DS keeps asking for a cat…

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5yo DS. Only child and will remain so. Absolutely loves the idea of having a pet and asks if we can get a cat at least 10 times every week. Has done since he was 3.

I grew up with 2 house cats so I’m not a complete newbie cat owner but my home life as a child was very different to how my own family is now so want to make sure I’ve considered everything and that it’s a responsibility we could actually take on.

As a child, I had a SAHM and we couldn’t afford holidays so never had to think about care for pets etc.
DH and I both worth. He’s away for weeks at a time while I work part time (20 hours across 4 days) around the school runs etc.
We usually go on holiday twice a year - once for a week and one mon-fri Center Parcs trip of camping.

I’m assuming for that we would need to find a Cattery. We have local family but none that could take any pets for a week so they would only be able to pop in and out each day to feed rather than spend any time etc.

Other than cost of care (we can afford to feed/insure/vet care etc) and the cost of cattery care if we were to go on holiday - what else do I need to consider?

To be honest we've never used a cattery for our cat (s) as cats like to be in there familiar, home surroundings. We've always had a mixture of family / friends and a cat sitter come in each day to feed the cat / change the litter etc.. It's always worked for us. We always make sure there is fresh water and dried food left out and the person looking after the cat gives him wet food. You can also food timers that open at specific times for wet food.

My answer was always ‘ when you have your own home you can have a cat’. In due course DS had two cats and said he hadn’t realised how much trouble they would be, especially as they got older. When he was little I bought a toy cat for him to cuddle.

We pay a monthly fee for things like de wormer and flea treatments which we find cost effective as we get unlimited vet consultations which are usually £60 a time and access to 24 hr vet through a call or video link. It paid for itself after our cat got in to a fight with another cat and we needed to check it out as it was over the weekend. Something to consider if your local vet offers it.

Might a rabbit be easier to get cared for? Once he has a pet would he mind what it was?

OP, I had two cats that I out in a cattery when my DS got married (much research and very nice, small cattery) and the cattery lady, who was absolutely lovely, told me when I came to pick them up that one of our cats had been fine, but the other ine had been really unhappy and that although she was doing herself out of business, she recommended that I didn’t out them in a cattery again. So I looked up local people and found a lovely girl who came 8n twice a day to feed and play with the cats when we were away, and they were much happier - it wasn’t more expensive than the cattery, either. The biggest expense as the cats got older was vets’ bills. One of our cats had kidney disease for the last four years of her life (vets gave her six months and were amazed she lived so long) so she had to have special food and medicine. If, though, you want a cat or cats (we had two sisters for my twins, and two is fun) then I would advise either pet insurance, or putting an amount aside every month to pay for the unexpected. Our cats only needed worming and flea treatment until they were much older - they lived to almost twenty, which in cat terms is quite old ladies.

I think the main thing to consider is do you really want a cat? At 5 yo he might well lose interest rapidly. Will you be ok with that?

Other than that I think you've covered everything practical. Sounds like you are already aware of the potential mess that comes with a cat - fur shedding, the occasional vomit on carpets, scratched furniture.

We have always had cats , I find them such an easy pet.
get a cat flap if you can - no need for litter trays and cat can come and go.

if you get a moggie (rather than a psh cat) it should be fairly independent and will do its own thing, probably coming in for cuddles in the morning and evening.

we often leave ours for a week . A local teen comes to feed and cuddle once a day.

They’ve never been to a cattery and they’ve both been to the vet once in 12 years. We get flea treatment and worm treatment off Amazon or at the supermarket.

i think it would be a lovely pet.

I wouldn't recommend rabbits for children. They are more difficult (and nasty) than cats.

I personally think cats are the easiest pets of all.
Working part time is not an issue. Adult cats do not need you around the house. We are often out 9-5 and the cats are perfectly happy by themselves (they mostly spend the daytime dozing anyway - on days I work from home I often don’t see much of them). When they were kittens I rearranged things to be around more- but even then having 2 meant they mostly wanted each other for company rather than needing me.

When we go away we ask a neighbour to pop in to feed the cats. Cats like their space and ours certainly prefer that to being taken to a family member or cattery. There are also paid cat sitters who will pop in to do this if you don’t have a family member free.

