Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five funny cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
Look Part 1: Dogs Don’t Have Leisure Days in Dogster.com.
This week, I decided to rant, and talk to you about how life with five cats and five dogs isn’t always fun stories and funny anecdotes. It’s also a lot of work. I’m not looking for sympathy, and I love sharing my home with so many pets, but I also don’t want to ignore the harsh reality of living with animals, especially, lots of animals.
Some people have completely unrealistic expectations of living with pets, and even go to cruel extremes like declawing their cats to keep their furniture looking new.
I have a few words that I like to trot out when talking to people about having pets (and I believe they apply to having children too!):
- A clean house or pets: pick one (you can’t have both).
- If you don’t feel the sadness sometimes, you will regret it later
- This one is specifically related to puppy training!
We do our best to keep our home clean and presentable; choosing furniture that won’t easily show the effects of cat claws or absorb any dog ββodors, investing in some good quality vacuum cleaners, and we’re currently in the process of replacing most of our carpet with hard floors . Instead of fighting the side-effects of pet ownership, we try to make choices and adjustments that make those side effects less of a problem. But, some days it feels like a lot of work.
Having recently returned from a visit from my pet-free parents, I found myself a little overwhelmed and annoyed by the many time-consuming responsibilities that pet ownership involves, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. the pet lover who felt that way. sometimes. Feelings of envy brought me to this week’s topic of the harsh reality of living with pets, of which there are enough to have two parts!
Things You Need to Know About Life With Cats
There are many different choices and adjustments you can make that will help minimize the downsides of living with cats, but if you think that life with cats is low maintenance and smooth sailing, time that’s for a reality check.
Hairballs and vomit are inevitable
Regular brushing, choosing the right foods, and using supplements can really help reduce the amount of hairballs and related vomit you see around the house, but unless you live in a hairless breed, you should accept that you will have the joy of dealing with the occasional cat upchuck. Just this morning I heard the sound coming from inside my wardrobe and I was too late to stop it.
Cat Litter Has a Life of Its Own
It clings to the feet and feathers, is thrown away, even goes into the water bowls; cats always seem to spread around the house. Large particles and litter mats can certainly help, but don’t be surprised to see pieces of litter scattered around the area. When I see little specks of cat litter on my bedspread and nightstand, I just pray that it gets cleaned up!
The cat has claws
And they will use them. Even if you provide scratching posts, cat trees, and cat furniture, there’s a good chance your cat will bend those paws onto your sofa, carpet, or clothes. Keeping their nails trimmed can help minimize damage, but if you can’t handle a nail mark here or there, cats may not be the pet for you.
Not only do our cats enjoy sharpening their claws on our carpets, they also maliciously seek to tear them up if they find they are not in a room. If we have to lock them in my office, or lock them out of the bedroom, we know there will be a patch of carpet with the marks of their protest. That’s why we’re gradually moving to hard floors!
You will have Cat Hair EVERYWHERE
One thing that is really frustrating is when my clothes come out of the washing machine more hair than they entered. Even if it’s just me and Clutch, I’m always looking for the ‘next big thing’ to combat pet hair on clothing, furniture, and carpet. Multiply that by ten and you can imagine how hairy our lives are! When I came home from my trip, I was a little sad to find that some clothes had been taken from their hangers and used as a comfortable bed at the bottom of my closet.
There is always better than bad
You may be wondering why I have so many pets if I have so much to complain about, but it’s not a bad thing! Fortunately, the more negative aspects of living with pets are far outweighed by the positives, so my posts tend to be more positive in nature! How can I stay cool when I have the likes of vacuum-loving Clutch, broken Fred, awkward Cyril, and water-addicted Kodah to cheer me up? There will be days when you long to look at people without pets, with scratch-free furniture and clean clothes, but if you’re like me, you’d choose a furry shirt over a pet-free home any day of the week.