Advice on adopting a cat

freakyogre

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

If you are out all day I would not recommend getting a siamese or evern a half-siamese cat. These cats really to love attention and are more like a dog! Many places that adopt out cats will want to see your home and may even make a follow-up visit (especially for siamese and siamese cross breeds)

Definite no no then as I really don't like dogs!

Yeah, I expected a visit to make sure they're happy with where the cat will be going, good to know they still do that

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

I am not a fan of house cats - I prefer cats that are more interesting. If you do get a house cat, you will have to provide a litter tray all the time - a real nuisance - especially if you want someone to look after the cat whilst you are away!

Either way i'd provide a litter tray as if they're in when i'm at work, they may need to use it.

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

Cat flaps do not necessarily have to be fitted into doors - it also possible to fit them into glass - but you must adhere to regulations and use toughened or laminate glass where necessary. I had a flap fitted into laminate glass - but there is always the risk of cracking during fitting. If fitting to toughened glass the glass has to be made with a hole for the flap at the time the glass is made - not sure where you can get that done. You can also fit a cat flap in a wall but that may not be an option if you are renting.

I doubt very much i'd be allowed to fit one to be honest. It's all new double glazed so can pretty much predict that'll be a 'no'!

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

Just make sure that you can get permission for a cat flap as well as your cat before you get your cat! It may also be wise to check your neighbours do not object to cats. Also make sure that you get permission if you choose to get a second cat - your lease may only allow one animal!

I wouldn't get a second cat. To be honest, if one isn't a good idea, I wouldn't consider two. I would need to get confirmation from my LL anyway as my tenancy agreement does state no pets unless agreed (and they won't refuse unless there is a good reason). That'll be step one before I even really start looking.
Neighbours aren't an issue as we're all seperate flats, so not really anything to do with them.

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

You say you have no option to fit a cat flap to the front door. Well I have only one door and it has a cat flap in! You just need a door that has a sufficient 'flat area' to fit the flap.

If the door has a removable patterned panel you can replace the patterned panel with a flat one and get the flap fitted into that - it will probably cost about £80. Just make sure you keep the removed panel so that you can re-fit it when you leave the property!

It wouldn't be possible...where I live is a converted house (as such!), and each flat has its own entrance. The main entrance is an 'open' door, followed by a security door, then seperate doors to each flat, so it just wouldn't work.

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

You should also consider getting insurance for your cat - just make sure you get a policy that will pay out for any lifelong treatement required as most policies will not! And don't forget to have your cat 'chipped' so that you can be re-united with your cat if it gets lost!

I would get insurance, but would look round to see what's best as realise there are cheaper ones out there that are useless. If you were to have a cat chipped, would you still put a collar on them? I always assumed collars were good for if a cat went missing locally and the chip for further away (if that makes sense!)

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

One last thing, you will have to keep your cat indoors for the first two weeks so that it learns your home is now his/her home. Of course, take it out on a lead during that time - just make sure you use a full harness (not just a neck collar).

I'd be tempted to keep them in longer as would worry, but know what you mean. Just a silly question now...is the old 'butter on paws' thing true? We never tried it with our cats and they always came back, but with my own, i'd really worry they would never come back


Thank you so much for your reply, there's some really good advice in there

freakyogre

picklepick wrote: »

Why dont you offer a home to a cat with FIV? These cats aren't allowed out as they pose a risk to other cats. Ask at your local rescue centre or the RSPCA they'll have loads of cats that can be indoor only that they're struggling to rehome im sure. The rescue should provide for the cats future medication and treatment etc.

Otherwise, im afraid i dont agree with indoor cats either. Obviously except for some pedigrees whose disposition means they're naturally rubbish with road sense etc!!

Getting a cat with a medical condition and therefore an indoor only cat would solve this problem for you!
Hope that helps

That's a good idea. If I do decide on an indoor cat i'll definitely consider it. I've just read up a bit more on it as well as didn't know a lot about it to be honest.

Thanks for your reply

freakyogre

chez22 wrote: »

Good post picklepick, I am going to be fostering cats soon and I have been told that unfortunately FIV+ cats are often euthanased as finding homes for them is so difficult.

That's horrible. There seems to be too many people wanting cute little kittens (even though they'll soon grow) and ignoring the rest =/

BitterAndTwisted

Yes, there are and that's one of the reasons why I am the number one oldie fan.

