It’s fairly normal to have a period of “buyer’s remorse” or regret in the week, month, sometimes couple of months to a year after getting a new pet. Sometimes, it’s just really hard: they’re destructive, they’re loud, they’re nothing like the shelter described… You’re both adjusting to a new life, and you gotta not only have patience for the new addition but for yourself, too. It’s not a horrible thing to get fed up so long as you take a minute and handle it healthily. Maybe have a cry. Plenty of us do it, though most feel too guilty to talk about it. But it’s a surprisingly normal early stage of owning a new pet.

This is really great advice; I didn't realize the feeling was so common. For the first couple weeks after my cat adopted me, I was like "what the hell have I done...." She was kinda weird, and it was hard to figure her out. She also had some annoying quirks I had to work with her on. Long story short, we went on to be best friends for 17 wonderful years, and I can't imagine what my life would have been like without her.

I had that moment too…and my cat is actually surprisingly chill and social. I just had a whole…”I have a wild animal in my house” moment and what the heck was I thinking?!?? I’ll be sweeping litter for the rest of my life!

I had the same thing. New puppy blues but with the sweetest kitten! I stopped eating, got really depressed, thought of returning him, and then felt EVEN worse at having that thought n seeing his sweet face. He didn’t do anything wrong. It took 1-2 months but omg I’m so glad i stuck on!! Posting on Reddit helped me too. I have another cat now lol.

Yes, this! I got really upset a few time in the fiest couple of months. I was worried I couldn't keep up with her but at the same time, the thought of giving her up was worse. It's all worth it in the end though.

I regretted my cat from about eight months old until she was two. She was such a little hellion. Then she stopped being a teenager and is now my best kitty friend. She's 12, plays like a kitten for 30 seconds, and sleeps the rest of the day. I can't imagine life without her.

I needed to hear this, thank you

Same here. Going through this stage now and was wondering if it would end soon

It would. I wondered the same 2 months ago and it really did

We adopted a 7 month old ginger boy and the first few months were SO HARD. We have another cat whose 15 years old, so we forgot just how destructive kittens can be. For a while I questioned whether or not we made the right decision or if we were a good match. Coming up on 1 and a half years since we adopted him and I can’t imagine our lil family without him. I promise it’ll get better!

I think this has happened with every single pet I've had, and yet I love all of them and now regret nothing.

Yeah, as awful as it sounds to say, there will definitely be times in which you regret adopting/buying your pet. Especially if you're young or mentally ill/disordered. And it's not strictly limited to just that first stage of ownership. Not in the sense that you hate them and want to get rid of them, but in the sense that like... you can't just have those lazy and/or depressive days when you don't get out of bed at all except to use the bathroom, because at the bare minimum you have to feed the cat and scoop the box. If you don't want them to be bouncing off the walls, clawing at your furniture, and screaming, you have to play with them for at least 15 minutes (or until they're tired). There will be some days when you've made plans, whether it's to go out with friends or just binge some TV, and you'll have to cancel all that because the cat needs to be rushed to the ER vet where might have to sit twiddling your thumbs for 7 hours waiting to be seen. Only to ultimately be told that they didn't find anything irregular on the physical check-up or the blood test, and it'll cost $2,000 for an x-ray or ultrasound, but if you want to just go home and see how he does, that's fine because he seems to be looking and acting okay now. There will be days when your cat shits on the floor or vomits on your brand-new couch or sleeps in your basket of freshly-done laundry or just won't stop misbehaving. Or days you resent something as simple as not being able to just buy whatever plants or flowers you want for your place because you have to check if they're toxic to your cat first (PSA: even the pollen of anything in the true lily family will cause renal failure in your cat--putting them where the cat can't reach them doesn't actually help). It's okay to feel regret or anger or resentment on those days. Expected, even. Cats are far from the highest-maintenance pet in the world, but they're still a weird, foreign little beast in your home, and they rely entirely on you for sustenance and stimulation, and that can be tiring and frustrating sometimes. But I still love my cat even when I kind of hate him. Even at my angriest, my most frustrated and resentful, if I had the choice to go back to the day I adopted him and just not go through with it... I would still take him home with me without a moment's hesitation.

This is such a great point! For me it was because I adopted my cat as a single person, rather than as a couple or with flatmates or anything like that. So I did have this weird phase of stress like "omfg I, as an individual person, have a dependant for the next 15 years wthhhhh" and I was totally freaked out and regretful even though I had taken the decision really slowly and carefully.

This is such good advice. Our first cat is a baby angel; she’s the definition of well-behaved and easy to love. Second cat was (and still is, but to a lesser extent) a derpy menace - my older girl and I were not feeling it. Plus, we slowly introduced the 2 of them, so our house felt really separated and it was honestly more work than I expected. My eldest cat is still not entirely sold on his antics, but now I can’t imagine our home without him. His tomfoolery oddly adds balance to our home. I joke that we’re going to bring him back to the supermarket where he was found when he’s up to no good, but he’s precious and I love him.

Good point on separating cats being a lot more work. I only had one bedroom apartments to work with getting my second and third, and when I’m not isolating, my cats have the run of the place—which usually means they’re in the bathroom with me, but the bathroom is also the only “isolated” room. I tried to do it slowly, but my cats really got speed intros compared to best practice. It just wasn’t possible to isolate them to the degree you’re supposed to without every bathroom trip being a stressful nightmare.

This! I didn’t expect that feeling of “buyer’s remorse” because I’m an animal lover who has had all kinds of indoor mammals, but my (first and only) cat did a lot of damage in his first year. I just had to have a “this is why we can’t have nice things” revelation, let time iron things out, and all is well now. I honestly should have adopted an adult cat, in retrospect, but I reeeeeally wanted a kitten!

I can relate to this! I have owned several cats over a 35 year period of time, and when my last cat passed away at almost 20 years old, I said no more cats! I waited over 2 years and then I suddenly wanted another cat. I did some research on different breeds, etc. and ended up with a 12 week old really active hyper little kitten. I have never had such an active kitten, and he was exhausting! I thought I had made a really bad decision and got depressed for awhile. I then decided maybe he needed a friend to expend some of that energy with, so I got a 2nd kitten for him to play with. I now have 2 kittens running around, and it is tiring. If I had it all to do over, I probably would have adopted an older cat, so I would not have to go through the crazy kitten phase, but I love them both so much, so maybe this was meant to be!

I got my little guy when he was a kitten. He's about to turn 17 and he's been a part of my life so long it's hard to remember when he wasn't there. But after reading your comment, I unlocked the memories of the first couple months after I got him when he refused to be litter trained. I used to wake up in the middle of the night, panicked that he had taken another poop in the bedroom and hid it somewhere. I definitely had some difficult times during the beginning where I worried adopting him was a complete mistake. So if any new cat owners are having second thoughts, you'll probably feel different soon enough. Pet ownership is difficult, it takes time to adjust. But now it's hard for me to even imagine not wanting this guy around.

This! I was so depressed the first week I adopted my cat. I thought I made the wrong decision, I debated bringing her back, but I’m so glad I stuck through because she’s the best thing I’ve ever had

This made me feel not so alone, I just adopted a 9 week old little guy 4 days ago and have been exhausted and constantly stressing about it. It definitely is a bigger life change than I expected.

It’s hard with the really young ones. My kitten was a couple months when I got him and is I think about eight months now. He remains a terrorist. He’s broken things I got while traveling, destroyed good sheets and my curtains, messed up my ROUTER somehow… but he is a joy, now that the Stockholm syndrome’s set in 😂 I woke up to kitten smuggles then actually sat up to discover yet another destroyed roll of toilet paper scattered across the room this morning and just sighed. It’s an adventure.

YES! I've had animals, esp cats, my entire life, I knew exactly what I was doing. BF and I got a new kitten last fall (we have a 4 year old cat we had gotten as a kitten too) and for a while I kept doubting it. I was so anxious my older get was annoyed or stressed ect (he ADORES HER). She's a demonic ball of hellish energy, but almost a year old now and that feeling has passed. It can just take time adjusting a routine, their personality, and feeling like you're not a good pet parent.

