Cat ownership - honestly how difficult is it?

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Hi, I'm thinking of getting an adult rescue cat. Really it's for my 11yo son, who's got anxiety and possible autism and is desperate for one. I don't mind cats but to be honest, have had a tough few years and don't really want the extra responsibility. However if it makes a difference for DS I'm willing to consider it.

Everyone I talk to seems to say it's barely any work looking after a cat - just make sure it's fed basically. Surely there's more to it than that? I don't want to go into this underestimating the commitment. Grateful for any thoughts!

My cat is really low maintenance and that’s given that he’s got a couple of medical conditions too. He’s happy so long as he’s fed, got water, somewhere to snooze and a few hours outside every day. He can be left at home all day quite happily. Mostly does his business outside so litter tray only there for nighttime and when in all day alone. He’s the most friendly wee pet and loves to make friends with everyone.

An adult cat meeds feeding 2x a day. Needs a litter box, toys, a decent scratching post. Cuddles. :-) I clean the litterbox once a day.
Yearly boosters at the vet, if they get sick, added time and money to sort that out.
Way easier than dogs or fish and way mpre rewarding than rodents (for me).
Make sure none of you are allergic. I used to have a cat who regularly abandoned is to go over to the autistic boys house a few streets down. (This was a reason O only have indoors cats now). If your car goes outside it's best to be on top of flea and worm treatments.

Mine is a Persian so does need to be brushed. But other than that, he just potters around, sleeps or follows me around. It's not as much work as a dog and they are very relaxing to be around.

I've got 3 so it's a different dynamic, but they're fairly low maintenance. They're only 1 year old, so we do play a lot with them, they chase each other around too. They're different personalities but all affectionate in their own ways.

But.....there's a cost. They need annual vaccinations. They'll need vet attention at some point. They need looked after if you go away, and catteries aren't cheap, but look into petsitters.

Some cats DO need company. Avoid Orientals if you don't want a diva, but on the plus, they're incredibly good company.

It's a big commitment, no matter what anyone else tells you.

Thanks. We've got a vet round the corner and I'm ok with the financial costs.

Not being able to go on holiday would be a biggie. Are all cats suitable to use catteries, or would some be really unhappy? Would it be enough for a neighbour to go in and feed a cat twice a day for, say, a week away?

We've never used a cattery and have always had neighbours come and feed and fuss for a bit. They've always been fine with that, although do occasionally go on a walkabout for a couple of days. That's cats for you though.

I wouldn't get a cat unless your heart is really in it. Vet bills can really add up. Vaccinations, dental,treatment. Regular flea and worm treatments. And that's just the usual stuff. I'm not in the UK, but at age 3 one of my cats has already had a serious leg injury, physio and then recently been diagnosed with asthma followed by cat acne. Luckily insurance has paid for most of it, but it can all add up quickly.

I also think people tend to think of cats as not requiring much attention or company because they're independent. Mine are definitely not like this. They are both very social and demanding!

I've 2 11 week old kittens and they are very low maintenance, especially compared to dogs.

Our cattery is £15 a day. I think insurance is £7 per month and petplan which covers worming, flea treatment an yearly vax is also about £7 a month. Our cat is very independent, he's been out since 1am when he woke me up to let him out as we don't have a catflap. He won't eat cheap Catford. I would like to get him a friend eventually.

Honestly it depends on the cat. Our first rescue was easy..2nd took ages to settle ..there was a lot of spraying in different areas around the house..some cats will need more cuddles and attention than others.

The biggest issue I have is having to open my car door and tell him to piss off as he subathes on my drive while I am trying to pull in

He won't move. I have to get out to pick him up and launch him on the garden. Even if cars are wating to pass..

Otherwise it's a dream

You also need to think about the property you live in. If your cat would go outdoors, is it a safe location with a network of gardens or is it on a busy road? If going out, ideally you need a cat flap. Do you own your home? If not, is the landlord OK with cats?

Most cats are pretty easy but obviously you need to be prepared for all eventualities, I guess it's a bit like any relationship in that way - if your cat became diabetic and needed twice a day insulin for example, how would you deal with that. It's a lifelong commitment and cats live nearly 20 years.

Would it be enough for a neighbour to go in and feed a cat twice a day for, say, a week away?

Yes, and bonus points if they'll stroke it and talk to it a bit.

My neighbours come in and feed mine once or twice a day and empty the poops from the litter tray while I’m away. I do the same for them.

