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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

Cat owners: what do I need to know?

55 replies

countdowntonap · 03/04/2023 20:32

Hi all in the ‘litter tray’

We’ve recently lost our dog and with work patterns believe a cat would be the best fit for our next pet.

We’ve seen a two year old rescue we’d love to adopt. What do we need to know?
We’ve done our research online about what we need to know as new cat owners… but would love to hear from actual cat owners.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Keepthetowel · 03/04/2023 20:33

There’s no such thing as a cat owner

Stripycatz · 03/04/2023 20:36

They will scratch and shred your furniture and carpets, bring in dead animals, give you fleas and vomit regularly on your bed.
But you will forgive them for it and love them even more.

TheShellBeach · 03/04/2023 20:38

Well, bear in mind that the cat will actually own you.......

VioletViolets · 03/04/2023 20:39

That cats aren’t all as aloof as people say. I swear ours is part dog.

They are wonderful pets even if they do some not wonderful things some of the time.

MargotDeWitt · 03/04/2023 20:39

Keepthetowel · 03/04/2023 20:33

There’s no such thing as a cat owner

This.

You do not own the cat.

You enter into servitude to your feline lord and master.

This is the most important thing you need to know.

TakeMe2Insanity · 03/04/2023 20:40

Cat owner 😂! Cat’s PA if you are lucky!

Maple2023 · 03/04/2023 20:40

Stripycatz · 03/04/2023 20:36

They will scratch and shred your furniture and carpets, bring in dead animals, give you fleas and vomit regularly on your bed.
But you will forgive them for it and love them even more.

Mine does none of those! He has occasionally been sick on the carpet but he wouldn't dream of scratching anything or hunting
Basically a teddy bear

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/04/2023 20:41

You and your hoover will be working overtime especially if you get a white cat.

SilverBirchWithout · 03/04/2023 20:45

Every cat is unique, expect to slowly develop a relationship with your cat. Respect their boundaries.

StarDolphins · 03/04/2023 20:46

Two cons…they may or may not scratch furniture/carpets & they may or may not bring dead or half alive ‘presents’

Cats are amazing in so many ways, I love them!

Rescue cats are the best, time & patience while they settle in & you’ll have an amazing little kitty friend! Feliway is good for settling in & they soon get to grips with your routine!

Good luck!

Anothernamechange3 · 03/04/2023 20:49

Definitely time and patience and let them come to you when they’re ready. Especially with a rescue/rehomed cat - don’t be dismayed if they just hide from you the first couple of weeks. We’ve had ours since October and she’s only just started tentatively sitting on my lap, very different to dogs who are in my experience on the whole massive people pleasers. So worth it though, and lots less effort than keeping a dog.

ASQQueen · 03/04/2023 20:50

They are often highly affectionate to owners and it's very much a private relationship. So be prepared to be surprised if you are under any allusion that cats are aloof.
Oh and you don't own a cat, they own you, your home and any comfortable sleeping place. Talk to them , do as they tell you and all will be fine. Good luck with your new owner.

Anothernamechange3 · 03/04/2023 20:50

Also this

Cat owners: what do I need to know?
Original poster
countdowntonap · 03/04/2023 20:50

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/04/2023 20:41

You and your hoover will be working overtime especially if you get a white cat.

We had a white dog and so miss the hairs 😂

OP posts:
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/04/2023 20:56

Were they magnetic though, @countdowntonap 😄
He's very cute though, so we don't mind too much We have a pair of brothers. They're lovely.

RomeoOscar · 03/04/2023 20:58

If they are outdoors cats you will worry about them when they are out.

Then when they are indoors you might worry about the amount of time they sleep.

You will love them SO much.

Maple2023 · 03/04/2023 20:59

Here's mine
He loves a flat cardboard scratcher and steals my hair bobbles and pens
Demands food 24/7 and constantly wants cuddles. I can't eat any form of custard/dairy/rice pudding without being mugged

Cat owners: what do I need to know?
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/04/2023 21:00

He's gorgeous, Maple😍

TheShellBeach · 03/04/2023 21:02

Here's one of my rescue cats.
All cats are slightly different but they can be a bit nervous at first, and usually spend ten days behind your sofa to start with.

Cat owners: what do I need to know?
YouWithoutEnd · 03/04/2023 21:03

VioletViolets · 03/04/2023 20:39

That cats aren’t all as aloof as people say. I swear ours is part dog.

They are wonderful pets even if they do some not wonderful things some of the time.

I also have a very needy “part dog” variety. He barks at me all day long, follows me around the house waiting for orders and wants to try every morsel of human food that passes anyone’s lips. He once stole an entire large battered sausage from off my chippy tea and dumped it in the middle of my mauve faux fur rug ready to chow down.

Mumdiva99 · 03/04/2023 21:03

You will become obsessed by cat poo, cat food, cat habits.

The cat will decide EVERYTHING. When it will love you, when it goes out, when it eats.

Your bed will become a cat bed. Your levels of cat tolerance will change dramatically and the cat will get away with everything.

You will be a slave forever!!

mydogsteppedonabee · 03/04/2023 21:04

Please understand that you will never own the cat. He will own you. And several of your neighbours

YouWithoutEnd · 03/04/2023 21:08

With a rescue you need to give them loads and loads of time to come out of their shell and settle in. Don’t expect a lap cat after three days, or even three months. I think people tend to think that they need to be in the room attending to the cats every need constantly in the early days, but they really do prefer to be shut in an unused room with plenty of places to hide, food, water, litter and be left to it as much as possible while they self regulate and familiarise themselves with that safe room and the noises of the house and everyone’s comings and goings. If you’re at all anxious and would find yourself wanting to go and check in on them constantly then you’d be wise to invest in a motion activated camera (I use a blink Mini) and you’ll see that once they start to settle down they’re living the life of riley when left to their own devices.

My first rescue hid under my kitchen units for three solid days, I was horrified and so worried about him, set up a camera on my kitchen floor, went out to do my night shift and must have had 200 notifications over the course of that shift of him grooming his bumhole sat on my new hob, prancing around on the worktops, investigating the camera, etc. It was so reassuring!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/04/2023 21:08

The sofa will be their sofa.

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