Kittens are wonderful. My heart melts when I see one in a TV commercial, a picture or in person. They just have a way of taking down our walls and releasing the kid in us.
Unfortunately, the kid in us sometimes makes decisions that the adult in us lives to regret. Impulse kitten purchases do not always make the best start in life with the new family.
To prevent that from happening, here is a list of questions you can ask yourself (and your family) BEFORE you take that cute kitten home.
Do you know what you’re looking for?
Male/Female
Size
Activity Level
Specialized markings
Lifestyle Questions
How active and busy are you – can you include your pet in the activities?
What do you do with the kitten when you travel or are on vacation?
Home/ Family Questions
Do you have young children? Will you help them adjust to the new addition?
Do you have an area the kitten can call her own?
How long at a time will the kitten be alone in the home?
Basic Needs and Beyond
The absolute basics for a pet are food, shelter and water. These are human basics as well. But we know that to make life rich, we have to include a little more than that! Are you willing and able to meet the emotional and social needs of your new pet? Cost Obviously, you know that there are costs to owning a pet. Be sure that you check your budget and plan for your new addition:
Initial cost of your pet.
Start up costs
You may want to check out Shopping List
Vet bills. You may want to check with your local vet to see what their prices are so you know how to budget appropriately. Here are some things to consider: yearly checkups, vaccinations, deworming, heartworm and unexpected illnesses or accidents.
Food
The Joy of it All!
If you can answer those questions with reasonable and workable answers, then YES consider having a kitten or adult join your home. NOTHING can beat snuggling with your kitten and having her purr! Pets are absolutely wonderful, that’s why we have them at our place! They are great for our kids and great for us. Having a purr on your shoulder has got to be one of the best feelings ever; it sure takes the edge off whatever happened at work that day!
Unfortunately, the kid in us sometimes makes decisions that the adult in us lives to regret. Impulse kitten purchases do not always make the best start in life with the new family.
To prevent that from happening, here is a list of questions you can ask yourself (and your family) BEFORE you take that cute kitten home.
Do you know what you’re looking for?
Male/Female
Size
Activity Level
Specialized markings
Lifestyle Questions
How active and busy are you – can you include your pet in the activities?
What do you do with the kitten when you travel or are on vacation?
Home/ Family Questions
Do you have young children? Will you help them adjust to the new addition?
Do you have an area the kitten can call her own?
How long at a time will the kitten be alone in the home?
Basic Needs and Beyond
The absolute basics for a pet are food, shelter and water. These are human basics as well. But we know that to make life rich, we have to include a little more than that! Are you willing and able to meet the emotional and social needs of your new pet? Cost Obviously, you know that there are costs to owning a pet. Be sure that you check your budget and plan for your new addition:
Initial cost of your pet.
Start up costs
You may want to check out Shopping List
Vet bills. You may want to check with your local vet to see what their prices are so you know how to budget appropriately. Here are some things to consider: yearly checkups, vaccinations, deworming, heartworm and unexpected illnesses or accidents.
Food
The Joy of it All!
If you can answer those questions with reasonable and workable answers, then YES consider having a kitten or adult join your home. NOTHING can beat snuggling with your kitten and having her purr! Pets are absolutely wonderful, that’s why we have them at our place! They are great for our kids and great for us. Having a purr on your shoulder has got to be one of the best feelings ever; it sure takes the edge off whatever happened at work that day!
