Answer These Questions to See if You’re Ready to Own a Cat

Section 1: Should I Get a Cat? Quiz

Instructions

First, answer the 30 questions here in Section 1 with either “yes” or “no.”

After you finish, the same questions are repeated in Section 2. You’ll find out whether your answers were green or red flags, along with explanations for each question.

If any of your answers equals a red flag, it’s either not a good time to get a cat or you have some things to figure out before you do.

1. Does your landlord allow cats?

2. Do you have the money to care for a cat?

3. Does everyone in your house agree on who will be responsible for all the care requirements and costs?

4. Are you willing and able to commit to caring for a cat for the next 15-20 years?

5. Are you prepared for all of the responsibilities that come with having a cat?

6. Are you ok with finding cat hair in your home and on your clothes all the time?

7. Are you willing to provide the necessary grooming for your cat?

8. Do you have the patience for learning about cat behavior and trouble-shooting unwanted behaviors?

9. Is your housing/living situation reasonably stable and steady?

10. Are you willing to put the time and money into cat-proofing your home?

11. Are things at your home currently calm and free of upheaval?

12. Are you prepared to deal with the unpleasant tasks and surprises that come with having a cat?

13. Are you (or someone you live with) severely allergic to cats?

14. Have you done your homework on what’s involved in having a cat on a daily basis and whether life with a cat is really for you?

15. Do you have time to interact with your cat every day?

16. Do you already have pets that may be aggressive toward cats or are incompatible with cats?

17. Are you afraid of cats?

18. Do you have very young children who may not be ready yet to understand how to interact safely and appropriately with a cat?

19. Do you have enough space in your home for a cat?

20. Are you willing to take on the emotional toll that will be part of your cat’s old age and eventual death?

21. Can you tolerate the strong possibility of your belongings or furniture being broken or scratched by your cat?

22. Are you willing to learn about cat behavior and appropriate ways of responding to unwanted behaviors?

23. Are you willing to keep your cat indoors, particularly if you live near busy streets or in an area with dangerous wildlife?

24. Do you have houseplants that are toxic to cats that you aren’t able to keep safely out of reach?

25. Do you like cats?

26. Are you committed to taking the extra time in the beginning to build trust and security with your cat?

27. Do you only want a cute cat for your instagram?

28. Do you have an acceptable spot for the litter box and food and water bowls?

29. Are you willing to have your cat spayed or neutered?

30. Are you prepared to respond to emergencies that may arise and require veterinary care and expenses to go with it?

Section 2: Quiz Answers & Explanations

1. Does your landlord allow cats?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

If your rental lease says no pets or no cats, then don’t get a cat. People get a cat thinking their landlord won’t find out. Then their landlord finds out, charges a fee, and forces them to re-home their cat. It’s stressful for everyone, least of all, the cat.

Also keep in mind, having a cat can significantly reduce your options as a renter when it comes time to find a new place.

2. Do you have the money to care for a cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

If you don’t have the budget for it, don’t get a cat. Learn what it costs to adopt and take care of a cat before you decide to get a cat.

3. Does everyone in your house agree on who will be responsible for all the care requirements and costs?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

You need to discuss and agree on exactly who will be responsible for what when it comes to taking care of the cat. This includes a plan for the cat when you are out of town or working late.

4. Are you willing and able to commit to caring for a cat for the next 15-20 years?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Cats typically live a long time. Don’t get one unless you’re committed for the long haul.

5. Are you prepared for all of the responsibilities that come with having a cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Feeding, cleaning, vaccinations, scooping the litter box, etc. Learn the details of what’s actually required before you decide to get a cat.

6. Are you ok with finding cat hair in your home and on your clothes all the time?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Unless you get a hairless cat, finding cat hair on your stuff will be part of the deal. But there are ways to manage and keep your house clean.

7. Are you willing to provide the necessary grooming for your cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Although most cats do a pretty good job of cleaning themselves, you will still need to brush them and trim their claws regularly.

8. Do you have the patience for learning about cat behavior and trouble-shooting unwanted behaviors?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Learning about cat training will make things a lot happier for you and your cat. That’s because you’ll be more likely to know how to handle behavior challenges in ways that are both effective and appropriate for your cat.

