Thinking about adopting a cat - any stories/advice?

[KittyLuna]

This afternoon I’ve enquired with Cats Protection about adopting a beautiful little black cat. I haven’t heard anything back yet.

I have two kids - 5 and 3. I am saying absolutely nothing to them about this. I am just enquiring...according to the website she’s suitable for life with young kids.

I had cats a child (from kittens though) and I have wanted one forever. We are both at home right now and for the foreseeable so this seems like a good time. She’s one year old.

I guess I was just wondering if anyone had any stories (good and bad), tips, advice, what I can expect in terms of the process etc.

do it.
You won't regret it.

Just do it. I would also suggest that you consider getting two cats - (the rescues often have cats that need to go as a pair). I firmly believe that two cats are easier than one.

Go for it! However, you need to be honest with CP. I volunteer for them and have adopted through them twice. The form you complete asks who lives in the home and in normal times they expect the whole household to meet the cat. This is to make sure the match is right for cat and all the humans.
The defaults on the CP website mean they know this cat is definitely suitable to live with young kids as if they don't know the alternative is no. They may ask if your kids are used to cats via visiting friends or family (the staff do the adoption process not us volunteers so I forget exactly what they go through).
I think the adoption centres are doing a bit more follow up with adopters as the process is so hands off right now.

There are cats around in the garden but other than that I don’t know anyone who has a cat 😕 I wouldn’t be dishonest - if it’s not right, it’s not right.

There is info on their website aimed at kids on how to care for cats. Your 5 year old will likely be more the age for it but am sure your 3 year old would enjoy it too.
I just realised you meant you haven't mentioned to your kids about the cat not that you weren't going to mention about your kids to CP. Apologies!

Absolutely adopt that cat! We've adopted from Cats Protection a couple of times, and they make it very easy while being careful to ensure the pairing is going to work.

I imagine they're restricted on visiting times etc at the moment so it might take you a while to actually get to the point of bringing the wee beast home, but it will be worth the wait

Sorry yeah I’ve just read that back and it’s not clear at all! To clarify- I haven’t mentioned the cat to the children. Of course I will be honest with CP.

What do I need to do re insurance? What do I need to know, as a total beginner?

The charity will want to check out where you live to see if it's suitable. They usually prefer houses with access to a garden away from main roads. A one year old cat sounds a lovely age for young children. A lot of people want kittens, so you may get lucky but the amount of cats needing homing and the amount of people interested varies so sometimes you have to be patient. Just fill out the forms and express an interest and they will get in touch if the cat is still available and they think your family might be a suitable match. Best of luck.

I think you get a month's free insurance with the adoption with CP, which gives you time to shop around for a policy.

You don't need to know a huge amount really; cats are clever enough to get you to work out their needs and foibles very quickly.

The cat will probably come with a months free insurance, it's up to you whether you continue the policy or choose a different provider. They will advise on food, worming and flea treatments etc. All you need is dishes, food and a bed plus toys, Good luck!

Oh and of course litter and a litter tray!

And a carrier 😂

I think you get a month's free insurance when you adopt with Cat's Protection and you often get a free month when you register with a vet, as well, which you'll need to do for annual flu jabs plus flea and worming treatments, so you don't need to worry about that quite yet. Things to think about at this stage would be where you would put a litter tray and where the food bowls would go and have you got a room where they can be based initially while they adjust.

We did this when DC were similar age to yours. Took in a rescue cat. Best thing we ever did. For years he was my autistic son's 'best friend' when he struggled socially. He is a big warm bundle of purr and fur. He is loving, snuggly, chatty, greedy, staggeringly handsome and has been my official lap warmer all afternoon. He's now nearly fifteen years old.

Or, you know, as above

Yes you get 4 weeks Petplan insurance with the cat. We've stuck with Petplan-they're not cheap but they've paid up and a lot of vets will claim directly from them. We had issues with other insurers: not paying out, reducing the level of cover and drastically increasing the premium.
From memory I think they get the microchip details changed over to you. Double check all is correct with that.
Keep us all posted!

I adopted two over 16 years ago. I have my black one sat next to me now. Unfortunately we had to pts her sister earlier this year. We miss her.
My DS is just a bit younger than the cats and has loved them too.
Be prepared for cat to be scared at first and the children will need to give space until the cats confidence is built up. Then the cat will take over and you will all have to fulfill its every wish

Be prepared though for your carpets to be mangled , even if you give them scrachposts .
Out hall/stair carpet is over 15 years in place so I;m not too fussed that the cats attack it ,

We got 2 because they came as a pair (Bro/Sis) but they very rarely sit together . They'll eat together but rest in seperate rooms .
Female Cat "helps" DH when he WFH , saunders in front of the screen and caresses his face with her tail.

