*not horse related* cat question

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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Sorry I know it's probably not the right place but I thought I'd get more answers here.

On Monday night we had our beautiful whippet x put to sleep, we're both devastated but feel that shortly we will be able to offer our love to another animal. It is not the right time to get another dog as my OH job may change in the next few years, at the moment he works from home but this may change.

So we're thinking of a cat, as we live in a flat which is on a busy road it would need to be a house cat, therefore we would be looking to rescue a older cat or one with a disability or illness. I'm a vet nurse so I have no problems with that.

Who else on here has house cats? Do you feel they're happy with not going out?
 
The only 'house cat' I have ever had was about 4 months ago. It just wandered in, took refuge in the utility room and that was it. It was a bengal kitten which had been abandoned/mistreated. It has now been rehomed as my 'house feral' got terratorial and started pooing everwhere :(:(

I know alot of people wont agree but I think there are cats who just don't want to go out. Certainly when my parents moved to a flat they took our ancient persian and he was really really happy.

Only thing is the dirt tray is an issue, a rather smelly one.

I think its great of you to offer a cat like this a home and hope you get one soon.
 
Yes, I'd thought about the litter tray but not too concerned as should be able to change it quickly and living above work I can take it straight down to dispose of xx
 
we have both, a house cat who has been for 12 years and 5 that go out, even though the door is open he will wander out occasionally but really not interested. 2 of the others dont go far cats like their home comforts.

If you take on an older cat I think its unfair to coup up one that's used to going out, but if its used to be indoors then don't see it as a problem, I'm sure a rescue centre would be able to match you up with the right cat.

My friend had a kitten never let him out and he seems quite happy as its all he knows.
 
Try a breed rescue as they usual insist that their cats are kept indoors only.

Some groups would rather the cats be at risk from outdoor hazards than be kept indoors with proper stimulation.
 
Hi
Ive got 2 cats who are house cats, they are totally happy and not at all bothered about going out. We are near a main road, and one of the cats had never been outside when we got her at about 6months old, so was clueless about cat survival skills.
They like watching people out the window, and they have lots of toys to keep them occupied.
Litter trays are in the utility room and cleaned twice a day, so they don't get smelly.
Kx
 
why not get a FIV cat they are not aloud to go out you can have 1 or two as long as both are FIV.

They can live quite long lives with this condition . Phone your nearest Cats Protection League . Done bother with the RSPCA they put them to sleep.:(

This way you can justify to any **** who says about not letting it out that you cant let it out.
 
My cat isnt technically a house cat, but as she has gotten older (and after dissappearing four about 4 days earlier this year) she has become a house cat, and is perfectly content as far as i can tell, she has the option to go out if she wants, but she chooses to stay in.

At my local Cats Protection there was a couple of 'house cats' looking for homes (although this was over a year ago) so I'm sure you wont have any trouble finding something suitable!
 
I have had three house cats. The first, for the same reasons as you - living in a flat on a busy road.
The second, was offered the chance to go out but preferred to stay indoors.
The current one is mentally disturbed and has never been out as she is easily confused and would probably forget where her house was!

All these cats have lived happy lives with plenty of stimulation.

Some rescues have deaf cats which need a home - they cannot go out so that might be an option for you.

I am sorry to hear about your dog.
 
My friend went to the Cat Protection, with this in mind as they live in a flat, they now have a great cat, which they found and the people at the protection centre did have a few cats that were only to go to homes that they would be a house cat, the cat is very happy. Sorry to hear about your loss, and I think you would be doing a really great thing to offer a good home to a special cat,hope you find what you are looking for.
 
My cat doesn't go out much and when she does she tends to just sit by the patio doors and stares at us until someone lets her back in :D so in her case I think she would adapt to being a house cat quite easily.

I would think as long as you got a cat that was used to being a house cat then it should be fine, just have to do the litter tray everyday and I think you can get them kitty grass trays and things to emulate the grass they eat to chuck up their hairballs etc. Also some toys wouldn't go amiss.

:)
 
Leviathan said:
why not get a FIV cat they are not aloud to go out you can have 1 or two as long as both are FIV.
Click to expand...


^^^ this.

