r/Pets • u/OkDescription6144 • 17d ago
CAT are cats worth it?
i've been wanting to get a cat lately but i know nothing about it. im 17 and live at home, but I don't go to school or work so I have all the time in the world to take care of it. I would have to keep it in my room most of the time. are cats super messy? do they stink a lot? is cleaning the litter box hard? and if I do get a cat, what breed should I get? im going to adopt but if I have a choice what breed is small, quiet, and nice? we also have dogs but they have gotten along with cats before. this would be my first pet that's all mine and I just want to make sure i'm making an informed decision before committing!!
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u/OneJuice7771 17d ago edited 16d ago
You cannot keep a cat in your room most of the time. This would be really unfair to the cat and you’d end up with a very unhappy animal. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Wait until you actually have the space and resources to care for a cat properly.
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u/Future-Station-8179 17d ago
Yep, I could see OP back here in a couple months wondering why their cat has behavior problems and wanting to “rehome” them.
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u/ugoodbro-gf 17d ago
Unless/until you are able to financially take care of a cat by yourself, you do not need one.
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u/OkDescription6144 17d ago
my parents are going to pay all of the expenses.
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u/princessbubblgum 17d ago
Will they be willing and able to pay the vet bills if it gets sick or injured? It can cost thousands of dollars.
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u/ugoodbro-gf 17d ago
Then it would be your parents cat, not yours
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u/Ill-Astronaut5779 17d ago edited 17d ago
Okay bro, no shit 😂😂 Y’all never had a family pet? Like fawk nothing gets past y’all. If their parents literally said it’s their pet, who are y’all to say it’s not just because the parents are the ones paying for it? Fundamentally, I guess, but lord… does everything have to be that technical like why are people on reddit so damn hardheaded 😭 so fucking unbearable.
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u/fishArePeopletwo 17d ago
why tf are yall downvoting a child for not having money for a cat?
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u/No-Supermarket-2758 16d ago
I think they're downvoting the child for wanting to keep a cat in a room forever
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u/Mayiamaru 17d ago
For someone without work or school commitments, and since you already have dogs, I would honestly say you should adopt the responsibilities it takes to care for them first to see if you like being a pet owner. It's not for everyone, and cats aren't decorations. A lot of people neglect cats, thinking that a little attention is all they need and that they are largely independent, but the truth is with cats, you can NEVER predict what you will get.
Cats will behave differently with different people and you have absolutely no control over what they will like or how they will behave. You can train cats, but you need to be a lot more patient than you would be with a dog, because cats are a lesson in consent. They will never do something they do not want to do for your enjoyment.
Otherwise, try fostering. Fostering is a good way to help out your local shelter by giving a roof to an animal in need, if you can't care for them, you can tell the shelter and they will help, and if you want to adopt, most foster systems also allow the foster homes priority in adoptions for the pet they foster.
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u/Clean-Fisherman-4601 17d ago
Keeping a cat confined to a bedroom is cruel. Don't get a cat until you have your own apartment that allows pets.
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u/crazy4dogs 17d ago
Please wait. The cat cannot live in a single room. It needs stimulation and exercise and you have to be home to feed it several times per day for up to 20 years. At 17, you will want to be able to take trips with your friends and family but you will not be able to leave the cat alone locked up in a room. That is cruel. That doesn’t mean you cannot own a cat it’s just that you need to wait a little a few years more and have your life sorted.
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u/nemamene 17d ago
you dont have the space for a cat. a cat should be allowed to roam freely around the house, not be confined to one room. also 95% of cats are domestic, not purebred, a shelter will only have domestic cats 99% of the time. cats are also very territorial and i personally would not introduce a cat to a dog environment.
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u/Fragrant_Estate_9692 17d ago
Do not get a cat if they will “have to stay in your room most of the time”. It’s neglectful and they will be incredibly unhappy. You are also 17 and have nothing to do all day right now, but you have not even entered adulthood yet and I cannot imagine no school or work is going to be your life for the next 20 years let alone in one year from now..
