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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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DontCallMeShitley · 11/10/2019 21:45

First one was acquired from a farm by an aunt and brought home in a box.
Next one was left outside and neglected so came to us for his last few weeks.
Next one found online looking at CatChat and reserved because he was different (missing a bit). Met him and brought him home, he settled in immediately.
Next one, moved house and saw cat in the garden, thought, that's nice, a friend for Boycat. Cat had been left behind and decided to come back into the house to live so we acquired another one.
Last one, lived nearby, visited a lot, very friendly, kept returning him, he kept coming back. In the end they moved and gave him to us.
Almost took a rescue, we met him and he had been reserved, but the one above was around a lot and the rescue one didn't like other cats so had to let him go to someone else.
In a rescue situation you can tell if they like you but need to visit a few times to make sure although most times they just want someone to love and feed them.

WorriedSENMum · 11/10/2019 21:47

I lost my cat a few months ago & we weren't seriously looking. DH refused point-blank to get another one. Then my DD, who has recently moved to a different country, came home for a visit & wanted to get me a kitten to keep me company. DD kept sending DH adverts of cute kittens & for days he refused to cave in, until finally she sent a pic of 4 fluffy black kittens & a tortoiseshell standing in the corner on her own. DH said that he was only interested in the tortie & if she was available we'd take her. He then dreamed about the kitten & even dreamed her name. When we went to see her a few days later he instantly fell in love & is besotted with her.

Dangerfloof · 11/10/2019 21:52

Our cat chose us, our dogs chose us.
If they had to be working animals then it would be different but as pets then they get to choose who they live with.
The cat is one of those that loves belly scritches and adores tormenting the dogs, and massaging the dogs and is happy to be carried around. Proper laid back little dude.

Echobelly · 11/10/2019 21:55

About 5 months after out cat died, and DS was still a very small baby, a friend found our current cat wondering by a motorway and no sign of where she came from. Friend couldn't face having another cat as she'd been so devastated by losing her last one after many years, but she took her in so we could meet her. I was still quite deep in early babyhood, so hadn't been thinking about getting another cat yet, but when we met her she had such a nice personality - friendly, relaxed, intelligent - that we knew it was a shoo-in. She was a tuxedo cat like our last as well.

Toddlerteaplease · 11/10/2019 22:31

I wasn't looking for a cat as I live on a busy road and work 12 hour shifts, a Facebook Friend shared a post from a rescue I'd never heard of, and I fell in love with the cats in the photo. As they were indoor cats, all my reasons for not having one fell apart and they came home a week or so later. Without doubt the best thing I've ever done. Through that one share 8 cats found homes with my friends and family. And I've made friends through the rescue.

crimsonlake · 11/10/2019 23:16

I think they choose you. My current kitten stood out amongst the rest on the initial visit...whilst all the others were going crazy and paying no attention to me she was leaning up in an odd position against a cushion giving me the most quizzical of looks. I had to take her home.

violetbunny · 12/10/2019 00:49

We went to visit a bonded pair of kittens at a foster home, it was love at first sight and we just knew we and to take them. DP was immediately taken with Girlcat, while I fell for Boycat (who was the runt of the litter and had a broken tail, poor baby 😢).

I love them both to bits, although Boycat is definitely still more "my" cat (DP always jokingly refers to him as a mummy's boy). I even have a video of the first moment we let them out of their carrier the day we got them home, Boycat jumped straight into my lap and has basically been glued to me ever since. He usually sleeps either in a ball by my head at night, or cuddled up with me under the covers 😀

CrazyCatLady159 · 12/10/2019 00:56

A lady posted on Facebook that her car had unexpected kittens and she wanted them to go to a good home; I went over there and my cat was the only one to hide when I went into the room .... I was worried she would be left behind as she was the runt of the litter - she's now a man-hating cat who we quite like when she's not hiding or attacking our feet

Shadow01 · 12/10/2019 07:32

We looked at several pairs of cats at the local cat rescue charity.
We were 90% set on adopting 2 kittens and their older sister until we went into the next pen. I knelt down to say hello to the pair in there (a 3yr old brother and sister) and the girl cat climbed into my lap and snuggled in.
After that I had to take those 2 home - they chose who they wanted to live with and who was I to argue

DirtyWindow · 12/10/2019 08:24

We looked at a few cats at the shelter and had a list (must be fine as a single cat and fine to live with children etc). We were looking at adult cats so their personalities were fairly obvious, even after only meeting them for a few minutes. We saw some very beautiful but shy/reserved cats, and almost took a young, playful girl. DirtyCat Was lying in a cardboard box in his "hutch" and when I reached in he rolled over onto his back for a tummy rub and purred, the staff commented that he'd already seen a bit of the world and now all he wanted was a comfortable life. We (I) really wanted a lap cat so we chose him and he is perfect. Tummy rubs are still his favourite thing .

