So you are thinking about getting a cat?
And whether they are the right pet for you.
I am the Cat Butler and I have had my two ragdoll cats Teemo and Arya for almost 3 years.
So today I will share my experiences about owning a cat, and what are the pros and cons.
As a pet owner, we wish that our pets can live a long life.
Cats tend to live longer than other household pets.
On average an indoor cat can live between 10 and 20 years old, with the oldest cat Creme
Puff reaching 38 years old.
On the other hand a dog on average can live between 10 and 13 years old.
This is one of the reasons why I decided to get a cat.
So they can be in my life as long as possible.
Cats are low maintenance compared to dogs.
Having our cats use the litter box is so much easier than having to take the dog out every
time they need to pee or poop.
This can be beneficial for individuals who have busy schedules or live in areas where
going outside frequently may not be practical or feasible
Dogs require regular outdoor bathroom breaks, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.
On the other hand, cats can use the litter box at any time, without being dependent on
you.
Lastly you don’t have to really train your cat to use the litter box, they usually pick
it up naturally.
Dogs on the other hand require some training and reinforcement to learn how to go to the
bathroom.
Cats have a reputation for being hard to train.
And it's true, they are more difficult than dogs, but with patience you can train your
cat.
The key is positive reinforcement.
Cats learn by associating a desirable behavior with a reward.
They have a good memory and remember when they get something they enjoy.
What cats are not good with is physical punishment.
Do not spank, hit, or kick your cat.
Nor raise your voice.
It does nothing but teach your cat to be afraid of you and does not stop the bad behavior.
I try to raise my cats in a positive environment so that we have a trusting and loving relationship.
So if you want to train your cat use positive reinforcement, such as giving a treat when
they do the right thing.
For Teemo and Arya I have taught them to ring a bell and learn to be okay with water by
rewarding them with treats.
So training your cat is definitely doable.
I will link how I trained my cats to ring a bell and be okay with water in the description
below.
Since ancient Egypt cats helped humans hunt rats and mice that preyed on our crops.
In return for their help we provided food and protection.
The modern cat descended from this mutual human and cat relationship.
And to this day they still hunt and deter pests in our home.
For example cats release pheromones that are terrifying to rats, and when rats sense these
pheromones, they will try to avoid the area as much as possible.
I saw that in action in one of my friend’s new york city apartment.
The apartment building was infested with rats, but because they had a cat none of the rats
dared to come into their apartment.
In my own experience Teemo and Arya have been a great pest deterrent.
I live on the ground floor and every morning I wake up to dead insects here and there.
So if you have a pest problem a cat would be a great addition to your household.
They are a natural and eco-friendly solution without the harmful chemicals.
Getting a cat is like having a best friend for life.
If you are lonely, depressed, or sad your cat is there for you.
They provide emotional support during difficult times or challenging situations.
Teemo and Arya have gotten me through some bad times.
When I am not having a good day, Arya will come sit on my chest and purr to cheer me
up.
This affectionate behavior may be a surprise for some people.
Cats have a stereotype of being unaffectionate.
This is untrue.
Cats are just different from dogs, they display their affection differently.
Signs of a cat’s affection include rubbing, purring, and snuggling.
You also need to earn a cat’s affection.
It's similar to us humans meeting a stranger for the first time.
They need to get to know you before developing a trusting relationship with you.
So if you develop trust with your cat, you will see their affectionate side.
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All cats shed, but the amount depends on the breed, the time of year, and whether it is
a long haired cat or a short haired cat.
It is a natural process.
Cats shed and grow new fur all the time, with seasonal shedding being very common as the
weather warms up or cools down.
If you are looking for a cat that doesn’t shed as much you can go for a hairless cat
breed like the Sphinx cat.
To reduce shedding around the house, you can brush your cat’s hair often or feed your
cat a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
Cats provide endless entertainment.
Their playful and curious nature often leads to amusing and enjoyable interactions.
Whether it is some crazy acrobatics, silly behaviors, or music to your ears, your cat
will always keep you entertained.
Teemo and Arya make me laugh everyday.
Here are some of the cute and funny things they do.
Cats are quite clean.
They are known for their grooming habits.
Spending up to 15% of their day just licking themselves.
This helps them maintain clean fur, reduce parasites, and keep themselves cool.
As a result you don’t have to bathe them too often.
If you live in an apartment where you have a lot of close neighbors.
You will never hear a noise complaint from your neighbors if you have a cat.
Your cat may meow from time to time, but it cannot pierce through the walls of a home
like a dog’s bark.
So if you like a quieter home a cat may just be for you.
Some people can be allergic to cats.
This is primarily due to the allergen Fel d 1, which is a protein found on the skin
and saliva of our cats.
As a result most allergic reactions occur when we touch or breathe in the allergen.
This can result in rashes, watery eyes, or having a hard time breathing.
Fortunately there are several ways for people to overcome their allergies such as an air
purifier or allergy shots.
I am actually allergic to cats, but fortunately I was able to find a solution.
If you want to learn more about how to reduce cat allergies, I will link a video in the
description below.
Cats can adjust to apartment life with ease.
Compared to dogs, cats can take better advantage of vertical spaces.
By having a cat tree or installing walkways and bridges on your wall.
Your cat will have plenty of things to explore and enjoy.
This mimics the trees, walls, and other structures they may encounter outside.
Dogs on the other hand may need a bigger space to stretch their legs and some apartment buildings
restrict certain dog breeds.
Another good thing about cats is they don’t smell.
Why is that?
One of the reasons why cats don’t smell is because they love grooming themselves.
They are self-cleaning machines.
Their tongues have tiny hooks that grab onto any dirt and remove it from their coat.
The second reason why cats don’t smell is because they have very mild body odors.
Our body odor is primarily caused by sweat.
Although sweat itself doesn’t smell, bacteria in the skin break down the sweat, which is
what produces a nasty smell.
Cats have fewer sweat glands than us and other animals, which are concentrated at their paws,
alongside a few on their lips, nose, and around their anus.
Basically, cats only have sweat glands on hairless areas, but none below their fur.
Therefore, they perspire a lot less than other animals and have a much milder body odor because
of it.
Cleaning the litter box can be a cat owner’s least favorite chore.
Cat litter can track all over the house and you need to clean it everyday because a cat
likes their litter boxes clean.
If you have a good cat litter or litter box it can make cleaning and scooping the litter
box much easier.
Teemo and Arya use a top entry litter box with a removable liner and tofu cat litter
to reduce tracking, bad odor, and make cleaning easier.
I will link them in the description below.
Seeing your cat scratch your furniture can be frustrating.
Scratching is normal behavior for cats, it's a way to relieve stress or mark their territories.
But it's possible to have your cat scratch something else.
One solution is giving your cats a scratching post.
You will need several of them that are strategically placed around your home.
Scratching posts give your cats the freedom to scratch without destroying your furniture.
For Teemo and Arya I blanketed my home with lots of scratching posts and they have not
scratched any of my furniture since.
There are other solutions you can use as well to stop them from scratching your furniture.
Did any of the pros or cons change your decision?
Overall owning a cat has been one of the best decisions in my life.
I now have two best friends that are always there for me.
I have never been happier.
So consider getting a cat.
Comment down below what is your experience owning a cat?