Advice for a newb?

[Desley (booktigger)]

Aww, fingers crossed everything goes well.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Didnt they visit?

I pleased you have got two that you are gonna love and at that age definately need neutering fast 

Love to see some pictures and what are the names when you have decided 

[c130]

We're waiting for the vet to check them over to make sure they're nice and healthy, and spay/neuter them (hasn't been done yet). The only home check they did was making us fill out a form describing how we live, etc. I thought they'd do more to make sure we're not lying or anything. 

[Rosella moggy]

Hi and belated  to Purrs

Lovely news that you may have found the furries you were looking for and hope all goes well with homecheck (which I assume is reason for the wait).  Look forward to piccies.  Hope you don't mind, but others will read this thread and I really must correct you on the following

I'd really love to get kittens - adopting cats that are a couple of years old would feel more like I was looking after someone else's pets, no matter how long they stayed with me,

Freddie came to us just over a year ago aged about 5 and I sooooo don't have any feeling at all that I'm looking after someone else's pet. He's mine, mine, mine  Er whoops ours, ours ours

There that's off my chest 

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

ooooh how exciting new babies ... I bet you can't wait to get them home.

Looking forward to pics.

[c130]

Well, we booked a pair at the cat home today. They're male & female, 5 months old - the male's ginger and looks about fully-grown; the female's a tortoiseshell, still pretty small, and has the most adorable voice.  They look really happy together (don't know if they're brother & sister though), so hopefully they'll be happy to keep each other company while the rest of us are out of the house during the day. Should be able to take them home sometime during the week if all's well. I'll post pics. 

[blackcat]

I have to say that if you are going for combinations, then either male/male or male/female would be my choice. Two females, even if neutered, will rarely get along as well. This doesn't mean you can't do it, just that the alternatives are a safer choice.

[Catjane]

i actually think a male/female combination is best. I have had more issues when I have had 2 females than 1 of each.

I think there might be something in that.  I have three, 2 girls and a boy.  They all get on wonderfully, but the greatest amount of mutual grooming takes place between the boy and each of the girls  - the girls rarely groom or play with each other.  All of them are affectionate, though, but in their own way.  The girls are more inclined to lie on me, whilst my boy prefers to be talked to and giving headbutts!

Otherwise, all advice below is sound.  I live in rented accommodation, but it's true that it's not that easy finding somewhere that accepts pets.

[Desley (booktigger)]

i actually think a male/female combination is best. I have had more issues when I have had 2 females than 1 of each.

[Cheesecat]

Our boy-cat Doc has to contend with three ladies  he tries so hard to be their best friend but they're not sure about him most of the time!

[c130]

Fantastic thanks 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Yes and I have Misa and Sasa who are just bestv of friends 

[c130]

Apologies for the double post, I've got another question. Can a male and female cat (both neutered/spayed) live together?

[c130]

Thanks for the responses, folks! Much appreciated!

My mum's still pretty intent on installing a catflap in the back door to let the cats be free-roaming while they're here. I spoke to her just now, and she reckons that if the cats couldn't adjust to being housecats when I move out, she'd take them back to keep as family pets, and I'd start over with another who'd be housebound from the beginning. Also she's promised to look after the cats indefinitely (and won't steal 'em from me... hehe) if I find myself unable to find accommodation that allows pets. So that's one difficulty solved.

I'm still a bit apprehensive about the number of cats to get. I feel, after reading your replies and considering everything, that I might be best finding a neutered tom who's under 2 years old and who would prefer to live as a single cat than with a friend. That way I wouldn't feel like I was competing with another cat for attention, I wouldn't feel guilty about liking one more than the other, I wouldn't need to spend so much cash on food/litter/vet bills/insurance/etc, and the cat wouldn't pine for feline company.

Den - my rats have wreaked a fair amount of damage on the house too... got lots of gnawed cables, clothes with holes chewed in 'em and things like that; we even scrapped our scruffy old sofa after the rats made a nest in it by chewing through the underside and stuffing shredded paper and food inside. 

