My cat Spike was previously owned, but in good condition. He
wasn’t shaking or throwing up on the floor or having some kind
of a fit. For a cat in an animal shelter he seemed to be in
pretty good shape! The animal services people said that he was
available for adoption which made me wonder if the other animals
in the cages were doomed already.
Adoption is just another word for a cat sale! They didn’t want
us to think this was a business arrangement, so they dulled the
verbiage by telling us we were giving him a new home and a
future; even hinting that if we didn’t take him, he would be
meeting the grim reaper the next day.
First Tip: Know what you’re going to be spending and decide if
the kitten is worth the money, as well as the cat hair on your
new sofa when you get home.
The cat cost me almost $100 before I could even get him into the
car, which to my way of thinking, I had just bought a cat.
Adoption fees, city license fees and county license fees,
worming and a few other medical necessities amounted to $115.00.
The coupon they gave me to have him neutered would save me
$20.00, but would still cost $30.00.
Any way I looked at this arrangement, we were talking about big
money and I hadn’t even bought any kitty litter or cat food! I
was beginning to wonder if I had been scammed. This kitten
certainly didn’t look like he was worth a hundred dollars. Also
someone obviously of limited intelligence had named this kitten
Donnie! I immediately changed his name to Spike, which he seemed
to appreciate.
Second Tip: Make sure the cat of your choice is in good mental
health. That’s right, I said mental health. According to animal
experts, cats can stress out and go bonkers just like us humans.
I wasn’t aware of such a thing when I picked Spike out of the
line-up at the shelter, but it could explain why sometimes when
he’s sleeping he will suddenly sit up and then bolt from his bed
like its on fire!
Cat anxiety is evidently a fairly common malady for felines.
Spike rarely appears anxious unless one of the raccoons that
have invaded the woods in our back yard snarls at him over a bit
of his cat food. He almost lost a leg to one of these food
bandits a couple of years ago and since then he stays out of
their way when they visit his garage at night. Othewise he seems
pretty laid back.
Occasionally he’ll scratch the side of our antique couch when we
least expect it. I think he’s just trying to get attention from
us, which he does when my wife grabs the broom and swats him out
the door.
I asked a veterinarian about this behavior and he said that
Spike was probably suffering some kind of emotional stress. He
wrote me a prescription for valium. He said if he showed any
other emotional distress he would increase the dosage. That’s
all I need; a stoned cat!
Tip Three: Physical Health: Although it’s impossible to tell
just how healthy the cat you’re interested in buying is, you
have to hope that it’s good enough to qualify him for health
insurance. Spike appeared to be healthy when I bought him so I
thought I wouldn’t have to spend much money on his up-keep.
Then the raccoons and monstrous veterinarian bills arrived.
After one of them chewed on his leg in a dispute over Meow Mix,
I discovered that having a little insurance was probably a good
thing. I also discovered that pet insurance is a lot like human
health insurance in that there is a pre-existing clause. Even
though Spike had never had an injury to his leg, the insurance
company refused to pay for the medical attention he received,
using the old “pre-existing” excuse!
Whether you buy your cat at a pet store or an animal shelter,
it’s going to cost you money, worry and time. Sometimes I think
raising a kid is cheaper and they won’t leave hair on your
couch!
About the author:
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing
and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this
article. Visit his sites at:http://www.homeandgardenbob.com
