Thinking about getting my first pet, leaning towards a cat. Is there anything you'd tell your pre-cat owning self?

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I've had cats for years, but the current cat that I adopted is my first long hair. I definitely underestimated how much brushing it would require to prevent mats. I adore him and he's worth it, but I probably won't adopt another long hair, so be aware of that.

If you have plants in your apartment, make sure to check to make sure they're not poisonous to cats. You'd be surprised how many plants are poisonous to cats and dogs.

That trope about giving a cat a ball of yarn or string is WRONG. It's very dangerous. A cat we had when I was young got into my mom's sewing kit and swallowed a bunch of thread. It got wrapped up in his intestines and needed a $1500 surgery.

Lastly, please adopt, don't buy one.

I've been volunteering at an animal shelter for over a decade, so if you have any questions, you're welcome to DM me.

Having a pet who loves you and is happy to see you is the best thing ever.

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Yep, this is another good reason to trim their nails. If left alone they yet very pointy and thin at the end, making it easy for their nails go get stuck in things. Also watch out for toys that have tails, like mouse plushies and such. If it looks like it might fall off after rough playing, just cut it off or only allow supervised play time with that toy.

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They are not dogs and cannot be trained in the same way as dogs! Cats don’t understand negative reinforcement, but their emotions and behavior align more closely with humans

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They can be trained, but you have to do it when they are young or else they will establish their habits.

They aren't as maintenance free as many suggest but still less so than dogs. You should dedicate at least an hour a day to play with them, do annual checkups with the vet, and there's other stuff you can research.

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Update: meet Jasper!!

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That pink nose! I want snuggles. 😻

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1. Once you get a cat, you'll wonder why it took you such a long time to get a cat. Your previous cat-less life will seem empty and meaningless :-)
2. If you are adopting a cat from pet shelter, go with the one that chooses YOU as their "hooman". It'll make for much easier bonding.
3. Don't economize on cat litter. High quality more expensive cat litter = no odor, easy scooping.

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Big second on #2. You may be initially drawn to a gorgeous shy calico, but if the grey tabby is rubbung up against you and purring like a buzz saw, you have been adopted by the tabby. Don't fight it. This is the first (but def not the last) time you will be answering to the cat. 😉

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If they are poisonous, get rid of them. You might not think the cat can get to a high place, but you be surprised. Don't put the furball's life at risk.

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My cat is one of the best things in my life but he is an expensive ass little fucker.

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I wanted a certain type of cat when I started looking but I quickly realized this was the wrong way to go about it. Find a cat that suits your personality rather than just basing it off looks. You'll know when you've found your cat. When I met my cat she climbed into my lap and nuzzled my hands. Don't go for a cat that appears to have a personality you don't want. It seems obvious but some people get taken in by the cat's looks and then end up with a cat whose personality they can't deal with.

Also, the way your cat acts at the shelter might not be their true self. My cat was incredibly quiet and a bit shy at the shelter. Once she was in my apartment for two days, she became a chatterbox. Also, it will be hard in the beginning because the cat doesn't know your schedule. Once the cat adapts to your schedule it will get so much better.

My cat and I didn't go to bed at the same time at first so I found it annoying when she'd still be playing as I slept. Now she recognizes bedtime. Also, I tried to keep my doors closed and she hated it. She doesn't necessarily want to go to the next room but she wants the option, LOL.

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I also got this stain remover. Another reason to groom your cat is to prevent hairballs. Even if their hair is short they have a lot of loose fur. I brush my shorthair cat once a week and still get a handful of fur after I'm done. If your cat has hairballs they could vomit them. Hence why it's a good idea to have a stain remover handy LOL. Or for cat urine. I haven't used mine yet but my friend has multiple cat and says this one is good.

I guess besides that, make sure to brush your cat's teeth. Trim their nails so they don't do much damage to your stuff. If they like scratching a particular piece of furniture, put a scratching post in that area. Get an older cat. My cat was 4 when I got her. A kitten is super needy and energetic. My 4 year old is a couch potato.

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Totally agree with PWC2. It's so true when people say you don't choose the cat, the cat chooses you.
A couple tips I've learned over the years:
1. Don't feed in the morning. Good luck sleeping in when the cat is ready for food. Haha. I feed my cats when I'm feeding myself dinner.
2. Negative reinforcement doesn't work with cats. They don't understand. If they're doing a bad behavior, they're most likely just trying to get your attention. Either play with them or move them to another room without saying a word. They'll get it eventually.
3. Get your cat used to nail trimming very early on. Same with brushing.
4. Cats can be trained to perform tricks! I've been doing clicker training with one of mine. He loves it and it's a good bonding experience for us. Definitely find some sort of play that your cat loves and make time for it each day.

Cats are amazing and are honestly super loyal once you've built that relationship. So worth it!

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Agree with everything said. I actually do feed my cat in the morning. I unintentionally conditioned her to wait for my alarm to go off before she goes nuts for food. A feeding schedule is great for cats. Otherwise they pester you for food all the time. If you just refill their bowl every time they want food they'll learn that all they have to do is annoy you and they get a meal. Also they get fat. Cats get fat easily. Watch out for that. Don't overfeed. It's a lot of work to make then diet.

Agree that negative reinforcement doesn't work. Don't bother scolding them. The best thing that works with my cat is ignoring her. That's how she learned she wasn't getting her way even if she was being annoying.

I'm trying to reach my cat to high five. Except that she keeps licking me instead of pawing at my hand. Oh well, work in progress.

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Precious

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