Cat Community Wisdom: I Can Has's Most Impurrtant Tips for Pawrents of Fresh Feline Fur Babies

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 25, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Howdy, feline fam! Congratulations on your new fur baby, whether they're a floofball of a kitten or a goofy orange adult. You're about to enter the best 10-20 years of your lives. You'll have a furrever cuddle buddy, you'll never go to the bathroom alone again, and you'll always have someone waiting at the door for you to come home. It's purrfectly meowgical. 

Or, maybe you're a veteran cat owner like us, and are just looking for a few new tips from your fellow feline fans in the cat community to better serve your feline friends. Serve is the correct word here because soon after getting a cat, you realize that you only exist to serve them. The sooner you accept that fact, the better your life will be.

Regardless of why you're here, we're pawsitively pleased to see you again. We've gathered some cat community wisdom from our online feline family below featuring the most impurrtant tips for pawrents of fresh feline fur babies. We hope you learn something from this, or at least, get a good giggle out of it!

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  • 01

    What's THE most important tip to remember after getting a cat?

    'Dental, dental and dental care. I wish I had taken that more serious.'
    via pixelshot

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Thinking about getting a cat soon. Used to have a pet dog but unfortunately she passed away. Now I'm deciding on a cat, and I'm wondering, to pet owners right now, if you had to time travel back and get a cat, what would be the main tip to remember?
    via Salt-Technology7769
  • 03
    • Alpacamybag14 · 8h ago That cat body language is not like a dog. It can take a long time for a cat to feel safe with you. They all have different personalities and preferences. They love like crazy even if they don't obviously show it. They can live a long time, but they can hide illness really well. The litterbox must be scooped.
    via Alpacamybag14
  • 04
    Ali550n 8h ago Cats are a part of our lives whereas we are their entire life... especially since most cats stay indoors. While they may not demand a lot from you, it's up to you to make sure that all of their needs are met - food, shelter, love, play... everything.
    via Ali550n
  • 05
    Skeptical04 • 7h ago I've worked as a cat adoption counselor for a long time. The most important thing is to imagine the cat living with you for the next decade or two, depending on how old the cat is when you adopt, and decide
    via Skeptical04___

  • This. This is so impurrtant. Each cat has a completely different purrsonality and some cats aren't meant for certain lifestyles. If you like to have people over, it's best to get a well-socialized cat that loves attention. But, that same cat won't cope well in your house if you work a lot and are out of the house for most of the day. Planning is crucial here.

  • 06
    what cat/personality will best fit into your life. If you work a lot, you'll want a cat who is more independent. If you plan have a lot of visitors to your home, you want a cat who is more outgoing, or you need to be ok with them hiding away while
    via Skeptical04___
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10533361408
    via Aleksandr Zotov

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    strangers are around. Do you plan to spend a lot of time playing with/interacting with the cat? If so, a younger, more energetic cat might be for you. Are you dedicated to using positive reinforcement to train the cat or do you absolutely need one who already knows
    via Skeptical04___
  • 09
    the appropriate places to scratch. All cats are individuals, but having a type in mind will help you pick the one who will best fit into your life. Do not pick based on color/looks unless you're ok with any personality type and are willing
    via Skeptical04___
  • 10
    to adjust your expectations accordingly. Make sure to have two litter boxes and have them set up in places that will accessible and seem safe to your new cat. Get bowls, toys, and a cat tree, and think about where/if they fit into your home.
    via Skeptical04___
  • 11
    And think about what you will do if your cat gets sick; are you able to keep an emergency fund or do you want to purchase insurance? Consider what will happen if you need to move, get a new job, enter a
    via Skeptical04___

  • We 100% support the pet insurance claim. Sure, it's another thing to pay every month, but it's way better than paying $10-20k because your cat ate something it wasn't supposed to and needs emergency surgery. In the best of cases, you never need it at all.

