51 Stage One:
“I’ve watched thousands of videos of adorable cats doing silly, adorable things and now I want one!”
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many of us have found ourselves in this position—stalking various cat accounts on social media, spending more time with your friend’s cat than your actual friend, and if you’re really into the spiral – scrolling your local pet adoption websites.
This is exactly what happened to me. It’s so easy to fall down the rabbit hole, never get back up, and then suddenly you’re at the adoption shelter. DO NOT DO THIS! Believe me, I understand how strong the urge can be. All those sad eyes looking back at you, screaming “Pick me! Choose me!” and you think to yourself, “I can do it, how hard can it really be?” Do not give in.
Please don’t misunderstand me—the purpose of this chapter is not to discourage you from adopting your new furry family member. On the contrary, if you have the means and capability to adopt a cat—or any other (legal) type of pet—then you should absolutely do it! As an owner of two cats myself, it truly has been one of the best things in my life. With that said, the experience hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows.
There have been too many times in my life where I have witnessed people adopting animals, specifically cats, that they truly had no business in adopting. Not that any of these people were cruel, in fact, many of them are wonderful with the best intentions. However, there were some things that they were not prepared for that ultimately proved to be too much for them, resulting in various situations including rehoming their pet, falling into financial troubles, and tension in the home.
No one wants to end up in these situations. Not only can it be stressful for the owner, but it can also be very stressful for your pet. So, I—a confirmed cat lover and owner—have created a list of topics that I deem are important to consider before seriously considering adopting a cat for the first time. Please note that these are all based on my experience and opinions, so not all of these may be relevant to your situation. I am also assuming that this is the first time that you are adopting a cat. Even if you have been around cats before or have owned a different type of pet, owning a cat is very different story and should be treated as such.
