Are you a cat lover looking to get your first cat? Or maybe you’re a longtime cat owner and you want to become a better cat parent? Are you in the beginning stages of researching what cat ownership is like? Did the Cat Distribution System choose you and you have no idea what to do with a cat? No matter where you are in your journey as a cat owner, we’ve got you covered with a quick guide on the dos and don’ts of owning a cat to help you navigate life with a feline! 

Dos: 

1. Set a Routine Right Away

Cats love routine. Shocking, right? You’d think a chaotic creature like a cat would thrive in the unknown, but it’s the opposite! They enjoy structure and routine in their daily life to the point that they will quickly catch onto what time you get up, feed them, go to work, come home, and go to bed that they’ll anticipate each part of their day. Whenever you stray from the routine – such as being sick, on vacation, or even just a weekend, they go crazy! 

When you bring your cat home, start a routine as soon as possible. Set a specific time that you feed them, and make sure they are around when you do so, or at least show them when you fill their bowl. They’ll catch on quickly! Even better, get an automatic cat feeder to do it for you so they don’t come to you to complain about an empty bowl. It’s seriously life-changing. 

Try to stick to your routine closely for the first couple of weeks of having your cat. The structure will help them adjust to their new life! No matter the age of your cat, they enjoy having set times to do activities such as greeting you in the morning when you wake up and when you come home from work. Some cat owners have specific things they do with their cat as soon as they start their day, such as having a set amount of time to cuddle before getting out of bed, training their cat to do tricks, or going outside with them for fresh air on the patio or balcony. 

1. Provide Your Cat with Plenty of Enrichment

Sure, cats sleep for 18-20 hours a day, but when they’re not sleeping, they’re usually pretty active! It’s important to provide your cat with plenty of entertainment and enrichment around your home so that they don’t get bored. When a cat gets bored, they can get destructive and it can even cause behavioral issues. 

Your home should have: tall cat towers (2-3 tiers minimum), multiple areas to scratch on such as corrugated cardboard scratchers and sisal rope scratchers, lots of toys, and most importantly: plenty of vertical space! There’s a reason cats like being on counters so much. They enjoy being up off the ground because they’re safer up high. It’s part of their instinct! 

Cats should be able to freely jump up on the backs of couches, have stairs to climb and perch on if possible or at least shelves to do so, the towers to climb on, and beds placed in higher areas. You can train them not to jump on counters and not to scratch furniture, don’t worry! Some people design their entire homes around their cats, providing wall-mounted shelves and bridges, catios, turning a loft into a cat play area, and more. The more places your cats have to jump and perch on, the happier your cat will be! 

1. Learn Their Behavior

Cats are not always mysterious, contrary to popular belief. Learning how to interpret your pet’s body language is an important part of everyday life. The more you understand your cat, the easier it will be to provide them with what they need to be happy. Here are some common behaviors all cat owners should know! 