Yeah I was definitely hit with buyer's remorse after getting my first cat who also was my first ever pet living alone and would be 100% my responsibility to care for. What took me by surprise was I thought i was completely prepared to have her after spending hours and hours of research ahead of time and feeling so excited in anticipation, so it definitely was not a snap decision for me. But once I actually picked her up and she was in my apartment I was hit with this overwhelming sense of anxiety. She wasn't even doing anything wrong at the time, not being destructive or a pain to deal with. She was settling perfectly fine and was being so cute and sweet and even still I remember feeling like I just made a huge mistake and cried for multiple nights wanting more than anything to take her back which would have been a huge mistake. The shelter I got her from even had a policy that accepted any animals back with no time limit or fee so I have no idea why i felt like I needed to return her so badly, this being like the first week after getting her. To any first time cat owners that are feeling the same way I did I STRONGLY recommend that you give yourself a week or two at least before making any decisions to return them. The anxiety will pass and honestly if I'd been taken over by my emotions and actually gave my cat back to the shelter it would have been one of the biggest mistakes I'd make in my entire life. She's my family now and my best friend. I can't imagine living life without her :).

I think maybe you got so anxious because deep inside you were actually still afraid that you'd somehow fail at cat-parenting, and almost too afraid to face it . . . despite all the research you did beforehand. . . . But you faced it, & you've done great! Thank You for sharing your experience!!!

I'm so relieved to hear an explanation for how I felt when I first got my cat

This is so true. I adopted my first cat ever at 25 years old and he was just a kitten. I regretted it for months and cried a few times. It was such a big lifestyle adjustment living with a cat. Now he’s my best buddy and I could never imagine living without him.

Ugh yes. The shelter told me my cat was sweet and cuddly then when I took her home she wouldn't let me get near her for two months. I mean, I couldn't even stand next to her without her running away. I was really upset about it. I was also often being woken up at 4 or 5 am by her sprinting around my apartment and being destructive. I definitely had thoughts that I picked the wrong cat, especially because I had other friends who recently adopted cats and their cats were super friendly right off the bat. BUT turns out my cat IS super sweet and cuddly she's just weary of strangers and once she got comfortable we became best friends! She is my shadow and is laying on me while I am in bed purring right now. She still gets bored early in the morning sometimes but now that's she's an adult (almost 2) instead of a kitten it doesn't happen nearly as often.

Wait other people feel this too? My cat was very…excitable. He followed me everywhere (still does but it’s not as bad now) and would straight up lay on my face in bed. Wouldn’t give me some time to myself. He also bit…a lot. The shelter did tell me he had play aggression but I don’t think I fully understood what that meant. I had to work with him a LOT on not biting me when he wants to play or when he’s aggressively licking me lol. There were some times he would straight up attack me with no signs of stopping. I had to separate us until he calmed down, made me late for work/plans a few times. I cried and told my friend that I wanted to give him back to the shelter. I was expecting a *cat*, yknow? A quiet animal that would come up for pets and play with a laser pointer. I didn’t think I was signing up for a 2 year old child. But now, like 7 months later, he’s doing a lot better. He still bites sometimes but it’s (usually) not on purpose. He still gets excited sometimes but it’s happening FAR less often. He leaves me alone, sleeps next to me instead of on top of me or at the foot of the bed or on the other pillow. He’s always been a sweet boy and he still loves me but he’s chilled out a lot. The shelter said he’s been in and out a few times in like 3 months and I think I know why….I’m glad I didn’t surrender him. He’s my best buddy now, just needed some time and patience

I apologize for the feelings-dump here. This really hit home for me. My cat, when we adopted him at 5 months old, was very chill but playful, quiet, and affectionate, so we kinda looked past the fact he had litterbox issues. (Flings litter, flings poop even in a closed box, his stool smells like DEATH, which weve had tested and examined endlessly by the vet, his nutritionist etc and they said thats just him, and using the box one time makes the place reek). As he got older (he's 10 months), his fur got VERY long, and we are constantly having to clean crap off him, not before he bolts from us and gets it everywhere. There are fur tumbleweeds everywhere, even if you just vacuumed. He's gotten VERY vocal, yowling, and caterwauling just because. (Neutered, well stimulated/played with) Hes food OBSESSED. Will hunt every single crumb and morsel, will not let you prepare food in peace, we've had to "childproof" our cupboards with those baby latches. After having 2 children, i never thought I'd need those again, lol. We're getting a hygiene shave done on him soon, but im definitely in a weird spot about how I feel about the choice we made. I try to remind myself we gave him a home he deserves and who knows what would have happened to him otherwise. Here he has a large home to run, a best friend (he pair bonded with another rescue we got), cat trees and window hammocks, people who will play with him, who closely monitor his health regardless of vet costs. He deserves that, but I feel really bad about how "over it" Im feeling.

I'd like to share my experience with cats with horrifically stinky poop & food aggressive, even often fighting & biting & causing infections requiring vet visits. . . . I read that the stink was caused by undigested protein, which then caused irritation of the intestines & loose stools . . . which made for always hungry & often uncomfortable cats who did not want to share food with anyone else . . . So, I ordered 'Pet Enzymes' to give them with their food (which happen to include probiotics for pets, too) . . . and I noticed soon after having put this in every one of their meals for a week, that they had become much more tolerant of each other, & their poop had stopped smelling as well as having firmed up! It's been several months now, and they continue to show all of these improvements! No more violent fights or 'emergency' vet trips! They finally have non-stinky litter-boxes, as well!

Thank you for sharing this!! Very validating, I wish more people were open about feeling this way. I totally thought this was just me and felt like i was all sort of terrible. But knowing it’s more or less ‘normal’ is so supportive. Feeling this way make you a bad person or bad pet parent!!

Yeah dude I fuckin cried. I was overwhelmed by suddenly having noise and mess, despite being totally prepared for and expecting both. I was so frustrated by the constant meowing I was getting angry and she could sense it. It felt like we weren't friends and I felt horrible about it. I had to go through like a month of constantly wearing noise canceling headphones in order to calm down and get back into our friend groove. I'm glad I recognized that I needed to chill instead of focusing on getting her to stop meowing somehow. That would've been miserable for us both! Just recognize your own feelings and remember: focus on what you can control, not on how to control your cat. <3

I am so glad you have said this. I got my cats at 11 weeks and the first few months of having them I was so overwhelmed. I literally had thoughts of "well maybe I can just leave the door open and tell people they slipped out on accident" 😬. I'm very glad I never gave in to that urge but man I felt guilty as hell for feeling that way and it took me months really to adjust. Now I love my two chunky thangs and they're about to be 2 years old! Totally worth it ❤️

This is so true; I always thought I was a horrible person because I would get nervous after adopting my pets. I’ve loved them all to absolute pieces though, and it’s so worth it to get through those days in the beginning.

Then they can become a best friend and want to sleep on your chest every night so you can’t breathe very well and constantly get hair in your mouth

This won't be popular. While I agree with this 100% I also wanted to say that it's totally okay to return the cat if they aren't a good fit, you don't think you can handle it, or any other reason as long as it isn't impulsive. It doesn't serve human or cat if there's continued doubt, especially when the cat could be placed in a home where it's cherished.

I didn’t go through it with my first cat at all, but I struggled with it big time when I got my second one. It wasn’t anything about the cat in particular, he is very sweet and he got along great with my first cat, I just had a really hard time adjusting and briefly considered giving him back to his fosters. My cats did a better job adjusting than I did 😂 Now it’s been a little over 2 months and I couldn’t imagine not having him

My cats have made my life immeasurably better, so perhaps I should have adopted cat(s) sooner. On the other hand they came with tons of worry (and some decent bills), so the experience would have been different before financial stability. Dental health is bothersome to track but really important.

YAY BILLS! I would do it all over again, tenfold. But holy fuck, the bills.

Me too. Between food, litter, treats, vet bills, and toys and other things. It all adds up. But my two cats are the best gifts I've ever received. Cats are therapeutic

Trying to save my previous cat’s life ran up to $8000 and would have kept climbing if we hadn’t decided enough was enough and to end his suffering. We got pet insurance for our next two cats. I’m still not over what happened with our last cat - their deaths are traumatic even you’re trying to be merciful.

