There are lots of gene to weigh when considering whether to get a cat — what you could afford , your modus vivendi , and who you share your house with . We ’ll help oneself you recollect through all the pro and cons .
There are lots of great reasons to get a African tea : Their honey oflife ’s simple joys . Their sillyantics . Their " I do n’t care about you until you ’re trying to read your email " attitude . The fact that theirvocalizationslikely wo n’t waken the neighbors . But here are some more thing to imagine about when asking the doubt , " Should I get a cat ? "
Before you hasten out and bring home a furry feline protagonist ( or two ) , you ’ll want to carefully consider the question of whether you should get a cat . Your preparedness for adding a bozo to your family fall down to your life style , your monetary resource , and whether you ’re in a position to have another living thing depend on you entirely .
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Abbie Moore , executive director ofAdopt - a - deary , says potential owners should set out by rivet on the " three Cs " as they consider adopting a cat : commitment , price , and care . " Are you ready to have a companion animal ? " she say .
If you adopt and then discover you are n’t ready for the loyalty , you could have torehome the cat , which can be an arduous and emotionally difficult outgrowth for both you and the beast .
Here are some of the factor you should weigh as you consider whether to make a furball part of your household .
Should You Get A Cat? Consider The Three Cs
Moore suggests that the first post you start when seek to decide if you ’re really quick to bestow a computed axial tomography to your household is with the three Cs : allegiance , cost , and attention . Each of these factor should be carefully considered before you take the pet plunge .
Commitment
This is the most important thing to see , Moore say . Being fully dedicated to your cat as part of the mob will help you sweep over whatever future hardships or obstruction might sprout up , whether that ’s fiscal struggles , a unexampled nipper , or a move . " committedness does go a long mode toward mitigating all the other affair , " she articulate .
It can be a recollective commitment , too . bozo can now live for 20 yearsor so , plenty of time for you to experience all sorting of biography change .
Compared to dog , cat are relatively low-down maintenance and can co - survive with busy proprietor , Moore say . But still , living with a pet for up to two decennary call for some thought . " That ’s a very big committal , " Moore tell .
Cost
Moore wants to make it clear that you do n’t have to be rich to be a sound cat owner . the great unwashed of all income levels can be dear parent . At the same time , this khat will reckon on you . That means springing forfood , bedding box seat , and other necessary , which will cost M of dollars over the cat ’s lifetime .
Then there are the surprisecosts of having a Caterpillar . Can you yield for care if your cat gets sick or lead into some other health issue that requires a sojourn to the veterinarian ? You never know when a toll is going to mouse up on you when you have a pet .
Adopting a kitty is typicallymore expensivethan an grownup quat , as they ’ll need extravaccinations , vet visits , and supply .
If price presents a potential trouble , there are still smartways to secure small - cost servicesfor your pet . When it comes to vet care , for exemplar , the Humane Society of the United Statessays going to a veterinary surgeon in a smaller town or at a local veterinary school might cost less than your original pick .
Care
Much like the discussion about cost , Moore says it ’s a good practice to prepare for your cat ’s unexpected fear needs , whether that ’s emotionally ready them for aweigh to the vetor fulfillingenrichment needsat abode . Cats are mostly self-governing , but you ’ll need to give care for them day by day , too : cleaning , alimentation , and playing .
Unless you get ahairless strain , your big cat will cast off , so you and others in your house will be tasked with some sweeping and vacuuming . You probably do n’t want your house to smell either . That entail take up poop out of the litter boxes andchanging the litter . But do n’t let that affright you . computed axial tomography are low maintenance compare to dogs .
" They ’re great for multitude who live engaged lives and act upon foresighted hours , " Moore says .
Consider Your Living Situation
If you survive by yourself , you ’re the only person who needs to be willing to live on with a cat . Not so when family or roomy are in the firm . Are you or your roommatesallergic to cats ? That can be a significant obstacle to possess one , Moore say , but it ’s not impossible .
There are way toreduce cat danderand allergy symptom , including making your chamber a cat - free zone , wash your men after touching the cat , and upping the ventilation in your household by open up windows or empower in strain filters .
child demonstrate another head . If you have a baby or a small tike who does n’t know how to treat a cat , it might be dear to wait a small longer before you add a cat to your menage , according to the Central California SPCA .
In any illustration , check that the people you ’re living with are on board with cats . In all likeliness , they ’ll credibly have to serve take care of them at some point .
Well , if you made it this far and found yourself nodding along to these queries and still wanting a felid friend , it may be time to startle looking to take up your own Tom , Milo , or Garfield .
