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Your New Kitten - Responsibilities And Rewards
One thing many people don't consider when they first decide to adopt a kitten or two is the expected lifespan of those new additions to your feline family and the ongoing responsibilities it will bring. Newborn kittens are the cutest baby animals ever but if you are to give them a permanent home you will need to be responsible for their health and well-being for between 15 and 20 years.
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.
Obviously you're going to need to spend money on food and good nutrition but there will be additional expenses such as vaccinations and other veterinarian costs that need to be considered. Pet insurance is a great idea but be careful to read the small print as many companies reduce the level of cover progressively as the cat grows older - but without a corresponding reduction in cost!
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.
Ideally you should find a cat whose personality matches your own and there are many excellent books available in libraries and bookstores that will give you a good description of the type of personality to be expected from the various different breeds of cats.
Cats permanently living indoors will naturally need a lot more attention than those allowed to roam outside and you will also need to be prepared to clean a litter box on a daily basis. Do you even have a suitable place for your cat's litter box in your home? These are important questions that require an answer before taking the decision to welcome a new kitten into your 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.
Should you need to be away from home regularly, you will need to make arrangements for your cat to be cared for. There are several solutions available and each has its own advantages and disadvantges. You may be fortunate enough to have a friend or neighbor who is willing to call in twice a day and feed your cat. There are also professional pet visiting services or you may prefer to book your pet into a boarding cattery. Whichever you choose, the happiness of your cat should be your main consideration - not the financial cost.
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 finer on a chilly, dark evening than having your feline companion sit purring contentedly on your lap after a hard day's work is over. The love and loyalty a cat can bring to your life has been shown to have positive health and life benefits for its owner but personally, I just think that sharing a few, purr-filled moments with your pet is reward enough.
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Discover the responsibilities of bringing home a new kitten. Learn all you need to know about caring for your kitten's needs and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following these links
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