There are so many things I wish I knew before getting a cat. For example, I was blissfully ignorant about how bad kitten poop smells (spoiler alert: really, REALLY bad) and I had no idea that some cats will counter-surf even more than dogs!
And here I was thinking that all I needed to worry about was investing in good quality food, a few of the best interactive cat toys, a cozy bed, and a decent litter box – and that my new cat would pretty much look after themself. I could not have been more wrong.
Still, for all their mischief, I would not change life with our two cats for anything. My two cats, Roxy and Teddy, bring so much joy into our family and they are forever making us laugh with their crazy antics.
That being said, there are more than a few things I wish I'd known before we adopted them. Things that would most definitely have saved my sanity...and our furniture! I hope that in sharing them, you'll be slightly better prepared for cat ownership than I was.
32 things I wish I knew before getting a cat
1. Choosing a cat based on breed characteristics doesn't mean that's the cat you'll get
Looking for a high energy cat breed that will want to play with you? Surely a Bengal is a good bet. Or perhaps you're after one of the most affectionate cat breeds who love a good cuddle? In that case, a ragdoll is sure to be a winner. Well....perhaps. While considering the traits you're after in a feline friend and opting for a breed who's likely to behave in that way is a good starting point, it's worth noting that all cat's have their own unique personalities.
For example, we have a British Shorthair who is far more affectionate than we expected and my parents have a ragdoll who is the least cuddly cat you'll ever meet. As cat owners, it's important to love the feline friend we have, not the one we may have wanted.
2. They're a lot more work than I expected
I know, you think I would have seen this coming, don't you? But for some reason, I had in my head that cats were a lot more low maintenance than dogs. While this is true in some respects, cats can be full-on in their own way.
High maintenance cat breeds, like the Burmese and Siamese, require a lot of mental stimulation and can be more than a little demanding if they don't get it. Then there's the brushing, the nail clipping, the trips to the vet and the cleaning of the litter box. I adore our two cats, but they take a lot more of my time and energy than I thought they would.
3. Thinking about the day when they're not here demanding my attention breaks my heart
Yes, it's morbid that I already think about this when both our cats are still so young, but it definitely creeps into my mind from time to time. I've lived with cats all my life and saying goodbye never gets easier.
Learning how to cope with the loss of a pet has its challenges, but it's never stopped me from welcoming more feline friends into my life – if anything, these little creatures have expanded my capacity for love and I'm so grateful to them for that.
4. No one prepares you for just how stinky kitten poop can be
Oh. My. Word. Before we welcomed our kitten, Teddy, into our lives, I had absolutely no idea how strong the smell of kitten poop could be. I swear that a cat can clear a room with just one small bowel movement. And before you ask, yes we feed her the best kitten food and no, she doesn't have any health problems. What comes out of her is just really, really stinky. Our vet says it will get better as she gets older. Let's hope so!
5. It can take time for harmony to return in multi-cat households
Keeping the peace in a multi-pet household isn't always easy. When we got Teddy, we hoped she and Roxy would hit it off and they'd be good company for each other. Roxy is very social and we thought she might enjoy having another cat around, but things haven't gone as smoothly as we hoped.
Even though we did everything by the book – keeping them apart for a week, introducing them to each other's scent, letting them meet through a barrier first – their interactions with each other remain somewhat unpredictable. A lot of that is due to Teddy's kitten energy, so we hope as she gets older that our home may return to its once-harmonious state.
6. Nice furniture is a thing of the past
When it comes to how to keep cats from scratching furniture, it took me ages to figure out a solution that would work 90% of the time. Investing in the best cat scratching post that money can buy and positioning it right by the corner of the couch where our cats love to scratch has dramatically decreased the amount of couch scratching they do. Although they still have the odd moment where they pull themselves along the bottom of it just for fun.
7. Training them is essential
I don't know about you, but when I think about training pets, it's dogs that always spring to mind. And yet it turns out that there are so many reasons to train your cat from improving their behavior to giving their brains and bodies a much-needed workout.
You may be wondering can you train a cat? After all, aren't they super independent and stubborn? Well, yes, some can be, and training a cat isn't as straightforward as training a dog, but rest assured, it can be done. I've trained mine to do all sorts of things from using their litter box and scratching post to not sinking their claws into me when we play. It takes time but boy oh boy is it worth it.
8. They'll cost you more than you think
Cats aren't as cheap as I hoped they'd be. It's not just basic things like purchasing the best cat food, toys, and other equipment that add up, it's also all those other unforeseen expenses that can hit without warning. For example, there's an unneutered male cat on our street who came into our backyard recently and left a rather nasty wound at the base of Roxy's tail. She needed a week's worth of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to clear it up, poor thing.
