Cats can be curious and fascinating creatures, that live for an average of 15-17 years.
If you’re a first-time kitty owner or planning to adopt one, there are some things you need to know, to have a great life with your furry companion for the years to come.
Get To Know A Cat’s Ways
Before bringing your new cat into your home, you must know that just like people, cats are unique. Some are more energetic, while others like sleeping a lot. Some may be more feisty or more affectionate while others will enjoy clawing furniture and climbing everywhere.
Many owners don’t mind these behaviors, but some may get upset if their favorite chair gets shredded. So, to avoid being unpleasantly surprised, think about all of these facts and what you’d like your cat to be like. Remember that a cat isn’t a toy with an On/Off button, but a being with a (fuzzy) soul.
A Cat’s Temper & Personality
Things aren’t very different, whether we’re talking about a kitten or an adult cat.
Cats may be beautiful, but each has a different personality and you’ll want to know who you share your house with. Some may be shy, and won’t allow too much contact, others might be stubborn and introvertive, so they will do things on their terms, while others may be playful, extrovertive, and eager for human companionship.
One of the first things you have to do after bringing your feline home is to watch it and assess its personality type.
Shyness is a typical cat trait. Although, by nature, felines are reluctant and skeptical, some are shyer and more scared than others. They fear and avoid human contact, and prefer being on their own and hiding most of the time.
Some eat while there’s no one around them. With this kind of cat, it’s best to encourage it to come to you, not force it in any way. They can get scared easily and lose trust in you. This type of cat needs a strong feeling of security, so provide multiple spaces where it can hide to feel safe.
Place its food in a separate, quiet area. It may get scared and refuse to eat otherwise. Its native curiosity will drive it to know the house and other family members. But you always have to remember that shyness and reluctance never go away.
It’s best to avoid letting this type of cat outside, if you have a backyard, because if it wanders away, it may get scared and forget its way home or get hurt by other cats.
Other cats are extrovertive, affectionate, alert, playful, and active. They act as if the world belongs to them. They will play with anyone, anytime. They will always greet guests as if they’re house members. These cats tolerate other pets and children very well, small ones especially.
Some cats may be more aggressive. These cats dominate the house and are extremely unpredictable: they’ll only do what they want when they want it. Otherwise, they may exhibit aggressiveness.
They suddenly become affectionate when they want to obtain something, such as one more treat or a few extra kibbles, and spend the rest of their time sleeping alone. They don’t do great with small children or other animals, especially dogs, as they feel threatened by them. As long as they’re left alone, cats won’t mind being in the same room with a human.
These cats need access to quiet rooms and hideout spaces to feel safe. Most of them run and hide after almost every aggression burst.
I’ve had such a cat, for about 15 years, and it did only as it desired. It would climb onto my lap and sit there for hours. But, every time I wanted to pet it, it would bite and scratch my hand and then run away.
No matter your cat’s personality type, it must trust you, for you to have the best relationship. You can achieve this by allowing it to come to you, rather than you going to her.
Avoid punishment and always use positive reinforcement, treats, praise, and lots of patience. Felines don’t do well when punished, they tend to do the opposite.
Cat Pros and Cons
No matter their personality type, cats have many pluses and minuses. It’s up to you to see what is appropriate for you and your family.
Unlike dogs, cats are low maintenance. They don’t need walks, regular bathing, or training, and can be house-trained fast. Most of them learn to use their litter box immediately.
Cats require little space, so they make great apartment pets. They also have lower grooming costs than other house animals.
They are more independent and do well on their own, so you can leave your cat home alone for a few days, without worrying it’ll develop separation anxiety.
Cats have a calming effect on their owners. Their purring makes people relax and even sleep better. Research has shown that cat purring has a healing impact on fractures and other lesions.
Apart from their lovely character traits, cats can sometimes become obnoxious. They enjoy knocking things down and climbing virtually anywhere they can reach. So, hide away all your valuable objects such as art items, jewelry, and small objects such as needles, pins, buttons, hairpins, and other potentially harmful items, which your cat may be tempted to knock down and swallow.
