Advice on owning a cat please?

Question

I've wanted a cat for years, however me and my partner both work full time.

We will give the cat so much love but will this be unfair to leave it all day? We live in a cul de sac so it could go out? Will my house be covered in fleas and will the cat ruin my carpets and furniture?. Should we get a kitten or cat ?? How much is their food? Any Advice you can give me on anything to do with looking after a cat, would be appreciated.

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Answer 1

You could leave  cat in the house alone during the day but this does mean the cat will sleep most of the day and so will most likely be more awake and active when you come home so you will have to be prepared to give it some attention particularly if it is an indoor cat.

A kitten is more work than a cat in the respect that they are a lot more active and playful than a cat is. The answer to that part is it is really up to you.

Cat's food is not too expensive it averages out for myself at about seven pounds a week.

Your house will not be covered with fleas at all if it is an indoor cat if it is an outdoor cat as long as it is treated with flea spray then no. If it is an outdoor cat the only thing you may get are little 'presents' of small dead animals as a present from your cat.

A cat is easy to look after it needs fed around 3-4times a day as a kitten and needs fresh water once a day, the food should be mainly cat food sashes and a meal of biscuits at night. The litter will need changed every second day.

It is also essential that you get the cats injections done if it is a kitten and it's boosters every year the price of this could vary depending on the vet. You may also wish to get the cat neutered particuarly if it is an outdoor cat and if it is indoor as females can have false pregnancies and be very unhappy while males cats can get very aggressive and sometimes pee the house. The coust of this was around sixty pounds for us.

Cats are not difficult to look after and are fantastic pets hope I helped

Answer 2

If you can't devote a good amount of time each day to interact with your pet, then I would advise you to not get one at all.  

Answer 3

The cat will learn whatever you teach it.

Certain cats are smarter.  I have a Somali and I've taught it to:

- only scratch the cat scratcher.

- stay off the tables and counter.

- sit.

It's not so much if the cat will get out or not.  It's if it does get out, can it get back?

Get a kitten.  It will grow up around you.

I think the food is a couple of dollars per week.

Cat are solitary and they don't mind being left alone.  They prefer static environments.

If you play with your cat, you'll have less problems.  They like chasing things and shiny things, like light reflected off a disco ball.

It's good to get two kittens if you can.

Answer 4

Ok my first response to you is don't get a cat. If you are at work all

day get two. They will be company for one another and you will not

feel guilty leaving them alone. Plus you each get one to cuddle. Now

I also think get adult cats. Don't get kittens. They are extremely cute and everything but they are TROUBLE. they are like a small child and into everything. They ran up your curtains and knock over things and keep you up all night the first year crying and wanting to play or else

playing and thundering through the house. The best solution is to go

to a reputable cat refuge or shelter ie SPCA and look for a 'bonded pair'; what is if you can get them is two cats that have already come from a home together. They know each other and they get along. It is too hard to try to get two cats to live together when you are not there all day. Usually what happens is some elderly person has two cats

and then has to give them up when they move into a home or else

die. An older cat is a much better choice for you as they are more

settled and trained.  Do not allow your cats outside. Even if they are

on  a cul de sac there is a possiblity of them contracting diseases from feral cats, also fleas! getting poisoned or trapped (there are a lot

of people out there who are nuts) hit by car. attacked by dogs etc.Also you will never have to deal with fleas or other parasites as they will only be in the house.. With you not being home all day and something happened to the animal how would you feel if you came home and found it dead on your steps. this happened to my neighbour. She let her cat out and got hit by a car. The cat dragged itself home and died in a pool of blood on her steps and just laid there all day. It was ghastly! Cats are much safer and happier indoors no matter what other people may tell. Also you will be doing all the birds, squirrels etc a favour and also your neighbours who do not want your cat pooping in their garden. I have had as many as 9 cats in my house all indoor and had no problems with them. Presently I have 6. I will not pretend that they don't go after my furniture to scratch on (they don't bother the carpets at all) but I haven't had a real problem as I have ''cat posts' spread around for

all of them. These are the posts that have three or four sitting spots on them and the cats use them to sleep on and also to scratch on. As

for cost of food it depends on what you are feeding them. I have 6 and

they get premium cat food from the vet and it costs me 79, a month.

plus they get their little treats. You can get it much cheaper at the big Pet stores. Plus you have to consider the cost of litter and two litter boxes (they need one each) They are fairly cheap. Lastly what happens if they get sick?. You need to have them vaccinated and neutered or spayed. If you get them from the SPCA I am sure they will already be 'fixed' and vaccinated if you get an adult cat. In addition they will be defleaed. Ask for recommendations from friends on vets don't just pick one out of the phone book. There are good ones and bad ones. Please remember that to have animal or two should be a committment for the lifetime of an animal. It is like having a child. Once it bonds with you you can't just toss it away like an old toy. It is a living creature and deserves

and needs not only shelter, food and proper medical care but your

love and attention as well. Good luck!

