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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Have you always 'had cats?'

39 replies

PollyCreo · 03/10/2022 21:26

We had family cats when I was a child/teenager - when I left home my parents didn't replace them after they died as they relished their carefree life 😅 I lived for years as a young adult cat-less in a city but then moved abroad and BAM that was it. The last 17 years of my life have been preoccupied (amongst other things) with being a cat slave.

I can't honestly imagine my life without cats in it, my house would not be a home without them.

OP posts:
someadvice20 · 03/10/2022 21:30

Yes!! They are my babies 🐾🐾🥺

Battlecat98 · 03/10/2022 21:36

Always have and always will. They are my best friends, very good judges of character.

Original poster
PollyCreo · 03/10/2022 21:38

My little lady Tabitha was sadly put to sleep a few months ago at the age of 13. She lasted longer than any relationship I've had, she was the most loyal beautiful thing ever - my heart aches but she gave me so much love and happiness.

OP posts:
NutellaEllaElla · 03/10/2022 21:38

Yes, since I was a kid we always had cats then when I moved out, as soon as I could live in a house I got a cat. It was when I was moving in with DH and I said to him that when I live in a house, I will have a cat. Non negotiable. He had never had cats and didn't want any pets but he has a bromance with one now and he talks to both constantly.

Original poster
PollyCreo · 03/10/2022 21:44

NutellaEllaElla · 03/10/2022 21:38

Yes, since I was a kid we always had cats then when I moved out, as soon as I could live in a house I got a cat. It was when I was moving in with DH and I said to him that when I live in a house, I will have a cat. Non negotiable. He had never had cats and didn't want any pets but he has a bromance with one now and he talks to both constantly.

I like that non-negotiable cat deal 🥰 The last guy I dated said he 'didn't care for cats'.... Next!

OP posts:
DontKeepTheFaith · 03/10/2022 21:44

I’ve only had Dcat 1 year, didn’t grow up with cats and had never seriously considered a cat when I was younger but I can’t imagine being without Dcat now😻

She is a little pickle but I adore her and I can’t imagine life without a cat or 2 in it now😻

IndiGlowie · 03/10/2022 21:47

I love cats but this one will be the last as it will outlive us . We are going to have a neighbors cat in for afternoon cuddles and cat treats instead . Then send it back home at tea time . Pets without vets lol

Bigslippers · 03/10/2022 21:48

Ive never owned cats - they’ve always owned me

Its so hard to explain the joy I get from them and how different their personalities are. Ive got Maine Coons and they follow me around the house like little puppies talking to me with their chirps and clicks.
Ive built them a catio which is bigger than my house 😂

Babdoc · 03/10/2022 21:50

I’ve had cats for about 45 years. I didn’t buy any of them - I inherited the first one, one was a stray who arrived on the doorstep one winter’s day, and the rest were rescue cats. A house is not a home without a cat curled up by the fire or stalking in the shrubbery! And I love to have a purring foot warmer at the end of my bed.

Original poster
PollyCreo · 03/10/2022 21:57

My bad @Bigslippers cats have always had us!

@Babdoc I've always had rescues too, I always say no more then another one finds me 😻

OP posts:
MrsIronfoundersson · 03/10/2022 22:13

DH and i each grew up with cats, bought our first house in '94 and when it was renovated, off to the local cat charity with us! We only have one now, who is number 8 and I have already started eyeing up the cat charity website for when he shuffles off. He's only 13 though so it may be a while yet.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 03/10/2022 22:14

First cat just moved in with me as a stray, then I got two additional kittens from a neighbour. Ever since then (38 odd years ago) I've 'topped up' with a couple of new kittens when I get down to one or two cats left. Four is a good number of cats.
My first cat was grey. I always try to make sure I have one grey cat
Currently on cats 7,8,9 and 10. Can't now imagine living without the little furry bastards 😹.

Sodie · 03/10/2022 22:18

Growing up we always had at least three cats at any time. My favourite we had from birth and he lived to 20. All were moggys, but I have four pedigree indoor cats now.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/10/2022 22:24

Yes. My parents had their first when they married. She lived to 18. When out teenage hood cat died a few years ago they wouldn't get another. And the house just wasn't the same. So
Empty. They then got one from the same rescue mine came from. And the house is a home again.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/10/2022 22:25

Didn't have cats for 10 years as they wouldn't have suited my lifestyle and I lived in a rented house. Then I discovered Persians by accident. And the rest is history.

