Things To Consider Before Purchasing A Kitten

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Many people think that caring for a cat is easier than caring for other animals due to their independence. This is true, but cats often need more care than prospective owners bargain for. So, before taking the plunge and committing yourself to the responsibility of owning a pet, there are several things that you may like to consider.

Your Financial Situation

The expense of owning a cat does not end with purchasing your new kitten. In fact, the financial responsibility of cat ownership begins before you have welcomed your bundle of joy to the family. First, there are several things that need to be bought, such as

• Cat beds


• A litter box


• Cat toys


• Bowls for food and water


• A travel crate for trips to the veterinarian etc.


• Flea collars or other parasite treatment.

Of course, the expense of these items soon mounts up, but the largest cost will be veterinary bills. When you purchase a kitten, he, or she, may have already had a first round of inoculations, but there will be further vaccinations required. I will discuss veterinary visits in more detail below.

The Time You Have to Train Your Cat

Unlike a dog, a cat does not require time spent on obedience training, principally because a cat will not listen to you anyway! However, that is not to say that cats need no training whatsoever. If you want to avoid the smell of cat urine around your home, you will need to litter box train your cat, because it will not necessarily come naturally to a new kitten. That said, litter box training a cat is not difficult. However, it will require a time commitment.

Bear in mind that even if you plan to let your cat outside, he, or she, will still need to be litter box trained, because kittens must be kept indoors until all vaccinations have been completed and even after that time, there may be instances of sickness when the cat must remain inside.

Visits to the Vet

As briefly mentioned above, one of the largest financial responsibilities with cat ownership is the cost of veterinary visits. If you do not have pet insurance, this can become very expensive, because a kitten will need at least two visits to a vet within its first year. Additionally, unless you are using your kitten for breeding purposes, he, or she, should be neutered or spayed at around six months of age. Ideally, a check-up should be carried out at least once a year for the rest of the cat's life. Therefore, it is wise to consider the financial burden of regular trips to the vet before making the commitment to own a kitten.

How to Buy a Kitten

If, after considering all of the above, you decide that a kitten would be a great addition to your family, you may like to think about where to purchase one. Although some pet stores are very responsible about where they source their animals, it is usually best to avoid pet stores, because there are many that will acquire animals from disreputable breeders. Instead, it is advisable to seek out a breeder privately, as reputable breeders will be able to give you information on a kitten's history and ancestry.

Alternatively, it is recommended that you visit a local rescue shelter. This has a number of benefits; firstly, you will be giving a home to a cat that desperately needs one; secondly, a shelter will have offered some medical care and may have administered necessary vaccinations; lastly, rescue centers are careful to assess an animal's personality before placing him, or her, with a new family. Therefore, you will be told how your prospective pet will react to children and other animals etc.

When buying any pet, it is wise to consider the reasonability that comes with owning an animal. If you are prepared for the arrival of your kitten and any eventualities that may occur, you can look forward to a long and happy life with your feline companion.

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Source by Samantha Markham

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