Is a Cat Right for Me?

Deciding to become an owner of a cat is not something that should be decided on spur of the moment. Some thought should be put into the decision.

Things to consider:

The Cost: Obviously there will be the initial cost of purchasing the cat but there will also be ongoing costs. Supplies of food and litter will need to be purchased regularly. There will be routine veterinarian costs for annual shots and check-ups and occasionally unplanned visits for illnesses or injuries. In some counties there may even be an annual licensing fee. You may also need to purchase scratching posts and other supplies as well.

Training: Although most cats will not require any formal training, as is the case with dogs, but your time will be required to train your cat to act in an acceptable manner. For instance, to not scratch on the furniture, or jump on the beds, etc. If your cat is not already box trained you'll need to spend some time with that too.

lazycat

Owning the Cat vs. Being Owned by the Cat: Almost all cat owners would agree that there is no such thing as 'owning' a cat. The cat typically owns the 'owner'. They are loving and easy to care for pets but unlike dogs they do things in their own way and own time. For instance, you can train a cat to beg for a treat but if the cat doesn't feel like doing the trick at that moment, it won't. It's better to think of it as adding a new member to your family.

Easy Maintenance: Sure a cat is easy to take care of but it's not completely trouble free. You'll need to make sure the cat has plenty of water, food daily, and a clean litter box, as well as keeping up with the health exams. Although most cats do not demand tons of attention they will still want your affection on a regular basis. Take care of these basic things and you will have a companion for life.

Age of Children: If you have small children you may want to wait to get a cat until your children are older. Even if they are accustom to having a pet in the house the added stress on the new cat may be too much. However, if you will be supervising every encounter between small child and cat you'll probably be alright.

Other Pets in the House: If you already have existing pets in the house you'll need to consider if they will get along with a cat. Obvious problems would be birds and small rodents. Also, if you already have a cat and it has been a solitary pet for a long time, the transition of bringing in a new cat may be long and stressful. Generally gentle dogs will do fine with a new cat companion but if the dog is aggressive or territorial this could pose problems. For more information see Introducing to Your Family

Are You a Nick-Knack Fan?: If you have any small breakable items that you are fond of you'll want to store them somewhere that is not accessible to cats. This does not necessarily mean a higher shelf, as cats are known to find ways to get to even the highest of shelf. You'll either need to put them in a room that is not accessible to the cat, box them up, or get rid of them because they are likely to be broken upon the cat's exploration. If you can't live without these items then a cat is not right for you.

Potential Allergies: Does anyone in your household have pet allergies? If so you'll want to either consider a hairless breed or another type of pet. Of course you could always get rid of the human with the allergies and stick with the cat.