I'm a dog person wanting to become a cat person - is there such a thing?

Hell o deffay
2016 -- 2021 Would love to know did you get a cat?

My lovely black cat Leo has just died. .He was my daughters neighbours cat unfortunately the lady died in her fourties and her husband was a long distance lorry driver and not always at home .My daughter suggested I look after Leo as my previous cat Cefer had died a few months previously.
We never knew his exact age but reckoned him to be around 18when he died.
I have cats all my life and only ever had one dog in the house. Blaze was a Lurcher ,my ex husband trained and raced greyhounds and also used Blaze for rabbit hunting.She was a good dog great with the cats,but smelly when wet and more tying than the cats.
Cats are in charge and intuitive giving extra cuddles when your feeling ill of course that's just because your sitting down more }!
Our reasons for being a cat or dog person are numerous but it is great to have one or the other and even both.

Cats are excellent pets but they are certainly so much different to dogs.
They are loving but not like the dogs, they like to keep their territory and privacy. They are so independent and clean. They like to be in control and they an ignore you.

Cats are beautiful and if you're lucky, loving creatures. Try a slow blink with them and when they do it back it's wonderful.
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Yes, it's magical when they blink back!!

Cats, to do them justice, do usually give you fair warning of their displeasure. If I'm over-stroking etc, mine will usually give me an initial 'soft' bite, which is just a gentle warning that the next one is going to involve teeth...

Also, mine usually goes and sits by the corner of the armchair quite pointedly, and looks at me (balefully!) and gives me about ten seconds to get up and do whatever it wants, before stretching out its claws to start on the corner of the armchair shredding it to get my belated attention.

You soon learn what the meaning of the term 'operant conditioning' means when you have a cat - they train you like Pavlov's dog!!

You want to be a cat person? Here are a few pointers:

Get used to being scratched when you want to stroke them
Install a revolving door to outside, otherwise move your sofa closer to the door
Be prepared to spend a small fortune on top of the range food which will be ignored the following week.
Give your bed over to the cat. It's going to happen. Don't buy the cat its own.
Learn to love dead or dying mice and birds. Beds are the cat's preferred burial site.
Finally - never, ever, try dressing them up in stupid outfits. Same goes for dogs incidentally, but a cat will quite fairly take your hand off with its teeth if there's any justice.

Cats are beautiful and if you're lucky, loving creatures. Try a slow blink with them and when they do it back it's wonderful.

Oh dear, I can tell you're not a cat person, as you admit you don't know how to train them!

As all cat folk will tell you, you CAN'T!!!!! That's the whole point of cats. They do what they want when they want and that is that.

One thing though - do NOT believe people who say there are cats who do not 'need' to be able to go outdoors. NO NO NO.

It is simply cruel to keep a cat indoors the whole time, even if they have a view to look out on (that's essential - looking out of windows is the main activity of a cat when indoors - other than sleeping of course!)

I appreciate no everyone has gardens, but it's perfectly possible to take a cat 'for a walk', depending on just where your flat is (not busy roads obviously).

You can get cat harnesses, and cats DO enjoy 'going for walks' (if they don't enjoy it, believe me, they won't cooperate!)

I'm lucky enough to have a garden, but I also live on a quiet, low traffic housing estate with a lot of little cul de sacs and so on, and wide grass-edged pavements, and I often take my cat for a little 'local walk' (without a harness, as he knows the area so well now).

He really enjoys sniffing around (the estate has 'open' front gardens), but can be very slow when he finds something very interesting to explore.

I have to be careful he doesn't regard a neighbour's very nicely dug over flower bed as an extra toilet for him - I take poo bags like for dogs.

If you're not sure if you are a cat person, one of the good things about cats is that if you don't look after them properly, according to their own standards, they will simply wander off and find 'alternative accommodation' that is more up to scratch!

I think people tend to either be dog or cat people. We have always had dogs and I really could not imagine having cats.

Hello! I'm definitely a cat person. I love them as they are so cute, even they walk their paths - always. I think that adopting an animal is a very responsible decision. It's the first step - you're thinking about it so you're on a right way. Firstly, it's very important for a new cat to get used to new environment. Probably at the beginning it will be a bit scared but when you try to play with it, give food and warmth it will get acquainted with you. Don't worry, everything will be okay!

Hello " Deffay" I have always thought being tagged as a "dog" "Horse" or "Cat" person was somewhat limiting. Surely if we are warm, loving compassionate human beings we will be kind and respect all "animals" after all they are very similar to us being sentient beings who suffer the same ailments and to a certain extent show and display loyalty and affection. However, having had animals all my life from cats, dogs, horses, donkey's to Ducks and Geese, I do know that as a PET some suit us better at certain life stages in life. So I do understand why you ask the question. Simply, YES you can love and be loved by an pet you choose to share your home. Of course if you've had dogs over the last few years a little readjustment may be needed, but as long as you decide to love and be affectionate with your new pet ( cat) then a cat can be a wonderful, loving and faithful companion. I have a Bengal, before this an Abyssinian, and before that a beautiful Ginger and cream little girl who was rescued. Generally the world seems to have a different view of cats to dogs, namely (and unfairly in my opinion) that they are aloof, only want you when being fed etc, but this is completely wrong. None of my cats have ever been like this, but I treat my cats with the same affection as I would any living being in my home. They respond accordingly. If you treat any one or animal as though it is aloof it will act aloof.

My beautiful little girl Bengal just 10 this year follows me like a dog, she runs by my side, fetches a ball or stick, and paws me for attention much of the time. She sleeps next to me on my bed and when I've been unwell has laid her head on the pillow by me with her paw out stretched to my chest. She will kiss my nose, nestle her head into my arms and is barely away from the house when she has a little walk. She also greets me when I return home from shopping or whatever, so I can assure you if you do get a cat and give it lots of love and affection from an early age that cat will repay you with love and loyalty too. When it comes to choosing a kitten IF you decide upon a cat, make sure you see the home, the mother and watch how the kittens interact with the person selling the kittens and you. If they haven't been handles very much they may be more timid and therefore it might take a little more time to settle one, but again it all boils down to being patient and loving and not expecting too much over a few weeks when getting him/her home. Lastly I would say if you could have two, it's lovely for them, and two don't really cost that much more than one, and of course when you go away on holiday they would still have the security of one another. I hope this helps.

The only thing wrong with a dog, is that he, or she, doesn't live long enough.
However, a cat, leaves hairs all over your house, brings home half dead mice and birds, prowls the area at night, scratches your furniture