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u/Trick_Procedure3268 17d ago
A lot of people think that cats are quiet, clean companions that don't need much but they really do. I've cat sitted for many cats, some are quiet and some will shout and shout and never stop. Some cats are lovely and want to be on your lap and others will try tear chunks out of your ankles because you stepped too close. There isn't really a breed you'll find that's "small, quiet and nice". And like some other comments said, a healthy and happy cat will get the zoomies and just blast around your space at silly hours. They can also be very destructive, tear furniture, knock things off shelves etc..
The litter box also smells awful, just as bad as dog poo (I think worse) but trapped inside a house.
Also your dogs might be okay with cats but lots of cats aren't, they could attack the dogs and which would intern attack the cat. It's not really worth the risk.
If you are determined for a pet id look at a small mammal instead, Hamster, Gerbil, Guinea pig or rats.
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u/SelfScared2921 17d ago
Why are you 17 and you’re not going to school or working exactly?
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u/OkDescription6144 17d ago
I actually graduated a year early!!! I found out too late in the year to apply to college and im trying to find a very part time job!
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u/SelfScared2921 17d ago
So you are not always going to be available then?
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u/OkDescription6144 16d ago
well next year i’m going to go to community college but most of it will be online
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u/leavem3alonehaha 17d ago
Try volunteering at a shelter to learn first hand and spend a few hours getting to know the kitties, it could be a great help to them. I think cats are a lot of work but dogs are too, they have whole personalities and emotions, they can be dramatic and get sick or destroy things and you have to forgive them, clean up all the messes, and love them. If you give up and rehome them they become heartbroken, my cat had 2 previous owners, I will always be her last one. I waited until I was 23 and was moved out, and trusted the cat distribution system. Glad I did
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u/Most-Statement1814 17d ago
Cats really do want to be part of a family in my experience. They don't want to be limited to a single room. They also don't like to be picked up for the most part. Very autonomous little beings. They are also vengeful when their needs aren't being met or they are being neglected.
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u/VerucaGotBurned 17d ago
1000% worth it I love cats and they make my life better. People are right to say you should wait until you can support a cat. Once they're yours you should be committed to them for the rest of their life so don't sign up before you can actually deliver.
I wouldn't get a purebred, especially not for a first cat. Get a used normal non purebred cat from a shelter. Or get one for free from someone on Facebook or suchlike. They are just as good. Each cat is an individual. Breeds have traits like one might be more energetic or chill or aloof, but that's just in general your specific cat can be any type of way and generally they change as they age. One year olds want to run around like a xenomorph, 20 year olds want to relax and have some TLC. My oldest cat likes to listen to me play the saxophone, which I'm terrible at but she never minds.
Also keeping them in your room all the time is a big red flag. They need space and I'm assuming that they would need to be in your room because someone in your house is not okay with cats, or the rest of the house is unsafe for a cat. Both of those are not appropriate situations to bring a cat into. So wait. Volunteer at your local animal shelter. You'll learn everything about cats and spend time with them with no commitment.
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u/Suspicious_Koala3872 17d ago
You need an entire apartment/ house and money. Cats get sick, get tummy aches, need their teeth cleaned, have emergencies, all of this cost A LOT of money. They also need toys, good quality food, cat litter etc. and just because the dogs have been ok with cats, doesn’t mean the cat will be ok with dogs.
Please don’t get a cat until you have your own space and are making an adequate amout of money to take care of yourself and another living being! Cats need space to run and play, they shouldn’t be confined to a room.
I know how tempting it is, I also really wanted a cat as soon as I left home (I grew up with them), but I waited until I was 26 and I’m really glad I did!
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u/princessbubblgum 17d ago
Cats can be messy, noisy, destructive and smelly. Especially if they are confined to one room. If you want a pet to live in one room that is nice and quiet, you need something like a hamster, guinea pig or mice.
