How to Find a Cat as a Pet

Many people love to share their lives with animals, and cats are one of the most popular pets. Finding a new pet is an exciting experience, but you need to remember that cats are animals with many needs. To find a cat as a pet, it’s important that you consider your owner’s responsibilities and choose the right cat that suits you and your lifestyle so you can both enjoy life together!

Table of Contents

Consider your cat’s needs

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Ask yourself why you want to adopt a cat. It is important that you understand what motivates you to have a cat in order to choose the most suitable cat. Some common reasons are:

Find a loyal and unconditional love
Fill in the void because you have just lost a friend or another pet.
Find friends for young children and teach them responsibility
Be a friend for someone

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Think about whether you’re ready for a long-term commitment. Having a pet also comes with a huge responsibility, and deciding to have a cat means you’ll be tied to that responsibility for about 15 to 18 years. You need to understand that you will have a cat as your companion for the next ten years, but you also have to keep your obligations for all those years. Make sure you are ready to take care of the cat for life before making further decisions.

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Think about whether you can afford a cat. If it’s in the US, in addition to the initial purchase of a cat – which can be very high if you want to buy a cat from a breeder – there are other costs to consider. Don’t forget you’ll need to buy food, go to the vet, get identification cards, chip in, and other unexpected expenses. Those sums of money can add up to quite a large expense. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates cat owners to spend the first year at about $1,035. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

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Consider the problems that arise when raising a cat. You’d love to have a cat, and you may be able to afford one, but there are a few other requirements you need to consider before determining if getting a cat is right for your current situation: ^{[2 ] X Research Source}

Do you have pets, and do they respond well to the new cat?
Are cats allowed in your neighborhood?
Does your occupation and social life allow you to spend enough time caring for and playing with your cat?
How will you handle the cat while on vacation?
Are you or someone in your household allergic to cats, cat fur, dust, and dander from cat skin?
Do you have small children in your home that need a cat with any special qualities?

Find out where to find the perfect cat

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Go to animal shelters. Although the cats in these places are mostly hybrid cats, you can still find purebred cats. Animal shelter cats are also vet checked and are often spayed or spayed prior to adoption. This is one of the least expensive options, and adopting a cat also means giving it a second life, a benevolent act. ^{[3] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

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Contact an animal rescue team. There are many organizations that specialize in rescuing cats and finding people to adopt them. Some organizations accept all breeds of cats, while others specialize in the rescue of specific cat breeds. You can search online or contact your local animal shelter for suggestions, as they often work together. Many aid groups do not charge adoption fees, but offer a “donation fee” for a small amount. ^{[4] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}

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Avoid pet stores. You need to be very careful with pet stores. Many of the kittens here are from pet breeders where the focus is on breeding as much as possible without regard for quality. Cats there are often born with birth defects and raised in cramped captivity, which can lead to behavioral problems. In addition, the price there is also much more expensive than the adoption fee at the animal shelter, often several hundred dollars. ^{[5] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

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Find breeders. If you are buying a particular breed of cat, do your research thoroughly to find a reputable breeder. Purebred cats are also much more expensive (hundreds, even thousands of dollars), so it’s a good idea to find out the average price to make sure you’re getting the right price. ^{[6] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}

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Adopt a stray cat. It is important to first verify the stray cat; Look out for flyers that tell you to find lost cats in your neighborhood, contact animal shelters, and take your cat to the vet to check for a chip. If it is indeed a stray cat, it is essential to take the cat to the vet for examination and neuter/neuter. ^{[7] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

Choose the best cat

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Study the characteristics of different cat breeds. Different cat breeds have their own unique characteristics and you should do some research to decide which cat breed is best for your life. Although less than 10% of cats of each breed are considered “purebred,” a general understanding of cat breeds can help even if you just want to keep a regular cat: ^{[8] X Source study}

Natural breed: Cats in this group have long, thick coats that develop in cold climates; The body is flat, square and is the most sedentary of the three purebred cats. Popular breeds in this group are the British and American Shorthairs, the Persian and the Maine Coon.
Exotics or Hybrids: Considered the middle group, these cats have slightly oval eyes, a medium V-shaped head, and a leaner and more muscular body than other breeds. They have a medium energy level, except for the Abyssinian which has a high energy level. Other popular breeds that fall into this group are the Russian Blue and the Ocicat.
Oriental Breeds: This group of cats originated in warmer climates, so they have very little body fat, thinner coat, very long legs, tail, ears and body. This group of cats is the most active and noisy of the three purebred cat groups. The most popular breeds in this group are the Siamese, the Burmese and the Cornish Rex.

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Consider the age of the cat that is best for you. You should consider the amount of time you can spend training and playing with your cat, and also take into account its behavior. If you work full-time or have young children, it may be best to adopt an adult cat, as kittens and kittens often require more training and supervision. ^{[9] X Research Source} If this is your first time getting a cat, you should try to avoid cats that are too demanding (care, space, etc.) as it can be a big challenge for newbies. Start raising cats.

