questions for cat owners

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The other day, I was talking with my landlord and over the course of the conversation, she mentioned that she was fine with her tenants having cats. I was surprised because I'd been under the impression I wasn't allowed to have pets here, like all the other properties I've rented over the years.

I'm leaning against getting one, but just had a few questions.

1. How much space does a cat need to be happy? I've got a small one-bedroom apartment. (I live in a quiet setting on the outskirts of the suburbs, where a cat would probably be fairly safe roaming around outside, but aren't outdoor cats a lot more likely to get fleas, tics and stuff?)

2. My average week consists of 40-plus hours at work, two weekday evenings where I'm not home until mid-to-late evening due to plans I have or errands, plus either a day-trip or evening out on Saturday. I know cats are pretty independent, but would I be able to give it enough time and attention? I live alone, so I'd be pretty much the only social contact it would get, aside from occasional company.

3. How much do you spend on your cat over the course of a year between food, litter, vet visits, etc?

I've had a single kitty in just a bedroom and she used to do just fine. I would say as long as there are places for them to sleep, and areas for them to run around and play and you have space for a litter box, food, and water (food and water should be stored away from litter box) then you'll be fine

I have never had an outdoor cat get fleas and tics or anything like that but outdoors can be more dangerous if you live in a high-traffic area. Also you cannot let a cat that hasn't been fixed outside. The boys will eventually run away and the girls will come home pregnant. Spay or Neuter no matter what either way.


this would actually be a good reason to look for 2 cats. If you get 2, and they get along, they will keep each other company. Otherwise it'll depend on the personality of the cat. Some cats are independent enough that they wont even notice you are gone and just be happy whenever you are around. Others will get very upset with you if you leave them by their selves.



Pet budget is much like your own budget. You can get away with a couple of hundred a year as long as they stay healthy or you can easily spend a couple hundred per month if you buy expensive food and toys. If the cat is sickly then vet bills definitely stack up but most cats are pretty healthy on their own without the need for vet visits other than every once in a while.

Cats don't need a terribly high amount of space. As for cost, you can get away with the basic amount of just normal cheap food, and cheap litter. For what'll really hit you for costs are vet bills, ie, if your cat even needs like, teeth pulled or something, it's $500, that's the real costs for cats. But food, litter, etc, isn't really much of a problem, especially if you only got one cat. Now we have 4 cats, and strays we feed dry food outside and yeah, a bit more of an issue.

I'd say the main annoyance with cats is they're a bit messy, they'll throw up, pee sometimes, etc. That's my main grievance with them. I also have allergies to cats, and have had cats all my life. At first, they were outdoor cats, but then they were indoors and my allergies got worse. Eventually through exercise and diet, most allergy symptoms were alleviated, but if you're allergic to cats in the slightest, I'd say overall don't bother really. For me now, I try to keep my cat out of my room 95% of the time, so that way there, my body can recover from the allergies while I sleep.

It mostly comes down to the individual cat. They're like people in that they all have pretty different traits and personalities and the like. Some cats will be the nicest most adorable great creatures ever, and some are like...not quite so much. Like people, sometimes their bad behavior is just misunderstandings, etc, so you have to be compassionate toward them even if they're dumb. If you wanna get a cat, just look for people giving away cats, or in an animal shelter. They're cheap/free that way, and you're giving the animal another chance, and stopping it from being euthanized. Kittens are cute, but adult cats are cheaper, and less people want them, so in that regard, it's a bit more compassionate to get an adult cat, imo. As far as picking a cat, just see which cat you know, takes to you best, it comes down to just "feeling it out" really.

Me personally, my favorite kitties are Maine Coons, I have one I got from a guy who took in a bunch of strays, who used to be a cat breeder, and I think they're about the best cats ever. My cat hates other cats, but loves humans. I don't know if that's a Maine Coon trait or not, but she'd much prefer living with no other cats. They're quite talkative, and really love being around people. Partially it's their upbringing, they come from Norwegian Forest cats, which are sorta descended from Siberian cats, both of the cats were around humans a lot, Norwegian cats were on ships, and Siberians were in Siberia, so both meant lots of human contact. So my personal recommendation is a Maine Coon, but really, with cats it'll just come down to what cat you like the best. So, if you can handle some slight mess, litter box, they're quite nice creatures. I don't know how it'd be with me alone with my cat whenever I move out, as it's agreed I'm taking my cat, I've lived with them enough to want a break, but I've had 20 years with cats, so yeah. One good thing about cats is, they do last a while. It's not like a goldfish or something in that regard. They're good in that they're a constant in your life, which at least for me is nice, as it's one thing that usually remains the same no matter what.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEmTLmu2H10[/youtube]

That's what owning a Maine Coon is like.

I think getting a cat is a great idea. Don't worry about the space issue. If you get one from a rescue centre then they might be able to get you an indoor cat, ie one that has always been kept indoors & therefore won't mind. ( Keeping a cat who is used to spending time outside permanently indoors would be pretty cruel.)

You say the cat could go outside. Would the cat be able to get in and out of your flat under its own steam (cat flap)? That would be ideal.

We work similar hours although no late evenings. It would depend on the cat. Some are able to entertain themselves, some are clingier and would be lonely all day. Yes outdoor cats need flea treating or even worming (if they develop a taste for live prey!) but that is what their instincts tell them to do and the great outdoors offers more and better stimulation that humans can provide by game playing indoors.

I completely agree with infinite null - the cat should be neutered, and if you get one from a rescue centre they might even do it for you. In the UK I got a voucher that I could take to a local vet and get the op done for free. Don't know if you can get this in the US.

Moneywise, food comes to about £4-5 per week. Ours is healthy but flea treatment and annual booster vaccinations come to about £160 a year. So the basics might add up to about £35 a month. Insurance is a rip off in the UK so we don't have any. Occasional trips to the vet tend to be £20-30 a time.

Edit: having had both, for your first cat, get a female one. Much less trouble!!

I'd say if you can afford it, go for it. Remember that if a cat is languishing in a rescue centre now, ANY kind of life you provide will be infinitely better!