Answer 5

You sound very new at this.

#1 get the book Cats for Dummies, it's very good.

#2 talk to any cat owners where you work, they'll clue you in on the inds and outs.

#3 Contact any feline rescue in your area.  Also check around for a vet who's good with cats (get referrals from people who own cats).  Talk more with the rescue center, they're your direct line to the animals and finding a good mix between you and the cats there.

You can also join ANY of the dozens of cat owner bulletin boards on yahoogroups.com

Remember that a lifespan on a cat is about two decades, you'd need to make the committment to have one long term, for the life of the animal, not just for a year or two.  If you wanted only short term, you should look into being a foster home for one of the cats--the rescues are always looking for people who can foster cats that need socializing, help, adjustment, or recovering from injuries.

Answer 6

your cat might get fleas from going outside but there is really good treatment you can get from Pets at Home.

it is brill to hear you want to get a cat from a rescue home!!=D

about the fleas, if your cat gets fleas do use the treatment on the back of the neck but make sure you have treats for it as my cat hates flea treatment.lol. fleas come out in hot summer or your winter heating, but don't like the cold so much. another good thing is to use a carpet flea treatment. good luck=D

Answer 7

get 2 cats / kittens from the shelter - they will know each other and keep each other company.  If you get a cat flap they can come and go as they like during the day.  Keep them indoors at night as that is when they are in most danger of being hit on the road.  Also, it is at dawn that they do the most hunting so best for the local wildlife to keep them indoors at night.  Your home will not be covered in fleas if you use frontline - follow the vets advice on using this and worming the cats.  You wont regret getting them x

Answer 8

Get a cat from a cat shelter and the people there will be eager to fill you with advice. Cats sleep for about 16 hours a day so leaving it all day would probably be okay with an older cat.. Kittens would be more work and need a lot more looking after (cleaning up after).

Maybe try an older cat.

Cat food isn't that expensive.

Hope I helped!

Answer 9

I would not suggest letting any cat outdoors.  Just because you are on a cul de sac does not mean no traffic or other hazards.  Cats can roam long distances.  And other feral cats can enter into your property.

If you expect your house to be a museum, then a stuffed animal is best.

My cats don't scratch the furniture, as they have scratching posts to use, and do use them.  Once a cat is treated for fleas before you get them into the house, you will not have any flea problems if you keep them inside.

I used the term "them", as a pair of cats will keep each other company, although cats can do well as a sole pet.  As long as they have interactive toys, perhaps a cat tree, and the ability to look out windows, they can be very content.  Yes, my cats like to poke their claws through my curtains, but I do not live in a museum.

Kittens come turbocharged, and get into and onto everything.  Regardless, you need to childproof your house.  In other words, anything you would not want a baby to get into, you do not want a cat to get into.

Getting an older cat saves a life, as they are much harder to adopt out.  People seem to always want 'cute' kittens.  But all cats and kittens give unconditional love.  (Right now, as I type this, one of my cats is on my lap).

As far as food costs, it really isn't that much.  I really never consider it a part of my overall budget.  One wants to get quality food, and perhaps $20 per month or so will easily do it.  (I have quite a few cats, so it is hard for me to divide down into what would be the food costs for just one cat.)

Getting a kitten results in higher vet costs, as there is the fee for spay or neuter.  Spaying is not a trivial cost.  Usually, after the initial costs of the first visit, with any potential vaccinations, etc., one throttles down more in the range of $100/year.  Your costs may vary, depending on the vet, area, etc.  Costs will always be lower for an indoor only cat.

