A Kitten or a Cat How to Adopt a New Pet

Whenever most people make the decision to adopt a new pet, they tend to gravitate toward the little ones.  These baby dogs and cats known as puppies and kittens put smiles on the faces of everyone.  While there are advantages to adopting a young kitten, there are also reasons to consider the full grown cat.  How should you decide?  Here are some things to consider.

A kitten is cute.  This is a fact that no human can deny.  New kittens are so cute the way they jump and play that it is hard for people to resist them.  However, a kitten may not be the best choice for your household.

When you adopt a new kitten be aware that a lot of preparation is required.  The kitten will need to be litter box trained.  Training usually goes smoothly, but it does mean that you may have to deal with cat urine issues.  A new kitten will have to be taught what is off limits and what is OK to play with.

When you adopt this new kitten you will need to baby proof your home, making sure that it does not have easy access to electrical cords and other dangerous objects that felines will gravitate toward.

Adopting a new kitten

Kittens are filled with boundless energy, and this can be a reason to adopt one, but it could also be a reason to veer away. If you will have the time to spend with kitten, playing and petting, then certainly adopt the little fellow.

A kitten may not be the best choice if you have very little time.  They need play time, and they definitely need human interaction to develop good social cat behavior.

Consider the age of children in your home when adopting a new pet. If very young kids are in your home then a kitten may not be right for your family. Keep in mind that kittens can be hurt by small children that might play to rough.

A grown cat can offer a bypass on much of the stress that comes along with raising and training a kitten.  Since the cat is most likely already litter trained, you will be able to introduce it to your home without much of a headache.

Even though an adult cat may not have the cute factor they are still affectionate and playful.  At the same time, a cat is not as dependent upon attention from their owner.  Cats enjoy their private time too.

Getting a full grown cat

One very large problem that can arise when adopting a grown cat is that you will not know its background.  Animals that have been neglected or abused may have behavioral issues that can pose difficult hurdles in your relationship. Usually, these problems can be overcome with some attention, patience, and reading some books about cats.

When you adopt a new pet cat or a kitten, consider the animal’s personality and the amount of attention and training you will need to devote to your new pet.  There are definite advantages to either choice, but the ultimate decision will hinge on which will work best in your home environment.  Remember that kittens use cuteness to get adopted so be strong when deciding.