This is a long-term commitment. An indoor cat who is well cared for can live upwards of 15-20 years (same with dogs). We're not talking gold fish here. With advances in veterinary care and cats being kept indoors, we're seeing their lifespans increase. If you don't think you will be able to care for a cat for the long-term, don't get one.
This is a LIFE, and it's in YOUR hands. Adopting a kitty isn't like getting a houseplant. The health and comfort of this life you have taken in is now your responsibility. Sure, cats are low maintenance, but they aren't going to jump online and order themselves food or drive themselves to the vet with the money they made from their jobs. No, that's on YOU. Even if your kitty is the type to chill on your sofa all day, doesn't mean he needs less care than your dog who is in need of walking, going outside to potty, and getting bathed. They both need love and play and food and vet care.
Speaking of vet care - it's expensive. I'm not gonna lie. Now, I suggest you shop around for a vet. Ask your neighbors (social media, especially apps like NextDoor, are great for this). You should be able to find a good vet for a reasonable price. Here are some hints:
Once you've got your vet, bring kitty in right away (especially if you've adopted a stray). A stray will probably have the normal laundry list of ailments: ear mites, fleas, ticks, possible injuries from a life on the street, etc. The vet will also test for diseases. Your new kitty will probably come home a new boy/girl. Many vets don't charge a lot for first visits in order to attract more clients. Just remember, cats need a series of shots as kittens and boosters for quite a while into adulthood, plus rabies vaccines for their whole life (probably a requirement of your county). If you have a strictly indoor cat (which I highly recommend), there are certain shots or tests you might not need. You should talk to your vet. An outdoor cat, however, is much more likely to come into contact with other animals which can transmit diseases, and kitty should get every shot and test available.
Once kitty is old enough - SPAY OR NEUTER. If you're short on money (but still think you can afford pet care), there are clinics and rescues that have low or no-cost spay/neuter services. Cats can get pregnant and impregnate at an early age. If you have an outdoor cat, you are doing yourself, your cat and cats in general a disservice by not getting them fixed. Also, a fixed cat is much easier to deal with. Same with dogs. They have better temperaments and most importantly they don't go into heat. Having a pet in heat can be no fun. They get aggressive, moody and females menstruate. Sound fun? No. FIX THEM.
Declaw? NO. This is my opinion, and yes, back in the old days it was standard to be done right along with getting fixed. But now we know how horrible it is. It's an invasive and painful surgery (and I've been a surgical assistant and watched it done. The vet used the newer, more "humane" method, but it was still awful). (Put in what it does).
There are certain things you have to accept when you get a pet, and with cats it's that they will scratch things. So get them several scratching items (flat, corrugated cardboard is my cats' favorite - as in they actually use it. They use the couch too, but not as much and I have ways of reducing that). If you have a fancy house and can't accept that your cat may scratch things, pull at curtains, get cat hair everywhere - you should not have a cat (or dog). Dogs chew and cats scratch. Deal with it.
I bought my couch and loveseat set 15 years ago, and they are made from a fabric that doesn't show scratching as much as, say, the suede set the salesman wanted me to get. I still have them, and while they are getting a little raggedy (fixed by simply getting a cover), I made an awesome choice. When you have cats, you make decisions like that to accommodate them. Like not putting bulbs at the very bottom of the Christmas tree.
OTHER KITTY INFO FOR THOSE CONSIDERING ADOPTING (either that kitten you found on the porch or a resident of a shelter).
Finally, if you decide you want a cat or kitten, as they say, ADOPT, DON'T SHOP. Think about it. Every day thousands of cats are euthanized. For every puppy or kitten that is bred, one dies in the shelter. If you really want a certain breed, you may find it in a shelter, or there may be rescues who specialize in certain breeds. Unless you are actually big-time into cat shows (if you're reading this, you probably aren't), there is no reason to have a purebred. Go into a kill shelter first and look at those faces on death row.
Old cats need love too. If you want only one cat, especially if you aren't sure you're ready for having a crazy kitten zooming all over your house, get an adult. You may not have as many years with them as you would if you got a kitten, but you'd be giving a home and love to a cat that needs it just as much as a kitten does. In fact, people tend to adopt kittens based on their looks. Their personalities, which is what is really important, won't really come out for quite a while. Even if you think a kitten has a certain personality, it may change as they age. But an adult cat already has a set and unique personality, and it may be just right for you!
Black cats are awesome. They are not bad luck, nor are they witches. Unfortunately, they are least likely to be adopted. I have a black cat now who was a little diva in her youth, but now that she's getting older, she's just a big lover. She cuddles with me all day.
Are white cats all deaf? Mine wasn't. Explain.
Sexing kittens.
