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Cats are wonderful pets and our feline friends can make excellent companions.  It is important to think carefully about the responsibility of cat ownership before you adopt or purchase a cat or a kitten however. A cat's average lifespan ranges from 15-20 years, so needless to say, owning a cat is a long-term commitment . Speak to your local veterinarian and other cat owners to gather as much information as you can to help you make a responsible and well-informed decision.

Carefully consider the following checklist before adopting or purchasing a feline companion. Either click your way directly to your area of interest below, or study our entire page for an exhaustive summary of all that you need to know to properly care for your feline friend!

Should I adopt a cat?

Owning a cat is incredibly rewarding. As the cat's owner it is your responsibility to:

• Microchip and register your cat.

• Vaccinate your cat annually.

• Consult a veterinarian if your cat gets sick or injured.

• Maintain a proper worming and flea regime (please advise your vet before administering any medication).

In addition to this, it is necessary to provide your cat with a well balanced diet, quiet, comfortable areas to sleep as well as toys and scratching posts to encourage play and exercise. You must also take the appropriate measure to prevent your cat from wandering off the property.

While cats generally require less care than other domestic animals, the RSPCA strongly recommends that prospective cat owners consider the time, finances and the commitment to provide the standard of care a pet will need.

Before acquiring your cat it is also a good idea to check with your local council to find out about any restrictions on cat numbers and housing requirements.

Choosing the purrfect cat

Short or long coat

All cats moult or lose hair throughout the year. Short haired cats such as the Russian Blue, English Shorthair or Domestic Shorthair moult less frequently than longhaired cats, so they will benefit from a weekly brush to remove excess hair.

Medium haired cats such as the Ragdoll, Balinese and Domestic medium-hair, all benefit from a brush every two to three days to remove extra hair. Long haired cats need daily grooming to maintain their long coat and breeds such as Persian, Maine Coon, Birman and Domestic long hair, need extra attention to ensure that the coat doesn’t become matted and painful.

While all cats will groom themselves, medium and long haired cats require help to maintain a coat that is free of tangles or matts. A matted coat will be painful for your cat and may require the attention of a vet who will have to sedate the cat in order to remove tangles properly. This an expensive procedure and an unpleasant experience for your cat, so routine grooming will prove favourable.

Purebred or crossbred

While some prospective owners know precisely what they are looking for, having fallen in love with a particular breed, its temperament, look, and specific traits, others simply let themselves be won over by a cheeky grin. Regardless of whether you purchase a crossbred or purebred cat though, your new addition to the family will no doubt prove a loving and faithful companion for years to come.

Crossbred – RSPCA Adoption Centres have both purebred and crossbred cats. Crossbred cats a nondescript breed that have resulted from a natural breeding between cats of different breeds. Crossbred cats come in many different colours, coat lengths, and temperaments.

Purebred – There are over 40 recognised cat breeds in Australia. Purebred cats are available at RSPCA Adoption Centres and breeders.  Breeders can be researched online and can be met in person at cat shows.  Purchasing from a breeder can involve  significant costs as well as waiting lists for most breeds. It is important to ensure that your breeder is registered through a cat club as a registered breeder. The RSPCA also strongly advises against the purchase of animals through pet shops, as these businesses are often more concerned with profit rather than the long-term welfare of the animal.

Male or female

Once cats are desexed, little differentiates the male from the female. Like people, cats have their own temperament and character traits, which is prone to become more distinct after they have been desexed. Failing to desex your cat, either male or female, will prove troublesome to you, your cat and your neighbourhood. An entire tomcat will display many unwelcome habits such as spraying, calling, fighting and increased aggression. An entire female will call incessantly when she is in heat and will be very difficult to control.

By desexing your cat, you are preventing it from contributing to the very serious over-population of kittens and cats. Entire male cats run the risk of testicular cancer, abscesses caused by fighting, being hit by a car while roaming, FIV (Feline Aids) and FeLV (Feline Leukaemia virus). Entire female cats have a greater risk of breast cancer and can develop pyometra (infection of the uterus), and can contract FIV and FeLV from an infected male. Some entire females will often go off their food when they are in heat (which happens several times a year). Entire males will roam the neighbourhood looking for a female to mate with. When your cat has been desexed, its mind is no longer set on finding a partner and will consequently display more interest in taking part in the family.

If you already have a cat at home - it is recommended you choose a cat of the opposite gender to your own, since cats of opposite genders will generally get along better and be less inclined to display territorial behaviours such as spraying.