Hesleepswiththefishes · 03/10/2022 22:32

My current cat who is 10 has put me off having cats despite always having had them through childhood/adulthood
we won’t be moving again I don’t think and she murders so many poor creatures everyday

we have tried so much in the garden from no bird feeders/cutting back hedging to flashing glittery collars

it is traumatic what she does

RoseDog · 03/10/2022 22:33

We always had one or two cats at home growing up, I lasted a year in my first home before got a kitten, the most we've had is 3 at one time and now we have one cat and one dog, the cat is 12 and I am itching for a kitten, I don't want to be catless!

sweetkitty · 03/10/2022 22:46

Grew up with a moggy then had my own cat from aged 16 who sadly died on the road. Then had 3 the last of which died aged 17, now in what I affectionately call my second batch 4 new overlords.

the funny thing is I also have 4 DC who are utterly cat mad as well, they threaten to take their faves when they move out (no chance) and despite the fact we also have a dog have said they want their own cats.

Original poster
PollyCreo · 03/10/2022 22:59

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 03/10/2022 22:14

First cat just moved in with me as a stray, then I got two additional kittens from a neighbour. Ever since then (38 odd years ago) I've 'topped up' with a couple of new kittens when I get down to one or two cats left. Four is a good number of cats.
My first cat was grey. I always try to make sure I have one grey cat
Currently on cats 7,8,9 and 10. Can't now imagine living without the little furry bastards 😹.

Four is a good number, this is the first time in years I've been down to three and it feels unbalanced.

I've had tabbies, b&w, grey and whites but never a full grey. Also never had a ginger but my friend has two and they are rather errm... greedy and demanding! My tabby boys are headstrong and particular but also very loving, my g&w girl is needy and pesky velcro

OP posts:
WisteriaLodge · 03/10/2022 23:06

I grew up around cats and kittens, so I love them, when I first met DH he was adamant that he never wanted cats and wasn't fond of them, fast forward 15 years and I often catch him talking to our cats in a baby voice!

Athenajm80 · 03/10/2022 23:09

I always said when I had my own home I'd get a cat. My boyfriend at the time had never had a cat and wasn't sure, but when I bought my house we went to a rescue centre and I was chosen by a tiny black kitten. My boyfriend held him awkwardly and said "he's got too many legs" He was used to the rabbits we had and I think he meant the kitten was all legs instead of a compact bundle like the rabbits.

It was his suggestion then to get a second one so he soon managed to deal with "all the legs" 😁

Even after we split up a year later, we stayed friends and I'm sure it was mainly because of the cats. The most I've had at once was 9, but am down to a more manageable 6 3/4 now (one sadly has only 3 legs). The ex is no longer around as his new partner won't let him be friends with me, but the cats are usually less hassle plus they keep me warm at night.

I can't ever imagine now having a little gang of cats living with me (or letting me live with them!) The house would be so quiet and empty.

MmedeGouge · 03/10/2022 23:12

We have always lived with cats. My DH had one from being a child to leaving home to go to university. His mother said the cat died of a broken heart when he left home, but the cat was very elderly by then!

RaraRachael · 03/10/2022 23:14

We always had cats and dogs when I was young but as an adult realised I was too lazy to have a dog.
All our cats have thankfully had long and happy lives and our current rescue boy is 15. I can't imagine not having a cat around the place ❤

Unicorn34 · 03/10/2022 23:15

I have had cats since childhood and couldn't be without them. Currently have a 17 Yr old lady tortie, 10 Yr old black male who moved in with us and kept hiding under the bed so I couldn't kick him out! The owners gave him to us in the end as he kept coming back. I lost 2 beautiful girls in Oct 2021 and Feb 2022 and having just 2 didn't feel right so now have two 8 month old Norwegian Forest/Ragdoll cats ( brother and sister) whose characters are amazing. Wouldn't be without cats now.

marblemad · 03/10/2022 23:22

Had many pets as a child (goldfish, rabbits etc) But we had a dog first for around 2 years, unfortunately I was not only severely allergic but after multiple attempts to train (the springer spaniel) she became progressively worse behaved and aggressive so we had to rehome her with a behavioral specialist (who ironically also rehomed her after she bit her child twice!) We got our first family cat when I was 15 around 9 years ago and he is still around and adored now, I went on to get two more cats one 4 years old and one 6 months old, all black male cats as they seem to be the most ignored on the adoption sites! They are loving, kind and fantastic members of the family, I honestly wouldn't bother with the hassle of getting a dog again and would purely adopt cats.