Would I be a terrible cat owner (undecided)

[notacrazycatladyyet]

Hi! Please help me make up my mind.

I've lived in a quiet cul de sac for 18 years and have always had cats, never looked for a new one they always just "happened" somehow. All had long, happy I hope lives with us. However, last year my last lovely cat got hit by a car and died. We gave it a year to get over this but are now seriously thinking about getting another.
I'd like a rescue cat but after a VERY a comfortable phone call yesterday to a lady who rescues litters of kittens I'm doubting whether I can offer a good home.
Because.... I have a child who is 7, quiet, calm and good with animals but still that's off putting for a lot of cats.
My last cat got hit by a car and the house currently has no cat flap so I'd prefer a house cat except that I'm at work all day so is that cruel?
I'm open to all scenarios, getting a cat flap fitted, getting an older cat, getting a pair of cats who'd be company for each other. But honestly, would I be better to knock the idea on the head until my circumstances are a bit better?
Thanks for taking the time to read

@TuttiFrutti you are quite right. My Persians are totally ambivalent about going out. They do enjoy a nosey in the garden but aren't bothered if they can't go out. They are also absolutely fine being left while I'm
On a 12 hour shift. There is also St Francis Persian Rescue. I got mine from them.

Our two are indoor cats and perfectly happy. They’re a breed of cat known for being quite lazy and laid back. We got them as retired breeding queens/show cats from their breeders (one aged two, the other aged eight, they are both nine now).

You may have to find the right rescue or rehomer, but I’d not say you were unsuitable at all.

Please don’t let the rescue put you off - you sound like a lovely cat owner to be!

We’ve had a whole variety of cats; before children, we lived in a flat, so purposely adopted a gorgeous older FIV cat, who happily lived out his days with us. That could be an option, if you want an indoor cat.

After moving, we’ve always had street savvy cats, who wouldn’t have been happy being in, but have always had the rule that they’re in at night after dinner with the cat flap locked. We’ve got two young children who adore the cats - yes, you have to manage the relationship initially (particularly at baby stage), but I think it’s an amazing gift to your children to have animals in their life. All 3 (!) of ours choose to stay on my 5 year old’s bed at bedtime, as they enjoy snuggles while she gets her story and song.

Good luck with it; one tip, use Facebook to find local cat charities or ask your vet for reccs. The local charities are so much more pragmatic; we got rejected from the CPL who refused to accept we could manage anything other than ‘a perfect cat’. Immensely patronising given our cat owning history and did no favours to the 50 cats they had to rehome

There was a recent thread on here into the hundreds of posts full of people who had been turned down by rescues. You are an experienced cat owner. You know you can offer a good home.

Like many on the thread I mentioned we gave up on rescues and bought two kittens. They have a lovely comfortable home with us (currently chasing a laser pointer around the living room with my five year old doing the pointing). It's such a shame the rescues didn't deem us worthy.

Some of it is finding the right rescue. Smaller ones tend to be less rigid. There are hundreds of small rescues on facebook.

Like many on the thread I mentioned we gave up on rescues and bought two kittens

Unfortunately my rescue is an ex breeding queen, dumped when she was no longer wanted at 2 years old. Finding a reputable cat breeder is very, very difficult. Mine was left completely alone with her kittens in a shed for the entire 2 years. She has physical problems from breeding to early, and was terrified of her own shadow. It’s been 2years now and she trusts us but disappears at every tiny noise she’s unfamiliar with.

Another vote for a smaller charity, provided they are reputable. When I was looking for mine, everywhere was offering cats that needed outdoor space and I was non-negotiable on must be indoor only.

If you give us an idea of area, then you may get some suggestions on smaller charities in your area from other posters e.g. if you're in Kent I can recommend Ani-Mates (North Kent) and Rolvenden Cat Rescue (more southerly).

