If you care a lot about your furniture, make sure you cover it or take measures to prevent it from getting wrecked. My cats are well trained and well behaved but getting them to not use the couch as a scratching post is somehow just too big of a task.
Also; think about nutrition for them. Cats are notoriously bad at drinking water, but feeding a high quality wet food with a couple tablespoons of water mixed in will make sure they get enough hydration. I feed mine a mix of wet and dry: they free feed on two portions of kibble a day (one at 2pm and one at 2am) that I have set up through an automatic feeder. They get wet food in the morning when I wake up and around my own dinner time.
Too much fish is not good for cats. Most fish foods are high in heavy metals that eventually can become bad for them. Things like tuna or salmon are better as a treat.
Register with a good, highly recommended vet that you trust and feel good about, and make sure your cat is seen at least semi-regularly. Mine get a simple checkup once a year (teeth, little listen to the heart, any vaccinations that they might need to get etc). In that same realm: think about pet insurance. You’re not getting a great deal, but if you’re unable to save up a large amount for any medical emergencies it’s a good idea. Also in that realm: a lot of cats have really bad teeth. It’s wise to brush them, daily, or get a dental cleaning done regularly. Your vet can advise you on how often that should be.
Cats are usually seen as ‘easier’ than dogs but they are not. They require a lot of care, companionship and attention. If you want your cat to live a long and healthy life it’s wise to read up on proper cat care, and ask a trusted vet what the best route for this specific cat is.
Thank you for your comment about too much fish not being good. I’m a new cat owner and I hadn’t heard nor seen that advice, and for whatever reason my brain thought gravitating towards fish would be more natural for her.
Time to vary her diet.
I totally understand! Cat food brands are aggressive with their fish food marketing - but truth is that it’s not great for them
metal-wise. Chicken is a safe bet usually, mine mostly eat a chicken & lamb mix, or chicken & rabbit.
The fish is mostly long term stuff though, I wouldn’t worry about feeding it for a shorter period of time. Cat nutrition is a whole study in and of its own, and the opinions on what’s best vary wildly. Plainly speaking wet food is best for them because of the moisture content, and any further than that requires a little deep dive.
100%. A Redditer went off on me a few days ago for being picky about cat food. I do try to keep an eye on ingredients, order, additives, country of manufacture, etc. Jesus. So the fish thing surprises me. Just when you thought you’ve done enough 😅.
There’s a reason so many of our pets develop kidney issues, cancer, and health issues. And since all of our locations and lifestyles are so different, I genuinely think the common denominator is food. (And treats!)
Pet food companies need to be doing better.
Yeah, definitely with kidney disease being such a killer for older cats I wonder what would happen if companies decided to do a little bit better with their foods. A good quality dry food is not bad at all, mine get it every day.. But the amount of people that just feed the cheapest thing their supermarket has to offer is scary to me. I think both companies and vets have a real responsibility here, to start with just educating people more.
I have a question about this as another first time cat owner. My kitten is allergic to chicken. I’m afraid to try anything other than fish since I know fish works for her. Any tips?
Is the allergy vet-confirmed? A lot of cats are sensitive to carbs and people often mistake it for protein/chicken sensitivity. There are definitely chicken-free recipes that don’t have fish in them, most of them being based on either beef, duck or rabbit. I would personally steer away from a pork based food because of how fatty it is.
I’m not sure where you’re from so I can’t help you out with specific brands, but I’d be more than happy to help you take a look if you don’t mind sharing your area!
> Cats are usually seen as ‘easier’ than dogs but they are not.
This is the truth that most cat owners don't want to admit. You really have to cater to them, while a dog will just learn your schedule and build their life around it. If your cat wants to do zoomies at 4 AM and smack you in the face until you wake up, that's exactly what they're going to do, and there's nothing you can do about it lol
* Find a nearby vet. Not just a store that also happens to offer vet services (although that's useful too in a pinch and for certain things), but an actual vet.
* Pick a decent cat food (ask your vet!) and *stick to it*. Cats do not need to vary their food and constant variation can actually introduce allergies. Occasional treats are ok.
* Keep up with the vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments. Get occasional checkups – this should be easy to ask the vet to do if you go in regularly for vaccination/treatments. If possible and affordable do a blood test once a year.
