Have you been going back and forth in your head about adopting a cat? Do you know everything you need to know to be a good cat owner? June is Adopt a Cat Month, so we encourage you to adopt a cat if you want to become a cat owner, but we want you to be sure before you take on that responsibility. Here are some things to know before adopting a cat:

1. Talk to your family members before bringing a new cat home. Make sure everyone knows that the fun begins only after kitty feels safe and her needs are met. Once you’re sure everyone is ready for feeding, litter changing and grooming, you can divvy up chores among family members so everyone is prepared to care for kitty before she arrives.
2. Have all of your cat’s needs ready so she can get right down to the business of making herself at home.
3. Choose a low-traffic room your kids and other pets don’t frequent—this will be your cat’s safe space to sniff, eat, scratch and play while she gets her bearings. Arrange her food and water bowls, bed and litter box—and scatter her toys around.
4. Give your cat a little structure to lean on. For the first few weeks, provide him with the same kind of food and feeding schedule he had before living with you—and give him the same brand of litter, too, for a familiar scent and feel on his paws.
5. When your cat is ready to explore the rest of her new home (for short excursions at first), be sure to get rid of stray items she might chew on or swallow, like toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. Pens and pencils may need to be kept in drawers. You may also have to tape wires to baseboards and put caps on outlets.

Are you ready for the responsibility and loads of fun with your new cat? Hopefully, these tips help you to finalize your decision on becoming a cat owner. Happy Adopting!

Source: ASPCA

Photo Credit: vincent.chen