It happens: You’re inexperienced with felines but you’re considering adopting a cat or kitten.
You’re sure there’s more you need to know to make some good choices for a new animal.
I’m glad to help. I asked experienced cat lovers what advice they’d give to a newbie cat owner.
Julie Ellingson, a groomer, says: “The #1 question I’m asked: male vs. female.”
Julie Ellingson (California) Everyone thinks the boys spray. Intact tomcats will, I guess, but even back in the 1970s when pretty much no one neutered, our cats were very polite about going outside. (Litter boxes weren’t a thing then.) There are beliefs that the boys are cuddlier and more laid back. I find cats, like all living creatures, to be individuals, and there’s little use in trying to shoebox them. I’ve had both sexes, and all are just lovely, engaging pets. Short answer: I look at the personality of the cat without much consideration to boy vs girl.
Photo by Gloria Keinhofer
Katt Patt, who runs a ferret rescue, says: “People seem to think their cat must be allowed outside.”
Katt Patt (Washington) People seem to think their cat must be allowed outside. Our neighbor let their young less-than-one-year-old cat outside because [the cat] liked it and they said she never left the yard. Last weekend, I found two week-old kittens in my yard under one of our cars. Guess whose? They didn’t believe she could get pregnant at six months, either.
Summer Storm Kingery, a veterinarian, suggests many questions that prospective cat owners don’t ask:
Summer Storm Kingery DVM (North Carolina) “Single or double? Adult or kitten?” Those are the ones I hear most. What I would like to hear is, “How do I evaluate the future activity level?” And “How do I set my home up to be cat friendly?” And “How much time should be provided daily to have a mentally and physically healthy cat?” And “How do I keep my cat from becoming overweight?” The other big one is ‘How do I ensure appropriate introductions and cohabitation with other animals and children?”
Pam Johnson-Bennett
Cat Behavior Associates
https://catbehaviorassociates.com/
Karen Pryor
Getting Started: Clicker Training for Cats
https://www.clickertraining.com/node/20
Butch Spillman
Dogs Have Owners, Cats Have Staff
https://www.amazon.com/Dogs-have-Masters-Cats-Staff/dp/1976854458
Cornell Feline Health Center
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center
Ohio State University Indoor Cat Initiative
https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats
Every Cat Health Foundation
https://everycat.org/
International Cat Care
https://icatcare.org/
Julie Ellingson (California) Cats, by the way, are a lovely, long-lived pet. Most of my cats lived well into their late teens with just maintenance veterinary care. They played fetch with toys. They came when called. They guarded my infant babies and were so gentle with the boys as they toddled about. (Although Royal was not above swatting the baby spoon out of my hand to get the baby food for herself! She was quick and accurate! Had to put her away at baby meal times, but oh, how she loved baby-food creamed corn!) I had a cat who rode in the basket of my bike and he’d follow me when hiking in the Marin hills when I was young. We were seldom apart.
In upcoming articles, I hope to offer answers to some of the questions today’s commenters have suggested, plus more information on decisions like, “Indoor or outdoor?” and “When to spay or neuter?” and “What should I feed my new feline?”
I’ll include links to more educational information so you can start your own research, too!