If you have a calico (white with splotches usually of black and orange) or a tortoiseshell (same but no white), they are probably female. I think one in five thousand comes out a male, and that's because he has a chromosomal abnormality. Colors are carried in the X chromosome (white is actually a lack of color and expresses differently). So males, who have XY, can have only one non-white color. Females, with the XX sex chromosomes, can have two colors (and white for calicos. BTW, these are color patterns, not breeds). The rare male calicos or torties have an XXY, which is called Klinefelter Syndrome (same as in men). They may have some difficulties which you can discuss with your vet, but they shouldn't be as problematic for a boy kitty as they are for a human.
Does sex matter? We know how dogs have an alpha male due to their social structure. Cats aren't like that. Despite their reputation for being aloof or showing up in movies screeching past someone, they are actually very social. Feral cats have even been known to adopt non-feral strays into their community. Females, however, can be a little... diva-like. Cats are matriarchal, so sometimes girls just don't get along. I have always tried to have either all boys, all girls, or a girl and a boy. I managed to keep that up until a while back when I brought in a female kitten to a house with two males and a female. The female was not happy. They still hate each other. But this doesn't always happens. It's very much up to the personalities and dynamics of a multi-cat family. Cats are territorial, regardless of sex, so sometimes it's just up to who does the best job of owning the house (you don't, by the way - they do).
Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they are solely meat-eaters. They do not want salad. They may EAT salad, particularly if you are, but that's just because they want what's on your plate. Pet food companies try to sell food that looks like a typical balanced meal - for a human. Why? Humans are buying the product. And we need to eat things like salads with pomegranates in them. Cats don't. Watch a nature show and see how many lions make salads to go with their caribou. So make sure your cat's meal has plenty of meat, and if you feed her dry food, make sure plenty of water is available. If you decide to make your cat food yourself, which is like this new hipster thing right now, be sure it has the right ingredients. For example, they need taurine, which is found in many meats, but you want to make sure kitty is getting enough, as well as other vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy.
This is a LIFE, and it's in YOUR hands. Adopting a kitty isn't like getting a houseplant. The health and comfort of this life you have taken in is now your responsibility. Sure, cats are low maintenance, but they aren't going to jump online and order themselves food or drive themselves to the vet with the money they made from their jobs. No, that's on YOU. Even if your kitty is the type to chill on your sofa all day, doesn't mean he needs less care than your dog who is in need of walking, going outside to potty, and getting bathed. They both need love and play and food and vet care.
Speaking of vet care - it's expensive. I'm not gonna lie. Now, I suggest you shop around for a vet. Ask your neighbors (social media, especially apps like NextDoor, are great for this). You should be able to find a good vet for a reasonable price. Here are some hints:
- You want to find someone who really cares about animals (that sounds weird, but some vets are like some doctors - they are practicing what I call "assembly-line" medicine - get 'em in and out and make that money).
- Some vets are more dog oriented and some more cat-oriented. In fact, your area may have vets who see only cats. Others, like mine, are certified as "cat friendly" by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (meaning they have special rooms for cats, are trained in how to handle super-stressed cats, etc., and try to keep them from being around dogs or other frightening things during their visit).
- Consider where you live and work to find a geographically-convenient clinic. When I took my current job, I realized my current vet was inconveniently far from work and home, plus it was a one-person practice, so appointments (for four cats) were hard to make. So I moved them to a practice near my job. It was a multi-vet clinic which was recommended by a co-worker. It's a great practice and super convenient. It's also super expensive. But hey, it's worth it for the convenience, and the excellent care of my fur babies.
- Which brings us to cost. There are many low-cost clinics in most large cities. If you really can't afford Vet A, and Vet B seems fine and costs a lot less, go with B. Some clinics cater to low-income families. Shop around. And you can always change if you're unhappy.
- On a positive note - pet insurance is big now. A lot of companies offer it, including some people insurance companies. Some vets work mostly with one or two insurers (although they may take any insurance). But do your research because you want to get the most for your money. A little trick I learned to save money but still use insurance - if you get a kitten, insure it for at least a year. If it has any dread diseases (particularly congenital), they should appear during that time (not that they'll never get sick after a year, but as an example, I adopted a kitten who had stomatitis, which meant every one of his 26 little teeth were hurting him so much he couldn't eat. He would just lie about looking miserable. It presented within the first year and insurance really helped the multi-thousand dollar removal off all his teeth). If you have only one cat, you should consider keeping the insurance.
Once you've got your vet, bring kitty in right away (especially if you've adopted a stray). A stray will probably have the normal laundry list of ailments: ear mites, fleas, ticks, possible injuries from a life on the street, etc. The vet will also test for diseases. Your new kitty will probably come home a new boy/girl. Many vets don't charge a lot for first visits in order to attract more clients. Just remember, cats need a series of shots as kittens and boosters for quite a while into adulthood, plus rabies vaccines for their whole life (probably a requirement of your county). If you have a strictly indoor cat (which I highly recommend), there are certain shots or tests you might not need. You should talk to your vet. An outdoor cat, however, is much more likely to come into contact with other animals which can transmit diseases, and kitty should get every shot and test available.
