Confessions of a New Cat Parent
Here’s what I learned about adoption, litter box setups, cat hair management and the joy of feline companionship
I’ll admit it. I was skeptical. The hair, the litter box, the responsibility — surely I didn’t need to invite that into my life. Not now. Not while being busy with a full-time job and raising a second-grader and a fourth-grader. Not with everything that’s been going on in the world the past couple of years. I didn’t need that kind of commitment. Right?
Turns out, I did. Adopting a cat has had such a positive impact on our little household that I’m scratching my head (while my cat is scratching my furniture) as to why I didn’t do it sooner. And yet, here we are. I arrived as soon as I could. I’m a cat person now.
Turns out, I did. Adopting a cat has had such a positive impact on our little household that I’m scratching my head (while my cat is scratching my furniture) as to why I didn’t do it sooner. And yet, here we are. I arrived as soon as I could. I’m a cat person now.
The Litter Box
If you’re adopting an indoor cat, you’ll have to contend with the litter box situation. The thought of having an animal do its business inside the home can be a “hard no” for many people. But I’ll say this: It’s not that big of a deal. And that’s coming from someone who was petrified of the situation, and who denied my kids’ requests for a cat for years because of the horrors I imagined would come with a litter box.
But over the years there have been many litter box innovations that minimize odors and prevent messes. So if all you’re familiar with is what your parents, friends or relatives had when you were growing up, or what you had a decade ago, you might be surprised — and relieved — by what’s available now.
And for those who are squeamish, try to think about it like this: The litter box cleanup accounts for a nominal portion of the overall experience of having a cat. In other words, the amount of joyful moments you’re likely to have with your cat throughout the day far outweigh the single act of cleaning the litter box.
Again, it’s important to keep in mind that cats have different personalities when it comes to litter box behavior. Some cats like to dig and bury. Some don’t. Some make a mess. Some are tidy. Some get really fussy when the litter box has waste in it. Some don’t. So it’s a good idea to keep an open mind about what your situation might be like and be prepared to adapt. It’s worth having an extensive conversation with whomever you’re adopting a cat from about the cat’s litter box preferences and behaviors.
If you’re adopting an indoor cat, you’ll have to contend with the litter box situation. The thought of having an animal do its business inside the home can be a “hard no” for many people. But I’ll say this: It’s not that big of a deal. And that’s coming from someone who was petrified of the situation, and who denied my kids’ requests for a cat for years because of the horrors I imagined would come with a litter box.
But over the years there have been many litter box innovations that minimize odors and prevent messes. So if all you’re familiar with is what your parents, friends or relatives had when you were growing up, or what you had a decade ago, you might be surprised — and relieved — by what’s available now.
And for those who are squeamish, try to think about it like this: The litter box cleanup accounts for a nominal portion of the overall experience of having a cat. In other words, the amount of joyful moments you’re likely to have with your cat throughout the day far outweigh the single act of cleaning the litter box.
Again, it’s important to keep in mind that cats have different personalities when it comes to litter box behavior. Some cats like to dig and bury. Some don’t. Some make a mess. Some are tidy. Some get really fussy when the litter box has waste in it. Some don’t. So it’s a good idea to keep an open mind about what your situation might be like and be prepared to adapt. It’s worth having an extensive conversation with whomever you’re adopting a cat from about the cat’s litter box preferences and behaviors.
Here’s my situation. I didn’t like the traditional-style litter, and I presume my cat didn’t either. She clawed and swiped that litter to the point where I had a mini sandpit forming in my hallway closet where I keep the box. Not to mention the gritty little pieces she tracked all over the apartment. No thanks.
I don’t want to sound like I’m proselytizing, but I can’t say enough about how life-changing the pellet system has been. Instead of the traditional powdery sand-like litter, the box is filled with litter pellets that clump to solid waste.
