Getting a cat in the new year

[singlewiththree]

and I've never had one before and could do with some tips from those of you with cats.

I'm after a cat so I stop getting mice, it worked for my neighbours as I'm now constantly getting mice. I've done prevention ie, mouse grates on the air bricks etc and still getting them so....

Is it best to get a cat/kitten? I have a crawling mindee? and is it best to get one from cat protection as that is my first port of call?

[jelly15]

With having young children around I think it would be best to get a kitten so that it gets used to being handeled, although they can still scratch. Although if a rescue centre can guarenttee that a cat is used to children that is great.

I keep the cat litter in my utility room with a safety gate in the doorway so the cat can jump over but the LOs can't get at it. You can get nice ones now with a cover and an entrance for the cat, this saves visitors from seeing anything unpleasent and litter from being flicked around the room.

Lastly keep the worming treatment and anti flea up to date and keep the receipts as my inspector asked to see them as proof.

[LittleMissSparkles]

sorry no advice but just wanted to say Im sooo jealous I'd love a kitten but dd doesnt like cats or dogs :( xxx

[hello kitty]

Lastly keep the worming treatment and anti flea up to date and keep the receipts as my inspector asked to see them as proof.[/QUOTE]

WOW really. That's a bit over zealous!

[nell57]

Definitely recommend Cats Protection, thats where we had ours from. They advise having an adult cat if you have young children in the house.

A lady came to visit us and recommended a different number of cats that matched our needs and we chose the 1st one we visited, or should I say she chose us:rolleyes:

We've had her for about 3 years now and she's perfect. She spends all day out of site while the mindees are here, then suddenly appears when the last one leaves;) . She then turns into a lap cat at night and loves sitting with either me, dh or ds.

Good luck

[sweets]

kittens are great fun but really hard work! the people i used to work for got one from the rspca, the prob with it was that it had been taken from its mum to early and didnt really know how to behave! it used to bite and scratch (but not spitefully!) its was great fun and had us in stiches, it used to climb up an open door then walk round the 1 inch wide plate rack and then get stuck and cry. we kept ladders in the room as someone always had to rescue it! lol. they then got another to keep it company and that one was just a sweetie!

if you get a kitten be prepared for the mess, toilet training can take a while!

in your position i would probably get a young female adult, but ask at the centre if it is a hunter, most are but my sisters cat just looks at any mice that walk in her house (she lives in the country so it happens often) it is far to lazy to even chase them.

[Blackhorse]

Our 2 cats came from the cat and dog home.
I always had cats...since I was born as my mum had them. We also had kittens and I think if kept properly and supervised they are purrfect for children.
Have you got any other pets already? Because then you will have to socialise them together.

Cats are quite happy to be alone, but we decided to get two as we were both working full time out of the house at the time so they would have company. they are brother and sister...:)

if you get an adult cat get a good history to make sure it will be ok around children as not all adult cats will be depending if they were used to having them around.

if you get a kitten you will have to probably spend quite some money on vaccinations etc unless they already have it..

I have the cat food and cat litter tray upstairs so out of the way of kids.

not all cats will make suitable mouse hunters...whereas some will bring them into the house once caught...cats tend to play with their catch for quite a while before they will kill them and can also bring them home as presents so just beware.
my aunts cat hunts mice on a daily basis...one she tried to bring one into the house so my aunt wouldnt let her in...so the cat ate the mouse...then she was left into the house...and she regurgitated the mouse back up!!:eek:

cats will most certainly rule the house..!! (in a funny way) but they are not very good with listening to what they are being told

my cats are the most loving cats ever. they love my dd and she can do anything they would never ever scratch her...obviously I supervise her but she is fast and has already grabbed and pulled their tails....but they just take it and then try and just go upstairs for a nap..

you will need an animal policy as well. Parents will want to ensure their sleeping kids are out of reach of cats..oh and ofsted too of course.

I Love cats!!!