Haven’t had litter trays for previous cats who all went in the neighbours’ gardens outside but these two prefer to poop in the house, which is annoying! Did try to cajole them outside at the start but one of them kept weeing and pooing on sofas, beds etc so had to give in with the litter. It’s the worst part.

One of them has weed in my handbag and another one had diarrhoea in another bag when he got shut into the office one night. I guess I should be glad he didn’t just use the carpet but I loved that bag!!

They do occasionally throw up so there are some lovely brown stains on the pale carpet upstairs which even the Vax can’t get out. That’s a pain. And the cushion covers from the sofas often need a wash too, from either throw up or just grubby paws.

They’re otherwise very low maintenance, sleep most of the day, like the occasional brush and have a play with toys for 5 mins but being a bit older, they don’t have the stamina to play for long! They’ll do just about anything for Dreamies and one of them loves to roll around in catnip.

We were where you are a year ago, right down to a DC with anxiety.
We adopted a 10 year old cat last summer. She's an indoor cat, very occasionally pops outdoors but stays within 2 metres of the house.

She wakes me up between 6am and 7am. That's a bit early but OK.
She very occasionally eats too fast and then is sick, maybe once every 2-3 months.
She detects worming tablets so I take her to the vets every 3 months for them to get it down her as I'm too scared.
Because we are around we remove things from the litter tray quickly, it's a bit of a pain but OK.
She has got more attached to me than DD because I am around more and calmer with her, which DD finds upsetting at times.

She is lovely and fluffy and floofy, sits on my lap in the mornings after I've fed her, likes chasing a feather on a stick or sunlight reflected off a phone. Warm and purry. She loves company and if I go into another room for any length of time she'll come and find me.

We haven't been away yet, but my DB&SIL are going to come and house sit this summer to practice cat owning. This is the bit that worries me most. In future years we'll pay someone to come and cat sit for a reasonable amount of time, not just pop in to feed.

She is lovely, and considering I didn't really want a cat she has been little trouble, though I wish she'd wake me up later.

Both our cats we have neighbour come in and feed...although very different in temperament neither would have liked a cattery.

Oh and I have to hoover way more often than I used to due to black hair everywhere

And yes, cats are great for stress relief, but make sure you pick wisely - that’s the good thing about an older one, you’ll already know it’s personality rather than gambling on a kitten.

We wouldn't have had an outdoor cat as a losing her with a child with anxiety would be unbearable.

Oh yes, cat hair in and on everything! I ran a baking business during lockdown and it was the hardest part - I’d lock the cats out of the kitchen, clean top to toe, hoover, mop, put on clean clothes and a clean apron, wipe the table, turn round and ….bloody cat hair!

Getting a cat was probably one of the best decisions we've ever made as a family. Even my husband who was pretty anti to begin with adores her.
She needs feeding twice a day and her litter tray gets cleaned every day. She has twice yearly vet checks and annual vaccinations. She's insured, which was a god send a couple of years ago when she swallowed something she shouldn't have... We have a neighbour come in and feed her for short breaks, and use a cattery for when we have longer holidays.
She likes and needs attention and to be played with but honestly she's so lovely that's no chore.

First of all you can't own a cat, they tolerate humans for food and shelter 😁😁

Seriously it's easy ours get wet food at breakfast thereafter nuts and suitable leftovers. Vets bills well there's jabs for a start.

Hardly see ours indoors in the summer and she's out all night. We don't do litter trays so occasionally in the winter she will use the bathroom rug if I forget to chase her out

DIL has a ragdoll cat now they're absolutely fabulous more like a dog affection wise

There are several options for holidays. Cattery (lots of different choices as to type) , house/pet sitter, visiting pet service, neighbour, take the cat with you, or if only a night or two the automatic cat feeders.
I think probably the easiest animal to cater for in terms of holiday.
Downsides are the ‘presents’ left in your slipper, the mad dash to find something they can vomit in once you hear the countdown cough, and the fact that whatever you’ve bought them to eat will be rejected as soon as you bulk buy it.
not sure if this linky work but explains cat ownership perfectly.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pXezLv_5RaY

Our cat terrified of the hoover so hoover less when need to hoover more!

My cat really low maintenance. Has a cat flap, does business outside. I feed him twice a day. I can go away for 2 nights with an automatic feeder (I leave lots of biscuits and water out too), otherwise I get someone to pop in, refill the auto feeder and then he’s good for another couple of nights.
cats can ruin carpets/furniture tho (scratching) and he’s a muddy fucker in the rain