Advice for first time cat owners

[Twizbe]

DH and I are in the early stages of planning for our first cat. In our house already we have us and 2 kids (4 and 2 when cat is likely to arrive) we live in quite an open plan home down a very quiet lane with a big playing field next door.

We've both had pets before but never cats so this is very new to us.

At this stage in our planning we have some questions which I hope MN can help with.

1. how do we find reputable breeders and what should we look for in a breeder
2. what breeds are 'best' for a family. Our son is quite sensitive and would do best with a quiet friendly cat.
3. what books / websites do you recommend for learning about kitten/cat care
4. general advice for first time cat owners.

We aren't in any rush to get the cat so plenty of time to research / ensure we make the right choice for us and the cat.

Thanks in advance.

Why don't you look at rescues rather than kittens. There are loads of rescue centres with abandoned cats, look at those rather than introducing yet more cats into the world

I'd never had cats before we adopted our 2 from the rescue. I didn't so much research but have learnt on the job so to speak. Had them nearly 4 years now and we wouldn't be without them now.

They aren't brothers but have grown up as brothers. We got them when they were 3

To quote Battersea 'Rescue is our favourite breed'.

I'd suggest getting a young adult cat (or better still two) from one of the main rescues where they will have already assessed their cats' characters.

You'll need litter tray, feeding bowls - ask what the cat(s) currently eat and use for litter and start with those.

Most people here will recommend insurance (I don't bother but realise I'm in a minority on this site).

Also (and very important to start with) you'll need a quiet space that the cat can go, free from being pestered by small people.

Good luck

I'd get a moggy My tabbies have been the most docile but it depends on the early socialisation. Mine came from a home with dogs cats and little kids. Do t get a rescue if you do t know it's background as it may be fearful of little kids or noise. Get a rescue from a busy home or a kitten from a busy home

If your dead set on pedigree then ragdolls are supposed to be docile. And friendly or Norwegian forest cats.

Get the best food you can afford. Poos
are much less stinky.

Get cat chopped and vaccination every year

Get insurance

Give cat a safe place away from kids Cats like there own space. Mine love company but they also bigger of fir hours to chill in peace.

Don't over feed once past kitten hood

Kittens are mental. This lasts at least 18months.

Provide scratching reposts or pads. Mine also love a coconut door mat.

I only feed a dry diet with a few titbits ham etc
The get always comments on how good there teeth are. Wet food makes teeth rot.

Clippers for their claws. Get some anti scratch spray if you want to discourage them from scratching soft furnishings.
Decide before you bring them home if they're going to be allowed free access to all the rooms in your house they will find a way no matter what you decide though
Cat flap?
I have rag doll cats they are very quiet, gentle and sociable but they don't go out as they're bred to be indoor cats. Downside is they need regular grooming because the coat is thick and can get matted. So grooming tools if you get a breed with thick long coats.

With kittens you won't know what they are like until they grow up, with a young adult cat the temperament is usually set by the time they are 1 or 2.

Breeds like Persian or Ragdoll seem to be the most laid back, and there are specialist rescues - Toddlerteaplease has rescue Persians and can tell you more about that. They are often breeding queens who have had a number of litters and are then got rid of by the breeder, but still quite young.

Thank you :) we will have a utility room that I'm thinking of using for the litter tray. The kids won't be allowed in there until they are older. We also have a study and grown up living room so I hope they will be peace zones for it.

I forgot in my OP that we are open to adoption are exploring that route too. I've already looked on battersea's website. I was struggling to find information on breeders though so hence that question.

We go back and forth on kitten vs rescue

@claireb7rg your cats are so cute.

Further question. Does it make a difference if it's male or female?

Does it make a difference if it's male or female?

My experience would suggested that doctored Tom cats are generally the friendliest and most relaxed cats.

There will however be many exceptions to this generalisation.

I've always preferred males (neutured) as they seem to be more laid back. Over the years I have had a couple of fabulous big toms, both from farms, so mixture of goodness knows what, but big, fit, loving, healthy boys.

