How is your cat affecting your life?

Cats are dicks. Dogs ftw.

My house panther likes his breakfast served between 5 & 6 am while I like to sleep between 5 & 6 am so, breakfast is served between 5 & 6 am.

Your local vet may know of kittens that need homes. They will also advise on vaccinations. Neutering or spaying can also be discussed with them when the kitten is a little older.

Ours came from a local rescue centre who charged an adoption fee, at the time anyway. The fee included vaccinations, neutering & microchipping plus a little extra to help support the facility. It was excellent value which actually encouraged us to round it up a bit.

I'm the same. One of my neighbors got one of the creatures during lock down. Now it comes into my garden at night and sh1ts in my vegetable beds. I don't particularly want my children eating carrots etc that have been covered in cat sh1t. But my neighbor doesn't care and says he can't control the animal. I tried blocking off gaps in the fence etc and spreading pepper, cat deterrent, spikes etc. Nothing works. Looking into getting one of those pest control companies who will catch ferral cats but there seem to be a lot of charlatans out there offering the service as some sort of a con. So a bit stuck at the moment. If I get my hands on the creature it is going for a long drive in my boot and will be released in a wood three or four counties away.

I would appeal to people considering getting a cat not to.

They cost me money - constantly e.g. cattery, vets, zooplus, insurance. I never wanted them and foresaw how it would play out but "they're part of the family". They can be funny at times when they're acting the idiot but in general they're just an inconvenience. I love playing with other people's pets and was happy to never have my own. The last 6 years have solidified that idea and there won't be any more after these are gone.

Use a spray bottle of water and squirt the cat. Do it a few times and they won't come back.

Too late, several furry freeloaders have turned up already.

It comes in the middle of the night. I just can't stay up all night. I have seen it a few times but by the time I get out my back door the creature runs away. I'm looking at options to safely trap it and then release it miles away.

New news. One of his nocturnal visitors, who wouldn’t dare come into the garden when The House Panther is aware / awake, peed on the front door mat last night. The waft of Eau du Chat as we opened & closed the door this morning has added a certain something to our day.

That's cruel if your neighbour owns the cat. What about using a garden sprinkler? Cats hate water and it will learn to stay away from your place.

My cats favourite hobbie is to disrupt nap time for my baby. If she hears the lullabies she'll find her way to the window to be let in, no matter how long ago she's asked to go out. Or today instead she wanted to go outside via the window and got herself tangled in the blinds and decided they blinds were fun to play in. Her little bell jingling while my hands are full nursing 😩

She also likes morning cuddles, a tradition that predates the baby so will wake up everyone demanding it when she hears the baby stirring in the morning.

She's taken to sneaking into neighbours houses too now, don't know what to do with her, they all say they like her, but I know she's a menace.

Post pics OP !

If there is one thing the interwebs needs more of, it's pictures of cats!! :D

Mustn't...post....cat...pic...

THP is an older gentleman, with dental issues. For years he only ate dry food & that was at will from a dispenser. He’s no longer able for “biscuits” & supervises the opening of all pouches to make sure they’re fresh enough for his very discerning palate! If it’s not finished in one go, he’ll act as though his dish is empty. This early rising lark is a relatively new development which makes me the automatic feeder!

And, snap!

I do wash the veg. But reaching in to pull veg and getting a handful of cat sh1t is not something I would wish on even my neighbour. I think cats can fend for themselves but if it makes you feel better I will look to drop the cat off at a shelter far away with the collar etc removed.

I have just one cat now since the previous one died earlier in the year and he's become incredibly possessive and clingy since becoming the only cat of the house. He definitely doesn't miss the other cat one bit, he's revelling in having all of the attention. He insists on breakfast at 4.30am every morning (it seems to be a pattern with cats to want breakfast at that time, my cousin in Australia has cats waking him at that hour too). He is probably too affectionate if anything, he has to be sitting on top of me or at least pinning an arm or leg down for him to be happy that I'm close by. He's an ex-feral cat so is out rambling all day, he's always waiting when I get home though and in for the night then, which is I suppose how he has survived for 14 years when an outdoor cat's life span is often half that.

I've a stray that turned up at my place a few years ago and decided to stay, she is tame enough now but is an outdoor cat and a great rat catcher.

Problem is she attracts all the local toms who like pissing up against the side of the house.

They say cats can't be trained, but I've taught mine to scratch the car of one neighbour to the left of me, and poop in the veg patch of the neighbour the other side of me.

Is that you James??? 😂

You won't be laughing when your cat disappears and ends up in a shelter in Sligo. 😂

A scratching pole. You must get this for an indoor cat otherwise your furniture is going to get badly clawed.

Some toys as well as indoor gets need entertainment.

Also another tip.Cats require water and many people put a water bowl beside their food bowl.

Cat will be fine with this but if you want them a little more at ease and happy then put the water in another part of the room not near their food.

This mimics their natural instinct as a wild cat will never drink water downstream of where it has caught and eaten food as it will contaminated so having water away from their food will replicate that.