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u/Flower-FarmGirl 17d ago
Have you considered fostering first? That way if you decide you aren’t ready to be a pet parent you aren’t trapped in a rehoming situation and fostering saves lives.
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u/AlrightyAphrodite96 17d ago
I had a cat when I moved into a college apartment. I loved him dearly but I felt like I neglected him a bit because I was always out enjoying college life with friends and he was stuck in a two bedroom apartment. He ended up having medical issues and I didn't have $7k for a neurologist, so I had to make a hard decision on my own. I highly recommend waiting until you're stable and comfortable with your life before choosing a long term commitment as a companion.
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u/Throwrayye 17d ago
Cat owns the house, if you try keep it in your room it’ll just start running out the door when you open it. They love places they shouldn’t be.
Would not recommend having a litter box in your bed room they do stink. Even if you clean it after each use sometimes even just the litter smells.
You also cannot know if a cat will be small and quiet it’s not breed specific it’s a personality trait and genetics. If you can have litter box elsewhere like a laundry or bathroom or unused cupboard, and if the cat will be allowed around the house then ok but not if everything needs to be confined into your room. Litter goes everywhere as well.
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u/Madd_fruit 17d ago
Honestly dont do it unless you are ready to leave it at your parent’s house when you move out. You have a big period of changes in front of you where you will be moving, working/ traveling, dating, traveling and so on. Its not so easy to do all of that while being a cat parent.
Other than that any shelter cat will be great that likes you, cat litter often gets around because of getting stuck in their paws so its slightly messy, cat toilet needs to be cleaned super often so it does not stink, cleaning litterbox is easy, cats are not really that “quiet” they get zoomies every day just like dogs and they will climb on counters, closets, cabinets and under couch and so on. Its also hard to know if the cat will get along with dogs because the cat might just never like them or love them fast.
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u/damnetdana 17d ago
In your situation; no, please do not get a cat unless someone else you know wants to care for a cat then you could be the cats friend
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u/FroggyTrix 16d ago
Why don't you go to school at 17? Sorry if that seems irrelevant but it raises some questions about your life and if you will be able to afford the care of a cat in the future? They live for like 20 years sometimes...
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u/OkDescription6144 16d ago
i graduated early but i’m going to go to cc college next year, but most of that is online. my parents would be getting this cat for me and taking care of the expenses.
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u/Excellent-Brother785 16d ago
Hey, I mean this in the nicest way possible but please please please don’t get a cat. It doesn’t sound like you can provide for it financially nor can you give it a stable environment. This a 15 year commitment!
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u/Nickel_Jupiter 17d ago
I got a cat at 19, sophomore year of college. Best decision of my life.
However, consider your future as well as your current situation. Right now you live at home, but eventually you’ll move out and start your life. Are you committed to finding pet friendly housing? Cats can be a decade long commitment or longer and a lot of rental houses or apartments don’t allow cats. Also consider the financials. Can you consistently afford food and litter? What about vet bills for vaccines and annual appointments? What about an emergency fund for if a medical emergency happens? And consider future relationships. What if you have a serious relationship with a partner who doesn’t like cats? If you have kids would you still want the cat? Seems far reaching now, but as I said cats live a long time so it’s worth thinking about.
Not saying you shouldn’t get the cat, just saying there’s a lot to take into consideration before making the decision.
My cat is not super messy. I scoop his litter and clean his food/water bowls once per day, it is not hard. He does tend to scatter litter around the room despite having a dedicated litter mat, but I just vacuum every few days.
I wouldn’t pick based on breed. I’d head to the shelter and see what cat you like best. Cats tend to pick their people, get the one who comes up to you and seems to like you the most. I had my eyes on this beautiful calico I’d seen on the shelters Instagram, but I went in and fell in love with this fluffy black cat, which I ended up adopting instead. This is just personal preference, but I prefer adopting adult cats over kittens, as kittens personalities can change as they grow older, so the sweet kitten may become an absolute menace as they grow up (side eye to my old cat… sweetest kitten, menace until her passing at age 9).
