Bringing home a pet can be something that people look forward to throughout their lives. A pet is not a soft toy; hence you need to consider the responsibility that comes with getting a pet. People have a common belief that cats are pets that require very little care. While it is true to a certain extent, you do need to ask yourself a few questions before you go ahead and get an adult cat as a pet.
Why an Adult and Not a Kitten?
Kittens tend to find homes easily while adult cats might spend years in shelters without getting adopted. Adopting an adult cat is a compassionate act, that can save the life of a cat who might never feel the love of a family if you do not adopt them.
Apart from it being an act of compassion, adopting an adult cat is easier than adopting a kitten. Kittens, just like babies, are fragile and energetic. You need to spend a lot of time training a kitten and taking care of their health. Most adult cats have already been neutered or spayed. So, you do not have to worry about the expenses of spaying or neutering your cat. Adult cats are easier to care for.
Do You Have the Time?
Whether you adopt a kitten or an older cat, you will have to spend a large amount of time caring for them. With an older cat, you still need to get them used to use a litter box in a particular area of the house. You will need to housebreak them to avoid any kind of accidents around the house. Since cats do not do well with changes in their environment, you will have to spend some time getting your cat used to your home. You need to spend time cleaning up your cat’s litter, grooming your cat, feeding your cat and administering prescribed cat medicine to your cat.
Will Your Family Adjust?
If you are bringing your cat into a family home, then you need to be sure that your family is ready for cats. Generally, adult cats have a tough time adjusting to households with small children. Children tend to be too loud and rough with cats. Your cat might end up lashing out at your children. So, think about how prepared your family is for the special needs of an adult cat.
Can You Afford the Expenses?
While you need to spend a lot of money behind vaccinating and spaying your kitten, your adult cat can be a little more affordable. With your adult cat, you can be sure of the food that they eat. You can feed your cat prescribed cat medicine easily. Wastage is reduced when spending behind adult cats. When your adult cat gets older, they may require a lot of medical attention. Eventually, you may be spending more money on more vet visits and prescribed cat medicine. No matter how little, you will have to spend some amount of money on your cat.
Ask yourself these four important questions to understand how ready you are to adopt an adult cat.
Disclosure: Written by Guest Post.