Answer 10

cats are so easy to keep, there not like dogs they are very independent an often like to do there own thing, ideal pets for people that work. its always a good idea to keep them indoors untill they have been spayed and once they are mature enough its a good investment to get a cat flap so they can come and go as they please. as for fleas i wouldnt use anything but frontline its brilliant stuff

Answer 11

the cat will go out because there independent  cat food isnt expensive uoi should get a kitty litter so she does her business away from your carpet also get a cat flap installed

Answer 12

my cat actually preferred to be out in the day and as long as you take care of teh cat by reguarly bathing and worming the cat you shouldnt hav a flea problem, cats still hav alot of there basic instict fromt he wild and are able to survive quite capabley on there own so dont fret if it dissappears for a few nites at a time lol my advice would be to get you cat neutred believe me  its remarkable how fast they breed !!

Answer 13

yup, getting one from the shelter is right. even if one of you 2 are at home for a few hrs, that will fine...

cats don't care bout humans as long as they don't have to starve.

but stray dogs are a BIG problem. i had 2 cats that were attacked by dogs and were left paralyzed, both of them. (we didn't put them to sleep, took care of them till they passed)

but your furniture will be scratched upon, but well behaved cats don't usually do that.

cats don't carry as many fleas as dogs.

remember, unlike dogs, cats aren't in the master slave relationship with humans, they do whatever they like.

Answer 14

I have 2 lovely cats I would recommend getting a kitten then you can train it your way Vets bills can cost around £50 for first lot of injections then it is around £30 per year for booster jabs these protect against cat flu etc feeding for 1 cat will be approx £5 per week cats are great fun enjoy

Answer 15

cats aren't a very expensive or times consuming pet to have.

Your cat could go out, but if i were you i would get it neutered as they always seem to go out and get pregnant.

If i was you (because of the time it would take to train, which you obviously don't have due to work) I would get a fully trained cat.

Oh and also get it plenty of toys to play with in the time you don't have!

Answer 16

Cats don't mind bring left alone and will probably sleep much of the day.  You could consider getting two, and they can keep each other company wh tile you're gone.

If they stay inside, you shouldn't have a flea problem.  If they go out then they might bring some in - get a flea collar if your cat goes out.

As to your furniture and carpets, depends on the cat,  Not much of an answer, I know.  Some will scratch, some won't - and some will ignore a perfecfly good scratching post in favor of your living room couch.

Good luck.

Answer 17

Hi

First thing I will say is that if you get a cat, it is a 20 year irrevocable

agreement that you are making. Your cat's life will depend on you taking care of it through thick and thin. If you have love and want to be loved, it is well worth it. Now to answer your questions

We will give the cat so much love but will this be unfair to leave it all day

Not at all unfair, You can always consider getting 2 cats that know each other together too.

  We live in a cul de sac so it could go out?

Some say cats should never go out, others feel different. I allow my cats in and out as long as they are home before I go to sleep

Will my house be covered in fleas and will the cat ruin my carpets and furniture?.

2 part question. My indoor outdoors never had a flea problem. As far as ruining carpets and furniture, it is possible. Cats throw up Cat's scratch Cats make mistakes. So what

Should we get a kitten or cat ??

A cat. kittens will keep you up all night and are alot more work. The reason i say a cat though is because kittens get adopted most cats over 3 years old get killed.

  Any damage done to material things, any expense is cheap compared to what cats can do for you

  Please no dry foods cats are carnivores canned fooods and no grains if you can afford it  Best of luck to you an your partner

If you get a  cat from a shelter, o not tell them you will allow it outside or they will deny you

Answer 18

My family has always had cats, they're such good company and great characters!

It doesn't matter if you wouldn't be there in the day, as long as you had a cat flap and left food down so it could go in and out as it pleases. I wouldn't advise letting a cat out if you live in a busy, built up area though, too many dangers in my opinion... Cats are a lot easier than dogs as they are independent and don't need to be taken for walkies, so I don't think it's unfair to leave them for a day like it would be for a dog... You can get flea treatments and combs from the vets...

A kitten would take a lot of care and training and would probably scratch curtains etc as they're so playful and just want to explore...

For you, as you are busy working, it might be better to get a cat from a shelter, about 1 or 2 years old...

http://www.catsinfo.com/index.html

http://www.cats.org.uk/homeacat/index.as...

:)

Answer 19

save a cat from a shelter, then you can find one with a personality that suits your lifestyle and you'll be doing a good deed.