[Den]

I'm in a similar situation. I finished uni and had no choice but to move back home because of finances. Then I got Mig (rabbit), he was a graduation present from my mum - she gave me the money and I did everything. Then a good few months later I pursuaded her to let me get my dream dog (it took 22 years of persuasion on this, as she wasn't wanting me to get a dog). It did help that I was working in a boarding kennel and showed a ton of responsibility. I got my dream farm bred Border Collie, trained her up, fed up, walked her. My family do NOTHING for the animals except enjoy them around the house, that was the agreement. They are my responsibilty, I treat it as if I was living on my own with them. My mum does take over when I'm away which is rare. Then I switched to volunteering in an animal shelter. Not long after Memphis orphaned litter arrived and I fell in love. Well it took A LOT of persuasion but my mum could see how much he meant to me and she let me adopt him.
I have no chance of moving yet because it's too expensive, when I do move they are coming with me. They are my little family, they are part of me and I wouldn't be without them. My mum loves all 3 deerly but there are days when they annoy her and she realises they won't be here forever.

The hardest part is taking responsibility when they destroy things that dont belong to you, Mig was 6 weeks, Molly 8 weeks and Memphis 7 weeks when they came here - Mig has eaten the bathroom wallpaper, a phone cable, several other cables. He went through a stage of weeing on the furniture. Molly ate the kitchen wallpaper, the cord of a hand held hoover, and has scratched the paint off of doors and broken one chair, and the garden no longer looks like it did. Memphis has eaten through my ipod headphones, the end of my shoe lace and more importantly smashed something of my mums the other day and had an accident on my mums newly ironed pile of clothes. If these all happened in my own place it wouldn't matter, I do take responsibility and apologise A LOT. I'm so glad Memphis doesn't scratch furniture. These are things you have to take into account, how much your parents mind your cat(s) possibly ruining things.

I'm a really new cat owner and still learning everything. Mine is being raised an indoor cat, and is booked in for his neuter in February when he will be 6 months old. As for sex I prefer Males :D

[blackcat]

Word of warning on the parent front    My mother offered to 'care for' my cat when i moved in to a flat 'only until you get a place of your own of course ...' but when, two years later I bought my first home, I could not prise Natasha off her with a crow bar. so if you do get a cat, then the advice to consider it as a family cat is good advice. You may otherwise be storing up tears for the future ...

[unseeliechylde]

Hi and   to purrs!

I too am a former rat-mommy I had a cat when I was younger, and had him from a kitten. He was an outside cat, and grew up while I lived at home. In the end I was not able to take him with me when I went to Uni, because it would have been unfair to keep him indoors, but I wish I could have.
I would second most of the advice already given here, and would add that I too wanted a "kitten", so that I could watch them grow up and be with them as long as possible. In the end I found Riley, who was a rescue cat, and was 5 months old. He's been an absolute angel, and is now nearly 2. Having had a very young kitten before, I would recommend gettin a 4 - 5 month old - they are still kittens, very playful and affectionate, but their character is a little more developed, and they are less destructive. It is also better if you know your parents are working, and you are at college most of the day - an older kitten doesn't have as much difficulty with this compared to a tiny baby.
We recently got Skye, a 4month old female, to keep Riley company, and its been one of the best decisions I have made. They cet on wonderfully, keep each other entertained, and are very sweet together. Getting Skye at 4 months only reinforced my experiences of having slightly older kittens - they really are wonderul. It is also worth bearing in mind that older kittens find it harder to get homes than tiny balls of fluff.
Good luck with whatever you decide - but I would add a cautionary note - It won't stop you getting broody for ratties!

[Tiggy's Mum]

I too would wait until I had a place of my own especially if renting was gonna be the option cos as someone else has said its often hard to get rented accomodation where a cat is allowed, especially if you keeep moving.

In this day and age it's near on impossible for a single person to get on the housing ladder and get their 'own place' whether working full time or a student so it could be decades before the OP has her own (non-rented) place!

I think she sounds very responsible and if the parents are happy to adopt a cat into the family and poitentially look after him/her until the OP has found suitable rented accomodation of their own then that's as good a back up plan as any. 

I'm a bit stuck over whether to get male or female (neutered/spayed, obviously). I've kept several rats over the past few years and found I generally preferred the temperament of males - they're more docile, friendly and snuggly. Is that true of cats too? If not, what are the basic personality traits of both genders (when neutered)?

Male or female - it's hard to generalise really.  My childhood cat was the most gorgeous, sweet natured, affectionate girl and I never thought there'd be another cat quite as sweet, loving or friendly as her.  I lost her in February this year and now have two boys who are every bit as sweet, gentle and loving.

How easy is it to find rented accommodation as a guardian of two cats - is it more difficult than if you only look after one?

Renting with cats is not impossible, I don't think there'd be a difference between asking permission for one or two cats.  Most ads specify NO PETS as a standard clause but often if you speak to the agent or landlord and ask permission they will alllow it, you might be asked to offer an increased deposit though.

