Advice on getting a cat

[TRB]

I love dogs, always had dogs, nothing particularly against cats, just not even been considered.

BUT.... my current dog is 11 this year, slowing down a lot, plus I'm working away quite a bit with a new job so not ideal for dog ownership (previously just been a bum, so dog always with me). Already had this dog before we had kids (kids now 4 and 7) but thinking of getting a cat so the kids can have their 'own' pet.

I'm thinking it would be an indoor cat. A bit of a shame as we're out in the sticks and plenty to explore, but I've seen so many cats splattered across the country lanes I think perhaps they get used to the quiet and lose their instint that it's dangerous (plus there are folk with guns on shoots).

I was thinking I'd get a kitten. Gives the dog a chance to adjust plus the kids get to see it grow up.

House isn't exactly a palace, so not too worried about any potential damage (kids do their fair share).

I know some people in flats etc have indoor cats, but not sure if this gives the cat any less of a life when there is an alternative.

Happy to hear any experiences/advice.

[lenats31]

You have to create an indoor inviroment that meets the cats natural needs, as they will try to fulfill those needs indoor. Those are needs that outdoor cats can fulfill by climbing trees, try to catch other animals, walk on high places etc.

For one thing, cats love high places. They love soft and warm places too. So boards near the ceiling to walk on combined with cat shelves/beds so to speak and floor to ceiling cat tree would be good ideas. On top of that, they have some instincts that they will not neglect no matter where they are. So lots of toys would come in handy too.

getting two kittens and preferably some that are no less than 12 weeks old (cat mother´s homeschooling is over by 12 weeks)helps a lot, as they have each other to play with.

Edited by lenats31 on Wednesday 30th January 15:53

[Superficial]

Sounds like you could offer a great home

My cats used to be outdoor free roaming cats, at the moment they are just indoor cats and I'll be cat proofing the garden so they can have access to the outdoors but can't wonder off. They definitely are no less fulfilled now than they were when they used to go outdoors, I just have to make more of an effort to meet their needs. Lots of interactive play, taking them outside on a harness for some exploration etc. But I'd definitely recommend cat proofing/ a cat run as a safe way for them to go outside unsupervised.

Unless you are totally rural with no passing traffic the outdoor world is no longer really safe for cats. It's sad and I do miss letting my cats go wondering off into the woods and fields, but I definitely don't miss the anxious nights when they didn't come home and I don't miss the countless risks. The stats say it all really; a cat with access to the outdoors has an average lifespan of less than 5 years.

Here's a page for you to have a read through, isn't biased one way or the other either: http://www.fabcats.org/owners/safety/inorout/info....

If you don't have any other cats or young/playful animals I'd recommend getting 2 kittens to keep each other company and tire each other out. Hth

[Simpo Two]

Superficial said:

Unless you are totally rural with no passing traffic the outdoor world is no longer really safe for cats.

I've lived at the top (ie cul-de-sac) of an estate for 20+ years and have never heard of any of the cats around here being run over - and that's despite the school run parking up outside twice a day.

To me a cat that can't go out and has to st in the kitchen and only see green things through a pane of glass is a zoo animal, not a real cat. I'd rather it had a decent life and took its chances, and if I thought roads were a significant hazard, I wouldn't have a cat.

[steve2]

if you want an indoor cat look at rehousing a rescue cat from the cat protectionas there will be some on there who are used to this environment and there should be some who get on with dogs as well

[rohrl]

As someone else said, if they're going to be indoors while you're out all day it's well worth considering getting two to keep each other company. It's worth the extra expense just to watch them rolling about play-fighting then curling up on top of each other to sleep.

You don't need to spend lots of money on toys for cats really, cardboard boxes regularly moved around (cats love to investigate any changes to their environment), ping-pong balls, dangling ropes and suchlike will keep them entertained. My cat's current favourite is a super-size Christmas Jaffa Cake box I've cut a couple of holes in. I drop a ball in it and he'll try to get it out. Hours of fun.

[TRB]

Thanks guys. I think in some ways living in the country would be worse for cats than living in town. I might only see a car an hour go down the lane (outside school-run o'clock) but if it's not a local - chances are it'll be going too fast.

[Superficial]

Simpo Two said:

I've lived at the top (ie cul-de-sac) of an estate for 20+ years and have never heard of any of the cats around here being run over - and that's despite the school run parking up outside twice a day.

To me a cat that can't go out and has to st in the kitchen and only see green things through a pane of glass is a zoo animal, not a real cat. I'd rather it had a decent life and took its chances, and if I thought roads were a significant hazard, I wouldn't have a cat.