Answer 20

start with a kitten cos then they will easily get used to u

and if u guys work all day then get 2 at a time then they wouldnt be bored. they will keep each other entertained.

get a short haired one cos they shed less

get a scrating post (£10) so that they dont ruin the furniture or the carpet

food will cot around £8 - £10  week for 2 cats and litter £2 - £3 depending on which type u prefer ( i use the lightweight non clumping)

they groom themselves so dont worry about that

just get a cat brush found in petshops and once in a while give them a brush over to get rid of the excess fur that can cause furball

cant think of anything else at the momet

but this much i can guarantee cats are the best satisfying and rewarding pets to have

they give sooo much unconditional love in return its a pleasure to have them

good luck

ps just read the 2nd part of ur question

and i would say that getting a cat from the rescue centre may be a bad idea as these cats would need more attentiona nd care as they maybe emotionally scarred and if u didnt have the experience or time then it may not be the right thing to do

Answer 21

It depends how long your gone for. If your gone longer then about 12 hours, then it might get lonely. With your long hours, it is best for you to get a cat that nows how to use a litterbox. If you get a kitten, you  will have to train it to go to use the littterbox. Even though you will be home on evenings and weekends,it just makes it easier, but it is just my opinion. If it is declawed, it wont ruin the furniture with scratching it. Though it may have accidents everynow and then if you dont clean the litterbox. If your cat stays indoors, you wont have a major flea infestation. My sister has 2 cats and they are indoors and dont ruin the carpets and furniture. Food can cost from $.75 to $3.00.

Answer 22

Ive lived with cats since I was about 3 years old. We lived on a lake in the woods in a log cabin and they just started appearing at our house. the advice I can give you is when you pick one out note its temperment.  Be sure you pet it and see what kind of cat it is. It could be tempermental and you dont want one of those! also, cats get really bored so Id suggest toys while you were gone, cats pretty much take care of themselves. They do want love to some extent but nothing like a dog! Just make sure it has lots of toys.....I recommend a female, males are usually mean as h**l until neutered and then sometimes they are still mean!

Answer 23

Cats are always fun pets.I would suggest going to a local shelter and getting one that really needs a home. Leaving it home all day is ok as long as you give it toys and love when you and your partner get home. Food depends on what brand and how much you get.It can range from 5-20 dollars. Fleas,well if you get one from a shelter you can almost guarantee flees. But taking it to a petco or petsmart and getting it a flea bath would be a good idea. Also get some flea drops for it (once a month use) Good Luck and dont forget the litter box. (buy and fill the box and put it wherever its going to be,then put kitty in with the litter box and shut it in that room for about 30mi.) It should take a hint and use the box. Thats whats we did.When it going somewhere in the house dont punish it but simply put its nose in the mess and then cary it and the cat to the litter box.

Good luck!

Answer 24

a honest opinion,if you and your partner are going to be out all day its not fair to get a cat/or kitten and leave it on its own all day.they prefer a lot of human love and attention.

Answer 25

Cats pretty much take care of themselves as long as you leave them food and a liter box.

Easier to get a kitten so it can learn and adjust to the family habits.

Leaving cats outside is really up to you.

Try it out, but if it comes back looking like its been in fights, then you should probably start leaving it in as cats are very territorial.

If you declaw the cat, it'll save your furniture problem, but then i wouldn't let the cat outside.

Answer 26

If both of you work 9-5 jobs the cat should be okay during the day as long as you play with them when you get home :) I wouldn't recommend letting the cat out while you're gone though - indoor cats tend to have less parasites, including fleas, and less chance of injury. Indoor cats rarely get fleas, but if they do they're quite manageable with flea products available from your vet like Frontline.

Cats do enjoy scratching furniture and carpets and don't let someone tell you otherwise. Some cats can have this behavior redirected to a scratching post or cat tree but others will refuse to use an acceptable outlet. Some cats will respond well to sticky tape to prevent scratching furniture and some owners swear by Soft Paws (plastic covering you can glue over the claws) but in 17 years of cat ownership neither have worked for me :( So if you guys are very attached to your furniture and don't want to reupholster every few years I wouldn't recommend a clawed feline. If you can adopt a declawed cat or are willing to get a cat declawed (it's easier on kittens than cats) I would recommend you do some research in that area. It's a hot topic, but you'll have to decide for yourselves by talking to people on both sides. Or you could luck out and get a cat or kitten that either uses a cat tree or doesn't scratch much. Some people aren't willing to take that chance, though.

