Nee owner - can I ask a lot of stupid questions please?

[honkifyalikebeans]

We've never had cats before and I want to do the right thing

1. What is the best way to choose a breed?
2. Is there a better bread for an outdoor cat
3. Can the litter tray live in the garden if it's covered?
4. Where do you buy cats from? Ideally we would like a kitten to grow with us a family.
5. I presume you teach them to use the litter tray. Do you need to teach anything else?

Thanks so much

First question. Any reason you won't consider a rescue cat?

Rescue cat every time! Kittens usually in abundance.
You need a Heinz57, not a particular breed. Litter tray inside in a calm, quiet area, cleaned at least once a day. Cats use the outside for toileting to mark territory. The kittens are taught by mum how to use a tray so you just need to show them where it is and keep it clean.
Be prepared to become their slave and lose your heart.

Truthfully, DC is an only child, i know I can't be sure a kitten would live a full life but I want the best chance that a cat would live a longer life alongside side him. I'm also aware of the risk of potential trauma of a rescue cat and I don't feel like, as a first timer, I would be best skilled to provide/know what to do in terms of extra care.

So litter tray in a utility room (warm, inside but with occasional washing machine noise?)

You can get covered ones, can't you? Do cats like or hate them?

So kitten from a rescue centre then?

Get two kittens rather than one. Much easier because they keep each other amused.
Definitely get moggies rather than a breed (generally fewer health problems).
We keep the litter tray inside. (I haven't lived in a house with an outside loo since 1970. 🤣)

Get a rescue moggy. If you're planning on kittens, get 2. They play together, they learn how to play without using claws to hurt, they entertain each other and they're companions.
Say goodbye to nice carpets, curtains and furniture if you get kittens. They're cute destroyers.
Garden access for kittens should not happen till they're fully inoculated and neutered. That's 6 months approx.
Kittens STINK, and you will need litter trays inside even when they do get outside.
Cats MUST be microchips now.
You must be prepared to handle large vet bills. Insurance only pays so much.
Kittens need a LOT of interaction, handling, time and love. Neglect this and you'll have a standoffish cat who will happily choose a new home if it suits him better.
By 8, 9 weeks old, they're probably already using a litter tray. Mama will have shown them.
Stock up on plasters and antiseptic cream.
Put nice clothes away for the first few months.
Kittens should not be handled by children without close supervision. They're tiny and easily hurt by a child who doesn't understand that.
Have I mentioned that kitten poo stinks?

1.What is the best way to choose a breed

You don't. You get a rescue cat/kitten. Moggies are the best

2.Is there a better bread for an outdoor cat

Moggie

3.Can the litter tray live in the garden if it's covered?

No. You need one more litter tray than you have cats and they need constant access. You may get lucky and get a cat that only goes outside. Or not.

4.Where do you buy cats from? Ideally we would like a kitten to grow with us a family.

A rescue centre. Do not buy a kitten under any circumstances, you are encouraging irresponsible breeding. And 2 kittens not one

5.I presume you teach them to use the litter tray. Do you need to teach anything else?

They already know how to use a litter tray. Generally speaking cats teach you rather than you teach them.

Also, I know this is daft but I'm quite allergic (sneezing, sore eyes) - it's why I was considering a breed (so I could think about less moulting of hair etc) I guess I'll be quite allergic to a mixed breed?

Rescues are over run with kittens as well as strays under the age of 2. Hundreds of them. Literally.

I've just paid for a spay on an abandoned cat that is under 2 years old who sometimes visits my garden as all rescues are full. I couldn't let her have kittens as that just adds to the horrendous situation in all the rescue centres. Cats protection, rspca, local rescues are all refusing to take on these poor strays who are starving. Don't buy from a breeder. )

EDIT - my DD is allergic to different cats. You will need to do a sniff test. Rescue centres will allow this if you explain.

1. Rescue.
2. Rescue.
3. Indoors, cleaned daily in a quiet area.
4. Rescue.
5. Their mothers teach them to use a litter tray. Make sure they have a scratching post and teach them to play with toys, not your hands if you don’t want to be covered in scratches. Spay/neuter and vaccinate. Make sure they have a quiet spot to retreat to when they want.

Oh and rescue cats are generally not traumatized like rescue dogs. I have an adult rescue cat, he walked in like he owned the place from day 1.

There are nervous cats and confident cats, this is usually obvious from kittenhood. I recently looked at the video of when I first met my kittens at the rescue centre and yes the one who is now a nervous adult, was the one who hid in a corner the whole time.

A well matched rescue cat is the perfect choice. Rescues will have kittens too, but with an adult they will already have an idea of the cat's nature and needs. Rescue cats don't generally have trauma, and no decent rescue would rehome a cat with issues to someone inexperienced. Kittens and cats should already be litter trained when they come to you.

While most cats who go outdoors will choose to toilet outside, not all will, and you do need to be prepared to have a litter tray in the house.

Oh if you are allergic to cats, sorry but don't get a cat.

You will fall in love with it, your allergies will be awful and rehoming it will break your heart.

Absolutely consider a rescue. For example, one of my rescues has had zero trauma in his life. He was a much loved cat and the owner had to go into care so he came to us. He's lovely and litter trained and loves a lap etc.