Cat or kitten

While kittens, playful and exuberant by nature, are a lively addition to any household, cats, more independent and self-sufficient, are equally loving and can be perfectly suited to those in search of a more relaxing companionship. In order to find a suitable match to your own individual needs and lifestyle, the choice between purchasing a cat or kitten should take into consideration a number of points:

Which breed?

With over 40 recognised breeds in Australia, it is about finding a cat that best suits your lifestyle. If you want an outgoing chatty cat, then an oriental breed such as Siamese, Tonkinese, Burmese or the newer Bengal is probably what you are after. If you prefer a quieter cat, then the Birman, Ragdoll, British Blue, Russian Blue or Scottish Fold would suit a quieter household. If luxurious long hair strikes your fancy, and you have the time for grooming, then you will definitely love the Persian, Chinchilla or Maine Coon. Crossbred cats can have characteristics of many breeds and come in many different colours. When choosing your cat, it is important to take into consideration the cat that bonds with you most. While you may want the black smoke Maine Coon, it might be the tabby that chooses you instead!

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Caring for your cat

Bringing your cat home

Before you bring your cat to its new home, there are a few items you need to acquire in preparation of its arrival.
These include:

• Selection of food (wet and dry).

• Water and food bowl.

• Basket or bed.

• Grooming brush.

• Scratching post.

• Litter tray with litter.

• Toys.

Housing

It doesn’t take much to make a cat happy. All they need is a comfortable chair, box or basket in a place where they feel safe and protected. They will usually find a corner that suits them best no matter how carefully you plan. Before you bring your cat or kitten home, it is necessary to consult your local council and enquire about its regulations regarding housing restrictions. Some councils have introduced restrictions on cats such as night curfews, compulsory containment within a property and compulsory desexing. It is important that you find out what these requirements are before you bring your new cat home.

As more councils introduce compulsory containment and night curfews, increasingly more people are turning to the use of cat enclosures to keep kitty safe. These enclosures are not cages, but safe and enjoyable areas where your cat can play all day and night without danger to themselves or the wildlife. There are many companies which build both custom and flat-pack enclosures and they are easy to set up and maintain.

The cat uses its claws for climbing and to defend itself, and usually keeps them in immaculate condition. Cats with access to the outdoors sharpen their claws on trees in the garden. Some however, prefer household furniture to tree trunks, and the resultant damage can be severe. To prevent your favourite sofa being scratched, it is best to provide them with an alternative. A scratching post can be purchased from a range of outlets (including RSPCA Adoption Centres) for your cat to use. If you do see your cat scratching furniture, it is a good idea to pick him up with a firm 'no’, place him on the scratching post and reward him for scratching on the post. Animals learn through positive reinforcement, so rewarding them for using the scratching post will soon change their habit of using the sofa. If this method proves unsuccessful, some cats respond well to attractant sprays and deterrent adhesive tape which attract the cat to scratch (attractant sprays) or not to scratch (deterrent tape) in a particular area. In general, a cat should have access to the house and its sleeping quarters at all times, day or night. A cat door fitted into an external door of the house is a very useful aid, and if properly installed is burglar-proof. The cat should always be contained indoors, or in an enclosure, at night. It is also important to note that cats who spend more time outdoors are increasingly likely to become injured or become a nuisance. Indoor cats in fact have longer life spans and lead healthier lives.

Litter

Cats are the most fastidious of animals, liking to be clean at all times. As a consequence, cats are easily house-trained to a litter tray filled with dry earth, sand, or cat litter.

Litter trays should be placed in a secluded area that provides some privacy for the cat when toileting; the laundry is often the area of choice. The litter tray should be cleaned daily (removal of faeces) and the litter changed frequently. Depending on a number of variables (such as the type and amount of littler used, how many cats access the tray, whether the cat is an indoor cat or one who toilets both indoors and out), the frequency the litter should be changed will vary according to each individual households particular needs. Cats will not toilet in an unclean tray, so keeping it clean will reduce the chance of inappropriate toileting in the rest of the house.

Exercise

All cats need to exercise. If your cat has access to the outdoors, they will have multiple opportunities to exercise (on trees, fences, etc). If you have an indoor cat, a large scratching post or ‘kitty gym’ will be the best way to go. Cats naturally like to be up high and commonly enjoy perching themselves on tables, benches, backs of chairs and occasionally the tops of doors. A cat tree can however prove an effective alternative if you're not keen on having your cat lounge on the furniture. Cat enclosures also create a great opportunity for your cat to be up high and safely away from neighbourhood cats. Placing cat runs in high places, such as under eves and on top of garages, allows your cat to survey its territory while in the safety of its enclosure.