It's not just traffic that poses a risk to cats, but seeing as we're off on that tangent... I knew many cats who have been killed on the road, I know many who haven't. Don't really see what your point is; just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen. As above, the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is less than 5 years. Generally cats who are used to lots of traffic develop an awareness of it, but all it takes is one false move, or as I've read on PH one sicko to deliberately speed up at a cat, and your beloved pet is gone forever.

We keep lots of pets and don't allow them to roam; dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs blah, blah. Doesn't mean they are zoo animals and certainly doesn't mean they don't have decent lives

As a responsible pet owner I don't wish to take any avoidable 'chances' when it comes to the safety of my pets. Btw, I had free roaming cats for 11 years and was also very anti the idea of keeping cats indoors. With hindsight that was purely because I was ignorant and didn't research the indoor/outdoor benefits and risks properly.

Anyway I shall bow out of this thread, not wanting to turn the OP's post into an indoor/outdoor debate.

[Digitalize]

I'm firmly in the 'whats the point of a cat if it can't go outdoors' camp, it just doesn't seem right to me, they can't hunt, explore, do whatever they want, it also means cleaning up after them and dealing with them racing around the house and breaking anything you don't want them to.

I see your point about the road though, less regular they aren't aware of it, whereas I live in a town and the road is almost always busy enough for a cat to see it as a hazard.

Definitely get 2 though, they'll just be happier, especially growing up, cats seem to stick together quite a bit.

[Simpo Two]

Superficial said:

Don't really see what your point is

Obviously you did. Get a stuffed toy one, it's much safer.

[anonymous-user]

We have an indoor cat, some breeds (ours is a ragdoll) are much better suited to it than others. So do your research first and as Superficial says make sure you provide a stimulating environment for them. I work from home so she's always got company and will follow me from room to room unless she is having her big afternoon sleep, if not I would have got her a playmate.

[singlecoil]

To echo advice already given, get two cats rather than one, siblings ideally, keep them indoors but with a decent outside run. Cats have not evolved to cope with roads and children with airguns. There are also a good many diseases and parasites out there.

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 31st January 12:14

[telecat]

We have had Three Cats in our House. Joss a white Tortoiseshell we got when first married. She was a 2 year old rescue Lived with us in our First and second homes to the grand age of 15 . Felix our second cat was another 1 year old rescue and lived to 14. Both Were outdoor cats. Minnie has given us a scare and is now three legged However that appears to be down to being over ambitious when jumping down rather than a road accident. She is two and we have had her since she was 8 weeks. She has the choice having a cat flap and chooses a "mixed" life preferring to be in at night but hopping round the houses during the day. Most of the cats we have Known have had similar long lives and even those that went early appear to have died naturally.

[anonymous-user]

Surely the whole outside/inside debate has been done to death many times. The OP is I am sure capable of giving a cat (preferably a pair) a loving home

As has been said OP speak to CPL, they will have some cats that cannot go outside, you could also look into cats with FIV, as they cannot go outside anyway.

Any cat in a loving home must be better off than being in a cage at a shelter IMO

Having said that OP our 2 that we got from CPL have access to the outside but they rarely go out and if they do they do not go far so it could be a trial and error situation once you get them

But definitely get 2, our 2 keep fit by stalking each other and fighting

[telecat]

I was just replying to the guy who seemed to think that "outside" cats died early. I would think that if you could get a cat that didn't want to go out then you would be OK. With Rescues that would not be guarateed.

[anonymous-user]

Have you thought about getting a Birman? They are great indoor cats and don't really have the desire to go out, also they are really laid back and don't mind being carried around etc so would be perfect with kids. Mine is 3 now and still really playful and likes to play fetch and never shows aggression etc.

[otolith]

Just as a point of interest, I'm fairly sure that the statistics about lifespan come from the US, and are not so much representative of house cats which are allowed outside as of semi-feral farm cats.

[telecat]

otolith said:

Just as a point of interest, I'm fairly sure that the statistics about lifespan come from the US, and are not so much representative of house cats which are allowed outside as of semi-feral farm cats.

I was in Orlando in November and went to a pet store where there were a number of cats waiting to be re homed. Aside from the Heat even in November I couldn't help wondering how they'd get on with the local wildlife. Most of which is bigger and nastier than they are!!!

[vsonix]

singlecoil said:

To echo advice already given, get two cats rather than one, siblings ideally, keep them indoors but with a decent outside run. Cats have not evolved to cope with roads and children with airguns. There are also a good many diseases and parasites out there.

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 31st January 12:14

Also they eat all the sparrows/robins/bluetits etc. Much better keeping them in.

[rohrl]

vsonix said:

Also they eat all the sparrows/robins/bluetits etc. Much better keeping them in.

Some do, some don't. I had two cats for many years and while one of them was a born killer her brother has never caught anything more threatening than a ping-pong ball or a spider. You can work this out and fit a bell to the offender's collar which dramatically reduces their success rate.