Pets are a man’s best friend, regardless of what species you go for, and your love for them will only increase as the years pass.It’s easy to get lost and spend hours going on Instagram and YouTube watching cat memes and funny cat videos. Cats will do almost anything to keep you entertained, and will surely put you in a better mood. However, just because you like cat memes and they seem adorable on the screen, that doesn’t mean that you’re ready to look after a cat. When you need delicious treats for your cats, check out Team Treatz from The Original Poop Bags® to reward your feline friend. Shop now!

Before you make the final decision on an animal companion, you need to consider prerequisites to assess whether you’re ready for such responsibility or not.

1. Why Do You Want a Cat?

The first question that you should ask yourself before you adopt a cat is “why do I want a cat?” For example, have you just gotten out of a relationship and what to fill the hole in your heart? Do you think that your life has come to a stage where you think you can take care of a cat? Is it going to be your trial baby? You should ask yourself these questions so you can analyze your need for the animal. A cat is going to do things you might not like, so are you ready for that? Do you think you want a cat for the right reasons? Examine yourself and figure out why you want a cat.

2. Do You Think Your Lifestyle Gives You the Space to Take Care of a Cat?

Once you’ve decided you want a cat in your life, the second question you need to ask yourself is if your lifestyle allows you to adopt a cat? Are your working hours flexible enough to manage your cat’s evening exercise? How much time do you spend at home? Do you go out of town for business? If so, how often? Do you have anyone who could step in as a caretaker if you’re gone? Questions like these will give you the reality check that you need and make you think about the creature you want to make a part of your life rather than yourself.

3. Which Breed is Best Suited for Your Lifestyle?

If the answers to the above questions are satisfactory and you think that you can manage a cat, congratulations! However, just because you can get a cat doesn’t mean you should just go and buy any cat you like. Now you need to do some research. You need to look for a cat that is best suited to your lifestyle. For example, if you have kids around, then you need to look up which breeds are friendly towards kids and which can cause harm. You also need to make sure that you and other family members are checked for allergies. Some cats are friendly while others are shy. You need to decide what you’re looking for by keeping different aspects of your life in mind.

4. How to Take Care of the Specific Breed?

When you choose your cat, some breeds need specific types of care. Some need more attention than others, and might even get sick if they’re left alone or ignored. You need to know the age of the cat, and what is the age-appropriate food that they can have? Some breeds need more grooming and pampering than others. Make sure that you have all the essentials and do your research so you can make your pet happy.

5. What Veterinarian Options Do I Have?

Before you get a pet cat, one thing that you should make sure is to map out all the nearby veterinarians. Go have a meeting with them to find out which doctor you’d prefer for your cat. Once you make your selection, take their number and alert them that you’ll be coming the day you adopt your cat. Once you’ve chosen what kind of cat you want, meeting the veterinarian can be very beneficial! You can discuss your questions with them and take their professional opinion into consideration.

If they think that you’re going for the wrong breed or the wrong animal, they will let you know, and you can make any alterations that you might need in your plan. Even though you might have had your heart set on a certain breed, know that if you mismanage taking care of it, you could end up in serious trouble. Therefore, try to keep an open mind.

6. Is Your Environment Good for the Cat?

You should consider whether or not your environment is cat-friendly. Do you have enough space so that a cat might not feel caged? Have you cat-proofed your apartment? Bringing a cat to your family is like bringing a child home. At first, the animal is going to be curious and very energetic. You need to make sure that there isn’t anything that can hurt it. Remember to keep all sharp objects away from the table edges.

Keep all cords tied up and away from the cat’s reach and cat-proof all the sockets in the house. Apart from that, you should also be aware of the fact that some cats aren’t baby-friendly so if you do accidentally buy a breed that doesn’t quite like your child, make sure to be careful and vigilant.

If you’ve asked and answered these 6 questions, and you still think that you’re ready to make a new addition to the family, then go ahead. If not, you don’t need to lose hope and let your dreams die. What you need to do is look for animals that are low maintenance and can still be a part of your life. When you adopt a pet, you are responsible for the well-being of that animal, don’t let it down just because you weren’t capable of committing to the animal. Make this decision carefully.

When you are caring for your new animal, be sure to use Catfidence™ from The Original Poop Bags® to clean up their waste! Our this biobased litter is efficient and eco-friendly, so you’ll be keeping your home and the environment healthy!

About the Author:

This post is written by Taylor Starc, an animal behaviorist and a certified pet trainer. He has been working at Animal Training Academy in Montreal for ten years. Apart from his professional life, he likes to read and write blogs in his leisure time. You can read some of his best pieces here.