So tell me about cats?

[Jellybean29]

Where did you get your cat from? Was it a kitty or an older cat?
What kind of cat do you have?
Do they shed really bad?
What about litter training (because cleaning up poo from a cat and kids would kill me!)?
Do your kids like your cat (if you have them)?
Do they go outside at all or are they stricly inside? (my pet peeve is random cats using my yard as a litter box so I would not want to have our cat wandering the city).

Ta!

1) I've had 3 cats in my life. A pure bred russian blue from a breeder, a tortoise shell tabby from a pet shop and a perisan X from the RSPCA. The first two were when I was growing up in my parents home, we had them from kittens, the last one I got with DP when it was 4 yo already.
2) Currently have a Persian X male desexed cat from the RSPCA (called Pumpkin). Adopted him when he was 4 y.o, he is very sweet, affectionate, relaxed, great with kids. Very cuddly and snuggly, still pretty playful. Just uploaded a video of him actually, he's now almost 7 y.o ‪Ballooning with Pumpkin‬‏ - YouTube
3) Current cat does! and he gets knots in his coat if he's not brushed a couple of times a week
4) Pumpkin was already fully litter trained, as he was an older cat and from RSPCA. We've never had an accident with him.
5) DS is too young to notice him yet. But other kids love him, because he is soo fluffy and very chilled out.
6) the ones at my parents roamed the neighbourhood, but Pumpkin is strictly an indoor boy.

I would research cat breeds, they can be just as varied as dog breeds! Have a look at ragdoll cats, although they will be a little work because they are long haired, they are called ragdolls because they 'flop' when picked up (like a 'rag doll'). So better with kids Also, I totally encourage getting one from RSPCA or similiar, and an older cat, not a kitten.

Pumpkin was vet checked, wormed, vaccinated, desexed, microchipped and litter trained... all provided by the RSPCA Only cost about $70 for the adoption, which is WAAAY cheaper than buying a kitten from a breeder or pet shop and paying for all the above yourself!!

[Starfish]

My cats currently live with my mother (I didn't want to move them from NZ to Sydney), and I miss them heaps.

Answers to your questions:

1) Where did you get your cat from? Was it a kitty or an older cat?
- Cat 1 (F) we found as a stray. Cat 2 (M) we bought from the Cat Protection Society. F was about 6 months old when we found him (vet determined his age). M was 5 months old.

What kind of cat do you have?
- Both are moggies. F is a grey/brown tabby. M is a black tortiseshell.

Do they shed really bad?
- Not really. I find that cats in general shed less than dogs and their fur is finer.

What about litter training (because cleaning up poo from a cat and kids would kill me!)?
- Both were litter trained. The house had a cat door, so most of the time they would go outside anyway, so it was wasn't anything that we had to consciously think about.

Do your kids like your cat (if you have them)?
- DD loves the cats everytime we visit. M is nicknamed "**** cat" and loves cuddles from all kids and adults alike. F is more timid and standoffish, so even though DD loved him, he won't let her near him. LOL.

Do they go outside at all or are they stricly inside?
- Both go outside.

Cats are great pets and require much less care than dogs. The only issue I found was that if the cats go outside they can get into fights with other cats, or if you live near a busy road they could get hit by cars. They are resilient animals though, so usually the most painful thing about these events are the vet bills...

[Lily Dust]

We never dreamed of having a cat and somehow we managed to end up with one who had been starved by her owners

Where did you get your cat from? Was it a kitty or an older cat?
She was about 5 months and looking at it I am glad we never got a little kitten cause this kitty can give as good as an almost 2 year old can play

What kind of cat do you have?
Apparently shes a medium hair domestic cat??

Do they shed really bad?
Not even remotely as much as I expected!

What about litter training (because cleaning up poo from a cat and kids would kill me!)?
Our cat goes outside in one particular spot. Not ideal but it works for us.

Do your kids like your cat (if you have them)?
She absolutely adores the kitty! And will get the biscuits and open the front door whilst singing out for her 'puss, puss, puss'. Never imagined they would be such good pals. DD gets a bit rough at times but the cat gives as good as she gets, although DD finds that a bit amusing and giggles hysterically at a nip off the cat!

Do they go outside at all or are they stricly inside? (my pet peeve is random cats using my yard as a litter box so I would not want to have our cat wandering the city).
We live in the country and our cat does go out but doesnt venture far from home at all. She sleeps inside however.

Honestly, we love our cat and are so glad that she just 'appeared' in our lives cause we wouldnt have ever gotten one otherwise, having always been dog people!