LOOKING TO ADOPT YOUR FIRST CAT? HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO KNOW
A couple of years ago, I went to the local humane society intending on getting a dog. I ended up getting a cat — a much better choice considering the fact that I lived in a studio apartment 20 minutes away from my work.
However, like many, I had a lot of preconceptions about cats when I got him. He’s going to be mean. He’s going to be standoffish. He’s not going to want to really be around me and he’s just going to destroy my place.
Fast forward two years later…and now I have two cats.
Yes, there were definitely things I learned over this time. Bringing my first cat Merlin home, I was shocked to see him bounce from the floor to the top of my cupboards in just a couple of leaps. However, cats are a joy and have become the second most popular pet to own in America for a reason.
Here are some things to know before bringing your little four-legged furball home.
- You Don’t “Train” Cats In The Traditional Way
Cats are independent. It’s great for house training in that all that’s required is showing the new cat where the litter box is. Cats are naturally “clean” about their business. Just leave them be and they’ll figure things out as they need to.
On that note, they’re also curious. In the first apartment that I lived at with Merlin, he had a habit of opening cupboards. While it certainly made for some cute Instagram photos, I didn’t want him digging into plastic bags, cleaning chemicals, and other things that could hurt him if he dug around too much. I put childproof locks on the cupboards to keep him out. Just saying “no, Merlin!” or pulling him out endlessly wouldn’t help.
If you want to stop a negative behavior with your cat, what I find helpful is making said behavior undesirable in the first place. I’ve seen some sources claim to use a spray bottle on your cat or hiss at them to get them to stop doing something. That doesn’t work for my cats. And spraying them? Mean.
Instead, I’ll hide things that I don’t want my cats to chew on (see point 3). Another solution is spraying a surface that they’re attracted to with a scent that they won’t like.
2. Your Cat Could Scratch Anything
If your cat has claws and you don’t plan on declawing them, first off, good job. That’s the right choice. Second off, scratching is a natural way for your cat to manage their claws and play. Couches, chairs, rugs, carpets, and even speakers are all fair game for this.
Cat toys made for scratching are the best solution for this. There are plenty of scratchboards and posts found at pet stores. Adding catnip to these scratch toys will also increase their fun factor.
If you get scratch toys and your cat continues to attack your furniture, try moving your toys in a more direct line of sight. I have two scratch posts, but I kept them by my couch. They were hidden away from my cats, and they ignored them. When I moved them more out in my living room, they left the couches alone.
I’ve found other solutions to this as well, which include putting double-sided sticky tape on your furniture or adding plastic caps to the claws, but I think those are real last resort-type stuff.
Whatever you do though, resist the temptation to declaw.
3. Your Cat Will Play With Anything That Attracts Attention
Remember earlier how I mentioned that cats will jump and climb everywhere?
Wall hangings, loose cords, lamps, towels, curtains, clocks, books — your cat will try to play with it. It may be annoying, damaging, or to your cat downright harmful. They might chew things, knock things over, claw at things, or pull things out. Remember that they’re curious creatures. They’re not likely doing it out of spite.
Luckily, this can all be managed. After all, cats aren’t massive creatures — they can only do so much.
Regarding cords, you can order cord covers or hide them behind furniture. If neither of those is a viable option, use braided cables wherever possible or, as a temporary solution, cover them with duct tape so that they’re more durable to cat teeth.
Your household may also have things that your cat can eat up. Loose string, foam (such as that found on guitar stands), beads, doorstop plugs — all of these things could cause issues for your cat. Your cat could swallow something too big, or it could tangle up in its intestines and cause issues, or your cat could choke on the object. If your cat starts chewing on these objects, do what you need to do to stop the behavior or, at least, reduce the potential harm.
It’s your job as a cat owner to “proof” the house. See first, though, what your cat is going to be attracted to and be the judge on how to handle it. After all, you still want your home to be welcoming and loving for her.
4. There Are Some Must-Knows About Litter Boxes
As mentioned earlier, your cat is going to intuitively know that litter boxes are where they should go to the bathroom. However, there are still things you’ll need to know to prevent accidents and make your life easier.
First off is the issue of disposal. Get a litter genie for your cat’s potty setup. You don’t want to dispose of your cat’s business in a plastic bag every time they go. Worse yet, you don’t want business to pile up in the litter box and clean it up all at once. Cats are averse to dirtiness. If your litter box is undesirable, they’ll want to do their business elsewhere.
With that said, clean your litter box. Once a week, biweekly, or generally whenever the litter box is low on litter or is getting really filthy, empty it out completely and clean it, then add new litter. I always fill the box a little under halfway full. A tablespoon of baking soda with vinegar is effective, as is dish soap and water. Empty the litter and any dirty contents in your garbage or litter genie, not a water supply like a toilet. Litter and cat waste should not be flushed, as it could clog your pipes and disrupt your septic system.
Location is also important. When bringing a cat home, show her first thing where the litter box is. Put it in a place that’s easy to access. However, also put it somewhere that can easily be cleaned up. After all, it is a sh*t sandbox. Your cat could miss the box a little (keep in mind that “crystals” in urine and bladder infections are common issues in cats — which are both luckily easily treatable). Your cat also “scoops” litter over its business to cover the scent up, which could leave sprinkles of litter all over the place that you’ll want to sweep up.
While litter boxes are a godsend, you do want to know how to best use them.
5. Your Cat Does Love You — But It May Not Always Be Apparent
If you’re a good, caring cat owner, your cat loves you. However, cats are going to have their own personalities much like people would. My youngest cat Freya is cuddly and vocal, while Merlin is more chill. Still, both cats love snuggling up with me on the bed and follow me around the place.
All cats are going to have varying tolerances towards human contact. Just like finding any pet, have some time with your cat to learn if you’re compatible with them. When I adopted Merlin, I first spent some time alone with him in a room. He would hop up next to me on the bench and welcome pets. A sweet, overlooked black cat that I wanted in my home forever. Freya was a different story. She was an eight-week-old kitten when I adopted her from a friend’s barn after she met me for only ten minutes. However, she was a snuggle bear right away, and completely impressionable. If you’re adopting a kitten, be aware that they’re going to require higher initial vet costs and attention than a mature cat.
Whenever you adopt any pet, know the “Rule of Three”. It takes three days for new-situation anxiety to die down, three weeks for the pet to feel comfortable around the owner, and three months for the “forever home” feeling and the owner to feel like true family. Be patient. It’s not going to be perfect right away.
Final Thoughts
I am so thankful for my cats. While cats get a reputation for being mischievous and aloof, the good far outweighs the bad in owning one. Compared to dogs, they’re more affordable and clean, and they’re calmer, quieter animals. With the right choice, they’ll add so much value to your life. I love Merlin and Freya, and the joy and love they provide me daily are boundless.
Adopt wisely, and may you have many happy years with your little furry friend.