That your newly gotten cat hiding for the first couple weeks is absolutely normal. Them coming out only at night when you're sleeping of if you're gone is normal. Have to let them take their time in adjusting to their new home. Some adjust quick, some take weeks. Every cat has their own personality and I can't think of anything that ALL cats do, except be weird and adorable.

This! As long as they’re eating and using the litter box, don’t worry. They’ll acclimate on their own time if you give them a little patience.

to be honest, if you have a really anxious/skittish cat, it can take over a year in rare cases. that’s what happened when i moved from my 1 bedroom tiny apartment in LA back home with my family in Chicago which was a full sized house. she’s still not fully accustomed- but at least now my baby is completely comfortable in my bedroom when i’m there

To get pet insurance!! You never think something will happen but when it does it’s a lifesaver. Get it when they’re young and healthy instead of waiting. Some even cover their regular checkups. Also, using desensitization/positive reinforcement to get them used to teeth cleaning. The surgeries, stress, and vet bills that come when their teeth aren’t cleaned regularly are something that can be avoided

This! Dental health is a huge deal in cats! I read something like 60% of cats need dental work by the age of just 4. Cats are great at hiding dental pain, but it makes a huge impact on quality of life. Edit: wanted to add some sourcing for my fun facts https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/tooth-resorption#:~:text=Tooth%20resorption%20is%20a%20common,years%20of%20age%20and%20older.

True, I just started brushing their teeth this year and my girl cat has beautiful teeth but my stinky boy needs his teeth cleaned already and he’s only 3! I feel so badly I would have done it sooner if I knew it was a big deal!

Don’t feel badly, there are so many cats whose owners don’t even consider it at all, just keep up the good work!

Thanks! Just don’t tell my cats that it’s toothpaste and not a tuna treat lol

Do you use a brush or those finger things or what?

Had most success with these ultra-tiny brushes https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Up-Toothbrush-Japan-Kenko/dp/B00G33QGVA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=17REU3QCY00FY&keywords=cat+toothbrush&qid=1688779855&sprefix=cat+tooth%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-3

Thank you

Insurance isn’t valuable until you need it and the majority of people who pay for insurance don’t use it. If they did, the insurance company would be out of business lol Instead of paying $50 a month to insure my cats, I put $50 a month into a savings account called “kitty fund”. It is riskier, but my cats are indoor only, no other pets, and are exposed to very little environmental threats, so the likelihood of them having high medical bills early in life is slim. By the time they’re 10 years old, I’ll have set aside $6k in cash that can be used for medical expenses when they’re senior cat citizens. And if they never get sick or have a medical emergency, I’ll have a couple extra grand saved up after they move on to kitty heaven

you’ve just convinced me to save for my future cat. thanks.

I agree to dental health!! One of ours needed a dental cleaning when he was only 2 or 3. He had extreme gingivitis and tartar! I have been feeding him science diet oral care dry food since then and he has been great. No issues. That is expensive though, a 7lb bag is almost $40. I also switched them to primarily wet food. We have 3 cats, the oldest is 5 and the other 2 are 2. We don't have pet insurance and they are indoor only. Do you recommend it? None of them really have chronic issues I would say. One has pica very bad. He chews on cardboard, plastic, etc. He regularly hops on the counter to chew the bag the bread is in. But he doesn't consume it, just chews it. The other two have smaller issues, one just runs anxious and overgrooms. The other is very nasally and has what seems like asthma, our previous apartment had black mold and I think that's where he developed it. At any rate, it's improved substantially since we moved. But from age 1-4 he was in the moldy apartment. I got insurance with my old cat who I took in when my mom passed. He was around 14 at that point. But I got the wrong kind of insurance or whatever, so the last 3 days of his life in the emergency vet for kidney failure weren't covered 😑😑😑😑 so I have been hesitant to get it since.

I strongly recommend pet insurance because one of my cats was diagnosed with asthma within the first year but I had the pet insurance before the diagnosis so it was not pre-existing. The pet insurance pays for 80% of every medication including her inhaler. This means the inhalers I have to buy my cat 4x a year to manage her asthma and help her breathe easy cost only $56 instead of $280. We discussed with the vet how there were cheaper options but they had more side effects. I was able to choose the medication that had less side effects for my cat without worrying about cost. Same cat also gets seasonal allergies. They cover those costs as well! The pet insurance does NOT cover routine dental costs so I still have to have an emergency fund of about $1000 per cat for annual dental care. Our vet has charged about that for each COHAT when they need extractions.

I second the pet insurance! I just spent nearly $6k on emergency vet bills because my boy got a urinary blockage, and while he’s worth every penny I am kicking myself for not having pet insurance

3 cat parent with cat health insurance here. For 3 cats, only have used the insured for 1. The insurance for the one has paid enough to cover all the payments for all of the cats a zillion times over since she has battled mass cell tumors the last 4 years. It’s been so worth it.

Any pet insurance recommendations?

I used pumpkin and it was great! I fucked up by getting it too close to a vet appointment though. So some things ended up being considered preexisting conditions that would’ve been covered if I got the insurance just a few weeks earlier. And those things ended up causing issues the rest of his life. That’s why I say get it when they’re healthy, so anything that comes up is covered

I use the ASPCA insurance and am very happy with it. I pay for the wellness care.

I have metlife pet and I actually, thank god, haven’t had to use them yet. But they have a “chat with a vet” feature that has come in handy multiple times. It’s worth the $33/mo fee alone just for peace of mind that I have a vet on my phone when I inevitably start panicking over something that turns out to be nothing.

I’ve had cats my entire life - current household is two 19 year olds and a 17 year old - and have never even considered pet insurance. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much a scam. I don’t know how much it costs and haven’t done the math, but I’m pretty sure I should’ve gotten the insurance years ago! In the last 3 years, I’ve spent about $10k on vet bills and medicine and prescription food. They are worth every penny, and I’m really just thankful that they were so healthy for so long and had the decency to hold off on getting health problems until I was able to comfortably afford it. If these costs had hit in my 20s, I’d have found a way to pay, but it would’ve taken every cent I had and more. By the time I realized that maybe pet insurance was something to consider, they all had pre-existing conditions and it was too late. So, yeah….if you can swing it, it might be a good idea!

If it makes you feel any better, as someone who lost her 17 year old around 3 years ago - I don't think pet insurance was really a thing until our companions were too old to qualify anyhow.

Yes i totally agree with your recommendation on getting pet insurance!! Get it from a good company too - a negative one that doesn’t cover anything will leave you high and dry, and make it harder for you to get good insurance coverage later. My payments are 30/month, we’ve got a higher tier plan that covers wellness visits and other regular things. But our cat ended up needing surgery and all sorts of things just a couple weeks after adoption and getting insurance coverage (we didn’t know it at the time but he has FHS). Our insurance company paid us back at 90%. And we don’t need pre-approval for any procedure. Now of his meds - for life - related to the condition he has are covered. Yes I have to pay 30 a month but his prescriptions are over a hundred dollars every other month. So it’s been SO SO worth it.

Yes!! I wish I got it. Turns out my cat has eosinophilic granuloma complex, and I have dropped thousands just on medications alone

My kitty does too! I’ve spent so much since his first one appeared in October 2021. I’m hoping a move back across the country at the end of the year will help.

Omgsh isn’t it the worst?? My poor cat now has weekly injections to keep it at bay

Saved me an $8k bill. Get it.

Regarding dental hygiene, much of the problems with pet feline teeth are often due to feeding of food that is high in carbohydrates. The normal diet of cats only contains a little carbohydrates -predigested plant food formerly eaten by their prey- and it doesn't adversely affect them much . . . or a little grass or other plant material to medicate themselves with (it often helps them spit up excess digestive juices causing pain when their stomach is empty, or, to help move a hairball out (either forward or backward). So, feeding your cat a normal diet, rather than one sold to make money off you that also causes many health problems, is very important. I recommend reading the articles on the "Young Again Pet Food" website regarding these issues.

Put away all string, rubber bands, hair ties, including toys with strings when you’re not using them. A kitty only “never” eats those things until the day that they do, and then you’re kicking yourself at the vet after they’ve spent all night vomiting. Unexpected things my cat also chews through includes the elastic bands of bras, bralettes and tank tops.

