Some people are born cat-lovers, and some are both cat- and dog-lovers. Maybe you’re just a general pet-lover who worships all creatures great and small, but you’ve decided that a cat might be the right choice for you.
Even if you’re sure you love the four-legged friends, there are a lot of considerations to make before investing your time, energy, and devotion into a cat if you’ve never had one before.
Here are 5 points to consider before getting a cat to your life and home.
1. You Won’t Get many exercises with a Cat
This goes without saying compared to active pets, such as dogs, that you need to walk, but think about your own active routine. Would you benefit from a pet that would require you to be more active (like a dog) instead? Or would a cat be absolutely perfect for your lifestyle simply because it doesn’t require walking every day? and the cat eats food less than the dog.
Think about your exercise needs in relation to your pet’s needs, as a lot of people like pets that give them an excuse to be more active.
2. They May Be Destructive
Cats are notorious for scratching in the home, such as furniture items and curtains. A lot of this can be avoided with relevant distractions and toys such as scratching poles, but there’s always a risk that any cat you get may indulge in a lot of destructive behavior.
Because cats like to roam, too, you may want to reconsider installing any shelves with expensive items that can be knocked over or damaged.
3. Cats May Not be Overly Affectionate
Naturally, this is dependent on the personality and breed of the cat, but buckets of affection aren’t always guaranteed. While some cats will happily curl up on your lap and show you attention, others may keep their distance; so it’s important to consider how much it would bother you if you did have a cat that wasn’t overly affectionate.
4. You’ll Need to Understand Cat-Care Costs
As with any pet, healthcare and upkeep costs need to be taken into account. It’s important to research how much in terms of outgoings you can expect when caring for a cat, as well as extras including worming and fleeing treatments.
To keep costs to a minimum, it’s a good idea to research affordable vet care options; vet services such as those at easyvet offer all the services your cat will need. Another way to keep healthcare costs low is to invest in affordable cat insurance that will save you money in the long run.
5. You May Need to Deal with a Smelly Litter Tray
If your cat doesn’t have outdoor access, or won’t do its business outdoors, then you’ll need to have a litter tray in your home. This will need cleaning and emptying every day, and as long as you keep on top of it, smells and mess can be avoided, but it depends on whether you like the idea of having a litter tray in your home or not (as this could cause a problem if you have a very small home, for example, and need the litter tray in your main living space).
Exploring these five points will help you to understand whether a cat is a right option for you.
