Hi there!

Basically, I'm looking at getting a cat in the next few months. I've had them all my life, but moved out of the family home last year and had to leave the two family cats behind (I still visit them frequently!) as it wouldn't be fair to take them with me. Before, I lived in the countryside so the main reason for having them, other than loving cats of course, was for their mousing abilities. Therefore, I've only ever had outdoor cats.

But now, after many months without one I've decided that within the next few months, I'd like to get another one. But because I'll be living in a flat (not a small one, but one bedroom) in the city I don't think I'd be comfortable with allowing them outdoors. However, I don't know how indoor cats differ to outdoor ones.

Can anyone give me any advice, or just your own experiences on how to keep them happy etc? I will have plenty of time to spend with it, I'm a student with a part time job but my uni course is very relaxed and most of it is self studying from home. And as for working, it's only four hours at a time a few days a week (five maximum and that's only at the busy times!). I've also got other incomes and savings so money in terms of how much the cat would cost is not a problem. It's more that I want to be prepared for the different behavior type that would come from it being indoors. Any advice would be helpful!

I have no experience of indoor cats (mine go outside during the day), but I live in a small one bed flat, and still chose to have two cats because I wanted them to be company for eachother when I was at work. They still have plenty of space, so i'd consider 2 cats if possible

It depends on how much a cat will drive you bonkers. People don't realise how destructive cats can be indoors. Cats learn how to open doors. Then they play with the lavatory paper and all kinds of things.

They like the cat track. It keeps cats and kittens happy for hours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Rypprz98g

I want one of those for me!

As for having two, can I ask how much that costs you? Because while I have the money to comfortably afford one, I'm not sure I could afford two. Plus, I think when it came down to it I'd rather be able to spoil one rather than have two that I couldn't give lots of treats!

They vary in price. I don't expect to pay more than £6.99. Sometimes they have them in animal charity shops such as Cats Protection.

Insurance costs me £12 a month for them both together

Food I don't buy the cheaper end stuff so thats probably about £8-10 a week (thats for biscuits and dry and wet food)

Cat litter again I don't buy the cheaper stuff (I have catsan) which is £5 a bag and lasts me about a month, I would imagine them living inside more would then lead to higher costs, when they were kittens and in all the time, I was buying a bag every couple of weeks.

The toys I got as I went, and they had a lot bought for them.

When they had their first lot of jabs it cost £120 for them both together, but this cost would be reduced as if they are going to be indoor cats, then you wouldn't need to have the same jabs/keep them up to date unless you wanted to put them in a cattery)

I think i've covered everything, I love having two, watching them play together is just lovely

I misread that. Well it varies from place to place.

Insurance 7-10 pounds a month
Flea Treatment £18 for 3 months
Food £25-30 pounds a month
Spaying £50
Yearly booster
Cat litter £2.69 a packet in Sainsburys


Rather expensive

What are you doing for the next 12-18 years of your life?

I would consider two cats, rather than one, for if/when you expect to join the rat-race and are spending 10-12 hours from home each day.

Indoor cats aren't significantly different; the main thing is that the cat won't be able to use up all his/her energy outside so will need things indoor to focus attention on. In my experience, an indoor cat requires more attention and more playing with / entertaining - whereas a cat that is allowed outside gets rid of most energy outside and comes home to sleep. If a cat isn't given enough stimulation then that's when it will start eating / scratching / playing with things that you might prefer it didn't touch.

Personally, I always prefer to have two cats rather than one. I think that they are happier when they have company, which is particularly important when you are out of the house.

i agree with getting two because though you might be at home a lot now you won't be a student forever if they are totally indoors and you are not going to want them in a cattery then injections are not a necessity but you need to be sure they can't get out i have two a ragdoll and a ragamuffin both indoor breeds and remember indoor cats have been known to live 20 yrs some a bit longer i adore my two and highly recommend them as pets but it is a long term commitment x

I think my thoughts may be a little different from the rest. I was 19 when I got my first cat - and she was always a flat cat.

She went with me everywhere. When I went over to my boyfriend for the weekend - then so did she - in a taxi to a bedsit in Brixton. She was my constant companion. Later - we shared a house where there was a massive alsation in the top flat and she ruled - if she was sitting on the stairs then he whimpered and cried to be allowed up!

She was a wonderful companion. When she finally died at the age of 19 -she was with me and my husband in a country home with a baby that she adored. Always part of my life

So - if you are willing to take on a pet for life - then definitely - go for it. I have never regretted it.