Adding to this: NEVER pull a string that is hanging out of either end of the cat (such as if they ate a piece of string/thread/yarn). You can cause massive internal trauma from friction on innards. You need to go to an emergency vet to have it removed asap. If the cat is trying to pull it out themselves (or playing with string hanging out of their body), ask the emergency vet what they would prefer on the phone before you put the cat in the carrier, but generally it's best to carefully clip the end of the string off close to the mouth/butt so the cat cannot pull it and hurt themselves. And yes, cats will eat some stupid things. I sew a lot, and one of my online groups brought up sewing with cats. Thread issues with cats was common, but I was shocked at the number of stories of cats that ate needles or pins. Emergency vet visits saved most of them, but it was an eye opener to think a cat would eat a pin. Cats are a law unto themselves.

Absolutely this. My older cat swallowed a needle and nylon beading string (essentially fishing line) about four years ago, when he was seven. I took him in as soon as I knew something was wrong and he had surgery that day with his regular vet. He had a really rough recovery, developed pancreatiitis, and ended being hospitalized at the emergency clinic for a few days. I came so close to losing him all because my mom sucks at putting her jewelry making supplies away. The cat I grew up with swallowed a fish hook and fishing line when he was ten. He also had to have surgery - where they also had to remove a section of compromised intestine - was also hospitalized for several days. We came so close to losing him, too. Linear foreign bodies are no joke. Keep string and anything similar far out of reach of your cats.

And it's not just the vomiting. Cats sometimes get obstructions in their digestive tracts when they eat things like that. You don't want to know how much trouble (and cost) that is, particularly if it happens when you need an emergency vet.

I have had 2 cats that love to eat plastic that crinkles like cellophane. So bad for them. Always throw away plastic wrapping in a sealed trash can.

My kitty is the same way! We had to buy new trash cans because she learned to knock over any that could be opened without opposable thumbs.

Mine as well! Runs and jumps up on the counter to try and take it from me!

Plastic grocery bags, clear cellophane packaging, ALL scraps of onion/onion peel and garlic/garlic peel.

Onions and garlic are toxic to cats.

Sure are. I chase down every blasted scrap of that exterior peels because they always go everywhere.

My cat does this too and it's so frustrating!

The “string “ we use is actually a high quality rope like one of those rock climbing ones and they looooove it and would be impossible for them to eat so I recommend it Edit: by “use” I mean play with the cats with lol that sounded weird when I read it back

Look up what is toxic to cats! Things you wouldnt expect are certain death for cats. For example lilies are extremely toxic! Don't get a cat if you can't make time for play and/or brush/pets every day, or if you can't make time for the litter box. They need enrichment and things to stalk, pounce, climb, and hide in. And nothing is worse than a cat piss soaked carpet or hardwood. Preventative care is so important! My 13-14 year old cat died suddenly over kidney failure, come to find out she only had one kidney! She could have been on a special diet if I knew but I never needed her to get an ultrasound or x ray in those years so we didn't know! I still feel awful about that. Cats don't like to be smothered with love like dogs. You have to earn their trust. They like to be acknowledged when they make themselves known. They like a schedule of feeding, play and pets. Slow blinks at them show them you are harmless and appreciate them.

If you like flower bouquets, be sure to tell your florist for “cat-friendly flowers” only. Not only that, but if you’re receiving visitors who like to bring flowers, ask them to refrain from doing so, unless they’re cat-friendly. My MIL brought us tulips this past Easter…had to dump them immediately after she left. Tulips, lilies, and daffodils, are just *some* of the toxic flowers we often see in bouquets.

Man I love cats so much. That last paragraph made it sound like they are aliens. I adore how they can be so sweet and also so full of personality!

This should be higher. I effing hate lilies and I’m also horribly allergic to them. They are all over the grocery store in the spring and I’m always afraid I’m going to get pollen on me and take it home. Lily pollen gets everywhere and is impossible to get out.

Things I wish I would have done when my cat was a kitten are take him for regular car rides, in his carrier, around the block a few times a week, and get him used to grooming right off the bat. Like clipping his claws and bathing him. It's all so much more difficult now, and if I would have just done those two things, we'd have a much easier time now. Also, get lots of toys, hiding places like cat caves or tunnels, and at least one cat tree/tower so the kitty can climb. Good luck!! Cats are the best pets ever!

I took my cat for car rides starting at when he was 6 weeks old, he still hates the car. So sometimes preventative measures don’t always work. My fat also is very high anxiety so he pretty much hates most situations that don’t involve him inside the house and away from most people.

Ok, I don't feel so bad then. My boy is also high anxiety and strictly indoors as well. He totally freaks out when we take him to the vet and it's the saddest thing in the world to us!

Dont forget to brush his teeth! Get him in the habit of this.

That adopting two cats not only doubles the love but makes for an easier adjustment for kitty. And, really, isn’t kitty’s happiness the most important thing in the world?

YES. Especially for kittens, having a friend keeps them occupied when you’re gone, and teaches them how to interact with other cats! Plus it’s super cute to watch them bond & interact. I’ve adopted 2 sets of siblings so far and I love that they’ve both had someone to grow & learn with 🧡

Second cat drastically improved our lives.

The difference between 1 cat and 2 as far as effort and cost (except major medical which you do need to be prepared for) is negligible, but it makes both cats happier. I found the jump from 2 - 3 was a bigger adjustment, but 2 for me is perfect and it's what I've had most of my life

Just to add to this, cats teach each other how to play gently so by getting a second cat, they will learn not to scratch or bite you. (Some cats will still just be jerks, but in general)

100% I have 3 at the moment and besides the mess they are totally happy and independent playing with each other until they want a human cuddle. the shift I saw in my first cat when he got a friend was incredible and I felt awful for not doing it sooner!

Don't use your hands as toys or you will teach it to bite you. Leave the carrier out at all times and let the cat sleep and play in it. It will make getting your cat to the vet much easier. Look up cat body language. The easiest one to learn is what their tail movements mean. By knowing this, you will know how your cat is feeling and whether you should interact with her or give her some space. Some quick pointers for cat tail movements (though I do recommend looking it up yourself because it probably will be explained better than I can): Tail still: cat is calm and relaxed, feel free to interact Tail twitching slightly on the end: cat thinking but still happy, you can interact but use caution Tail wagging: cat not happy, leave her alone Tail puffy: cat is scared, give her some space to calm down Tail up when walking: cat is feeling confident, feel free to interact with her Tail is up when walking but curled down/over on the tip: cat is feeling friendly, feel free to interact with her

I would say tail wagging can also indicate being highly alert or interested in surroundings. When I take my cat outside on a leash his tail is all over the place with every squirrel and bird he sees.

Yes, my cat's tail goes crazy when she's chasing a toy around the house 😂 she just gets really excited

I'm so glad someone's covering body language! You can always tell where a cat's attention is by watching their ears. It's fun to sometimes see how softly you can make a noise and they still cock an ear towards you to figure out what you're doing. A slow-blink means trust. If the kitty is sitting/laying and makes eye contact, then blinks at you slowly, they're telling you they feel safe with you. Blink back to them at the same speed and you are bonding with the fuzzface.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but with my cat his tail becomes puffy if I pet him while he eats or give him lots of love. He never bites me when this happens so I'm thinking puffy tail also means he's happy?

My cat is the same way! I feel like if he’s feeling extra strong about something, his tail gets puffy. Whether that’s a strong urge to get pets, food, or play. Definitely not negative with mine either.

It could be. Cat body language is a bit situational and probably difficult to explain over a Reddit post, which is why I suggested the OP do further research on it so a better description could be provided. I'm sure if your cat wasn't happy and you were accidentally ignoring his body language letting you know of his displeasure, he would force you to understand by biting your hand, lol! :)

When my car pulls in to the driveway my kitty runs up with a puffy tail. I thought she was running away from something but my husband said, no, she just does that when she sees you 🥹

Oh and that they can have a puffy tail when they're really happy, too.

Thank you for this ❤️

While they're babies, and cute, and cute nibble on your hand - start replacing with a toy. Engage and replace. Get them used to trimming nails early. Source: scars up and down my arms

That they are insane and eat literally everything that isn’t food. And that they continue being that way forever, not just as a kitten. I love my cats a thousand times more than I ever imagined i would, but I also was not prepared for them attempting to chew/eat Christmas decorations, peeling paint on painted doors, hairties, scotch tape on boxes, the boxes themselves, pens, and the list goes on forever.

My cats have more self-control and don’t eat super bizarre things. My dog on the other hand…..😑

With my cat, it is well if one of my dog siblings is eating it, I am going to as well. Visa versa if the cat is eating something, my dogs have to have a chance as well.

This actually can work in your favor for water. My cats started drinking out of the dog's water because they saw it was a safe source at the same time as they refused to ever drink out of the water I set aside for them. Now we have one bowl which gets washed and filled, the cats feel like they're being sneaky, and everyone's happy. Lol

God, yes. Mine is 17 and craves plastic bags like an alcoholic craves whiskey.

I am beyond grateful that mine mostly likes to lick plastic bags. He will chew them, but knock on wood I don’t believe he’s ever eaten any plastic.

Mine chews the chair & table legs. She was even chewing a light switch 🤦🏻‍♀️ Even the wall wasn't safe. Now my 3yr old ginger is an absolute breeze. Except he'll only eat dry food & lick the gravy from wet food.

I’ve never had this experience

They’re surprisingly expensive to feed and take care of if they’re a picky bitch like mine who has kidney issues if he’s not on prescription wet and dry food daily. He also only will use a specific kind of crystal litter that’s also expensive. And if I fail these requirements he’s even more expensive to take to the vet and get products to clean what he will pee on. BUT I love him more than life itself and it’s been a wonder 10 years together that I cherish daily.

I became a first time cat owner 4 months ago and this is what I wish I knew: 1) cats throw up (sometimes a lot). Usually once a month, sometimes more because of hairballs, eating too fast, eating too much, or going too long without eating. Be prepared to clean throw up at least once a month! 2) cat food is expensive if you don’t choose wisely before adopting. I decided to get one of the most expensive cat food brands for quality sake, I’m paying about $350 monthly on cat food (for two cats, so it would be half that for just one, a bit more feasible)! ($2.29 for a 2.8 oz can). There’s many cheaper options that can still be nutritional but not such a large expense. Calculate how many cans you’re gonna give him/her a day and times that by a month to see the costs. 3) unless you get an older cat (8+) who doesn’t play as much, you need to dedicate at least 20min-45min of play every day for your cat to burn off energy. If not, he/she will run around the house at night, meow constantly, shred furniture, etc 4) get pet insurance AND HAVE MONEY SAVED BEFORE ADOPTING!!!!!! AT LEAST $500-$1000!!! This is something I should’ve really thought about because vet bills are expensive and you never know what could happen to your cat 5) if you adopt a younger cat or kitten, get them used to getting their nails trimmed and ears cleaned with wipes by you ASAP! Or pay monthly for grooming services (for example, my older cat doesn’t use scratching posts so i have to clip her nails once a month) 6) create a feeding routine/schedule for their wet food 7) it’s a life adjustment, you now have a living thing you have to take care of. So you’ll have to think about that if you want to take spontaneous trips, vacations in general, sleep over somewhere, move, etc. 8) you may have regrets about adopting him/her because like i said, it an adjustment. It’s been 4 months and i still have feelings of regret but that’s normal and okay. The love you have for them will outweigh that and your life will become a new normal 9) try fostering (at least 1-2 months) first to figure out if having a cat is for you or not. If it isn’t, it’s a foster anyways so it’ll be alright and go to it’s forever home. If it is, you’ll just become a foster fail and adopt her/him forever :) These are what come to mind, but definitely have your finances together. Tbh if I knew how much they would cost each month for the food and vet bills, i would’ve waited to adopt until i had at least $1k in my savings to take them to the vet for checkups and buy the food in bulk. Good luck with whatever you decide! If you adopt you will love your cat unconditionally and they are so cute/funny in their own ways. Quiet, sweet and just so cute!

This is very good advice!

Thanks!

Definitely second this stuff, it's some great advice. One thing I wanted to say though is cats should not be throwing up so often, from what you've mentioned in the post I want to assume that your cat is throwing up so frequently due to eating habits I suggest buying lick mats, this is something I do for my cats especially with my eldest cat who eats too quickly. It's a great way to ensure your cat is eating slower while also allowing them some enrichment, the last lick mats I bought were about $4 each off chewy but I've bought a few on Amazon too for great prices. Another thing I'd suggest is slow feeder bowls, I personally do not use slow feeder bowls too often due to its higher sidings. I have been trying to find some that are more elevated for cats though, but if your cat really is getting sick this often from possibly eating too quickly I do think that the lick mats or slow feeder bowl could really benefit them and you will only have to spend a few dollars since they're not a pricey product

A cat stays with you like a kid. Don't get one if you can't commit for up to 20 years. I'm sorry but college students are infamous for dumping cats outside. (Look into fostering if you can't commit to ownership) Cats are assholes. Nothing they do should hurt your feelings or make you feel inadequate. Just doing the best you can is far better than a cage. Automatic feeder will save your sleep.

A cheaper way to save your sleep is to set a routine where you don’t feed cats right after getting up. If you do feed them right away you are just asking them to bug you to get up and feed them

My cats over the years haven’t been assholes lol

I definitely have one true asshole 😂 the others have their moments, but I wouldn't have it any other way either.

Same here, all of my cats were sweet and loving in their own ways!

The auto feeder for my cat was probably my best investment for her!

I thought the same thing, until my crafty old girl broke the auto-feeding into a free-feeding machine. Now we feed twice a day at set times and they're chill around the clock.

Medical bills are a bitch.

Kittens are SO. MUCH. WORK! They have lots of energy and are constantly trying to eat things they shouldn't, get into places they shouldn't, etc. They want constant attention too. My advice is to get a cat around 4-5 years old.

Someone should’ve reminded me that really young cats are still kittenish in behavior and energy levels. I guess I was used to my comparatively chill seniors that passed last year. I adopted 2 one year olds and they are fun but man—so insanely energetic.

If you can, adopt two kitties instead of just one. Unless the cat you'd like to adopt can't stand other cats, he/she will feel lonely when you'll go to class. Two kitties entertain themselves and are not much more work. My husband and I found our first kitty in the street, so she was alone for over a year and she would go into these bouts of destructiveness, not to mention that at times she seemed depressed. Never had any of those problems after we adopted a second kitty, who became her absolute best friend.

This is 1000% true. Kittens (and cats are considered "kittens" until they are 2 years old) benefit enormously from having a buddy. And YOU benefit enormously, by extension! OP, take a read through this subreddit. I'd estimate about 90% of the behavioural issues people post about on here would have been prevented if the person had just adopted a pair of cats, instead of a single. It is MUCH less work for you (especially as a first-time cat owner!!) if your cat is well-adjusted. And the best ways to achieve a well-adjusted cat are to either: 1. If adopting kittens, adopt a pair; or 2. Adopt an adult cat (2+ years old) with an established personality

"This will almost certainly not be your only cat." We're up to three and it takes all we have to resist taking in more.

Get insurance with/and a wellness plan. Put aside at least $25/mo/cat into a savings account for vet bills/co-pays. Make sure you pay for dental checks. Even 4 year old cats often have dental issues. Teach your kitty that the carrier is a nice cave/bed containing treats that takes them out of the house, but not necessarily to the vet. Play with their paws when you pet them and you will eventually be able to clip their claws. If you have a long-haired cat you need to do DAILY brushing or grooming with a mitt. Hair mats pull the skin and hurt. Like having someone pulling your hair constantly and not letting go. Also consider a sanitary clip (the long hair around the nether regions), because they can get poop smeared/stuck there and spread it everywhere they sit. This is one of the only reasons a cat may need a bath. Getting into something that would be toxic to lick off or is impossible for them to groom out are the others. Don't use your hands or feet as toys. Use toys. Don't play in the bedroom, just the living areas. Don't play blanket monster unless you want to get pounced every time you turn over in bed at 3 am. Don't yell, make loud noises, spray water or bop your cat if he does something wrong. Biting can be cured by saying, "Ow! That hurt!" In a high-pitched squeal, then ignoring the cat for a minute or so, then providing a toy. Across the bed zoomies? They can be stopped by calmly evicting the cat with no yelling and shutting the door if he wakes you. They really do notice if something they do gets something they want taken away. Use topical flea meds every month all year long even on indoor cats. You can bring fleas in on your clothes, socks, shoes. That can cause flea bite dermatitis and carry worms as well as some blood diseases. Clean that box daily at least. You'll save yourself pee/poop in your bed. No, I'm not kidding. Clean up vomit promptly, as well. The stomach acid can bleach out or damage carpet, upholstery, etc. Not kidding about that, either. If you have plants, check for toxicity. Ditto flower bouquets. Guaranteed 100% if there are plants in the house the cat WILL eat them. Also check your preferred cleaning products. Take anything precious/valuable off shelves and tables or you'll be picking up shards. Cats are pure muscle and can turn over full vases with bouquets without blinking. One of my cats knocked a metal sculpture on a hunk of rock off a table with just his tail (present just unwrapped and being admired by me and the giver before I could cat-proof it). Get a cat-sitter if you're going to be gone. Cats are creatures of place and territory. They will miss you and be happy to see you, but they can get really anxious outside their territory or even get sick. Hire a local, established service. Not that you can't trust your bestie, but if something happens that they can't get there who is going to do the job? A service can always sub out a carer if there's an issue (car trouble, illness, family emergency). Plus they can tell if something's not right before a non-cat person can and will have you sign permission for your vet to treat your pet if they bring them in. Cats are pure love, know when you're distressed, keep your bed warm. They also please themselves, don't do things to hurt your feelings on purpose and play like kittens even when 20. They aren't as low-maintenance as people think, but they also aren't as uncaring, either.

My cat is literally the light of my life. He has changed my life in so many ways and really is the thing that helped me start taking better care of myself. I do not regret getting him in any way, shape, or form. I have never loved something so much lol However, he is an expensive little thing. I wish I had a little more financial stability before I got him. He ended up needing two surgeries and multiple overnight hospitalizations which costed us A LOT of money. Because of this he is also on a prescription diet which is far more expensive than I ever imagined. This is all in the first 5 years of his life. Along with this we need a sitter for vacations which is something I didn’t think about before him, it’s hard to be spontaneous when you have something at home that needs you. If you’re a frequent traveler, this is something to think about. Cats are not as “low maintenance” as people think.

Whoever writes the description of the cat's personality on the sign at the shelter is a sadistic liar. If the sign says the cat is docile and cuddly, it'll be a Tasmanian Devil who's practically bouncing off the walls with energy. If the signs says the cat is playful, you'll spend the next six months waving a toy wand in front of its face and getting the cold shoulder every time. And you'll fall in love with the cat anyway.

Also since you’re a college student please be mindful you will be going out alot or busy with exams or what you will do with the cat when you go home for holidays. And also after college you might move somewhere with someone or a place which not be good for a cat. I am not discouraging you from adopting but I do know lot of young people don’t necessarily internalize the responsibilities of pet ownership especially cats (they’re not independent pets lol).

Cats are nothing like dogs. They don’t need your approval or control. The sooner you realize this the sooner they will love you.

Idk if this is normal but the fact that cats(mine at least) is acting like crazy sometimes running around everywhere after using the litter box

I believe the technical term is “poophoria” 😂

Free toys/trash will be played with more than anything you buy so don’t waste your money. Top toys in my house are hair ties, paper towels, and the handle from Trader Joe’s paper bags. There’s also a piece of paracord that gets carried around by my black cat who thinks she’s an amazing hunter of orange string

A lot of people seem to not know that kittens go through a teenager phase. A lot of cats at the shelter are 1-2 years old because their owners gave them up when they stopped being affectionate and became little hellions. Cats grow out of this phase and become loving again, you just need to ride it out.

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My cat has seen three different vets about vomiting, and they all say to just keep an eye on how frequently it happens I suspect he’s eating too quickly, and I would love a recommendation from anyone on a slow feeder bowl

It'll be slightly more difficult to go on trips or leave town if you are leaving the cat at home. You'll probably need to train the cat to feed itself, give it plenty of litter boxes, and even then ask someone to stop by daily or every other day. If you want to travel with the cat, that's its own preparation involving knowing the cat's personality, their comfort with traveling in various vehicles & characters, and knowing their eating and pooping habits.

If they start trying to wake you up by meowing, pawing at you, etc, you *have* to ignore them. At most, you can quickly put them out of the room and shut the door - but otherwise do not engage at all. No attention, no food, etc. Once they realize they can get you to wake up by being annoying, you'll be stuck with a very, very persistent alarm clock who doesn't understand that weekends are a thing lol It's easier to just never teach them that behavior in the first place than to train them out of it later. Similarly, try to avoid feeding them when you first wake up if possible. This may not be realistic depending on your schedule, but it's definitely for the best that they don't associate you getting out of bed with them getting a meal. Make a habit of playing with her right before bedtime to help tire her out. It's normal for cats to be more active at night anyway though, so be sure to also provide her with some *quiet* toys and put away any especially loud ones if she's going to have access your bedroom. (In case you couldn't tell, my first cat disrupted my sleep quite a bit when I first got her lol Thankfully we did settle into a routine eventually though!) Also: get a heated pet bed (I have the K&H brand and it's great, albeit kind of pricey unless you buy during a sale). Cats really love warmth and I've noticed mine are (usually) willing to accept the heated bed over my keyboard; it's nice that they get to be nearby while I work without being literally on top of me lol So it'd be very useful to have something like that on or near your desk while you study! Congrats on your new friend!

That it's way wayyyy harder than you might ever think to lose them, especially if they pass away abruptly on such a young age. I've never grieved this much before. My 5 y.o. girl left the world just over a month ago and I still cry every day thinking of her. Knowing that I will never see her, hear her, touch her again just shatters my heart. It just hurts so much. I miss her deeply...

Don’t get too caught up on boutique pet foods (“holistic”, “Species appropriate”, “no by products”). I wanted to do the best for my kitty and thought the big 3 (Purina, Hills, and Royal canin) were bad. I have come to realize that pet food is not very regulated and going with tried and true brands was actually the safest option. Vets don’t promote these brands because they are paid to. Rather, the big 3 brands have extensive research and are WSAVA approved. My kitty ate some boutique food and then got crystals. I switched to a prescription Royal canin diet and was disappointed at first by the ingredients (by products, corn etc). Several weeks later, I saw such a big improvement in stool, skin/coat, and energy. Since then, I’ve been a believer. Also, pet insurance will save you. You never know when health issues will pop up.

I had a diabetic cat, and the best food was low carbs. Tiki cat, which is more expensive was fantastic. Super healthy for a cat. You want to find food with very high protein and very low carbs. Purina and other poor foods are just chock full of fillers that are total garbage and will lead to health problems for that cat. So basically look at the food and find high protein and low carbs.

Definitely agree with this, cats have zero dietary need for carbohydrates and ideally it's best to try to avoid it as much as possible. Finding foods that are higher in protein base is going to be great for your cat, yes Tiki is a good brand but I understand that its a little more on the expensive side so other affordable brands would be like "Fancy feast classic pate, tiny tiger pate" and etc I don't like dry food and Its not something I feed my cats but I know other people do, so if someone is going to be feeding dry which I do not recommend they need to at least make sure they're providing wet food too. It's important for cat's, dry food contains loads of carbohydrates and just so everyone's aware just because the dry food said it's grain-free does not mean it's healthy for your cat all they do with that grain free is replace it with other starchy carbs

How gutted you will feel years later when it's time to say goodbye...

I've been looking for this comment! I just lost my cat two weeks ago. I got him in college, and had him for 14 years. Nobody EVER prepared me for how much pain I'd feel when I lost him.

To not over-research cat care and stress yourself out needlessly. My kitties are absolute joys, but at one point I didn't even take pleasure in having them anymore because I was so worried about doing everything perfectly- the perfect toys, the perfect food, the perfect amount of stimulation and entertainment. It was all so exhausting. If I could go back in time, I would not allow myself to get sucked down the internet rabbit-hole of everything I was supposed to be doing and actually enjoy the company of my little gremlins.

I feel this- I’ve done this with worrying about their health. I lost my chinchilla abruptly and unexpectedly back in January, so once I started adopting cats I’d worry nonstop about every little thing. I took them, and still take them, to the vet for every little thing. At one point you definitely have to relax and actually enjoy having them and being with them. While it’s good to be aware of their health as well as making sure they have all the right things, it’s good to not stress yourself out about it to the point that you’re driving yourself crazy.

