Advantages and Disadvantages off owning a cat?

Question

I'm planning on getting a pet cat not a kitten, but before I get one for christmas I want to know the Advantages and Disadvantages of owning a cat so I can make the correct decision.

Answer 1

First off if you're getting a cat, not a kitten, you have to worry about what sort of life it had before you're taking it in.  If you know that the cat was well taken care then she'll probably have a good attitude, but if the cat was mistreated as a kitten you might find that the attitude is something more difficult to deal with.  Most cats can change their attitudes if the person that is caring for them now is loving and treats them well (my grandmother for example got a cat who had been severely mistreated as a kitten, and at first when she took him in he would attack anything that walked past him, and hated being held or even touched by anyone.  After spending time with grandma though he settled down and became a cat that you could actually handle again.)  

A huge advantage would be that hopefully she'll be the type to want to cuddle all of the time, and I still love playing with my almost 8 year old cat.  They can still be as playful as kittens (without all the scratching and destruction that kittens can cause).  Plus some kittens aren't litter box trained when you first get them, so getting a cat right off the bat would assure you that they do know their litter box...and that'll save a lot of messes.

I think the biggest advantage would be having them there to keep you company if you're ever alone.  They are very affectionate and I find that it's great to cuddle with my cat when i'm feeling down.  They might not be able to talk to you, but they can help you get through most everything.

Hope this helped.

Answer 2

I cant think of any disadvantages

They give 100% pleasure

Answer 3

Advantages:

Someone to great you when you get home

Someone to play with

Relaxing

All the joys of owning a pet

Clever and intelligent [well some are anyway]

Pros of a cat mean no climbed curtains and kitten destruction and hopefully no litter training.

Disadvantages:

Obviously there are costs associated with owning a pet

Cats can be independent and will only play when they want

If you let it outside you run the risk of being hit by a car or being stolen etc.

Getting a cat means your cat will come with a history that you do not know about, this could lead to problems if the past hasn't been very good [although all pets deserve a loving home whatever their past]

Hopefully this will help  

Answer 4

Well I just got a two year old kitten and he is still nuts he never grew out of it so we always are running around the house trying to find him. I also have two other cats who re both wonderful, one we adopted and the other we found as a kitten. the one we found is the sweetest thing and he's actually 14 years old and is still going strong lol. The other is 12 and is more on the lazy side.

But they are all fun to play with and cuddle

If you are looking for a less crazy cat try getting something 2 or older kitttens are a very big responsibilty and lots of people dont have the time.

We adoted the twelve year old when she was 10 and saved her from getting out down cause there was no more room where we got her from so i think it would be absoloutely wonderful if you adopted an older one

Advantages:  they play with you, you dont have to walk them, they cuddle you, they are self reliable so they dont need you to be with them all the time, they can be housetrained

Disadvantages: they can be loud at night sometimes,  you can not flush the litter down the toilet (that's not a disadvantage I just had to get that out there because it is not good to do), kittens can scratch up furniture, boys tend to mark there territory, vet bills as well

I think if you got a cat that would be the better desiscion cause they are so nice and it's really fun in the long run

Answer 5

Each animal is different.  Disadvantages are cleaning the litter box, scratching the furniture if they have claws, not wanting to cuddle, leaving dead mice where you can find them and praise them for catching them.  Advantages are loving them and being loved by them, sleeping with you at night, catching pets, watching them play, petting them and loving them.  My cat knows when I am stressed and she will come to me for affection.  I am divorced and self-employed so there can be some serious stresses.  She is there for me and comes to me unbidden to relieve my stresses.  I wouldn't give her up for anything in the world.

Answer 6

Cats (and kittens) can be destructive so be sure you've thought it through if you've never owned a cat before. They like carpets, furniture, walls, draperies and anything else they can sink their little claws into (or just scrape). For some cats this is quite manageable with a little redirection and research from the owner. But if it's something you know would drive you up the wall, and you're against declawing, then you might want a different pet. They also live a long, long time. I have one cat that's 16+ now with no indication she's over-stretching herself. Be prepared to look after a cat for that amount of time - though if you love your cat 16+ years isn't enough time. So whether that's a disadvantage depends on whether you love your cat! Advantages include having a constant companion who will stretch out on your lap when you're home, be waiting at the door for you when you come back from work, and bring you toys for you to throw for them while you're winding down from a long day. Plus they can be pretty amusing with some of their antics - "Ghosts" is a favorite game of cats.

Answer 7

well, some disadvantiges are, bitiing, and scratching up wood.my cat scratches up my wooden wall. but he doesnt bite.

some advantiges are, cuddly, playfull, much easyer to take care of than a dog, and they kill mice and other small rodents that might try to get into the house.

Answer 8

I have only taken in a couple of full grown cats, most of the cats I have had came to me as kittens.  I really recommend starting with a kitten, not only are they more fun but as they grown they bond with you.  The biggest disadvantage of owning cats is that they are very territorial and they will either spray of pee all over your house even after they are completely box trained.  If you are getting a female cat it will have to be spayed, this is expensive but it will cut down on some of the territorial behavior.  Male cats must be neutered, they will live much longer and be far better pets.  Cats scratch, you can expect to have some of you furniture damaged.  You may think that you can get a scratching post and that will solve the problem, my experience with a lifetime of cat is that even though they will use the scratching post they will also shred your furniture.  As to the advantages of cats, I have had cats for my entire life and I have never owned a single one of them.  If you need a pet that you can regard a property I would suggest that you would be happier with a dog.  If you are willing to have a pet that treats you as an equal then you might be ready for a cat.

Answer 9

Disadvantages: The cat scratches my couches.  And my bed.

Advantages:  When I get home she is almost always there to say hello. Near the door.

Its really nice to have the cat around

Answer 10

Well, the cat will not be expecting to go to college, so those costs are saved.  Since you are not planning to get a cat for several months, you will have time to consider what you want to get for the cat, and how the cat will fit into your lifestyle.

Asking at a shelter why the cat was turned in often results in the past owner having told a lie, since they don't want to admit they simply got tired of cat.  Sure, some cats scratch the furniture, but many never do. The most common excuse is not using the litter box, but then the cat always does at the shelter.

There are a lot of advantages.  You can come home after having a rotten day, and your cat will still give you unconditional love.  Petting your cat on your lap seems to instantly have a calming effect, and lowers your blood pressure.  You cat will never make remarks about how you look or how you dress.

Disadvantages?  Well, if you are used to having your home as a museum, then a stuffed animal would be best.  Cats often get into and onto about everything, just like kids will do.

Cats don't need walking, but they do need regular vet check ups.  And if you go away on long vacations, you will need to make arrangements.

Cats don't live as long as people, and they break our hearts when they get sick and pass on.