I've always been more of a dog person if I'm honest. I grew up with dogs, my family got their first when I was 2 and our second when I was 6. When my parents seperated and there was nobody to stay in the house during the day with the dogs they decided to get them rehomed and I have to say it was really hard for me. I'll never forget them and always wondered what happened to them. It was nice knowing that they got rehomed together but I wish I'd known what kind of family got them.

We got out cat just under a year ago now. A friend of mine living in the block of flats had two cats (male and female) who had just produced a litter. She offered us one for free and we accepted. We had wanted a pet for a while but as we had a 6 month old we thought it best to get a puppy or kitten so they could be raised together (which has worked out well!)
We decided a kitten would be the better option. Cats are in a sense easier than dogs. Although I am a stay at home mum if we were going on holiday we have family members who could visit the cat to feed him and such. Whereas you couldnt really leave a dog alone for a big part of the day like that. Dogs also need a walk or 2 everyday and Ive never really mastered walking a dog along with a puschair.

When we went to see the litter they were all a beige, browny colour apart from the runt- a black one with white "socks" my boyfriend immediatly decided this was the cat he wanted. We got him when he was 10 weeks old and it took us a few days to work out a name. We tried out a few and in the end opted for tigger. A strange choice as hes not ginger but he was just so bouncy as a kitten (in some ways he still is!).

Raising him as a kitten alongside our baby was a good choice. Our now toddler is very loving towards animals, smothering them in kisses, strokes and hugs. Having visited friends I know that some animals find this hard to handle but Tigger is VERY tolerant of Tyler. Hes play nipped at his hand a few times but most of the time he revels in his attention and sometimes goes to him for strokes. If Tyler ever gets to much he just jumps over the stairgate!

We dont have a cat flap at the moment. In the summer we left a window open for him but he lets me know when he wants to go out and meows loudly enough for me to hear when he wants to come in (although ill often check if hes in the garden especially if it starts raining). He rarely goes out overnight, we dont like to let him out after 11pm just as we're worried he might get into a fight with a fox or badger and come off worse for wear! Hes only been overnight twice (once because he didnt come back in time, once because he ran out just as I opened the door to put the recycling out) and I was worried the entire night!
I dont know if its because we dont have a cat flap or because he has a bell on his collar but as of yet Tigger hasnt brought us any "nasty suprises" as I've heard many cat owners talk about.

We feed him a mixture of wet food and kibble which I put in his bowl in the morning and night. If he runs out he'll meow at me and I'll put more kibble in.

Litterwise he stopped using his tray about a fortnight after we started letting him outside and in the end we got rid of it and hes only ever had 2 accidents which were overnight. He'll usually meow at us in the morning to be let out if we're not up in time for him.

Hes a very loving cat who'll often jump on my lap (especially at inconvinient times). Ive also found him in the middle of the night in our bed asleep! Hes quite a licker (which i always thought was more of a dog thing) and he likes to try and groom people, especially me with my long hair.
As I've met other people with cats I've noticed what different personalities they all have.

I wouldn't say I'm converted as I'd still love a dog one day but for now I love having a pet cat!