We all know that felines tend to present themselves with a little more “dignity” than dogs do, the latter remaining quite earnest and wearing their hearts on their sleeves, compared to cats who seem to think of themselves as the homeowners within our property, letting you into their lives precisely as much as they tolerate you. Of course, underneath that is a great deal of love and comfort, as any long-term owner of a cat will understand the deep bond that can grow there.
That said, it’s true to say that sometimes, the aloofness of a cat’s supposed need for owner validation can leave us thinking that they’re tremendously low-maintenance. Sure, some cats tend to come and go from the property, and they also try to clean themselves, but that doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily as hands-off as pets as we should think.
In this post, we’ll discuss some important measures that a new owner of a furry feline friend should keep in mind, especially if opting for a cat based on how much more convenient than dogs they seem to be – at least as household pets:
Curiosity & Safety
If curiosity doesn’t kill the cat, it can certainly put them in harm’s way. For this reason, it’s important to try and pre-empt this. Limit the openings of a wide window by installing latches and ventilation locks.
Try and limit climbing spaces, even though they’ll try to climb anyway. Make distractions if you can, like making sure they have a second space on your desk to rest on instead of sitting right on your keyboard while you’re trying to use it, risking knocking your drinks over. For kittens, it can be a good idea to make sure that power outlet sockets are covered – they try to get their paws into everything. In other words, you need to think like a feline and try to pre-empt their seemingly endless talent for harming themselves. They’ll grow out of it.
Insurance As Necessary
Of course, without appropriate cat insurance then it can be tough to keep up with all their needs, and medical bills can be harder to deal with. With great insurance, you can relax knowing that most of the essentials are taken care of. As low maintenance as a cat might be, sooner or later they will need aid that could become much more costly than it otherwise may have been with comprehensive cover.
The Family Environment
The disposition of a certain cat will determine how well they’ll integrate into your household. Now, no cat acts like a golden retriever for the most, but some are more comfortable around children, some might have issues that take work due to past mistreatment (and so may not be suitable around busy environments), while all will require attention and shouldn’t be left alone for too long. It’s also important to make sure that you know what kind of cat they are, as not all of them are comfortable walking around suburban environments, or you may not live in an area where letting them roam free is desirable. Keeping that in mind can help you plan for the future.
With this advice, we hope you can curate the best plan for becoming a cat owner.
