kittens/cats

[xmisscx]

please list all do's/don'ts, and pros/cons of having a kitten/cat.

Im thinking of getting a kitten but need to know about them first,not had a cat since I was little.

[kathyhinsh]

:Hello2:
sorry hun, can't help u there.....the only experience I've got with cats is that they tend 2 sh!te ALL over my garden :angry-smi :angry-smi
:babydust3

[Netty]

Katie (quiggle) has just got a new kitten, I think.

I love kittens/cats - but really don't want to get one at the moment, but am under pressure from the rest of the family!

Cons I would say are cost of vets, spaying, innoculations etc and protecting the kitten/children from each other as applicable!

Cats are more independant than dogs, so a cat flap means you can leave them during the day and they should be ok as long as they have access to food and water ... if not, they'll find a neighbour that will!

[xmisscx]

anyone else?????????

[Azzi]

The Cat we have was a stray and she decided sometime last year she was going to move in with us, we try chasing her away for six months but she was determine to move in

cons: fleas, injections, house training, litter trays never being able to leave a pile of clean washing around as it will get layed on

pros: a indepentant animal who takes care of themselves, my cats very soppy and comes to me for a fuss when it suits her I also missed out on the housetraining/litter tray faze as she had already been training when she moved in

Just watch out for the gifts !

[Girlzmum]

I got my last cat from the USPCA, their policy is that they will neuter and train the cat before allowing it to be adopted (the fee was £30, much less than going to the vet) I loved my cat and really want another but think I've got enough going on at home for that!

[angeleyes]

I only have experience through my mum having 2 kittens, which they are adorable, they are great with the kids, and are no trouble at all, except for the fact that they climb the walls literally, which i know drives my mum mad, she now has to re-wallpaper the kitchen, as they have ripped parts of the paper off.......

Other than that, like Netty said they can be expensive, and with them being able to roam free, i would tend to worry about them getting into fights, etc, then having to take them to the vets, the vets in which my mum now has her 2 registered at, charge £29.99, just for calling her into the room, and the consultation, which in my opinion is disgusting.....

But other than the expense side of it, if i didnt have a dog, i would definatly get a kitten, and also the main pro to having a cat/kitten is that they dont need as much maintenance as say a dog!! which is good....... hope thats helpful :)

[xmisscx]

what does pet insurance cover then??- would that cover visits to the vets if it was unwell or just in an accident??

[Girlzmum]

I think the insurance covers most things - my SIL got her cat from the USPCA as well and they give a months free insurance with it, just as well because she ate an elastic band and ended up needing an op to get it removed but it was all covered by the insurance. SIL has paid for the insurance ever since but, of course, the cat hasn't needed it!!!

[mariesmummy]

cat insurance is a bit like car insurance! It covers damage to your pet (ie vets bills) and claims against your pet (usually - check the small print) for things like causing an accident etc. There is usually an excess, but it is great for major problems where the bills can be mahousive as my dd says.

BTW my cat doesn't have a litter tray, as she can go outside freely; but she does have a tendancy to lay on any thing soft - so any blankets, washing, coats etc get covered. She is white and grey so it really shows up!

on the plus side I think that it is gret for kids to have animals around - toots and marie love each other. she is great comoany for the dog :lol: and she is also great company for cuddling up in the evening.

She does have a tendancy to think she is in charge as well - she treats us like doormen half the time - after all what is the point of having owners if they don't open the door to save you from going out of the cat flap !

Like all the animals in the family, toots was a rescue animal, so was spayed before we got, but I would definately recommend spaying to everybody. It is not fun having a constnantly pregnant moggie - or an un neutered cat spraying every where!

[Macaroni]

Cons:

Vets fees
Fleas
Wooden/laminate floors get scratched
Window sills get scratched
Cat hairs all over you
Stiky litter trays
Stinky cat food
Cat sick
Making noises at night

Pros
Cant think of any lol

And we have 2 cats, DH's babies, and I think theyre nothing but a pain