Once kitty is old enough - SPAY OR NEUTER. If you're short on money (but still think you can afford pet care), there are clinics and rescues that have low or no-cost spay/neuter services. Cats can get pregnant and impregnate at an early age. If you have an outdoor cat, you are doing yourself, your cat and cats in general a disservice by not getting them fixed. Also, a fixed cat is much easier to deal with. Same with dogs. They have better temperaments and most importantly they don't go into heat. Having a pet in heat can be no fun. They get aggressive, moody and females menstruate. Sound fun? No. FIX THEM.
Declaw? NO. This is my opinion, and yes, back in the old days it was standard to be done right along with getting fixed. But now we know how horrible it is. It's an invasive and painful surgery (and I've been a surgical assistant and watched it done. The vet used the newer, more "humane" method, but it was still awful). (Put in what it does).
There are certain things you have to accept when you get a pet, and with cats it's that they will scratch things. So get them several scratching items (flat, corrugated cardboard is my cats' favorite - as in they actually use it. They use the couch too, but not as much and I have ways of reducing that). If you have a fancy house and can't accept that your cat may scratch things, pull at curtains, get cat hair everywhere - you should not have a cat (or dog). Dogs chew and cats scratch. Deal with it.
I bought my couch and loveseat set 15 years ago, and they are made from a fabric that doesn't show scratching as much as, say, the suede set the salesman wanted me to get. I still have them, and while they are getting a little raggedy (fixed by simply getting a cover), I made an awesome choice. When you have cats, you make decisions like that to accommodate them. Like not putting bulbs at the very bottom of the Christmas tree.
OTHER KITTY INFO FOR THOSE CONSIDERING ADOPTING (either that kitten you found on the porch or a resident of a shelter).
Finally, if you decide you want a cat or kitten, as they say, ADOPT, DON'T SHOP. Think about it. Every day thousands of cats are euthanized. For every puppy or kitten that is bred, one dies in the shelter. If you really want a certain breed, you may find it in a shelter, or there may be rescues who specialize in certain breeds. Unless you are actually big-time into cat shows (if you're reading this, you probably aren't), there is no reason to have a purebred. Go into a kill shelter first and look at those faces on death row.
Old cats need love too. If you want only one cat, especially if you aren't sure you're ready for having a crazy kitten zooming all over your house, get an adult. You may not have as many years with them as you would if you got a kitten, but you'd be giving a home and love to a cat that needs it just as much as a kitten does. In fact, people tend to adopt kittens based on their looks. Their personalities, which is what is really important, won't really come out for quite a while. Even if you think a kitten has a certain personality, it may change as they age. But an adult cat already has a set and unique personality, and it may be just right for you!
Black cats are awesome. They are not bad luck, nor are they witches. Unfortunately, they are least likely to be adopted. I have a black cat now who was a little diva in her youth, but now that she's getting older, she's just a big lover. She cuddles with me all day.
Are white cats all deaf? Mine wasn't. Explain.
Sexing kittens.
If you have a calico (white with splotches usually of black and orange) or a tortoiseshell (same but no white), they are probably female. I think one in five thousand comes out a male, and that's because he has a chromosomal abnormality. Colors are carried in the X chromosome (white is actually a lack of color and expresses differently). So males, who have XY, can have only one non-white color. Females, with the XX sex chromosomes, can have two colors (and white for calicos. BTW, these are color patterns, not breeds). The rare male calicos or torties have an XXY, which is called Klinefelter Syndrome (same as in men). They may have some difficulties which you can discuss with your vet, but they shouldn't be as problematic for a boy kitty as they are for a human.
Does sex matter? We know how dogs have an alpha male due to their social structure. Cats aren't like that. Despite their reputation for being aloof or showing up in movies screeching past someone, they are actually very social. Feral cats have even been known to adopt non-feral strays into their community. Females, however, can be a little... diva-like. Cats are matriarchal, so sometimes girls just don't get along. I have always tried to have either all boys, all girls, or a girl and a boy. I managed to keep that up until a while back when I brought in a female kitten to a house with two males and a female. The female was not happy. They still hate each other. But this doesn't always happens. It's very much up to the personalities and dynamics of a multi-cat family. Cats are territorial, regardless of sex, so sometimes it's just up to who does the best job of owning the house (you don't, by the way - they do).
Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they are solely meat-eaters. They do not want salad. They may EAT salad, particularly if you are, but that's just because they want what's on your plate. Pet food companies try to sell food that looks like a typical balanced meal - for a human. Why? Humans are buying the product. And we need to eat things like salads with pomegranates in them. Cats don't. Watch a nature show and see how many lions make salads to go with their caribou. So make sure your cat's meal has plenty of meat, and if you feed her dry food, make sure plenty of water is available. If you decide to make your cat food yourself, which is like this new hipster thing right now, be sure it has the right ingredients. For example, they need taurine, which is found in many meats, but you want to make sure kitty is getting enough, as well as other vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy.