Your New Kitten - Are You Prepared For The Responsibility? | Cats

By JaneTompsett
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The decision has been made - you're going to adopt a new kitten! The excitement level is high but have you really thought this through? Newborn kittens are so cute and fluffy that few people can resist giving them a home but their lifespan can be as long as 15-20 years and you will be responsible for their health and well-being throughout the entire period. Are you prepared to take on that responsibility?

An important, additional consideration is one of finance. Your kitten will rapidly become a fully grown cat and you will need to meet ongoing expenses in the form of food and veterinary fees.

It's obvious that you will have to meet the cost of food but have you factored in the expense of annual vaccinations and veterinary fees? Taking out pet insurance can help mitigate the cost of unexpected bills but be careful to read the small print first - many policies reduce the amount of cover available as your pet gets older but without reducing the cost of your premiums.

Also, in the same way that people have different characters and personailites, cats' characters are many and varied. Your expectation of owning a soppy lap-cat may not be met so you must be prepared to accept your developing kitten's personality come what may.

If you want to get an idea of a particular cat's personality before you choose a kitten, there are many excellent books available that will list the character traits of different breeds of cats. This should enable you to select a breed whose natural personality closely matches your expectations.

Some cats require a lot more attention than others and this is particularly true of those cats that live inside. Will you be willing to keep a litter box clean on a daily basis? Do you have a suitable place to put the litter box? Important questions that you will need to address before making your decision to give a kitten a home.

Are you prepared to invest time in grooming your pet? Most cats take care of keeping their fur clean and well groomed themselves but as they get older, aching joints often prevent them from doing such a good job. This is when you may need to take over their grooming for them. And how do you feel about them shedding thier fur over your furniture? If you love cats, you may see this as just another part of cat-ownership but less enthusiastic owners may find the constant need to clean their clothes and furniture of pet hair too much to cope with.

If you like to travel or are away from home a lot of the time, you will need to arrange for someone to care for your cat in your absence. There are several options to consider: a friend who is willing to visit twice a day, a commercial 'home visiting' service or a stay in a boarding cattery. All options have their advantages, disadvantages and costs to take into account before making your choice. And as always, the emotional wellbeing of your cat is paramount.

Once you have considered all the pros and cons of owning a kitten and you feel that you are able to take on the responsibilities comfortably, then the fun of welcoming a kitten into your home can begin.

There is nothing better in this life than coming home after a long day's work and sitting contentedly with your gently purring feline companion on your lap. Owning a loving and loyal cat has been shown to have positive health and life benefits but for me, just sharing my home with my cat is reward enough.

About the Author

Discover the joys and responsibilities of giving a home to a cute kitten. Learn all you need to know about caring for your kitten's needs and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free Cat Owners Confidential cutesletter by following these links

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