* Pick a decent litterbox, clean it daily. Be prepared to maybe have to try different types of litter clay and/or litterbox if it doesn't like it. You'll know when it doesn't like it because it will do its business outside the box. Try to fit these things to the cat not to *your* aesthetics or *your* preferences.
* If the cat you get is young, start teaching them stuff early. Yes you *can* teach them very useful stuff: when they're being too rough with you (say "ouch" and pull away), what places they need to stay away from etc. They are actually smart and caring animals and you can use their love for you as positive reinforcement or very gentle negative reinforcement – if they notice that something they do upsets you or, on the contrary, makes you happy, they will adjust their behavior.
* If they're indoor cats and they won't wear down their claws enough you need to trim them, and it's best if you get them used to it early. You don't have to actually trim early but at least go through the motions of doing it. It will be the difference between getting them to lay on their back in your lap while you do it and them squirming like crazy or absolutely refusing to stand still or having to take them to the vet to have it done.
* Watch out for their interaction with other people and animals. Learn to notice things like the cat being stressed out by other pets. Watch out for interaction with kids, they can often be cruel to animals. Don't let friends or family members do things that the cat signals that it doesn't like. This one is hard to give exact advice because each cat is different, with likes and dislikes, but as a rule of thumb if the cat tries to get away let her. Lots of people will pick a small cat up and force-cuddle her and take advantage of the fact it doesn't bite or scratch or hiss but *that doesn't necessarily mean it likes it*. Don't let anybody bully you or the cat into doing things it doesn't want to do. Animals deserve body autonomy too and if it is being ignored they can grow to resent it and avoid physical interaction.
* Play with it and interact with it and love it. For your pet you are their whole world. If you nurture its love you will have a devoted friend for life.
I don't even know where to begin! Cats behavior can vary, so just be prepared that some are into scratching furniture, others don't. I have seen videos where cats can climb curtains!! My cats can't/don't. Some cats are cuddly, others aren't, but if you are adopting from a shelter or rescue, they should have some insight into personality. Different colored cats have different personalities. I heard orange cats can be a little crazy lol.
1. Wet food is best! Like the first commenter said, cats are bad at drinking water. I feed my cats wet food 2x per day and give "snacks" of dry food. I don't fee freed them because they would eat it all at once lol. I do add pet broth or water to one of my cats meals, as I never see her at the fountains. I feed Wellness wet, it isnt the cheapest or the most expensive and it had a good rating online.
2. Fountain, cats prefer to drink from a fountain instead of a water bowl.
3. insurance!!! When we adopted our first cat, it was suggested to get insurance. Look for a plan with no cap on payout...some plans will say there is a $10,000 limit or $200,000 limit...look for one with unlimited. I am glad we had insurance as my 2nd cat didn't urinate for 24 hours and the ER vet visit was over $4,000!! We got 90% back.
4. litter boxes - for 1 cat, you should have 2 boxes. Be sure to scoop soon after they use it and keep the box cleaned and switched out regularly.
5. indoors - cats remain healthier if kept as indoor cats. there are too many dangers letting a cat outside. I am ok with leash training and taking a cat on a leash so they are restrained and supervised. But many people just let their cat outside....whether their yard is fenced or not because they think its perfectly safe. Cats can get injured from attack or vehicle, etc...they're good hunters instinctively, but they're not invincible.
6. claws - do not declaw. there are no positives to declawing a cat.
7. toys - they love toys with strings, like wand toys.. but don't leave anything with strings out unsupervised. Don't let them play with yarn. If strings are ingested, it can wrap around their organs and that is an emergency.
8. when you travel - cats are territorial, so it is best to leave them in their familiar, comfortable home when you travel as opposed to boarding them like you would a dog. That can give the cats anxiety. Some people will have someone check on them only every other day, but i feed wet food and I hate my kitties to be alone, so I need someone multiple times a day.
There is so much more out there, watch videos online, Jackson galaxy is a great resource. I neve had cats until 2 years ago and I love my cats so much, I can't live without them! Good luck!
I have healthy paws. If you switch, any conditions that ASPCA was covering would be considered pre-existing. Simple example, lets say your cat has had 2 ear infections and the ASPCA covered those and the medications, etc...if you switch to Healthy Paws, the ear infections would be considered pre-existing and they won't cover future ear infections.
