You have been thinking about getting a cat or a kitten. You love their soft fur and playful antics. The excitement builds as you envision playing with your new pet, the times you'll spend with him or her curled up in your lap, and the happy meows that your kitty will send your way. You just can't wait and you're ready to go get your new friend and bring it home! Are you sure you're ready?
Adopting a cat or a kitten is a very exciting time. While they are cute, cuddly, and playful, it is important to be a responsible pet owner. Your feline friend will be an important part of your household for many years and will look to you to provide for its needs. In other words, your cat or kitten will depend on you.
It is important to take some time to think about this important step. Here are 5 tips that will help you make a decision that is right for you and your new family member.
First, you need to ask yourself if you are financially prepared to take care of your new cat or kitten. They are not self-sufficient and do have many needs. These needs include visits to the veterinarian for routine vaccines and any illnesses that may occur, a carrier for transportation, ID tags and collar, a microchip to help reunite you should your cat get lost, spaying or neutering, food, dishes for food and water, a litter box and litter, grooming tools such as a comb, flea comb, brush, and nail trimmers, toys, and treats. There also may be a cost associated with the adoption itself.
The second factor is to decide whether you want a kitten or an older cat. There are a lot more kittens available for adoption than older cats due to owners not having their cat spayed or neutered .While both will need a certain amount of behavior training, kittens by far need the most help with this. They tend to get into more mischief than older cats but you get the joy of watching your kitten grow up. Older cats also make great pets but there may be a somewhat longer adjustment time. If possible, find out if your new pet has been around other cats or dogs. Some cats are best as solitary pets, others thrive on having other cats to play with, and some are jealous of one another and may fight. Some cats just do not get along well with dogs. If you do not have information about the previous living conditions, you will need to be vigilant during the adjustment phase to ensure your animal's emotional and physical safety. Bringing your new pet home needs to be as stress free as possible. In addition, if you have a small child in your home, it is wise to wait until they are at least five years old before bringing a cat or kitten into the household. Even then, they will need supervision. Young children and cats are playful and can be a dangerous mix. A child may tease the cat unknowingly or on purpose which can cause it to bite or scratch or may squeeze it too hard and hurt the cat. Waiting until your child is older can prevent injury to both your child and the cat.
Next, decide where you will adopt your new feline pet from. The best place to adopt from is your local shelter. Shelters are full of cats and kittens that will likely be euthanized if someone does not adopt them and give them a good home. You will be giving them the gift of life! A rescue organization is another way to adopt. Typically, these organizations provide foster homes to the animals until a permanent home is found. There are rescue organizations that help with specific breeds as well. Another way to adopt a kitten or cat is to look in the paper or for signs in your neighborhood announcing the animals are free to a good home. If you want to eventually enter your cat in cat shows or just want a specific breed, you will want to find a good breeder. You can find information about breeders at cat shows, Cat Fancier's Association, and The International Cat Association. Remember that both the breed-specific rescue organizations and breeders will not allow one of their animals into your home until they are sure it will be cared for properly. It is never a good idea to adopt your pet from a pet store since these animals frequently come from breeding mills without regard to the breed, or their health and well-being. Most stores will not sell these animals. PetSmart lets rescue organizations show their animals in their stores. These animals have been rescued and are not from mills and are not sold.
Now that you have decided you can be financially responsible for your pet, you know whether you want a cat or a kitten, and you have chosen a place to adopt your new family member from, the next factor to take note of is the health of the animal. When you look at the cat, it should be playful and friendly, the eyes should be bright with no drainage, the nose should be clean with no discharge and no sneezing, and the area around the tail should be clean and dry. Any signs of sneezing and drainage or discharge from these areas could be evidence of illness. As heartbreaking as it may be, it is best not to adopt a sick cat unless you are prepared for any difficulties that may arise as a result.
Finally, you need to decide if you are willing to cat-proof your home. This means removing anything that can be eaten, chewed on, or easily broken. It is the nature of kitties to be inquisitive and they will get into everything they possibly can. They are quite adept at climbing, jumping, and getting into tight spaces. Cats love to chew on plants. Some are poisonous and most will make the cat vomit so it is wise to either remove all live plants from the house or place them in a room that your cat will not have access to. Keep small objects, such as rubber bands and paper clips, out of your cat's reach as these can cause choking and veterinary emergencies. Any cords that hang down should be secured to keep your cat safe. If your cat or kitten goes outside, please be careful with anti-freeze spills. Anti-freeze is tempting because of it's sweet taste. However, it will cause fatal poisoning in a short period of time. If you spill anti-freeze, clean it up immediately!
These are just some of the many factors to take into consideration when adopting a cat or a kitten. When you make a careful decision, you will be prepared to be a responsible pet owner from the beginning. Remember, your new family member is counting on you. In return, you will be rewarded with your cat's life-long love and loyalty.
Visit http://www.dailycatitude.com to discover more about adopting cats and kittens and to learn about taking care of your cat through all life stages.
