Page 12 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Becoming a cat owner

Owning a cat can bring you and your family joy and companionship, but
also many years of responsibility. Cats are active, intelligent, and
longlived, and they require continued care and attention.

First considerations family members suffer from provide all the stimulation that
Before making the decision to buy allergies or have restricted vision most cats require; adult cats that
or adopt a cat, think carefully about or mobility, a cat around the house have always had access to the
how he will fit into your lifestyle. is a potential hazard. outside may not adapt well to an
Bear in mind, too, that your Do you want a kitten or an adult indoor lifestyle. Cats are hunters,
responsibilities may be long term— cat? Kittens need extra care and so if your cat goes outside you must
a cat can live for more than 20 years. supervision, so be realistic about accept that he might bring home
Could you give a cat daily how much time you can allow for prey. In the house, a cat inevitably
attention? Most cats are relatively such things as litter-tray training sheds hairs everywhere and may
independent but some dislike and feeding up to four times a day. scratch the furniture.
10 being left alone all day. Never leave If you take on an adult cat, his Would you prefer a quiet cat or
a cat unattended for more than previous experiences will influence a lively one? If you choose a
24 hours; in an emergency, make how well he fits into your home. For pedigree (see pp.14–15), breed can
indicate a cat’s likely temperament,
example, a cat that is not used to
sure that someone is able to look
Your new cat in on him. If you regularly stay children could find living with but a random-bred cat is more of an
them stressful. (Rescue centers
away from home, a cat may not
unknown quantity. In both cases,
that rehome adult cats do their best
be right for you.
individual personality can be
to avoid such mismatches, see p.13.)
Is a cat suitable for the whole
influenced by early life experiences
Will your cat live indoors or
family? A cat that was not raised
Do you want a male or female cat?
with young children will likely find outdoors? Keeping a cat inside is and the parent cats’ temperaments.
living with them stressful; and if generally safer but few homes can Generally, neutered cats show no
“Cats require a
surprising number
of resources… be
sure you can afford
lifelong care.”

◁ Starting young
Kittens are usually more adaptable than older
cats. If you acquire a kitten from a similar
environment as your own home he is likely
to settle in with little trouble.

US_010-011_Becoming_a_cat_owner.indd 10 24/10/2013 14:59