Should I get a House Cat?

Pros

  • We would have each others company
  • I would be able to give one a good home

Cons

  • My furniture might get ruined
  • I could not have my parents dog round (which I like doing)
  • I would be at work 4 days a week, so the cat would be alone then but I would buy toys
  • What would happen if it got ill and I couldn’t afford to pay the vet bills?

I am not sure what to do. I would really like a full time companion, as I only rarely get to look after my parents dog

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House cats typically are okay left alone while one is at work as long as they have fresh water, food and a clean litter box they should be rather independent. That’s what I like about cats. If my roommate would let me I’d have a cat but I’m not allowed.

As far as your furniture they make little caps you can put over your cats claws to keep them from destroying things. All my cats I had growing up my parents had declawed so I never had to experience ruined furniture. Get them a scratching post and that should help too.

And as far as Vet aside from regular vaccinations if you get a healthy cat they’re rather low maintence. Of course things can happen as with any animal but I’d find it wise to have a set budget for how much you’re willing to spend on vet care and if your cat got cancer or something and you were unable to afford the surgery or treatment(as unfortunate as it sounds) you may just have to put the cat down. And that’s just life with an animal. Either that or find someone willing to take over the cats care for you in that case.

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If I got these ones, would you keep the brother and sister together so they can play with each other?

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Oh my gosh those are so cute! I couldn’t say if it was me I’d only like to manage one cat. Two cats is twice the cost of upkeep, twice the mess and twice the potential damage to furniture. But it’s up to you if you’re willing to be in it for the long haul i would say go for it. My aunt has two cats who were litter mates and they like to play together but her house is trashed from them scratching things.

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This has helped along with making sure cats have a scratching pole. And spray the pole with catnip to encourage use.
Dogs and cats usually tolerate each other and sometimes become friends.

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Do you really think I can make the dog and cat friends?

If this could happen I think I would get one

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Has the dog been around a cat?
My dog and cat were wary of each other for the first while but within a month they’ve become friends.

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The dog has not been near cats before.

She is a good dog but she is not so good with strangers.

I am not sure, I will speak to my mother and see what she thinks

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Sure. I had a cat years ago when I lived alone. My sister had a dog and when my sister went on vacation or traveled I would keep her dog at my house for a few days or even a week. And they both got along OK. Occasionally, the dog would chase the cat but it was nothing serious. Soon they would both jump up on my bed when I watched TV and they would both sleep about a foot from each other. Yeah, I spent a lot of money on vet bills. My cat got asthma and I racked up some big bills taking him to the vet. Plus the cost of medication. He also needed teeth pulled. But I would get another cat if I ever live alone again. My cat was a great companion and I didn’t fault him that he had health problems. He made up for it by being well behaved, affectionate, and a good companion.

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Those are a lot of Cons you have there yet it’s great that you are putting some thought into it. Just remember that any pet is a commitment. But if the dog hasn’t been socialized with cats you may have difficulties and cause both animals undue stress.

Please let us know what you decide to do. Best wishes.

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I’d be wary of getting a cat with a dog that had never been around any. Mine still bother my cats and they were raised with them. And if you got a brother and sister cat they still need to be fixed at about 6 months to avoid kittens and male marking.

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As far as your cons

  1. keep plenty of scratching toys, and reward them for scratching the appropriate thing. When you notice them scratching furniture, move them to the scratching toy
  2. with proper introductions and socialization, your animals might become friends. You can request a cat who is good with dogs at a shelter
  3. Adult cats don’t mind being alone as long as they have plenty of toys to occupy their time, and fresh food, water, and litter
  4. There are usually community outreach programs you can go to for healthcare services for your animals if you can’t afford them. I believe @daydreamer knows of one.
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I say take a chance on love and get the cat.

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What breed of dog is he? Some breeds were bred to hunt so that could be a problem. But cats are easy to take care of. They can be friendly and cuddly too like mine were

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I know a couple of people who have cats in London, they’re not wild, one even has seven kids, the other seems to be doing better as the person’s cousin has a turtle which the cat can play with without causing any trouble although she doesn’t like getting wet. If it were me I’d get a lion or a cheater, but you’d need a really big house and plenty of grass weaves to make them feel at home. Have you thought of getting a tiger, they’re really cool and great for working out to, but only if you live in a rural place like me.

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It’s a Shepard so probably not the best breed to mix.

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Kittens should not be left alone for long. If you plan on going to work in the next months and don’t have anyone to babysit your cat(s), you really should get an adult cat and not a kitten. You should wait until a kitten is 6 months old before you leave it at home a full workday.

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Ah ok I didn’t know that.

I will get an adult cat if I make a decision to get one.

There are plenty of rescue places I can go to locally rather than getting kittens

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If you plan on getting an indoor cat, make sure to get an indoor cat. They will not be happy indoors if they have been allowed to go outside freely.

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I have seen they say whether they’re indoor or outdoor cats on one site.

I would get a cat flap, but my flat faces a busy road and I would be worried an outdoor cat would get run over

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