Cats are loveable, charming fur balls who bring lots of love into your life. Their independent nature and ability to entertain themselves with anything from a ball of string to an empty box mixes with their cuddlier side to make them the ultimate blend between entertaining and nurturing. When you’re ready to take the leap and open your home to a 9-lifer, these helpful hints may aid you in the adoption process.
Prepare your budget for a long term love affair.
Cats generally live between 15 and 20 years, which equals thousands of bags of litter, a mountain of kibble or cans, and more toys and other creature comforts than you want to count. Routine vet clinic exams, cat vaccinations, and pet teeth cleaning will add up to a few hundred dollars a year, but prudent owners should set aside extra for emergency pet clinic visits as well as increased health issues as kitty reaches the golden years.
Decide on a breeder or a rescue shelter.
The decision between a designer bred cat and a rescue is a financial one for many, but plenty of people are inspired by the beauty of offering a lost animal a forever home and family. Designer felines may be pretty, but they often come with a multi-thousand dollar price tag, plus the cost of cat spaying or cat neutering. Rescue pets from the Humane Society and SPCA often come already spayed or neutered and have some of their pet vaccinations as well. If you have your sights set on a particular breed, check local rescue adoption resources first, since a huge variety of breeds are available.
Listen to a matchmaker.
You may have a particular breed, gender, or age in mind, but when you visit a breeder or shelter, seek the advice of someone who knows the animals to help you meet your true match. A counselor can talk to you about your home, life, and habits and put you together with the purr-fect feline for you. Keep an open mind and listen to the counselor, who is looking out for the happiness of both you and your future feline.
Line up a quality vet.
Finding a vet before you adopt will make life easier when Fluffy is ready for checkups. If you’re looking for a Frisco vet, we’d love to invite you to meet us at LazyPaw Animal Hospitals! We offer online appointment scheduling 24 hours a day, are proud of our award winning customer service, and make life simple with an online pet pharmacy with prices that compete with big-box brands.
Don’t expect a low maintenance pet.
Lots of people assume cats are easy pets because they don’t come with the obvious doggie-demands of regular trips outside and long walks. However, cats require plenty of love, attention, veterinary services, and litter box scooping. If cats are ignored and get too bored, they can become destructive and frustrated. If you are looking for a seriously low maintenance pet, consider a pet rock. However, if you’re ready for a loving feline relationship, you’re ready for a kitty.