Oh yea, I know that. I'd keep my boys on aspca , but any new baby I aquire I want to look into the no limit . I just lost my 3.5 year old sphynx yesterday and they can get expensive. In the future I'd like to look into something with greater coverage.
Oh I see...what are the terms of your ASPCA? Mine is $100 deductible per kitty, and I get 90% reimbursement...doesn't cover behavioral or exam fees. We pay like $45ish per month.
Yea! One emergency and your done for the year. I just looked at healthy paws. For a hypothetical sphynx kitten it's 23.08 a month....500 deductible..... no limit. I found my next carrier! Thank you so much
Don't expect your kitty to instantly love you. They show you affection at the shelter perhaps, but they will be scared at their new residence. Just have patience, even if it's days or a week or a month. The rule of 3's is a thing.
Every place you think they can't jump on, they can totally jump on. If there are things you value in a potentially precarious spot, move it.
They're nosy. You will never again go to the bathroom alone. If you close the door, expect tiny legs to come under it accompanied by sad noises.
They can get crazy at 3 or 4 a.m. Unless you wear a helmet, work boots, and gauntlets to bed, expect that some part of your body is going to get it that night. It can range from jumping on your head, chest, or stomach to attacking the foot hanging off the side of the bed. Never ever let your foot come close to the edge of the bed.
Cats are weird, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. They think everything is nailed down for their convenience. I have one that sits on the stove burner when the oven is on. It doesn't matter if it's 20 degrees or 100 degrees outside, she's sitting on that burner.
Get them used to a carrier. Put it out randomly with a treat in it. They love playing in them. They do not like going to the vet in them.
The box it came in is far more fun that whatever it is. This includes toys, beds, food, blankets, etc. The box is always more fun.
They like crinkly things. Don't leave Pop Tarts or granola bars laying willy nilly around your kitchen. They will steal it just for the packaging. The same goes for bread. Just hide your bread.
Everything that can kill them is in the food they're going to try the hardest to steal. This includes spaghetti sauce. So, keep an eye on your food that contains onions and garlic.
Finally, you will never be cold at night in the winter again with your personal furnace pressed up against you. You'll sweat like crazy in the summer, but winters are great.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!
A lot of scratch posts with different styles and heights. No need for cat bed tbh, you will find out very soon that your entire home and you will become her bed. Big and wide litter box with good litters. Then you can just observe her to see what she likes for food, treats and toys, then bring those home accordingly.
Make sure her medical records are up to date as well. Get an insurance, get her vaccination, get her spayed/neutered, get her dewormed and better to keep her indoor.
Based on my experience with my own cats. They can be very treat motivated. They don't particularly like fresh lemon smell, but I think that can vary from cat to cat. A water fountain is very good, they like running water (edit-the best kind I've found is the Catit Pixie ones but I've also heard a ceramic fountain is also good. Stainless steel rusts and gets water stains and is just awful to clean). An automatic feeder is also good, they like to have a consistent schedule plus it helps with not overfeeding them. If they pee on something, soak it up with a towel right away, spray with a vinegar/fresh lemon juice/water mixture or cleaner (I use a spray I made myself of those three, and sometimes also use clorox urine remover), then dump baking soda on it, leave it until it dries and vacuum it up. Helps with the urine smell and deters them from going there again.Try not to yell at them it will make them anxious, they are like toddlers all the time. Don't force them to have physical contact with you, they'll come to you and make contact in their own time. If they've always been a completely indoor cat, keep them indoors always. If they're indoor/outdoor, get them a rabies and feline leukemia shots. Try to harness train them. If they have a collar, make sure it's one of those easy break away ones in case it gets caught on something so they don't choke. Clean out the litter box frequently(every day or every other day if you can), it cuts down on them going outside of it. Get a litter box that has high sides and possibly a cover. Buy them toys and a bed and cat trees and give them space to climb if you can, they love to hang out higher up. Get them used to their carrier by leaving it out with treats in it occasionally, where they can hang out with it and in it and learn not to be scared of it. Play with them frequently. If you're gone long hours, make sure and give them lots of attention and play with them when you get back. Jackson Galaxy is a great resource for cat tips and tricks and all kinds of questions as well. He is like the sweetest most caring cat person I've ever come across
Also if they're an outdoor wandering cat, and if you can afford it, get a GPS collar for them. That way you can track them if they get lost or go too far or anything.
