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..

A puppy is like having a baby for at least the first six weeks- probably longer. Waking up in the night, house training, training in general, costs, vet bills, grooming, nail clipping, dog hair, chewing precious items etc.

Dog needs walking, needs to be let out, is a massive tie. Can’t really leave a dog longer than 4 hours (mine is really old, so I could leave him longer if I wanted to as he just sleeps). We take him everywhere we go. If we go abroad then my mum or a friend has him.

I’ve had cats (not kittens) unwanted pets that we’ve rehomed. They’ve had somewhere dry and warm to go in the day and at night when we aren’t there and neighbours to feed them if we went away. I’m going back over thirty years. The only bills were neutering and food.

I have a 1year old cat. As a kitten he was an pain in the arse. He isn't a furniture scratcher, he's a person scratcher. He also had a mysterious health condition that means he vomits every morning BUT compared to our family dog so much less work as he is independent and doesn't need walked but does need a litter tray cleaned. If I am honest, I am not a pet person (although I am find of him) and wouldn't get another one (and I'd never get a dog as I know I would resent walking it and picking up poo at night, in winter). I should add I got the cat for the family.

We got our cat from a rescue, aged 18 months. So easy. The only problem is she point blank ignored the scratching post we got (and eventually donated to a shelter!), preferring to claw the carpet, but as it's in the playroom, it's not such a big deal. We usually send her to a cattery when we're on hols, but last time just got a neighbour child to pop in twice a day. €20 pocket money, happy child and happy cat!!! She hates travelling in the car, yowls and howls going to vet or cattery.

Cats are so much more calming to be around, I think. Dogs are in constant, noisy motion. Cats move a lot too, but (mostly!) silently and there is a huge amount of snoozing here and there during the day.

My kitten was a bit of a terror until he had the chop at 4 months. Not a full time terror, more of an evening psycho who loved swinging on the curtains and running up the Christmas tree.
Getting him is the best thing I’ve done in my life (sorry kids)!

You don't own cats, they just choose to live with you.

Once they're past the kitten stage, cats are a doddle.

Kitten much easier than puppy

However our kitten has wrecked dining room chairs, doesn't let anyone get more than 3 hours sleep before attacking one of us in our beds, holes in all the curtains and blinds broken, can't be behind a closed door or bangs it until it's open, chews edges of carpets etc

Love her but wish we had adopted an adult cat. Still, she'll grow up eventually

We got a solo kitten, even though we were offered her brother too. We didn't want double pet insurance, double food etc costs, double vet visits. She is now 14.5 years old, loves people, especially strangers and has never brought in any dead beasts. She was an indoor cat for the first two years because DH and DD were scared of her getting lost or stolen. I got fed up with keeping her in and she took to the cat flap easily. I don't regret getting just one kitten. In my opinion, the best thing you can do for kids especially (and adults) is get a pet bout cat has been so important to DD over the years

Top tip - get cardboard scratching pads bouts stopped clawing the furniture overnight when we got these