Mary Allen
Answer our eight questions and find out if a cat is right for you.
Imagine waking up to a ball of hairy fur purring on your chest. Then you go into the garden and find a present that is no longer quite alive in the grass. After that, innocent googly eyes eye you as you ponder how to explain the claw marks on the sofa to your partner…
If all of these scenarios don’t put you off, you might be one of the chosen few to be a cat owner. Take the test and find out if a cat is a right roommate for you!
If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you’re definitely a feline guy!
Are you allowed to keep a cat?
If you live in a rented apartment, that must be the first question. Because it would be more than unfavorable to let the new house cat turn the apartment upside down before this question has been clarified.
So before you go to the animal shelter or to a reputable cat breeder, read your lease carefully again or ask.
It is also essential to obtain the consent of your family members. After all, with a cat, a creature moves in that, ideally, should stay with you for many years, if not decades.
No one in your family is allergic to cats?
Unless you are planning to get a hairless specimen, i.e. a hairless cat, or a cat that people with allergies can live with, you should definitely ask if anyone in your immediate vicinity is allergic to cat hair or the animals’ saliva.
Do you have enough space?
Once the first two points have been clarified, there is almost nothing standing in the way of a new four-legged master. Except for maybe walls or furniture, because our little house tigers need space to romp, live and cuddle. If you can hardly turn around in your home, a goldfish bowl might be a better pet choice.
Are you ready to play the jester?
The advantage of our wayward friends is that they are very independent. Kitty does her own thing, which, as the royal can opener, she graciously gets to partake in from time to time.
But feeding alone is not enough majesty. You should also bring plenty of time for your new monarch because Her Highness not only wants food and a clean toilet but also entertainment!
Can you give your cat enough attention?
So that Miezi doesn’t step on your nose, she needs one thing above all: attention. In particular, trusting and social cats are happy to be stroked, not to mention playing together or being trained so that the sofa is spared.
So if you have considered a cat as a pet because it is said to mean less effort than a dog, you should think about it very carefully.
Can you care for your cat long enough?
Just give a cute kitten for Christmas? You won’t soon forget your children’s bright eyes! But beware: The same applies to humans and animals: They don’t stay small and cute their whole lives.
Our house tigers can live up to 20 years, so you should be prepared to take care of them when in doubt. And possibly not just when your children are out of the house.
Therefore, consider your own age and also your professional and private circumstances when you are planning to get a cat.
Can you afford a cat?
Cats are expensive and will literally eat your hair off your head. Of course, the cute saucer eyes immediately make up for it when your darling lies on your lap and purrs comfortably.
However, when buying a cat, you should not only plan for the costs of food, toys, litter box, and scratching post but also expenses for vet visits, vaccines, holiday care, and more.
Are you ready for a change?
Hair on the sofa, scratched furniture, broken vases… If there is a cat in the house, your apartment quickly becomes an adventure playground. So if yours looks like it’s in the catalog of an expensive designer furniture store and you want it to stay that way, an innocent-looking feline friend is not a wise choice.
Because as elegant and clean as the beautiful housemates are – they have very special needs that require various changes in the apartment: A scratching post or a scratching corner is needed, a litter box and plenty of toys or other offers that Kitty can let off steam in a species-appropriate way. Only in this way will your establishment respect you and leave you alone.