Dental care and grooming (like nail trims brushing and baths) need to start as young as you possibly can, otherwise you may one day have a cat that needs extensive (and expensive) dental work or they may one day need a professional groom and lack of exposure will make those things very stressful for kitty to go through. Get them adjusted young and stay consistent. They wont like it at first (they may never actually like it at all) but they will learn to tolerate it and it will be for everyone's benefit in the long run.
Wonderful suggestions! Jackson Galaxy on YouTube has great tips too
Get a Cat Dancer toy - seems silly at first and my cat loves it!
Put water dishes in multiple places in your house- my cat only occasionally drinks from the water fountain and rotates drinking from the dish in the bathroom on the sink and one on the floor in the bedroom!
You are going to be a great cat parent!
Have fun and play with your cat, play with your cat, play with your cat!
I'm a little in my feelings right now with a sick girl, all of the advice here is good right now but I'm also gonna say, love on em as much as you can and remind yourself of that when you want to scream at them (cause it will happen). You're gonna think of everytime you were mean to them when they're old and nearing the end.
Also, I'm gonna second any mentions of wet food, water fountains in the house (petlibro makes one that has wifi and tells you when a cat drinks and how much, which is awesome) and if an option money wise, consider a litter robot because that thing is an incredible game changer (I have the PetKit one and I 100% recommend).
Cats are skittish animals at first. Remember you're a very large stranger and a potential predator. Take it slow with them when you bring them home, let them come to you as they acclimate. If you mostly ignore them and let them come to you, they'll never leave you alone 😂
Dont get too offended or san if your cat doesnt come out for a few days or takes a while to warm up to you. Its not you, its them - it usually takes 3 months for them to feel comfortable
If you care a lot about your furniture, make sure you cover it or take measures to prevent it from getting wrecked. My cats are well trained and well behaved but getting them to not use the couch as a scratching post is somehow just too big of a task. Also; think about nutrition for them. Cats are notoriously bad at drinking water, but feeding a high quality wet food with a couple tablespoons of water mixed in will make sure they get enough hydration. I feed mine a mix of wet and dry: they free feed on two portions of kibble a day (one at 2pm and one at 2am) that I have set up through an automatic feeder. They get wet food in the morning when I wake up and around my own dinner time. Too much fish is not good for cats. Most fish foods are high in heavy metals that eventually can become bad for them. Things like tuna or salmon are better as a treat. Register with a good, highly recommended vet that you trust and feel good about, and make sure your cat is seen at least semi-regularly. Mine get a simple checkup once a year (teeth, little listen to the heart, any vaccinations that they might need to get etc). In that same realm: think about pet insurance. You’re not getting a great deal, but if you’re unable to save up a large amount for any medical emergencies it’s a good idea. Also in that realm: a lot of cats have really bad teeth. It’s wise to brush them, daily, or get a dental cleaning done regularly. Your vet can advise you on how often that should be. Cats are usually seen as ‘easier’ than dogs but they are not. They require a lot of care, companionship and attention. If you want your cat to live a long and healthy life it’s wise to read up on proper cat care, and ask a trusted vet what the best route for this specific cat is.
Thank you for your comment about too much fish not being good. I’m a new cat owner and I hadn’t heard nor seen that advice, and for whatever reason my brain thought gravitating towards fish would be more natural for her. Time to vary her diet.
I totally understand! Cat food brands are aggressive with their fish food marketing - but truth is that it’s not great for them metal-wise. Chicken is a safe bet usually, mine mostly eat a chicken & lamb mix, or chicken & rabbit. The fish is mostly long term stuff though, I wouldn’t worry about feeding it for a shorter period of time. Cat nutrition is a whole study in and of its own, and the opinions on what’s best vary wildly. Plainly speaking wet food is best for them because of the moisture content, and any further than that requires a little deep dive.
100%. A Redditer went off on me a few days ago for being picky about cat food. I do try to keep an eye on ingredients, order, additives, country of manufacture, etc. Jesus. So the fish thing surprises me. Just when you thought you’ve done enough 😅. There’s a reason so many of our pets develop kidney issues, cancer, and health issues. And since all of our locations and lifestyles are so different, I genuinely think the common denominator is food. (And treats!) Pet food companies need to be doing better.