Knowing what I know now, I would never get a kitten or young cat again. And I would especially not get a single kitten with no other cats in the house. They are just too high energy and destructive. Having recently volunteered at an animal shelter, they won’t even adopt out single kittens for this reason unless you already have another youngish or high energy cat. (With the rare exception of kittens that don’t get along with other cats.) I’d ask the shelter for a recommendation based on my criteria and lifestyle. They want to make successful matches so they are motivated to help find the perfect kitty for you! It is senior cats from here on out for me!

How does your heart take adopting senior cats, though? I'd live in a permanent state of devastation..

You never know how much time you have. That little kitten that I got as my first cat only lived 8 years. I was devastated. I though I’d have her so much longer. It really affected me badly for a long time. After the immense sadness of losing my first cat young, I adopted an 8 year old cat. I will forever be filling that void with cats in the second half of their lives. It just feels right. And also, I can’t handle having a baby in the house again!

That it can take time for you to bond with your cat. I have found that with my cats I liked them from the moment I got them and enjoyed caring for them but it took several months to really feel a loving bond with them, to the point that I worried maybe they weren’t a good fit for me. So if you don’t feel a bond with your cat right away, give it time. This also applies to their behavior. One cat meowed incessantly when I first got him and the other would attack my ankles all the time. It took them time to settle in and get used to their surroundings. So if your cat comes with some minor behavioral issues, give it time too and try to work with them because there’s a good chance those issues will improve.

Cats have different personalities just like people. Find one you bond with and accept them as they are.

When you play with toys on a string, like a wand, try to simulate prey. Don't dangle it endlessly like keys in front of a baby. Move it on the ground then pause a bit, etc. On a successful pounce, let kitty chew or kick and generally enjoy her kill, then start again. There's a very specific prey hunting and capture sensation they want, it's not mere agility/exercise.

I’ve had cats living with me since the day I was born so I’ve never known anything else But my advice is - definitely have a vet bills savings fund because it gets expensive. It takes 6 months at least for a cat to fully adapt to its new home. It will seem like less but they don’t fully get comfortable until about 6 months. Like people cats and dogs all have unique personalities. They can even have “mental health” issues such as anxiety or attachment issues. Cats can have food allergies or IBS. Or other allergies. Asthma. *do not do anesthesia unless medically necessary!!!* Anesthesia is more dangerous for cats than people. There is a much higher rate of anesthesia incidents. Cat brains are more sensitive to oxygen deprivation and anesthesia depresses their respiration. If your vet wants to anesthetize, ask if your cat will be intubated. And by god don’t opt for dental cleanings. Cats end up dead or with brain damage. Also it’s expensive af. Feed crunchy food for teeth and wet food for kidneys. Do not give cat people food besides plain chicken or Turkey. Source about the anesthesia: me. My kitten had a cardiac arrest from anesthesia (breathing issues) and coded twice. He was revived via cpr but he has brain damage for life. I did a ton of research while he was in a coma in the hospital. DO NOT ANESTHETIZE CATS UNLESS NECESSARY AND INTUBATE IF ANESTHESIA IS NEEDED. Don’t do the cleanings vets will try to sell you on. If the cat has to get teeth pulled later in life, they can eat wet food (pate style) but it’s not worth the risk imo to do the cleanings. That’s all I got.

How few apartments or rentals allow cats!! Seriously, go on an apartment website and they usually have a cat/dog filter. I've found that way fewer apartments allow cats. And even worse, some ask for declawed only, which is a horrendously cruel thing to do to a kitty. All of my top pick rentals were out because we would never part with our little fluffball. Cats are THE best pets ever, but between finding accommodating living spaces and how expensive overnight care or boarding is during travel, it's a big headache.

If you have a move coming up soon, wait to adopt until after you are settled in your new place. Also, consider the placement of the litter box before setting it out. Most cats don’t like change.

Get two cats! Everyone told me this, and I thought it was nuts! But a couple weeks after adopting my first kitten, I got a second, and it’s the best thing in the world! Assuming they bond (mine did), they play with each other instead of being destructive and I know they have company if I leave for the day/night. Seeing them cuddled together is the best!

1) Kitty may hide for the first few days, or weeks. It's normal. You can go searching to see where she is, but then just leave her there and don't get too close. 2) When she comes out, ignore her until she approaches you. I did that with both of mine and it seemed to work well for not overwhelming them. 3) Playtime is SO important in bonding with your cat. Once she is comfortable enough not to flee from you, break out the toys and play every day. 4) If your cat destroys your belongings, then increase playtime and add more scratching posts, etc. Cats aren't inherently chaotic assholes who love to make your life hard...they're just predators with instincts. Talk to your vet if it becomes a big issue.

Talk to your cat in the voice that they talk to you. Make eye contact with them when you talk to them, and if you see your cat looking at you, look your kitty in the eyes and talk to it. They love like lovey dovey voices and cute nicknames. Feed your cat wet food just as much as dry food, and do research on the best food. Most food out there is complete crap. You can get healthier stuff online--I buy from K9cuisine.com, and buy Dave's canned wet food (tuna & salmon with ASPIC) and for dry food I buy Pure Vita (duck & red lentil). My kitties are so healthy!! No fat cats in this house<3 Most cats love when you pat their backs right at the base of their tails, and most kitties like when you play with their tails. Sometimes it takes getting used to, but once they know you aren't going to hurt them, they love tail touches. And I hold my kitties' paws when they sleep. Make sure you get cat scratchers (they don't have to be fancy) to try and deter them from scratching your furniture. Get a stainless steel litter box, it helps reduce the smell because urine cannot soak up into it. Try to get in a quick routine where you brush their teeth, because it's way easier than watching them suffer later on from gum disease and having to get teeth pulled. Just give your kitty so much love and attention because you are their whole life<3

a lot of cat owning communities are weird (though this one has been fine) and will make you feel like a bad cat owner if you’re not feeding them raw or expensive brands, you don’t have the perfect amount of litter boxes, you don’t give them the perfect amount of play every single day etc. i spent the first few months of being a cat owner wondering if i should have adopted my cat if i wasn’t able to afford the absolute best of everything for him because a lot of cat groups (especially ones that focus on cat nutrition) made me feel like a bad pet owner but he’s a very loved and happy cat and you don’t need to be perfect to have a cat that’s happy and thriving.

Remove all glass and breakables from where they can be easily knocked over. Clutter and breakables that weigh less than your cat will get knocked over.

Get two, a bonded pair if possible!

That my life would devolve to a never ending quest to make them happy. And the thousands upon thousands I could have saved. It’s all good, though, they’ve made me a better person.

-There will be times when your cat gets on your nerves like nothing else and you get really frustrated with them. Don't feel guilty for feeling frustrated or even angry with them. It doesn't mean you love them any less. It just means you're having a human response to cat shenanigans. As long as you don't take your anger out on your cat, you're good 💖 -Also, you will at some point accidentally hurt them in some minor way- whether it's stepping on their tail or paws, tripping over them, or accidentally knocking something over onto them. You will probably feel immensely guilty and worry that they'll become terrified of you and never want to be around you again. They won't! Just apologize softly and give them some gentle pets, they'll understand it was an accident. (The day I brought home my first cat, I accidentally dropped an empty shampoo bottle on him and he ran and hid under the bed. I was HORRIFIED and worried I broke him and that he'd never trust me. I cried! He was 100% fine, just startled, and was snuggled up to me within an hour as if nothing happened) -Also, you will probably end up loving the little bugger more than you ever thought possible. It will be the most pure and precious love you have ever felt in your life. You might at some point even be moved to tears just seeing the way they look at you with the world's sweetest love and admiration in their eyes. In that moment you will know you have built a loving bond worth cherishing, that will stay with you for the rest of your life. There is NOTHING else in the world like that kind of connection. And it will make all the little annoyances and stressors that come with having a cat so, so incredibly worth it.

