New cat after loss

[sunnyliveshere]

Hello,

I posted a while ago about my cat who went missing after being hit by a car and we eventually found his body a few weeks ago.
I really would like to get a new pet, especially for my dc who were very saddened by our lovely cat’s death.

However, although we live in a village, our house is not far from a main road and there is quite a lot of traffic. Our neighbours have also lost cats in road accidents, only one last week.

I am therefore feeling very apprehensive about another cat. I don’t think I could forgive myself if it were run over.

I am hesitating about getting another cat and keeping it in at night - how realistic is this? Our cat would bite our toes all night if he was kept in!

I don’t want an indoor cat as we have a big open plan ground floor and have our doors open all summer so I don’t think it would work.

My other option is getting a dog.

Any advice / thoughts gratefully received.

I have a cat who isn’t allowed out at night - I call her in for food when it starts getting dark. She’s pretty chilled then in the evening and likes to curl up on the sofa. It is possible!

My baby boy also got hit by a car a few weeks ago. Luckily found straight away so we didn't have days of worry of where he was.
I'm missing having my cat in our lives and so are the children.
I used to keep our cat in at night most of the time. If he hadn't come home by the time I went to bed he would have a night out but that was just a couple of times per month.
He must have been hit between 6.15 (saw him on the drive) and 8.30 so actually getting him in at night would have made no difference to the accident.
I'm on the look out for another kitty, I realise how much I miss him winding round my legs and sitting on my lap.
He was secured in kitchen/family room at night so he didn't disturb us and thats what I'd do again.

Ok so does sound like an indoor at night cat is possible.

@ShakespearesSisters very sorry to hear about your cat. do you live near a busy road? À part of it is bad luck I suppose. I lived near a busy road as a child but our cats lived until old age.

No, not a particularly busy road at all so was very shocked. Its awful loosing a fur baby but that's always a risk I suppose. He was only 18 months but I think it was a good 18 months.

Yes ours was only 18 months old too. Younger cats do seem to be much more at risk, not yet street wise and love exploring.
Still pondering. Might go to the shelter later…

I think any road is a danger, we moved here because it’s quiet and has speed bumps but I lost mine on the road.

We have an older house cat now.

If you can afford it, maybe think about cat proofing the garden?

We keep our boy in once it goes dark. He’s happy enough with the arrangement. He’ll try and escape if we open the door but we just shove him back inside.

We lost his little brother to the road last year so know your heartache. So sorry to hear 💔

Get a streetwise, older, former stray. Females are usually cleverer than males.
It is quite ok to have them in at night, harder to persevere in the summer but you have to be strict, and time their dinner quite late so they are always home in the evening. You have to be careful not to open the door in the evening.
It is manageable, and better for your cat and wildlife.

I understand the massive vacuum they leave behind, the house is empty without cats, irreplaceable as they are.