Why a kitten and not a cat?
Kittens are adorable, hardworking, funny, often destructive, and generally adorable. It’s a joy to own one at least once in your life. Many people take in older cats, often because there are many more of them in need of a good home than kittens, finding homes more easily due to their appeal. It’s hard work – they keep you on your toes like any baby or toddler. Indeed, many people who adopt a kitten for the first time after many years of owning adult cats comment that they have forgotten how much hard work it is!
Certain aspects of your personality can also influence the type of kitten you choose or should choose and the lifestyle you will have with it, such as whether it goes outside or stays indoors.
are you patient
Kittens require patience and if you get a long-haired cat, you may have to spend a lot of time grooming – Persians in particular will not be able to take care of their fur on their own.
Do you take pride in the house – do you mind accidents, scratched furniture or wallpaper, hair on the furniture, litter boxes, etc.?
Tales of kittens climbing up curtains are based on truth – they can slip on anything they can and in the process knock over ornaments or pull down curtains that aren’t properly secured! Remember when you had kids or friends visiting with kids and you took all the valuables away? Time to do it again. Cats shed hair, and long-haired cats shed a lot of it.
Are you overprotective?
Some people couldn’t bear to take in a cat and then let it face the risks of going outside. They may want to keep it indoors – but there are things to keep in mind if you choose this option, both initially and as it grows.
What kind of owner will you be? What do you want from your cat? Do you want a close relationship or are you happy to live with him and respect him for his independence? Owners may be unhappy with their cat because they have unrealistic expectations of how it can live with them, or because the cat does not live up to what they want. One such story was told to me recently by a member of a rescue organization. A very nice lady came in and adopted a beautiful tortoiseshell and white cat. She returned it the next day because, as an artist, she couldn’t deal with the fact that the markings on his legs weren’t symmetrical – she had even considered coloring it! The staff’s suggestions that she could use artistic license when painting it fell on deaf ears!
Ok, introspection over – you’ve considered it and you’re ready to choose your kitty. It may have seemed a bit difficult, but if a dog is for life, then a cat is for even longer! Many cats live fourteen years and up, so they are potentially with you for a long time, sometimes longer than children. What choices do you have?
#kitten #cat
