“It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice.”

Deng Xiaoping, Leader

Pros and Cons of Owning a Cat

You think about getting a cat but are not entirely sure whether this is a good idea or not?

Then you should definitely check out this article.

In fact, I show you all the pros and cons of owning a cat in the following chapters.

Advantages of Having a Cat

1. Cats can give you company
2. Cats are cute
3. Several different cat breeds to choose from
4. Cats stay rather small
5. Having a cat is especially nice for your children
6. Suitable even for smaller children
7. Cats can give you support in difficult periods of your life
8. Getting a cat can help against mental issues
9. Cats don’t need that much food
10. You don’t have to go for a walk with your cat
11. Cats are quite popular in many countries
12. You may become famous on social media
13. You may be able to start a business around your cat
14. Cats are rather independent pets

Cats can give you company

One advantage of owning a cat is that your cat will often be around and can give you company.

Especially if you currently don’t have a partner and live alone, cats can be great companions since you can cuddle them and will not feel alone anymore.

In fact, many people who had been alone and got a cat report that they just feel much better now since they will have at least some company instead of being lonely all day long.

Consequently, if you currently don’t have that much company in your life and feel like you need a living organism around you, chances are that getting a cat can greatly help you out in this regard.

Of course, you should still try to make some social contacts in the long run.

Yet, your cat can help you out in periods you don’t have human company in your life.

Cats are cute

Cats are also quite cute pets. In fact, many people think that cats are the cutest of all pets.

This means that you can take nice pictures with your cat and share them with your family and friends who will often be quite jealous and will also make you some compliments regarding how nice you and your cat look together.

Several different cat breeds to choose from

You will also have a huge variety of cat breeds to choose from.

This means that you will just have freedom of choice and you can choose the cat breed you like most.

You will also be able to get cats in various colors and can choose the color you like most.

Opportunities are almost endless in this regard and I am sure you will find your favorite cat breed quite easily if you inform yourself.

Cats stay rather small

Another benefit of getting a cat as a pet is that it will stay rather small compared to other pets.

For instance, most dogs get much bigger than a cat could ever get and this means that you will have to spend less money on food compared to a state where you have a dog at home.

Moreover, you also don’t need a big house for keeping a cat. You can even have a cat if you live in a rather small apartment and your cat will still have enough space to move and to play.

Having a cat is especially nice for your children

Not only you will greatly appreciate the company of your cat, but also your children will really love your cat.

Cats are great to cuddle and chances are that your kids will play with your cat all day long.

This also means that you can get them away from the computer or from the TV for a while and this can be really beneficial for your kids since they will learn how much fun it can be to interact with animals.

In turn, they may also become more aware of our environmental problems and may be more eager to protect our planet.

Suitable even for smaller children

Compared to other pets, you also don’t have to worry about leaving your kids alone with a cat.

Sure, it may scratch or bite them a little bit, yet it will usually not cause any serious injuries.

This is not true for all pets.

There had been cases in the past where big dogs have seriously hurt smaller children.

Consequently, instead of getting one of those dogs, you may be far better off getting a cat since you simply don’t have to worry about your safety of your kids that much in this regard.

Cats can give you support in difficult periods of your life

Having a cat at home can also give you support during difficult periods of your life.

In fact, sooner or later, many people experience unpleasant things and are not sure how to deal with these situations.

In these extreme situations, it is important to have some company around you and that you are not alone.

If you have a cat, you will know that your cat will rely on your support and that you will still be needed.

In turn, owning a cat may prevent you from doing stupid things that you might regret later on in your life.

Getting a cat can help against mental issues

Another upside to getting a cat is that those little friends can also help you to deal with mental issues of several sorts.

It has been shown by many studies that cats and other pets can have significant positive effects when it comes to mental health.

For instance, if you currently suffer from depression or other mental problems, getting a cat can be the first step to overcome those issues.

Sure, you should not solely rely on your cat to get relief. You should still get help and advice from a psychologist.

Yet, keeping a cat can still be an important complementary measure that may cure your problems faster compared to a state where you have to deal with your problems alone.

Cats don’t need that much food

Cats are also not that demanding when it comes to food. Sure, you will have to feed your cat from time to time.

Yet, cats don’t eat that much and keeping a cat is therefore usually cheaper compared to getting a dog.

Moreover, if you offer your cat access to your garden, chances are that your cat will catch its own food from time to time and that it may not even have to rely on the food you provide for it.

You don’t have to go for a walk with your cat

Another advantage of getting a cat is that you also don’t have to go for a walk with it.

While it is necessary to go for a walk with your dog, you can just stay inside your four walls since your cat will not be demanding in this regard.

This can be quite nice, especially during heavy rain and snow since you can just sit inside your home and have a convenient life while dog owners will have to leave their homes even during extreme weather conditions to walk their dogs.

Cats are quite popular in many countries

If you get a cat, you also don’t have to fear that other people will consider you dodgy or weird.