And then there's Teddy, who's showing signs of having a tooth problem common with British Shorthairs and may need to have several of them extracted. Most of us think about the day-to-day expenses of pet ownership, but we may not consider all these other things that have a tendency to crop up.
9. Cats shed...a lot
And I'm saying that as someone who has two low-shedding breeds. But even with them having short coats, they still moult twice a year like nobody's business. Thankfully, both Roxy and Teddy love a good going over with their favorite brush, so daily grooming sessions definitely help when it comes to finding less fur on the floor.
10. If they're allowed outdoors, be prepared for presents
I'm not sure if it was pure coincidence or if Roxy knew it was my birthday, but last year I woke up to find she'd bought me a present – a live rat. Yes, an actual full-sized adult rat. In my house. On my birthday. I'm not sure who was more freaked out by all of this, me or the rat. Roxy loves bringing us live gifts, especially in the springtime when birds and mice are out in abundance. Thankfully Teddy's idea of a present is a leaf from the garden – foliage I can handle, rats I cannot!
11. Cats need lots of enrichment to keep them happy and healthy
Unless you have a low-energy cat breed who really just wants to spend the day chilling, expect to invest some serious time in playing with your cat. While some will play independently (Teddy does this wonderfully) others won't (Roxy is a great example) so you'll want to spend around 15-20 minutes twice a day playing with them using some of the best cat toys.
12. They will put muddy paw prints all over your clean white sheets
I honestly thought this was just a dog thing, but nope, it's a cat thing, too! Neither of our cats venture far and they've never gone long but they enjoy spending time exploring in the backyard each day. They seem to be particularly fond of doing this in the rain and then making a beeline for our bed where they'll happily parade their dirty paws all the way across the crisp white sheets that I've usually just put on!
13. If they don't get fed on time, they'll absolutely let you know
I've learned that a regular feeding schedule is really important when you have cats. Our feline friends are real creatures of habit and they love it if they have a predictable routine. If I'm late giving them breakfast or dinner, Roxy and Teddy will be only too happy to come and remind me in the loudest voices they can muster.
14. There are lots of house plants that are toxic to cats
Roxy isn't particularly interested in any of the plants we have indoors, but when we welcomed Teddy into the family, I made sure to read up on cat-safe houseplants as I was worried that being young she may try to eat them. Thankfully, she's not fussed by them either, but it was still surprising to learn just how many plants aren't safe to have in the home if you have cats around.
15. Milk can cause an upset stomach
Did you know that most cats are lactose intolerant? It's true! I didn't realize this when I was growing up and would often give our family cats warm milk in the winter as a treat. Oops! Thankfully, I don't think my well-intentioned deed did them any harm, but I make sure to steer clear of milk with Roxy and Teddy.
16. Falling in love with them is often instantaneous
My husband adopted Roxy before we met. Just like with people, there's a chemistry to humans and pets that's either there or it isn't and from the moment I met Roxy, I adored her. Thankfully, the feeling was mutual and we've had a special bond ever since. It took me a little longer with Teddy and that's not because she's not wonderful, but likely more due to the fact that I already had such a deep connection with Roxy and no two cats are the same. I now love them both to bits and can't imagine my life without them.
17. Cats are not the loners we're led to believe
When it comes to little known facts about cats, how much most of them love human company is right up there. We're often told that cats are independent and aloof and while that can be true, it's not the whole picture. Some of our feline friends are true Velcro cats who like to be with their owners at all times while others are happy to spend some time alone and some time with their human family. Whatever the case, almost all cats like some degree of human companionship.
18. Cats show affection in their own way
Not all kitties are lap cats, but that doesn't mean they're not affectionate. Neither Roxy nor Teddy want to curl up on our knee but they're both so loving in their own way and have their own way of showing affection. Roxy will often jump up on my desk to say hello when I'm working or sit beside me in search of a chin scratch. And Teddy is like my second shadow, following me from one room to the next. They may not show affection in the way we expect, but our cats are always saying 'I love you' using whatever means feels most comfortable to them.
19. They can get into a lot of mischief
There are some things you only know if you're a cat owner, and just how much mischief our feline friends can get into is high on the list. It's not unusual for me to hear a loud crash and come upstairs to investigate only to find that Teddy was using the clothes airer as a balancing beam and has fallen down the middle (usually with a softened fall thanks to a sheet or sweater!). And then there's Roxy who gets a real twinkle in her eye that can only mean one thing – I'm about to climb the curtains and there's nothing you can do to stop me. And these are just the things they get up to when I'm home! Goodness knows what goes on when I'm out.
20. Your cat will prevent you from getting any work done ever again
There are so many reasons cats are the perfect companions – for starters, they’re great company. But there is one area of life that our feline friends can make tricky, and that’s trying to get any work done. My most productive work hours are always when both cats are sleeping, if they’re up and about you can bet they’ll be hanging out on my desk demanding pets and playtime, which makes it very tricky to get anything else done.
