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

[33goingon64]

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.

Yes - you have chosen to buy a cat from a breeder when there are loads of cats in rescues, and to keep it indoors, which is, frankly, cruel

Blimey.
There is nothing wrong with a decent, ethical breeder at all!

Just like dogs, different breeds of cats have different stereotypical temperaments, coat types etc.

A Persian would be no good for someone with an allergy but a Sphinx may be fine, a ragdoll wouldn't suit someone who hated grooming and wanted a lively playful companion but a Siamese would be a good fit etc.

If you prefer rescues that is absolutely fine, but there is nothing wrong with 'proper' breeders.

Not all cats mind not going outside.
Keeping cats indoors isn't always cruel, it depends on the cat.

My moggy is a very active, playful cat.
Too active for me really, in hindsight I should have gone for a breed known to be placid.
She would indeed be very distressed at being an indoor cat but a significant number of calmer temperament cats don't mind one bit.

And it is a great deal safer; no risk of getting hit by a car, attacked by a dog, attacked by another cat, abused by cat hating people, accidentally poisoned etc.

I have to let my cat out because she is too high energy but I'd prefer not to tbh.

Yes the poo smells. Flush it down the toilet.
Change the tray every day.
They might fight in the beginning, but most cats try to avoid fighting.
You will feed it.
Rescue places might not want you due to your dc's age. Pets4homes have cats that need rehoming. We just rehomed a cat advertised on there. His name means 'gift of love', because he's yummy.
Rag doll cats are meant to be good indoor cats. They can't go out as they go floppy when touched.
You need to make sure you have enough money for vets bills, vaccinations etc. You also need to consider whether you are able to put your pet to sleep when they're terminally ill. It is the hardest thing to do.
But I've had cats all my life and they make really good pets, if you are happy being a slave to their needs.

I never said anything about the breeder, Fucksandflowers, so I don't know why you're going on about that. There are loads of cats in rescue centres, IMO it;s unethical to buy cats from a breeder when there are so many cats needing homes.

And funnily enough in my many years of owning cats, I think having a slightly dingdong with another cat is the biggest risk they've ever faced outdoors. If you think it's unsafe outdoors in your area for a cat, then don't have a cat.

You basically said people should rescue not buy from a breeder.
I'm just making the point that there is nothing wrong with (proper) cat breeders.

And i live in a very quiet area, that didn't stop my neighbours cat (who was my cat's very best friend) getting hit by a car and having to be put to sleep.

I have witnessed neighbouring children chasing another neighbours cat, they are damned lucky it wasn't mine...

And I have seen cat fights round here worse than a 'slight ding dong', we have at least one entire tom who has injured one cat, quite likely a rival tom (that I have seen) pretty badly.
My own (spayed female) cat has also come in bleeding twice, albeit mildly, after being attacked by another cat.

If the cat isn't too high energy I definately think they should be kept indoors, perhaps with a catproofed garden or enclosure out back

then it sounds like your area isn't good for a cat. I have none of those issues where I live - obviously a cat could get hit by a car pretty much anywhere but if you've convinced it's going to happen - then don't get a cat. As it happens, my cats never go out the front.

And yes, I think people should get cats from a rescue, not a breeder. Never said anything about breeders themselves. There are too many rescue cats out there already needing homes. That is my point that I've made twice.

CassianAndor, we have been rejected from rehoming a dog because of the age of our dcs, and because of (eventually buying), our dog, existing cat and school age dcs we didn't hear back from the Cats Protection League. We ended up finding a cat on Pets4homes that needed rehoming, advertised by his previous owners. I think the rescue places are too picky. We're brilliant pet owners, yet don't fit the criteria for rehoming. I'm upset and frustrated about it.

I totally disagree that it is cruel to keep a cat indoors, cats make it very well known when they are bored and unhappy. It is a personal choice and often for very valid reasons.

If mine showed signs of being interested in going out then they would be allowed, but they don't. Personally in my area it would be cruel due to some of the awful things that have been happening, plus the traffic. I am on my rescue group facebook page and just in our small area there are cats missing/run over/attacked every day. I have many friends who have had indoor cats, one lived to over 20 years old very happily.

Yes the poo smells. Flush it down the toilet.

This isn't recommended, water plants can't deal with the toxins in cat poo.

then it sounds like your area isn't good for a cat

What, a quiet residential street?

The road is extremely quiet and like most residential streets most people have children living with them and many people here have cats so there is a big population on the street.

If you let your cat out to roam they are at risk, even in a quiet 'nice' area.
Accidents happen, as I say, it's a very quiet road but he was still hit.

No cats have been killed on my road
I have never seen children chasing cats on my road
One rogue Tom a few years ago
One territorial Bengal
That’s in the 16 years we’ve lived here, we’ve had our cats for 14 of those years

None of that would be reason to force my cats to be house cats. I don’t know any cat owners on my street who feel obliged to force their cats to be house cats.

Nothing will persuade me that cats should be made into house cats simply to allow their owners to be pet owners. They are animals in their own right, not bloody accessories.

If you consider your area not safe for a cat t roam then it’s vety simple - don’t get a cat. If a rescue centre considers your home not suitable the get a second opinion from another rescue centre and if the answer is still ‘no’ then accept that they are right (you might not get a ‘no’ from both, we were rejected by one, whereas the other (who actually came to our road and looked at our house and garden) loved us and wanted us to take more than 2!)