Also, is one cat more likely to befriend humans than two cats, or does the number of cats not really influence how much attention they pay to their humans?

I had two childhood cats who were both very friendly and loving to humans, they were brother and sister and didn't particularly like each other but loved me and my family.  My two boys (brothers) I have now absolutely adore each other but this hasn't stopped them bonding with me, they are head over heels in love with me and each other   Two cats is definitely better than one as they can keep each other company/entertained whilst you're at college and your parents are at work.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I am very pleased this has been thought through and the advice that the others are giving is good.

I too would wait until I had a place of my own especially if renting was gonna be the option cos as someone else has said its often hard to get rented accomodation where a cat is allowed, especially if you keeep moving.

Another thing to ponder is that if the cat were to have outdoor access where you currently live, will this be possible in the future? Its not a good idea for a cat to have outside access which is then denied to them and this can caused serious behavorial problems, depending on the cat.

Another thing that I would like to throw into the melting pot, as I usually do, is insurance and how important this is but also how costly it is becoming.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Hi and 

If your parents are happy for you to get a cat, then by all means go ahead but I think you should consider it a family cat rather than your cat, at this stage.  Even if you do take the cat when you eventually move, all family members need to be ok with the cat where you are now.  And after a couple of years, you might find that the cat is settled where he is and that it wouldn't really be fair to move him.  Cats in general don't like change and are attached to their territory (even indoor cats) more than their people.  Of course that all depends on the individual cat and is only something you can really assess when the situation arises, but you should bear in mind that any cat you get now might be best of staying with your parents when you do move.

I agree with what others have said re indoors - if you think you may be taking the cat to an environment where it wouldn't be safe outdoors then it best that the cat is kept as an indoor cat from the start.

I've always had males as I do think they generally have a more docile, easy going temperament, but once neutered there's not much difference between males and females so I wouldn't worry about that too much.  I understand why you want kittens, but there are so many older cats needing homes and kittens can be very destructive!  Cats under 2 are still very lively and kittenish so an older kitten or young cat might be ideal.

[Cheesecat]

Hello and 

I got my first kitty, Cheese when I was living in rented accommodation as a student - since then I have acquired two others and a foster and we have moved twice since then (gaining cats each time  ) We are still renting and although you will have to try a bit harder to find somewhere that will accept cats - it is not impossible. Some people are very rude about it but we have a lovely place now - all we had to do was sign the contract to say we will be responsible for any damage (fingers crossed there wont be too much!)

I think you should keep your cats indoors if you think there is a possibility that they may have to become indoor eventually as if they have had access to the outdoors they may not appreciate the change! I got that advice from here, as when we moved to where we are now we thought we may let them out (although I am a bit overprotective so perhaps not) but if I move again, they may have to be back indoors depending on the situation, and I think they would be a bit unhappy at that idea after roaming free!

I think its okay to get a cat as a student as long as you are willing to put up with the fact it will be harder to get a rented property than it is without pets - at least your parents seem cat friendly enough that if you did need to go back and live with them again at some point once you've moved out, they wont say you will have to get rid of the cats! 

[Ela]

I have to be honest with you and I agree with Desley, I do feel that it would be wisest to wait until you have your own home before you take on the responsibility of pet ownership. Of course another 'spanner in the works' is the expense of keeping a couple of cats. I do not know your personal circumstances  but do know that the majority of students are struggling financially and pet ownership is far from cheap.

Have you thought of perhaps helping in a rescue a few hours a week for now, then you may be ab to get all the cuddles you desire, get up to your neck in cat poo and also learn all aspects of cat care before you take on the huge responsibility of adopting cats. Who knows you may fall in love with cats at the rescue.

[c130]

Haha, very true. My dad's more likely to be the driving force behind me keep them though, because he's the one who's stopped us from getting a cat to replace our old one up until now. He's not gonna want to have litter trays, cat toys and shredded carpets all over the house for the next however-many years. The cats are already intended to be adopted solely as mine rather than family cats that I'll nick when I move out.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Just one more thing to throw into the pot, in light of your last post - it is wonderful that your parents are keen to have another cat, but that could cause an issue when you move out, I know one person who has ended up having to 'share' her pets between her and her mum when she moved out, as her mum was as attached to them as she was. And cats being cats, you might find they prefer your parents to you!!

