The Way of Cats

Sometimes, the best cat for the job… is a cat.

Let’s face it, kittens sell themselves. The tinyness! The fluffiness! The cuteness! But like a beautifully wrapped gift, what’s inside is a bit of a mystery. And it might not be what you wanted or needed.

I completely understand the lure of the kitten. But they all grow up. They spend most of their life grown up. Adult cats offer a whole new dimension to the relationship that has even deeper joys.

If we are new to cats, I heartily recommend adopting an adult cat.

Because kittens, like small children, are both adorable and annoying. They have a steep learning curve which encompasses almost everything.

They get into things, especially at three in the morning. They bite toes under blankets, they shred whatever can be shredded, and they climb pants legs, even if you aren’t wearing any.

Those new to cats who start with a kitten have two strikes against them.

A newbie getting a kitten is trying to understand cats by starting with the least responsive, most doofusy stage, which comes with its share of exasperation and frustration. Then they inadvertently create problems for themselves by raising a cat without a lot of experience or knowledge. Most of the time, these things work out. But why pile on difficulties?

Adopting an adult cat, by contrast, is not like having a child. It’s more like dating. You’ve got preferences, the cat has preferences. Evaluating an adult cat is easier because the whole personality is developed. Their size, habits, and outlook are there, and many clues are clear.

When you bring them home, it’s like a first date. Everyone is on their best behavior, boundaries are tested and negotiated, agreements are struck. The relationship proceeds slowly and carefully. Along the way, both of you are discovering fascinating things about each other.

Adult cats in a new home need to be drawn out, it’s true. But the very caution that makes them reserved in their overtures is also working for them as they learn their new home. They are far less likely to mess with things, and are far more easily trained. They are usually quite sensitve to your needs, so long as they feel you are being sensitive to theirs.

So if you are contemplating a first cat, make it a cat. Find a friendly cat who makes overtures to you, even if it’s only eye contact or rubbing their face on the bars of their cage. The shelter people can tell you much more about what they are like, and you will have a better idea if this cat will work for you.

With kittens, it’s love at first sight. And you often need it to get through that rowdy first year.

With the adult cat, it’s love that grows. And the first time they come to you and look deeply into your eyes, you’ll find it’s a love that is even more thrilling.

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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my ADVICE ON CAT TYPES.