[nell57]

Our 2 cats came from the cat and dog home.
I always had cats...since I was born as my mum had them. We also had kittens and I think if kept properly and supervised they are purrfect for children.
Have you got any other pets already? Because then you will have to socialise them together.

Cats are quite happy to be alone, but we decided to get two as we were both working full time out of the house at the time so they would have company. they are brother and sister...:)

if you get an adult cat get a good history to make sure it will be ok around children as not all adult cats will be depending if they were used to having them around.

if you get a kitten you will have to probably spend quite some money on vaccinations etc unless they already have it..

I have the cat food and cat litter tray upstairs so out of the way of kids.

not all cats will make suitable mouse hunters...whereas some will bring them into the house once caught...cats tend to play with their catch for quite a while before they will kill them and can also bring them home as presents so just beware.
my aunts cat hunts mice on a daily basis...one she tried to bring one into the house so my aunt wouldnt let her in...so the cat ate the mouse...then she was left into the house...and she regurgitated the mouse back up!!:eek:

cats will most certainly rule the house..!! (in a funny way) but they are not very good with listening to what they are being told

my cats are the most loving cats ever. they love my dd and she can do anything they would never ever scratch her...obviously I supervise her but she is fast and has already grabbed and pulled their tails....but they just take it and then try and just go upstairs for a nap..

you will need an animal policy as well. Parents will want to ensure their sleeping kids are out of reach of cats..oh and ofsted too of course.

I Love cats!!!

Well said, really good advice.

Was just coming back to say I have a pets policy and risk assessment, but my inspector never asked to see any evidence of vets receipts.

[sweets]

exactly same happened to us! used to bring mice in the house alive and play with them and once sicked one up on the cream lounge carpet!! lol.


ive had mice a couple of times in the last year or so. i had to resort to ringing the council and they came to put poison down in the loft, i didnt like the thought of it but it worked both times!

[haribo]

lots of good advice already. i would say though you cant guarantee no mice just because you have a cat -i never had a mouse until i got a cat and spent hours chasing live mice after she brought them in :eek: :eek: sadly that one has died now and ive been mouse free ever since . see it as a bonus if you get one as a pet that it may also help with pest control :thumbsup:

[claires]

Hi we just adopted Marley from the RSPCA centre. He is 2 years old and is great with the kids. If he's had enough of them he takes himself off upstairs.
If you got young children though I wouldn't get a kitten. They do scratch an awful lot when playing!
Also the good thing about getting an older cat from a rehoming centre is that they have been neutered/ spayed already
Claire xx

[LOOPYLISA]

We have 3 cats all from kittens, although i would really think about rspca etc next time :thumbsup: there are so many that need good homes :thumbsup:

Like with dogs if you bring them up with cuddles, care etc they will make great pets

Don't forget to keep up flea and worming treatment x

[Princess Sara]

i would say though you cant guarantee no mice just because you have a cat -i never had a mouse until i got a cat and spent hours chasing live mice after she brought them in

Our cats bring in more mice than they deter! We use to have mice living under the garden shed, never tried to come in the house or anything. Then the cats ate them. then the cats went and founds loads of mice in the woods and almost every day through summer they either left a dead one by the patio doors or dropped a live on into the living room! Even baby birds in the spring. Poor little souls.

[tulip0803]

I got cats for the first time last year. We acquired the one from next door that is a fantastic mouser ( and voler, ratter, rabbiter, moler, birder- unfortunately). She was used to children but they couldn't take her with them when they moved.

We also got 2 from the Cat Action Trust. I explained what I did & that we had a dog, cat children etc & they recommended an adult cat that they had picked up with kittens as a feral cat - she isn't feral she is the daftest cat going. she had one kitten left that had not been homed so we took that too. The two adult cats never scratch the children they just disappear, the one we had as a kitten is nick-named spikey cat she can be really loving but then changes her mind & the claws come out. She hides most of the time too now only coming out to play with certain children who are gentle.

The mouser doesn't bring mice into the house as she refuses to use a cat flap and will only use the door or window if it is opened by the doorman (usually me:rolleyes: ) I have them linedup on the drive fo me:) .