21. There is not box in the world that your cat will not try and squeeze themselves into
I have yet to meet a box that Roxy and Teddy haven't instantly fallen in love with – so much so that squabbles often break out over who the box belongs to! We may have bought them a range of the best automated cat toys, but if it comes down to a choice between those and a box, the box will win every time.
22. They'll audition for Cirque du Soleil on an almost daily basis
I swear that if Roxy were allowed to run away and join the circus, she'd be off in a heartbeat. She constantly amazes me with her impressive agility and ability to make scaling to new heights look completely effortless. Of course, often the things she chooses to climb are our curtains or shelves, but thankfully she's so graceful that nothing has been broken yet!
23. Some are better travellers than others
Traveling with pets isn’t always easy and how well your kitty will tolerate it will depend on their temperament. Teddy is very laid back and really isn’t all that bothered about being in the car or in a new location. Roxy, however, is another story.
While she’s a fairly good car traveler, she absolutely hates being out of her own environment and isn’t shy when it comes to letting us know how she feels about it. We’ve learned that when we need to go out of town, it’s best to leave Roxy behind and have someone come in each day to check on her and feed her. Although she hates being separated from us, she’s still a much happier cat when she can stay home.
24. Trying to get them into their carrier may raise your blood pressure
Investing in the best cat carrier is one thing, trying to get your feline friend into it can be quite another! We have a rather hilarious situation in our house with our two cats being at opposite ends of the spectrum. Teddy will walk into her carrier the minute the door is opened with absolutely zero fuss. Roxy, on the other hand, is the perfect example of a stubborn cat who does not want to get in a carrier. She will make sure all four of her legs go in opposite directions to make it absolutely impossible to get her in. It’s a real comedy of errors to get that cat safely stowed away!
25. They make for very nosy neighbors
Our Burmese/British Shorthair cross, Roxy, spends so much time sitting at the window surveying what’s going on up and down our street that I’m pretty sure she thinks she’s head of our local Neighborhood Watch group. Thankfully, everyone thinks she’s adorable, so nobody seems too bothered that a nosey feline is watching their every move.
26. Cats like to counter surf just as much as dogs
When we first welcomed Teddy into our family, I was shocked to discover on more than one occasion a very guilty-looking kitten with butter all over her whiskers. Turns out young Teddy has zero clue that she's lactose intolerant and will attempt to devour any and all dairy products left on our counter.
There are so many funny things cats do, but finding Teddy’s face covered in cream is definitely one of those things that had us laughing and shaking our heads. And here I was thinking that counter-surfing was just a dog thing!
27. You’ll never sleep in again
I’m serious. If lazy Sunday mornings in bed appeal to you, you may want to rethink getting a cat! I can count on one hand the number of mornings our beloved bundles of fluff have let us sleep past 5am. I’m pretty sure all those meows at our door translate loosely into “we ordered breakfast, not brunch”.
28. Cat zoomies are a real thing
When we think of the zoomies, we often think of dogs but cat zoomies are a thing, too. Our two cats love tearing around the house a few times a day to burn off energy, which is absolutely fine and rather hilarious – as long as I’m not halfway up or down the stairs carrying a heavy load of laundry, which is usually the time they decide to dart between my legs!
29. Applying those monthly flea treatments isn’t always hard work
Making sure your feline friend gets a monthly dose of the best flea treatment for cats is so important for their physical health. Cats have a bit of a reputation for doing a runner the minute they sense they’re about to get a cold blob of topical flea treatment on the back of their neck, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how easy it’s been to apply Roxy and Teddy’s treatment each month.
As long as they get a treat and a fuss at the end of it, they’re more than happy to stand still and let me do it – I think I might have struck the kitty jackpot with those two!
30. They’ll come to feel like family
For such small creatures, our cats become such big parts of our lives – so much so that they truly feel like members of the family. Whether you’ve had them for just a few weeks or more than a decade, once you’ve welcomed a cat into your life, it’s impossible to imagine life without them.
31. Your camera roll will be taken up with photos of your feline friend
So, a confession: sometimes I have to scroll way back to find photos of people on my phone. But our cats? Well, finding photos of them is no trouble at all. I really don’t think this is my fault though, it’s theirs for being so darn cute!
32. They own us – they’re just kind enough to let us think it’s the other way around
I know, I bet if you were anything like me you thought you were the owner of your cat not the other way around, right? And yet, kind as they are to let us think we’re number one, I think we all know that it’s our cats who rule the roost!
Find out how it went when I introduced my cats to each other – and why play helped reduce fighting!
