Help a cat novice.

[Lasttimeneveragain]

I am 41 YO and never had a pet as a child. I've only ever had fish as an adult. I am allergic to dogs and particular about having a clean and tidy house.

My kids want a cat. Really want a cat. Our neighbours have one that has taken a real shine to my DC and vice versa. I have to admit seeing how the kids interact with it so well has made me consider getting one.

But I have no idea where to start! What do I need? What about pet insurance and how expensive is that? Which types are best with kids? How messy will my house become? (I can probably cope with everything else as long as my house stays immaculate).

Should also say, neighbours are moving soon, with said beloved cat, which is why I'm considering getting one of our own.

You could actually be me, two years ago OP! We were extremely similar - I never had a pet growing up but my kids were absolutely cat mad! Next door's cat used to jump over the wall and come into our yard, and the kids got to love him. They were heartbroken when he was run over by a speeding car and we agreed that they could get a cat of their own. We got a 10 week old kitten from a local rescue, and one thing I always say now is that if I could go back two years and tell my cat novice self one thing, it would have been to get two kittens. They would have kept each other company and played together better than one bored kitten, which can actually get quite destructive. Within his first couple of months ours had utterly destroyed the two couches, a few carpets, a set of curtains and the living room wallpaper. As he grew, he calmed down and became more placid, but even as he was turning two years old, we still regretted not adopting his brother too because he always seemed lonely.
We adopted another kitten a couple of months back, and the two of them have bonded well, play together and entertain one another, however the kitten still has boundless energy and tires the older cat out.

My advice to you wanting an immaculate home: either get two kittens, or look for a slightly older cat that will be more calm.
Other practical advice: you will need a litter tray and they can smell! Also we are constantly hoovering up litter that's been kicked everywhere.
Equipment: litter tray, feeding bowls, scratching post, toys, maybe a blanket or pet bed (not vital), food, litter
Ongoing costs: pet insurance doesn't have to be expensive, we pay £6 a month for each of them, plus a further £10 a month to cover all flea, worm and vaccination treatments. Food is about £5 a week per cat.

Depends on your budget- but for me, my cat is much cheaper than my dog.

I pay £22 a month for the food she likes in bulk on Amazon. She has two packets a day and this lasts 3 weeks. So about £30 a month for food? Her insurance is about a tenner and that’s full coverage. She is a house cat though, so that’s probably why.

When she needs to go into a cattery, this is a tenner a day but a bit extra for holidays- so a Christmas visit is about £120.

@degsydoodoos oh god, I'm going to regret this aren't I? Our house is a new build and we bought brand new everything for moving in two years ago.🤦‍♀️

I had wondered if two might be better, so the kids have one each.

I will be home most of the day as I WFH. Would that make a kitten any less destructive, do you think?

@Suprima I'd never consider a dog because I'm allergic to most breeds I've encountered.

If you get kittens get a pair.

We got our cat from the RSPCA 6 years ago. She was 2 years old when we got her which I think is a perfect age-grown out of all the crazy kitten behaviour yet young enough to still play and have (hopefully!) many years of life left in her. Never regretted the decision. Only downside is she does scratch the sofas even though she has her own scratching posts and goes outside etc. However, the benefit of having her around, far outweighs that negative.

You could get an older rescue cat that was used to being on its own? Cat shelters are full of them. No regrets getting mine 12 years ago - he's an elderly gent now

Definitely get a pair if getting kittens.

Don't despair- I've had a dozen cats from various backgrounds over the years and only one has sought to ruin my household furnishings!

Plenty of scratching posts and you should be fine. Do a search on comparison websites for pet insurance.

Depending on the cat, because like people they have different needs/appetites, I would expect to feed each cat 1-3 packets of wet food per day, plus some dry food. Do a calculation averaging out 2 packets of wet food per day.

Then you need to factor in the costs of annual boosters jabs, flea and worming treatments. If young cats, the first year you'll also have the first vaccinations plus neutering/spaying costs. Also the microchip for each.

Toys are cheap and tbh all my cats have preferred cardboard boxes, rolled up foil, bits of string so you don't need to go to town on those.

1 cat bed per cat - the doughnuts or igloos/pyramids are good. Alternatively use a cardboard box or laundry basket (the sort you carry) with a blanket in.

Until they are house trained or you let them outside they will need a litter tray each with litter. Again doesn't need to be expensive.

Collars don't need to be expensive, especially as many cats hate them and take them off, so just get a cheap reflective one each. Make sure they have a piece of elastic to the cat can free themselves if they get caught on something.

P.s. they will make you their slave and you will love them for it

**

We got a pair. They haven't really damaged much. They did climb the dining room curtains. And one cat has damaged a voile curtain chasing a fly.

