Getting a New Cat or Kitten

A good friend of mine told me they are thinking of getting a cat. They know I like cats alot and asked me for advice. I thought other people might benefit from this, so I'm writing.

Cats can create a lot of joy for people. This is love that money really can buy. But whether it's a cute little kitten or an older cat, having a cat is a big responsibility. Your cat may live to be 20 or more years old. You should be prepared to care for it that long, if need be.

Where to get a cat? There are several possibilities. Sometimes it seems that they find you! Sometimes it may actually seem that it is him or her who adults you! I know of several cat owners and they swear that seems to be the case, for them. Kitties can "let" you discover them by showing up regularly on your front porch.
There are often many ads for free kittens in newspapers. Or maybe the neighbor whose cat has had kittens will have the perfect kitty for you.

Are you interested in a specific breed? If you want a particular breed, buying from a breeder is the best way to make certain the cat is purebred. They will have papers attesting to their pure lineage. These pets tend to be very expensive, but you can be certain of its pedigree. Different breeds have certain personality traits, as well as physical traits, in common.

You can also buy one from a pet store. Also expensive and not as likely to be purebred. In addition, some pet stores have even been known to be cruel or deceptive. For instance, some buy from so-called Puppy mills and kitten mills. The Humane Society of the United States warns against these types of breeders and documents their cruelty towards animals.

You can get one (or more) from your local Humane Society and save a life. (This is my favorite place to adopt from, by the way). Most places like these also have or will spay (or neuter) the cat/kitten before you take them home. This helps prevent the overpopulation of strays. Some states (such as CA) do or will require that all pets be spayed or neutered. Most require up to date rabies vaccinations.

The rescue societies usually will see that the animal is fully vetted and has had all necessary vaccinations. Many will also include a free exam by a vet after the pet has been adopted.
And see if whoever you get the kitty from will see to it that the kitten or cat is microchipped, in case the pet gets lost. Microchipping makes it much more likely the animal will be identified and returned home if they get lost. If a cat or kitten goes outdoors, they may not be able to find their way home.

It is usually best to keep cats indoors! They can be vulnerable to disease or caught in traps or get attacked by other animals or be a victim of cruel humans. If the cat is declawed, they will have no defense at all.

A word about declawing: don't! The procedure is painful and disfiguring to the cat. The cat or kitten, even though anesthetized, still feels pain. The cat may half growl, half meow, during the surgery! He or she will wonder what he did to deserve this. Plus having been taken from home, he is left hours or a day and night so he can get a pain shot. The kitties who are there to get spayed or neutered, on the other hand, usually go home that very day, blissfully unaware that they will never have kittens.

Imagine your fingers pulled out or amputated right above the knuckle. Also. the cat will never be able to walk the same. Some cats react to the mutilation by just giving up on life. They don't play. They may just sit in a high place, since they have been made eminently vulnerable, and they don't move. Some will even stop using the litterbox after the procedure, they are so disheartened.

There are solutions to scratching the furniture that are humane to the cat. For instance, there are sprays that tell kitty "no." These will also discourage "spraying" urine. (By the way, most cats who spray are Toms who have not been neutered. So this is another reason to get the kitty neutered).

These are just a few things to keep in mind before you get a cat. I hope your new kitty will bring you many happy times and your new companionship be full of joy and fun.