The pellets wick liquid waste down through a grate to a tray that’s lined with an absorbent pad. Think of it like puppy pee pads, if you’re familiar with those. It’s basically a flat, fragrant diaper in a tray that soaks up liquids and absorbs odors. Scoop out the solids like normal litter. Change the pad every couple of days. Replace the pellets once a month. No grainy sand-like litter getting tracked everywhere. Like I said, life-changing.
There are some caveats here. The upfront and ongoing costs, of course, are a major one. But, if you can swing it, I think the investment is worth it. Second, you might freak out reading the literature about transitioning a cat who’s used to regular litter over to the pellet setup. I know I did. The company recommends a very slow transition, over the course of weeks in some cases. They say to keep the regular litter box next to the new pellet system and to not clean the old box. The idea is that over time your cat will not want to use the overloaded old litter box and will therefore gravitate to the new, clean pellet system.
If you’ve ever had a cat that gets fussy about a dirty litter box — and sprayed your furniture or left a surprise in your shoe as a result — then you know how problematic this sounds. I’m fortunate that my cat took to the pellet system very quickly. Within a day, I had tossed the old setup and have had only the pellet system ever since. If it hadn’t been so smooth and easy, I might be singing a different tune right now.
I don’t want to sound like I’m proselytizing, but I can’t say enough about how life-changing the pellet system has been. Instead of the traditional powdery sand-like litter, the box is filled with litter pellets that clump to solid waste.
The pellets wick liquid waste down through a grate to a tray that’s lined with an absorbent pad. Think of it like puppy pee pads, if you’re familiar with those. It’s basically a flat, fragrant diaper in a tray that soaks up liquids and absorbs odors. Scoop out the solids like normal litter. Change the pad every couple of days. Replace the pellets once a month. No grainy sand-like litter getting tracked everywhere. Like I said, life-changing.
There are some caveats here. The upfront and ongoing costs, of course, are a major one. But, if you can swing it, I think the investment is worth it. Second, you might freak out reading the literature about transitioning a cat who’s used to regular litter over to the pellet setup. I know I did. The company recommends a very slow transition, over the course of weeks in some cases. They say to keep the regular litter box next to the new pellet system and to not clean the old box. The idea is that over time your cat will not want to use the overloaded old litter box and will therefore gravitate to the new, clean pellet system.
If you’ve ever had a cat that gets fussy about a dirty litter box — and sprayed your furniture or left a surprise in your shoe as a result — then you know how problematic this sounds. I’m fortunate that my cat took to the pellet system very quickly. Within a day, I had tossed the old setup and have had only the pellet system ever since. If it hadn’t been so smooth and easy, I might be singing a different tune right now.
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The other major factor when it comes to the litter box is where to place it. You’ll definitely want this planned out ahead of time. Somewhere out of the way but easy to access for you and your cat. I’ve got mine in a small hallway closet that I rarely used. I leave one of two sliding doors slightly open for the cat to go in and out. It’s like her own little private bathroom, and it keeps the sight of the box and any lingering smells away from main living areas and out of the bathroom and bedroom. I think that’s the ideal situation.
Some people convert furniture or create built-ins that hide litter boxes, which are worth considering. But keep in mind you’ll want something easily accessible. You don’t want to be crawling inside a small cabinet every time you need to clean and change the litter. Also, some cat experts recommend that you not cover a litter box. Confined spaces trap smells, and cats don’t like that either. Who can blame them?
Shop for litter box furniture covers
Some people convert furniture or create built-ins that hide litter boxes, which are worth considering. But keep in mind you’ll want something easily accessible. You don’t want to be crawling inside a small cabinet every time you need to clean and change the litter. Also, some cat experts recommend that you not cover a litter box. Confined spaces trap smells, and cats don’t like that either. Who can blame them?
Shop for litter box furniture covers
Cat Hair
Cat hair was another big concern for me. I’ve always been frustrated with the speed at which dust accumulates on surfaces in my apartment, so I cringed at the thought of having a layer of cat hair blanketing everything as well. And the thought of walking out of my home with fine strands of hair covering me like a woolly sweater was just too much.
