Thinking of Getting a Cat

[China Doll]

Hi All,

I'm more after personal experiences here.

Am thinking of getting a cat. I have owned cats before and am likely to use a re-homing shelter. I have also looked in to cat insurance and will probably go with tescos, and there is a vets locally that has good reviews. So practically I think I'm set up.

Now I'm considering the cost of food. I generally prefer a mixture of dry and wet food so I'm wondering what people who have cats consider a monthly cat food bill to be?

The man hostage is slightly allergic to cats although he's happy for me to have one. I like domestic long hairs generally but I imagine this is not really a good choice for someone with an allergy? Are there cats that are better to have if someone in the house has an allergy?

Next door has a cat that I think is probably about a year old. He's a very nice cat and quite curious and does occasionally like to pop his head around the kitchen door. I have absolutely no problems with this whatsoever but in order to maintain peace and harmony, (I don't want to hear cat fighting noises!) would you recommend a female rather than a male? I personally quite like male cats. Does anyone have a preference over the sex of their cat, and if so, why?

Thanks all, just want to make fully informed choice and all that.

Cheers
China

[Jemisa]

We got our cat last year from the RSPCA she was 4 years old a short haired cat silver grey/blue beautiful. (much easier to maintain) Ins. from Tesco. As a guide she injured her paw a while back the bill was £104.00 we had to pay the bill, & the first £50. Tesco re-imbursed the rest within 14 days. The only thing with a rescue cat is temperament, we found ours liked to bite you, 5 puncturs wounds, antibiotics & a tetenus jab later (for me) she has calmed down a lot now.
Food, She always has a bowl of Go-Cat there so she can nibble anytime, morning & evening she has a pouch of Whiskers chicken/turky. never fish (stinks the place out).
Very often Tesco or other s/mkts do offers on cat food so I take advantage then.
So Good Luck with your cat. Boy/girl? Name? (Speyed girls are best)

jem

[mumsie_wumsie]

I have always had cats. cannot remember a time when there wasn't a cat in the house. I now have three cats,all rescue cats,and their temperaments are fine. I guess short haired are best for allergies and as Jemisa says, easier to groom and keep clean. They eat wet and dry food, with the dry food always available(and water of course). They tend not to like the 'cheap'food nor gravy food, so tend to stay with Felix or whiskers in jelly. Doesn't cost too much to feed, but of course vets bills are expensive, so insurance is good. I would go for a speyed female, as they don't tend to 'wander'. Good luck with your choice, I'm sure whatever you choose, it will be one happy cat.:-)

[China Doll]

Thank you both.

No names yet or final decisions on sex although given both answers am leaning towards female. I think I'd have to see the cat to think of a name.

[boxtops]

China, we have done-boy cats, we find them easier to herd and very loving. We insure ours with PetPlan, the advantage being that they are insured for life, whereas some companies will only pay out on conditions for 12 months, you need to check that out.
We pay around £3 - £3.50 for a box of cat food with 12 sachets in (we tend to buy Whiskas and Felix when on special offer) and one cat eats two sachets per day. They also have biscuit - we have started buying Royal Canin which is dearer than GoCat etc (which they don't like) but older cats need more nutrients. RC is also cheaper per gramme than ones like Purina One which comes in same-size bags but has less in it. We also get treats from time to time eg Dentabits for their teeth. Reckon max £2 per day per cat and that should be reasonable.
Cats will fight - our Rover and next door's boy of similar age (both done) would roll up and down the garden fighting and screaming - the other 4 just take no notice. You can't guarantee a non-fighter!

[vallaw]

I had 2 cats, both neutered, one male, one female. The male - ginger and white short-haired - died recently aged 17. The female - black and white short-haired - is still going strong at 15+. The male was the most affectionate creature you could ever find and never wandered more than fifty yards from his own garden. The female is nuts. I feed a mix of wet and dry - Hill's dry food is available all the time, and pouches of Whiskas of Felix with jelly - approx 2 pouches per cat per day. As said earlier, supermarkets very often have offers on these - currently I am buying Whiskas at 2 x 12 for a fiver. Your cat will probably resent neighbour's incursions whatever gender - especially as rescue cat will need to establish a sense of secure territory. They will sort it out amongst themselves - probably an initial skirmish then one will defer.

