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Adopting a cat is by no means an easy decision. It brings with it the added responsibility of taking care of a cat till its death, which could be anywhere between 15 to 20 years. In addition, you should be ready to allocate a major portion of your time to feed the cat, groom it or play with it on a daily basis.
You need to keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat:
- Cats are social animals & need regular care and attention. They must not be left alone for extended periods of time nor be manhandled as this will make them nervous and aggressive.
- It is essential to ensure that no member of your household is allergic to cats because rendering a cat homeless is cruel.
- Cat care can take a toll on you in terms of finances, and you must ensure that you have sufficient funds to take care of your cat's food, medication, toys and so on.
- Children and cats can prove to be a volatile combination especially if the children are very young. They may mistreat the cat knowingly or unknowingly and get a nasty nip in return.
- Decide beforehand whether you want to adopt a kitten or an adult cat. The advantage of getting a kitten is merely the fact that kittens are cute! On the other hand, an adult cat has a well defined 'personality' that you are aware of. Moreover, adult cats are more likely to be trained and less likely to go about scratching every bit of furniture in your house.
- It really does not matter whether you get a male cat or female cat; both genders are equally affable. However, invariably get your cat sterilized to avoid the unhealthy effects of the mating season (for females) as well as to curb aggressive emotions (in males).
- A cat requires proper medical treatment and care. This includes annual check-ups with the vet, vaccines every two or Three years as well as professional medication for any health problems that could occur.
- Cat adoption is the need of the day given the large number of homeless felines. However, it helps to remember that sometimes cats in the shelter may be prone to stress. Moving them to a home environment allows them to relax and show their true personality. Cats are creatures of habit and they don't like change, which is why it may take them a month or more to adjust to your home.