Getting a cat

"We’re getting a cat" - having made the decision, the acquisition of said cat suddenly becomes urgent. Whether or not we have previously owned a cat, we start to lose all sense of what’s rational in our quest to get a new set of paws into our home. The best advice is to slow down, take a deep breath, and do some research. Here, we look at all you need to think about...

Consider whether your home and lifestyle will be able to accommodate a cat for years to come. Do you have the indoor space for a cat and all their resources? This is especially important if you choose to have more than one cat or want to keep your cat indoors. What is the environment like where you live? Built-up with busy roads, suburban, or rural? If you spend long days away from home or are a serial holiday-goer you may want to think about the impact this has on your future cat. 

It’s also very important to think about whether or not you will make a suitable cat parent. If the thought of cat hair, the odd out-of-tray accident and presents in the form of any assortment of rodents and birds (maybe even the odd rabbit or mole if you’re unlucky) makes you shudder, then it’s time to think again. And are you going to be happy with a creature that is love-bombing you one moment, and ignoring you the next? Then there’s all the worry that having a non-speaking sentient being in your home brings. Finally, and inevitably, there will come the time when you experience the heartache that losing a cat brings. How do you think you would cope?

Another extremely important consideration is the financial burden that goes hand in hand with cat ownership. The costs associated with acquiring the cat, all the cat equipment you’ll need, food (including specialist diets), toys, litter trays, scratching posts; the cost of a pet-sitter or cattery when you go away, and of course veterinary care and pet insurance all need to be factored into your thinking.  

We're not saying these things to put you off, but to make you aware of all the commitments, both emotional and financial. If you’re happy that you’re able to offer a good home to a cat, there are more decisions to be made well before you set sight on the feline of your dreams…

Kitten or adult cat?

Kittens are a good option if you already have a cat at home as they are less likely to represent a threat. Should you have a hankering for a particular look or temperament (although the latter can never be guaranteed!), specific breeds can be acquired from responsible breeders (we suggest finding a breeder from the GCCF Assured Breeders Scheme), or if it’s a moggy you’re after, rescue centres or responsible breeders are the place to go.

Probably the most important thing: acquire your cat from a reputable source (research, research, research!) and make sure that you can visit the kitten, meet their siblings and mother (and if possible, the father). Ask the breeder/owner questions about the kitten such as:

• When was he born (kittens should not be rehomed until at least 8 weeks of age)?
• Where has he spent most of his time? Some kittens are kept in a single room until they are rehomed. However, kittens that that have experienced all the sights, sounds, and interactions of a normal home usually grow up to be more robust cats.
• Have the kittens been handled by people of different ages and genders from the age of two weeks? Research shows that if kittens are appropriately handled by four or more people every day between the two and seven-weeks socialisation window, this will increase their sociability with humans.
• Has the kitten been fed by a human using a bottle? This can impact their behaviour so that they become more easily frustrated and/or needy in the future.
• Has the kitten been wormed and treated for fleas and checked over by a vet?
• Can you see all relevant paperwork, such as breed registration, vaccination and microchipping details, and any health test results on the parents?

This is the minimum you should expect prior to taking the kitten home. This might feel awkward, but a good breeder will be happy to help and glad you’re asking the right questions — they want their cats to go to good homes!

Never buy a kitten that you haven’t observed in his rearing environment. These days, many breeders will send you video and photo updates of your chosen kitten. They should not be a substitute for actually seeing your kitten in person, where you can watch his interactions and seeing how he interacts with other cats and how confident or otherwise he is. You also want to make sure that the rearing environment is clean and the litter trays not over-flowing! If you decide you want two kittens, choose two from the litter that appear to be close and playing together.

If it sounds a bit bossy here, it’s because early kittenhood is such a critical period and too many people acquire kittens who have been reared in poor environments, have not received appropriate socialisation to people and as a result, have a poor quality of life or develop problem behaviours. 

If you do acquire a kitten, be prepared to waste lots of time removing them from the tops of curtains, from behind kitchen appliances, up chimneys or just watching their cuteness!

If you prefer an adult cat, you’re most likely to acquire them from a friend or a rescue centre, via an advert, or they might even just wander into your house one day and not leave. If the latter occurs, all planning mentioned above goes out of the window but there are still things you can do to give them a fulfilled life with you. 

Unfortunately, more often than not, a second-hand cat comes with very little to no background information. For this reason, opting for an adult cat can be a bit of a gamble. So again, do visit him before agreeing to take him. Is he friendly and confident, or cowering in a corner not wanting any sort of interaction? If you have the time and energy to put into rehabilitating an anxious cat, then choosing the latter might be an incredibly rewarding experience, but if you want an ‘easy’ cat (if there is such a thing!) then you’ll want to look for a cat with sociable traits.

Male or Female cat?

Many of you will have very definite ideas about which gender of cat you would like, but it makes little difference, especially once they’re both neutered. What’s more important is their temperament. All cats come with a unique set of character traits which are not dependent on their sex. Both can be sociable or not! 

Elderly and Special Needs Cats

Although more time, effort, and money are usually needed to care for them, giving pleasure to a gentle old cat and watching him quietly enjoying his dotage in peace and tranquility is worth every penny.

Special needs cats include those with disabilities and behaviour issues. Much time, and possibly money, will need to be devoted to their care and rehabilitation, but there are some very special people out there who are willing to do just that, and you might be one of them!

So you see, acquiring a cat isn’t as straightforward as you might think, at least not if you want him to have the best possible start in life with you. One cannot overestimate the importance of not rushing things, doing plenty of research first, and being flexible with your requirements. If can do all this, then you’re good to go!