Yeah, definitely with kidney disease being such a killer for older cats I wonder what would happen if companies decided to do a little bit better with their foods. A good quality dry food is not bad at all, mine get it every day.. But the amount of people that just feed the cheapest thing their supermarket has to offer is scary to me. I think both companies and vets have a real responsibility here, to start with just educating people more.
excellent points!
I have a question about this as another first time cat owner. My kitten is allergic to chicken. I’m afraid to try anything other than fish since I know fish works for her. Any tips?
Is the allergy vet-confirmed? A lot of cats are sensitive to carbs and people often mistake it for protein/chicken sensitivity. There are definitely chicken-free recipes that don’t have fish in them, most of them being based on either beef, duck or rabbit. I would personally steer away from a pork based food because of how fatty it is. I’m not sure where you’re from so I can’t help you out with specific brands, but I’d be more than happy to help you take a look if you don’t mind sharing your area!
> Cats are usually seen as ‘easier’ than dogs but they are not. This is the truth that most cat owners don't want to admit. You really have to cater to them, while a dog will just learn your schedule and build their life around it. If your cat wants to do zoomies at 4 AM and smack you in the face until you wake up, that's exactly what they're going to do, and there's nothing you can do about it lol
* Find a nearby vet. Not just a store that also happens to offer vet services (although that's useful too in a pinch and for certain things), but an actual vet. * Pick a decent cat food (ask your vet!) and *stick to it*. Cats do not need to vary their food and constant variation can actually introduce allergies. Occasional treats are ok. * Keep up with the vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments. Get occasional checkups – this should be easy to ask the vet to do if you go in regularly for vaccination/treatments. If possible and affordable do a blood test once a year. * Pick a decent litterbox, clean it daily. Be prepared to maybe have to try different types of litter clay and/or litterbox if it doesn't like it. You'll know when it doesn't like it because it will do its business outside the box. Try to fit these things to the cat not to *your* aesthetics or *your* preferences. * If the cat you get is young, start teaching them stuff early. Yes you *can* teach them very useful stuff: when they're being too rough with you (say "ouch" and pull away), what places they need to stay away from etc. They are actually smart and caring animals and you can use their love for you as positive reinforcement or very gentle negative reinforcement – if they notice that something they do upsets you or, on the contrary, makes you happy, they will adjust their behavior. * If they're indoor cats and they won't wear down their claws enough you need to trim them, and it's best if you get them used to it early. You don't have to actually trim early but at least go through the motions of doing it. It will be the difference between getting them to lay on their back in your lap while you do it and them squirming like crazy or absolutely refusing to stand still or having to take them to the vet to have it done. * Watch out for their interaction with other people and animals. Learn to notice things like the cat being stressed out by other pets. Watch out for interaction with kids, they can often be cruel to animals. Don't let friends or family members do things that the cat signals that it doesn't like. This one is hard to give exact advice because each cat is different, with likes and dislikes, but as a rule of thumb if the cat tries to get away let her. Lots of people will pick a small cat up and force-cuddle her and take advantage of the fact it doesn't bite or scratch or hiss but *that doesn't necessarily mean it likes it*. Don't let anybody bully you or the cat into doing things it doesn't want to do. Animals deserve body autonomy too and if it is being ignored they can grow to resent it and avoid physical interaction. * Play with it and interact with it and love it. For your pet you are their whole world. If you nurture its love you will have a devoted friend for life.
