Convincing DH…

[Jazzybean]

… we really ought to have a cat.

Pros so far:

• We have a mouse problem. I have found found articles suggesting that even the smell of cats is unattractive to mice.
• I have checked the cost of good insurance (£10,000+ annually, lifetime cover etc.), food, and a vet health plan (neutering, vaccines, health checks, claw trimming) and all are affordable.
• The children are totally on board.
• We have a good sized garden and live on a very quiet country lane.
• The population density of cats has reduced in the last couple of years in our village (used to have six cats in a 100m stretch of road, now only one).
• We no longer have pet rabbits (the last one died of old age after getting a bit stuck in a cycle of perpetual rabbits whereby one always needed a friend for company so it never ended!) so have one less pet to care for.

Cons:

• DH feels we don’t have enough time
• We have a very much loved pet budgie who I want to keep safe
• Our chickens usually free range during the day when bird flu isn’t an issue

So what I want to know is:

1. How much time does a cat usually take out of your day? AIBU to think that it’s just feeding a couple of times, some cuddling, and a daily litter tray empty? DH WFH so is around for company, I can also WFH a couple of days per week. Happy to buy lots of toys, a scratching post etc.
2. If you have small furries or birds, what measures do you have in place to keep them safe? My plan would be to keep our budgie in a room that is either off limits if unsupervised or entirely off limits to the cat. The budgie’s cage is also suspended from the ceiling so difficult to access anyway.
3. If you have chickens, how is your cat with them? We have a cockerel so I tend to think there wouldn’t be an issue and they’d steer clear of each other.
4. DH (and DS) are keen on the idea of a ginger Tom. Is there anything in particular about ginger Toms that we ought to be aware of?

Well of course you need a cat in your lives!

Time spent doing boring chores for my nearly 2 year old boy cat: negligible. He doesn’t use his litter tray any more as he goes outdoors. Feeding is mostly easy unless I’ve just bought his new favourite food in bulk, at which point he will firmly go off it. He’s easy-going and will always eat roast chicken or turkey if they’re on offer.

Time spent playing with him, cuddling him, watching him chase flies, getting hopelessly stuck under his sweet sleeping self: plenty. And not a minute begrudged!

No pet birds here so I can’t comment on that. We had a wonderful ginger tom when I was growing up (and his equally wonderful tortie sister). But if another cat captures your heart, I’m sure you wouldn’t reject them on the grounds of colour. My green-eyed mini-panther is an absolute treasure 🐈‍⬛

My DSis used to have parrots, a Chinchilla & various small furry creatures, and the only fatality (apart from the usual causes) was a heart attack caused by her Doberman placing his long hooter against the cage to get a closer look & squeaking at them.

Time spent doing chores for my 2 indoor only cats, maybe 30 mins a day, 2x feeds (in different rooms each time) 2x litter tray cleaning (again, different bloody rooms). Time spent stroking, giving belly rubs, giving head scratches plenty, and the new one isn't even at a stroking stage yet so that's just one demanding little empress.

The joy they give me, and the effect on my mental health, permanent. And yes when I had mice in the conservatory it took Girlcat & sadly departed Boycat about a week to clean the whole lot out, and they've never returned.

NDN has chickens and a psycho cat. The cat and chickens appear to happily coexist.
I'd worry about a caged bird though tbh. We have a friend who when he stays with us he brings his canaries with him. Our cats are VERY alert when the birds are in the house.

I am currently sitting here with our newest kitten (third cat) asleep in the crook of my neck, honestly she is the sweetest creature in the world.
Having just got through puppydom with our dog, i can reassure you that kittens/cats are very low effort. And the rewards are many, I adore my cats, they never caused me the stress our dog did lol.
I would say you're better getting a pair, they love a bit of company, my two older cats are inseparable and this new one and my dog are best friends too. They need a friend!!!

We have 3 chickens, 2 cats and a dog. The chickens are in charge.

@Allergictoironing @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats 🥰🥰🥰