What I wish I knew before adopting a cat

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. 100% of these profits are donated to local charities as a way to generate donations without costing anyone a thing.

During the pandemic I found myself living alone in a studio apartment in San Francisco. I was bored, lonely, and had a lot of free time at home. I decided it was the perfect time to adopt a cat, but was not anticipating multiple shelters turning me down because they were ‘out of cats’. Apparently, I was not the only one who had this idea! Great news for the cats, not so great news for me.

Finally after weeks of emailing shelters and rescues, a shelter about an hour away let me know they had a couple of cats available for adoption. I asked which of the cats had been there the longest, and they sent me back photos of the most decrepit looking cat I had ever seen. She was matted and extremely depressed. They said she had been there for 5 years, and although she had been adopted a few times, she had been returned every time. As a highly sensitive person, there was no turning back now.

Fast forward to today, I have had my cat Tofu for 3.5 years and we are the best of friends. I did however, go into cat ownership somewhat naively; I needed a companion, and she needed someone to care for her, so it was a perfect match, but if I had to do it all over again, here are some things I wish I had known before adopting my first cat:

1 —

How much cats puke

If you've got a long haired cat or one who sheds a lot, they're going to swallow a lot of that fur and throw it back up later. Also, if you’ve never heard a cat throw up, they are NOT quiet. 

Pro tip: Mix a little organic cold pressed coconut oil into their wet food to help bind their furballs together so they go out the other end, instead of coming back up. Canned pumpkin also helps with general digestion issues (and most cats actually like it!).

2 —

What you see is mostly what you get…

The cat you adopt may change some, but there are some things that will not change: When I first adopted Tofu, she was terrified of everyone including me. 3 years in, she has bonded to me and trusts me, but she is not a cat that will open up to anyone new without a lot of time and patience. She routinely hisses and swats at my guests, and even made headlines from the photos my cat sitter sent me.

Read more about Tofu’s interactions with my pet sitter here

3 —

Your cat may need baths…

Depressed cats that don’t groom…need baths: I knew Tofu was depressed when I got her, but I had not prepared for needing to bathe her routinely. Because Tofu does not groom herself, she often has matted and oily fur. Luckily, Tofu has grown to trust me and I have no problem giving her a bath — but would never let anyone else even attempt!

Pro tip: If your cat won’t let you bathe them, they now make tons of pet safe wipes! If you have a bathtub, pet grooming harnesses are also an option.

4 —

Cat litter gets tracked everywhere

Highly recommend investing in a good mat under your litter box to decrease the amount of litter being tracked around your house. But even with the best litter mat, Tofu still manages to move litter around the house.

Pro tip: Save up for a roomba and an automatic litter box!

5 —

How long they live

When considering if a cat is right for you, keep in mind how long the average life expectancy for a cat is. They are a long-term commitment. My sister’s cat recently passed away at 22 years old. I adopted Tofu at 7 years old (the shelter’s best estimate), and depending on the stage you're at in life, you need to keep in mind that you may have that cat through a lot of life changes. Tofu will likely be in my life when I have my first child, and through many moves. If you are planning to move abroad or have a transient lifestyle, keep in mind how that could be difficult. On the bright side, if you love having a cat, they are great companions and with proper vet care they will likely be around for a long time for you to enjoy their company!