We’d like to get a cat - what do we need to know?

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DP and I are thinking of getting a cat or kitten. Neither of us have owned cats before, and we both grew up with dogs as pets.

DS are 6.5yo and 9yo and are desperate for a pet, particularly a cat.

We haven’t made a decision yet but what advice would you give to complete novices thinking of becoming a cat family?

We adopted an adult cat from a rescue as we live near a road and needed to know we were getting a cat who would be happy as a house cat.

We ended up with an FIV positive boy from RSPCA, who had been a stray for all his life!
He is, HUGE ginger, nearly 5 years old, super affectionate (comes into bed for a cuddle every morning at 7am) and plays like a mad thing. We ADORE him and the feeling is mutual. I would never have got a kitten as they are super high maintenance and you don’t know what their character will be. I was confident our boy would be a great fit from the start for our lifestyle. Rescues can advise on cats who have been around children etc.

Obligatory pics of massive ginger cat looking right at home the week we brought him home…

Meh, If you want kittens do so. The only rules are the ones the cat arbitrarily makes up.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Just understand they are lazy freeloaders that train you not the other way round

never has a truer word been spoken.

My bro got a couple of kittens, partly as the kids wanted them, and I don’t think they’ve really met expectations. Most cats are aloof mercenaries who are either out or asleep or whining for food. If you can get rescues at least you have some semblance of their personalities.

If you get an adult cat normally their personality is known - some are fine with kids, others are terrified. Some are hunters, some are cuddly cats. Need to consider vaccinations, neutering, what you will do with them if you go on holiday, possibly litter tray and getting registered with a vets. We love ours, they can live 20 years or so, so a big commitment though minimal work and our kids love ours, cat didn't feel same way when they were younger.

Kittens are fun but are a lot of work and some look cute as kittens but not as cats and lots of people give them up then not having thought it through enough. Long haired ones require brushing etc and can die earlier from fur balls. They can trash carpets a bit by scratching them.

I would consider the cat's safety if you live by a main road as a lot of cats get run over. Some rescues have indoor only cats if that is the case.

Make sure you're comfortable with dead (or alive) things. Recently we've had two pigeons, some with wings and some without, half a bird, a full bird, numerous mice, whole and otherwise and the regurgitated innards of something one of them had eaten!

Wouldn't swap them for the world though!

I would also recommend a cat over a kitten
We have adopted kittens and cats
The kittens were very cute but literally trashed our house- pooed literally everywhere, were very hard to train to not jump on sides, table etc
We adopted a three year old cat who is lovely - she is very calm, toilet trained, never jumps on surfaces , she's very greedy and miaows for food a lot but would never try and jump up for our food like the kittens did
Cats will claw things - one of our sofas has taken a battering
Obvious things like you'll need to plan ahead of going away - cats are independent but still like someone checking in on them
Our cat has made our house a home she is the best !!

@YesItsMeIDontCare

Personally I would get an adult cat. A rescue will match you with one to suit your family.

Be very wary of getting two adorably cute litter mates. As cute as they may be playing together delightfully as kittens for 12 months, there's a good chance you're then going to have to deal with 15yrs plus of warfare. I have never known a pair of kittens who remained close in adulthood. Many have, but it's not a given and something people need to seriously consider.

A bonded adult pair would be a good move though 😁

Yep my last two litter mates fought all the time

Cats are total dicks!! That said, I love mine so,so much.
I totally second the advice to get an adult rescue though

We ended up with an FIV positive boy from RSPCA

Tempted to rehome an FIV cat because we live in a flat and can only adopt indoor cats. Is the pet insurance fee higher because of being FIV?

Previously we had elderly ginger called Malfoy (who was a joy for the short time he lived) and during lockdown have been cat-sitting a 4 year old black rescue belonging to DD2 who has now gone to live with her.

My cat is so much easier than my DC, she brings us all so much wellbeing just by being furry, cuddly and easy going provided she sleeps on any of her beds undisturbed through the day and has plenty of food