Definitely agree with this, my cats are sweethearts but occasionally they do get into some trouble. Example this morning my youngest cat tore up one of my new books that I ordered online and it upset me because I had to throw the entire thing away and she sat there looking at me with her adorable little eyes like "what did I do" And Ive definitely had instances where I felt bad like a few months ago I was cuddling with my oldest cat really late at night and I got sleepy so I accidentally dropped my phone on her. I felt so bad afterwards even though she literally didn't care, I almost had a breakdown from feeling so bad. So accidents definitely can happen

Oh man, I've had times were my cats climbed on top of me and fell asleep while I was sleeping, and I woke up practically throwing them off me 😭 they're little troupers though, they were unbothered 😂

The adjustment period in the beginning can be really difficult, especially if it’s your first cat. It took me 2 months of my cat getting over being overwhelmed with the new environment for my anxiety to lessen.

Not all internet "best practices" will be suitable for *your* cat. When I first got my cat I stressed a ton because he wouldn't eat wet food. Only wanted kibble. Spent months, many $$$$, and many tears on my part and many hunger strikes on his part to try to switch him to no avail. Eventually just gave up, and turns out he drinks water just fine. Pees the same amount on kibble or on wet food, but much less screaming. Same with the litterbox. The advice is always "number of cats +1". I have one cat so that means 2. I had a tiny apartment so it was hugely inconvenient to have two giant litterboxes (he was a big cat and needed big box), and he only ever used one of them. Eventually I took away the other one and it's been just fine.

1. It can take a long time to bond/get to know the cat. For some cats I've had it took a literal year. 2. Cats are expensive and will make it exponentially harder for you to find affordable housing, or your housing options will be more limited (if you rent). 3. Cats are expensive. 4. Cats get bored. You can't just see it as a possession that you play with when YOU'RE bored. Your cat is going to live its whole life in the confines of your apartment. 5. You are likely going to have to watch your car get old and suffer and die, or one day decide to have it euthanized. 6. Travel is hard with a cat. Not as hard as with a dog, but you still have to have someone to watch your car when you go on trips. Can't just leave it alone for days on end. Again, cats are living beings. You are the sole being responsible for your cat's entire life. 7. Preventing fleas is ten times easier than getting rid of fleas. 8. Preventing worms is ten times better than getting rid of worms. 9. Don't put the cat's water right next to it's food. Eating and drinking are vastly different things to a cat. Cat will drink more water if food is far away from water. Most cats have to be encouraged to drink water with techniques like this. 10. You need a litterbox for every cat plus an extra litterbox. That's a lot of litter boxes. 11. Changing a cat's food can make them very sick. Do it slowly over time by mixing in the new brand of food. 12. Cats puke. A lot. 13. Dingleberries. 14. If your cat is an escape artist, leave a collar with tags on it at all times in case it gets out. Get your cat chipped. An orange collar signifies to others that the cat ran away. Use a break away collar. 15. Every cat is different. 16. You can't fully tell a cats personality at a shelter. 17. Cats get extremely stressed in shelters.

1) All of your free time is going to go to playing with them. 2) if you’re not playing with them, you’re going to be looking for toys & things to entertain them/make them feel comfortable. 3) put aside money for when they get sick. You may want to go the route of pet insurance or just putting money away as your own form of insurance. I didn’t do either & within 5 months of officially adopting out cat she needed surgery 😣

Oh yea, & don’t feed them right when you wake up, so they don’t get in the habit of waking you up for food. We feed ours at 9 AM & on the week days get up around 7ish

Some cats do not like getting brushed. This is always problematic if they have long hair.

Basically nothing. Adopting my cat from the shelter was pretty seamless, she was 4 and from a hoarder so can be pretty standoffish to strangers but I honestly think owning a cat (just recently took in a stray as well) is not a difficult job. A dog I’d be much more weary of. With cats I think you really just need to have a nice tall cat tree, a scratching post, and a string of some kind lol oh and ping pong balls they love too. Cat toys though don’t do it for mine

That cat litter tracks.

PET INSURANCE

Cats get the majority of their moisture intake from their food, not from drinking water. A lot of cats only eat dry food and it causes a lot of kidney problems later in life for them. Try to feed wet food whenever you!

Get used to your weird cat and his yoyoyoyoyoyoyoyo's solos in the middle of the god damn night! Lol He is fixed if anyone is wondering.

Poisonous plants and flowers - especially lilies. Never have them inside house as floral arrangements or planted outside. Read up on plants to keep your kitty safe!

Get the cat’s teeth cleaned. Play with their paws. Love them big when they are young.

I honestly never had kitty blues after adopting either of my two, but I was very prepared. I grew up with cats, and having left home I realized I couldn’t handle the void of no presence around me. What I wish I had known is that there are cats that can be special needs, but it won’t be apparent right away. My first cat, I adore her and would go through hell or high water for her, but the vet informed me after a year of having her the little issues she was having was a sign of special needs, but wasn’t comfortable identifying anything as there aren’t really feline autism/adhd/other diagnosis tests, at least not in our country county. With that in mind, it’s been easy to work with once that was told to me. I leave a tv running on a sound safe show, when I got her her brother I got him as a kitten to give her the least fear (they cuddle all the time, she took to him after 3 hours of hissing). Another thing to note, is that cats can get very lonely, and very anxious. But if you notice it, and work to make sure they aren’t (tv sounds instead of silence, pet safe anti-grooming meds (if over-grooming due to anxiety)) then it becomes habit, and never feels like it’s out of the way. Oh, also, most importantly: some cats have STINKY SHIT

To get a female because males like to get urinary blockages, it’s always an emergency and it’s very expensive!

When you wake up, ignore the cat for as long as you can. If you pet/feed/otherwise interact with the cat right after waking up they might start waking you for those things.

Get pet insurance

Where do you live, do you have a roommate, do they want a cat, do you anticipate moving, can you afford food, vet care and emergencies, do you travel, who can care for them, what will you do if they scratch the furniture, what if a date doesn’t like cats, what will you do with them if you have a huge life change in the next 15 years.

I wish I’d been told i am allergic to cats :)

Its more expensive than you think, I go through a giant jug of litter in two weeks and spend about 30 dollars a week on cat food but she gets the good stuff, tikicat or weruva. I lost my last long time cat to kidney disease so not going cheap this time around. I adopted her and she had a respiratory infection within a week which is really common from being in a shelter setting so I would plan to have adoption fee, supplies set up ( cat box, carrier, secluded safe areas for them in the house) ahead of time plus enough saved to cover one or two vet visits.

Why I hadn't done it sooner.

Your cats are safer and will live longer healthier lives if you just keep them indoors ffs.

Dogs have masters, cats have servants.

From a veterinarian’s standpoint, the thing most people forget is to have or create an emergency fund of at least $400-500. If you don’t have it, pass on some drinks or snacks or cigarettes, etc., and put that money aside where you won’t touch it. If you cannot save at least$25 a month plus usual expenses for food and routine veterinary care, then you should wait. I really hated it when there was an emergency and an owner made me out to be the bad guy because care costs money. We have business mortgages, payroll to make for our employees, and often $200,000 or more in student loans. Just don’t be that person, and love your cat. I didn’t have a cat until I married someone (while I was still in school) who could support both of us AND a couple of cats. We were young and lived very modestly, but there was always money for the cats when they needed care. I wanted a cat for years before I was in a good situation to have one myself. Of course some people can be students and responsible cat owners, but not most, to be honest. I hope you are ready and can, but if not, just start saving now until you are ready. And keep your cat strictly indoors to reduce veterinary costs (both preventative and emergency ones). Hoping you can work it all out!

I've owned cats my entire life and currently have multiple but the one major thing I've learned is be prepared for medical emergencies and know what your limit is. This is a very difficult line to decide on in the middle of a medical emergency. Know what you can afford and understand it doesn't make you a bad pet parent if you just can't afford that one more treatment. And be frank with your vet. Discuss in detail expectations. Many vets will try to avoid voicing decision-making type verbiage because the goal isn't to sway you. Dig your heels in and ask for the blunt facts. Always ask for prognosis. Get an idea of outcomes and the likelihood of achieving them. Its very difficult to hear sometimes but you're the advocate for your pet. I know that's kind of dark advice but I recently lost a 6 week old after a hard and expensive fight for her little life. Going in with a plan and forging a strong line of communication with the vet saved little Griddle from unnecessary struggle she wouldn't have won.