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All You Need To Know Before Adopting A Cat

Adopting a cat can see you develop one of the most beautiful bonds of your life as you connect with your feline friend. Cats are playful creatures who can be very affectionate and form a strong relationship with you. Every time you play with your cat or simply spend time with them, you may notice a significant drop in stress levels and experience a boost of happiness. However, it is important to remember that cat adoption is a big decision which comes with a lot of responsibilities. Your home will become the cat’s home and you become their family. To ensure they get the best possible future with you, there are a few things that you need to understand before proceeding with cat adoption.

Things to consider before cat adoption

Whether you are opting to adopt a kitten or a grown cat, here are some things you need to consider before going through with the entire process.

The cat will need to be spayed/neutered:
If the cat has not been spayed or neutered already at the time of adoption, you will need to get this done. If you are adopting a kitten, you will need to get them spayed/neutered once they are of suitable age. Do talk to the shelter house and a vet for more information on the procedure.
Proceed with cat adoption only after reviewing your routine:
If you lead a busy lifestyle, you will need to consider how you will make time for your cat. This includes taking care of your cat and maintaining their feeding times. You will need to dedicate your time to planning the right cat food, serving meals at proper intervals, and ensuring that you can make time for play too.
Adoption is a long-term commitment:
Adoption is a permanent duty and a bond that lasts for a lifetime. When you bring home a rescued cat or adopt one from a shelter, you are providing the animal with new hope. The cat will be a member of your family and you will need to treat them as such. The lifespan of cats generally ranges from 12 to 20 years, and this is how long your commitment will be. Only once you have considered the enormity of your decision and are ready for it, should you go through with cat or kitten adoption.

Providing favourable conditions for the adopted cat

Before you bring home an adopted or a rescued cat, you will need to make a few changes in your house to create favourable conditions for them. You can begin by doing the following:

Remove items that can be toxic to a cat, like certain plants or chemical agents.
Cover up exposed electrical wires in a way that the cat can’t reach them (since they might try to chew up the wire, which can lead to a severe accident).
Prepare your kids and teach them the basics of being responsible around a cat.
Keep a special room or space for the cat, so they can feel safe and get a sense of belonging.
Find a vet near your area where you can take the rescued cat for regular check-ups.

What are some benefits of cat adoption?

Adopting a cat also has many benefits such as:

You help a cat in need:
If you adopt a cat instead of buying one, you will be helping a cat in need. You will be giving a rescued cat much-needed shelter, their own space, and a family that loves them.
The cat will most likely be trained:
A cat that is adopted from a shelter will already be trained in basic activities like feeding from a bowl and using a scratching post.
You can adopt a cat based on their personality:
One of the biggest benefits of adopting a cat from a shelter is that they often have an already established personality. This makes it easier for people to adopt a cat that best suits their lifestyle.

Factors to keep in mind when adopting a cat

When adopting a cat, here are a few factors you should keep in mind:

Presence of other pet cats:
If you have other cats at home, you will need to adopt a cat that likes their company. You can talk to the shelter home about this, so they direct you to cats who bond well with other cats.
The inevitable costs:
Adopting and taking care of cats means having to bear quite a few costs – costs of regular vet visits, medicines, foods, toys, and more. Moreover, if you are bringing home a rescued cat, they may require even more care and attention from a vet. So, do consider these costs before proceeding with the adoption.
Your routine:
When you adopt a cat, you should be able to make time for them and give them proper care and attention. You can also consider adopting a cat whose lifestyle matches yours. For instance, a cat who likes being independent can be a perfect choice for someone who is often busy.

Essentials to purchase for your cat

To give your cat the best life, ensure that you have all of the following essentials:

Food and water bowls
Litter box
Scratching post
Toys
Cat nips
Cat grooming equipment
A durable carrier or crate
Cat bed
Collar with an ID tag

Frequently asked questions

What is the best age cat to adopt?

If you are looking to adopt a kitten, the age of the kitten should ideally be 12 weeks. At 12 weeks of age, kittens are ready to move into a new home. You can also adopt a middle-aged cat that is younger than 10 years. Middle-aged cats usually have developed a personality which makes it easy to adopt them. Cats are also at their healthiest during this time. Adopting an elderly cat, who is over 10 years of age, also has some benefits. For instance, senior cats will already have a developed personality, and will most likely be less active and prefer staying indoors.

What basics do you need for a cat?  

A few basic things that you need for a cat are food and water bowls, a litter box, a scratching post, some toys, cat nips, some cat grooming equipment, a carrier or a crate, a cat bed, and a collar with an ID tag.

What is the first thing you should do when you get a cat?  

