Things to Consider Before Adopting a Cat

So, you have decided to get a cat. After all, they are cute and lower maintenance than dogs after all. Stop right there! Before you get your first cat, there are a few things that you need to know. Having a cat can be a joy, but there are a few down sides. It is very important that you understand what you are getting into.

Cats Do Annoying Things

I love my two cats. They are more like children to me (yeah, I'm one of those people). Still, as much as I love them they do some of the most annoying things. Just like people cats all have different personalities. Most cats have quirks that can be very annoying. For instance, one of my cats refuses to drink out of a bowl. We have to leave our water dripping in the bathtub all of the time because that is the only way she will ever drink water. This was not a habit we started. She came with this habit. Imagine having to hear the drip, drip, drip of the bathtub faucet all day, every day.

Cats Stink

If you want an indoor cat, keep in mind that litter boxes don't exactly smell like a bed of roses. If you have a small home or apartment you will need to clean the litter box out daily in order to keep your home smelling fresh. In a larger home, you should clean the litter box every other day in order to keep your cat and family happy.

Cats Can Destroy Things

I look over at my couch and I see at least three places where threads have been pulled up by my cats' rituals of sharpening their claws. I have provided three scratching posts for them, and still they prefer my brand new couch. I have purchased corner protectors for the couch, sprayed it with cat deterrent, and place a lemon air freshener in the closest plug in (cats do not like the smell of citris). Despite my best efforts, my cats still prefer to scratch my couch over anything else in the home.

The couch is just one example. I happen to be blessed with two cats who find great pleasure in chewing through any electrical cord they can find. I have lost 4 phone chargers, 1 PDA charger, several UBS cords, 1 Ipod charger, and too many other cords to really keep count. The sad part, we are very careful about where we put our electric cords and chargers. No matter how careful we are, the cats seem to hunt down these cords and bite them in two. I fear that one morning I will wake up to find that one of the cats has been electrocuted. I have no solutions to this problem that are effective, other than never plugging anything in.

Do you like live plants in your home? With cats you will often come home to find that several of your leaves have been chewed off, or the cats have decided the large flower pot makes a wonderful new litter box. The worse was when my cat decided to use the flower pot as a bathroom in front of my friends. At times it seems as if your cat's only goal in life is to destroy every plant in your house. Fresh herbs seem to be their favorite! I have lost many good chives in the last couple of years.

Cats are not your friend: They own you

If you are getting a cat for companionship or a playmate, think again. Cats are not your friend. In fact, your cat owns you. You are there to do what they want, when they want it. If you do not give your cat what they want right away, they will find a way to annoy you until they do. If I don't feed my youngest cat, she will find scraps of paper on the floor, bring them too my feet, and start shredding the paper. Once I get up to take it away from her, she trots over to her food bowl and meows at me. She will continue her hunt for paper until I finally feed her. She especially loves my electric bill as a snack. Yes, cats can provide companionship, but they sleep while you are awake. At night when you go to bed, they run through the house wide awake!

They Shed

I saved the best for last! I don't care if you have a long haired cat or a short haired cat, they will shed. You will have to lint roll your couch and vacuum more frequently. Every time you cook a meal you will first have to look down at your shirt and make sure it is free of cat hair. Nothing spoils a meal like finding a hair in it. You will have to brush your cat often, especially if they have long hair.

I am a cat lover. I would not trade my two cats for anything. Still, they do things that make me want to pull my hair out at times. Before getting your own cat, take these things into consideration. Make sure that this is a responsibility that you are more than capable to take on.