Like many on the thread I mentioned we gave up on rescues and bought two kittens

I'll have to check out that thread. Yes I admit after the phone call I did have a look at some kittens for sale, but I'm quite passionate about rescuing rather than buying animals so that route would cause me a bit of guilt.
Thank you everybody, I do think I need to be a bit more resilient and not let one difficult phone call throw me off course

I have foster kittens and I've specified sensible children rather than put an age on it as you can have daft 10 year olds and very caring 7 year olds. I did test drive my kitts with a 5 year old and it did not go well. They have sharp claws and she got very upset as they wouldn't cuddle and wanted to play. All children are different.

I hope you find some lovely cats. Smaller rescues might be more open to discussion.

You sound like a lovely thoughtful person so would be a perfect cat owner. If you would like an indoor cat please consider an FIV+ cat. They are difficult to rehome because they have to be indoors, but many of them live long healthy lives.

I don't have a cat flap so I rehomed a cat that had cat flu and FIV. Except the snap test was wrong, he didn't have FIV, and the cat flu was a tooth embedded in his nose
So mine goes in and out the window, he never goes far and only out when I'm home. He would rather cuddle than explore and he doesn't hunt
Cats protection won't take the little one tooth weirdo back so I'm stuck with him I didn't really offer him back, I quite like him

Another vote for smaller rescues here, as they're often better at looking at individual circumstances. My only concern about trying to get an indoor cat in your situation is that with a child and the normal activity of family life you might find it hard to keep doors closed, so your indoor cat will have a lot of opportunities to get outdoors, which could be quite stressful. Instead, I'd suggest asking the rescue whether they've got any home-loving cats, and initially only let them out when you're in the garden at the back of the house, so they get used to the outdoors when you're around. If you do get a catflap you can close it at night and "encourage" cats to come in when its getting dark through extensive use of dreamies. One of mine really only hangs out in the garden and rushes back through the catflap a million times a day.. The other is now too old and grumpy to go out, but when she did, again, never went far.

We also adopted via a local charity (my DC are 7 and 9). We stated we wanted a friendly, young-adult cat who was happy with children.

She's not an indoor cat, but she's rarely outside for more than a few hours, and almost always just in our garden or next door. We've never known her to go far as if we shake the treats bag she comes running!

Well thanks for all your encouragement. These two lovely girls arrived home today. I'm smitten already!

Oops name change fail but I'm the op!

Ooh, enjoy the kitten chaos!

I think 7 is a good age for a child to get a cat. At 7 kids understand that animals need some quiet alone time. we always had cats when I was growing up. It taught me a lot about being caring, having responsibility and feeling empathy, I loved having a pet! So many special memories.

I have a 16 month old girl and a cat, the cat came first and I love her....would never get rid of her. I've taught my little DD to be calm and gentle around the cat, she also helps feed her now. They are building a lovely relationship, the cat even guards her when she is asleep (sits outside the door) and if she cries she runs down to get me. So cute!

My dad put my cat flap in my kitchen door, it was a bit fiddly but if you know a good handy man it doesn't take long.

Defo get a cat! So many cats need a good home, and they bring so much joy to our lives....until they bring you a gift good luck xx

Ooh they are gorgeous OP

Black cats are THE best (biased , our household is run by a brother/sister jet black pair)

I love the little white neck mark, it will make your life a 100x easier telling them apart .

Have you got names ?
And I could not believe how much fur two little cats can scatter across the carpet

Oh they’re beautiful!!

Black cats are THE best (biased , our household is run by a brother/sister jet black pair)

And yet a lot of people reject cats just because they're black

My beautiful girl rescue cat, love her cuddles. Best person to share a sofa with on cold winter nights xx

What gorgeous cats! They'll soon show you who's in charge

My two don't go out when I'm out at work because I can't have a cat flap and I don't want them stuck out an unable to get back in all day but they do have a free reign until bedtime when I'm home so you can do a mix of indoor/outdoor. I've raised them with this expectation since being kittens.

Both my cats came from someone who knew someone whose cat had irresponsibly had a litter.

Rescues are a bit ridiculous about who they'll rehome to.

Your two look beautiful 😍