Are You Ready for a Cat?

Are You Ready For a Cat?

You've been thinking about getting a cat for awhile now and there's only a few more things you've decided to pin down before you actually go get one. But, are you REALLY ready for a cat? If you have this idea in your head of "I just need to clean out a litter pan every so often and feed it and give it fresh water" then the answer is no. Cats can live up to 15 years and some can actually live to be 20 or more, so if you're willing to put in a couple of decades worth of commitment, continue reading. If you're one of those people that just get goo-goo eyed over kittens and that's it, you are not ready for a cat.

 

For those of you that are still with us, let's continue. If you're going for a kitten, be prepared for "around" 15 years of commitment to your new found friend. Feeding, watering, litter changes, play time, cuddles, head boops, and let's not forget the temperamental "I do what I want because I'm cat" side. If you have commitment issues, maybe a kitten isn't the best for you. There's lost of older cats in shelters that need love, too, and would absolutely love spending the last few years of their lives in a loving home instead of a shelter. 

Cats are not low maintenance creatures. "It's not a dog, so I don't have to do near the amount of things with it that I would if it were a dog". Wrong. You need to have plenty of time when you first bring your cat home so the two of you can bond, unless you're going for a cat that is totally aloof and semi-feral in your home, but hey, why are we to judge. Cats take a lot of time to adjust to their surroundings and to socialize with you (and your other pets, if that's the case). You also need to spend time with your cat every day after that initial adjustment period just giving him attention, playtime, and affection. 

Cats are not dogs, so if you want a cat that acts like a dog, just get a dog. Cats do lots of odd things to show their affection to their human, but running to the door and allowing you to pet them for hours at a time are not it. If this is what you're looking for, a cat may not be it.

Top 5 Reasons Fluffy Isn't Using the Litter Box

Yuck! The cat "missed"! 

If you find that your cat is using anything to go to the bathroom except the litter box there are many, many reasons why.  Here are 5 of the top reasons why your cat may be not using the litter box. 

1. UTI - Yep. Cats get them too!  A trip to your vet can help you determine if this is the cause and give you treatment to take care of the infection.
2. Did you get a new litter with that fancy scent?  Yeah, your cat hates it.  Try an unscented litter.
3. When was the last time you cleaned your box?  You may have a picky cat that really just wants to do their business in a nice clean fresh box! 
4. STRESS!  Yes, your cat can get stressed too.  New house? New baby? Did you get a dog? Or a new cat...don't be too surprised if your beloved feline protests in the form of peeing in the sink. 
5. Do you have a covered box?  Many cats hate them. Think about it as going into a port-a-potty in your own house....yeah, we can't blame them for hating it! 

Are you overfeeding?

Too much food! 

How much food do your animals actually need?  Let's take a look at how much you should be feeding!

Cats

Cats should be fed about twice a day and did you know your bag of cat food actually has recommended amounts to feed your cat on the bag!  Read those and measure correctly, guestimation doesn't work well when it comes to making sure you're giving the right amount!  Don't forget that fresh water all day! 

Kitten

Make sure you're using a KITTEN FOOD not a cat food.  If your little fur baby won't eat within 12 hours try some canned food and work up to dry by mixing it with dry food.  Offer your kitten plenty of dry food all day and tons of fresh water available always. 

Dog

Dogs should be fed only twice a day. Offer food, leave it for 15 minutes and then remove it.  Don't free feed! If your dog haven't eaten their food, they'll eat next time!  Dogs won't starve themselves.  A consistent feeding schedule will help your dog establish a potty break schedule too. 

Puppy

Make sure you're using that puppy food!! Follow the same idea as adult dogs.  Give your pup 15-20 minutes to eat their food then remove it.  Until your pup is 6 months old go ahead and feed them 4 times a day 

All of the Above

Make sure you're looking for "nutritionally complete".  Always provide fresh clean water.  Do not free feed!  Skip milk and table scraps.