I have a perfectly healthy cat who was an outdoor cat for six years but has recently been grounded for life after vanishing for five weeks and driving me half batty.
He has loads of toys, boxes and things to play in and has windows open a bit so that he can still sit and sniff the great outdoors. He has adapted pretty well.
Sorry to hear about your loss and i too think it is great you are going to offer a home to an unwanted cat - there are so many out there it is heartbreaking. Let us know who you get please ;)
 
Sorry to hear about your loss. :-(

We have 3 restricted outdoor cats...2 bengals and a bengal x siamese. We live on a very busy main road, and as they are my babies and I couldn't bear it if anything happened to them, I put up cat netting! Basically our garden is secure now, they have a cat flap so go in and out as they please but stay safe.

I was googling cat fencing to try and find ways to keep them in and came across a company that sold (for a lot of money) this cat netting. I improvised and did it myself for a fraction of the cost. Been up almost 3 years now and no problems at all. Happy to email anyone pics if they are interested, just drop me a pm.
 
OP, I have indoor cats who do fine.
Is there any chance you might take on 2 unwanted cats so that they will each have company when the humans aren't around? :)
 
You should be able to find a suitable cat for your circumstances. I have worked with CP and other animal charities with fostering and home checking etc... Sometimes there are cats who need to be kept in; they can be more difficult to home if they have a health problem so the fact you do not mind this will be great news for one of these long stay cats. Also when I was home checking I would put on the form indoor cat only if I felt there would be too much risk in the outdoor environment of a particular household.

I have an 8yr cat who was a real outdoor type, but he has been indoors since May following a saddle embolis. I can't be sure he'll come home for his concoction of meds and also worry he'll get stuck somewhere in pain when he eventually re-embolises. He has managed far better than I expected and still has a good quality of life - he just hunts feet on the stairs instead!
 
I have a house cat, he was a rescue, he dosen't mind being in at all, he is very timid of other people and cats so he would be terrified if left outside. Once they have lots of love, enough food and a nice bed any cat would be happy. If you are rescuing a cat, they will probably know which cat in their care would suit an indoor life rather than an outdoor one.
I recommned royal canin indoor27 food - really there is hardly any smell from the litter tray when my cat is on this, the difference is unbelieveable! No wet food for smell reasons ;) also crystallised cat litter is brilliant as you only have to clean it out thoroughly every fortnight & change the litter - with other litters I was doing this every other day. Get a litter locker also - its a god send. Good luck!
another tip - get a hooded litter tray and hide behind the sofa - works for me and vistiors unaware a tray is there at all. and cat likes the privacy!
 
Ours are all house cats (we have 2 siamese and 1 oriental), the breeder actually specified she only wanted to sell to house cat homes. They have a little run built out the back of the house that they can access through a cat flap but they don't really go out there much! We found putting them on James Wellbeloved dry food really helped the smelly poo, and no wet food. They have the litter tray at the back of the house in the utility room, having one with a hood/cover helps contain the smell too. 2nd the crystallised cat litter recommendation, it's really good. :)

They are very happy indoors and don't actually want to go outside, they hunt moths and spiders (great as we both are petrified of spiders!) and they have two scratching posts but don't scratch anywhere else. :)
 
What's the name of the cat litter? I'd definately use JW as it's the food we recommend at work and I really rate it. I was also thinking of a covered tray and would clean it prob twice daily xx
 
You can get a few types of crystal litter we used the bob martin one. I have now swapped to wood pellets (the horse ones) very big bag for £4.99 so I can just tip it out rather than clean through it - never smells and the cat likes it. JW food my cats won't eat at all not sure why. I get the vets kitchen food as it is good quality, lasts ages and all of them like it.

Also if you end up with more than one cat you may need to take the door off the covered litter as some naughty moggies like to attack a cat as it leaves the litter with a surprise pounce - you then get it where they won't use the litter!
 
I have got house cats, only the mother seems to want to go outside, on the few occasions she has escaped, she has cried to get back in after a few minutes.

As long as their individual needs are met I do not see an issue
 
I have 7 house cats and my mum had adopted an old cat (16 +) he is spoiled rotten and they dont go out. they are very happy as they have lots of toys and places to snuggle up to but there favorite place is the 6' foot scratching post and the table by the radiator. They are all on wood pellets litter and whiskers complete biscuits and whiskas gravy tinned food ample water. They like to snuggle up to you aswell and purr like mad.
 
I have a British Shorthair who's an house cat.... he's absolutely fine as he's known no different but we always make sure we spend time playing and he loves to be chased!

I've never found the litter tray to be an issue and I just use Waitrose micro litter....

Good luck!! :)
 
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