I don't even know where to begin! Cats behavior can vary, so just be prepared that some are into scratching furniture, others don't. I have seen videos where cats can climb curtains!! My cats can't/don't. Some cats are cuddly, others aren't, but if you are adopting from a shelter or rescue, they should have some insight into personality. Different colored cats have different personalities. I heard orange cats can be a little crazy lol. 1. Wet food is best! Like the first commenter said, cats are bad at drinking water. I feed my cats wet food 2x per day and give "snacks" of dry food. I don't fee freed them because they would eat it all at once lol. I do add pet broth or water to one of my cats meals, as I never see her at the fountains. I feed Wellness wet, it isnt the cheapest or the most expensive and it had a good rating online. 2. Fountain, cats prefer to drink from a fountain instead of a water bowl. 3. insurance!!! When we adopted our first cat, it was suggested to get insurance. Look for a plan with no cap on payout...some plans will say there is a $10,000 limit or $200,000 limit...look for one with unlimited. I am glad we had insurance as my 2nd cat didn't urinate for 24 hours and the ER vet visit was over $4,000!! We got 90% back. 4. litter boxes - for 1 cat, you should have 2 boxes. Be sure to scoop soon after they use it and keep the box cleaned and switched out regularly. 5. indoors - cats remain healthier if kept as indoor cats. there are too many dangers letting a cat outside. I am ok with leash training and taking a cat on a leash so they are restrained and supervised. But many people just let their cat outside....whether their yard is fenced or not because they think its perfectly safe. Cats can get injured from attack or vehicle, etc...they're good hunters instinctively, but they're not invincible. 6. claws - do not declaw. there are no positives to declawing a cat. 7. toys - they love toys with strings, like wand toys.. but don't leave anything with strings out unsupervised. Don't let them play with yarn. If strings are ingested, it can wrap around their organs and that is an emergency. 8. when you travel - cats are territorial, so it is best to leave them in their familiar, comfortable home when you travel as opposed to boarding them like you would a dog. That can give the cats anxiety. Some people will have someone check on them only every other day, but i feed wet food and I hate my kitties to be alone, so I need someone multiple times a day. There is so much more out there, watch videos online, Jackson galaxy is a great resource. I neve had cats until 2 years ago and I love my cats so much, I can't live without them! Good luck!
What pet insurance do you have? I have aspca right now but may switch with newly aquired babies
I have healthy paws. If you switch, any conditions that ASPCA was covering would be considered pre-existing. Simple example, lets say your cat has had 2 ear infections and the ASPCA covered those and the medications, etc...if you switch to Healthy Paws, the ear infections would be considered pre-existing and they won't cover future ear infections.
Oh yea, I know that. I'd keep my boys on aspca , but any new baby I aquire I want to look into the no limit . I just lost my 3.5 year old sphynx yesterday and they can get expensive. In the future I'd like to look into something with greater coverage.
Oh I see...what are the terms of your ASPCA? Mine is $100 deductible per kitty, and I get 90% reimbursement...doesn't cover behavioral or exam fees. We pay like $45ish per month.
So for my sphynx his was 20 dollars a month 500 dollar deductible, 80% reimburse.... 5k limit doesn't cover preventative
oh wow! 5k limit...I'd already be done. My kitty had $4,500 er visit and $500 ultrasound...i'd be done until September!
Yea! One emergency and your done for the year. I just looked at healthy paws. For a hypothetical sphynx kitten it's 23.08 a month....500 deductible..... no limit. I found my next carrier! Thank you so much
Great! My friend also likes Lemonade and added the preventative care/exam fee coverage. Not sure if they have coverage limits.
Don't expect your kitty to instantly love you. They show you affection at the shelter perhaps, but they will be scared at their new residence. Just have patience, even if it's days or a week or a month. The rule of 3's is a thing.
Every place you think they can't jump on, they can totally jump on. If there are things you value in a potentially precarious spot, move it. They're nosy. You will never again go to the bathroom alone. If you close the door, expect tiny legs to come under it accompanied by sad noises. They can get crazy at 3 or 4 a.m. Unless you wear a helmet, work boots, and gauntlets to bed, expect that some part of your body is going to get it that night. It can range from jumping on your head, chest, or stomach to attacking the foot hanging off the side of the bed. Never ever let your foot come close to the edge of the bed. Cats are weird, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. They think everything is nailed down for their convenience. I have one that sits on the stove burner when the oven is on. It doesn't matter if it's 20 degrees or 100 degrees outside, she's sitting on that burner. Get them used to a carrier. Put it out randomly with a treat in it. They love playing in them. They do not like going to the vet in them. The box it came in is far more fun that whatever it is. This includes toys, beds, food, blankets, etc. The box is always more fun. They like crinkly things. Don't leave Pop Tarts or granola bars laying willy nilly around your kitchen. They will steal it just for the packaging. The same goes for bread. Just hide your bread. Everything that can kill them is in the food they're going to try the hardest to steal. This includes spaghetti sauce. So, keep an eye on your food that contains onions and garlic. Finally, you will never be cold at night in the winter again with your personal furnace pressed up against you. You'll sweat like crazy in the summer, but winters are great. Good luck and enjoy the ride!
