How to Choose the Right Cat

Take on long-term responsibility. Cats have the longest life expectancy of 20 years. If you adopt or buy a cat, it will stay with you for a long time (or even longer!) as long as your children live with you. So you need to make sure you have the ability to take care of your cat for the rest of your life. ^[2]

You need to make sure you are allowed to have cats. This is an animal suitable for people who live in tight spaces, such as apartments with a small area. However, you need to talk to your landlord, rental company, etc., to make sure they allow you to keep cats in the house.

• Cats should not be allowed to roam the streets. Indoor cats tend to live longer, have better health than cats that go outside, and are less likely to get sick and hurt. Moreover, indoor cats are also comfortable with humans. ^[3]

You should spend the right amount of time taking care of your cat. Cats don’t usually require close proximity as much as dogs, but anyway you should determine how much time you need to spend with them. If you don’t have the time to play, provide enough food and attention, and bond with them, this is not the right time to adopt a cat. ^[4]

• You should spend at least an hour a day with your cat. This helps you bond closely and makes them feel happy or healthy. ^[5] If you have a long-haired cat, you will need to spend about 20-30 minutes a day grooming them.
• Talk to your veterinarian or animal shelter staff about time spent with cats. They may suggest that you adopt a pair of cats, especially if the two are siblings. If you have two kids, you can let them play together while you’re away or away for the weekend.
• Kittens require more time from you because you have to train them to use the litter box, not to scratch things, etc… ^[6]

Budget calculation. Feeding and caring for cats is quite expensive. In the US, the average cost can range from $500 – $1000 per year. ^[7] The amount spent will depend on whether you have a kitten or an adult cat, as well as the breed you choose. Medical care and grooming expenses will grow over time.

• Raising kittens is often quite expensive, as they require vaccinations, deworming, and neutering. They are growing and growing soon, so you have no reason to wait. You can adopt an adult cat as they are usually more calm in nature.
• Although cats have a self-cleaning instinct, long-haired cats need extra grooming. Cats with short heads, or with “inward recessed” faces (like the Persian and Himalayan cats) often need to be cleaned around the eyes to prevent infection. ^[8]
• Check prices for high-quality cat food and treats. This step helps you determine how much it will cost to raise a cat.

Consider your house. You need to determine what the space in your home has before you adopt a cat. Here are some questions you need to answer:

• Do you have other pets in the house? Will the new cat be able to get along with them?
• Are there small children in the house? Children are often quite rough with kittens and will accidentally hurt them. ^[9]
• What is the level of activity in the house? Are you active and moving around or prefer to lie still on the sofa? Kittens are often hyperactive and will need constant supervision. Adult cats are calm and do not need constant supervision, although each breed and even each will have different personalities.

Consider health issues. If you or another family member has allergies or other health problems, you should consider how the cat will affect you or a loved one in your home. ^[10] Millions of people are allergic to pet things like fur, saliva, dead skin, and urine. ^[11] You should carefully consider the length of your cat’s coat to avoid causing allergies.

• Short-haired cats (soft, shiny coats) are usually best suited. This breed does not require much grooming. If they do shed, you can use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean them up quickly.
• Cats with medium-long hair (moderately fine coat) and long-haired cats (long, drooping coat) generally require regular grooming. You should brush them regularly. For long-haired cats, this activity needs to be done daily.
• Some cat breeds are hairless (and hypoallergenic). However, they often get cold and need to wear clothes to keep warm. Moreover, when stroking them will not create a soft feeling, making many people dislike.

Choose the right companion. The breed and age of the cat you adopt will affect your relationship with them. Would you like your cat to sit on your lap and relax with you? Or want them to play and interact with you? ^[12] Identifying your own needs for a new family member will help you choose the right cat for you.

• A kitten’s personality isn’t fully developed yet, so it will be difficult for you to determine your own attitude and relationship pattern with this friend until they are older.
• You can consult feline encyclopedias, such as Animal Planet’s Cat Breed Directory ^[13] to learn about common cat breed characteristics, such as vocalization, independence, and intelligence. smart. You need to remember that every cat has a special personality.

Cat breed research. Purebred cats have advantages and disadvantages in parallel. Each breed of cat has a constant characteristic that is often passed down from generation to generation, such as the very meowing Siamese or the Siberian who loves to be touched. If you like cats with certain characteristics, you may want to consider adopting a purebred cat. However, you also need to remember that there is no guarantee that every cat will have these characteristics. ^[14]

• Purebred cats often have special health problems. For example, Persian and Himalayan cats are more prone to heart and kidney problems, while Maine Coons (American longhair cats) are more prone to hip and cardiovascular problems.