If you are able to stretch to 2 cats it would be better for them to have company

I guess following on from the above. I'd say that getting any pet has to be a family decision and everyone has yo be completely happy with that. We had a cat before we had children and he sadly passed away 5 years ago. We have two kids now 8 and 4 and it was very much a family decision to adopt again last year. It is a big commitment and the cat will need to be given time to get used to being in a new home. Ours hid for a long time at first. I would always say adopt as well from a good adoption place that has been fully checked over by a vet. Our first cat we adopted unfortunately had a heart mumur that we had no idea about until we took him for his first check up. He ended up costing us a lot in medication down the line due to this and we couldn't insure against that as it was preexisting.
Make sure you have the room in the house for things like the litter tray, scratching posts and beds etc... I personally don't like the idea of keeping cats as house cats as I think they naturally like to explore outside. Have a think if this is suitable. What your outside space like, are you near a busy road? Will you want a cat flap putting in.

I have an only child and we got a cat when he was 5, same situation, had been asking for a couple of years. 12 years on they are the best of friends, she is obsessed with him 😀. She has given us much amusement over the years. I would say go for it. 5 is a great age for a pet, they're old enough to be taught how to behave around animals.
I used cat sitters when I'm away rather than a cattery.

We found that getting 2 cats together meant they didn't need us so much.

My mother used to say that and it was infuriating. It’s not as if a child can do anything to rectify the situation is it? Pets are good for children.

Get 2, they will keep each other company. Some rescues won’t allow you to have one kitten unless you are home all the time, but 2 are ok. They will be fine with someone to pop in and feed them if you are only away for a week.

Not a rabbit! They need so much space & aren't necessarily cuddly & can kick & scratch!
If you have to go smaller, guinea pigs (multiple) or rats (multiple).

Rats are great pets! Extremely social,smart and loving.

Rabbits are so much harder to care for than cats imo. We have two rabbits and a cat, and their hutch / run is cleaned every day, have to go outside to feed / spend time with them. It’s fine in summer, but kids grew bored of them quite quickly and it falls to me. Whereas cat is in and out the house, part of the family. You can spend time with her while she sits on knee in lounge. Way easier than going out to the rabbits.

Id adopt a slightly older cat or two from a local rescue, you'll have more of an idea of personality at that point, plus miss the madness of kittens.

Mine (adopted at separate times) are old boys now, very rarely go to the vet's, and I have a neighbour who started as a younger teen feeding them and using my house for Netflix when I went away, and is now 22 and still loves my two. Costs me way less than the cattery, they get someone they know, and company for a few hours whilst he still borrows my streaming services to binge watch something he hasn't got at home. I also looked after cats and dogs in my mid teens. If you have someone responsible around that can really work.

Id definitely say go for it if you love cats yourself. My big ginger dope declared himself my daughters cat when she was 8 and still sneaks upstairs for cuddles now even though he shouldn't go up there.

Having had both rabbits and cats (not at the same time) a cat is much easier to care for!

OP you can use a cat sitting service rather than a cattery if you prefer. I did this when we went away for a week, they will play with the cat and spend a bit of time with it if needed. Mine didn't need that, he is an antisocial old man who only loves me and DD.

I got him as a senior that no one really wanted from a rescue because DD was an only child and wanted a pet. I would hands down say it was one of the best things I ever did for her as she had some difficult teen years mental health wise and it was only me and her. He provides her comfort and company when she didn't want her mum. It was as if he knew when he was needed and would snuggle up with her or make her laugh, honestly he is the grumpiest looking independent moody boy you ever saw, but now very bonded with the pair of us.

How lovely that you are taking the time and effort to do your research first. It's a pity there aren't more people like you put there. I think you'd be a lovely cat owner.

I had cats as a DC and loved them, but chose not to get them as a parent. due to cost, environmental concern, not having anyone local to feed them when we go away occasionally, and unpredictability of cost/time for things that frequently happen with pets. We both work full time and didn’t want to use up half a day annual leave or goodwill at work for time out for things to do with pets.

For example, my sibling’s young cat has a minor health issue, not covered by insurance, that takes up time most days (out of working time except regular vet appointments) and has cost a lot. A colleague’s cat has a more serious issue, not covered by insurance, that has upset her a lot at times over a couple of years.

despite all the lovely things about pets and DC very much wanting a pet. It’s sad but DCs’ wishes aren’t the only consideration.

Yes to 2 cats. And un my experience cats prefer to stay home and have someone popping in over cattery.

No! Rabbits are harder work than cats, need an area in the house fenced off at least two and company!
I love my two rabbits but if it were not for allergies would have a cat far easier

Rabbits are difficult to keep compared to a cat. Clipping claws and the blood curdling screaming as they don't like it, constant bedding changes, naturally a prey item so generally scared of humans, can be injured very easily if not picked up correctly, simple respiratory infection can easily be fatal, difficult to get someone to look after them during holidays. (I've had 5 cats over the years and 1 rabbit, would never have another rabbit!).

And, they need furry friends, my rabbit adored my cat, they were best buddies.