I'd be wary of kitten also because they do need entertainment and when we had one my 2 DS quickly got bored of playing with the kitten. Ultimately they wanted a cat for cuddles as cats were not good at Lego! Hence then I went for older rescues when we got our next cat.

On your other questions they don't need much in the way of litter training if they've come from a good home / rescue. You just need to show them where the tray is and keep it with them in the room when you first get them.

I don't recommend leaving a litter tray outside, they are not designed to be fully waterproof and other cats will likely use it and that will then put your cat off.

If you insist on getting a breed cat and want it to be outdoors then avoid very expensive breeds as they can be nicked and avoid long hair breeds as they can often get quite dirty and require a lot of extra grooming and avoid traditionally non savvy breeds like Persians who are not street smart. I'd also consider what other cats roam around and how likely they are to get into fights etc

Don't get a cat if you are allergic. No cat is hypoallergenic. You might react less to some, but it's very risky and unfair to get a cat that you might have to rehome later if your allergy worsens.

Please don't get a cat if you're allergic.

It's not fair on them (or you) and certainly won't be fair on your DS if you have to re-home because you can't cope.

1. What is the best way to choose a breed? - Just pick one from your local rescue centre
2. Is there a better bread for an outdoor cat - Warburtons is best but Hovis at a push
3. Can the litter tray live in the garden if it's covered? - Other cats may use it.
4. Where do you buy cats from? Ideally we would like a kitten to grow with us a family. - Local rescue centre
5. I presume you teach them to use the litter tray. Do you need to teach anything else? - All ours used the litter tray without any prompting

If you're allergic, do not get a cat
That's the surefire way to add to the problem yourself.
Sphinx cats are more or less hairless but you will pay a fortune, need to keep them indoors all year round and I understand they need (and enjoy) regular baths to keep their skin healthy.

Cats are not for you, OP.

@AutumnFroglets - I just literally sniff them?

I'm not super allergic, I'll happily take a tablet a day if needs be. But if I had a choice of one less moulty that would be preferred (as also allergic to some dogs but when we had a dog it felt easier to choose one I wasn't allergic to and I just know dogs a little better)

We have a mild allergy in my family which is sorted with feeding the cats Purina LiveClear.

The allergy is due to a protein in their saliva. Some breeds are reportedly less allergenic but it is absolutely also individual cat dependent. It's not long hair per se it's just that longer hair cats especially if double coated shed more and the protein gets on the fur when they wash.

Only one of our 3 cats triggered the DC allergy and all were rescues of unknown provenance. Again, I can't stress this enough go for a rescue ! They will allow you visit the cat and you can spend time with it and see if it triggers. Some will even let you have the cat for a week or so to check and you can wait before adopting or just give the cat back.

Don't rely on a "sniff test" (whatever that is). You'll be living with this cat for potentially two decades - sniffing them at a rescue centre won't do anything 🤷‍♀️

My mum is allergic to cats and I have three. She's actually fine around them for an hour or two but after that she needs tablets and anything longer than 3-4 hours and she would really suffer, even with medication.

Interestingly, the one with long hair who moults constantly isn't the one she struggles with the most.

Rescue! I’ve only ever had rescues and rescues will have kittens if that’s what you want. I currently have a lovely black and white, the most unpopular kind but she’s perfect. And less likely to be nicked because she’s not fancy. She has a litter tray in our utility room which she uses when she’s mad at me e.g. workmen in the house or visiting dog. Otherwise she goes in our garden. When she first came home with us when she was 12 weeks old, she peed on the floor but we showed her where her litter tray was and no accidents since. Get used to have a tiny tyrant in the house. It’s hilarious that we never move her even if she is in our chairs, on our laptops, in front of the telly. And we’ve had her for 8 years now and every time she walks into a room, it’s like a rockstar has arrived. My DD is unfortunately allergic to her but adores her. Not ideal but she takes an antihistamine a day. The only place she is not allowed is DD’s bedroom.

Covered litter trays are fine so long as you still remember to clean them, but I would not use the cover until the kittens are used to the tray.

On allergies - we are all mildly allergic to newcomers but scrupulous handwashing, vacuuming and the odd anti-histamine get us through the first few weeks until we become desensitised to them.

However I know at least two people who take an anti-histamine daily to live comfortably with their pets. One of them has four cats and two dogs. Would you be prepared to do that? Is your DC allergic too? Don’t take on cats unless you are sure you will keep them.

Adult rescue cats don’t tend to come with problems. The ones who’ve been neglected tend to be greedy because they’ve learnt they can’t be sure where their next meal is coming from. They’re still sweet-tempered and friendly.

Our previous cats we got from a rescue centre, they were kittens, their mum had been run over
. Our current 2 I got direct from their family home, the owner had taken their female cat to be spayed but oops too late. I was able to see them with their mum and siblings all good. The owner knew who the dad was, cat next door apparently
. Our boys are moggies . When I took them to our vet for vaccinations and microchipping, she checked them all over and announced them super fit and healthy. She said when cats mate normally like in our case, the mother cat chooses a fit and healthy specimen to breed with . This doesn't happen with breeding designer cats. This has stuck in my mind and makes perfect sense to me

@CatChant - does the desensitisation thing tend to work? I'm not massively allergic.