Potential first time cat owner looking for advice
Discussion
Me and the missus are fancying getting a pet. I would say I am primarily a dog person, but we both work and therefore it wouldn't be fair on a dog to leave it alone all day I wouldn't have thought.
So I got thinking about whether a cat would make a good pet. There are some issues though. Firstly, I am allergic to cats, so having done some googling, it would appear there are a few breeds that people like me can tolerate, the siberian cats seem to be a favourite amongst people with cat allergies. The second issue is I live in a small upstairs flat (one bedroom job), would this be too small? It would appear that the siberian is one of the larger cats.
I am not dead set on the siberian if there are alternatives. I'd quite like something affectionate and not something that wants to claw my eyes out because it's in a bad mood! I also wondered if it would be better to have 2 cats instead of one. Ones that are suited to primarily indoor life would be good. I realise that I will also have to get a fur sample to see whether I react to it first.
Can anyone offer any advice or insights?
So I got thinking about whether a cat would make a good pet. There are some issues though. Firstly, I am allergic to cats, so having done some googling, it would appear there are a few breeds that people like me can tolerate, the siberian cats seem to be a favourite amongst people with cat allergies. The second issue is I live in a small upstairs flat (one bedroom job), would this be too small? It would appear that the siberian is one of the larger cats.
I am not dead set on the siberian if there are alternatives. I'd quite like something affectionate and not something that wants to claw my eyes out because it's in a bad mood! I also wondered if it would be better to have 2 cats instead of one. Ones that are suited to primarily indoor life would be good. I realise that I will also have to get a fur sample to see whether I react to it first.
Can anyone offer any advice or insights?
If you want a cat that won't claw your eyes out then i'd suggest an older rescue cat, that way you can see its temperament rather than get a cute kitten that may turn into a savage a few months later.
I'm allergic to one of our cats, its not that bad I just try to keep him out of the bedroom, although in a one bed flat that might be a struggle!
I'm allergic to one of our cats, its not that bad I just try to keep him out of the bedroom, although in a one bed flat that might be a struggle!
Dromedary66 said:
Please wait until you live in a house or a ground floor flat where you can install a cat flap.
I agree with this - unless perhaps you can find a rescue cat that's used to living in a box and pooing in a tray. But at least you're thinking rather than acting on impulse 
I have two cats in my one bedroom 5th floor flat. My two are Siamese and have always lived inside.
Did a fair bit of looking into keeping 'house cats' and societies views vary depending mainly on if they are a native species. In Japan they are virtually all kept indoors for instance.
Plenty of good reasons to keep cats inside for both their own good and the good of and any living thing in a 2 mile radius...
Quite apart from cars, kids and cat aids many cats are hugely stressed in a city environment due to the number of other cats living close by and their territorial nature.
I'd suggest getting two from the same litter, if they are going to be inside all the time having a sister / brother will keep them occupied. I'm sometimes away for a couple of days and can leave out a decent amount of food and know they'll be fine together. Would feel guilty leaving just one.
Only thing to bear in mind with house cats is you'll need to empty the litter tray every day or two or your house will start smelling pretty funky.
http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/carin...
Did a fair bit of looking into keeping 'house cats' and societies views vary depending mainly on if they are a native species. In Japan they are virtually all kept indoors for instance.
Plenty of good reasons to keep cats inside for both their own good and the good of and any living thing in a 2 mile radius...
Quite apart from cars, kids and cat aids many cats are hugely stressed in a city environment due to the number of other cats living close by and their territorial nature.
I'd suggest getting two from the same litter, if they are going to be inside all the time having a sister / brother will keep them occupied. I'm sometimes away for a couple of days and can leave out a decent amount of food and know they'll be fine together. Would feel guilty leaving just one.
Only thing to bear in mind with house cats is you'll need to empty the litter tray every day or two or your house will start smelling pretty funky.
http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/carin...
I had twovcats in a large flat for four years, very happy cats.
A flat is no reason not to have a cat or preferably two, you just need to be a bit more thoughtful about environmental enrichment and type of cat you choose.
British short hairs can be laid back but I'd look to rescues. They are bound to have adult cats that have lived indoors and will fit your criteria (except breed specification, but character to suit your needs is far more important than breed tbh)
Chances are unless you are severely asthmatic around cats, you will develop resistance to pretty much any cat in time. You may need some piriton for a while to start!!
A flat is no reason not to have a cat or preferably two, you just need to be a bit more thoughtful about environmental enrichment and type of cat you choose.
British short hairs can be laid back but I'd look to rescues. They are bound to have adult cats that have lived indoors and will fit your criteria (except breed specification, but character to suit your needs is far more important than breed tbh)
Chances are unless you are severely asthmatic around cats, you will develop resistance to pretty much any cat in time. You may need some piriton for a while to start!!
Edited by bexVN on Monday 19th October 16:52
Allergic cat owner here, we adopted in the summer while I was already on anti-hystamines for hayfever. Come winter, no real problems for 10 years, we just keep 'em out of the bedroom. Get a decent "pet" spec hoover too to clean up hair/dust.
We have two, one had to move out of her flat and we took her on...*literally* climbing the walls/curtains in the 1st floor flat she came from - she's now happy with a catflap/garden.
The other one never goes outside and would love a nice warm flat!
Go to a few local rescue centres and ask to see if they have any friendly, calm indoor cats. They'll be happy to help and happy if you're a good home.
We have two, one had to move out of her flat and we took her on...*literally* climbing the walls/curtains in the 1st floor flat she came from - she's now happy with a catflap/garden.
The other one never goes outside and would love a nice warm flat!
Go to a few local rescue centres and ask to see if they have any friendly, calm indoor cats. They'll be happy to help and happy if you're a good home.
Thanks for replies.
I did wonder if this place would be too small, it is pretty small to say the least, it's worth thinking about.
I would definitely go the route of re-homing rather than dealing with kittens.
As you say I'd probably get used to it, though when I stay at mates houses with cats I always usually end up with hay fever like symptoms by the next day.
As for getting rats, there is absolutely no way the OH would let me keep those (even though I actually quite like them)
I did wonder if this place would be too small, it is pretty small to say the least, it's worth thinking about.
I would definitely go the route of re-homing rather than dealing with kittens.
As you say I'd probably get used to it, though when I stay at mates houses with cats I always usually end up with hay fever like symptoms by the next day.
As for getting rats, there is absolutely no way the OH would let me keep those (even though I actually quite like them)
TameRacingDriver said:
Thanks for replies guys, I think concerns about space are legitimate concerns so we won't be bothering (at least not until we move into a bigger place, if that ever happens).
Though think of it like this, you have more space than a rescue kennel/cattery has to offer.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff