Cats for beginners
Discussion
Wife has wanted to get a cat for months, I’ve finally been beaten and agreed to it.
Absolute novices, looking to rehome one locally, she has been in touch with a few places already who have suggested some around a year old so they generally know the personality already as we have two young kids (3 & 5).
What am I getting myself in to!?!?! What do I need to know
Absolute novices, looking to rehome one locally, she has been in touch with a few places already who have suggested some around a year old so they generally know the personality already as we have two young kids (3 & 5).
What am I getting myself in to!?!?! What do I need to know
vixen1700 said:
Every cat is different with their own personality so you'll only discover what they're like once they've been with you a while.
Some may be aloof, some cuddly, some paranoid, some inquisitive, who knows?
Pictures when the cat arrives though.
Thats my worry haha, she has this perfect vision of a cuddly cat sitting on her lap in the evening and joyfully playing with the kids all the time. I know we will get some moody **** who wants nothing to do with us and wrecks all the furniture Some may be aloof, some cuddly, some paranoid, some inquisitive, who knows?
Pictures when the cat arrives though.
Fusss said:
vixen1700 said:
Every cat is different with their own personality so you'll only discover what they're like once they've been with you a while.
Some may be aloof, some cuddly, some paranoid, some inquisitive, who knows?
Pictures when the cat arrives though.
Thats my worry haha, she has this perfect vision of a cuddly cat sitting on her lap in the evening and joyfully playing with the kids all the time. I know we will get some moody **** who wants nothing to do with us and wrecks all the furniture Some may be aloof, some cuddly, some paranoid, some inquisitive, who knows?
Pictures when the cat arrives though.
HustleRussell said:
Agree with vixen1700. Your concerns are valid!
Looks like we will be entering the cat lottery 
Rehomed cat would be neutered/spayed and vaccinated and the plan is for an indoor/outdoor cat. How long before you can let them outside once they come home with you?
Our neighbour has two cats - what is the likelihood of them fighting over territory as they regularly come in our garden - will they have claimed that as their own?
I asked similar in the caturday thread- answers (I lost out to 3 more rescued gerbils...maybe next time/ next house for me and a furball)
ETA link to thread for all your pics to be added: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
My two kittens (pictured up thread) are roughly per month for both…
£25 insurance (PDSA we’re good value and my wife works for them)
£60 wet food (Felix kitten)
£10 flea treatments (Frontline Plus spot on)
£5 worm treatments (Bob Martin Clear spot on)
£30 wood pellet litter (£9 per 30kg, Pets At Home) (3 litter trays!)
On top of this there’s about £70 worth of vaccinations yearly.
Previously single old cat was under half the amount, but we self insured, she ate dry food, and she used a lot less litter as she went out. These will do too once they’re spayed and we’ll switch to dry food when they’re a little older.
You want to also budget around £150 for beds, blankets, cat trees, toys, collars, food bowls, mats, other crap.
And they ‘cost’ £100 from Cats Protection.
For me, as the owner of a rescue cat, it's:
Felix wet food: 2 sachets a day, say £7pw.
Occasional biscuits, say 50p p/w
She goes out for her business so that's free.
She sleeps around the house or on my bed, so that's free.
If she needs to see the vet, that's whatever it comes to.
Purchase cost: £50 from local rescue centre.
So basically very cheap to run, unless a vet is needed.
I don't know our costs off the top of my head, but I'll say this much - budget for insurance. We're £25 p/m on a lifetime policy for a 14yr old Bengal with no underlying conditions.
I wouldn't have a cat and not have insurance.
Same here, and just to give an update on Oreo.
Specialist can repair him. Costs at my local vet is just shy of £1k. Estimate with the specialist adds £4,500 to £5,500.
Add his previous injury (which came to just over £7,500), he would've cost us £14,000 if we had self-insured. And he's only 4.5 years old, so potentially many more exploits to come!
ETA link to thread for all your pics to be added: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
My two kittens (pictured up thread) are roughly per month for both…
£25 insurance (PDSA we’re good value and my wife works for them)
£60 wet food (Felix kitten)
£10 flea treatments (Frontline Plus spot on)
£5 worm treatments (Bob Martin Clear spot on)
£30 wood pellet litter (£9 per 30kg, Pets At Home) (3 litter trays!)
On top of this there’s about £70 worth of vaccinations yearly.
Previously single old cat was under half the amount, but we self insured, she ate dry food, and she used a lot less litter as she went out. These will do too once they’re spayed and we’ll switch to dry food when they’re a little older.
You want to also budget around £150 for beds, blankets, cat trees, toys, collars, food bowls, mats, other crap.
And they ‘cost’ £100 from Cats Protection.
For me, as the owner of a rescue cat, it's:
Felix wet food: 2 sachets a day, say £7pw.
Occasional biscuits, say 50p p/w
She goes out for her business so that's free.
She sleeps around the house or on my bed, so that's free.
If she needs to see the vet, that's whatever it comes to.
Purchase cost: £50 from local rescue centre.
So basically very cheap to run, unless a vet is needed.
I don't know our costs off the top of my head, but I'll say this much - budget for insurance. We're £25 p/m on a lifetime policy for a 14yr old Bengal with no underlying conditions.
I wouldn't have a cat and not have insurance.
Same here, and just to give an update on Oreo.
Specialist can repair him. Costs at my local vet is just shy of £1k. Estimate with the specialist adds £4,500 to £5,500.
Add his previous injury (which came to just over £7,500), he would've cost us £14,000 if we had self-insured. And he's only 4.5 years old, so potentially many more exploits to come!
I was where you are now 5 years ago. Didn't want a cat but was brow beaten into two kittens (brother and sister). I wouldn't be without them for the world and they have definitely been a boost for us now the kids are grown and have flown the coop. They are both different but occasionally will love to snuggle up on the sofa. The male cat likes to sit on my chest at around 4 in the morning which is a bit of a disturbance but I go with it anyway.
As others have posted, it's a bit of a lottery but still a joy. Not sure about neighbours cats but there may be the occasional fisticuffs?!
Good luck with it! Perhaps have two so that they are at least company for each other when you aren't around?
JM
As others have posted, it's a bit of a lottery but still a joy. Not sure about neighbours cats but there may be the occasional fisticuffs?!
Good luck with it! Perhaps have two so that they are at least company for each other when you aren't around?
JM
I still have the scars on my wrist from when our little sod was young.
Not a cuddly lap cat who likes to play with young kids and string.
I used to go to lunch by the River Cam at the time and he used to jump into my old Polo and sit on my lap.
Found out he'd been kicked out and was living wild for around six months fending for himself.
This went on each day for a couple of months until Autumn came and I decided to bring him home.
He was more like a tame fox than a wild cat with his strange little ways which we could kind of understand.
That was 2007, so he's getting on a bit now.
How he is now.
Absolutely hates other cats and is fiercely territorial.
A total 'special needs' cat who is totally bonkers. But we love him dearly.
Hopefully you won't get one like him.
Not a cuddly lap cat who likes to play with young kids and string.
I used to go to lunch by the River Cam at the time and he used to jump into my old Polo and sit on my lap.
Found out he'd been kicked out and was living wild for around six months fending for himself.
This went on each day for a couple of months until Autumn came and I decided to bring him home.
He was more like a tame fox than a wild cat with his strange little ways which we could kind of understand.
That was 2007, so he's getting on a bit now.
How he is now.
Absolutely hates other cats and is fiercely territorial.
A total 'special needs' cat who is totally bonkers. But we love him dearly.
Hopefully you won't get one like him.
Good on you for getting a rescue rather than going to a breeder.
The only advice I would give is get the cat checked at the vet as soon as you get it and sign up for pet insurance. It can save a lot of heartache if your guy needs sudden and expensive treatment down the line.
Also buy the best cat food you can, the better the food is the healthier they'll be and you'll thank yourself when they use the litter tray
The only advice I would give is get the cat checked at the vet as soon as you get it and sign up for pet insurance. It can save a lot of heartache if your guy needs sudden and expensive treatment down the line.
Also buy the best cat food you can, the better the food is the healthier they'll be and you'll thank yourself when they use the litter tray
Fusss said:
Wife has wanted to get a cat for months, I’ve finally been beaten and agreed to it.
Absolute novices, looking to rehome one locally, she has been in touch with a few places already who have suggested some around a year old so they generally know the personality already as we have two young kids (3 & 5).
What am I getting myself in to!?!?! What do I need to know
As someone who has a cat and a young child, I would offer some words of caution. Cats can be fun, but they can also be grumpy and intolerant of small children. Children naturally want to pet, stoke, pick up, cuddle and play with cats, and cats often want to be left alone.Absolute novices, looking to rehome one locally, she has been in touch with a few places already who have suggested some around a year old so they generally know the personality already as we have two young kids (3 & 5).
What am I getting myself in to!?!?! What do I need to know
Cats are very independent and they want to play or be stroked almost entirely on their own terms. If they want it, they will ask for it, if they don't want it, you will know about it.
Is can be hard to explain to a small child why the cute looking cat doesn't want to play with them or be cuddled, and ultimately you will end up trying to keep them apart for fear of your kids getting scratched.
My cat has lashed out at my son on several occasions, and fortunately only went for his hands or arms rather than his face.
Some people will tell you that cats will always escape from children if they want to avoid them, but this isn't true. They will at times escape to somewhere the kids can't reach them, or go outside, but sometimes they will stand their ground and lash out, which is their way of telling you they want left alone.
Obviously this will become easier as the kids get older, but it might be hard repeatedly telling a 3 year old to leave the cat alone.
Just something to think about.
Aside from that, my other advice would be:
1) Get a catflap. Cats are independent and want to go inside and outside whenever they want, to please themselves, and also for when they want to go to the toilet. It also means you don't really have to think about anything when you go away for a few days. They will look after themselves.
2) Don't get a litter tray. Disgusting things to have in your house, and you won't ever need one if you have a catflap.
3) Get a SureFlap microchip cat flap. Best £65 you will ever spend. They are incredibly reliable (My last one lasted 10 years and got left in our old house). They will only let your cat into the house, and not everyone else's. Absolutely brilliant. Don't bother with anything else or any other brands.
4) Get a timed 'hopper' dry food feeder which can hold a full bag of dry food. Really useful.
5) Get insurance or a 'pet health plan' type scheme from your local vets.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 13th January 11:38
ZedLeg said:
Good on you for getting a rescue rather than going to a breeder.
The only advice I would give is get the cat checked at the vet as soon as you get it and sign up for pet insurance. It can save a lot of heartache if your guy needs sudden and expensive treatment down the line.
Also buy the best cat food you can, the better the food is the healthier they'll be and you'll thank yourself when they use the litter tray
Yep!The only advice I would give is get the cat checked at the vet as soon as you get it and sign up for pet insurance. It can save a lot of heartache if your guy needs sudden and expensive treatment down the line.
Also buy the best cat food you can, the better the food is the healthier they'll be and you'll thank yourself when they use the litter tray
Never really had insurance in the past but would do now as old Kat had to have a couple of of operations about ten years back for a urinary infection and that was around £1700 if I remember rightly, or it could have been more.
If it’s just the one cat. Get a female, that isn’t an unusual breed and have it neutered early.
Female cats generally stay close to home and crap in the home garden, so you will minimise complaints from the neighbours about their flower beds,
Your basic tabby cat is ideal as they don’t have any peculiar tendencies like some rare breeds do.
Female cats generally stay close to home and crap in the home garden, so you will minimise complaints from the neighbours about their flower beds,
Your basic tabby cat is ideal as they don’t have any peculiar tendencies like some rare breeds do.
Fusss said:
Thats my worry haha, she has this perfect vision of a cuddly cat sitting on her lap in the evening and joyfully playing with the kids all the time. I know we will get some moody **** who wants nothing to do with us and wrecks all the furniture
That’s highly likely to be the same cat at 5 minute intervals. It is a lottery as has been mentioned.
I think a young kitten you would have a lot more chance to create the perfect cat, there's no guarantee though. I think spending as much time with them, physical contact, on your lap etc they will be more "compliant".
I'm not saying a rescue cat will be a problem, it just may take longer to come round.
What I have noticed with our cat specifically is that with me working from home since lockdown he has effectively become my cat rather than my wife's as I am his go to for food, affection for the best part of the day. Also, when it comes to affection, I'll pick him up, give him a fuss and at some point he'll decide he's had enough, so I'll just let him get up and walk away.
They'll obviously be scratching of furniture, jumping on surfaces you may not want them to, bringing mice, birds in the house, possibly alive... Ours has dragged baby hares in a few times and performed ritual kills during the night as an example.
I'm not trying to put you off, ours is great, but you just need to realise what you will be getting into.
I think a young kitten you would have a lot more chance to create the perfect cat, there's no guarantee though. I think spending as much time with them, physical contact, on your lap etc they will be more "compliant".
I'm not saying a rescue cat will be a problem, it just may take longer to come round.
What I have noticed with our cat specifically is that with me working from home since lockdown he has effectively become my cat rather than my wife's as I am his go to for food, affection for the best part of the day. Also, when it comes to affection, I'll pick him up, give him a fuss and at some point he'll decide he's had enough, so I'll just let him get up and walk away.
They'll obviously be scratching of furniture, jumping on surfaces you may not want them to, bringing mice, birds in the house, possibly alive... Ours has dragged baby hares in a few times and performed ritual kills during the night as an example.
I'm not trying to put you off, ours is great, but you just need to realise what you will be getting into.
As far as furniture clawing, if you get them enough other stuff to claw then they'll stay off the furniture. Our two are housecats and they never claw the furniture apart from the odd claws out stretch. They always go to the scratching posts for more concerted efforts.
Blankets on any furniture they sleep on will also help with scratching and keeping it relatively hair free.
We've got two of these and a cat tree with legs they can claw.
https://www.petplanet.co.uk/p17848/smartcat_ultima...
Blankets on any furniture they sleep on will also help with scratching and keeping it relatively hair free.
We've got two of these and a cat tree with legs they can claw.
https://www.petplanet.co.uk/p17848/smartcat_ultima...
Freakuk said:
It is a lottery as has been mentioned.
I think a young kitten you would have a lot more chance to create the perfect cat, there's no guarantee though. I think spending as much time with them, physical contact, on your lap etc they will be more "compliant".
I'm not saying a rescue cat will be a problem, it just may take longer to come round.
What I have noticed with our cat specifically is that with me working from home since lockdown he has effectively become my cat rather than my wife's as I am his go to for food, affection for the best part of the day. Also, when it comes to affection, I'll pick him up, give him a fuss and at some point he'll decide he's had enough, so I'll just let him get up and walk away.
They'll obviously be scratching of furniture, jumping on surfaces you may not want them to, bringing mice, birds in the house, possibly alive... Ours has dragged baby hares in a few times and performed ritual kills during the night as an example.
I'm not trying to put you off, ours is great, but you just need to realise what you will be getting into.
Interestingly, our cat is 'my' cat. My wife always comments that he will always go to me first, always looks at me, always asks me for food, and so on. It's only when I'm not around that he goes to my wife I think a young kitten you would have a lot more chance to create the perfect cat, there's no guarantee though. I think spending as much time with them, physical contact, on your lap etc they will be more "compliant".
I'm not saying a rescue cat will be a problem, it just may take longer to come round.
What I have noticed with our cat specifically is that with me working from home since lockdown he has effectively become my cat rather than my wife's as I am his go to for food, affection for the best part of the day. Also, when it comes to affection, I'll pick him up, give him a fuss and at some point he'll decide he's had enough, so I'll just let him get up and walk away.
They'll obviously be scratching of furniture, jumping on surfaces you may not want them to, bringing mice, birds in the house, possibly alive... Ours has dragged baby hares in a few times and performed ritual kills during the night as an example.