Yay for oldies!

lowis

deaf cats need indoor homes too...always worth considering, deaf cats are not that difficult to live with at all.

i have two indoor siamese cats and they are very happy, healthy cats. as well as keeping each other on their toes, i play with them every day and keep them stimulated and fit.i would never have a sole indoor-only cat though, unless of course it was special needs and required to be an only cat.

good luck x

Paul_Varjak

I think perhaps you underestimate how troublesome neighbours can be about cats, especially if you live in a shared house with a common entrance/exit door. Indeed, any rented accommodation can be a recipe for problems with neighbours about animals.

You definitely do not want a noisy cat - this is another good reason for not having a siamese or siamese cross breed - they can be very loud, sometimes crying like a baby!

ginvzt

Ok, we are out of the house for similar ours and we have adopted a 6 year old cat 2 months ago. Honestly, the cat will be fine indoors for that time. Even if I work from home, he will ignore me for most of the time and just sleep on the bed!!!

We are renting, so we got a permission from landlords, there was a cat flap fitted in the kitchen door, big garden, etc. We kept cat indoors for about 3-4 weeks, and then decided to let him out. He doesn't like going out!!!! He is scared of everything, and especially plastic bags!!!!!

We had a follow up visit from CPL, and the lady suggested just leave him outside when we go out. It sounded cruel to me, but she said that it will be ok. He always cries if we try to leave him outside. But we tried couple of times. Once he found a cat flap and got back in the house. Other time he just stayed under rhododendron until we came home.

I have to say, that we did try leaving the cat flap lifted, and he would use it occasionally like that, but he just can't understand that he can get in by just pushing it!!!! The more I think, the more it looks like he might have been and indoor cat before, but I do hope to get him used to go outside a bit more often and get more exercise - he keeps waking us up at 4:30 am to play!!!

dizziblonde

Mine is indoor only as we lived on a main road - I rang CPL and mentioned the road issue so I was probably looking for an elderly cat or something similar, also mentioned I was a sucker for a hard luck story (nowt more likely to make cat rescues squeal with glee). Was offered either a deaf cat they wanted confined to barracks or the tripod who they didn't want going out as she can't jump up onto stuff very well. Went for the tripod and we've been miaowing insults at each other for about 7 years now.

As for the window thing - the cat over the road for us refuses to use the front door - I've actually watched him sit at the front door, watch his owner go in the house, and make his owner go all the way upstairs, open the bedroom window so he can climb onto the downstairs bay window roof and get in the house that way. Talk about having your human well-trained!

freakyogre

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

I think perhaps you underestimate how troublesome neighbours can be about cats, especially if you live in a shared house with a common entrance/exit door. Indeed, any rented accommodation can be a recipe for problems with neighbours about animals.

You definitely do not want a noisy cat - this is another good reason for not having a siamese or siamese cross breed - they can be very loud, sometimes crying like a baby!

It's not a shared house. It's a BIG house converted into completely seperate flats. We don't share anything except the main entrance to the building.
Surely it's none of their business if I have a pet or not? I really can't see the issue. I know my neighbour has a dog, but i've never had any problems with and have heard it bark probably once since i've been here.

freakyogre

ginvzt wrote: »

Ok, we are out of the house for similar ours and we have adopted a 6 year old cat 2 months ago. Honestly, the cat will be fine indoors for that time. Even if I work from home, he will ignore me for most of the time and just sleep on the bed!!!

We are renting, so we got a permission from landlords, there was a cat flap fitted in the kitchen door, big garden, etc. We kept cat indoors for about 3-4 weeks, and then decided to let him out. He doesn't like going out!!!! He is scared of everything, and especially plastic bags!!!!!

We had a follow up visit from CPL, and the lady suggested just leave him outside when we go out. It sounded cruel to me, but she said that it will be ok. He always cries if we try to leave him outside. But we tried couple of times. Once he found a cat flap and got back in the house. Other time he just stayed under rhododendron until we came home.

I have to say, that we did try leaving the cat flap lifted, and he would use it occasionally like that, but he just can't understand that he can get in by just pushing it!!!! The more I think, the more it looks like he might have been and indoor cat before, but I do hope to get him used to go outside a bit more often and get more exercise - he keeps waking us up at 4:30 am to play!!!

Sounds like my sisters cat, he is terrified of plastic bags and shoots out the room at the slightest rustle! He also wakes them up at about that time, but that's to come in. He's adorable, such a friendly little cat.

Thanks for your reply