"Should I Get Another Cat?" - A Comprehensive Guide

Are you thinking about getting another cat? Before you actually do, we invite you to keep the things mentioned in this blog post in mind. They will certainly help you avoid a serious mistake and show you whether you really want another cat. The article covers the following criteria: Budget, space, time, other members of the household and your personal commitment. Let's jump right into the first topic.

Cats do cost money. They seem to eat up money like that kitten on the picture above. Now the question is, how much money are you prepared to spend on your next cat?

Before you answer, there are a few different points to consider. 

First of all, a young kitten costs more than an adult cat, hence having a grand impact on the amount of money you will need to spend.

This is why, before you actually think and plan out your budget for a potential new cat in your home, you should be absolutely clear what age your new cat is. Otherwise you could end up with a lot more expenses than you planned for!

Second, you need to be aware of the costs of different breads. Now, I am not talking about the cost of acquiring these breads, because you are surely aware of those.

I am talking about the fact that different breads can vary greatly in the money they need. For example, British Shorthairs are way more susceptible to diseases than other cats and will therefore need a lot more vet visits over the course of their lives than you may be used to. 

A third point to consider is that you may not be able to use your old cat toys for the new cat. Cats can be picky. If another cat already spent extensive time playing with a toy, your new cat may dislike its scent, taste or overall appearance.

In this case, you will need to buy a whole new set of equipment for your new cat! These costs can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars, so be aware of that and plan accordingly.

So, when it comes to budget, take all the costs a cat can cause, keep the things mentioned above in mind and leave a bit of breathing room for extraordinary costs. You may want to grab some additional cat accessories for your new cat once it is here.

You may even become addicted to wearing cat accessories your own. I am long past that and my whol wardrobe, as well as jewelry wardrobe is filled with cat fashion and cat jewelry. I usually get a piece at KittySensations every other month.

Now, you don't have to spend money on these kind of things, but it's a great way to embrace your cats and I love doing it. I wouldn't like cutting my budget here.

So be aware not only of the "must-have" costs, but also the "nice-to-have" ones. Once you get your first piece of kitty earrings, you will be glad you did.

Cats are highly territorial and like to roam around, observe and have control over their 'kingdom'. It's not uncommon that cats don't like a newly introduced kitty simply because they deem it an intruder to their personal space.

Now before you think you need a big house with a 1000 square feet garden, relax. There is no need for that. 

This section rather aims at giving you a hint that you shouldn't just 'put' a new cat into your cat's space. Be aware of their personal space. Keep the new cat separate from the house cat at first and introduce them to each other step-by-step. 

Of course, it's helpful if there are more than 2 rooms to explore for your kittens, but that doesn't mean they can't be happy in smaller apartments (especially if they have the ability to roam around outside).

This correct way of introducing a new cat takes up time. A lot. Don't think you can go to the breeder, buy a cat of your choice and unpack it in the living room like a Christmas present. Your cat may not appreciate that.

Take a day or two off and invest the time in familiarizing them. You will be glad you did the following years. Catster has a great guide on how to do this properly.

Although cats are rather self-reliant and don't need to much care, they still take up quite a bit of time in one's life. If you are thinking about getting a new cat, be prepared to spend double the time you need for the cat you own right now.

You may say "I don't believe that", and that's okay with me. I get it. Cats are so self-reliant, why would you spend DOUBLE the time for the additional cat? 

First of all, trips to the vets get at least twice as frequent. If your cats don't get along, multiply that by a lot. 

Second, cats need attention and can get jealous. For some cats, playing with you together with a feline friend just doesn't cut it in regard to them feeling appreciated. They long for more and they will get it.

Third, cats can be messy. Not in terms of their hygiene, luckily, but in terms of them playing, scratching and using everything in your house.

Maybe you taught your cat not to scratch the walls. Well, have fun doing that again with the new one because these walls look very handy for a quick scratch!

So, ask yourself: Am I ready to spend double (or even more) of the time I am spending right now for the new cat? Can I handle this considering my work, social life, kids and other responsibilities? 

If you are not answering this with a clear 'YES', then you shouldn't get another cat.

So up until now, you want another cat. That's great! Now does your household consist of any other members besides you and your current cat?

This point might seem obvious but bear with me here: Kids will most likely say yes to a new cat. Sweet! But keep in mind that kids often are not able to grasp the consequences of their decisions yet. 

They might agree on cleaning up on the new cat, feeding and playing with it. Beware of these promises because next thing you know they completely forget about what they said, and you end up doing everything yourself.

Also, kids aren't that "skilled" with cats. They sometimes deem cats as cute, fluffy teddy bears that are just waiting to be hugged. For some cats, this couldn't be further from the truth though!

Think about it: There is a risk a new cat won't get along with a child. Are you and is your child prepared for such a situation?

Have you ever had a needy cat meow at 3am in the morning? If not, lucky you...

I think we can all agree on the fact that there are negative aspects of owning a cat. It's not all rainbow and sunshine and that's completely ok.

You are not owning a stuffed pet, but a real animal with feelings, moods and desires. In my opinion, it's a beautiful thing to have a cat around you and you should be thankful for it.

But too much is too much. If your current (or new) cat is exceptionally clingy, then you will have times in your night where you wish you didn't have a cat.

It's no different with a new cat and now you know by a fact that you are going to have twice the amount of unpleasant moments caused by your cats. I think they are heavily outweighed by the positive ones, but not everybody can agree on that. 

Moreover, the new cat will probably stick around for 15+ years. I know it's kind of a fundamental question to ask, but where do you want to be in 15 years from now?

So many people eventually change their direction in life, decide to travel, move or something similar, hence leaving their cat alone in a shelter. I don't judge them and it's better to listen to your inner voice instead of staying where you are just because of your cat.

However, your cat won't think it's better. Seriously ask yourself the question whether you will want to have a cat in 15 years from now. It is in no means an easy one to answer, but take your time on this one. 

Whether it is the costs of the new cat, the time you spend with it, the space you need for it, the acceptance of others or your own, personal commitment, there are arguments for and against buying a new cat.

You can be the only one who can answer the questions I asked you in this article seriously. Be faithful with yourself and answer them correctly. For the sake of your own, your loved one's and your potential new cat's well-being.

I hope I could guide you in the right direction and I am sure you will make the right decision regarding whether or not to buy or adopt another kitty.

As always, thank you for reading and be sure to check out my other posts for more cat talk!

Until next time.