DirtyWindow · 12/10/2019 08:27

He also still loves cardboard boxes

GinGeum · 12/10/2019 08:36

Our cat definitely chose us. I went to a rescue not really knowing what I wanted but I think we'd sort of assumed a young, little female cat. Ended up with the oldest (10), biggest male cat there from the minute I walked into his pen he was so loving and I just couldn't stop thinking about him when I moved on to meet other cats. Although when I took DH back a few days later to collect him, he did give me a worried look as we walked back to the car with cat in carrier and said 'do you think he's going to survive the journey home?' (as I say, he's an older boy and looked pretty beaten up and in bad condition when we first had him!)

He's 14 now and a completely different cat, his scars have faded, his white fur is fluffy and bright instead of greasy and yellow now and he's just a delight.

fartingrainbows · 12/10/2019 08:39

We wanted two, either siblings or a bonded pair. The only real criteria was that they were both comfortable around ds (6) from the outset. Two pairs we were introduced to, one hid and one loved him. A litter of kittens all ran away from him. Then the pair of older kitten sisters arrived and spent the whole session playing with him and asking for snuggles. So that was that. They still love him.

Other cats have just arrived though, needed a home and moved in.

AllTheOtherCats · 12/10/2019 08:53

I got my two beautiful girls from the same cat sanctuary three years apart.

Both times I chose them based on the fact that they were the ones that were harder to re-home (quiet, shy, black, older).

Rescue centres are always full to the brim with older, black or black and white cats. It really breaks my heart to think people ignore these wonderful animals for the ones with 'pretty' fur.

My black girls are absolutely stunning and such little characters. I love them to pieces.

Muuuuuuuum · 12/10/2019 09:13

Ours came from a rescue. We went to pick from 9 kittens from 2 litters that were housed together.

I out my hand out to one and she climbed my arm and curled up on my shoulder so we took that as a sign. Rescue suggested we also take her sister who was sitting in a box looking at us very warily.

Cat 1 is still stupidly friendly and loves fuss from everyone. Cat 2 is still incredibly aloof, apart from with one of the DC who she likes to sleep with and just adores in every possible way.

Original poster

C1239 · 12/10/2019 09:19

Lovely to hear all of your stories! It’s the first time my partner has had a pet and he really took to the one we missed out on as well. I’m a bit worried we won’t find one we both like as much 😒!

OP posts:

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 12/10/2019 09:34

First cat was a steat that just decided to move in with me. Second and third were kittens from our neighbour. Fourth, fifth and sixth were via a work colleague (her mother's farm cat had had kittens) - we had only intended to take 2 (a grey and a ginger) but dw fell for the grey tabby so we came home with three . Our last four (2 pairs of kittens 7 years apart) are from Battersea.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 12/10/2019 09:35

'steat'??

Stray.

Soubriquet · 12/10/2019 09:43

I chose my cat as I was looking for a long haired cat

My dh is allergic to cats (my dd seems to be as well now) but long haired don’t trigger them

Because all the rescues around here seem to have only short haired or won’t home with children, I had to find a private breeder.

So I got Toots.

She’s 3 now and perfect for us

Vinorosso74 · 12/10/2019 09:45

DD and I were doing her volunteering bit at CP (testing out cats for child friendliness) and he was first on our list to see. He was keen for some fuss from us, especially DD and we fell for his charms!
We had our poor old girl PTS about 3 months beforehand so we were ready to home another. He was a younger cat (about 9 months) than I anticipated us getting but DD and DP quite liked the idea of having a young playful cat.
He's currently snoozing next to me after chasing squirrels in the rain.

AwkwardSquad · 12/10/2019 12:58

I’m a bit worried we won’t find one we both like as much

One of the things I love about my cat is the way her personality gradually emerged as she settled in and became more confident, and how it’s developing over the years. We both needed to get to know each other.

AllTheOtherCats · 12/10/2019 17:04

I completely agree with AwkwardSquad. When I brought my girls home, both were very scared and timid. As they grew to trust me they just blossomed into their own little personalities. Very different personalities but equally lovely.

thetardis · 12/10/2019 18:25

ours was an arsehole for the first year or so (bengal, spraying, got him as a young adult rehoming) but a few years on he's settled beautifully, officially best cat ever and i've had loads. the brightest, most talkative, softest, sparkliest and the sharpest claws.

knowing he could easily murder us all in our beds but chooses not to adds to the relationship :D

FlyingFlamingo · 13/10/2019 10:23

Bigcat actually reached out to dd2 through her cage bars she had only been left at the rescue the day before. She is the sweetest, gentlest cat - she has to have pills twice a day which she clearly hates but she has never tried to fight me when I try to give them - she was very good at running off the first few times but now she seems resigned to it

I was considering getting her company and on the off chance went on the local RSPCA website to see what they had available. I was off work on a day that I was usually in so wouldn’t normally have been looking at that time. There was an ex feral kitten there who needed to go to a home with another cat. I couldn’t resist going to see her and signed the forms later that day . As I signed the lady there said someone else had just emailed with an interest in her so me being off work that day was lucky! She didn’t just reach out to dd2 either, she threw herself at her face when we walked in

Mollpop · 13/10/2019 18:43

I adopted her from cats protection. She'd been a stray and then in cats protection for about a month. She ran to the front of the pen when I walked past, I asked if I could go in her pen to meet her and she wouldn't leave me alone. She definitely chose me.

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