  • 12
    relationship, want or need to travel, etc. Animals are reliant on you to meet their needs for a long time, so be certain you are prepared for that type of commitment.
    via Skeptical04___
  • 13
    Think_Secret_7315 6h ago . Don't bring in cut flowers with lilies in your house! The lilies are toxic to cats!
    via Think_Secret_7315
  • 14
    puffinsaretrashbirds 8h ago Having a dog is like having a child. Having a cat is like having a roommate who occasionally bu ies you.
    via puffinsaretrashbirds
  • 15
    midnight_trinity • 6h ago . Keep them indoors.
    via midnight_trinity
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10533361664
    via Nils Jacobi

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    Quiet-Bike-8580 • 8h ago Always foster to adopt first. It's SO important to select a cat that suits your lifestyle. Do you want a super energetic feline? A lazy tom? A cuddlebug?
    via Quiet-Bike-8580
  • 18
    sadako... .7h ago Edited 7h ago . Make time to PLAY with them esp if you get a kitten! They need stimulation!!
    via sadako1287
  • 19
    She will never be the same as your dogs and sometimes she will make you miss having a dog. But when you walk in the door and she is waiting, she is waiting there JUST for you. One she figures out you're her human,
    via sadako1287
  • 20
    figures out you're her human, which, as others have mentioned may take time, she will not treat anyone the same way. She may annoy the crop out of you with meows but she wants your attention and yours only. She wants YOU and it's beautiful and wonderful.
    via sadako1287
  • 21
    From someone who found a kitten by a dumpster and who had only terrible experiences with cats until I found my beautiful sweet angel/devil of a cat. Sorry for sap. Cat literally changed my life.
    via sadako1287
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10533358336
    via sadako1287
  • 23
    razor... • 6h ago · Edited 25m ago . Vet appointments every year. Set money aside for medical emergencies or old age. Dental, dental and dental care. I wish I had taken that more serious.
    via razorthick_
  • 24
    Clean their bowls every other day. Twice a week at the least. Get a sponge just for cleaning their bowls. NO PLASTIC BOWLS. Ceramic or stainless steel.
    via razorthick_
  • 25
    Many cats seem to like their water far from their food. So keep an extra bowl somewhere else. They say this is a left over trait from their big cat days where you dont eat your de d carcass by the waterhole.
    via razorthick_
  • 26
    Litter gets cleans EVERY DAY. Not once a month, not on trash day. EVERY DAY. Dont fall in love with your furniture more than your cat. Get used to hair. Brush them at least once a month.
    via razorthick_
  • 27
    Get them a TALL scratch post and scratching cardboard mats. What I learned from reddit, if you get into a relationship with an pet hater...ditch the pet hater. No or is so good that you should allow your pet companion to deal with an a hole.
    via razorthick_
  • 28
    Pets are forever. They will get old like people and need patience and medical care. You need to be ready for that 10, 15, 20 years from now and be ready to give them what they need. Never abandon them. You'd have to sh ot me full of lead to keep me from my loved ones.
    via razorthick_
  • 29
    morose-melonhead 8h ago . be patient with your cat and with yourself! the first few weeks might be rough since your cat is settling in and you are also adjusting to a big life change. your cat might be hiding a lot, acting scared, etc- -remember that they don't hate you. they're just taking in the new environment and acting in self-defense.
    via morose-melonhead
  • 30
    i think most people adopt a cat hoping for a cuddly snuggly little friend. for first timers, when that doesn't happen as quickly as they expect, they can get very down on themselves. it can lead to feelings of regret and guilt when all you need is to
    via morose-melonhead
  • 31
    just wait and be patient as your cat navigates their new life. if you treat your cat well and earn their trust, most cats will turn around and give you affection in return. the 3-3-3 rule generally bears out.
    via morose-melonhead
  • 32
    scarrlet 6h ago I've had my cat for about six months and I did a lot of research first so he has settled in very smoothly, but the one thing I wish I had done differently is NOT feeding him the moment I get up. I'm trying
    via scarrlet
  • 33
    to train him out of waking me up earlier than I can handle and it's going pretty well but not as well as if I hadn't built that association of, "If Mom gets up, I get breakfast. I should try to get Mom up two hours early."
    via scarrlet

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tips I Can Has Cheezburger important cat community fur baby feline pawrents Cats animals
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