The first thing you should do after you bring a cat home is to make them feel safe and secure. The cat may feel nervous at first and might take time to open up and get used to you. Give your new pet the time and space they require, and they will adapt to you. Meanwhile, you should also have good quality cat food, food bowls, and water bowls ready at hand.

How long does it take for a cat to bond with you?  

There are a lot of factors which affect how quickly a cat bonds with you. Some of these factors include how old the cat is, what kind of shelter they have grown up in, whether they had a home before that, and what kind of life they had in that home. Bonding also majorly depends upon your behaviour towards the cat. So, there is no definite number of days to answer this question. All you can do is show the most care and affection possible to the cat while also giving them the required space and time to connect with you.

How long does it take an adopted cat to adjust?

A lot of factors affect how quickly an adopted cat can adjust to their new home and new owner. These factors include the cat’s age, whether they had a home before yours, and whether they had a good life there. The cat’s ability to adjust also depends upon the circumstances that brought them to the shelter home and your behaviour towards them. It is best to be patient and wait for your feline friend to get used to their new life.

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5 Tips to Help Your Kitten Live a Long and Healthy Life

How can you help your kitten live a long and healthy life? Although you can’t predict the health of your cat with certainty, you can increase the probability of both her general health and a long life through proper care that begins as soon as you bring her home. Your veterinarian can advise further on these five key considerations for taking care of your kitten.

How to Care for Your Kitten

1. Feed a High-quality Diet

Feed your kitten high-quality food designed to meet nutritional needs during specific stages of her life. Your kitten’s nutritional requirements will depend on her life stage and lifestyle. No matter the life stage, cats are carnivores and require nutrients from animal protein and fat for optimal health.

2. Encourage Exercise

Prevent obesity with prudent portion control and frequent play activities. Exercise relieves stress, reduces aggression and keeps cats alert. Just 15 to 30 minutes of play a day can help keep your cat in shape and strengthen the bond between the two of you. In addition, getting your kitten used to playtime early on will help you get used to playing with your cat routinely.

3. Provide Safe, Clean Living Conditions

Keep your kitten inside to help reduce the risk of illness or injury from accidents, fights and disease. As your kitten gets older, you can help avoid the stress of harassment from other animals by keeping your kitten inside. You should make your home safe by protecting your cat from environmental dangers, such as household cleaners and secondhand smoke. Cats frequently groom themselves with their tongues, and over time, even small amounts of harmful chemicals can have adverse effects.

4. Schedule Regular Medical and Dental Checkups

Groom your kitten early and often to get her used to brushing. When brushing, check for bumps or abnormalities, and promptly seek veterinary advice if you discover anything suspicious. Take your cat to the veterinarian at least annually for a complete physical exam, and follow your veterinarian’s advice regarding preventive health care measures.

Your veterinarian may also recommend periodic professional cleaning of your cat’s teeth, which may preserve years of her life.

5. Give Them Lots of Affection

Last but not least, give your cat lots of love! Despite some cats’ aloof demeanor, all cats thrive on affection. Both you and your cat will reap the benefits of spending quality time together.

Cat Aging Chart

It was once thought that one year in the life of a cat was equivalent to seven years of a human life. Below is a revised way of looking at how a cat year stacks up to a human year.

Cat Age	Human Age
6 months	10 years
8 months	13 years
10 months	14 years
1 year	15 years
18 months	20 years
2 years	24 years
3 years	28 years
4 years	32 years
5 years	36 years
6 years	40 years
7 years	44 years
8 years	48 years
9 years	52 years
10 years	56 years
11 years	60 years
12 years	64 years
13 years	68 years
14 years	72 years
15 years	76 years
16 years	80 years
17 years	84 years
18 years	88 years
19 years	92 years
20 years	96 years
21 years	100 years

5 Tips to Help Your Kitten Live a Long and Healthy Life

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adp_description_block50 All You Need To Know Before Adopting A Cat

Things to consider before cat adoption

The cat will need to be spayed/neutered:

Proceed with cat adoption only after reviewing your routine:

Adoption is a long-term commitment:

Providing favourable conditions for the adopted cat

What are some benefits of cat adoption?

You help a cat in need:

The cat will most likely be trained:

You can adopt a cat based on their personality:

Factors to keep in mind when adopting a cat

Presence of other pet cats:

The inevitable costs:

Your routine:

Essentials to purchase for your cat

Frequently asked questions

What is the best age cat to adopt?

What basics do you need for a cat? &nbsp;

What is the first thing you should do when you get a cat? &nbsp;

How long does it take for a cat to bond with you? &nbsp;