What lifestyle changes should new cat owners expect?
First I want to congratulate you for considering getting a cat. You won't be sorry. Cats make great furry roommates. Think about that. When you were in college you might have had that roommate that you wish you never had. Cats can give you so many and they won't leave the lights on. Cats do a lot of wonderful things. But specifically if you're thinking about getting a cat for the very first time, there are some points to consider, some lifestyle changes to make. First, talk with your cat savvy friends that have cats. Hang out with them a little bit. Find out if you'd really like to have a cat because when you think about it, you're going to probably have that cat longer than you'll have one, two, or even three cars. Cats can live up to 20 years and beyond. So when you make that decision to get a cat make it with the thought, “Hmm, do I want to have a cat for 20 years?” And next, find out what's entailed for your home: any lifestyle changes. Whether you live in an apartment or a house or even an RV, cats can be very adaptive but cats are homebodies. So you may pay the mortgage, but the cat's the one that really feels like they own the home. The third point is your time commitment. Are you willing to be able to engage with that cat and play with that cat? That doesn't mean you have to spend hours and hours of day with the cat, but little purposeful five to ten minutes of interaction with your cat will go wonders in their behaviour, and actually make you feel pretty good too.