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Find a cat with the right personality for you. While you’ve done your research to decide which cat breed is best for your life, you must also understand that it’s just “best possible”. You need to come in a few times and interact with the cat you intend to choose before deciding. In addition, the shelter will also have helpful advice to help you find a cat with the right personality for you. ^{[10] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

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Talk to your breeder or animal shelter about introducing your cat to a new home. It is also very important that the cat you choose feels comfortable interacting with other people and pets in the house. When you come to see cats, be sure to bring your children, spouse, or someone who will be in frequent contact with cats. If you have a pet, talk to a counselor there about how to introduce your cat to other pets to anticipate potential problems. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Check for obvious signs of illness in your cat. The breeder will have a better understanding of the cat’s history and tendencies, but the animal rescue team will only be able to guess about the cat’s previous illnesses and give details about its current condition. Although animal shelters will not give sick cats to adopters, it is important to learn about the signs of illness in cats so that you can ask and observe: ^{[12] X Research Sources}

Changes in water intake (drinking more or less) may indicate diabetes or kidney disease.
Sudden weight gain or weight loss despite eating normally can be a sign of diabetes or hyperthyroidism.
Bad breath can be caused by tooth decay, dental disease or digestive disorders, while sweet or fruity breath is a sign of diabetes.
Pay attention to your cat’s “grooming” habits. If a cat that used to lick its coat carefully suddenly starts to show its coat, this is a sign that the cat has an underlying disease. Conversely, if your cat is constantly licking her fur, it could be because she is stressed, anxious, in pain, or allergic.

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Prepare the cat to come home. Before you bring your cat home, choose a veterinary clinic near your home and make an appointment to bring your cat in for a check-up for the first few days when the cat comes home. Be sure to ask animal shelters and breeders about your cat’s health records! Organize your home and buy everything your cat needs. You can see the list in the “Things you need” section below.

Bring the cat home

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Set up a cat shelter. Because cats are territorial, it can be stressful for your cat to enter a house full of strange smells and dark spaces. To make it easier for your cat to acclimate, you need to create a territory for your cat: ^{[13] X Research Source}

Choose a small space as your cat’s home for the first few days or weeks, preferably with enough room for the cat’s water, food, and litter box. You also need a place to sit and interact (at first slowly) with your new pet cat.
Fill a tray about 6 cm full with litter and place it in a narrow place to create a separate space for the cat to defecate without being disturbed (for example, cover it with a cloth like a curtain).
Place the water and food bowls away from your cat’s litter box.
Give your cat something to scratch like a post or a hoof mat from a pet store and place it in each room. If needed, you can encourage your cat to scratch on it (instead of scratching the couch!) by putting some catnip on the surface of the mat.

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Introduce your cat to a new home in a controlled environment. Close the doors, allowing the cat to smell and listen around; Put your cat in a carry-on crate while you explore the house if you have other pets or young children in the house. Show your cat a place you set aside for him, where the litter box, food, and bedding are located.

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Gradually introduce the cat to other pets in the house. Cats are territorial animals, so getting used to them should be done slowly. Separate cats in a room, and initially let them smell each other by rubbing each cat with a towel and wrapping them. Feed the pets facing each other through the closed door, and gradually open the door at different times of the day. Remember that it can take weeks or months for them to get comfortable with each other! ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Anticipate stress levels for the first few days. Don’t be surprised to see your cat hiding and not eating much for the first few days or even weeks. If you have other pets in the house, you should plan ahead that it will take a month or so for them to get used to a new pet. Don’t force the cat to come near you; In the beginning, some cats will hide and not appear while you are still there. ^{[15] X Research Source} Give your cat time to get used to it!

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Provide cat food. Even if the cat avoids you, you still need to feed the cat twice a day and always have clean water available for him. It is extremely important to provide enough water for your cat if your cat is too shy and refuses to eat during the acclimatization period. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Advice

You can try the following quiz to determine the right pet: http://www.aspca.org/adopt/adoption-tips/right-pet-you
Having a cat can be quite expensive, especially when they are sick, so consider getting pet insurance. The humanitarian organization has additional resources to pay for medical expenses if you are in trouble: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html
Cats need at least an hour of care a day, including training, brushing, play, or cuddling. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Long-haired cats need at least 20 minutes of brushing every day to prevent the coat from sticking together ^{[19] X Research source}

Warning

If you’re buying a cat as a gift, you’ll need to make sure the recipient is involved in the adoption process. It’s a good idea to give someone a surprise, but that doesn’t help the cat and the recipient get to know each other, and this is a must in the cat adoption process.

Things you need

Water bowls and food bowls
Cat food, wet and dry
Cat litter
Sanitary sand box and sieve
Necklace with identification tag with your contact number on it
Hard portable cages (such as plastic cages) are better than soft ones (such as bags) when traveling because many animals can be injured in the event of an accident
Comb or brush (depending on the length of the cat’s coat)
Nail clippers
Toothbrush and toothpaste for cats
Flea and tick repellents
Dewormer
Cat tree/hidden place (optional, but recommended)
Nail grinder (optional, but recommended)
Simple water sprayer (optional, but recommended to discipline cats)
A variety of cat toys (especially those containing catnip)
Cat bed (optional)
Super absorbent paper towels, sponge and brush, non-toxic cleaner and probiotic deodorant for trouble-shooting
First aid kit

Steps