Female cats we have had have tended to be a bit neurotic, flighty and fighty, and not so loving.

All our cats have been outside cats, so very easy to look after. The main thing we have always done, and seems to work really well, is to keep them in a quiet, warm room, away from everyone for a month or so. Everyone goes in individually for cuddles and love, and entertainment, but it gives them time to settle in, and feel at home. All our cats migrate back to their first "home" when they need some time out.

Our current four cats are all from Battersea (2 pairs of kittens, c. 10 years ago and 2 years ago.

Battersea do a brilliant job of socialising kittens - all of ours were friendly and relaxed from day one.
Pictures of our older cats below.

We have two female moggies (litter pair) who came to us at a year old from a rescue. They had passed the kitten stage, they weren't any trouble at all apart from a bit of furniture scratching and hiding, both of which they still do and their temperaments were apparent from the outset. We learned pretty well everything we needed to know from threads here.

You NEED two

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats your cats are stunning!! Do you need to groom them lots?

@Sickofmysalary

Thank you . And no - although they are DLH (domestic long hairs) I very rarely brush them at all - they manage their own fur beautifully.

With young children, I would consider looking for a calm adult cat from a rescue, one that is ideally used to children. Kittens are cute but they tend to be scratchy and bitey. They are also fragile and easily injured by small children.

A "cat tree" in the house will allow your cat to retreat to somewhere high up and peaceful, out of the way of little hands, when it has had enough attention.

Most cats will be happier if they outside access. A cat flap allows them to come and go at will. You can get microchip-controlled ones that will only allow your own cat through, and ones that can be locked at night etc, as required.

Even if your cat is allowed out, a litter tray indoors will be useful to encourage it to poo in the tray rather than in neighbours' gardens. If you get clumping cat litter, it only takes a couple of minutes to remove the soiled litter each day, so is really quick and easy.

If your cat is kept indoors, you'll need to play with it each day and provide lots of toys/things to climb, to keep it interested. Bored cats can be destructive. If you have hard floors, a lot of cats love to chase ping-pong balls - but check that they're not small enough to be mouthed by your two-year-old.

Teach your children to be gentle with the cat. If the cat is swishing its tail or its ears go back, it's had enough attention and wants to be left alone. Most cats dislike having their tummies tickled and may nip or scratch if you do so.

A good rescue will help find the right match for your family. They will also be up-to-date with flea/worming treatments and possibly neutered. Also you need to decide if you would want an indoor or outdoor cat. Pedigree cats are usually indoor cats, most breeders will stipulate this. With an indoor cat you have have a lot things to consider, you need to put a lot of thought and enrichment in to their environment and factor in play sessions. And be very careful if you go down the Pets4homes/Gumtree route. I work within a very busy Vets, due to the current pandemic demand is high, prices are even higher and there isn't a day goes by when we don't see a poorly kitten. Underage, earmites, flu it goes on. And ive lost count of how many 5 week old poorly supposedly ragdoll crosses ive seen that people have paid in excess of £450 for. I hope i haven't put you off, just a word of warning and to save you heartache.
If you are set on a certain breed, another option may be a retired breeding cat. Often retired early, or failed to breed. I would research that breed, find local GCCF clubs, check out feedback on their Facebook page from owners, plenty of phone calls and don't rush. Handling a kitten for several minutes a day for the first seven weeks of life results in a more sociable cat, and through my job i find the rescues that have kittens in foster carers homes are able to do that. The benefits of not getting a kitten but an older cat (1+) is that the rescue will have a good idea of the cats personaliity to match you. Good luck OP!

@Twizbe

Thank you :) we will have a utility room that I'm thinking of using for the litter tray. The kids won't be allowed in there until they are older. We also have a study and grown up living room so I hope they will be peace zones for it.

I forgot in my OP that we are open to adoption are exploring that route too. I've already looked on battersea's website. I was struggling to find information on breeders though so hence that question.

We go back and forth on kitten vs rescue

@claireb7rg your cats are so cute.

Further question. Does it make a difference if it's male or female?