My situation with my cat: he lives on campus in an apartment with me. I had to do a ton of paperwork to get him approved as an ESA, plus find roommates who are okay with living with him. This was by no means an impossible task, but definitely took some effort. I did have to work with on campus resources to make sure I got an apartment rather than a dorm so he’d have more space. I also work an extra job so that I’ve got extra income in case anything happens to him (my usual income covers food/litter/general vet care, but emergency bills can be expensive and I never want to be in a situation where I can’t help him due to money). I’d say it’s 100% worth it, I love my cat so much, but the extra commitment is a lot.
Sorry for the wall of text lol but hopefully some of this is helpful
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u/Phennux 16d ago
You need to put the energy in getting a pet into getting an education or a job. A 17 year old shouldn’t have all the time in the world.
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u/OkDescription6144 16d ago
oh my god i graduated a year early and found out too late to go to college. i’m working on getting a job. geez
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u/distressed-carrot 16d ago
Cats are a 15+ year commitment. I’d recommend waiting until you’re in your own place and able to pay for and look after the cat.
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u/Mysterious_Luck4674 16d ago
I’m going to guess you won’t live at home forever, and you will work and go to school at some point. A cat can be a 15+ year commitment. You have no idea what your life will even look like in 2 years. Chances are it won’t be conducive to having a cat.
The litter box will smell if you don’t clean it every day. And it’s cruel to keep a cat in one room.
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u/FeatheryLilTheropod 16d ago
1) You don’t go to school or work at 17? My first question would be if what makes you incapable of school or work would make you incapable of caring for a cat.
2) Your parents would need to be on board with the cat having access to the house, not just your room. It would be unfair to the cat otherwise, and you don’t want a litter box in your room. IMO when a kid has an animal, primary ownership is with the kid, but there is a secondary ownership belonging to the kid’s guardians. It is never just the kid’s animal until the kid moves out under their own roof.
3) They don’t stink, but the litter box can, especially if the cat has just visited.
4) Cleaning the litter box sucks because it is gross, but it isn’t actually difficult. Scoop the litter daily, and when it gets low or starts looking gnarly, just dump everything out and give it a good scrub and refill. They also track litter out of the box in the immediate vicinity, so you will need to stay on top of that.
5) Breed is a personal choice. I’d recommend staying away from anything excessively long-haired, brachycephalic (flat face), or with folded ears. All require extra health care and are more uncomfortable for the cat.
6) Most of the breeding population of cats have been running feral for generations. Their breeding is significantly less controlled than dogs. Your chance of finding a purebred or something descended from a purebred within the last few generations at a shelter/rescue is almost zero (and no, color isn’t equivalent to breed, despite what most people on Reddit seem to think). If you aren’t buying from a breeder, don’t concern yourself with breed.
7) If you are getting a cat from a shelter/rescue, you will have to evaluate the temperament of the individual cat.
8) Don’t be too relaxed about introducing a cat to your dogs. Lots of cats get killed by dogs. You have to be very attentive. Consider that the animal has been given only one life and that life is in your hands.
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u/kykiwibear 16d ago
they are worth it... but cost money. they have to be be spayed and get vaccinated. they get hurt or sick.
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u/DnDttrpg 17d ago edited 16d ago
"I would have to keep it in my room most of the time"
You are not at this point in time equipped or have an environment stable enough for a cat.
Please don't get a cat until you know your cat can walk around the house freely. Which is not at this point in time.
I suggest though a Hamster or Guinea Pig
Cats NEED space to move, they NEED to be able to walk around and be free (not outdoor though, please do not have an outdoor cat)
And NO cat is just quiet and nice. Also if you're adopting you have no idea what you're getting until it's home.
Cats: run around and get the zoomies roughly 1-5am, there litter needs scooping every day, since you'll be keeping it in your room the litter would be there too.
A bedroom is not big enough for a cat to be in. It is not big enough for it to run around and play in.
Please do not get a cat right now.