At this point you’re probably expecting me to say something about how it’s not as much hair as I thought it would be. Wrong. It’s much more than I ever imagined. But, surprisingly, my place is actually cleaner now than it ever was before.
Just as the pellet litter system changed my life, so too has a stick vacuum. If you haven’t used one of these, you’re missing out. For the uninitiated, a stick vacuum is a lightweight, cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner. Mine also has a brush attachment so I can clean shelves, desktops, windowsills and other surfaces. It’s so easy to use, I’m now vacuuming daily.
Granted, that’s not a huge task considering the square footage I’m dealing with. But that daily vacuuming routine takes care of a lot of cat hair. Like, a lot. Each vacuuming cycle results in a golf-ball-size clump of hair and dust. Emptying that out of the canister and into the trashcan, and knowing my home is now somewhat dirt-free, is transcendently satisfying.
Also, it’s important to note that I’m one of those people who get joy and rejuvenation out of cleaning. If vacuuming every day, using a lint roller every time you leave your home and cleaning a litter box will seriously bring you nothing but discomfort and frustration, maybe reconsider the cat. Or come up with solutions to mitigate those issues, such as hiring a cleaning service or a part-time pet watcher.
The other thing I find important is a HEPA air filter. I run this while we sleep in the bedroom, where the cat isn’t allowed at night anyway. I find it helps minimize allergens.
How to Find a Rescue Cat That’s a Good Fit for Your Household
Cat hair was another big concern for me. I’ve always been frustrated with the speed at which dust accumulates on surfaces in my apartment, so I cringed at the thought of having a layer of cat hair blanketing everything as well. And the thought of walking out of my home with fine strands of hair covering me like a woolly sweater was just too much.
At this point you’re probably expecting me to say something about how it’s not as much hair as I thought it would be. Wrong. It’s much more than I ever imagined. But, surprisingly, my place is actually cleaner now than it ever was before.
Just as the pellet litter system changed my life, so too has a stick vacuum. If you haven’t used one of these, you’re missing out. For the uninitiated, a stick vacuum is a lightweight, cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner. Mine also has a brush attachment so I can clean shelves, desktops, windowsills and other surfaces. It’s so easy to use, I’m now vacuuming daily.
Granted, that’s not a huge task considering the square footage I’m dealing with. But that daily vacuuming routine takes care of a lot of cat hair. Like, a lot. Each vacuuming cycle results in a golf-ball-size clump of hair and dust. Emptying that out of the canister and into the trashcan, and knowing my home is now somewhat dirt-free, is transcendently satisfying.
Also, it’s important to note that I’m one of those people who get joy and rejuvenation out of cleaning. If vacuuming every day, using a lint roller every time you leave your home and cleaning a litter box will seriously bring you nothing but discomfort and frustration, maybe reconsider the cat. Or come up with solutions to mitigate those issues, such as hiring a cleaning service or a part-time pet watcher.
The other thing I find important is a HEPA air filter. I run this while we sleep in the bedroom, where the cat isn’t allowed at night anyway. I find it helps minimize allergens.
How to Find a Rescue Cat That’s a Good Fit for Your Household
Costs
In addition to the litter box investment I mentioned earlier, and the new stick vacuum (mine was $150), cats come with upfront and ongoing costs. There are adoption fees (I paid $140), vet visits, food, treats, toys, litter box supplies and so on. With that in mind, it might be worth treating the endeavor like a home-renovation project: Always set aside money for unplanned expenses.
And be sure to account for costs associated with trial-and-error situations as you get your new pet settled. For example, your cat might take to one kind of food over another, or a particular kind of litter or box setup over another. This might sound fussy, but cats can be a bit fussy. And thinking that you’ll just establish what you want and convince the cat to go along with it is somewhat wishful thinking.
I’ve ended up spending significantly more than I thought I would. Partly because I took to my role so suddenly and attentively that it caught me, and my bank account, off guard. I didn’t have to get my cat a gurgling water fountain, a fancy cat hotel perch or the more expensive litter box system, but I did. And I’m glad.
