The Feline Companion

By Sandy Kamen Wisniewski
Posted March 24, 2004

It wasn't until I was married that I adopted my first cat, Pumpkin, an orange tabby from Orphan's of the Storm animal shelter, in Deerfield. From the moment he came home his infectious personality won me over. Learning cats' personalities and what is involved in caring for them will help you to decide if a cat is right for you.

Cats have wonderful and redeeming qualities. They are independent, affectionate, flirtatious, indignant and humorous. Most cats' attitude's are that they own the home and you are lucky to live there with them. Cats are much harder than dogs to train to sit, stay and come. You may be able to teach your cat to come, especially if they know they will get a treat when they do come. Cats are social and crave interaction but on their terms. (Consider the possibility of adopting two cats. That way when you are not around they will have each other to play with and cuddle up to.)

Fortunately, cats are low maintenance- they don't need to be walked or let outside to eliminate. But cats do need daily feeding and litter box cleaning. A cat, like any other pet, comes with expenses-such as veterinarian, food and supply bills. Also, be sure no one in your home is allergic to cats before you get one. Also consider whether a cat is appropriate if you have relatives who have allergies to cats and visit you often.

Next, you have to decide whether you want a kitten or adult cat. Kittens need supervision so they don't get themselves in trouble, like climbing up the curtains only to realize they can't get down or climbing into something they can't get out of-both typical antics for kittens. They are adorable, fun to watch and love to play. An adult cat is calmer than a kitten and needs less supervision. They will probably need more time than a kitten to adjust to your home-they can be quite sensitive to change. Because kittens are more desirable than adult cats there are more adult cats in shelters, so if you not set on a kitten consider an adult cat from a shelter.

Your next decision is whether to get a pure bred or mix breed. From my experience most people decide on a mixed breed. They are much less expensive, are easily found in area shelters and each have unique personalities. Pure breeds are bred for certain qualities, such as the Siamese, who is bred for its high intelligence. If you are considering a pure bred do your homework by researching breeds and picking a breeder with a good track record. Make sure to get references from the prospective breeder.

Whether visiting breeders or local shelters it would benefit you greatly to bring someone knowledgeable about cat behavior with you. If you have children it is vital that you bring them with you when picking out a cat so you can observe how each cat reacts and interacts with your children. Not all cats are responsive or appropriate for children, so choose carefully.

Once you bring your cat home there are certain things you should know and do to insure your cat's safety. While some cat owners let their cat outdoors I am adamantly against it. It is extremely dangerous! Make sure your home is cat safe before you bring him/her home. Check to be sure all houseplants are non-toxic to your pet. (You can probably get a list of toxic plants from your veterinarian.)

Finally, please make sure you get your cat spayed/neutered. Spaying/neutering offers many health and behavioral benefits. Additionally there is a huge overpopulation of cats and acting responsibly by not contributing to the overpopulation is a respectable contribution to society.

Now that you have the general low down on feline ownership you can make a wise, informed decision. Cats are wonderful pets for the right home. They purr and prance in rural, suburban and city dwellings, bringing joy to their loved ones. If you add a cat or cats to your home write me and let me know your story, I'd love to hear it.