Black cats are amazing (ours are both jet black) and do struggle to find homes .

When I enquired about ours I was preparing myself tht someone else might snap them up, and I had a Plan B cat pair I was interested in.
The cats we wanted were suited to our house ( adult DC, no dogs , didn't mind being Under The Claw , microchip catdoor to garden, no busy roads .....) and the rest is history

We love our little black rescue cat. She has wobbly back legs but so much better than when we first met her. Kept on the petplan insurance because IME it is worth it. Our previous cat developed an aggressive UTI out of nowhere which unfortunately did not respond to treatment and eventually he had to be put down. The cost took us just over our £3000 limit though and the vet dealt directly with Petplan so we could try all the recommended treatments without stressing about the cost and at the end we knew we"d done everything we could.

On insurance, I suggest checking whether one of your local vets does any sort of deal for regular injections/discounts on treatment/annual free appointment etc. We had this at our local vet, a chain of three in Hampshire (Basingstoke, Fleet and somewhere else) and it meant insurance wasn’t necessary and that medical attention was such good value.

I am a bit skeptic although about insurance generally for pets, that said. I have found the policies are often very restrictive. I instead put aside money for my cats myself in case of emergency. That said, there’s basically no amount I wouldn’t spend on them...

Be prepared: the first few weeks of having a cat is, imo, really hard. You will regret it at least a few times in those weeks - whether because your cat cries ALL THE TIME or is invisible, only appearing to stare fearfully at you. It is worth it!! But just manage your and your kids expectations - the early stage can be hard.

I agree with others - a second cat as a companion might be a good idea, if you can. See what CP say about it though - maybe your cat won’t have the temperament for it. But if can make them calmer and less destructive.

CP website has lots of brilliant info.

Collar train and play with ears, feet, claws and eyes early on to get the cat used to it. Will make it easier for you and vets in the long run.

Don’t buy really expensive beds - chances are the cat will ignore...

On toys, ‘Da Bird’ is absolutely brilliant - I know no cat who doesn’t like it.

On scratchers, Pet Fusion scratchers are the best I have seen - amazing, double up as loungers, my cats have loved them. Not cheap but well worth it I think. We’re on our fifth or something...

You will be forever under their paws - a willing slave

Toys are useless when they have a whole rural neighbourhood to hunt in (here)
Hate cat beds - much prefer laps or a blanket on back of sofa/chair
No use of scratching posts etc
The only thing they like is cat nip and a cat tunnel (mainly to avoid each other!)

We adopted our cat directly from a family where she was stressed out by their young (much younger than yours) children, so they kindly gave us a load of her stuff, including a bed. I thought the bed would end up in the hall cupboard immediately, but after a bit of hiding, she went to it on the very first night! She sleeps all over the place during the day, but is in the bed every single night, and often in the evenings if she’s in. The bed is great, because we just pick up bed + cat and move her into the kitchen at our bedtime!

Ours has loads of toys, but her favourites are ribbons from eg chocolates, and a fabric tape measure. We have two litter trays - one in the hall and one in the kitchen - but she only uses them if she is absolutely desperate. We don’t have a cat flap, because we have a utility room between kitchen/back door. She tends just to be in our garden or our neighbour on either side, and we keep her in overnight. On the odd summer night she refuses to come in we move bed/food/water to the utility room, prop the back door open, and lock the middle one. We ended up putting the scratching posts away because she never ever used them and prefers a big tree in the garden.

Our cat is pure white, so the most important thing was lots and lots of lint rollers. Plus a new hoover shortly after we got her.

On insurance, I suggest checking whether one of your local vets does any sort of deal for regular injections/discounts on treatment/annual free appointment etc. We had this at our local vet, a chain of three in Hampshire (Basingstoke, Fleet and somewhere else) and it meant insurance wasn’t necessary and that medical attention was such good value.

That's not the same thing as insurance. Insurance will cover accidents and illnesses, and doesn't cover regular stuff like the injections, annual MoT, flea & worm treatment. If your cat is hit by a car, or develops a condition like feline diabetes or epilepsy, your vet plan won't cover these costs but insurance will.