Thinking of getting a Cat. Things to consider!

alipops1986

Evening All!

On friday i move into my first ever house and am considering getting a cat a few wks/mnths later.

Now, i do like cats. However, i am one of these pple who is scared of everyones' animals except my own!! Eg: my parents have a dog, which i love, but im scared of everyone elses dogs!

However, i think having a cat will be good company and fairly low maintance - i am a teacher so out most of the day. Also, think it would be best to get a cat during the hols so i'm around to help it settle in rather than out at work all day.

Just wondered if i'd missed anything to factor in? ive pretty much researched: food, insurance, general costs of bedding/toys.

Still toying with the idea of kitten or cat...

UKTigerlily

I'd suggest a Rescue, they often have plenty of Kittens too, lots of pregnant Cats being taken in & it's kitten season too. Two would be best as you'll be out quite abit, or an older one used to being an only Cat. If you get a Rescue it'll come Vaccinated & Neutered, or with a voucher towards the cost of Neutering if it's too young.

Basic needs are a litter tray (The suggested amount is 1 per Cat & 1 extra) which needs to be away from their food & water areas, plus the scoop & litter. A good scratching post, I like the big ones they can climb on. A good carrier or two (Not the cardboard ones or the all wire white ones but something enclosed with an opening roof is good, I like the Cargo Cabrio one), food & water bowls (A water fountain encourages them to drink as many don't like still water much, place away from the food & litter tray)

Also they need worming every three months, you can buy wormers online much cheaper than in the Vet's (Same products), flea treating every month (Same as before, get them online) & yearly booster vaccinations. A for life Insurance policy (Not per condition per year or with E&L, see the Insurance thread!) & getting them Neutered & Microchipped is a good idea, collars aren't necessary & IMO are a danger.

I wouldn't worry much about nice beds, they do seem to enjoyt he radiator beds in winter but will sleep all over the place! Always supervise them with toys, especially the tunnel type with balls hanging inside by ropes, or things on strings like rods.

Mine sleeps almost all of the time & goes out all night, but I am about 100ft+ from any roads with a park right next to be & the nearest road is 20mph so I don't worry she'll be run down, she's older too & doesn't go far!

Good luck, i've had Cats almost all of my life & couldn't be without them!

scotsgirl_3

I would also suggest a rescue - and, if you are out a lot during the day, then possibly consider a pair, especially if it will be kept indoors. 2 cats isn't twice the work, and they will keep each other company. i know our local rescues really struggle to rehome pairs who they want to keep together.

In terms of what you need, Tigerlily has covered most things. My cats (3) will sleep on whatever they feel like, if it's freshly laundered or black, great, if it's a human, even better!!

picklepick

A rescue wont rehome a kitten to someone whos out at work all day, they needs lots of care and attention and i think an adult cat would be better suited to you. Even if you're in during the school hols, the kitten would still probably be too young to left when u return unless u get an older kitten perhaps?

Other than that, sounds like you've looked into most things.

lowis

you may even want to consider adult pedigree rescue cats - yes, there are plenty! and they frequently come in pairs too. lots of people are giving up their pets due to the effects of the recession...very sad

here are a few at siamese rescue:
http://siameserescue.org.uk/homeswanted.htm

tealady

Cats
They steal your heart
They take over your life
They rule the house
Couldn't live without them.

~Chameleon~

I wouldn't advise getting two adult cats "to keep each other company" unless they have already been living together previously and couldn't possibly be separated. Not all cats get on with each other even if related.

I have a mother/daughter pair and they just about tolerate each other being in the same house but no way would they sleep in the same room as each other, let alone together, and forget about grooming each other! If they meet on the stairs there's always a hiss and growl but they rarely attack one another.

lowis

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I wouldn't advise getting two adult cats "to keep each other company" unless they have already been living together previously and couldn't possibly be separated. Not all cats get on with each other even if related.

I have a mother/daughter pair and they just about tolerate each other being in the same house but no way would they sleep in the same room as each other, let alone together, and forget about grooming each other! If they meet on the stairs there's always a hiss and growl but they rarely attack one another.

oh no...but i spotted two key words....'mother and daughter'...two females...not a great mix!

on the other hand i adopted a 14yo cat who had never lived with another cat before, to keep my one company after his sister died...they are (almost) the best of friends now. i think neutered male cats are much easier to deal with.

~Chameleon~

lowis wrote: »

oh no...but i spotted two key words....'mother and daughter'...two females...not a great mix!

on the other hand i adopted a 14yo cat who had never lived with another cat before, to keep my one company after his sister died...they are (almost) the best of friends now. i think neutered male cats are much easier to deal with.

Yes, you're absolutely right, I was thinking purely of my 18 year long battle with my own two cats lol

A neutered male would be much more amenable to company, especially female company!

nementai

I've just adopted two adult cats (they're very much in love and the rescue wouldn't house them apart) and I have to echo what the other posters have said. They're not destructive, they're litter trained (after a little slip on the first day) and seem happy to be left on their own for times, plus, as they're so in love, I don't worry about leaving them while I'm at work. They've also had all their jabs and been neutered a while ago, so no disruption there!
They're taking a bit of coaxing to get them confident, but one of them has already settled in very well and gone from hiding on Saturday to sitting on my lap today. It's been a very rewarding experience and, as much as I'd love a cute kitten, I wouldn't swap these two for the world.
I think everything to consider has been mentioned, though I've got some feliway spray and a diffuser. It's a 'happy cat pheremone' solution, which helps to chill the cats out and make that adjustment period that much easier. Not sure if it's made a difference to me as we started with it, but I know people speak very highly of it!

ginvzt

Ok, your situation sounds so similar to ours few months ago. We also wanted kitten, but I didn't mind older cat. I was hoping for 2-3 year old max. However, we adopted (or were adopted by) a 6 year old tabby boy. He is lovely!

The only thing damaged so far is the sofa (my husbands fault - he didn't cover half of it for the first night as instructed as I was away and didn't let cat to sleep in the bedroom, so Puffo went and put a couple of tiny scratches in the sofa - I think he just slept there and extended his nails at some point).

He is very much loved and the loveliest cat ever. I collected him from cattery yesterday as we were on holiday for a week, and he wanted cuddles so much, that he wouldn't leave my side all evening and wouldn't let me sleep at night trying to stroke against my hands. He is my best friend now!!!!