In fact, cats are quite common and popular pets and hundreds of millions of people own a cat on a global scale.

This means that you will have a huge community of cat owners and that you will likely find people to talk about your loved friends quite easily.

You can also engage in forums and share your ideas and thoughts about your cats.

You can also get help in those communities in case you don’t know what’s wrong with your cat.

You may become famous on social media

If you understand how social media and people work in general, you will also have the chance to become really famous with your cat.

In fact, there are social media channels that have many millions of followers.

Thus, if you are willing to put in the world, you can build your own YouTube channel rather quickly and may be able to make some money out of it.

You may be able to start a business around your cat

If you are really good at digital marketing and learn how to promote your cat as best as possible, you may even be able to start a real business around your cat.

There had been people in the past who had built successful businesses around their pets and who earn decent money from it.

They had even been able to quit their day jobs and solely focus on their social media career.

Hence, getting a cat can also be great for you in case you no longer want to work in your corporate job but rather want to work self-employed.

Of course, many people will fail when they go this path and you should keep your job as long as you can’t make enough money from your side hustle to pay your bills.

Yet, in the long run, you may be able to build a lucrative business together with your cat.

Cats are rather independent pets

Compared to other pets, cats are also rather independent animals.

If you give them access to the outside world, they will often not come back for many hours or even days and you will just not have to care that much about them compared to a state where you have dogs or other pets at home that require care and your attention all day long.

This also means that getting a cat can be great for you in case you want to have some company but are not willing to look after your pet too often.

Now that we have talked about all the nice things that come along with having a cat at home, it’s time to also talk about the downsides related to it in the following chapter.

Disadvantages of Getting a Cat

1. You have to spend some money on your cat
2. Having a cat can be time-consuming
3. You have to get necessary vaccinations
4. Cats get sick sooner or later
5. You may have to get a pet sitter
6. Cats will not learn any tricks
7. Your cat may get pregnant
8. Cats are not that loyal
9. Not the best animals to play with
10. Cats are often shy
11. Cats may hide if friends come over to your home
12. Getting a cat means giving away freedom and flexibility
13. Having a cat at home doesn’t make you special
14. Your cat may get fleas
15. Your cat may bite and scratch you
16. Your cat may come home with a mouse
17. Cats will not comply with your commands most of the time
18. Your cat may not come back one day
19. Your cat will not live forever

You have to spend some money on your cat

One disadvantage of getting a cat is that you will have to spend some money on it.

Sure, keeping a cat doesn’t cost as much as many other pets.

Yet, you will still have to feed your cat from time to time and you will also have to get some equipment to make your cat feel comfortable at your place.

Hence, make sure that you are willing to spend some money on your cat before getting one.

Having a cat can be time-consuming

You should also not underestimate the time commitment you make when you get a cat.

There will always be things to do and if you come home tired from work, chances are that your workday will not be over but that you have to do some additional work for your cat.

For instance, your cat will lose hair on a regular basis and you therefore have to clean your home much more often.

Moreover, your cat may also damage things at your place and you will be the one who has to fix those issues.

You have to get necessary vaccinations

Another downside of owning a cat is that you will also be responsible that your cat will get necessary vaccinations.

This means that you will have to see the veterinarian and this implies that you will have to spend additional money and time on your cat.

Cats get sick sooner or later

You should also not expect that your cat will stay healthy forever.

Sooner or later, your cat will get sick and this can be quite unpleasant since your cat may throw up and you will have to clean up the mess.

Moreover, you may often also not know what your cat suffers from and this can be emotionally demanding since you will often not know if what you did for your cat had been enough.

In the worst case, wrong decisions may lead to pretty bad outcomes and your cat may even pass away due to those diseases.

Consequently, before getting a cat, make sure that you have the budget to go to a veterinarian in case your cat gets sick and that you also have the mental strengths to deal with these issues.

You may have to get a pet sitter

If you want to go on vacation for a longer period of time, you will also need to get a pet sitter.

While this will be pretty easy if you have relatives or friends around, it can be hard if you just moved to another city and don’t have any social contacts yet.

In such a case, you could give your cat to an animal pension.

Yet, you never know how your loved cat will be treated in those pensions and you may therefore always have to worry about your cat while you are on vacation.

Cats will not learn any tricks

Another issue with owning a cat is that your cat will also usually not learn any tricks.

Compared to other pets, cats are just not willing to learn those things since it is just not in their character to do so.

Instead, they will have their own goals in life and will just not do you the favor to learn some funny things.

Your cat may get pregnant

Another problem with having a cat is that it may become pregnant sooner or later.

If you have a female cat and give it access to your garden, chances are that it will stray around and that it will meat a male cat sooner or later.

Consequently, it may not take that long until your cat gets pregnant and you will have to deal with this situation somehow.

If you can’t give away the baby cats, you will now have to worry about a handful of cats instead of just one like it had been the case in the beginning.

