Would it be silly to buy an imperfect property when we could live rent free, just because of my cat?

Indigo_and_Violet

Awkward parking would worry me less than non-existent parking on the basis that a) if you're doing it every day in the same car you get pretty good at judging it b) in a fight between a car and a bin, the car wins c) you can always hop out and move a bin if needed. 

However, I wouldn't buy a house that doesn't feel right just to solve the cat situation. 

If the house doesn't feel right then pull out. You don't know when the repossession is happening so you might find something else before then. I would also start speaking to friends about whether anyone wants to foster the cat. To me, there is a big difference between abandoning the cat and knowing it's going to be well loved and well looked after somewhere else. If friends can't take them maybe speak to a local cat charity and explain that you temporarily have to move to your Dad's that you're looking to buy and you need someone to foster in the meantime. Particularly if you can give them a good donation to cover costs they may well have an experienced cat fosterer who can help. 

Then maybe put a time limit on staying at Dad's e.g. if we haven't found somewhere to buy in 6 months then we'll move into rental to have the cat back? Particularly if you are struggling to get the budget to buy somewhere you like the extra money saved from living with Dad could mean the difference between finding the right place for you for the next 10 years and not. For me, 10 years of being happy in my home is worth 6 months of being separated from my cat, but then I speak as someone who hasn't been able to have cats for the past 12 years because I've always been renting. 

sb03

tdawber said:

I would pull out because of the parking situation, try again …..

Yes I am thinking the same, unfortunately I made the wrong compromise by choosing something that I can never change and may get worse!

sb03

I don’t suppose anyone here has a successful experience with introducing 2 cats together that are used to being the only animal in the house?  

so I can save money and keep my cat...

grumiofoundation

mabbit said:

It is misguided to become emotionally attached to a pet. 

Pets owners believe their pets to have emotions, but they don't. When you look at your pet, you are simply seeing your own emotions reflected back at you. 

Yeesh, if my cat's behaviour and emotions are simply reflecting my emotions back at me then I need to re-evaluate my life! 



For the OP we are another example of renting with cat (even worth viewing properties advertised as no pets, a cat may not be viewed as much of a problem as a dog). Obviously may depend on the rental market in your area and popularity of certain types of properties. 

grumiofoundation

sb03 said:

I don’t suppose anyone here has a successful experience with introducing 2 cats together that are used to being the only animal in the house?  

so I can save money and keep my cat...

Coincidently this week started introducing cat 2 to cat 1 that has been only cat for in home ~2.5 years (across 2 different houses).

Currently hissing seems to be the main order of the day (simple reflecting my emotions of course as explained by the zoological expert earlier). 

From people I have asked they say eventually they just settle down to a rhythm even if it takes a while, along sound as if said rhythm sometimes never becomes that friendly. A friend at work says they have had 2 cats that have hated each other for 10+ years and never go in the same room...  

sb03

Indigo_and_Violet said:

Awkward parking would worry me less than non-existent parking on the basis that a) if you're doing it every day in the same car you get pretty good at judging it b) in a fight between a car and a bin, the car wins c) you can always hop out and move a bin if needed. 

However, I wouldn't buy a house that doesn't feel right just to solve the cat situation. 

If the house doesn't feel right then pull out. You don't know when the repossession is happening so you might find something else before then. I would also start speaking to friends about whether anyone wants to foster the cat. To me, there is a big difference between abandoning the cat and knowing it's going to be well loved and well looked after somewhere else. If friends can't take them maybe speak to a local cat charity and explain that you temporarily have to move to your Dad's that you're looking to buy and you need someone to foster in the meantime. Particularly if you can give them a good donation to cover costs they may well have an experienced cat fosterer who can help. 

Then maybe put a time limit on staying at Dad's e.g. if we haven't found somewhere to buy in 6 months then we'll move into rental to have the cat back? Particularly if you are struggling to get the budget to buy somewhere you like the extra money saved from living with Dad could mean the difference between finding the right place for you for the next 10 years and not. For me, 10 years of being happy in my home is worth 6 months of being separated from my cat, but then I speak as someone who hasn't been able to have cats for the past 12 years because I've always been renting. 

Thanks for the advice , that sounds sensible to me, though 6 months seems quite a long time, and if house prices keep rising I could end up stuck again.

My dad did say I would get used to the parking situation, and It only seems bad to me as I am used to having a spacious driveway. That being said, I do get quite stressed driving and my sensors don’t seem to help much as they go mad everytime I have tried to get round the back street to the parking. 

I would definitely be willing to pay the costs for my cat if someone else were to take her in for a period of time. 

Davesnave

To return to the title of the thread, we all buy imperfect properties, but some imperfections are within our power to change, while others out of our direct control may worsen. Never knowingly buy into a problem which you cannot be sure of solving.

SallyDucati

sb03 said:

I don’t suppose anyone here has a successful experience with introducing 2 cats together that are used to being the only animal in the house?  

so I can save money and keep my cat...

I tried to take on a cat when I already had 2, current cats were fine it was the new one that made it clear she didn't like other cats and wanted me all to herself.  This was with a month of gentle introductions and scent swapping.  Each cat is different, but I would say if the other cat is obviously not one to get on with others it will be very difficult to introduce them.  

Scorpiogal13

sb03 said:

I don’t suppose anyone here has a successful experience with introducing 2 cats together that are used to being the only animal in the house?  

so I can save money and keep my cat...

Why not introduce the 2 cats and see how they get on for a few days?

What Sex are they, .....this might be relevant.

As i've read, if one is male and the other is female, they may get along better.

greensalad

Could you keep an area of the house just for your cat? E.g a bedroom plus a landing, and the other cat can have the rest of the house? I've had friends who have had cats that only live on their upper floors. Not ideal but could work.

For me there would be no question about making the cat a part of my home planning. Beyond being a family member, they are a creature you've decided to care for and their needs deserve being considered imo. So I would definitely try and find a solution that means you can keep your cat.

You can totally rent with cats. I had to put down a small additional deposit.