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Cats and Kittens
Are you considering buying a cat or kitten?
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To various people, having a cat can mean different things. Browse our Cats and Kittens for sale category to find your perfect companion! Some people want a cat to snuggle and sit on their laps, while others prefer to live with a cat that spends most of its time outside and doesn’t require a lot of human connection.
What matters is that you look for a cat who will interact with you if you want it to. All cats are different, and how each one interacts with you is determined by its intrinsic personality and early experiences (or lack thereof), which can make it afraid or confident around humans and in general.
The environment in which you keep a cat is also crucial – for example, If it lives with a lot of other cats that don’t get along, it will be anxious and react differently than if it lived alone.
While there is no surefire way to find the perfect cat for you and your lifestyle, knowing your expectations and what makes cats tick will help you bring home a cat who will be able to adapt to its new surroundings and be the pet you desire.
You will need to do the following to care for a cat or kitten:
- Allow for plenty of personal interaction.
- Maintain a steady supply of fresh water and serve regular, appropriate meals.
- Make sure the bed is clean and comfortable.
- Allow the cat access to the outdoors or be prepared to empty and clean the litter tray on a daily basis.
- Create an interesting and safe atmosphere for it.
- Regularly groom it. Daily grooming is required for longhaired cats.
- Have it neutered between the ages of 4 and 6 months.
- Vaccinate cats against major feline diseases on a regular basis.
- Worm on a regular basis and treat for fleas.
- If your cat shows any signs of illness, take it to the clinic.
- Make sure your cat is insured or that you can afford any veterinarian treatment it may require.
How much attention and care do cats and kittens require?
In comparison to dogs, which require companionship, walking, and training, cats are relatively low care pets. They, like any other creature, require attention, and some cats require more than others. Do you want to spend a lot of time with your cat, or do you only have a limited amount of time? Cats and kittens are more adaptable to hectic, modern lifestyles than dogs since they are more independent, can be left alone more easily, and are better suited to smaller flats or houses. Cats and kittens are frequently chosen by people who have hectic and stressful lives and need company when they return home to unwind.
What do you hope to get out of your cat relationship? If you’re the type of person who requires a close relationship with their cat and the ability to hold and engage with it, you’ll be disappointed if you adopt a scared cat who hides every time you enter the room. You could wish to consider one of the pedigree breeds, which are more interactive and may require more human interaction than certain moggies. This could be a problem for the cat if you are at work all day and only have time to care for him in the evenings or on weekends.
To feel at ease, some cats need to know exactly what is going to happen when. Such cats might be content to live with an elderly lady who receives few visitors and lives a very tranquil life, but they would likely find it stressful to live in a home with children and other animals who receive a lot of visitors and activity. Other cats, on the other hand, may thrive in a busy household due to their varied contacts with many people.
If you don’t think you’ll have the time or willingness to groom a cat on a daily basis, don’t get a Persian or a long-haired cat.
Any cat with a longer coat, other than a Persian, is referred to as semi-longhaired in pedigree jargon since the coat is not as full as a Persian’s and does not have as thick an undercoat; nonetheless, it is still long and requires care. Furthermore, if you are particularly proud of your home, you may not want hair all over it.
A shorthaired cat is a lot easier to care for because most cats are obsessed with their coats and keeping them in perfect shape. That isn’t to suggest cats don’t shed hair; keep this in mind if you’re considering having a white cat but have dark furnishings or vice versa. A cat will also sharpen its claws indoors, most frequently on the stair carpet, occasionally on the furniture, and even on the wallpaper. It is vital to realise from the start that your cat is an animal with free will and natural behaviour that may not fit someone who requires a spotless home.
Is it possible to keep cats and kittens on vegetarian food?
Are you a vegetarian who wishes for your cat or kitten to follow suit? If you want a vegetarian pet that won’t challenge your views, acquire a rabbit instead of a cat. Cats are carnivores first and foremost, and their appearance and behaviour reflect this. A cat is an obligate carnivore, meaning it has an essential requirement for certain of the nutrients present in meat and all of its senses of smell and taste are oriented to being a carnivore; maintaining it as a vegetarian would be both unjust and detrimental to its health.