Cats are not that loyal

Compared to other pets, cats are also not that loyal. Sure, they will enjoy your company and what you do for them.

Yet, they will not defend you in case you need it and will rather hide. Hence, don’t expect that your cat will love you more than itself.

Not the best animals to play with

Cats are also not that eager to play most of the time, especially once they get older and tired.

Hence, while your kids may want to play with your cat, your cat may not want to do so at all and may just hide somewhere.

Also when you come back home from work, your cat may not even be waiting for you and you may not have as much company as you might have thought.

In fact, cats are not as social as many other pets and you should just know that before getting a cat.

Cats are often shy

Depending on the character of your cat, it may also just not like that much company and may rather want to have a quiet life instead.

In fact, many cats are quite shy and may rather go for a walk outdoors instead of spending time with you at home.

Cats may hide if friends come over to your home

If your cat is not that social and rather shy, it may also hide from your friends in case they come over to your home.

You might have sent them nice pictures of your cat and your friends may want to see your cat, yet your cat may not do you the favor to show up during these situations.

In turn, your friends may be quite disappointed.

Getting a cat means giving away freedom and flexibility

Like with many other pets, you will just give away a certain level of flexibility and freedom if you get a cat.

You will have to spend lots of time to keep your cat healthy and vital in the long run and you will also have to make some compromises in various parts of your life.

Moreover, you should also know that many cats can live for more than 10 years and that you make a long-term commitment by getting a cat.

Therefore, you should really make sure that you are willing to make those compromises for many years before you get a cat as a pet.

Having a cat at home doesn’t make you special

Since so many people have cats at home, owning a cat will also just not make you special or exotic in any way.

While this might be great if you want to fit in society, it will just not be the right way to go for you if you want to have something unique.

In such a case, you may rather want to get a pig as a pet or other rather exotic animals instead.

Your cat may get fleas

If you give your cat access to the outdoor world, chances are that it will get fleas sooner or later.

This can be really annoying since fleas can be quite persistent and cannot be removed in an easy manner.

In the worst case, you may even have to see the veterinarian to relieve your cat from those unwanted guests.

Your cat may bite and scratch you

Your cat may also not be in a good mood all day long.

If your cat is angry and you try to play with it, chances are that your cat may scratch or even bite you.

While this might not be a big problem in most cases, it can still hurt in the short run.

If you are unlucky, your wound may even become inflamed and you may suffer from long-term health issues.

Hence, in case you get scratched or bitten, make sure that you use disinfection spray so that your wound can heal as fast as possible.

Your cat may come home with a mouse

If your cat is quite active and you give it access to your garden, it may happen that your cat will come home with a mouse.

While this can be exciting and interesting for some people, others are just afraid of mice and don’t want to have them in their homes.

Cats will not comply with your commands most of the time

Another downside to owning a cat is that your cat will just not comply with your commands most of the time.

In fact, cats will just have their own personality and will just do what’s good for them, even though it might make you disappointed.

It will also be hard to teach your cat things and you should just know that cats are not that responsible in this regard.

Your cat may not come back one day

If you give your cat access to the outside world, it may also not come back sooner or later since there are just many threats out there.

For instance, your cat may be run over by a car.

Moreover, it may also be attacked by martens or other animals.

Hence, you should also take into account that you may wait for your cat for many days and that you finally realize that you will never see your loved cat again.

Your cat will not live forever

In general, it will be time to say goodbye to your cat sooner or later. Even though cats can live for many years, the day will come when your cat will just not wake up anymore.

This can be emotionally challenging, especially if you have cared for your cat for quite a long time. It can also be hard to tell your kids about it and they will often be quite sad.

Top 10 Cat Pros & Cons – Summary List

Cats Pros	Cats Cons
Cats stay rather small	Cats can be time-consuming
Cats can give you company	You need to invest some money
Cats are cute	You have to go to the veterinarian
Cats are popular pets	Your cat may become pregnant
Owning a cat can be fun	Owning a cat takes away some flexibility
Nice if you have children	Your cat may bite you
Cats are rather independent pets	Cats are not that social
May help you in difficult times	Your cat may hide
You can start your own business	Your cat may never come back
You may become famous	You may need a cat sitter

Should You Get a Cat as a Pet?

As you can see from the previous discussion, there are indeed many advantages and disadvantages of owning a cat.

In the end, it is your personal decision and you have to decide for yourself whether a cat as a pet fits your personal preferences.

If you are not sure yet, make sure to also check out the pros and cons of owning a dog.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/549585/science-backed-tips-for-getting-a-cat-to-like-you

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/general-cat-care

About the Author

My name is Andreas and I’m really passionate about our environment and also about growing plants. In fact, I have grown several different plants over many years. I love to see my plants grow and also always try new things to improve my overall conditions at home.

In my blog posts, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can become successful in growing various different plants and improving your home as well, even though you might still be a beginner right now.