This also means they can steal food, medicine, or other things they’re not allowed to eat from the counter. A feline indigestion is the last thing you need.
If you have long curtains, it might be a good idea to get a set of shorter ones. Otherwise, they might end up being shredded by your cat, in their attempt to climb onto them.
Cats do love to crawl in every small space you can imagine. Unfortunately, some can get trapped. Avoid giving them access to these sorts of enclosures.
Most cats don’t sleep in their kitty beds. Instead, they prefer couches or even your bed. Use affordable bed sheets that you can change more often, made from bamboo or linen, and avoid silk, velvet, and flannel ones, that collect hair and debris.
Linen and polyester bedspreads are easy to clean from all the hair that may add up, are claw-resistant, and protect your bed sheets.
They enjoy scratching furniture and rugs, so be sure to prepare a cat tree with a scratch post included, to protect things in your house.
Some cats that are allowed outside can develop a prey instinct and bring inside all sorts of “gifts” for their owner: dead mice, reptiles, birds, or insects they’ve caught themselves. As odd as this might seem, this is their way of saying “thank you”.
When bringing your new cat home, there will be some things you’ll need to buy, such as a litter box, which comes in many shapes and sizes. Water and food bowls come next on the list. These should be made out of resistant materials, such as hard plastic or stainless steel, and easy to clean, to prevent bacterial overgrowth. Cleaning must be done daily.
You’ll also need some cat litter sand, that absorbs odors. These also come in many options and price ranges. The cheapest cat litter sand is clay cat or bentonite, which clumps well, absorbs urine, and only partially smells.
Litter must be cleaned almost after every use and clumped parts must be thrown away into the garbage, as it may clog pipes or the toilet. Also, it produces a fine dust, that allergic people may resent.
More expensive cat litter sands absorb smell better, clump well, or don’t clump at all. You can try cat litter made from corn if you’re into more natural products. Cat pellets are also a great alternative to fine dust-producing cat litter.
You can try a classical cat litter box, or a covered one if you’ve got indoor space. For a better adjustment, you can get a corner-covered litter box.
Don’t forget about a scratching post, to prevent furniture clawing, or even a cat tree, if you’ve got enough room, and cat toys, to keep the feline entertained and on the move.
We recommend prospecting the market before buying anything, to see what suits your taste, budget, and space better.
Your New Feline’s Naptime Areas
Any cat will feel the urge to hide at some point, or at least retreat for some quiet time, or even just for a quick nap. Whether you provide it with an empty drawer or box, your cat will appreciate this.
Some cat trees have resting boxes, that allow your cat to doze off undisturbed.
You can provide your cat a kitty TV, using a window hammock. It can watch birds, the street, your neighbors, or just have a nap or two.
Your New Cat’s Diet
Whether it’s an adult or a kitten we’re talking about, overfeeding or feeding the wrong food is a big concern.
Growing kittens need three meals a day, while adult cats only require two, to prevent excessive weight gain and obesity.
Kibble size and shape are also important. For example, a Persian cat or mix breed needs kibbles with a different shape, because it has a shorter muzzle that won’t allow it to grab food as well as any other cat.
Make sure the food you buy for your cat is always made from quality ingredients. This is also important for treats. Feed your cat with treats according to the product’s label and avoid giving them too much, just because they’re cute.
Fresh water must always be available for your cat. Some cats will only drink from a cat water fountain since most cats enjoy fresh (flowing) water.
Find a Veterinarian You Resonate With
Your kitty will need regular visits to the vet, at least yearly, to ensure it is healthy and vaccinated but also for parasite control.
There’s a great veterinarian behind every pet’s health and owner’s happiness.
Find one that can explain things right so you understand them, that listens to its clients and patients, has updated its practice methods, and doesn’t rip you off.
Prepare all your questions regarding your new family member in advance, so you won’t forget anything. You can write them down.
Important note: Whether you adopt a kitten or an adult cat, affection, patience and time will improve your relationship. Most of their minuses can be ignored, if you think how great pets cats make.