I have 2 boys, ginger is placid, docile and loving. Loves his food, us and sleeping, doesn't go out much except for the toilet. A real garfield cat

Tabby and white is the exact opposite - feisty, eats because he has to, loves the great outdoors and never stops moving. He does love his cuddles and being close to me though. Has been known to chase foxes twice his size.

I do have insurance for them both through petplan (got a month free from the rescue) and it's definitely been well worth it. Although wasn't able to use it this week when ginger boy was at the vets as he hasn't been himself. Off his food, barely moving (less so than normal). Vet thinks he's eaten something that hasn't agreed with him. Their excess is £85 and the vet bill was £65 🙄

I also have a pet care plan through the vets, it gets me their flea and worm treatment, vaccinations, no insurance claim fee (normally £15 a claim), discounts on food, toys and treats and a 6 monthly check up.

I buy food and litter from Amazon on subscribe and save (they alternate whiskas and sheba wet food on a monthly basis) I get their biscuits from zooplus as it works out cheapest - Hills metabolic biscuits (for fat cat ginger but give them both the same)

I have 2 scratching posts, 2 litter trays and 2 microchip feeders (otherwise ginger would eat all the food and tabby would get none). We do have a cat flap but at the moment we aren't using it as it's through the garage and we have non cat friendly stuff stored in there short term. We have a water fountain as well. Food, water and litter trays are all completely separate as they don't like eating or drinking near their litter tray.

And what Theconstant said above!

Grumpy stunning cats!

Register with local cat charities.

Rescue all the way Op

So many out there Kittens too

Get two if kittens.

Kittens are more exciting than older cats and two will stop them wrecking everything in your house.

You don't go to a breeder for cats. You go to a rescue centre - 99.9% of cats are moggies and there is no responsible breeding of moggies.

There are also kittens in rescue, they just don't make it on to the websites as they are snapped up quickly. Rescue kittens are a bargain - they come ready neutered, had their first injections, no fleas, in good health and something like £40 each. Compared to the stupid prices kitten farmers charge on Pets4Homes/Gumtree for something you can't trust.

We got our kittens as rescue - turned up, said we wanted 2, they only had 2 not spoken for, so those 2 it was

Rescue centres often like kittens to go in pairs, just so you know. Two kittens aren't twice the work, as they entertain and educate each other. I'd recommend getting a pair of you possibly can.

I have had cats for 30 years but unfortunately only rescue cats so can't advise on breeds.

All of my cats have had such different personalities. Some very very calm, some very affectionate, some shy, some feisty! All of them were bonkers at times though and mischievous

Cats can be so fussy with food, sometimes you have to just try different brands until you get the right one for your cat. They all seem to love dreamies and lick-e-lix treats though!

It's important to have toys at hand like a feather wand, ball, scratch post and Lazer pointer. Cat nip goes down well too :)

I have an outdoor cat (but he prefers to stay in mostly!) Even when I've had proper outdoor cats I always had a litter tray for them.
At night time I do like to keep cats in, but that's just for my piece of mind.
I don't let cats have free roam of the house at night because they can be crazy and start zooming around the house at 4am.

I have flea and worm treatments posted to me every 6 months, you'll need to keep on top of that with the cat.

Really cats just kind of do what they want to, you just fit in with them

My cats hate dreamies. Unimpressed from the very beginning with them.

If you get kittens their personalities are an unknown quantity, although you will fall in love whatever you get. I've had loud, outgoing, shy, explorer, serial killer, couldn't hurt a fly, precious princess... and of course it does change over time to some extent. Retired Old Lady is a very different cat to when she was a tiny kitten.

All mine have been girls - by chance, but I don't think boy/girl makes a difference. Neighbour's boy is a great explorer but thoroughly bullied by my tiny wee girl and her older one too. I've also had a girl who loved getting into fights and one that would never do something so undignified. Just make sure any boy cat has his balls taken off.

But rescues have cats of all ages and personalities.

I wouldn’t get a kitten with a 2yo, it’s too risky for the kitten. I’d go for an adult.