Thinking of Adopting? What to Know Before Bringing a Cat Home
Quick answer: adopting a cat is a 15-to-20-year commitment. Before you go, check your lease allows pets, budget for food, litter, vet care and sterilisation, decide whether a kitten or adult suits your life, and prepare a safe room. Shelters are brilliant at matching personalities, so tell them honestly about your home.
Questions to ask yourself
- Time: can you play with her daily and be home most evenings?
- Space: does your home have room for litter, a scratcher and some vertical space?
- Lease: does your landlord or body corporate allow cats?
- Budget: can you cover food, litter, annual vet care and emergencies?
- Household: allergies, children, other pets?
Kitten or adult?
| Kitten | Adult cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Very high, needs lots of play | Usually calmer |
| Personality | Still forming | What you see is what you get |
| Training | Litter, scratching, handling | Often already trained |
| Good for | Experienced, home-a-lot owners | First-timers, busy homes, flats |
Adult cats are often overlooked at shelters and can be wonderful first cats.
Where to adopt
Your local SPCA and registered welfare organisations have cats who are vet-checked and usually sterilised and vaccinated. Ask about the cat’s history, health and how she does with people and other animals.
Before she comes home
Prepare the basics (litter box, food, bowls, a bed, a scratcher, a carrier) and set up a quiet room. Our New Kitten Checklist works for adult cats too, and the New Kitten Bundle covers most of it in one order.
