2 or 1 cat, indoor or not..

tankgirl1

Ignoring the indoor/outdoor debate for the moment (I have kept both happily)

Yes, it will cost a lot more to have 2 kitties rather than one.

Insurance companies sometimes do multi pet discounts, but it it usually 3 or more pets, and it barely noticible. Insurance is a must! Both will need vaccinating, microchipping and neutering. Then the ongoing costs of worm and flea treatment, along with yearly booster injections. Plus double the food, and possibly cat litter if they live indoors.

I feed my 2 dry complete, with the odd pouch for a treat - probably costs me £4 a week. Insurance is another £15 ish per month, worming about £2-4 each every 3 months, and flea treatment about £30 for 6 months.

Initial vaccs can vary from £30-60 each, and neutering from £35-65 each (ish). Annual check ups and booster vaccs at about £25-35 each.

Insurance excess will be somewhere in the region of £50-75 per condition per cat

mutter

*doodle* wrote: »

Oh, this is so sad! Give them a huggle for me

I don't pay too much attention to the old 'indoor vrs outdoor' debate .............

I never thought of an 'outdoor' cat as being one who is forced to live outdoors. I can't imagine that happens very much anymore, not in domestic pet situations anyway.

I think of an outdoor cat being one who has generally unrestricted access to outdoors and who is able to choose when to be in, and when to be out.

An 'indoor' cat, in my opinion, is one who is denied free access to the outside world, or who only visits it briefly when it suits its owner.

ic

I have two deaf white cats, one boy, one girl, kept indoors. I originally got two so that they could be indoors and keep one another company, I live on a main road - it was only once I had them I realised they were deaf.

They're quite happy with the run of the house, and at 2 1/2 years old are best friends and play together all the time - but still chill separately (initially they were inseparable). As for bills, everything costs twice as much. Two bowls, two sets of injections, two lots of food, two insurance policies and twice as much damage to the furniture.

KiKi

My cats can go outside during the day if they want - but they don't! They like to snuggle up indoors on their favourite blanket. I don't let them out after dark either.

They were house cats for the first two years of their lives, but with no problems - they weren't pining to go out nor showing any interest. As I lived in a flat with no outside access - except for a roof - I didn't risk them going missing. We've been in our current home six years, now, and they're still not really interested in going past the back garden!

OP, obviously keep the kitties indoors until they've been spayed, at around 6 months. Once they are old enough to go out, supervise them in the garden for the first few times (maybe let one out at a time?), then slowly let them out for longer.

You wouldn't be letting very young kitties outside anyway - it's not like you'd have a 12 week old kitten outside! You'd never find it again!

KiKi

tinksy

mutter wrote: »

An 'indoor' cat, in my opinion, is one who is denied free access to the outside world, or who only visits it briefly when it suits its owner.

see this is not the case in many (not saying all) of the indoor kitty owners I know. Most keep them inside due to issues with health, issues with safety due to where they live, or like my two issues with their previous owners. Potentially these cats would end up dead if not, my two certainly would as they bolt when frightened and would pay no attention to traffic.

Having our two boys indoor due to their nature means we have to keep doors and windows closed as if anything frightened them inside they would bolt out and never return. potentially in a few years we may well be able to let them out as hopefully we will have managed to get them feeling far more reassured and happy and safe.

bacardi66

I would go for 2 kittens preferably two boys or a boy and girl, I know several people who have had pairs of female kittens and as they have matured (even after spaying) fought so badly that one has had to be rehomed. We adopted three boy kittens, they got on really well. Sadly one died of heart failure at 6 months but the other two were devoted to each other for 14 years, they slept together, groomed each other and when everywhere together - it was so lovely to see and it meant we never had to worry about leaving them as they had each other.

Im on the "outdoors" side of the inside/outside debate, and my cats have always had 24/7 access to the outside via a catflap although we have lived on fairly quiet roads. I have friends who have lived on very busy roads and their cats know to opt for the safety of gardens and fields rather than venture near the roads, like an earlier poster said cats do develop some kind of road sense.

When I got my kittens and made the decision to give them their freedom to go in or outdoors, I decided I would rather they lived full "cat lives" even if they were cut short than to live a long, boring life stuck indoors, never lying in the sun or chasing butterflies etc obviously it can be a worry sometimes but they are animals and are meant to go outside. Also my cats have never scratched furniture or carpets, messed in the house, jumped on worktops etc Im sure this is because they get all the stimulation they want outside. They have been affectionate and friendly and have never bitten or scratched anyone, even the vet!

My remaining old boy is 17 now and although he was very reluctant to go out in the winter, since spring has come he has been outside nearly all the time and when I see him lying in the garden in the sun, I just think its how it should be and what a lovely life he has had.

Obviously when your cats go outside you worry about them but you have to do what you think your cat wants and what would make your cat happiest.

fannyanna

Ahhh solstice that's really sad about the dog

I have two cats (brother and sister). It goes without saying that it is more expenisve. You're paying twice for everything.

We got two as my husband thought they'd keep each other company. Didn't know at the time but apparently cats don't really like each other and aren't that sociable (info from vets). Now obviously my two do like each other but they really, really, really fight a lot.

My opinion on whether cats should be in or out is that they should be out. I don't like the idea of keeping a cat couped up in the house (of course there are some cats that just don't want to go out) but that's just my personal opinion. I find cats will generally let you know what they want. Some days my two want to stay in others they want out. Also when I keep them in when it's clear that they want out they destroy my home .

One of my cats was recently attacked by a fox whcih was very upsetting. Because of this we now only let them out during the day and they have to come in at night (which is the opposite of what they were used to).

fannyanna

Also if you do get a boy and girl kitten take your vets advice on when to neuter. My two developed early so were neutered at 5 months rather than 6 to avoid them getting it on

Chuzzle

Just wanted to add my four-penneth worth

We have one cat (Ceefa) she was a stray and adopted us 13 years ago and we think she's about 14. She's always been nervous and would come in to be fed but always preferred to be outside come rain or shine or snow. Until this winter when we decided to try and keep her in. She loves being in so much now she hates to go outside!

I think at the end of the day you have to try to let them out and see what they prefer and makes them happy. I live on a busy main road and also have lots of lorries going past frequently (live in front of sess-pit place! ) and touch wood Ceefa has never ventured near the main road.

morocha

thank you very much everyone, we are picking up the kittens tomorrow, can't wait !