Consider getting two if possible, especially if you both work. A cat could get a little lonely all day, and two aren’t any more work than one.

You can certainly have an indoor cat. Ours are indoor mostly; when we are at home, they have access to our private garden which has cat barriers at the top of the fences. When we’re at work, they’re inside.

Enjoy

DefConOne · 10/09/2019 22:25

We got a black and white rescue cat aged 18 months when we got him. He’s nothing special to look at but absolutely adorable and we all love him to pieces. He is very cuddly and affectionate. We have loads of cats in the neighbourhood and ours is a wimp despite being huge. No actual fights thankfully but some hissing and growling. I use a dog litter bag for the poo in the tray. Can’t stand the scoop thing. DH changes the litter and cleans the tray. Did I mention he is cuddly and adorable?

AlunWynsKnee · 10/09/2019 22:25

Look at getting a cat rather than kitten as you'll be able to get an idea of their personality. A rescue place would be your best bet.

Wolfiefan · 10/09/2019 22:26

@SamBeckett look into cat proofing the garden. I believe someone on here even shared a catio they had made!
Good luck with the search.

Mitzicoco · 10/09/2019 22:27

All you need to know is that cats are cool 😎

Siameasy · 10/09/2019 22:27

Our cat is indoor. She is a tiny rescue traditional Siamese and very anxious.
I found kittens a nightmare, also sometimes they are taken too young and they can be needy, black cats are mad (absolutely love them) and tabbies have a nice temperament ime. Oriental cats are great characters but obviously I’m biased. I love the Siamese temperament they are like dogs.
Get a male cat neutered immediately or they become unmanageable

lvsel · 10/09/2019 22:28

Cats are so easy to look after and require lots of cuddles

NetballHoop · 10/09/2019 22:28

Who will feed it: you
Who will clean the litter tray: you
How often: At least once a day
Indoor cat: You can but if possible please allow it out
Will it fight with other cats: there's a good chance it will. We used to have a neighbour with a very aggressive cat who attacked ours a few times. They have since left.
Kitten or cat: We've only ever had rescue kittens so can't really say

Cats are great. I hope you find a lovely one for all your family.

lyralalala · 10/09/2019 22:28

Don't buy a kitten from a pet shop.

If you are planning on making the cat an indoor cat then consider rescuing a pair. If you are getting kittens deffo get a pair - much less destructive when they have another ball of energy to play with. I think keeping cats in is cruel so if you are sure you want an indoor cat then consider one with FIV as they can't go out and are harder to rehome (for the same reasons consider a black cat).

Yes they will fight with the neighbours cat until territory is established.

You clean the box as and when needed.

What do you mean who will feed it? You can make it your DS's job, but you'll have to take responsibility for actually making sure it happens, and you'll have to take over if he doesn't.

Consider things like holidays - how often do you go away? Who'd look after the cat?

Kittekats · 10/09/2019 22:29

Think twice before getting a lone kitten. We got one a few months ago to keep our other cat company (sibling was run over).
He is gorgeous but it is the first time we have had just one kitten and our house is trashed! Well, not entirely but I have had to take voiles down again today as he’s broken the rail yet again and he has broken one of my favourite table lamps from a shop no longer in business this afternoon too.

I would get a one to five year old from a rescue, they will come vaccinated, neutered etc and they will have an indication of the personality. A pair of one year olds was certainly a lot less work than an 8 week old kitten!

MelonSlice · 10/09/2019 22:29

You can’t force a cat to be a house cat if it doesn’t want to be. That would be really cruel.
Get a girl cat as they usually fight less than boy cats and if you get a boy cat then get it neutered if you get a kitten.

Have you actually ever owned a cat? Hmm

CassianAndor · 10/09/2019 22:29

We have 2 rescue cats which we got as kittens from the local rescue centre
No litter tray (they have a designated flower bed in our garden)
Indoor cats - just cruel
Microchip-operated cat flap so only they can get into our house
Yes, they might fight with other cats
Don’t really smell
I’d get 2, in fact our rescue centre would never give you one kitten.
Make sure that if your DD loses interest that you actually want a cat and will care for it.

CassianAndor · 10/09/2019 22:30

If you get two, don’t get brother and sister, they don’t as a rule get on (as we have discovered!).

audweb · 10/09/2019 22:31

If you can - rescue a cat. I ended up with a kitten this time, and not from a rescue but only through random neighbourly circumstances. She doesn’t go outside, although I haven’t stopped her, she’s not braved it off the windowsill yet and it’s been a year 😂 my last rescue cat didn’t care for outdoors - he would last twenty minutes before coming back and knocking on the door 😂😂 scoop the litter tray whenever I spot a poo, although she does come tell me. Feed morning and night, and lots of cuddles otherwise. Love her and my six year old together, they have a lovely relationship. Get pet insurance my last one ended up having diabetes and cost a fortune.

DefConOne · 10/09/2019 22:31

Siamese are indeed very nice cats.

I pay for worming, flea treatment and vaccinations monthly direct debit. The vet surgery sends me reminders of when they are due and I don’t have to fork out loads of money at once.

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