Cat owners: what do I need to know?

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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.

I picked up a new rescue today as it happens. She’s around 4, from a feral colony, but has to become a house cat now due to having had a skin cancer removed from her neck. She’s half the weight of my resident cat so will be feeding her up.

My resident cat is going to be a very good big brother, since my other cat died in January he’s become obsessed with me, as he was before the other one arrived too. He really thrives from having a friend and gets so much more independent.

Here they are having a very brief introduction this morning, new girl is up in the spare room calming herself down, and resident has the run of the rest of the house as usual. It went as well introductions can do, gentle curiosity and lots of sniffing from both of them.

That's lovely. Best of luck YouWithoutEnd.

@YouWithoutEnd I read everything to prepare for my rescue
He came out the carrier, looked around and went "yep, this will do", sat on me and fell asleep
Me "this wasn't in the book!!!!!"

They are wee horrors who will bite and scratch out of love. My little darling enjoys playing chase followed by a wrestle. Be prepared for your life to be enhanced and your friends to call less often as you regale them constantly with tails of fluffy bum and their escapades

Don't throw cardboard boxes or paper bags away. Keep them around for a bit.

My two love playing a game where one gets inside the bag and the other jumps around on the outside of it. Hours of free entertainment.

As a PP said; talk to them. They will tell you what they want, and you will understand. (And obey their demands immediately, obviously)

I currently have one cat sitting on my chest as I type. Purring loudly, and the other is lying next to me, also purring. It's lovely.

@Thelmsie, one of mine took 4 years to get there!

The other day I told my cat he was a good boy. My husband pointed out it was more accurate to say he was a reasonably behaved boy some of the time, I couldn't disagree! 😂
Our cat is a rescue. He didn't hide away, he decided immediately that the sofa met his standards. However, we had several months of disagreements about what time he should be fed. He absolutely cannot have an empty biscuit dish otherwise he will complain (doesnt want to eat constantly, just needs to know he could if he needed to).
But he also loves cuddles, is amazingly gentle with kids and other animals and is generally hilarious with loads of personality. He loves people and will introduce himself to all of the neighbours.
Our previous cat was the complete opposite, hated people he didn't know, would sit beside you but never on you and hated being cuddled but would headbutt you and blink at you.
Having grown up with dogs it amazes me how much personality cats have and how different they all are. I couldn't imagine life without a cat in it now!

Mine occasionally brings a mouse but does none of those other things! Never scratched furniture or carpets, never had flees, me er vomited on the bed.

Don’t mess about with the cheapest insurance, get decent amount of cover!

mines has just scratched my wallpaper after 3 weeks 😩

Read up on food. A wet diet is best.

Thank you everyone. All of the cats pictured are adorable!

Definitely get the best insurance you can. My indoor cats have caused all sorts of trouble and run up bills of £23k. Worth every penny though.

Here's Linney, preparing to launch himself at the DVD player.

One of the very, very, very bestest things in the whole wide world is when a cat comes and lays on your chest, with his head just below your chin and starts Purring.

Something about the weight, the warmth, the noise and vibrations, plus if your gently stroking their supreme softness, it is absolutely heavens bliss.

Its better than meditation, massage, a hot bath or even glass of wine. It’s physical therapy of the very best sort.

It very, very much depends on the cat and their previous owners. My friends have a 'posh' cat (very fluffy) who is not allowed out, always played with, very affectionate and the centre of attention. We have 2 cats. One is old, she likes my son and daughter but no one else, hides when visitors come, sleeps day and night on the radiator or in the sun. The other cat is very much outdoorsy, comes in to eat then he's out again, actually likes a bit of a cuddle but rarely, scratches me to smithereens when I'm trying to get flea stuff on him, extremely clever at stealing food (opening cupboards, boxes and sachets). He's a right character! We also have a dog so she gets more of the love and attention (I think our cats like it that way though).

It depends on the cat... and the breed.
We have 2 Siamese and my gosh they are hard work and need so much attention. They are so loving and love to sleep as close as possible to me (they can't now though as have a baby). I would recommend getting 2 cats so they don't feel alone if you work.
Picture of them snuggling up to my boy. (Supervised don't worry)

Cats definitely have preferences for people. I adopted mine from a woman who had to give them up when she changed accommodation. The cat who used to lie on her chest gives me friendly head bumps but likes to lie on my son. The other cat likes sitting on my lap, but he likes to sit on a cushion. That happened a year after settling in and I agree, it's a lovely feeling to have a happy cat on your lap.

Just sharing a funny photo of the same cat looking for his lunch :)

I am ruled by two cats.

To start they'll let you think you are in charge and before you know it you are getting up at 5am to feed them, clinging to the edge of the bed cause one likes to take up the whole bed, buying a floor to ceiling cat tree cause your cat wants to get to the top shelf in the wardrobe by climbing your clothes.

And I couldn't love them any more than I do!

Just keep them away from all alliums from lilies to onions and you’ll be grand.

The cat always knows what it wants and will train you up like a slightly challenged apprentice.

They aren’t cats. They are furry emotional terrorists with a god complex and a personality disorder to boot. Cute little fanged dickheads with four wheel drive murder mittens.

Wouldn’t be without mine though, despite the entire house including me referring to him as “that horrible cat”.

Wow, he is gorgeous. The floof on him 😍
One of mine loves the wardrobe and fitting into small spaces. It's a nightmare changing the sheets on the bed as he likes to squeeze in between the bed frame and the mattress despite being a bulky boy.