• Ears flattened: this means your cat is scared or feels threatened. 
• Twitching their tail erratically: this means your cat is anxious or irritated. 
• Flicking their entire tail: this means your cat is annoyed. 
• Tail is upright: this means your cat is happy! 
• Purring: this usually means your cat is very happy and feeling affectionate. Sometimes, however, they’ll purr when they don’t feel good as a way to encourage healing. Did you know that purring can be healing for you, too?! 
• Meowing: some cats are more talkative than others. If you notice your cat meowing a lot more than usual, you should go to them and see if they’re trying to show you something. If your cat is meowing strangely all of a sudden, it’s a good idea to get them checked by a vet as that can indicate pain. However, some cats just have strange meows. Pay attention to their vocal outbursts and you’ll soon notice the many types of meows your cat will do when they’re happy, hungry, mad, scared, and excited. 
• Chirping: We all know and love that adorable ekekek sound! They do this when they’re hunting to try to draw their prey to them. 
• Arched back: when your cat is re-enacting the “Thriller” dance, it’s usually because they’re playing! However, if they’re staying arched and their hair is standing on end, they feel threatened and they’re trying to make themselves look bigger. 
• Rubbing against your legs: this means your cat wants attention from you and is showing affection. Watch your step when walking and if they’re wanting to rub on your legs, you might trip!
• Bringing you dead animals: this means your cat is trying to feed you! They’re so funny. Acknowledge their gift and give them affection. They worked hard to get that for you, after all! 
• Bringing you toys: some cats do play fetch! They also just love to chase after toys in general.
• Rolling over and showing their belly: this is a great sign of trust! By exposing the most vulnerable area on their body, your cat is showing you that they love and trust you. Some cats do enjoy belly rubs, but most don’t. 
• Kneading: while some cats use their entire claws when making biscuits and it can be quite painful, this is a sign of affection. Kneading is a comforting act for them because they do this when nursing as babies! 
• Licking: some cats are lickers and will groom you to show their love, while others will grant the occasional single lick as a sign of affection. 
• Biting: this usually is a sign to leave your cat alone and stop whatever you were doing to cause the bite, such as petting them or playing with them. However, some cats do gentle love bites and nip you to show their affection. Or, it can be part of the play. It depends on the situation, but it’s best not to encourage biting by playing with your cat using your hands. 
• Slow blinking: this is how they say “I love you!” 

1. Learn How to Handle Your Cat Properly

A lot of people think that cats enjoy being held upside down like a baby. Most of the time, this stresses them out! The best way to hold your cat is to support their weight with the length of your arm and keep them close to your chest, but let their legs dangle freely. This way, your cat feels supported, but they’re also free to get away if they want to. 

When you pick up your cat, you should use both hands to support them, one under their chest and one under their stomach. Any other method of picking them up can cause discomfort or pain, such as picking them up under two legs, by the tail, the scruff of their neck, or from the middle of their stomach. 

Respect your cat’s bodily autonomy! They’re allowed to not let you pick them up by running away, meowing at you, hissing, or kicking. Don’t insist on picking up your cat unless it’s necessary. Some cats don’t like being picked up at all and might never let you. 

1. Ensure Their Basic Needs Are Always Met

This should go without saying, but some people don’t know exactly what a cat needs at all times to be happy. Cats are pretty self-sufficient and hardy, but they should always have the following: 

• Access to clean water - running water from a fountain with a filter is ideal!
• Access to a clean litter box - the rule of thumb is 1 box per cat plus an extra in another location
• An appropriate feeding schedule - cats need 25-35 calories per pound of wet and dry food, ideally spread out in smaller amounts 2-3 times a day
• Places to scratch on 
• Places to sleep
• Toys
• Plenty of space to run around in
• Temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit 

If you don’t have these things provided, your cat won’t feel at ease and is more likely to act out and destroy things. 

Don’ts:

1. Don’t Let Your Cat Do Whatever They Want

Many people assume that they can't let their new cat run the house and do whatever they like. If you let your cat run rampant without any kind of discipline, then you’re asking for it to be destroyed and dirty. 

Cats need to have rules just as much as dogs do. You can limit the rooms they have access to, keep them off the counters, let them on certain furniture, and overall establish your boundaries.

When you bring your cat home, whether it’s an adult or a kitten, you should let them explore first. Then, when they settle in, pay attention to their activity so you can redirect them when needed. As soon as you see your cat doing something you don’t want them to be doing, such as scratching on the couch or jumping on the kitchen counter, immediately pick them up and move them somewhere you do want them to be. You should also reward good behaviors and habits such as using their scratching posts, and cat towers and staying at your feet when you’re in the kitchen using treats and pets. 

Cats don’t understand negative reinforcement. They will simply fear you and it will create a negative relationship with your cat. Never use physical discipline, a spray bottle, or locking them in a crate as a means of reinforcement. 

