Realistically, how hard is it to own a kitten/cat? Say compared to a puppy/dog?

[giantwaterbottle]

Just true above really, I want one but not sure..

Pair of kittens, entertain each other - much easier than one. Ours weren't keen on each other as they grew up.

Much much easier than having a dog.

There was no option of getting a pair, he was a lone bottle raised orphan after his mum and sibling died.

I didn’t want two kitten so I don’t agree they need to come in pairs mine was fine on her own so depends on the cat still much less work than a dog.

I've had dogs and now have a cat. The dogs are lovely but be prepared to have to do a lot more with them than with a cat. Love both though!

Cats are easier by far. They are social, so I'd have two. But they don't need walking, they are not at your side asking for attention half the day, they don't usually pine for you when you are out. They can be left overnight (one night), or if away longer someone can come feed them. You can't do that with dogs.
I currently have two dogs and two cats. The only pain is cats shed a lot more and are really messy eaters!

There was no option of getting a pair, he was a lone bottle raised orphan after his mum and sibling died.

But you didn't have to get that one specific kitten surely?

The general advice from all the cat charities is to rehome kittens in pairs.

That doesn't mean you have to get a pair or that some kittens won't cope as solos but it's recommended for good reason.

"For the most part, cats prefer to be the only feline in a home."

www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat/12-common-cat-myths-debunked

This is true. I got a second because I was told two was kinder. They 'tolerated' each other and were together from kittens though not litter mates.

Anyway, having had both cats are much easier. Once you've got over the first few months they are far, far more independant and easier to care for, leave for holidays etc. (presuming you have good neighbours!).

Kittens (always get a pair) are far easier than puppies. And once past the age of 2 a cat is a doddle compared to a dog.

Unless you are very unlucky they arrive house-trained. They entertain themselves. They don't require walking. They are self-cleaning. If short haired, they don't even need that much brushing.

Apart from a bit of effort to teach them not to chew cables, and putting up some scratching posts to stop them digging at your carpet, that's it really.

What a stupid statement.

Of course it's not stupid 🙄

I'm pretty sure nobody forced you to take on a bottle fed orphan kitten!

For the most part, cats prefer to be the only feline in a home."

This is generally accepted to be the case for unrelated cats - but littermates are very different as they've bonded from birth.

I think cats are the easiest pets - easier than even gerbils/fish etc (no cages or tanks to clean!). My cat goes to the toilet outdoors so there is no litter tray to clean. All I need to do is feed him twice a day and that's it. He's very affectionate and loves cuddles so we do give him lots of fuss and attention. This is fine, we enjoy it as much as him! The only downside us he occasionally brings mice in the night - never happens in the day . We could solve the problem by keeping him in at night but he used to be a stray and hates feeling trapped. So maybe once a week or once a fortnight I'll release a mouse back in the street at 2am! Apart from that he's no bother. He's really part of the family and is much loved.

We have a cat and a dog, cat is about 5% work of the dog!

I’ve had both. I would never have a dog again. They are far too needy. Cats are great.

I recommend a young cat! We got ours when she was 5 months so she was litter trained and all that but she was still tiny and playful and so cute! Then we got a ten month old a while later and they are now friends (well friendly 😂)

You know absolutely nothing about the situation. Of course, no one forced me but after holding him at a few days old, feeding him, helping him toilet, nursing him through an awful eye infection and falling completely in love with him it was obvious I was going to take him.
Yes, he's been hard work but don't try and tell me what I should or shouldn't have done.

@Chikapu I didn't 🤷🏻‍♀️

All I said was nobody made you take on a bottle fed orphan 😬

I much prefer small dogs to big dogs, but will always prefer cats to dogs. At the moment I can't have a cat because I live too near to a main road.

People with dogs don't have to put up with this sort of behaviour.

Kittens and cats are so easy ! None of my kittens have ever destroyed the house, although my old cat did rip up the edge of a carpet.

I kept the latest kitten in one room for a period of time and she still gets locked up at night in that room as I don't want her out during the night.

You can bond unrelated adult cats but it is effort and they would have been perfectly happy if you hadn't bothered.

I had 2 kittens that were unbelievably close, used to lie curled up to each other and suckling on each others legs. Age about 2 they grew up, suckling stopped and it was OVER. When one died after being hit by a car, the survivor grieved for a whole, ooh, evening and she was done.

My elderly cats were litter mates and honestly when one died, I think it made the other's day. So much for sisterly love.

They like each other when they are small and are playmates. After that, well maybe.

Cats are so easy to care for, kittens are harder but that’s only temporary. Puppies are really hard work and dogs are a big tie. Cats are easier but I think dogs are more rewarding.

I've always had cats and find them very easy. I've had my very beautiful girl from a kitten, she's now 17 and still very playful. I'm currently feeding and generally looking after my neighbours' cat for two weeks, and she's no trouble either. We had both cats and dogs growing up - I like the independent nature of the former, the dignity and cleanliness, the fact that affection is given and received strictly on their terms.

If you can live with the knowledge that you are contributing to the decimation of our wildlife, then it will probably be really way for you. However, if you have conscience then you will probably find that very hard to live with.