To cat or not to cat...

[Gemini]

As most of you know I am a cat lover and have had cats most of my life, usually at least 2 at a time.

When OH and I moved here together 13 years ago we had 4 cats, all of a similar age. Her cat sadly died aged 14 but the others all lived to be 19 and 20.

We have been a catless household since April of last year.
We nursed 3 of the cats into old age and had to make the decision to say goodbye in each case. This was all physically but mostly emotionally draining so OH wanted a cat break. I didn't, but agreed to it.

Since then we haven't had to arrange a cat sitter, plus the extra work of leaving the house nice for them, getting food in etc. All worth it for having the cats and house cared for of course, but it has been nice to go on holiday without doing anything but pack and go.
It also leaves us free for impromptu weekends away as we only have ourselves to think about. We never go on weekends at short notice however!

I follow 3 cat rescue centres on Facebook. Cats and kittens frequently become available, especially at the centre furthest away. We would need to pass a home visit before applying to adopt. I would like 2 cats, preferably kittens as there is nothing sweeter and funnier to my mind, and it is around 25 years since we had kittens in the house.

I think I would be a lot happier with cats, it is an important part of my life missing.

OH is happy spoiling next doors cat, but I need something more permanent!

After our September holiday we have nothing else planned until next June, so I think that would be a good time to think about it.

But will we regret it?? I think the joys will outweigh the drawbacks.

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, only you and OH can decide whether to get more cats.
We had a cat for 18½ years and we loved her to bits.
When we had to say goodbye to her, we decided we weren'y having any more pets.
We've been catless for about 20 years now.

[Oma]

Gem
My DD could never be without a cat or any animals come to that ,
But it’s all on me when they go away .
I am the feeder and poo cleaner for the cats , B won’t do any of that
I’m also the feeder and dog walker with Storm .
B will feed the fish and fill the bird seeders in the garden 😀
At the moment I don’t mind but we have said if Storm went we won’t look after another dog
Cats are different , they don’t need walking and as long as they are fed and comfortable they are ok .
If you really feel you need a cat of your own I imagine S has to agree also.

Animals do tie you down that’s why we wouldn’t have another pet , plus the heartbreak when they go ,

By the way have you thought if you get kittens and they live to 19 you will be almost 90 before they go 😁

[Gemini]

Oma, yes I have considered that, but have 3 DDs who would take them on

[Daisy]

Gem, I can only say how it was for us when we lost our last two dogs, who were litter mates, first Rusty then Clyde. In each case we had to make that last sad choice, but the vet came to the house and they were with us to the end. It was November (a year apart) and we decided not to get another dog straight away. We would have a nice holiday after Christmas - somewhere hot and sunny - and then start looking for the right rescue dog. We didn't want a puppy. About a week or so after we made this decision we had been out shopping, stopping for lunch at a local pub and we opened the front door to - nothing! But we weren't going to have another dog yet. We'd take all the doggy beds, toys, collars, leads everything to a rescue centre some distance away. I went online to get their postcode - and saw Eva!!!!!

Yes, pets are a tie - even a goldfish needs feeding. But for us (probably me more than OH because he grew up in a pet-free household) having a pet makes the home complete. Mostly we take Eva out with us, and we got the caravan so we could take her on holiday, and we love it. We're lucky she is happy to stay with DS2 (and Cooper) or our neighbour (with Missy) if we do need to leave her for more than about 4 hours. I imagine it's a bit easier with cats, but I know yours have always had the luxury of a cat sitter.

I would dearly love to adopt another dog, but OH isn't too keen. I'd look for a dog of similar age to Eva, but smaller. I think she would benefit from having a furbrother/sister, and it's great to see two dogs happy in each other's company. Plus, I know rescue centres are full to capacity and I wish I could have all of them!

The sadness when you lose them is awful, but with luck you have years and years of enjoying sharing your home and your life with them.

[Oma]

We have the best of both worlds I suppose, we can have Storm whenever we like ,
I can walk him whenever, but then I can hand him back like a human GC😁

Perfect for us,

I would love another Cockatiel but hard to get anyone to look after a bird ,
I don’t like them kept in a cage all day and some people don’t like them flying around .
There was only ever Bs mam who would have ours as she had budgies , DD could never have him with having cats .

[Plantaholic]

We have always had cats and dogs, OH had a border collie when we got married. When DD and her family moved in to the main bungalow they had a gorgeous Golden Retriever. We have never before been without dogs and cats but now DD and Sil are retired they don’t like to be tied and holiday quite a lot.

[Gemini]

I had forgotten to mention the biggest drawback, vets bills and anxiety when they were ill.
As OH pointed out, this is foremost in our minds as 3 of them lived to such a good age and all got old together so lots of vet visits.

It's possible we may not be considered suitable for kittens due to our age, which is very sad.
Perhaps having multiple cat loving family members of a younger generation may be in our favour!

Daisy I remember you were planning a dog break, then along came Eva

[Plantaholic]

Gemini, those things you mentioned are what is stopping me plus my age.

[Lizzie48]

Gem, a very difficult decision to make, a neighbour has 5 cats, yes 5! All indoor cats as not even allowed out on to the balcony, she was saying 2 are ill and need expensive medicines, she says she is working for the cats at the moment!!

[Daisy]

I suppose a lot depends on the extent to which you worry about the future. Eva is the first dog we've ever had insured, and the monthly premiums are too horrendous to even think about now she's 11. We were just about to cancel the policy in December when she had an accident, and we claimed for her treatment. That was the first time she'd been to the vets apart from one eye infection when we first had her. Needless to say, we didn't cancel at that point. If we were to have another dog I would set up an account the pay the cost of possible insurance into it every month for vet bills.

Clyde required quite a lot of treatment - including cataract surgery and treatment for diabetes, and we worked out that if we'd paid insurance for them it would have been about the same as the cumulative vet bills over their lifetimes.

Plant, I remember your family having a beautiful goldie.

[Grauntie Mag]

Get more cats Gem!
I didn’t like not having a pet when Mollie the Collie went at 17 and then my beautiful Ella cat at 20 a few years later. We had five petless years and, like you, I always felt something was missing. Along came quirky Bess (Collie) desperately needing a home when she was 9. Yes she is a tie, and insurance is so very expensive, but she gets us out every day and is very loving.
We can always find ways round the difficult bits, holidays and such. 😺😺

[Gemini]

Nice reply Grauntie

[Daisy]

Grauntie, that 'something's missing' feeling is so sad, isn't it. I hope Bess brings you many more years of quirky love. xx

[Grauntie Mag]

Currently barking at the church bells evening practice whilst debating what to do with my rubber outdoor shoe!
I would love a cat too, though.