In addition to the litter box investment I mentioned earlier, and the new stick vacuum (mine was $150), cats come with upfront and ongoing costs. There are adoption fees (I paid $140), vet visits, food, treats, toys, litter box supplies and so on. With that in mind, it might be worth treating the endeavor like a home-renovation project: Always set aside money for unplanned expenses.
And be sure to account for costs associated with trial-and-error situations as you get your new pet settled. For example, your cat might take to one kind of food over another, or a particular kind of litter or box setup over another. This might sound fussy, but cats can be a bit fussy. And thinking that you’ll just establish what you want and convince the cat to go along with it is somewhat wishful thinking.
I’ve ended up spending significantly more than I thought I would. Partly because I took to my role so suddenly and attentively that it caught me, and my bank account, off guard. I didn’t have to get my cat a gurgling water fountain, a fancy cat hotel perch or the more expensive litter box system, but I did. And I’m glad.
Wear and Tear (and Scratches)
This is tough to accept, but many cats scratch furniture. You can put out scratching posts and pads, add protective covers and even try prayer, but it will likely just delay the inevitable. Your furniture will get claw marks and scratches.
I’m still in the middle of sorting this out, but from what I’ve observed, I’ve got to just let some of it go. I’m lucky that my cat has taken a fancy to my least favorite chair. I’ve been watching the back of a faux-leather recliner slowly accumulate scratches like a vinyl record tossed through a rose bush. A throw blanket draped over the back helps a little.
Now, if it were my vintage 1970s brown leather sofa with the iron pullout bed? That’d be a different story. So far, Po has spared the sofa, and my sanity.
Maybe she’ll grow out of it. Maybe not. But if you have fine furniture you can’t bear to see ruined, put it in storage or cover it until you know what kind of cat you’ve got.
This is tough to accept, but many cats scratch furniture. You can put out scratching posts and pads, add protective covers and even try prayer, but it will likely just delay the inevitable. Your furniture will get claw marks and scratches.
I’m still in the middle of sorting this out, but from what I’ve observed, I’ve got to just let some of it go. I’m lucky that my cat has taken a fancy to my least favorite chair. I’ve been watching the back of a faux-leather recliner slowly accumulate scratches like a vinyl record tossed through a rose bush. A throw blanket draped over the back helps a little.
Now, if it were my vintage 1970s brown leather sofa with the iron pullout bed? That’d be a different story. So far, Po has spared the sofa, and my sanity.
Maybe she’ll grow out of it. Maybe not. But if you have fine furniture you can’t bear to see ruined, put it in storage or cover it until you know what kind of cat you’ve got.
Time and Attention
Apart from the monetary costs, adding a pet to your household requires a significant investment of your time and attention. And that’s even before you’ve actually brought the cat home. At first, I rolled my eyes at the lengthy process the adoption agency had in store for me. I thought, “Hey, I want a cat, you have a cat, why can’t you just hand me the cat I saw on your website and I go on my merry way?” Not so simple.
The process took weeks and involved filling out applications and reaching out to shelters, some of which never responded. Once I heard back, it still took a week. The process included a detailed application and a half-hour Zoom interview that concluded with a tour of my apartment. Then there was an hourlong meeting at the adoption agency to meet and interact with the cats. And I’m incredibly grateful for that step.
I’d had my eye on a 5-month-old kitten I saw on the website, but when I arrived, I quickly learned that the kitten was much too wild for my situation. I couldn’t imagine that feisty cat would have been happy in my apartment either. She needed something closer to a real jungle and other cats to battle. When I sat down on a sofa in the living-room-like lounge space at the center, my current cat, Po, padded right over to me, jumped onto my lap and began to purr. It was like it was meant to be.
The process helped me think about the things I would need in my home to make a cat feel welcomed, made me confident I could handle the transition from foster home to my home, and gave me plenty of time to reconsider — or back out of — the whole thing.
But most of all, it afforded me the opportunity to meet the best cat for my household. I would never have found Po were it not for this process. And in the end, that benefits the owner just as much as the cat.
