I'm going to join the world of cat owners!!!!

A question about : I'm going to join the world of cat owners!!!!

Hi guys,

I just wanted to get all excited about the possibility of finally getting a cat...

I'm 31, have lived away from home since 2006, always wanted a cat as I always had them growing up; but only last summer did I actually buy a house and could therefore actually think about getting one!

House needed some decorating/work, I didn't want to get one during all that.. also I decided that although not strictly necessary, I really wanted a cat flap so Mr Whiskers will be able to come and go as he pleases.

The back door in the house was a pair of fully glazed French doors, and we are in the process of getting them replaced (they were rubbish anyway) with ones with a cat flat pre-installed...

Once that's in, I'm cat-ready!

Bloody scared though, truth be told, as it's a massive responsibility... I think I would like to get an RSPCA cat rather than a kitten, because although my partner and I usually work very different shifts, there will still be a fair amount of time where no one will be home... will the RSPCA have an issue with that? I've heard they are extremely selective... we live on a quiet road which is good I guess...

Any advice, suggestions, stories... sorry for such a rambling post with no real point, I'm just a bit excited..

Best answers:

• google to see if there are any local cat rescues near you or try the local Cats Protection.
• If you are not home a lot I'd seriously consider getting a rescue pair together, then they have each other for company and will feel more settled quicker. It's not much harder looking after two than one, I've got two and I hardly notice the difference other than buying two collars and a bit more food.
• And so it begins ... I rescued one, and now have nine Seriously, do consider getting a pair so they can be company for each other.
  https://www.catchat.org/
• I often look at the local cat rescue sites and have noticed that they quite often state if a cat needs someone home a lot or not. Great idea to get a cat flap though so Kitty can come and go as they please.
  I wish you happy hunting for your new addition and many years of happy times.
• I'd second 2 as well. I fact I have 4 cats. Two rescued from same litter and then 2 years later 2 , my dear daughter's cat had kittens so another rescue. Just rememebr when you get your new cat(s) to keep it ( them) in for about 2 weeks.
  Be warned I hope you're not too house proud. Depending on its' nature you migh have some furniture damage or dead 'presents'.
• I shouldn't think an adult cat would have issues with you going out to work - after all they know that 'someone' has to do it to supply them with the essentials and the little luxuries of life- and it wont be them! you may get the odd contribution to the larder, and spend less on flyspray and insect control but that really is the limit for most cats.
  joking of course! welcome to the world of cat slaves!
  good luck and don't rule out smaller cat or re-homing centres. they are often a little more 'flexible' on the ideal owner/slave.
• Like the others have said... One is not good enough!
  You'll start with one, then you'll think oh, but he/she is a bit lonely... no, honestly - have a look around in the rescue centres and get a pair!
• Thanks all, it is one of my fears that I will end up a crazy cat man, and the local children will dare each other to ring my doorbell...
  My mum has 2 cats and they don't seem to like each other very much, they spend no time together and one of them likes to tw*t the other one round the head whenever it walks past!
  I have indeed seen some cats advertised as "prefers a house with no other cats", so I would certainly either go for one like that, or get a pair
  I will almost certainly be back for some more specific advice a little closer to the time.. but yay!
  And houseproud I ain't ;-)
• Keep it quiet, but a crazy cat man is terribly sexy to a lot of us I should know, I married one. He's worse than I am.
• HA, I don't think I'd make a terribly sexy crazy cat man, I think I'd make a mildly unsettling one!
• my local Cats Protection does have cats which need to be homes together, also my Blue Cross Rescue centre.
• Hi
  I would forget about choosing a cat...........
  they choose YOU!
  I will tell you how it happens.
  You go to your local rescue with an idea in mind (for example young , short hair male and friendly) and come away having fell in love with an old tatty cat who has bags of cattitude.
  And you are in kitty heaven.
  Oh and when you cat chhoses you and they are home we want pics, and loads of them.
• I agree with tealady. We decided to get our 3rd cat, I decided I would like a male adult between 18 months and 2 years old, we currently have 2 black cats and thought maybes a tabby or similar pattern and we would get our new member of the family in June.
  However, at the weekend we adopted a 7 month old black and white female kitten we saw on gumtree and she is absolutely beautiful. The couple who we got her off had found her on the streets 4 weeks earlier and had planned on keeping her but their toddler wouldn't leave her alone so she became very timid and would hide during the day. When she came in to our house she was off to look around straight away and seemed right at home. We've only had her 6 days but she already seems like she's been with us her entire life.
• Totally agree - cats find you! We were going to look for 2 female kittens. Then OH's dad called and said his friend needed to rehome a 8yr old male. We went round (just to meet him, ha!), he came to live with us the next day and I honestly can't imagine what we did without him now.
• That was what it was like with Gizmo, we phoned a friend who rescues cats and enquired about getting a second black cat. The plan was to meet him, come home and discuss whether he was the one and then to let her know. We walked in, DH looked at him and said we'll have him and we went back to pick him up the next day. Misty was only supposed to come around so we could meet her and then make our minds up but she never left.
• Crazy Cat Man Martin, you sound great. Lots of friends on here to help you with this. I echo everyone who said get two. My two are best buds and I love watching them together when they play / fight / groom / eat / sleep.
  Do keep us updated and don't forget to post pics. Lots of pics.
  All the best and good luck.
• Black cats are apparently the hardest to home. We have 4, and 3 tabby-and-whites, and 2 torties.
• Thanks for all the support/advice!
  I'd read that about black cats, but I certainly won't be discriminating based on colour!!
• When you get it/them please remember to insure them. I read of someone I know on fb today whose cat has broken it's leg and she's not insured and was talking of strapping it up herself, giving it paracetamol or having it put to sleep! Thank god her DH stepped in and went to the vet.
  I'm with animal friends. It's Ј6 a month each for my moggies