Kittens have *much* more energy than an adult cat and they have a tendency to think the world revolves around them. Otherwise there isn't much difference between a kitten and a cat. I have a 4 month old male and 16+ year old female and you wouldn't know it to look at them. A kitten will probably bond with you a bit easier than a cat with already established behavior patterns. You probably don't want a kitten younger than 8 weeks since they'll need someone nearby to make sure they haven't gotten into too much trouble! And by 8 weeks the kitten should be litter box trained :)

If considering purchasing a cat, I suggest you go to a pet store where you think you'd be doing most of your shopping and look at the prices and add it up. Then you'll need to figure in vaccinations (I'm afraid I can't give you specifics but a local vet would be able to help) and vet visits and an emergency budget for the unexpected. If you adopt from a shelter the kitten will probably already be spayed or neutered but if they're not then you'll have to get that done as well.

I hope this helps :)

Answer 27

We've had cats for years.  First, cats can sleep up to 18 hours a day.  It shouldn't be a problem for you to leave them alone - the cat will probably sleep all day.  As for fleas - I've never had an outdoor cat so never had a problem with this.  I would suggest you not let your cat out - outdoor cats don't live as long and are susceptible to harm by other animals or vehicles.  

Kittens can be a problem (until trained) for furniture but if you adopt and a cat over 2 or 3 years then it should be fine.   Food for a cat is relatively inexpensive when compared to other pets.  

I would suggest you check out the local shelters.  All of them are full of animals ready to be given a good home.  (My personal soapbox).  Two years ago I adopted Anna who is 13 years old and she is now a full member of the family.  

The shelters can also answer your questions and you can spend some time with the animals.  

One thing I would caution you on is behavior.  Cats can be very moody and very set in their ways.  Establishing routines and not moving the litter box and food will keep your feline happy!

Answer 28

i would suggest a kitten but since u said u would not be there much so i would get an older cat around 1-3 years old because a kitten would need a lot of attention and u would have to litter box train it as with a older cat it is much more self-reliant and should be litter box trained also get a cat that hasclawed and it would not tear up the furniture i dont suggest letting youre cat outside because they seem to be nicer it u keep them inside but if u do let it outside make sure u only declaw its front claws and leave the back because if it is in danger it could climb a tree or somthing to get away because with out them it can not grip a tree but it would not tear up your furniture with back claws  

Answer 29

Okay, If you give the cat love, that is great, but also some cats just want to be left alone. Also Kittens sometimes are just into exploring, then getting loved on. But, yes, Cats like to have attention, but sometimes want to get away. No, your house will NOT be covered in fleas IF you keep flea medication on your cat/kitten regularly. You also need heart worm medication. Frontline is good. Your cat will not ruin your carpets or furniture as long as you control the cat. Example: As soon as your cat starts scratching the sofa, 'bop' it on the head, not hard, and usually the cat will get off, but then you need to buy a scratching post and teach the cat how to use it. Kittens are more work, and they require much ore attention, so I advise a cat. Their food: Dry is about 4 dollars a small bag and a box of canned food is about 5. We feed our cats both. Hope this helps C= Oh, and getting a cat from a rescue shelter is a good choice. That should be enough time as long as you take good care of it, and clean its litter box ot once a day so it doesnt get smelly.

Answer 30

you should get a kitten because he/her will be more attached 2 you when it grows into a cat

Answer 31

Ok it doesn't matter if you work full time or not. But.... if you got a kitten it would need a lot of attention so I would get a full grown cat that is over the age of 2. If you don't want it to ruin your furniture and or carpet I would get his/her nails taken out. It would be ok to leave the back in since they don't use them to scratch. Although i would' t let it out if you get its nails out because he wouldn't have anything to defend himself with. With food it depends witch kind you get. Canned  wet food normally runs from about one to two dollars. Dry  food is about five dollars at the most. Also if your worried about fleas get a flea/tick collar or front line which is a medication you use to put on your pets fur. Other advice I can give you is to - if your cat has long fur to brush it daily, otherwise your fine. If you would want to clean your pet yourself get kitten wipes which cleans your pet without water. But your cat cleans itself so its not Necessary. Another tip would be to have a feeding schedule. If you leave out food your cat will still eat it if its not hungry because cats LOVE to eat. What I would do if you want to leave food out it is a good idea to get the diet kind. Which can be found at your local pet store. If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail me.

Hope this helps!