If you don’t establish these boundaries with your cat, they will scratch on whatever they want, jump on the counters (which is very unhygienic!), beg for your food or even steal it, and lash out when you try to tell them otherwise. 

1. Don’t Ignore Signs of Health Issues 

Cats are notoriously difficult to read when it comes to illness or even injuries. They have even been known to fake it for attention! However, this doesn’t mean they should be ignored when you notice something different. Here are some things to look out for as a sign of an illness or injury: 

• Pooping or peeing outside the litter box
• Lethargy
• Poor appetite 
• Vomiting excessively 
• Vomiting blood 
• Vomiting bile 
• Favoring one leg
• Flinching when being petted in one area
• Hissing or growling at you or other animals
• Staying in one spot for an excessively long time
• Meowing excessively 
• Pressing their head against a wall
• Hiding and not coming out
• Diarrhea 
• Blood in stool or urine 
• Bloating
• Swelling
• Lumps under the skin
• Not moving their tail
• Discharge from their eyes, nose, mouth, or ears
• Sneezing excessively 
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Straining while urinating or defecating
• Pulling out their hair
• Grooming excessively
• Irritability

This isn’t a comprehensive list, but they’re more common symptoms that can occur in the 10-20 years you have your feline companion. If you see any of these signs, make an appointment with your vet to get them checked out. 

1. Don’t Ignore Your Cat

This might seem silly to say, but cats aren’t always aloof and independent! They genuinely enjoy companionship with their owner whether it’s cuddling, hanging out on the couch together, playing, or petting them. 

If you ignore your cat and essentially have a furry roommate you have zero interaction with, then they’ll become depressed and anxious. Cats are social animals and thrive in environments where they can be around people or other cats. 

If you’re not able to spend 30 minutes or an hour of your life with your cat, then a cat may not be the right pet for you. They don’t require as much interaction as dogs do to be happy, but they are living creatures and deserve it! 

1. Don’t Let Your Cat Outside

In some countries, it is considered cruel to keep cats indoors. In most countries, it’s the other way around. This controversial topic is widely debated among cat owners all over the world, but there are many good reasons to keep your kitties inside: 

• Cats are a major detriment to the local ecosystem by eradicating small mammals and birds.
• Cats are more likely to contract a disease, injury, or even death if they go outside even for short periods. 
• Cats are more likely to be infested with fleas and ticks if they go outside. 
• Friendly cats without collars or chips are often mistaken for strays and can be taken by someone else. 
• Cats are territorial and will fight over it. 
• Cats who are not fixed contribute to the overpopulation of stray and feral cats, which is even more detrimental to the environment. 

While cats shouldn’t be let outside unsupervised or able to roam freely, you can absolutely give your cat some time in the fresh air in the sun! Catios, which are screened-in patios attached to your house, are a great way to let your cat enjoy some outdoor time safely. Or, you can leash train your cat and take them out in the yard for short adventures. Some cats even enjoy going hiking! As long as your cat isn’t roaming freely and you’re up to date on their flea and tick prevention, your kitty will enjoy the enrichment. 

1. Don’t Let Your Cat Get Into Anything Harmful

You know the saying: “Curiosity killed the cat!” Felines are innately curious about their surroundings, and oftentimes they’ll get into things they shouldn’t. Here are a few things you should make sure your cat never has access to for their safety: 

• Toxic plants: lilies, poinsettias, aloe vera, amaryllis, azaleas, pothos, philodendrons, mums, mistletoe, English ivy, and castor beans.
• Chocolate is toxic when ingested. 
• Essential oils: peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil are all toxic to cats when inhaled via a diffuser or ingested. 
• Rubber bands or hair ties can cause intestinal blockages.
• Most cleaning products are toxic when ingested.
• Medications such as NSAIDs, antidepressants, oils, vitamins, as well as flea medication are all toxic if ingested. 

If your cat gets into any of these, get your cat to an emergency vet for treatment as soon as possible.