I'm not trying to put you off, ours is great, but you just need to realise what you will be getting into.
Ours has never scratched furniture (or anything else inside), and that may be down to just pure luck, or it may be due to the fact he has always spent quite a bit of time outside and prefers to scratch wood such as fence posts or trees. He has torn lumps out of fenceposts outside, which is totally fine by me, as it keeps him from doing it in the house!
Mr E said:
Fusss said:
Thats my worry haha, she has this perfect vision of a cuddly cat sitting on her lap in the evening and joyfully playing with the kids all the time. I know we will get some moody **** who wants nothing to do with us and wrecks all the furniture
That’s highly likely to be the same cat at 5 minute intervals. He's three now. Quite friendly and chatty a lot of the time, aloof others. He recognises our cars coming into in the street and often bounds over to say hello/butter us up so he can get more food....
He was great to have around during lockdown, particularly for my teenage kids - he's got quite a bond with those two.
We don't have a catflap and holidays can be a bit of a pain but we usually bung one of the local kids some cash to let him in and out and feed him.
Finally, he's very good at relaxing. Something he spends a lot of time doing.
Thanks very much for all of the replies guys, much appreciated.
It’s taken me a little while to come round to the idea of having a cat, so to curveball me with two might be a bridge too far! Is having only one considered poor form? Should they have a mate?
Yeah no intention of going directly to a breeder, would much rather re-home. The two possibles are both female, 1 year old and “apparently” would be ok with younger children, but as you all mention….. who really knows at this point. I guess when we go to see them we can decide if one seems friendlier etc.
We do not have a cat flap but my wife works from home 100%, and we don’t regularly go away for any periods of time.
We would definitely insure, we have two rabbits (live outdoors in a completely closed off hutch and run) who are both insured anyways. Another thing to consider I guess having rabbits outside? They don’t free roam and are completely closed in.
It’s taken me a little while to come round to the idea of having a cat, so to curveball me with two might be a bridge too far! Is having only one considered poor form? Should they have a mate?
Yeah no intention of going directly to a breeder, would much rather re-home. The two possibles are both female, 1 year old and “apparently” would be ok with younger children, but as you all mention….. who really knows at this point. I guess when we go to see them we can decide if one seems friendlier etc.
We do not have a cat flap but my wife works from home 100%, and we don’t regularly go away for any periods of time.
We would definitely insure, we have two rabbits (live outdoors in a completely closed off hutch and run) who are both insured anyways. Another thing to consider I guess having rabbits outside? They don’t free roam and are completely closed in.
Some good advice on this thread, especially Lord M.
A rescue cat is the way forward. A decent rescue outfit will have a crib sheet on each cat and you will be able to find out why it is being re-homed. Go for an older cat. They are harder to place. Kittens are easy, but many rescue centres and fosterers have long termers, who are the older cats.
We have 2. The first is 2 yrs and had had more clubs than Stan Colleymore. it is a little aggressive and it turns out it's 4 previous owners all had kids. It is a cat that will be affectionate but will nip and scratch when it's had enough. Kids don't understand this.
The other is a rescued stray with health problems. Cost me £3,000 already this month because the pre-existing condition she had and which meant nobody was interested in her, was not covered by our insurance. Yes, £3,000 is a lot of money, but go into the Rolex thread, I'd rather spend my money on my a ball of teeth and fleas.
We have no kids so the house feels nicely lived in with the two idiots and us.
The big un is like me, a bit dopey, likes to sleep, looks perpetually confused with life and would catch a mouse, if it could be arsed.
The little one is like the wife. small, ginger, cute, hyperactive, bounces off the walls, eats like a refugee, farts like a navvie, never stops and requires regular trips to the vets.
What grieves me is the councils who get a cat off Facebook and fail to realise you have a responsibility and one that coasts £100 upwards a month in food, insurance etc. Centres and the one we both work at are awash with cats rescued from s
tholes and owners who can afford a massive flat screen and 40 fags a day but not £20 a month to insure a cat and look after it wellbeing. and we want photos of your cat when it arrives.
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