[annie0000]

I've always had female spayed cats, but I think that boys tend to be more affectionate. Smooth coated would be better - you can get completely hairless cats but that is a very acquired taste! I only feed mine dried food - she likes the purina or science diet - I don't spend anything like £2 a day - probably about £5 a week tops - and she is a greedy cat. Always has a really nice coat and bright eyes. As for fighting, they either will or they wont. Lucy hates most other cats - doesn't start fights, but doesn't take any crap either. I have a microchip activated cat flap which stops all intruders. Always cat cats from kittens, so can't comment on the likelihood of getting one with a bad temperament. They are all evil to some extent - most of it is just cheek and changing their arm when you walk past to dig their claws into your ankle - I think that is what passes as cat humour!

They all have their own personalities anyway, never had two alike - current incumbent likes to be out in the rain but insists (very vocally) on being dried down with her little towel when she comes in - fine during the day, but she has tried that on in the middle of the night and been told to sling her hook in no uncertain terms!!

[China Doll]

Thanks so much for all the detailed answers. I know the cats will probably fight regardless until territory established, I just don't want continued skuffles... I do like the idea of a male cat though. The back garden is set up so we have our own little yard bit, and then you go up some steps and there's a big shared garden (most of the other back gardens seem similar and it's quite green so would be nice for a cat). I do live on a main road but am set back from it (bushes and a few steps down to front door) but the cat flap is located on the back door and that's obviously the entrance/exit route I'd be promoting.

That petplan insurance for life thing I've just read through and that does sound good, thanks for that boxy. Do you mind me asking approx how much you pay a month?

Really nice to have all this feedback.

[Gromit]

Meow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ffwDYo00Q

[mccfluffy]

Please please take murph....

She has iams in the morning a 1 kilo bag lasts a month, and gourmet pates in the eve, i shop about and someone usually has an offer on 3 for a pound si probably spend around 15 a month

[China Doll]

Like it Gromit!

Fluffy - I was looking for less evil.

I have to say, if I was going to go out and get a cat right now it would be 'Norman' http://www.celiahammo...26&MMN_position=35:35

[Gromit]

I love Simon's cat!

Have you seen the rest of Simon's cat videos on YouTube?

[China Doll]

Yeah, I watched 'em not long ago after I got sent one in a jokey email at work. They're great.

[mccfluffy]

Simons cat is ace, murph had just licked the topping of my carrot cake grrrrrrrr

[bensmum]

as I'm typing this Dennis is trying his best to fit his bulk into a very small rucksack (he's a cat btw!) I have had cats for years and always found neutered males to be the more affectionate. She-cats are often more aloof but there are always exceptions. Mine get fed on a mixture of dried and pouches and I get Whiskas or Felix for them, mostly when it's on offer which is usually the case in one or other of the supermarkets.
I've just insured my two with Animal Friends - The older cat (14 years) was insured with More Than but the latest premium hike was a bit too much and I got some comparisons. Once you have your cat look at some comparison sites - there is a lot of variation
I'm sure you'll have great fun, good luck

[annie0000]

Awww China - Norman is gorgeous - I want him too :o( Did you know that ginger cats are always boys and tortoiseshell cats are always female? White cats have a high rate of deafness which is a bit of a risk for them near traffic and they tend not to live too long :o(

[carmalee]

annie you can get female ginger cats - we used to have one, they are rare but definitely about!

[China Doll]

He's ace isn't he, I was so tempted to email and make enquiries but my sister is due to have her baby soon and she lives up north so really need to save the pennies for her rather than kittys at the moment. I do really like him though, and his personality sounds like he could be fun and playful once confident. I knew that about torties and white cats but not that gingers were always boys. Money supermarket is a price comparrisson site isn't it?

[boxtops]

Sorry china, only just come back in - I can't give you a monthly figure as we pay annually at the moment. Our cats are over 10 years old (and needless to say, like BUPA, the premium goes up as they get older) - we pay around £200 per cat, and the excess is now £110 per cat + 20% of the bill. However - No1Son had a small op on his back last month, totalling £260 - Rover's kidney medicine was £28 per month, all recoverable after the excess, plus all his checkups. Black Spot (touch wood) hasn't need to use his insurance yet.

[boxtops]

Norman looks gorgeous - he'd soon settle down once he realises he can trust people, but Rover has always been scared of boots and bin-liners, speaks volumes.

[China Doll]

Thanks boxy. He really is a little darling to look at.