Advice for adopting cat in our family!

[kittykatlover]

Looking for advice on adopting a cat for our family. I’ll start by saying I’m a cat lover. As a child I had a cat growing up in my family home who lived to a ripe old age of 24(!) and died when I was mid-20’s – he was from Cat’s Protection League and happened to be a total outdoors cat – utterly wild and would roam outside all night hunting mice, climb trees, snooze on the roof of the house and sometimes only pop in for food in the summer! (We lived in the countryside).

I know all cats are different though and my situation now with my home is very different. We live in a city in a small terraced 2 up 2 down with a small backyard. There is already a Tom cat in the street who’s clearly the boss and who’s territory seems to include our backyard wall. We have an electric catflap in the back door already from the pevoous homeowner which we could get operational again.

For context I also have a 6 year old son whom I want to teach about pets but who is currently clueless about how to look after them.

Things that worry me are whether it will be an indoor or outdoor cat, and how to manage this safely. I want to adopt a cat and not sure where is a good place to go. We are SE London. I also worry about going on holiday. As a child my Auntie used to pop by twice a day to feed our cat and our cat was happy to basically live outside anyway. We don’t have any family close by though or anyone I’d want in my home whilst I’m away. Would we need a cat sitter company?

What about readying our home for a cat? The kitchen is a teeny galley kitchen and there is no door between that and the living room. I was thinking we could put the litter tray in the bathroom as it’s bigger. I know I must keep litter and food / water separately.

Where would be good spot for a bed and how could I help any rescue cat settle in without an available quiet spare room, or any spaces I could close the door on?

Any other tips or advice for us? I want to make sure we are responsible and do things properly but I know how rewarding having a cat in the family can be and want my son to experience that, as well as providing a loving family for a cat.

Talk to any local rescues, explain exactly what you have here, and be open minded about any cats they think are suitable. I'd imagine that a confident young adult cat would be ideal.

Nobody can offer advice without a picture (of the cat).

Haha! No picture yet as no cat yet! Just want to make sure we are properly prepared. Also the last time I got a cat was 40 years ago! Is Cats Protection League recommended or an alternative? What about Battersea?

Cats Protection is good as is Battersea.
when you go along they will ask you questions and advise as to the cat best suited to your circumstances.
I wish you happily with whichever cat comes into your life 🐾

If you are in a city and there is already a dominant Tom in the neighbourhood, I would thoroughly recommend looking at enclosing your garden with something like Protectapet fencing (other brands /types are available!) It will keep your cat safe from the Tom and from the road.

Our four have come from Battersea. Don't think you can drop in for a visit now though (stopped during Covid). I found them quite easy to deal last time (8 years ago) and all our cats from them were very well socialised.

Ok thank you. With Battersea I presume they will neuter cats and provide vaccination etc?

Yes - Battersea cats (or kittens) come neutered, chipped and with their jabs.

All respectable rescues will neuter, chip and vaccinate cats before they rehome them.

Especially with a younger child you need to be looking at an adult/young adult cat, in fact most decent rescues won't rehome kittens where there's younger children and some won't rehome to them at all!

I agree with cat proofing your yard; an established local "boss" tom will impose their status on any newcomers often quite violently. Plus unless you're sure that it's been neutered, it's likely to be a fighter by nature and may well have FIV.

Most cats do prefer food, water and litter a fair distance apart, though mine a weird and like the water next to the food so they can rinse their mouths out between courses 9i.e. when swapping between wet and dry).

You could look into getting a cat sitter for when you're away, or see if there's a decent cattery within reach where the cat can go?

Try Celia Hammonds as well as the 2 rescues noted above. @TheCatNeuterer on here does a lot with them and they are a fabulous organisation.

My DD adopted from a charity that only rehome indoor cats last year. If you are thinking of an indoor cat.