Grooming

Almost all cats require grooming assistance from their owners. Grooming time can be an enjoyable bonding time with your cat and is something that you should start when the kitten first comes home. Short haired cats are able to groom themselves adequately, except at moulting time when assistance from the owner by brushing may be necessary. This usually means weekly grooming to remove excess hair, which would normally litter the house or could contribute to fur balls/hairballs.

Long haired cats require daily grooming by their owners. This can be time-consuming, but a routine should be established as soon as the kitten comes home. By maintaining a good grooming schedule you will have a happier cat and will not need a vet’s assistance with matted or tangled fur.

Cats are fastidious about cleaning. Through this cleaning, the loose fur is swallowed and goes through the internal system as food would. Regular brushing helps to reduce the amount of hair being swallowed by the cat during grooming. However, as medium and longhaired cats have so much hair, it is common for the formation of a hair mass to occur. This usually happens in the oesophagus and often is seen as an elongated cylinder of matted fur, usually referred to as a fur ball. During the moulting season it may be necessary to give a teaspoonful of paraffin oil mixed with food, or a proprietary product once a week to prevent this. There is also dry food designed specifically to assist with the reduction of hairballs (which can be purchased at RSPCA Adoption Centres). It is important that if you have a medium or longhaired cat that you are aware of hairballs as they can cause appetite and weight loss, and in a worst case scenario, result in surgery.

Unlike dogs, you should not need to bath a cat. However if you do, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• With the exception of some breeds, most cats do not usually like water or baths.

• Bathing a cat is a two-person activity which should be done in a warm room (bathroom or laundry) using warm water and cat shampoo (or baby no tears) and it is advisable to wear gloves.

• If you have a short haired cat, you can give them a bran bath, which is a non-water-based bath.
  Simply take, 170g plain bran (found in the health food section of the supermarket) and warm thoroughly in a moderate oven. The bran should then be rubbed with your fingers onto the coat of the cat in the direction of the natural growth; left on for a few minutes and then gently brushed out with a slicker wire brush. White or light-coloured short haired cats may benefit from a little talcum powder rubbed through afterwards (and removed).

• Cats may be bathed when dirty, but gentleness must be used to prevent them from being frightened.

• Flea control when required, is best achieved using the “spot on” product applied to the skin at the base of the neck. Again, consult your vet to obtain the most suitable product for your pet.

Feeding

Diets for cats are very demanding because of their high protein and fat requirements. Cats can easily become food fad animals, which leads to diet deficiency diseases. Cats are creatures of habit and naturally suspicious of new things, including food. However, accustoming your cat at an early age to a variety of foods can have the adverse effect of creating a fussy eater. Instead, it is recommended you accustom your kittens to a well- balanced diet, consisting of an appropriate commercially-made dry kitten food, with the inclusion of wet kitten food offered several times a day. Raw chicken wings/necks should also be given regularly to promote good dental health. In addition, it is suggested that you:

• Feed your cat a range of wet, dry and raw food, which will ensure that all nutritional needs are met.

• Feed little and often - most cats are grazers. It is a good idea to provide a small breakfast and dinner while allowing your cat to have access to a daily dose of dry food throughout the day. However, while allowing constant access to food, it is important to be wary of not over feeding your cat.

• See that bowls are scrupulously clean. Also remember that if your cat is leaving food in its bowl, then you are probably feeding it too much - most cats will eat their fill in the first few minutes.

• Don't feed cow's milk - while a lot of cats love to drink cow's milk, it's not recommended. Many cats are lactose intolerant and giving them milk will result in an upset tummy. This is especially dangerous for kittens that will dehydrate quickly. If you must give your cat milk, it is recommended you purchase special cat's milk which has been specifically formulated for cats to drink.

• Don't feed liver only, as it leads to skeletal problems.

• Don't feed raw meat as the sole diet; again, skeletal problems can occur.

• Don’t feed cats dog food - feeding your cat dog food is extremely dangerous. Dog food lacks the essential nutrients taurine and arachidonic acid. Taurine deficiency can lead to blindness, and arachidonic acid can lead to dry, scaly skin. Cats require a higher protein and fat content in their diet.

Most canned and dried foods are formulated in line with your cat’s dietary requirements and the RSPCA recommends Hill's Science Diet (available at RSPCA clinics and shelters) which is well balanced and better for your cat's health. Cats must have access to fresh water at all times especially if they have a dry food diet.

Health and veterinary care