My First Cat: I Want a Cat!

When a wish becomes a decision

We'd love to join you on this journey, and of course to kit you out with our beautiful cat furniture and accessories. But first, let's help you along with a few useful tips and tricks.

A new family member

First things first: which cat do I like best? – Unfortunately, that's not quite the right starting point. The most important question is this: am I even allowed to keep a cat where I live? If you own your own home, you can breathe easy here – tenants should at least know that while keeping a cat can no longer be banned outright, it's obviously not much fun to be in constant conflict with your landlord over it. Personally, we don't know anyone who dislikes cats, but the world can be a strange place sometimes. Our tip: talk to your neighbours – who already has pets, and have there been other animals in the building before? Once you've clarified THAT a cat could move in, you should clarify within the family WHETHER a furry housemate is allowed to move in. In other words: a cat (or two, or more…) is a family member. Cats can easily live to be 18 years old – hardly a short commitment. That's why it's so important that everyone in the household agrees to keeping a pet. By the way, this also applies to shared flats – cats are sensitive, and if one person in the house simply doesn't like the cat, that's unpleasant for everyone involved.

Can a cat move in with you?

First, it should be clear who's responsible for the animal. Who will feed it, take the cat to the vet, and who has to clean the litter box? But of course also: who's allowed to pet it, sneak it into bed at night, and who will it love most…Don't worry, cats are generous enough to love more than one of their subjects. The main thing is that it's well cared for and looked after. What cats probably see differently, but what matters to us: a wonderful relationship always takes two, including the human. And that human has to ask themselves a few honest questions. For example:

Which cat suits you?

Cats are the ultimate individualists among pets – independent, incorruptible, and self-reliant. If you like these personality traits, you're already a huge step ahead. Still, there are a few things worth thinking about beforehand: will my cat be strictly an indoor cat, or can I offer it safe outdoor access? Am I away a lot, meaning my cat would often be alone – and shouldn't I then rather keep two together? Do I prefer a calm home? Or can there never be enough action? And how will I react if, despite everything, those claws end up in the designer sofa? All these questions will come up – and they're all important! They help determine whether the cat turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, or whether you sometimes wish you'd bought an aquarium instead.

Important: know your own needs

If you prefer things a bit quieter, you might want to consider a cat that's no longer a young kitten. If you don't mind things getting lively at night too, you can happily bring home two kittens. If you're often away, you shouldn't leave your future housemate alone – better to get two cats right from the start. If you have little space at home, you should definitely open up the third dimension for your cats by making use of the walls as well. And just because a cat gets to go outside a lot doesn't mean it doesn't need toys or a litter box indoors… The list could go on forever! As you can see, becoming a cat owner is indeed a responsible task – but one that can bring endless joy if you approach it the right way! That's why we at LucyBalu recommend: clarify a few things first – then nothing stands in the way of pure joy!