Cats make wonderful pets. Because they’re less demanding, they can easily adjust to a variety of lifestyles and living spaces. Every cat is a true individual, though, so it’s important to take the time to choose a four-footed friend who’s right for you. A cat’s personality, age, and appearance, as well as the kinds of pets you already have at home, are all things you should keep in mind when making your selection: Choose a Personality. Stroll past a few cat cages at the shelter, and you’ll notice that some cats meow for special attention, while others simply lie back and gaze at you with an air of arrogance. There are as many different personalities of cats as there are cats in the shelter. Which disposition is best for you? You have to decide. But regardless of individual personality, look for a cat who’s playful, active, alert, and comfortable while being held and stroked. At the shelter, ask an adoption counselor for assistance when you wish to spend some time with individual cats. Kitten or Cat? As a general rule, kittens are curious, playful, and full of energy, while adult cats are more relaxed and less mischievous. Kittens also require more time to train and feed. Cats are only kittens for a few months, though, so the age of the cat you adopt should really depend on the level of maturity you’re looking for. Young children usually don’t have the maturity to handle kittens responsibly, so a cat who’s at least four months old is probably the best choice for homes with kids under six years old. Short-haired or Long? Cats can have long, fluffy coats or short, dense fur, and the choice between the two is chiefly a matter of preference and availability. You’ll see more short-haired cats at the shelter since they’re the most popular and common cats. One thing to keep in mind is that long-haired cats require frequent grooming to be mat-free. Felines with short coats also require brushing, though less frequently, and they’ll leave less hair on your favorite recliner. Most cats enjoy a regular brushing and will look forward to this daily ritual with you.
Room For One More
Other than those few considerations, selecting the right feline companion for you is really just a matter of meeting the cats at the shelter yourself. If you already own a cat or dog, you’re probably wondering how easy it is to add a cat to the family. The good news is that cats can get along with other cats and—despite the common stereotype—most dogs can get along with cats. The bad news is, introducing a new cat to a home with other pets will require some patience on your part. The best way to handle adding a new cat to the home is to provide time for a period of adjustment. You can do this effectively by isolating your new feline in a room of his own for a while—something that’s a good idea for a new cat anyway. After several days, supervise meetings between the animals for periods of increasing length. Most cats will soon learn to accept each other, and some may quite possibly become the best of buddies. Some dogs simply won’t tolerate the presence of a cat, but by carefully introducing them, most problems can be solved.
Be Responsible!
Regardless of the cat you choose, you’ll want to start being a responsible pet owner right away. The easiest way to do that is to keep your cat indoors with you from the very beginning. If you don’t let your new friend outside, he’ll never miss it, and will have a much better chance of still being around to sit on your lap a few years from now. The other big staple of responsible cat ownership is having your female cat spayed or your male cat neutered. Spaying or neutering will ensure that your cat never adds to the millions of animals born each year who never find a good home. It’ll also help him or her live a longer, healthier life.
Adopt a Cat for Life
Finally, remember that you’re making a commitment to love and care for your new pet for his or her lifetime—which could mean 10, 15, even 20 years. So choose your new pal carefully and be a responsible pet owner. In no time at all, you’ll know how wonderful sharing your home with a cat can be. Source: The Humane Society of the United States More on Pets
title: “Cats” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-09” author: “Zachary Clark”
Being a responsible cat owner can be as simple as keeping your cat indoors, providing him with companionship, having her or him spayed or neutered, keeping a collar and ID tag on the cat, and meeting his basic needs of food, water, and veterinary care.
Keep Your Cat Indoors
When most people hear the words “animal nuisance,” they tend to think of dogs. But cats are often just as bad. When allowed to roam, they can get into garbage cans, defecate in flower beds and sandboxes, cause traffic accidents, and contribute to pet overpopulation. In addition, they can have a devastating effect on local wildlife—killing dozens, even hundreds, of songbirds and small mammals every year. Of course, the most important reason to keep your cat inside is for his own safety. Unlike dogs, cats don’t need much space to exercise and a litter box will meet those “other” needs just fine. In other words, cats don’t need to go out and face disease, cat fights, dog fights, poisons, parasites, cruel people, and the biggest cat-killer of all, traffic. Cats who live indoors from the start will never have the urge to roam around outside. Even cats who’ve previously been indoor/outdoor pets can be trained to accept being inside all the time. Keeping cats happy inside is simply a matter of creating a healthy and stimulating indoor environment. Some good ideas are giving your cat toys that feel furry or feathery or have catnip inside, providing him with a scratching post at least two feet high, planting pots of indoor greens for him to chew on, adopting another animal to keep him company, and, most importantly, playing games and spending time with your companion. If cats have their owners’ love and attention and lots to do inside, they won’t miss the great outdoors, which, after close examination, isn’t so great for cats after all.
One-time Surgery, Lifetime Benefit
“Spaying” and “neutering” are words you’re probably familiar with. What you may not know is that these procedures are the most essential part of being a responsible pet owner. To spay your female cat is to have her ovaries and uterus surgically removed. To neuter your male cat is to have his testicles removed. The result of both operations is that your pet will no longer be able to bring more homeless animals into the world. That’s significant indeed when you consider the fact that more than four million dogs and cats have to be humanely destroyed each year for lack of good homes. Spaying and neutering are also better for your pet. Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your cat is spayed before her first estrous cycle. Neutering reduces the incidence of prostate cancer and prostate disorders. Neutered cats are also less likely to spray and mark territory, and spayed cats will no longer go through annoying heat cycles. To top it all off, in addition to living longer, healthier lives, cats who are spayed or neutered make better, more affectionate companions. Spaying or neutering is a one-time surgery with a one-time cost. But both procedures offer a lifetime of benefits. When it comes right down to it, if you can’t afford to have your cat spayed or neutered, then you can’t afford to have a cat.
Collar and Tag Your Cat
No matter how careful cat owners are, there’s always the chance their companion may slip out the door and become lost. If that happened to your cat, would he be protected by a collar and identification tag? An ID tag is a lost cat’s ticket home. The tag should include your address as well as daytime and evening telephone numbers. It should be attached to a collar of the breakaway variety so that the cat can escape if the collar becomes snagged. The shelter should have more information about where you can obtain a cat collar and tag.
Keep Your Cat Healthy
Cats, like their canine counterparts, require basic care to stay healthy and happy. A regular, nutritionally balanced diet is as important for your cat as it is for you. Shelter personnel or your own veterinarian can guide you in choosing an adequate feeding program. If you don’t yet have a veterinarian, it’s a good idea to establish a rapport with one soon after you adopt a cat. The shelter may provide a list of local veterinarians, or you can ask a pet-owning friend for a referral. Keep your feline companion up-to-date on his shots, and maintain a periodic examination schedule.
A Lifetime Commitment
Beyond those essentials, the rest should come naturally, and you can look forward to many years of companionship with your four-legged friend. Remember that a pet is your responsibility to love and care for from the day he arrives until the day he dies. It’s up to you to provide him with a “lifetime guarantee.” Source: The Humane Society of the United States More on Pets
