| are sweet and cuddly! It's easy to get swept up | | | | litter-box trained and less likely to scratch every |
| in the emotion and buy a cat without thinking. But | | | | bit of furniture in your house. |
| that's not how it should be. | | | | 5. Children and cats can prove to be a bad |
| Whether or not to adopt a cat is by no means an | | | | combination, especially if the child is very young. |
| easy decision. It carries with it huge responsibility. | | | | He or she may mistreat the cat (knowingly or |
| You will have to take care of a cat until its death, | | | | unknowingly) and get a nasty bite in return. |
| which could be in 15 to 20 years. In addition, you | | | | 6. A cat requires proper care and medical |
| should be ready to spend a large amount of your | | | | treatment. This includes annual check-ups, |
| time feeding the cat, grooming it, and playing with | | | | vaccines, and prescription medication for any |
| it on a daily basis. | | | | health problems that could occur. |
| Keep the following points in mind before deciding | | | | 7. It does not really matter whether you get a |
| to adopt a cat: | | | | female cat or male cat; both genders are equally |
| 1. Prior to bringing a cat home, it is essential to | | | | affable. However, always have your cat spayed |
| know if any member of your household is allergic | | | | or neutered. This helps avoid the unhealthy |
| to cats. Having to get rid of your new pet would | | | | effects of the mating season in female cats and |
| be cruel. | | | | curb aggression in males. |
| 2. Cats are social animals and need regular | | | | 8. Cat adoption is the most humane way to get a |
| attention and care. They must not be left alone | | | | cat, due to the large number of homeless felines. |
| for extended periods, nor be handled roughly, as | | | | However, it helps to remember that sometimes |
| this will make them aggressive and nervous. | | | | cats from the animal shelter can be prone to |
| 3. Cat care can take a financial toll. You must | | | | stress. Moving a cat to a home environment |
| ensure that you have sufficient funds to take | | | | allows it to relax and show its true personality. |
| care of your cat's food, toys, medication, and so | | | | Cats are creatures of habit -- they don't like |
| on. | | | | change. It may take them a month or more to |
| 4. Decide whether you want to adopt a kitten or | | | | adjust to your home. |
| an adult cat. The only advantage of getting a | | | | Keeping these points in mind when choosing to |
| kitten is that kittens are cute. On the other hand, | | | | adopt a cat can help you find the feline that is |
| an adult cat has a well defined personality. | | | | right for you. It's a big decision, don't leave it to |
| Moreover, adult cats are more likely to be | | | | chance! |