| There are two main reasons why people keep cats | | | | the vets for annual vaccinations, worming and any |
| as pets one is that they simply love cats and could | | | | other treatment that it needs. These visits and |
| not imagine a home without at least one. The other | | | | treatments can be costly and it is recommended that |
| reason is that some people simply want a pet animal | | | | you get some type of pet insurance. |
| as part of the family. The cat may fit the bill because | | | | If it is practical you should consider having an external |
| there is not enough space in the home for a larger | | | | cat flap fitted to allow your cat to enter and exit at |
| animal such as a dog. Also a cat can, although not | | | | will. It is almost an essential if you want to train your |
| ideally live in a home without a garden or be left | | | | cat to do its "business" outside of the house. |
| alone whilst their owner is out at work. This is not so | | | | Cats are by nature clean animals and tend to groom |
| easy with dogs. | | | | themselves but they do benefit from a regular |
| Providing you have a friend or neighbour who is | | | | brushing by their owner using a special comb or rack |
| prepared to come in and feed your cat a couple of | | | | that you can buy from the pet store. This is |
| times a day it is also possible to leave a cat on its | | | | especially important if your cat is of the long haired |
| own if you are way for a short time. This again is | | | | variety. These cats if not groomed regularly will |
| something you cannot do with dogs. | | | | ingest the shedding hair and hairball will build up in their |
| Although cats may by comparison be low | | | | stomachs. Although the cat will normally regurgitate |
| maintenance animals you should not be fooled into | | | | these hairballs it cannot be pleasant for them. It is |
| thinking that they can look after themselves | | | | equally unpleasant for you if you have to clean up |
| completely. Apart from feeding at least twice a day | | | | the mixture of hairballs and half-digested food. |
| you have to be prepared to spend some time simply | | | | None of this should put you off choosing a cat as a |
| playing with your cat. This is something that needs to | | | | pet. There are commitments and costs involved in |
| be done on a regular basis. | | | | sharing your home with a cat but the rewards far |
| Even the healthiest kitten or cat will need to go to | | | | outweigh the costs. |