For anyone considering bringing a cat into their life, it is crucial to do thorough research beforehand. The initial stage of cat ownership can be quite costly. Expenses such as spaying/neutering, vaccination shots, and essential cat supplies can add up quickly. It is advisable to have a budget of around 2000 yuan prepared. While you may not spend the entire amount, this budget generally ensures that you have sufficient funds. If you don’t have the financial means, it’s best to think twice before taking on the responsibility.
Before bringing a cat home, make sure to prepare necessary items including cat litter, cat food, food bowls, cat toys (which are essential to protect your furniture), and a cat cage (an important tool for discipline). When you first bring the cat home, it is recommended to keep it in the cage for at least a week. In my case, I kept my cat in the cage for over half a month initially. Then, I gradually expanded its living area to the balcony, the room, and finally the whole house. This approach helps the cat to stay more settled and less wild. If you have a large home, remember to place multiple cat litter boxes around.
For novice cat owners, it is highly recommended to start raising a cat from a young age. Kittens are more malleable in terms of personality development and are easier to train. Once a cat grows older, it becomes more difficult to manage. I once raised two Chinese rural cats. One of them I started raising from a kitten. I began to cultivate its habits early on. Whenever it sniffed around the trash bin, I would gently shoo it away. If it started tearing paper, I would give it a couple of light pats. If it repeated the misbehavior, I would continue with this form of “loving discipline.” Immediately after these punishments, I would put it in the cage so that it would understand that misbehaving would result in being confined. No matter how pitifully it meowed, I would ignore it. Educating a cat is similar to raising a child. All family members need to be on the same page to help the cat understand clear boundaries between right and wrong. Don’t show any 心软，because giving in now will only lead to more trouble for you in the future. If you do, you’ll have to bear the consequences of being scratched or bitten, or having your home destroyed. It’s also important to establish the habit of trimming its nails from a young age. Kittens are not suitable for frequent bathing as they are prone to catching a cold and getting sick. It’s better to wait until they are a bit older. Once you’ve successfully trained it and its temperament is good, with the help of some cat-washing tools, bathing won’t be too difficult. Also, adult cats have higher immunity. Don’t underestimate a cat’s intelligence. Kittens are quite smart; they can even pretend and read people’s expressions. What may seem like an act is often a display of their cleverness. Many people nowadays struggle with issues like trimming their cats’ nails, dealing with their cats’ mischief at home, or handling their cats’ irritable tempers, but I haven’t encountered these problems with my cat.
The other cat I had was an adopted one, which came to my home at around one year old. At first, it was very picky about food. I had to try putting different things in front of it, and my resident cat had to eat whatever was left over. It was also an expert at rummaging through the trash, causing chaos, and tearing food packaging. It almost led my resident cat astray (although now my resident cat can still be a bit naughty sometimes, but fortunately not too extreme). Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore and sent it away. I realized that I wasn’t the right person to care for it.
I sincerely suggest that if you don’t have the necessary skills and patience, don’t take on the task of cat adoption lightly. Adoption is not as simple as it seems. Raising a cat with a well-developed and mature personality is truly challenging. Unless you plan to let the cat roam freely without concerns, even purebred cats can have bad tempers. Moreover, many purebred cats have congenital diseases and are quite delicate. If they get sick, the cost of treatment may be unaffordable. It’s best to leave cat adoption to those who have the patience and love for it. For impulsive novice owners who adopt a cat halfway through its life, it often leads to suffering for both the owner and the cat. Only if you’re extremely lucky and encounter a cat with an exceptionally good and well-behaved personality will the adoption be a smooth experience.
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