Independent and intellectual (Owning a Cat in General)

Member Name: Ann-Marie_B

Product:	Owning a Cat in General
Date:	23/05/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to care for, independant, playful and loving

Disadvantages: Possibility of vets bills

As a child I owned three cats and as an adult I once again have three cats. I have grown up around these animals and grown to love them for their individual traits and personalities.

Many people are divided on the subject of cats, they seem to be the Marmite of the pet world and people either love them or hate them. As a child my elderly neighbour most certainly hated them and much to her dismay we lived in an area that was rife with strays. Being an animal lover myself however I took it upon myself to put food out for our local strays and eventually tamed them one by one. As they began to multiply in number I helped to gather all of these cats with the help of another neighbour and to send them to a local cattery for re-homing.

One cat however stole our heart, he was jet black and my brother and I had named him Sooty and played with him in the garden on many occasions. Our parents subsequently decided to let us give him a home and he was indeed my very first cat.

I now own a pair of Siamese cats, one chocolate point and one blue tabby point. I also have a kitten who is the offspring of one of my Siamese and the neighbour's domestic cat.

Many people will say that they prefer the loyalty that a dog gives them and they are certainly beneficial in terms of health reasons with the need for regular walks. My husband and I however have very little luck when it comes to owning dogs. Our recent was a rescued Miniature Schnauzer with seemingly the most laid back temperament in the world. However our laid back pooch turned on my husband one evening and landed him in A&E with bites to his hand. Luckily we were able to re-home this dog to a loving and understanding lady who vowed to give her the training and patience that she needed. We simply could not take the risk having a young baby in the house.

Cats are very independent creatures by nature. Although they can be kept as solely indoor pets with the aid of cat grass for digestion and a healthy balanced diet, they will also happily leave the house and occupy themselves. They are not needy of attention though they can be very loveable. I have personally found that male cats are far more loveable than females. Every male cat I have owned has been grateful of attention and a little fuss. Every female cat I have owned however has only been willing to accept petting if she have approached me and chosen to receive my attention.

Cats will usually require two feeds per day of either a moist and dried food (dried food is beneficial to their teeth) or a complete food. My Siamese however are rather picky eaters and will not circle at my feet for food like a regular cat would. I simply leave a plate of food out for their offering and they pick at it at intervals throughout the day. They also require a fresh supply of water throughout the day.

Most cats do not need grooming. They are very hygienic animals and their tongues have tiny needle like hairs which aid self-grooming. Long haired breeds however may need a little extra help to avoid matting of the fur.

With regular vaccinations your cats should stay in great condition. The only risk of course is of accidents which are far more likely outside of the house but can occur indoors too. Do check that any house plants you may have are not poisonous to your cat.

Cats which roam outdoors should wear a collar with identity tag (or be micro-chipped as an alternative) and a loud bell to alert any birds to their presence. Indoor cats will also benefit from some kind of means of identification should they escape. They will also need a scratching post to sharpen their claws otherwise they may take to doing this on your furniture.

Overall cats make great pets. They are playful, most are loveable and yet they are independent too. They will get their own exercise by exploring their surroundings and they are very easy to look after. As aforementioned I have owned cats from a very young age and I personally feel that my house would not feel like a home without one.

Summary: Cats make great pets