Tips on Buying a Used Cat!

My cat Spike was previously owned, but in goodCat anxiety is evidently a fairly common malady for
condition. He wasn't shaking or throwing up on thefelines. Spike rarely appears anxious unless one of the
floor or having some kind of a fit. For a cat in anraccoons that have invaded the woods in our back
animal shelter he seemed to be in pretty good shape!yard snarls at him over a bit of his cat food. He
The animal services people said that he was availablealmost lost a leg to one of these food bandits a
for adoption which made me wonder if the othercouple of years ago and since then he stays out of
animals in the cages were doomed already.their way when they visit his garage at night.
Adoption is just another word for a cat sale! TheyOtherwise he seems pretty laid back.
didn't want us to think this was a businessOccasionally he'll scratch the side of our antique couch
arrangement, so they dulled the verbiage by telling uswhen we least expect it. I think he's just trying to
we were giving him a new home and a future; evenget attention from us, which he does when my wife
hinting that if we didn't take him, he would begrabs the broom and swats him out the door.
meeting the grim reaper the next day.I asked a veterinarian about this behavior and he said
First Tip: Know what you're going to be spending andthat Spike was probably suffering some kind of
decide if the kitten is worth the money, as well asemotional stress. He wrote me a prescription for
the cat hair on your new sofa when you get home.Valium. He said if he showed any other emotional
The cat cost me almost $100 before I could evendistress he would increase the dosage. That's all I
get him into the car, which to my way of thinking, Ineed; a stoned cat!
had just bought a cat. Adoption fees, city licenseTip Three: Physical Health: Although it's impossible to
fees and county license fees, worming and a fewtell just how healthy the cat you're interested in
other medical necessities amounted to $115.00. Thebuying is, you have to hope that it's good enough to
coupon they gave me to have him neutered wouldqualify him for health insurance. Spike appeared to be
save me $20.00, but would still cost $30.00.healthy when I bought him so I thought I wouldn't
Any way I looked at this arrangement, we werehave to spend much money on his up-keep.
talking about big money and I hadn't even boughtThen the raccoons and monstrous veterinarian bills
any kitty litter or cat food! I was beginning toarrived. After one of them chewed on his leg in a
wonder if I had been scammed. This kitten certainlydispute over Meow Mix, I discovered that having a
didn't look like he was worth a hundred dollars. Alsolittle insurance was probably a good thing. I also
someone obviously of limited intelligence had nameddiscovered that pet insurance is a lot like human
this kitten Donnie! I immediately changed his name tohealth insurance in that there is a pre-existing clause.
Spike, which he seemed to appreciate.Even though Spike had never had an injury to his leg,
Second Tip: Make sure the cat of your choice is inthe insurance company refused to pay for the
good mental health. That's right, I said mental health.medical attention he received, using the old
According to animal experts, cats can stress out and"pre-existing" excuse!
go bonkers just like us humans. I wasn't aware ofWhether you buy your cat at a pet store or an
such a thing when I picked Spike out of the line-up atanimal shelter, it's going to cost you money, worry
the shelter, but it could explain why sometimes whenand time. Sometimes I think raising a kid is cheaper
he's sleeping he will suddenly sit up and then boltand they won't leave hair on your couch!
from his bed like its on fire!