9. Is your housing/living situation reasonably stable and steady?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

If you know you’ll be moving a lot in the future or traveling extensively, this isn’t a good time to get a cat.

Moving to a new house or apartment is extremely stressful for cats. And if you’re a renter, having a cat can make it difficult to find your next place to live because many landlords don’t allow pets.

If you travel a lot, having a cat is still manageable as long as you can afford the cost of reliable pet sitting when you’re gone. Just make sure you won’t be gone a lot right after you get your cat, so that you can ensure optimal adjustment to your home and build a trusting bond with your new buddy.

10. Are you willing to put the time and money into cat-proofing your home?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Cat-proofing your home will keep your cat safer, and protect your stuff from getting damaged. Creating an optimal environment for a cat should be done before you bring one home, and on an ongoing basis as needed. You can start with cat-proofing your curtains.

11. Are things at your home currently calm and free of upheaval?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

If not – perhaps you’re having major repair work or renovations done – then wait until the work is completed and things have returned to normal before adopting a cat. You don’t want your new cat to be adjusting to your home at a time that is unusually chaotic or stressful.

12. Are you prepared to deal with the unpleasant tasks and surprises that come with having a cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

You need to be ok with things like scooping and cleaning the litter box regularly, and cleaning up cat barf off of floors or furniture. Make sure you’re aware of all the cons of cat ownership.

13. Are you (or someone you live with) severely allergic to cats?

Yes = Red Flag

No = Green Flag

If you’re allergic and you really want a cat, see if you can find a way to house-sit for someone who has a cat to see how if affects you. Or at least hang out in their house a few times. And read up on ways to deal with cat allergies.

Don’t just get a cat and cross your fingers that you’ll be able to tolerate the allergic symptoms. Run the idea by your doctor. Figure out a way to gather some data first that will tell you if living with a cat will be doable for you or not.

14. Have you done your homework on what’s involved in having a cat on a daily basis and whether life with a cat is really for you?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

You need to do your homework before getting a cat. There’s a lot to consider when deciding if you’re ready to get a cat.

15. Do you have time to interact with your cat every day?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Yes, cats are more independent than dogs, but the bond they have with their owners is important. Your cat will be happier and healthier with daily care, play, and affection.

16. Do you already have pets that may be aggressive toward cats or are incompatible with cats?

Yes = Red Flag

No = Green Flag

If your dog is aggressive toward cats, don’t get one. Even if you think your dog will be fine with a cat, you should supervise all their interactions until you’re certain, and be prepared to invest in some extensive dog training.

If you already have a cat, read up on what to consider before introducing a new kitten or cat to your home.

17. Are you afraid of cats?

Yes = Red Flag

No = Green Flag

If the answer is yes, I can assure you there are probably much better ways to tackle ailurophobia.

18. Do you have very young children who may not be ready yet to understand how to interact safely and appropriately with a cat?

Yes = Yellow Flag

No = Green Flag

Having a baby or very small children can make having a cat more complicated. It will require careful thought and attention to make sure there are no accidents that endanger the child or the cat.

But if you take the time to do it well, cats with kids of any age can be a really wonderful combination. This one’s a yellow flag just because it requires extra consideration.

19. Do you have enough space in your home for a cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Cats can be compatible with small living spaces. But you may need to do some thoughtful planning and rearranging to make things cat-friendly. For example, you’ll need some vertical climbing/hang-out spaces (like a cat tree), along with room for a litter box and scratching posts.

Be sure to learn about setting up your home properly before you get a cat.

20. Are you committed to take on the emotional toll that will be part of your cat’s old age and eventual death?

Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

It sucks, but of course it is inevitable that you will have to say goodbye one day.

And the care and expenses a cat may require in the last months or years of life can increase significantly. Again, a healthy indoor cat typically lives 15-20 years.

Please don’t be someone who abandons their pet when they become more difficult and expensive to care for in old age.

21. Can you tolerate the strong possibility of your belongings or furniture being broken or scratched by your cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Scratched furniture and broken or damaged things are just going to be a part of the experience. Make sure you read up on how to kitten-proof your home to prevent and minimize mishaps.