[c130]

Thanks for the advice Blackcat & Desley
TBH, a couple of years is the absolute soonest I'll be ready to move out, and chances are I won't leave until I've got a job that I'm confident would be fairly long-term, which could still be several years away. Also I strongly suspect that my parents would hold on to the cats until I found a place were I could take them with me, because they - or my mum at least - seem almost as keen as I am to have a cat (or two) again, and they know how much it means to me to have them.


Gill - Parents are fine with it. It's something we've been discussing for the past two years or so - I haven't just turned 18 then thought "I'm gonna get a cat." They gave me the green light last week to start looking around adoption centers and cat homes, which I'm not going to do until I know what I'm looking for. We had a cat up 'til I was 8 years old (the cat had been with us for 18 years when she died), so my folks are no strangers to the beasts; they'll show me the ropes. I don't think I'd say I "know nothing about them", I'm just naturally very careful to find out all I can before making any major decisions like this. 

[Desley (booktigger)]

Welcome to Purrs. Personally, if you are in college for another year and a half, I would wait till you have left college, and have found accomodation and a job, just in case either are hard to find, and then consider getting a cat - I would go for 2 cats IF you can afford it, but if you can't, then there are a lot of cats in rescue who have to be only cats as they dont like other cats, they are a good option if you can only afford one. And it would be good if you would consider adults, or even older cats. IF you do go for one now, then what will your parents think? And yes, you should keep them indoor only if that will happen when you move. Once neutered, sex doesn't really matter, it is more about personality. As BC says, cats can live for 15-20 years, so that also needs taking into account, especially if you are still in college, and dont know where you will be living once you leave.

[blackcat]

Hi C310, what a lot of questions! well, from the get go, if you are planning to move into flat in a few months time, then it is probably not an ideal time to be getting a cat. A lot of the older cats that are placed with rescues are there because their owners were unable to take them to their new accommodation. Most flat leases have an animal exlusion policy so you are potentially creating a problem for yourself. When I moved to the UK I had to go 6 months without the company of my dog for that reason. It was only when I bought my house that he was able to join me. There are people on this site who live in rented acommodation and who have cats, but I think they will agree it makes finding that special place to live that much harder.

Male cats, in general are more affectionate than females, but there are exceptions as they all have their own personality.

Two cats is better than one as they keep each other company when you are out at work.

I would strongly recommend against kittens as you really don't know what you are getting, personality wise. All kittens are cute and cuddly but some grow up to be quite stand-offish.

Listen to the advice that you get from the people at the rescue where you are getting them, they will be familiar with the temperament and needs of the cats they are placing. Don't be seduced by a pretty face or markings.

Remember, cats live a lot longer than rats - many of us have had cats that live for 20 years or more - where will you be in 20 years?

Good on you for coming to a forum where you can get advice from people who have experience in owning cats, it is the best place to learn.

Seems to me, a willingness to learn is a good thing.

Once again, welcome to Purrs.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

  to Purrs 

If you dont mind can I ask you why you wanna get cats now and are your parents keen on this, especially if you know nothing about them?

[c130]

Hey folks.

I'm planning on getting either one cat or two in a couple of weeks, but I'm still pretty clueless about a lot of things, and google's been a bit too vague to be much use.

I still live with my parents in Paisley, Scotland. I'm 18, in college full time for another year and a half, and intending to take the cat(s) with me when I move out. Our house is in a town but it's right out of the way of busy roads, next to a park and golf course. When I move, it'll most likely be to a flat in a less cat-friendly environment nearer a city (Glasgow or Edinburgh most likely), where they'll need to stay indoors. Should I keep the cats indoors all the time here so they don't get a taste for the outdoors and pine for it or attempt to escape frequently once I move away?

I'm a bit stuck over whether to get male or female (neutered/spayed, obviously). I've kept several rats over the past few years and found I generally preferred the temperament of males - they're more docile, friendly and snuggly. Is that true of cats too? If not, what are the basic personality traits of both genders (when neutered)?

How easy is it to find rented accommodation as a guardian of two cats - is it more difficult than if you only look after one?

Also, is one cat more likely to befriend humans than two cats, or does the number of cats not really influence how much attention they pay to their humans?

I'd really love to get kittens - adopting cats that are a couple of years old would feel more like I was looking after someone else's pets, no matter how long they stayed with me, and I don't want to adopt any that are older than about 2 years because I want to have them as long as possible - life's so short that I want every day I can get with my critters.


I'll probably think of more questions later, but any answers or tips for these ones would be very much appreciated.