Helpful Tips for First-Time Cat Owners

Buying a cat is a great decision! They are friendly and caring companions. According to research, owning a cat also positively impacts your health and overall emotional well-being. However, you need to do your research! A hasty buying decision could always turn into regret.

Here are a few tips for first-time cat owners:

Are You Ready For A Cat?

Before adopting or getting a cat, you need to ask yourself whether you’re ready for a cat at all. Do you live in your apartment, or is it rented? Have you checked with the building management about whether pets are allowed? Your landlady might ask you to pay pet rent. Do you have any other pets that might or might not get along with the cat? If you have an aggressive dog when it comes to chasing kitties, you might want to reconsider your decision. You also need to consider the costs of cat ownership. If things are tight and you’re on a budget, you might not be able to pay for pet rent, vet visits, food, and cat gear. Think it through! 

Do You Want A Cat Or A Kitten?

Cats and kittens are poles apart! Kittens are younger, fidgety, and more energetic. They demand a lot more playtime and attention from their owners. Kittens are also more unpredictable. As they age, their personality and playfulness changes. This isn’t the case with a fully-grown cat. Adoptability is another critical factor that you’d want to consider. If a cat is over three years of age, they’ll be tougher to be picked up. On the contrary, kittens are adopted with greater ease. 

Getting your home ready

Before bringing the baby in, you need to make a ‘cat room.’ Your home should be set up in a way that makes the baby feel welcomed. Get a small cat bed that fits their size, a litter box, some cat food and freshwater, and a couple of cat toys. A cat tree or two won’t hurt either. To reduce cleanup effort and any litter tracking, place a tracking mat under the litter box. We also recommend keeping the food and water away from the box.

When the cat comes in, don’t show them around the house. The vast space could be overwhelming for them. Keep them confined to the cat room for the first few days till they get used to the environment.

If you’re a new pet parent, Bark Industries can make it easy for you! Give us a call and our pet sitters will visit your home and take care of the cat, according to your schedule. We can make up to three visits in a day to feed and play with the baby. Read more about our pet sitting services in Chicago.