22. Are you willing to learn about cat behavior and appropriate ways of responding to unwanted behaviors?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

You will need to learn how to address inevitable behavior challenges that are a part of cat ownership (e.g., counter surfing, scratching furniture). Understanding the principles of positive reinforcement will take you far in training your cat.

23. Are you willing to keep your cat indoors, particularly if you live near busy streets or in an area with dangerous wildlife?

No = Yellow Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Because of the huge increase in risks to health and safety, outdoor cats typically live shorter lives and suffer more injuries and health problems. For those reasons, they also tend to cost their owners more money. This is why many organizations advocate for keeping cats as indoors-only pets, though other advocate for giving cats access to the outdoors.

Be sure to read up on the considerations around whether to let your cat go outside. It can be hard to switch to indoors-only after a cat is already used to going outside. This one gets a yellow flag as something that requires careful consideration of the pros and cons, and it can pay off to think things through before you even get a cat.

24. Do you have houseplants that are toxic to cats that you aren’t able to keep safely out of reach?

Yes = Red Flag

No = Green Flag

Some houseplants are toxic to cats. If you’re like me and love cats and houseplants, be sure to read up on how to combine them safely. Consider finding new homes for the plants you can’t safely out of reach. While you’re at it, make sure you know what’s on the list of common items that are toxic to cats.

25. Do you like cats?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Pretty obvious, right? Less obvious is whether you will like living with a cat every day, so be sure to read up on what it’s like to care for a cat before you actually get one.

26. Are you committed to taking the extra time in the beginning to build trust and security with your cat?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

The first days and weeks after you get a cat are critical for creating a foundation of trust and making a good adjustment to your home, including litter box training.

Do it well and your cat will likely be a happy, confident, affectionate, and well-behaved fur pal. A great way to start is by setting up a safe room for proper acclimation of your newly adopted cat.

27. Do you really only want a cute cat for your instagram?

Yes = Red Flag

No = Green Flag

A phone full of hundreds of cute cat photos is an added bonus of having a cat, not a reason to get one.

28. Do you have acceptable spots for the litter boxes and food and water bowls?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Having adequate space for these things is important. The litter box is especially important. People often regret it if the only place they have to put it is in a bedroom closet or their only bathroom. On the other hand, that can be incentive for keeping it clean!

You might want to read up on creative solutions before committing to a cat.

29. Are you willing to have your cat spayed or neutered?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

Please spay or neuter your cat. Not doing so hurts efforts of shelters and rescue agencies working to find good homes for cats in need every year and keep the feral cat population down.

Consult your vet about the best timing (age) for your cat. The most common recommendation for the earliest is around 4 to 5 months of age. Female cats can become pregnant at around 5 months of age, or even a little sooner for some.

Spaying or neutering will also help to prevent many unwanted behaviors in your cat.

30. Are you prepared to respond to emergencies that may arise and require veterinary care and expenses to go with it?

No = Red Flag

Yes = Green Flag

There will probably be things that come up that require you to change your plans and make an urgent trip to the vet’s office. And it can be expensive.

Section 3: Results – How did you do?

If you had green flag answers to all 30 questions in this Should I Get a Cat Quiz, then congrats! You have the green light to commence your journey in cat companionship.

If you had any red flags, you’re probably either not ready to get a cat until you’ve worked those things out (that is, you can answer those questions with green flag answers), or you just shouldn’t get a cat. The aim is to have green flags for all 30 questions.

Last, two of the questions have yellow flags instead of red, and those are just to be noted as needing careful consideration before you proceed.

Last Meows

We hope this exercise has been helpful as you consider entering into cat guardianship!

In addition to the articles aimed at helping you decide if you should get a cat, the Getting Started page also has collections to help you navigate the process of choosing a cat, preparing your home, and helping your new cat adjust once you’ve found the right one(s) for you.

And if you’re taking the plunge, then congrats! You can use our New Cat Essentials Checklist to make sure you’ve got the necessary supplies for a solid start to your cat guardian journey.