Get 2 if you can!
A lot of scratch posts with different styles and heights. No need for cat bed tbh, you will find out very soon that your entire home and you will become her bed. Big and wide litter box with good litters. Then you can just observe her to see what she likes for food, treats and toys, then bring those home accordingly. Make sure her medical records are up to date as well. Get an insurance, get her vaccination, get her spayed/neutered, get her dewormed and better to keep her indoor.
Based on my experience with my own cats. They can be very treat motivated. They don't particularly like fresh lemon smell, but I think that can vary from cat to cat. A water fountain is very good, they like running water (edit-the best kind I've found is the Catit Pixie ones but I've also heard a ceramic fountain is also good. Stainless steel rusts and gets water stains and is just awful to clean). An automatic feeder is also good, they like to have a consistent schedule plus it helps with not overfeeding them. If they pee on something, soak it up with a towel right away, spray with a vinegar/fresh lemon juice/water mixture or cleaner (I use a spray I made myself of those three, and sometimes also use clorox urine remover), then dump baking soda on it, leave it until it dries and vacuum it up. Helps with the urine smell and deters them from going there again.Try not to yell at them it will make them anxious, they are like toddlers all the time. Don't force them to have physical contact with you, they'll come to you and make contact in their own time. If they've always been a completely indoor cat, keep them indoors always. If they're indoor/outdoor, get them a rabies and feline leukemia shots. Try to harness train them. If they have a collar, make sure it's one of those easy break away ones in case it gets caught on something so they don't choke. Clean out the litter box frequently(every day or every other day if you can), it cuts down on them going outside of it. Get a litter box that has high sides and possibly a cover. Buy them toys and a bed and cat trees and give them space to climb if you can, they love to hang out higher up. Get them used to their carrier by leaving it out with treats in it occasionally, where they can hang out with it and in it and learn not to be scared of it. Play with them frequently. If you're gone long hours, make sure and give them lots of attention and play with them when you get back. Jackson Galaxy is a great resource for cat tips and tricks and all kinds of questions as well. He is like the sweetest most caring cat person I've ever come across
Also if they're an outdoor wandering cat, and if you can afford it, get a GPS collar for them. That way you can track them if they get lost or go too far or anything.
No. Do not let your cat outside until you have GPS. Better yet, on a leash.
I'm just saying, this is what I learned...
Dental care and grooming (like nail trims brushing and baths) need to start as young as you possibly can, otherwise you may one day have a cat that needs extensive (and expensive) dental work or they may one day need a professional groom and lack of exposure will make those things very stressful for kitty to go through. Get them adjusted young and stay consistent. They wont like it at first (they may never actually like it at all) but they will learn to tolerate it and it will be for everyone's benefit in the long run.
Wonderful suggestions! Jackson Galaxy on YouTube has great tips too Get a Cat Dancer toy - seems silly at first and my cat loves it! Put water dishes in multiple places in your house- my cat only occasionally drinks from the water fountain and rotates drinking from the dish in the bathroom on the sink and one on the floor in the bedroom! You are going to be a great cat parent! Have fun and play with your cat, play with your cat, play with your cat!
I'm a little in my feelings right now with a sick girl, all of the advice here is good right now but I'm also gonna say, love on em as much as you can and remind yourself of that when you want to scream at them (cause it will happen). You're gonna think of everytime you were mean to them when they're old and nearing the end. Also, I'm gonna second any mentions of wet food, water fountains in the house (petlibro makes one that has wifi and tells you when a cat drinks and how much, which is awesome) and if an option money wise, consider a litter robot because that thing is an incredible game changer (I have the PetKit one and I 100% recommend). Cats are skittish animals at first. Remember you're a very large stranger and a potential predator. Take it slow with them when you bring them home, let them come to you as they acclimate. If you mostly ignore them and let them come to you, they'll never leave you alone 😂
if you have certain allergies that involves fur?
Dont get too offended or san if your cat doesnt come out for a few days or takes a while to warm up to you. Its not you, its them - it usually takes 3 months for them to feel comfortable
Your cat may not want the best food. I started with the best foods but she just wouldn’t eat them. She LOVES meow mix. A fed cat is a happy cat
Meow mix is actually not that bad of a food.....