Cats are a popular pet for many reasons. But before you become a cat owner, it's worthwhile looking at just what is involved in properly caring for a cat.Before you becomin a cat owner, please do read this article & give a great deal of thought to your long term commitment in regards to caring for a cat. Their average lifespan is 12-15 years, so ask yourself if you are prepared to provide these necessities every day for the duration of the cat's life.Shelter:It is apparent that many cat owners still think it is acceptable to obtain a cat & then expect it to live outdoors permanently. This really isn't much of a life for a cat & isn't a socially responsible thing to do.
Firstly, how do your neighbours feel about your cat roaming into their garden? They shouldn't be expected to have to put up with neighbourhood cats on their property. Outdoor cats pose a risk to wildlife, even a well fed cat will still hunt. Your cat is also at risk himself, there are cars, dogs & other cats. He runs the risk of bite wounds from fighting other cats & possibly catching FIV or FeLV as a result.
If you must let your cat roam, it is recommended you do so during the daylight hours, and bring your cat inside from dusk to dawn, when the native wildlife is at it's most vulnerable. But bear in mind, if you have a white nosed cat, it is at greatest danger of exposure to the sun in daylight hours. If your cat is outdoors, ensure you provide adequate shelter from rain, wind & the sun.
Food & Water:Naturally, cats need food & water. This is a basic requirement essential to life. If you have a cat, it is your responsibility to ensure it is fed a good quality balanced diet made for cats & is given fresh, clean water daily.
Kittens have different nutritional demands to adult & senior cats, so it is always advised that you feed the appropriate food for your cat's age.
Toileting:Cats are clean by nature & generally if they are provided with a litter tray, they will use it. It is up to you to ensure the litter tray is cleaned daily & the litter changed frequently. As a rule of thumb, you should have one litter tray per cat, although you can get away with less, as long as you practice stringent hygiene & ensure it is scooped daily. Failure to provide a clean litter tray for your cat is not only cruel but may also result in your cat refusing to use the litter tray.
Grooming:Generally speaking, shorthaired cats don't need to be groomed. Regular stroking will help rid the coat of loose hairs. Many of the longhaired breeds do require daily grooming or their coats will matt. This is extremely uncomfortable & painful to your cat & may require a visit to the vet & sedation to have the matts clipped out. So, just bear in mind if you do want a longhaired cat that it's coat will need to be groomed daily.
Cost:Can you afford to own a cat? Day to day expenses aren't too bad, cat food, cat litter, flea & worming medications & a yearly health check/vaccinations. But sometimes the unexpected happens & your cat requires veterinary attention which can run into thousands. Can you afford to pay vet bills? Think about the future, will you have children & go down to one wage? If so, will you still be able to afford to properly care for your cat?
Love & attention:Cats require mental stimulation & enjoy love and attention from their carer. So ask yourself if you are prepared to meet these needs?
Holidays:When you go on holiday you will have to either find a friend or neighbour who is willing to care for your cat, find a professional pet sitter or board your cat. The latter two cost money. Are you prepared, and in the position to afford to pay for a sitter or boarding facility when you go away?
Veterinary care:It is a fact of life that we all get sick from time to time & this certainly applies to cats. It is important to realise that veterinary bills can quickly run into the hundreds & even thousands of dollars.
Routine veterinary care would include an annual check up & vaccination, but do bear in mind that just like humans, cats do need medical attention & be prepared to pay for this. The best way to be ready is to either have a bank account set aside for veterinary emergencies, where you put $5-10 a week into, or take out pet insurance. But there would be nothing more heartbreaking than being faced with a huge veterinary bill you can ill afford.
Parasites:Your cat will require monthly flea & worming medication.
Summary:If you can answer these questions with an honest yes, then having a cat is probably right for you. However, it is a long term commitment which you really have to be sure about. A cat is a living creature & deserves to be in a home which will meet it's needs both in the present & the future. If you are not sure you can meet it's physical, emotional & financial needs then it is better not to get one.
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