Never lived with a cat - but can’t stop thinking I’d like to…

[museumum]

My mum is allergic to cats (dander?) so we never had pets growing up. I’m now late 40s with a 9yr old dd. Dh had cats as a child but not an adult.
I keep thinking how nice it would be to have an adult cat about the place. I wfh in a residential area and we have a garden (though it does have foxes).

how realistic is it to adopt a cat with zero experience?

Try fostering first?

Totally possible.
They're pretty easy to look after.
Do you live somewhere suitable for a cat to go out? Garden? Not on a busy road?
Otherwise quite a few breeds are suitable for house pets, or a deaf/FIV cat.
Budget for food, insurance, vaccination etc.
They're very rewarding pets, don't need walking, can be left for a few hours without getting upset. A kitten or two might be a bit of a step up if you haven't had cats before but a young cat or an older cat would be a good place to start.
Contact a local rescue and they can probably match you with a suitable moggy.

Do it you won't regret it. They give so much love. If you get a rescue they can tell you it's character so get one which suits.

Get 2, they keep each other entertained. My local rescue only allows you to adopt two. They are so sweet.

100% do it. They make a house a home. Get a slightly older rescue if you can. Their temperament will be known and you'll be making an unwanted pet very happy I'm sure.

You don't necessarily need 2 cats for company either. One of ours would quite happily rule the house solo.

Almost thirty years ago I walked into a pet shop to look at kittens with my sister and my then fiance walked out with my first cat I currently have three

Just do it they are actually very easy. They live with you and will basically tell you what to do. IE you can't forget to feed them.
One is actually fine they often prefer to live alone and dominant the house and humans. Adult rescue is a good place to start. If you live away from a busy road and can offer a loving home it will be fine. They will guide you on what to get and probably cover the basics IE yearly trip to vets for vaccination, monthly flea treatment and 3 monthly worming pill ( now pills and cats will be an interesting learning curve ). Then cat moves in and that's it you do as cat tells you from then on. BTW cats lie, especially about being fed! Honestly cats really add the most amazing quality of life to a family. They welcome you home, sooth all life's hurts and act as councillor to the whole family. Go and get one!

Honestly the easiest pet I've had. I started out cat sitting for a friend for a year, then adopted them. No experience whatsoever.

Whoever you get it from will tell you the food and litter it's used to, and there's a ton of advice online. Cats will generally let you know their opinions! Honestly, they're so worth it. You don't have a ton of training like dogs do, and they're happy to entertain themselves when you're out.

They make a house a home.

This is so true for me. We were a no pet household and got a cat when our kids were 11and 8. Cats are just the best of both worlds in terms of giving love, lovely company whilst being pretty low maintenance compared to dogs. I also think it's really good for children to have something to look after (read that somewhere, good for boys to learn to nurture I think it said specifically) and feeding her, litter box etc has proved a good way of instilling some responsibility and they just love her.

I love cats and they really do make a home! I'd also get 2 (we have 3 lol!). You'll know if you're allergic to it when you start looking for 'your cat(s)'
Good luck!

We got our first cat in November, no regrets here 😍 she's a gorgeous 4 year old girl from rescue. Lovely temperament, sorted our mouse problem! Good with the kids, 10/10 would recommend :)

I house and cat sit. Vast majority of cats are easy as pie.
There is the odd episode of dead mice etc being brought in but you get used to it.
I love all their different personalities. Honestly cats are not hard work, a world away from dogs.

This is all very reassuring. Just got to raise it with dh now. Probably also best to wait till after the summer so we don’t have to leave it for holidays until it’s very settled.

You already have the right mindset, the title of this thread states "never lived with a cat", not never owned a cat.

You don't own a cat, they own you. In their view, you were put on this earth to serve them & cater to their needs and whims. Within a few days (or sooner) of inviting a cat into your family you will agree with this, and consider it an honour to be selected for this task. You may also wonder how you managed to live your life for so long without a cat in it.

My cats have made my life so much better in so many ways (bar the hair everywhere, and Boycat would make the most awful smells sometimes).

I second looking for an adult cat (or 2) for the reasons stated by pp above. One is absolutely fine for adults as long as either they can go out or there's someone at home a lot of the day, but if you want an indoor only cat & they would be left alone all day regularly, maybe look for a bonded pair?

I grew up with cats but recently got our first cat as an adult, now I could never be without one. So easy to look after too. Our cat didn't take long at all before he learned to trust and is a really loving boy. 100% would recommend going to a rescue centre where they will know about the cats personalities and what would suit you

You don’t need to know much, the cats know and train you using miaows, yowls, whinges, hard stares, looks of disappointment, dramatic flopping onto the floor, looks of contempt, strategic use of flat cap ear positioning, deep sighs & tiger sniffs while you dance round like a performing monkey trying to get it right.

100% would recommend going to a rescue centre where they will know about the cats personalities and what would suit you.

This. Look for a local rescue where the cats are fostered in volunteers’ homes & the fosterers will be able to tell you what the cats are like to live with.

I got my first cat in 2015! He basically strolled out the carrier, looked around and went "this will do then" and fell asleep in my lap
I was reading frantically online about cats hiding for days after adoption and panicking I would someone kill him
A wise friend pointed out I had kept horses alive for 30 years and cats generally let you know what they want. I can't imagine being without him

Basically I feed, water and flea treat him (no wormer on vet advice) and provide a cardboard scratch box and my lap to sleep in and he's happy. He is a very odd clingy cat though that follows me round like a small dog and would never scratch furniture or hunt anything

Mine has even trained my dad, who is NOT a cat person but they adore each other
"Got some wafer thin chicken, it's for the cat though, not you"
Cat has him wrapped around his paw

Thanks dad

I have two 9 month old kittens. Brother and sister. Much easier that one as they entertain each other. Obviously more expensive than having one though. But they are so funny we love them.

Absolutely do it. They are easy!

I have two Persians. Both very sweet and affectionate. Cheddar is very similar to @Rebel2's Ollie. Adores cuddles and is very vocal. Loved having her tummy tickled and has never ever scratched in anger. She makes biscuits all the time!

Ollie is currently insisting he needs to eat my grapes. When I told him no, he started on my glass of apple juice

I got nagged for yoghurt this morning. She doesn't usually like it.

I will admit I got a kitten and couldn't cope over a decade ago. It was hard work and I didn't like having a litter tray! I would advise anyone to rehome a teenage/adult cat instead of getting a kitten.

When exh moved in he brought his cat with him. I kept the cat when he moved out and absolutely love him.

My cat greets me at the door or runs from where he's been outside when he hears my car.
He sleeps on his blanket at the bottom of my bed every night and wakes me up very cutely in the morning but not until my alarm goes off.
He's hilarious.

What I really love about my cat is that unlike a dog they aren't needy! He does like a morning cuddle and an evening play - he gets zoomies like a dog - but he doesn't get in my space like a dog would. He follows me room to room if he's in but doesn't want anything from me apart from to be in the same room.

The only time he's annoying is when he scratches the bathroom door to be let in when I go to the loo/have a bath.

Also it's so easy to go away, my neighbours are great and will feed him for me.