Complete Guide to Being an Awesome Cat Parent

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LitterOdorRevolution #CollectiveBias

It's been awhile since I've talked about my girls on here, so I thought it's the perfect time!  Quick back story: in June of 2011 we took a drive to the local Humane Society to adopt a cat.  June is national adopt a cat month!  My son was heading to high school and I was home alone a lot.  Our dog had passed away several months prior and I was missing having a companion when no one was home.  When we arrived to the Humane Society, I fell in love with Quorra [on the left] my family fell in love with Igloo [on the right].  They were babies and crate mates.  You could tell they had already developed a close bond.  So we adopted both!  It was the only decision that made sense to us.  Here we are 5 years later and they're still best friends, and my best friends.  P.S. I don't care if that makes me sound like a crazy cat lady! Haha!

Adopting an animal is a huge responsibility.  Please please please don't adopt a pet if you don't plan on keeping them their entire life.  I'm going to help you through the process today!  I have compiled a list of tips and a shopping list to make your transition with your new companion go smoothly.

||TIPS||

||1} Consider an adult cat

♥They're less likely to be adopted than kittens.  

♥They're grown and their personalities are established.  You know what to expect.  For instance, when we adopted the girls Igloo was a super wild and crazy kitten and Quorra was subdued and calm.  Now it's the complete opposite.

♥You'll know how big they'll get.  No surprises.

||2} Cat proof your home

♥Put up all electrical cords

♥Get rid of poisonous plants

♥Get on the floor [yes on your hands and knees] and inspect your home from a cat's view.

||3} Get a vet

♥Research local vets in your area prior to adopting.  We do it with pediatricians so why not with veterinarians?

♥Take your new family member to your new vet within a few days of adopting

||4} DIY those toys

♥Our cats love all kinds of toys.  They don't require the most expensive of toys and in fact choose random stuff to play with.  They love empty toilet paper roll tubes and boxes.  We shop online a lot and will leave the boxes on the floor for them for the day.  They'll roll around in it, wrestle in it, and sleep in it.  They LOVE boxes.

||5} Consider pet insurance

♥We all want and hope our cats have long healthy lives.  However, sometimes accidents and illnesses happen.  Vet bills can be very expensive.  Research pet insurance to see if it will be beneficial to you.

||6} Groom early

♥Get your cat accustomed to grooming as soon as you can.  This will help you and the cat in the long run.  Cat hair becomes a way of life, help yourself out and groom to eliminate excess cat hair.

||7} Are you allergic?

♥Please find out if you're allergic prior to adopting.  It'll be devastating to both you and the cat if you are unable to keep her due to allergies.

||8} Spay/Neuter

♥If you're adopting, chances are your cat will likely already be spayed or neutered.  However, if they are not, this is SO IMPORTANT.  Spaying and Neutering keeps unwanted population down.  Your cat will live a longer & healthier life.  It also helps cut out behavioral issues with cats.

||SUPPLIES||

♥Breakaway safety collar

♥ID tag

♥Food & Water bowl

♥Food

♥Scratching Post

♥Litter

♥Litter box

♥Treats

♥Toys

♥Flea prevention product

♥Litter Genie® Cat Litter Disposal System

[you'll see why you want this below]

My favorite place to get supplies for my cats is at Target.  They have a wonderful section for pets.  Recently when I was at Target to pick up some cat litter, I saw the new Litter Genie® Cat Litter Disposal System.  We live in an apartment and the only thing I HATE about being a cat parent is litter waste.  Our dumpster is around the corner, behind the building, with no back entrance/exit [thank goodness for teenagers!].  When I read the packaging on the Litter Genie®, I knew it was perfect for our home.  While inspecting the product, a Target employee told me they couldn't keep them on the shelves.  I got the last one they had in stock!

The Litter Genie® Cat Litter Disposal System is hassle-free and discreet.  It looks like a trash can, but it's no ordinary disposal container.  The Litter Genie® Pail helps lock in odor to make daily litter scooping a breeze.  No more daily runs out to the dumpster to dispose of waste.  It's compact design is perfect for apartments and dorms.  Fits in bathrooms and cupboards.

The Litter Genie® Cat Litter Disposal System comes with a scoop and a package of Litter Genie® Pail refill to get you started.  One refill package contains 7 bags and each bag holds approximately 14 days worth of waste [single cat home].  The refill has a 7 layer barrier for ultimate odor control.  The air-tight design helps lock in odors even with the lid open.  

So easy to use.  Just scoop, open lid, pull handle, then close.  Waste can be sealed up for up to 14 days [again, single cat].  I dispose of mine weekly because I have 2 cats.  Once you're ready to dispose of the litter waste, just open the bottom section and use the attached cutter to cut the bag.  Tie it off and dispose.  We are all loving our new Litter Genie® Cat Litter Disposal System.  I highly recommend it to every cat parent.  

Have you tried the Litter Genie® Cat Litter Disposal System?  What cat parenting tips do you have to share?