I used to have 2 brothers. One mooched near the house but the other one trying to establish his own territory wandered down to the end of the road where he was sadly knocked down and killed. The home bird Troy died aged 5 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

I've just got an 11 week old kitten from Cats Protection. He is a real snugglepuss and so far he is as good as gold. I am sure as he gets older he will start thinking his name is No, Down and Stop it.

CassianAndor
Yes - you have chosen to buy a cat from a breeder when there are loads of cats in rescues, and to keep it indoors, which is, frankly, cruel

Is that supposed to be directed at me? If so, this is your opinion. I chose not to say that people who let their cats out are endangering them, because I prefer not to be critical or nasty towards those who did nothing wrong to me. It's their choice, that's all. And I made mine. As to rescue vs shelter, I really have no time for such self-righteousness. People get the cats they want. We all should get over that fact.

As to cat shelters, I support a few by direct debits and donations of goods from their wish list. But no fucker is going to decide what animal lives in my house. Some people are more relaxed about it, fine, but I won't have anyone saying they won't give me one kitten, but only two, or that adult cat would be "better", or that our house - where 2 adults and no other pets live happily - is "unsuitable" for a cat, or any such crap. True, they need to determine you are not a crack addict who is going to cook a cat, for the sake of a cat's safety (or if it's an ill cat whether your lifestyle/work schedule allows for necessary care), but any more than that is a busybody meddling. I prefer a breeder (even if it's not a pedigree cat), to see a kitten's mum and environment they are brought up, and I am happy to supplement someone's income (usually it's not wealthy people who breed animals) by buying a cat from them.

i prefer a breeder (even if it's not a pedigree cat), to see a kitten's mum and environment they are brought up, and I am happy to supplement someone's income (usually it's not wealthy people who breed animals) by buying a cat from them

I am in support of (decent, proper, ethical) breeders but it is very difficult indeed to make a good profit if you are doing it properly...

BloodyDisgrace You do realise those private sellers "supplementing their income" are the reason why we have such a terrible cat overpopulation problem and shelters are full?

Anyway, totally up to you if you prefer to buy a kitten that's never even seen a vet from some idiot who didn't bother to get their own cat neutered...

P.S. Rescues are not a cat supermarket for you to go and choose what you want. Rescues care about the welfare of the cats above all.

viccat
BloodyDisgrace You do realise those private sellers "supplementing their income" are the reason why we have such a terrible cat overpopulation problem and shelters are full?

No, I realise something else. That the reason for full shelters is the people who get a cat but don't want to look after it properly and give up; wankers who move house and don't take the cat with them; idiots who get it "because DC asked" and not because they, as adults, love cats, and then it just "doesn't work out" and they give up the cat; people who pile up cats in their home and get the cats stressed from overcrowding, so some escape and are found and given to a shelter.

Everyone kicks the breeders or sellers, but I don't think they are the main cause for the problem. It's the people who get these cats (be it from shelter or private) and just don't commit to life with a cat. Some adult cats are going back to shelter several times in their lives.

every cat that’s bought from a breeder, however reputable, means another cat is still stuck in a rescue centre.

yes, it does mean that, Cassian. But are you seriously in favour of guilt-tripping people for their choices? What happened to the idea of live and let live? Why, instead of blasting those who didn't get their cats from shelter, be grateful to those who did, and kept them and looked after them?

It's this attitude of lecturing people on how to live that I have a big problem with.

If you feel guilt tripped, that’s your problem. I’m not making you stay on this thread.

BloodyDisgrace. Live and let live is fine if you're behaviour is only harming you. In which case, knock yourself out - it's no one else's business. But when someone's behaviour harms the welfare of other people/children or, in this case, cats, then of course people will try to persuade you to change your behaviour.

Yes, cat welfare is harmed by all sorts of people who don't neuter their cats, but people who buy kittens from these people are a huge part of the problem.

Of course, "your behaviour is harming the world" approach is the easiest, and quickest no-brainer trick to get on your high horse.
I stay on the threads I chose to stay. Guilt tripping me is pointless. You may as well start a thread somewhere about how an individual buying a kitten somewhere costs lives, overstretches NHS, causes deforestation and flood. Millions will listen and be grateful for such enlightenment.

covetingthepreciousthings, I didn't realise. Although my dog loves eating it. 🤮🤢 What should I do. Just put it in my bin?

Bloody No-one is guilt tripping you. If you feel guilt tripped then perhaps you ought to examine why that might be.

Get two guinea pigs instead

No, get guinea-pigs if you want guinea-pigs but they are not a substitute cat , rabbit , dog or "Starter Pet" that end up on Gumtree because "kids grown out of them" like a pair of old plimsols

We had 8 guineas over 8 years (ranging from 2 pigs up to 5 at one point) .

The cats are way easier in some ways , but they are a responsibility and a financial outlay ( for the cats themselves , neutered/chipped/vaccinated by CPL) , their catdoor in a new glass door , food, insurance .

My stair carpet (which is over 15 years in place) has been shredded in places by them, but I anticipated this (and they stop if we tell them to)

Ours are brother/sister adults and get on really well. They like their own space when it suits them but like being together too .
Both jet black identical (I find myself saying "Hello Cat" to not offend them by mixing them up )

My DC are teens , we all mix in with feeding/litter but most of it is DH and I. They're Family Cats and don't care who puts the dinner out or scoops their tray as long as it is done .

They are not cuddly but it is lovely just having them with us , they love my DD bed and she often wakes up with two cats .

Think long and hard before getting cats . They are a huge long term commitment , but once you have them, you cannot imagine life without them.

@Kittekats that link made me laugh robustly