I Want A Cat

[Jennykenny]

I would love to have a cat but my husband is not at all keen.
We have both had cats all our lives apart from the last four years when we moved to the south coast and my husband has become housebound, (but I would be responsible for doing all the 'work' part of the looking after the cat).
I am slightly put off by the fact that there are a lot of neighbourhood cats around us and maybe we would be a cat too many, plus a non happy husband.
Any thoughts.

[Dizmo]

Murraymints: "ummmm..I would not feel happy if a cat could not come and go at will !". That invitation then goes out to all the burglars in the area too :)

[paddywak]

Had a senior citizen moment and forgot the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWykr3T8hP4

[pastafreak]

Cats are much closer to their cousins in the wild than any dog is. 'Controling' them really isn't an option,unless all cats were to be kept indoors...which would essentially be going against their nature.
I keep mine indoors...only because one is deaf,and as I live on upper floors it is easier to keep both in. But...even if I could let them out,I'd have both in at night. Darkness is when accidents happen.

[Dizmo]

Paddywak: you don't want to be having to deal with all the stress of a puppy. Why not get an adult GS :)

[ummmm]

And Pasta....they can escape much easier than dogs. My cat can get out of 3 of the 4 upstairs windows.

[Old_Geezer]

You want a cat ? Could you please take all my neighbors' ?

Be aware their present owners have totally failed to train them to defecate in a corner of their own gardens.

[tamborine]

My 2 have flea collars/repellant spray that is applied in rooms/furniture/carpets regularly. Ive just caught a flea biting my ankle. Cats will now live with my outdoor pets!

Fleas might be a downer to your housebound hubby. Flea bites are maddeningly itchy.

[Dizmo]

OG: If you had a dog then you wouldn't have that problem; I'm not referring to the 'chasing', I'm referring to canines eating feline faeces.

[jomifl]

ummmm
/Hasn't this all been said before, Jom? /

seems to need saying again..We have friends whose cat doesn't want to go out because they used to live in Paris where it wouldn't have lasted 5 mins. outside. In France it is illegal to attempt to avoid running over domestic pets on the road as it might cause an accident which could harm a human. It sounds heartless but there is an element of common sense in the viewpoint.

[pastafreak]

@ummmm...Caspar...the deaf one....decided to fly from my 3rd floor window...twice. This was when I'd only had him a short time,and window was open that bit too much. He doesn't bother much with windows now.

Re violet...I want her!!!

[jomifl]

ummm, our cat only got out of a window once. After that measures were taken to prevent it.

[pastafreak]

^^^ same here.

[paddywak]

Diz we'd love to able to have another GSD of any age,my usual avatar is Max our last one, but some days we can hardly walk ourselves let alone dog.It's not fair to the animal to take it on if you know you can't take car of it properly.

[pastafreak]

I have an older neighbour who lost her gsd several years ago. Her well meaning husband went out and got her a collie. Bad,bad,bad mistake. At almost 3,she still pulls,has little recall,and has pulled my neighbour over at least 4-5 times. They do have a lad that takes her out for proper exercise...and she obeys him. But my friend hasn't a clue. The dog is also not spayed...

[Khandro]

Leonardo said that one of the things which gave him greatest pleasure was watching a basket-full of kittens at play.
I think anyone who doesn't warm to kittens must have a heart of stone. Going to a cat's home may be laudable, but you don't know what you are getting. You may have to at first wipe up a few spots of wee-wee though. Present your husband with a kitten and how could he resist?

[vetuste_ennemi]

My first Christmas present to my current wife was Paul Gallico's The Silent Miaow. Anybody read it?

[Khandro]

v_e; Maybe this Christmas you could try Francis;
http://catdailynews.com/2014/01/francis-the-german-cat-detective/

[chaptazbru2]

Personally I think, whether its a cat, dog or whatever, that both parties should want it - not fair on the pet otherwise if one party resents it!

[vetuste_ennemi]

I'm reading Akif Pirinçci's Felidae on the Road (Kindle: £2.79) on my phone, Khandro. It's from the German, so I take it that it's the Felix book, yes?