Cats, and especially kittens, have a way of charming the pants off of you. Before you know it, you will walk in the door with a cat in your arms and your mother/partner/spouse looking at you while sighing out loud. Believe me, I have been there. However, I had had cats before, and I knew what I was getting myself into…mostly. And even the things I did not know before, I managed to deal with just fine. But I do not have to maintain a household with several kids or a demanding carreer, and cats are, to me, a necessity of life. Not everyone shares my view, or my passion for cats.

Most people get a cat because their kids would like one, which in itself is a good thing, because pets can teach children a sense of responsibility, as well as how to deal with death, when that time does come. Or they would just like a companion for when they come home late at night and cats do not need that much attention, right? Wrong! Cats do need something to do and some attention, otherwise they WILL redecorate your house. And cats do make good pets to teach your kids something, as long as you take the time to teach your kids to respect the cat, and how to take care of the cat. If you do not do that, it will be the cat who suffers the consequences, since you are not likely to put your kids up for adoption.

So if you are going to get a cat, please consider the following consequences of your decision, and make sure you make a well-informed decision. There are so many things to consider. Let us take a closer look at them.

1) “The cost of a kitten” is one of the other articles I wrote, and I would like to refer to it in this time. People often do not realize how expensive a pet can be. After reading this article, you will at least get a bit of a clue on what you may expect. Sure, you might get lucky, but it is always better to be prepared.

2) “What is my lifestyle?” should be the next question. Yes, cats do not ask as much attention or care as a dog. But they do require care. If your job is from 8 till 20, do not expect the cat to be happy, or have a bond with you. And if it does have a bond with you, it will demand all of your evening to get at least some attention. Be aware of that. If you have an incredibly busy life, even if you only work part-time, then the same applies. This is a living creature and as such needs something to do and someone to love.

If you really feel lonely and would like a cat despite this lifestyle, consider getting two. Yes, your bond with the cats will be less since they have each other. But they will have something to do while you are gone, which is annoy each other and that will save a lot of your furniture. Get a lot of toys as well, so they don’t start hunting and chewing your cables for instance. And they will still be happy to see you at night and greet you at the door. But at least they will give you a break as well, instead of clinging to your pants the entire evening.

3)“Will I be able to take care of this cat?” is one other question, especially directed at parents. If you do get your children a cat, then keep in mind you might end up taking care of it. You of course can estimate the level of commitment in your children better, and a cat can be a great tool to teach them responsibility and caring for others. But be aware of the fact that if or when they fail to care for the animal (which is a normal part of learning something), you will have to. And I know enough mothers who have already too much on their plate to then start worrying about another demanding creature. Keep in mind though that the cat did not ask to be there.

This is however also a question for impulse-buyers. If you are presented with the opportunity to take in a lovely adorable kitten, think twice before you accept the challenge of taking care of this little fluff ball. This is also the main reason why kittens SHOULD NEVER be a GIFT. You can not decide for someone else if they are able and willing to take care of a kitten, not to mention that if they are, they should be able to pick the kitten themselves, so they can pick one they feel connected with.

4)”What about holidays?” is another one on the list. Do you have a neighbor who is willing to feed the cat? Your mother will come over? Or are you willing to pay a lot of money to put them in a nice cat hotel? Can you find a cat sitting-service in your town that can come and take care of the cat? Going on weekend just out of the blue is going to be a lot harder too. How many animals aren’t left behind every summer, just because the owners didn’t care what happened to them? Why do you think all the shelters are stuffed in the summer? Abandoned animals and unwanted kittens are a real problem, every year. And although most of you probably cannot imagine doing this to any living creature, there are plenty who do it anyways, the shelters tell us. Be it out of lack of empathy, or out of lack of responsibility, it is horrendous thing yet very real, even in these days.

5) "Am I willing to make some adjustments to my house?" is also one of those things that gets 'discovered' only after the kitten has taken over the house. This largely depends on whether it is an indoor or outdoor cat and whether or not it is a kitten or a cat that has had some human etiquette already.

Still, be prepared to 'kitty-proof' your house, much in the same way you would do when having a toddler crawling around. That means that if you are someone who likes collecting expensive art thingies and putting them on display, you have some serious thinking to do. Same goes for mediageeks. Cables, especially when there are no other toys around, can suddenly get another very inviting function as chasing and biting toy. Make sure you have plenty of 'acceptable' toys around

Decide beforehand where the kitten will be allowed and where not, but make sure kitty can jump occasionally up to something. They love jumping and sitting on stuff. Make it very clear, and stick to the rules, and even then trust that they will try it out when you aint around, so make sure that the stuff up there is safe or is allowed to be tossed around.

Expect behaviour such as opening closets to then sit in , robbing you blind if you leave any food around no matter where you hide it, exploring in the middle of the night because they are bored(and they will get on top of that thing you thought kitty could never reach), crawling in christmas trees, especially the first days when its a new toy, climbing furniture and curtains with their nails, shoelaces and shoes being terrorized especially when kitty puts her toymouse in it, etc etc.

6) "Am I willing to call a vet in the middle of the night and pay the bill that follows?" is another important one. If kitty is ill, are you going to stop your life and give the situation the attention it requires? Coz we all lead lives that live us instead of vice versa. And it is not always easy to bump back an appointment or two so kitty can be sick and be taken care of.

Broken leg, car-accident, 'war wounds' from defending territory, painful eyes from having a claw whacked at it, vaccinations, sterilization or castration or having kittens, Feline Influenza(very contagious), FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease; very common with neutered males), vomitting and diarrhea for days, you name it, these all require a vet, and they are all pretty common things throughout a kitties life.

You see why getting a cat should not be an impulse-decision. It is a commitment that, with any luck, will last at least 14 to 20 years. And although these creatures are so worth it, not everyone is able or willing to give them what they need. They don’t require much, for what they are willing to give back. But they still have needs that need to be met. If you do, then you will have the most loyal, fluffy, purringly happy best friend you could ever imagine (not to mention a killer anti-stress device) ;)