Getting A Cat....?

Question

hi ,,
I'm thinking about getting a cat ..
but i have no idea about how to take care of them ....
and i don't know which are the best types to buy too..
so any help ?

Answer 1

Hey there. Congrats on wanting to get a cat. I was LITERALLY in the same place as you are just a few weeks ago. And then a stray kept showing up at work and I finally took him home. It's only been a week but it's easier than you think.... but it will be an adjustment as you get use to one another.

I would say to go to a shelter or pet rescue to get your cat. Don't buy it from a store or an ad in the paper. Plus, at the shelter you can see if the cat likes you as well. It's important that the two of you bond right away.

If you adopt from a shelter they will usually include the spay/neutering and shots in the adoption fee. That makes one less thing for you to worry about if all that is taken care of before hand.

Be sure to get food/water bowls, food, litter box and litter and some toys before you get the cat. I would suggest getting the cat on a friday evening or saturday morning. Then you can spend a lot of time with them over the weekend as they get use to you and the new surroundings.

As most everyone has said, cats are pretty easy to take care of. And don't listen to that one poster who said that if you don't know how to take care of a cat that you shouldn't get one.... that's bogus. You're doing the right thing by asking about it first and educating yourself. Then you will learn once you become a pet owner. How else are you going to learn then by doing it.

Good luck. It's totally worth it!!!

Answer 2

First, never buy from a pet store. 99% of them buy there animals from puppy mills (or cat mills). The animals have been abused, cramped, ill. Most will have problems or die.

Second, since you've never had a cat, you may want to go talk to your local shelter. They can advise you whether you would be better with a kitten or a cat, male or female. Also, it's usually a good idea to get two so they can keep each other company. This might be a little daunting for you since you don't have much experience with cats, but two really are just as easy as one.

A great place to get some quick information is the library or bookstore. I like to skim through books like "Kittens for Dummies" and books like that. They give you the basics from start to finish.

A couple of specifics: You will need scratching posts. There are several different kinds. Just experiment. If they don't work, consider soft paws (or soft claws) nailcaps before you consider declawing. If you don't want to deal with this, just adopt an already declawed cat. There are plenty out there.

Wet food is the most healthy for pets, especially cats because they need the water from the food. They will never drink enough water from a bowl to be as healthy as they could be with wet food. Look for holistic foods for the very best diet for your cat (wet or dry). Innova Evo dry and Merrick wet are my foods of choice but there are several others that are good as well.

Below are some links that should help you further. Goodluck.

Answer 3

Cats are pretty easy to take care of . You will need a litter box , litter , good quality food, and dishes (stainless steel are the best, plastic and ceramic dishes can collect bacteria that cause cat acne) you will also need some good scratching posts . Before getting a kitty you must know that cats are not at all like dogs , they are very independent , they also have claws that they will sharpen on your couch etc if not properly trained to scratch the post (sometimes no matter what you do they will still on occasion scratch your stuff) so if you don't want to have to deal with the possibility of your furniture and things getting scratched you may want to rethink your pet choice. There are a ton of different breeds of cats if you would like to check out some breed profiles go to the CFA(cat fanciers association) web site , the breed profiles will tell you all about the different breeds of cats, there personalities and what it takes to maintain them . If a purebreed is not what you are looking for, go to your local humane society and adopt. Good luck and have fun = ) . Oh yeah and don't foget the kitty toys !

Answer 4

I don't believe really in getting any critter based on breed alone: I would have to meet the cat first before I decide to take him home.

Take a look at your local animal shelter: You're bound to see a kitty there who needs a home.

You'll need a brush to help your kitty to not get hair balls. And you'll want a litter box (which really should be cleaned every day). And a pooper-scooper to help with the said cleaning. You also should have a couple of good heavy bowls that your cat can't tip over while playing: This I learned the hard way from the rambunctious young male of the pair I presently have. Toys are nice, but not really needed: A paper wad can be tons of fun.

You'll want to have your kitty neutered or spayed, if it hasn't been done already. And you'll need to talk with your vet about shots, especially for rabies, Feline Leukemia, and Distemper.

Another thing you'll want to take care of is your kitty's claws. If he hasn't been trained to a scratching post or pad, you'll want to have his nails trimmed or even have him declawed if he's going to be an inside kitty. Otherwise, you can look forward to having your furniture shredded.

I know all of this sounds like a lot. But it's not really that bad, and in return you can look forward to having a friend with a lot of personality.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I never was a cat lover, one day I went to the pet store to buy a lil pup..I walked over to a cage and saw a lil white kitty. Something about her. I wasnt looking for a cat. But I ended up buying her. THE BEST DECISION EVER!! Thank god. Cats are so easy to take care of. You can actually GO OUT! They perfer being alone at times. They arenot as dependent as dogs. I have now TWO persians..lol..they are pricey. So If you cannt afford persians..then I suggest adopting one! Thats my next step. I would love to adopt one from a shelter. Trust me you will not regret getting a cat. If you adopt most likey they will already be nuetered. If they are young when y ou get them then yea you will have to get them fixed. And some places they will do it for free for you just cuz you adopted. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

The best thing to do is to adopt a cat from a humane society or good rescue group. The cat will come with "instructions" by way of some counseling re behavior, things you need to have in the house for it, what vet services it has had, what's needed for the immmediate future etc.

"Cats for Dummies" is an excellent book to have. It covers all the issues you will deal with in owning a cat. It's always good to have at least one book around the house for handy reference when issues and questions rise about your cat.

Answer 7

Please go to a shelter and adopt a cat. These cats need homes! Don't go to a pet store or breeder.
There are so many discarded cats at the shelters, it's so sad.
Breed does not matter.

Do research online to learn how to care for the cat. What the best food is etc.

I hope you adopt a cat, and give lots of love!!

Please keep your cat inside, outside cats are at risk for injury, disease, and death.

Answer 8

Awww... cats are great. If this is going to be an indoor cat, you'll need a litter box and a water gun. You'll need to give him a squirt when he goes somewhere you don't like... such as on your kitchen counters. Get a cat or kitten, but a grown cat will already have certain habits. Kittens are fun, but just like little kids, they get into touble . They have a lot of energy, too. Have fun!

Answer 9

If you dont know how to care for a cat, than you shouldn't own one. My friend has a dog, and her mom is totally clueless about how to take care of a pet! If you do get a cat, DO NOT FORGET TO GET HIM OR HER SPAYED OR NEUTERED =)

Answer 10

You can go to any local pet store like Pet Co. Etc and they always have a great staff that's very acknowledgeable about what type of things you will need etc.