Reply to Please talk me out of (or into?) getting a cat

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[quote=Anonymous]I've had both. Cats are much easier to care for than dogs. You rarely (if ever) need to bathe them. You don't have to walk them, and while they require playtime, it's not the same level of exertion that a dog requires. You have more freedom to travel, and usually, don't need to hire a sitter for trips less than four days. They're quieter.

If you get a cat, I recommend getting a young cat or kitten, because you're less likely to inherit behavioral issues. As far as scratching furniture, if you curb the scratching/marking behavior early on, you can avoid this problem. De-clawing is cruel and can cause more negative behavioral issues. Most reputable shelters and veterinarians greatly discourage the practice. Nail trimming every 2-4 weeks helps to prevent kittens and cats from accidentally inflicting a bad scratch when playing with people. Again, scratching and biting behaviors should be discouraged and not tolerated from the beginning of the animal's introduction into your home. As mentioned, cats like to climb and be up high, but you can certainly train them not to jump onto counter tops and other banned places. Preventing these types of behaviors requires some work on your part in the beginning, but in my experience, they figure it out  quickly.

Yes, they shed, but my large dogs shed much more than my cats. Investing in a high quality brush helps significantly. Buy a track mat/pad for outside the litter box. A good quality food helps to prevent health issues, including UTIs.

Like any aging animal, the level of commitment and expense rises as they get older. Renal failure, thyroid problems, and cancer are common and may require frequent vet visits and medications if you choose to treat these conditions.

Good luck in your decision. Our last cat died before I had my daughter, and we decided to wait until she was 4yo to adopt another. We got a kitten last year, and we've really enjoyed the addition to our family.

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