Whichever you can afford or it will take it out on your furniture. I am putting new rope on our cats house next week when the glue arrives.

I had an indoor cat who lived a very happy (and comfortable!!) 17+ years life. She was a rescue and so when I had her she was so timid, and it suited her to be an only cat and also to stay indoors. So it may be worth looking around for a cat who is suited to your circumstances. My recent experiences of finding new cats to adopt proved this again - the centre had all sorts of cats with all sorts of backgrounds.

She always had lots of toys and two scratching posts but she was a very fussy cat and just preferred to sit with me and have a fuss more than anything else

My two cats are only just starting to go outside so I can say that if you have two, the amount of litter alone will be quite costly. Other than that you can never tell - my two don't eat that much - I think my old cat ate more than the pair of them put together! so food (cost-wise) could go either way. The litter though there is no way round that.

Thanks for your replies!

I am really considering the two cat thing, but it'll really have to depend on the money I have, because like I said, I'd rather be able to spoil one than struggle with two.
Also, I have thought about rescue cats, are they quite easy to get? Like would they object to my living in a flat in a town? I've just heard that they can sometimes be difficult when adopting dogs, I don't know if it's the same with cats? I've only ever had cats from kittens..
Any other tips would be great!

Just get talking to your local rescue centres. If they have cats there who have only been used to living indoors (for instance (one in the centre I got mine from) elderly owner passed away) then you would be ideal for them! Good luck & keep us posted!

I got my kittens from rescue. They all live with human foster mums and once you've passed the home check then you can go choose kittens/cats. The home check is just making sure you don't live on a busy road, have common sense when it comes to what a cat will need, and that you agree to get them spayed/neutered. The one I went with dont even insist on a cat flap. They also had adult cats that would need to live indoors for various reasons

I've always had indoor only cats, i lost my oldest last year, just after she'd turned 19, personally ive always had more than one cat but that wasn't a deliberate choice i just can't turn away a cute little furry face when someone brings me one. I don't think 2 cats are much more expensive than 1 food,toys and cat litter wise it will just be insurance (if you get it) and vet fee's.

I recently adopted two indoor cats. They're wonderful and I love them, but they are hard work at times! They're both 10 months old and very playful and curious, so I've had to make quite a lot of changes to my flat i.e. how and where I store certain things. The little b*ggers have destroyed a t-shirt, socks etc. and will drink pretty much anything out of a pint glass if you leave it unattended. I caught one of them with a paw in my gin and tonic the other day.

I found that the rescue centres in my area were reluctant to home just one indoor cat to me and my boyfriend. We both work long hours and the staff felt it was unfair for an indoor cat to be alone. I'm so glad they took this approach - having two is wonderful - they really do keep each other company and it's lovely when they play together, curl up etc. There are some indoor cats that can be homed solo (in my area at least) but they tend to have health problems. I saw a lot of cats as part of my research that had FIV and sight problems.

Of course, it's double the expense, but you can cut costs in some ways by buying the supermarket value litter. You don't need to spend a fortune on toys if you don't want to. Mine have a few silly bits from the local pet shops but are just as content playing with a champagne cork and an old sock!

I don't think you need to worry about your flat. I live in a large 2 bed flat close to the centre of London and had no trouble with the inspection. All they looked at was my balcony and my windows in order to advise on "cat proofing" them. They don't care so much about location, how tidy it is or anything like that, it's purely weather it's a safe environment for cats.

My cat loves ping-pong balls. She's managed to lose a whole pack of 10 somehow in the last few weeks - they must all be under the freezer or sofa - I'll have to go on a hunt this weekend, luckily they only cost £1.50 a pack
She also loves dangling stuff so an old shoe lace can provide a lot of fun for her too.

What a good idea! I'll have to look for some ping pong balls when I go shopping later, I can see my two going nuts with them.

Less aggressive, more affectionate, more social (especially if there are two), healthier, live longer.

Also more compliant, so problems with misbehaviour are not an issue as it's a lot easier to train bad habits out of them.

Ping pong balls in a bath (empty, of course) are great fun!

This is most certainly not the case with my two cats, in fact, a bit of a sweeping statement really.

So why is it that with every indoor cat my family has ever owned, all we have to do is say 'no' and the cat immediately stops what it's doing (and doesn't go back to it)?

Our cats are the best-behaved I know of. I can leave plates of food that they like on the floor, and they never touch them unless told it's OK. A lot of dogs aren't that well trained!

My cats are very well behaved too! It obviously has nothing to do with being indoor/outdoor, but rather who their owners are.