Читать книгу Cats For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 22

Even people who profess to dislike cats can’t look at a kitten like the one in Figure 2-1 without saying “awwwwwww.” Baby animals are all adorable, but kittens seem to have something special going for them. Maybe it’s those large eyes, following every movement intently. The oversized ears, twitching to and fro. The playfulness, chasing and pouncing on everything that moves, be it your fingertip or a piece of kibble batted across the linoleum. The tousled fur a kitten can’t quite seem to groom into the sleekness every adult cat considers her duty to maintain. A kitten is all these things — and more.

What many people don’t think about as they’re falling in love is that a kitten can be a lot of work and even aggravation. They can mean a lot of expense, too, because many a kitten seems to use nearly all a cat’s nine lives, which means you may end up seeing the nice people at the emergency veterinary clinic a time or two in the first few years. With a kitten, you also need to put more effort into training, from making sure the tiny baby understands what’s expected regarding the litter box to helping your kitten learn to stay off the counters. You also need to kitten-proof your home — or keep your baby confined in a safe part of the house whenever you’re not watching him — and then spend months during which, every day, you’re picking your little tiger off the drapes, off the kids, off the back of the couch, or off your slippers every time you walk down the hall.

A kitten may be a poor choice for families with very young children or for someone who’s struggling with advanced age or illness. For all their spunk, kittens are fragile and may accidentally be hurt by young children who don’t understand the concept of “gentle.” Similarly, a kitten isn’t the best choice for anyone who’s a little unsteady on his feet or isn’t able to chase or otherwise keep up with an energetic feline baby.

On the other hand, a kitten can be a dream come true to a family with older, more-responsible children, or a source of delightful amusement to an active older adult. You just need to look carefully at your living situation and consider the problems and pleasures a kitten will bring.

Finally, consider the matter of time. An adult cat does quite well on her own alone in the house while you work — most of the time she’s sleeping anyway. A kitten needs your time, for raising her and for watching over her to keep her out of trouble.

Clara/Photo by Gina Spadafori

FIGURE 2-1: The promise of a lifetime of companionship can be seen in the eyes of a kitten.