Cat House
Once you’ve made the decision to add a cat to your family, its time to start shopping around. It won’t take long for you to figure out that cats are not hard to come by.
Hopefully, you have already purchased all the necessary supplies for your cat. This includes a cat house, cat kennel and ideally, a cat outdoor run. Cat trees, condos, toys, and cat scratch posts are also recommended. If all these items are in place, finding a cat to enjoy them is the next step. Here are a few places you can find cats or kittens for sale:
- Breeders: If you are
looking for a purebred cat to inhabit your adorable cat house or to enjoy
your cat outdoor kennel, a breeder is the perfect choice. You can search
for breeders online or by asking your veterinarian for recommendations. Many
breeders are listed in the back of cat magazines, so don’t forget to look
there. When selecting a breeder, be sure to find an individual who is
responsible and truly concerned about the welfare of their cats. If
possible, take a tour of the breeder’s facility. Look to see if the cat
houses and cat kennels are clean and smelling fresh. If the cat kennel reeks
of excrement, it is obvious that the kittens have been raised in
unsanitary conditions and may be subject to health problems. However, if
the cat kennels and each cat outdoor run is neat and tidy, you can be
pretty sure you are dealing with a responsible breeder.
- When talking with a breeder, be sure to ask plenty of questions. This will help you determine a breeder’s outlook towards his cats. Plus, you can gain some valuable insight into how to properly care for cats. You may want to ask the breeder what type of cat houses or cat kennels they would recommend. You can also get the benefits of a cat outdoor run or an outdoor cat kennel.
- Pet Stores: Although many pet stores sell kittens, they are not your best option. Especially if you are looking for a vibrant, healthy kitty. Some pet stores buy kittens or cats from “cat mills” where animals are raised in unsanitary cat houses and cat kennels. Oftentimes they have not been seen by a veterinarian and are not vaccinated. You can generally get a good idea of the cat’s overall health by observing the quality of the cat kennel or cat house. If the cat house is filthy and the litter-box doesn’t look like it’s been changed for weeks, you can safely assume that the pet store has not properly cared for its kittens. You will probably want to take your search elsewhere.
- Shelters. If you are looking to be part of the solution to the major pet over-population problem, adopting from a shelter is ideal. Most shelters are overflowing with cats that are in desperate need of loving homes. When visiting a shelter, observe the cats closely to get a feel for their personality. Cats that sit close to the cat house door or cat kennel door tend to be friendlier and outgoing. Cats that cower in the back of their cat house or cat kennels are typically shyer and prefer not to be handled. Most cats at a shelter have already been vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
- Rescue Groups: If you are looking for a purebred cat but cannot afford to buy directly from a breeder, breed-specific rescue groups may be your next best option. Rescue groups are comprised of people who are dedicated to a particular cat breed. Many of the cats needing homes live with members of the rescue organization. You may even find a cat that already has his own cat house or cat kennel, which may end up going home with you.
- Newspaper ads: People looking to get rid of a cat may advertise its availability in a local newspaper. In many cases, these people are not only getting rid of the cat but also all the accessories such as cat houses, cat kennels and cat toys. Oftentimes, people will give these items to you at no additional charge. You may end up with an adorable kitty, a cat house, cat kennel and every play item you could imagine for an extremely reasonable fee—sometimes it even turns out to be free.
- Strays. Stray cats are abundant. No doubt you see them roaming the streets on a regular basis—just looking for a home. Sometimes, a stray cat may adopt you by regularly laying on your porch or visiting you in your yard. Adopting a stray may be just the thing for you. However, in such cases, you may be totally unprepared to care for a cat. This means you will need to hurry up and buy a cat house or cat outdoor run for your new pet. One word of advice: before claiming the cat as your own, check the lost and found section of the newspaper. You may also want to run a brief “Found” blurb, in case someone is actively searching for their lost kitty. If no one claims the cat, take it to the vet to check for a microchip. If nothing turns up, the cat is now yours!
Setting Up Your Cat House
Hopefully you have already purchased your cat houses or cat kennels before you wind up with a new feline family member. But in some cases, particularly if you unexpectedly adopt a stray, you may need to get everything ready last minute. Here are a few items your cat will need to settle into his new home:
- A cat house: Cat’s love to have their own territory. They also enjoy crawling into a secure space where they can snuggle up and relax. As a result, a cat house is a must for every cat or kitten.
- A cat outdoor run: If you want your cat to be able to enjoy some fresh air and exercise, investing in a cat outdoor run is extremely practical. It is also smart. The outdoors contain many dangers that could potentially harm your pet. Having an outdoor cat kennel or outdoor run will keep your pet safe.
- Cat trees: Cats are extremely athletic and love to jump, climb and twirl. Cat trees enable your pet to engage in this behavior without damaging your furnishings.
- Cat scratching posts: Every cat has an incessant need to scratch his claws. This is one habit you will never break. However, you can channel this behavior to an appropriate area—cat scratching posts. You can never have too many of these!