Is there any cat that does not hunt?
You may have a strong dislike for your cat going outside to hunt. Perhaps you’re a bird lover or can’t stand the sight of little carcasses on the floor. Hunting is a natural instinct for cats. While keeping a cat indoors may prevent it from killing anything, it will still require an outlet for this, its most basic behaviour, and not all cats will thrive in this environment. Similarly, if you’re just adopting a cat to keep vermin at bay, you don’t want to end up with one who isn’t interested in hunting, shooting, or fishing and likes to sit on the couch! Older cats are less inclined to hunt than younger cats, and some cats don’t bother at all, but it’s impossible to predict how a cat would act.
Is it possible to keep cats and kittens inside?
When you consider the life of a cat who has access to the outdoors, you’ll see that being outside provides a lot of diversity and allows it to use all of its hunting behaviours if it wants to. Outside, there are risks for cats, but you must weigh these against the benefits of physical and cerebral stimulation, as well as an outlet for natural behaviour.
With a baby or small children, can I have a cat?
If you have children, there is no reason not to have a cat or kitten. It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children from an early age how to approach, brush, and handle cats with kindness. Many children have wonderful connections with their cats and learn about respecting other animals and being nice — it happens all the time, but parents must set the standards. Taking on a new kitten while also caring for a newborn or toddler can be a challenge, so making sure you have time for both parties is essential to a happy connection.
Similarly, there is no reason to get rid of the cat if you are pregnant. While the infant is young, simple hygiene precautions and common sense cat care can guarantee that everyone lives happily and safely together.
Cats & Kittens Listings & Topics
Should I get a kitten or an older cat?
A kitten allows you to adopt an animal from the start and treat and care for it so that it has the best possible start in life. You’ll also be able to get a sense of its personality. Kittens, on the other hand, take a lot of attention and planning to keep them out of danger. You must ensure that they are secure while you are away if you leave them alone. Depending on where you obtain your kitten, you may also need to arrange for neutering, initial vaccines, and other procedures.
While kittens have a high ‘cute’ factor, keep in mind that they only stay kittens for six months out of a potential lifespan of 14 years or more.
It is at least evident whether mature cats have long or short fur. You should be able to get a good sense of a cat’s personality, though if it is kept in less-than-ideal conditions and is anxious or afraid, it will act differently than when it is relaxed. A confident adult cat will likely move in and settle down immediately, whereas a scared adult cat may take longer. It will be much easier to leave an older cat alone with the knowledge that it will not cause any problems, and it will be considerably less labour and stress than a kitten. A mature cat is almost certainly neutered and vaccinated.
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Boy or girl?
It doesn’t matter what a kitten’s gender is as long as you neuter it before it enters adolescence (about four months of age), when sex hormones take effect. Cats and kittens who have not been neutered may engage in undesired reproductive behaviour. Unneutered male cats, for example, will mark their territory with pungent urine, whilst unneutered female cats can come into season every two weeks if they do not become pregnant.
It doesn’t matter whatever sex you acquire if you’re only getting one cat or kitten. In the same way, if you want two kittens from the same litter, the sex of either cat is probably unimportant. However, if you already have a cat and are just getting one kitten or another cat, it would be worth considering obtaining one of the opposite sex to reduce rivalry. In such instances, a kitten may be a better option than another adult cat because the young cat’s immaturity appears to remove the competition factor – at least for a while, during which time you hope they will get along! Neutering also eliminates the necessity for so much competitiveness and reduces the importance of sex.
When is the best time to get a new cat?
If you’re thinking of obtaining a new cat or kitten, pick a time when your house is peaceful (not during a family gathering, for example), and possibly a day or two when you can help it settle in and be there while it learns its way about, rather than shortly before you go on vacation.