Houzz TV: Watch These Rescued Cats Make a House Their Playland
Apart from the monetary costs, adding a pet to your household requires a significant investment of your time and attention. And that’s even before you’ve actually brought the cat home. At first, I rolled my eyes at the lengthy process the adoption agency had in store for me. I thought, “Hey, I want a cat, you have a cat, why can’t you just hand me the cat I saw on your website and I go on my merry way?” Not so simple.
The process took weeks and involved filling out applications and reaching out to shelters, some of which never responded. Once I heard back, it still took a week. The process included a detailed application and a half-hour Zoom interview that concluded with a tour of my apartment. Then there was an hourlong meeting at the adoption agency to meet and interact with the cats. And I’m incredibly grateful for that step.
I’d had my eye on a 5-month-old kitten I saw on the website, but when I arrived, I quickly learned that the kitten was much too wild for my situation. I couldn’t imagine that feisty cat would have been happy in my apartment either. She needed something closer to a real jungle and other cats to battle. When I sat down on a sofa in the living-room-like lounge space at the center, my current cat, Po, padded right over to me, jumped onto my lap and began to purr. It was like it was meant to be.
The process helped me think about the things I would need in my home to make a cat feel welcomed, made me confident I could handle the transition from foster home to my home, and gave me plenty of time to reconsider — or back out of — the whole thing.
But most of all, it afforded me the opportunity to meet the best cat for my household. I would never have found Po were it not for this process. And in the end, that benefits the owner just as much as the cat.
Houzz TV: Watch These Rescued Cats Make a House Their Playland
The point is, adopting a cat takes an investment in time and attention even before you welcome the pet home. And after that, well, cats need lots of care and attention — feeding, petting, playing, not to mention the shopping and cleaning associated with owning a cat.
But the best part is cats are joyful companions. Po’s presence has uplifted my and my children’s moods considerably. Our phones are full of cat photos. And about a hundred times a day we find ourselves saying, “Look at the cat!”
I think the positive experience of owning a cat comes partly from the fact that humans are hardwired to take care of others. There’s something fulfilling about it. Yes, there’s that old adage that you’ve got to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. But sometimes, taking care of something else is, in fact, an act of taking care of yourself. And perhaps every home can use a little more of that.
Your turn: If you’ve got a cat, please post your photos, stories and tips in the Comments. If you’re considering adopting a cat, share your questions and concerns and hopes and dreams.
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But the best part is cats are joyful companions. Po’s presence has uplifted my and my children’s moods considerably. Our phones are full of cat photos. And about a hundred times a day we find ourselves saying, “Look at the cat!”
I think the positive experience of owning a cat comes partly from the fact that humans are hardwired to take care of others. There’s something fulfilling about it. Yes, there’s that old adage that you’ve got to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. But sometimes, taking care of something else is, in fact, an act of taking care of yourself. And perhaps every home can use a little more of that.
Your turn: If you’ve got a cat, please post your photos, stories and tips in the Comments. If you’re considering adopting a cat, share your questions and concerns and hopes and dreams.
More on Houzz
Read the latest stories
Browse and save home design photos
Find and hire remodeling pros near you
Shop for furniture and products
I realize I’m early on in my journey as a cat parent, and some of you long-timers out there are probably reading this and thinking, “Yeah, just you wait, bucko.” But please allow me this moment of indulgence to bask in the glow of being a new pet parent.
And for those of you who might be on the fence about getting a cat, maybe this will ease some of your concerns. Or create entirely new worries you hadn’t thought about. Either way, that could be a good thing.
It’s also worth mentioning that this advice won’t apply to everyone. I live in a 700-square-foot apartment that’s easy to clean. And I’m fortunate to work from home, and I’m able to provide lots of care and attention — and receive the benefit of a cat’s companionship in return.
So keep in mind that there are as many different cat personalities and home situations out there as there are cat hairs I’ve vacuumed up in the last few weeks. This is one man, one cat, one situation out of many possible outcomes and arrangements.
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