They do change your life (not as much as a dog though). We always consider what time we'll be home. We haven't been away much but the cats are always a consideration. They have been to the cattery a few times as my husband is more comfortable with that than someone coming in.

You can get the kids one each but the cats themselves will decide their favourite!!

I would echo getting a pair. In the past 18 months we've got 3 cats. First two were boys from the same litter and they were infinitely easier than the girl we got a year later. They have the same parents so nothing to do with breeding etc just that the boys kept each other company whilst the girl gets super lonely if left and become destructive if I'm WFH and 'ignoring' her.

Other tips would be to buy the most expensive food you can afford as the cheap food affects health and can lead to health issues (just like a human living off maccys), pet insurance is 20 pm each cat for a generous policy, for us vet trips are frequent as out boys are outdoor cats who like to get into mischief.

If you are getting them for your kids look for a breeder who has kids who interacts with them. Our most placid cat was treated like a doll by the breeders little boy and he is so placid it makes giving him medicine and checking for mites so much easier. Our more aloof cat that refused to be cuddled as a kitten OTOH will take your finger off

Thank you all, so the consensus definitely seems to be more cats is better than one. Eeek!

Definitely lots to go away and think about.

For a first time cat slave owner, I would go for an older calm rescue cat from a decent rescue centre. It is a much easier introduction to living with a cat and you'll have a better idea of its personality and foibles, and it would be past the mad arsehole kitten stage...

Two cats is wonderful!

We have three cats and despite having scratch posts and each other to play with, they would still rather scratch the doors, my carpets, the sofa and the rugs...

I don't think it's possible to have a cat or dog without ANY destruction whatsoever, unless you keep them mainly outdoors and only allow them access to one room (eg. kitchen). Ours are very low maintenance but they do still scratch and kick litter on the floor...

However if you're allergic to dogs you will most likely be allergic to cats as well.

You can buy a spray for surfaces you don’t want scratched: we stopped our girl from scratching our couch with it. Our boy still scratches the stair carpet, which has been replaced three times over 20 years and two cats. Some things you can control, some things you can’t.
Kitty litter gets tracked through the house, you’ll be vacuuming/sweeping it up from the far end of the house.
Keeping your house immaculate might be a challenge?
I have a strict rule about no cats on the kitchen bench. I still turn around to things like this.

Oh! Also cat hair on beds, chair and carpets if you don’t vacuum regularly.

Get older rescue cats! We got a pair of 3-year-old sisters last year, they are pre-trained to do all their toiletting in the garden so no smell, and they are calm and don’t cause much damage (some sofa scratching). They do bring in live mice regularly though - so ask for ones which don’t hunt …

I dont think you'll like how much fur sheds, we brush ours every single day and I still find clumps everywhere. It's relentless.

Plus neither this cat or deceased bengal where known for scratching sofas but there's something about my sofa that makes them both think it's a huge scratch post.

Very similar background to you!
We just adopted and have had our kittens for a month.

Tips/pro's

• DEFINITELY get two! It's so much better, they have company, can rough and tumble with each other and come to us for strokes 😊
• we adopted via Cats Protection - minimum £85 donation per kitten and includes neutering, first 2 vaccinations and microchipping - fab value
• cat tree essential for us and well used

Cons

• in keeping them in one room it will smell a bit if cat poo, even if you clear the tray immediately but bearable in my view
• need to keep them inside until neutered, vet told me approx 5 months these days (not 4 as I'd heard on here so may just be my area 🤷🏼‍♀️)
• check they are well socialised in a home environment, ours weren't and it's taken a few weeks but we're getting there with them slowly and it's so worth it

We have just adopted a 5 year old rescue 2 weeks ago today and I can honestly say he has been so easy it is unbelievable!

I got a top entry litter box (Iris) I saw on a post on here which has been great as the rescue centre told me he was a bit messy but it has been fab. Pine pellets have been really easy to clean and his poop is really not too bad!

I have a very sensitive stomach and usually vomit at the mention of bad smells so I have been very pleasantly surprised!!

We don't let him on worktops and tables and he doesn't sleep with us, apart from that he has full access to the whole house but hasn't been outside yet as they said it should be 3 +weeks so he knows his home. Despite the lovely weather we have not been able to have windows and patio doors open and I am so shocked that the house doesn't really smell at all!!

He has scratched a little bit but not done any damage and we have just told him no and redirected him. I bought some spray today as a scent deterrent too in case he does start again - hopefully it will help.

I had planned to get a 2 ish year old but the rescue matched us as they could tell his personality and he is perfect. He loves to play and loves cuddles. He is a complete chilled lap cat who also loves chasing and playing and we all adore him 🥰🥰