Choosing the right companion

Do You Live in the Proper Environment?

If you live on the fifth floor of an apartment building, or next to a heavily trafficked road, think about keeping your cat inside. In this case, it is wise to adopt a kitten, or an adult who has already been kept primarily indoors. A cat that has spent most of its life outdoors will have a very difficult time adapting to a life indoors.

If you decide to let you cat outside on a regular basis, and you live in a quieter neighbourhood which is also friendly to cats, be sure to give your cat a collar with a nametag, including your own name, so your new companion is not mistaken for a stray and sent back to a shelter.

Do you have the means to care for your cat?

Even though the price of caring for cats are substantially less than for a dog, there can still be significant costs which can often be much more than you might think. Owning a cat is not a right, but a privilege, and by understanding that having a pet does cost money, you are obliged to take as best care of it as possible.

The majority of costs come from their food, litter and annual veterinary examinations and vaccinations. If you cat suffers from a chronic illness, it can cost you a great deal more. You should also factor into the cost of housing your animal, and any damaged or destroyed items. For a healthy cat, you will spend approximately $1,000, including adoption fees in the first year (along with spaying or neutering), and $500 per year after that.

A common mistake made by thrifty owners is to buy lower quality food in order to lower the yearly cost. This puts your cats at risk of developing renal, intestinal or urinary tract infections for which the veterinary fees will make you regret the several cents you saved on cat food per month.

Do you have the time to take care of your cat?

Just as a cat is an animal that needs less attention than a dog, it also cannot be ignored. Cats are the most intelligent of all pets; therefore they need forms of stimulation to keep themselves entertained. You must have time to spare to spend cuddling, playing, and even talking with your cat, especially if they will be living indoors. Cats create equally strong bonds with their owners as dogs, and can become lonely if ignored. An unhappy cat can start to display signs of distress, such as over grooming, bulimia, destructive behaviour, and excessive scratching and biting. Cats often lose bladder control when they suffer from depression.

Will you have the time to groom your cat? A short-haired cat does not need frequent brushing, but long-haired cats need to be brushed very often in order to keep them clean and comfortable. Shelters receive many long-haired cats with knotted fur that has not been brushed in months. These knots make cats very uncomfortable and disagreeable. Long-haired cats lose large amounts of fur, and cough up fur balls on a regular basis; they require that your spend more time on their hygiene and grooming than short-haired 

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