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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

How did you chose your cat?!

53 replies

C1239 · 11/10/2019 20:48

We are looking to get our first cat. Probably looking for a kitten or a young cat. We have thought about it for quite a while finally decided to go ahead. After looking at a couple privately we went to a cats trust, whilst we were there we were taken in by one who was different to who we thought we’d choose , he was so friendly and loving so we decided to reserve him. Unfortunately it fell through last minute from their end, sounds silly but we were quite gutted as we were really excited and he seemed lovely so are now on the look out for another one!
Just wondered how you chose your cat... is it true they sometimes choose you?!!

OP posts:

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smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 11/10/2019 20:54

Yes, often your cat will choose you. Tbh I didn't consciously choose either of my cats. DCat1 was acquired by DH, someone he knew had a foster cat with kittens, there was the wee-est one left and he brought her to live with us. DCat2 we moved into a bigger house and wanted a second cat. Contacted a local rescue and we were cat matched! She's the perfect fit but had I been left to my own devices I probably would have looked for a black cat.

ConFusion360 · 11/10/2019 20:56

As above. My last cat chose me. It was a bit embarrassing as he actually "belonged" to somebody else. He just didn't like living there.

Original poster

C1239 · 11/10/2019 20:58

It’s lovely to hear you cats chose you! We felt the cat we lost out on had chosen us I think that’s why we felt so disappointed!

OP posts:

AwkwardSquad · 11/10/2019 20:59

We went to the RSPCA. Just looking... There were several lovely friendly cats and a few kittens, but I fell for a very reserved mother cat. Love her to bits.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 11/10/2019 21:02

Ours was a runt of a litter whose mother was run over via our vets-she doesn’t ever appreciate her rescue though!

Kraggle · 11/10/2019 21:02

We got our cats from a rescue. They were in a foster home with about 7 other kittens. One we had already picked out from the pictures as she was a beautiful tabby and white and our second one chose us, he clambered onto dh’s trainer and started chewing his laces!

AliceLittle · 11/10/2019 21:05

Our cat chose us. Came over the wall in the back garden about 5-6 weeks old in the freezing snow, maoing her head off. I brought her inside and asked around the neighbours. A lady a few doors up had been given it and she put the poor thing out whilst she was at work. I gave her back but the next day she was meiowing at our back door again. I went back round the the neighbour to try and give her back but she said she didn't really want it and wouldn't ever let her inside because of her religion and asked if we wanted it instead. I wasn't going to let her leave the poor thing out in the snow so small and away from its mum so young. And so Kat has lived with us ever since - 7 years ago.

Lagatha · 11/10/2019 21:06

We went to visit the mum and litter with a view to choosing two kittens.
We were chosen, the tabby and white boy climbed on my shoulder and started swatting my earring. The lady who had rescued the pregnant mum said if he's yours you have to take the ginger and white brother because they are always together.
Love them to bits. They are about 18 months now and still like to snuggle up together and have a good scrap.

june2007 · 11/10/2019 21:08

Went to local charity that rehoused them. Saw which ones were ready to rehome and chose on. Made sure it was used to dogs and children. Best to go to charity,s some do home checks some don't. We had to get her neutered as part of agreement but that was fine.

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 11/10/2019 21:08

@C1239 don't be disheartened as the well known phrase goes the cat that's for you wont go by you. That one must not have been the one after all, that means there's an even better one out there.

CathyorClaire · 11/10/2019 21:10

We didn't. We acquired her through ds's colleague who had looked after her as a favour and then had her dumped on him and was looking for a work colleague to take her on. Ds told a few porkies about how many people wanted her (truth was none ) and dh and I fell for it

Rather glad we did as she's a real fur princess and would otherwise have gone to a shelter and maybe worse (black cats hardest to home). Safe to say she doesn't always appreciate just how narrow an escape she had

Drogonssmile · 11/10/2019 21:12

She was 4 months old. We got her from the local rescue place and she was the last of a litter that had been born there after their pregnant mum had been left with them. She was all alone and the staff said she was left over because she was black and a bit bitey. I picked her up; she was gorgeous and gave me a little bite and I fell in love. Here she is 8 years later. Still black, still a bit bitey and still loved just as much my me, DH and our two sons. The end.

sue51 · 11/10/2019 21:15

Our cat chose us too. We noticed him hanging out in one of the outhouses and enquired around the village if anyone was missing a cat. No one claimed him and the vet couldn't find a microchip when we took him for a health check so we just kept him. Its been over 10 years now.

namechange34567583 · 11/10/2019 21:17

Our cat picked us we went visiting a animal shelter and she stuck her paw grabbing DH. We knew then. She is the softest but greediest cat ever. She was about 2 when we got her I always wonder what happened to her previous owners that they didn't want her or couldn't have her anymore.

Chocmallows · 11/10/2019 21:17

Devastated losing previous cat and went to a rescue centre, thinking two young cats probably male. Saw some kittens they were jumpy and no eye contact, didn't feel right.

Saw a female cat of unknown (approx. 3yr) age, she wanted to be around me and DCs. Stared at me then, still has an "I own you" stare now after 3 years. She is boss in our house. I think cats choose!

dementedma · 11/10/2019 21:19

We went to the cat rescue to get a kitten . We came back with the biggest cat I have ever seen. A huge neutered Tom now named General Jericho Jones. We saw him, all immediately said, " He's ours" and all thoughts of kittens were forgotten.

JorisBonson · 11/10/2019 21:21

My last girl from Cats Protection was written off as unadoptable. They said she didn't like people or other cats, was impossible to pet or pick up.

When I went to the foster home to meet her she instantly headbutted my hand and practically climbed onto my shoulder. And she's been the same ever since.

MinkyWinky · 11/10/2019 21:21

We got ours from rescue. My DH liked BatCat as he was very much a cat cat (I.e. ignored you and is very much his own cat) whereas I fell for Fluffcat as he was watching out of the cat shed window and was very friendly. I now know he was scared and he was hoping for food!

We love them both to bits, but BatCat turned out to be more ‘my’ cat - we shared cat kisses on his second night here and that was it

Bunnybigears · 11/10/2019 21:21

Cat 1 I chose because she is special needs (epilepsy) and no one else wanted her even though the rescue pay for her medication.

Cat 2 DH chose because she was the rubt if the litter and DH is a big softy even though he apparently doeant like the cats

Cat 3 we found him dumped in a bag behind our house. Either someone who knew we had cats (the like to people watch from the window) or the cat just got lucky.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 11/10/2019 21:24

Lots of useful advice and questions to ask here: www.bdch.org.uk/files/The_Kitten_Checklist.pdf

GeoffreyAndBungle · 11/10/2019 21:25

Went to RSPCA and asked staff which cats met our criteria e.g good with kids, outdoor, very friendly.

They showed us 4 cats and we went with the one that my youngest DC was most comfortable with.

Pinkyrosie · 11/10/2019 21:29

Looked at cats protection online. Was looking for a cat about one or two years old. One said how friendly he was and he looked very handsome. Called them up, went the following week and bought him home. That was 6 years ago. Best cat ever!

Summersunshine2 · 11/10/2019 21:40

My cats chose me too! Went to a rescue home. Two sisters were in a cage together. One of them wouldn't stop licking me and trying to get my attention. They have been with me through thick and thin. Even forgiving us for getting a dog too.
I didn't realise black cats were unpopular. One of mine is black. She is beautiful.

thetardis · 11/10/2019 21:43

pets4homes i fell in love with his spotty belly :D

Allergictoironing · 11/10/2019 21:43

Mine definitely chose me. Went to an independent rescue, looking for a pair of elderly indoor cuddly cats. Was claimed by The Paw on my hand from one of a bonded pair of 2 year old ex-feral siblings who had been there a year - nobody wanted them because they were so shy & scared of people.

So I got a pair, and they have to be indoor as they had a year of being feral so may go back to that if let out (rescue condition to me having them), plus Boycat is borderline special needs as he is so clumsy, thick as shit, has memory issues and is terrified of almost everything to the degree he wouldn't last 5 mins in our own garden.

What I didn't get was elderly, and certainly NOT lap cats. I get loads of cuddles from Boycat, and Girlcat tolerates fuss when she's in the mood, but they don't really like being picked up and after 3.5 years neither has ever sat on a lap.

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