Advice on getting a cat please

Slinkie

Slinkie

Slinkie

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Joined
21 Oct 2002
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UK
Hi Folks,

After a long life of 20 years our family cat has unfortunately died. He

lived at my mum and dads house for all of this time and it was good when I went

home to see him there. I have my own house and have been thinking recently

about getting my own cat and now this has happened I'm even more determined to

get one. However, I was only 5 when the family got the cat and so can't really

remember too much about the bring up a kitten or the costs of ownership, vets

bills etc.

I have been looking into the insurance side for the cat but is there any advice

on what I should look out for or what policies are the best.

Also, how much does the cats initial vet bill cost? I am looking at getting a

kitten and so may need to pay for the initial shots, spaying etc.

both my and my girfriend work full time and varying hours, are kitten quite

dependant on us being around when they are so young? I know that when they are

older they just do their own thing but they require constant attention when

they are really young?

One thing that concerns me is that a lot of the households around where I live

have cats, would introducing a kitten cause and problems/ conflicts, I know

they have to stay inside while they are you and then only go out with

supervision but would they fight etc?

Just how destructive can they be, the family cat wasn't too bad when it was young but I have some expensive leather sofas that I'd rather weren't destroyed by a cat. I know I can get them a stratching post but what are the chances they will only use that?

Any other advice you could give would be great, like what are the pros/ cons

for getting a male or female? Where to buy from, have only really looked at Pets at home store just to get a feel for prices? Are there any breeds that are better than other? I'd prefer a short haired cat so there's not so much maintenance but nothing as short haired as a siamese.

Thanks all

Matt
 
They smell, they bring in dead objects, they pee everywhere, they treat you as a servant and they only come back to the house for feeding.

When I had cats I didn't see any pros to it. They look OK I suppose, but they don't look as good as other pets that are available.
 
Gilly said:
They smell, they bring in dead objects, they pee everywhere, they treat you as a servant and they only come back to the house for feeding.

When I had cats I didn't see any pros to it. They look OK I suppose, but they don't look as good as other pets that are available.
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Some cats are like that. I have three of the friendliest cats ever, none of whom display te behaviour you mention.

Don't you have a dog? If so I don't see how you can say cats smell!! Every single dog owner I know you can smell it in their house and car, even though they can't.
 
I have two dogs :)

My house may smell but I can't smell it so I don't care. When I had cats I could smell it, ergo did care and cats smell more than dogs :)
 
If you want two cats for free, let me know. Got a mother and daughter here and we don't have the room.
 
Gilly said:
I have two dogs :)

My house may smell but I can't smell it so I don't care. When I had cats I could smell it, ergo did care and cats smell more than dogs :)
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Cats are clean animals and I've never noticed a cat owners house smelling unless they have a problem with a cat peeing in the house. Dogs are filthy animals, and also extremely dumb. :p

Anyway the OP has already owned a cat, so no trolling by dog owners is required as he already knows what they are like. :)
 
My dog is much cleverer than any cat I've encountered.

Wicksta said:
Anyway the OP has already owned a cat, so no trolling by dog owners is required as he already knows what they are like. :)
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He asked what the pros and cons were. I've had cats so gave him my pros and cons of cat woenership :)
 
Gilly said:
They smell, they bring in dead objects, they pee everywhere, they treat you as a servant and they only come back to the house for feeding.

When I had cats I didn't see any pros to it. They look OK I suppose, but they don't look as good as other pets that are available.
Click to expand...

My cats only leave my house to use next doors flower bed as a lavatory and spend the rest of there time asleep on my bed or the sofa.

I have found that dogs smell worse than cats.

I cant deny that they bring in animals though, i have had birds, mice, frogs, toads and even a fully grown rat.
 
Wow that's excellent advice everyone, thank you.

I can see that I was obviously wrong to want a cat (after having had one for 20 years I guess I don't really know what I am getting myself into). What I really want is a pet that can't look after itself, needs walks because it's too stupid to go out by itself, can't clean itself and so your house smells (or you spend a lot of your own time washing it, fun!)and is harder and more expensive to have someone to look after it when we are away on holiday (cats just need someone to feed them, don't need walks, to be let out for the toilet etc)

Thanks all, you've convinced me.
 
Gilly said:
They smell, they bring in dead objects, they pee everywhere, they treat you as a servant and they only come back to the house for feeding.

When I had cats I didn't see any pros to it. They look OK I suppose, but they don't look as good as other pets that are available.
Click to expand...

They dont smell as much as dogs, mine didnt bring in any dead objects they have never peed in the house and are very friendly.

dogs are nothing but hassle just to have a slave that dribbles everywhere makes you get up far too early and makes your car stink.
 
Gilly said:
In fact there was another thread with giveaway cats in too wasn't there?
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I offered 2 a couple of years ago. Still got the little ****s!

I agree with you, get a dog. Yes the house will smell of dogs, but the smell is easy to get used to (owners never notice it) where as cats just stink.
 
Me & my GF have got our little kitten (well she is over 8 months old now lol) insured with HealthyPets (owned or part of AXA AFAIK) and they are really good, we pay £4 a month to insure our little one and that is for the highest package they offer, the "Gold" one. Also the customer support people are really nice too (UK based).

Liam
 
LEK-89 said:
Me & my GF have got our little kitten (well she is over 8 months old now lol) insured with HealthyPets (owned or part of AXA AFAIK) and they are really good, we pay £4 a month to insure our little one and that is for the highest package they offer, the "Gold" one. Also the customer support people are really nice too (UK based).

Liam
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Tbh no need to pay that money a month in pet insurance. If your cat gets ill or you have a question, just come to the internet and post here at OcUK.

You will more than likely receive the advice you need. (As long as you post pics, with some hovis on its head).
 
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