What do you wish people knew about cats before getting one?

[JamSandle]

No, they probably don't need a companion.

They can love as much as dogs - but they can take longer to warm up.

Never force yourself on a cat for cuddles etc. Let them come to you.

Yeah, that's fair. I suspect she does it for attention.

Life will never be the same.
Annoying. Needy. Fall over them.
Hit in the face at 4am as they are hungry.
They wind the dog up.
They tell the local cats to come as its a party.
Dramatically fall of tables. (Not all cats land on feet)
Hug you at just the right moment.
Let you tell all your secrets and don't judge.

And break your heart

So true.

@lochmaree do get a vet opinion about your adoptee’s teeth. When we got our lovely rescue cat he had one chipped tooth and the vet said it would have been painful when it chipped and could well still be painful; he had it removed in a routine surgical process in case.

this is a (mostly) lovely thread I agree!

cats steal your heart in the most unexpected way.

Aside from random troll with multiple names and nothing positive to say.....

Once a cat owner, always a cat owner. It's impossible to be without one. They are your soul mates.

They are excellent listeners.

They can also be bastards, but you'll still love them.

They can sense when you’re ill or sad or have had dental treatment, and will stay with you and cuddle and guard you.

All your future home furnishing decisions will revolve around them

• no leather sofas
• no leather dining chairs
• no rattan furniture
• none of those nice laundry baskets made out of woven wood or ottomans or any type of baskets
• don't bother with a stairs carpet

The charm of a dog is that they love everyone.
The charm of a cat is that they only love you. When one trusts you enough to let you rub their paws while they slow blink into your eyes they cast a spell over you that cant be broken 💕

They'll poo in the neighbours garden but not their owners one

Some are paranoid about any object which bears the tiniest resemblance to a snake.

You can often train them not to scratch the wallpaper/walk through the serving hatch/sit on the dining table, when you’re around. But once you’re out of sight, they’ll do whatever they like.

When cats roll on their backs, they are not inviting you to stroke their tummies (I learned this one the hard way).

Touching a cat’s paw is rude. Holding or affectionately tugging a cat’s hind paw is extremely rude.

I wish someone would inform my cats of this!

That they ‘chat’ back to you 😍😍

Even when you’re on the phone. After all if they can’t see anyone else, you must be talking to them.

The slightest change in the cat food you provide will cause diarrhoea.

But eating the viscera of whatever they murder outside won’t affect them in the slightest.

That sometimes they go missing and stress you out…. Then either come back / get found or don’t 😞.

My male cat has been gone a few days (he’s always a home body)

that they can be suffering and in pain and show almost no outward signs, or changes of behaviour. (I thought I would know when the time to say goodbye came, and I believe it’s better to PTS a day too soon than a day too late, but I misjudged this greatly)

That they can live perfectly well indoors and it is not obligatory to let them out! They are in as much danger outside unsupervised as your dog would be and arguably cause more damage to eco systems than your dog might.

the tiniest cuddle can do wonders for your stress levels.

they will annoy your neighbours.

you need to keep up with worming because they do get bum worms 😷

They can stand on your head when they want to wake you up for their breakfast.

Don't get a kitten and expect it to be happy indoors. They all have a unique personality- SOME cats will be fine indoors, some will be miserable if they can't roam.

If you have a strong preference, got to a rescue, where they will help identify a an adult cat who's preference's are known.

Also, they are hilarious- I have an incredibly unagile, daft ginger with a knack for falling off bed/table/sofa in the most ridiculous manner and his brother who is clever enough to play tricks on him- they make us howl with laughter every single day.

Some cats are cuddly and snuggle you.
Some cats will never want to be near you.
You can treat them exactly the same and the outcome will be up to them not you.
They uncuddly aloof bastards will cost you as much and live to 28.

I was coming on here to say this

They can poop and wee all over the house when stressed and by God it's difficult to clean.

They will lie on you and start purring and that’s you not moving until they decide they don’t want to lie on you anymore. Good luck if you need the toilet.

Also most cats are lactose intolerant and giving them dairy can make them poorly with sickness and diarrhoea.

Almost every plant and flower is deadly but delicious.

Say goodbye to Lilies, daffodils,tulips and pretty much everything else.

Get used to roses and spider plants!