Keep a Cat

What do I need? Cats are low maintenance – a dish filled with kibbles and another filled with fresh water, a litterbox and daily TLC are all you need for a happy and contented cat. Keep your cat indoors at all times to prevent accidents and abuse. If you live in a high-rise apartment, please mesh your windows. Cats love high places, lookout points and small moving creatures. So, window ledge + passing bird = fatal fall.

Why are cats such fabulous companions?

This is what we have personally experienced over the years with our own cats:

• they never fail to greet us at the door when we get home at night.
• they like to join us on the sofa when we are watching TV.
• they like warm places, so besides basking in the sun next to the window, their other favourite spot is on our pillow next to our heads.
• they demand for your attention in the cutest ways – by sitting on the keyboard when you are typing, or on the newspaper you are reading.
• and when they start purring – many good things happen: nerves are clamed, the day’s worries are forgotten, relaxation and healing begins. Read about the therapeutic effects of purring here.

Should I buy or adopt?

At Cat Cafe Neko no Niwa, we strongly advocate adopting. There are many, many abandoned and rescued cats in Singapore looking for a new home everyday. All our cafe cats are adopted. Spend some time in our cafe and you will discover that all cats, not just the pedigrees, can be just as affectionate and endearing.
One clear advantage of adopting is that you can choose a cat at its life stage that is most suitable for you. For example, if you want a playful and ever-curious companion, a kitten anywhere from 5 months to 2 years old will be able to keep you entertained with its boundless energy. Conversely, cats that are over 8 years old may be more suited for elderly folks and their slower pace of life. For busy working adults, consider mature cats between 4 to 6 years of age who are generally milder and more predictable.

Is it true that they scratch and bite?

Not all scratches and bites are intentional, so this question needs to be answered in a few parts:

• Furniture – By providing enough scratch posts around the house, you can avoid a shredded sofa. It is natural for cats to want to leave their scent and sharpen their claws and by providing them with activity corners to do so, it will greatly minimise the potential damage to your furniture.
• Nails – Just like us, a cat’s nails need frequent trimming. This can be easily done with a good pair of nail scissors. By keeping their nails blunt, accidental scratches can be prevented.
• Scratching & Biting – Wouldn’t you be very upset if I suddenly pulled your hair or gave you a hard pinch on your tummy? Similarly, touching certain parts of a cat or making sudden noises or movements could result in a natural reaction to protect themselves. By learning how best to handle a cat (not unlike bear handlers and divers who swim with sharks), these undesirable behaviour do not need to surface.
• Love bites and nibbles – When a cat adores you, sometimes he nibbles at your toes or fingers! This is just one of the several ways they show their affection. 

 I’m still not sure…

If you have any questions about owning or caring for your cat, do approach either Sam or Sue at Cat Cafe Neko no Niwa. We will be happy to share with you all that we have learnt from our 15 years of cat ownership. Ask us about feeding & nutrition, supplements, grooming, type of litter, litterbox training, integration, socialising or even toys and beddings.
Remember, cats are a lifetime commitment and they can live to anywhere between 12 to 20 years. When you are ready to adopt a kitty or two, we can point you in the right direction.