10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Adopting A Cat

I haven’t always been an expert on cat behavior - in fact, I was pretty clueless when I adopted my first cat! Join me as I reflect on the things I’ve learned over 30 years of working with cats so hopefully you can avoid making the same mistakes I did. Whether you’re a seasoned cat guardian or considering a feline family member for the very first time, these tips will help prepare you for a rich and fulfilling life with your cats.

What are some things you wish YOU had known before you brought cats in your life? 

0:00 Introduction
0:29 Introductions take time
2:58 Nail trimming
4:18 Proper nutrition
5:38 Cats need enrichment
7:02 Cat-proofing
9:07 Finding a team
10:29 Pet insurance
12:00 The cat community
11:12 Emergency planning
13:46 The history of cats

What is Catification?

Cat Proofing

Introductions

Nutrition

What to Do For Your Cat When You Go Away on Vacation!

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[JacksonGalaxy]

So what do you all think? Anything you wish you had known? I'm sure there are plenty!

[Broeckchen]

"Cats don't protest as much." Made me laugh. I got cats because I know they will absolutely let me KNOW. Milkyway WILL be on my ass about late feedings, playtime and cleaning the litterbox. If I don't want to have her sit next to mey stating disdainfully and giving me the most heartbreaking tiny meows ever while pawing at my phone or poking any exposed skin with a single claw, I better get my crap together and do my job as a cat guardian. X3

I'm really thankful for it, honestly. I have ADHD and depression, so these little routinelovers keep me on the rails.

[ozaman]

Dog owner for life (OzarkFamilyCorso - youtube)...UNTIL The wife and kids suckered me into cats a few years back. We now have three and being an animal person, how much I've learned about cats is incredible. I've seen every "Cats from hell" show from start to finish. It was like getting a degree in what to and not to do. I feel I may have as good a connection with my cats as my dogs now.

[katsuai]

When I brought my second cat home I told everybody I'm doing the intro "Jackson Galaxy style." I had people doubt me (and at times I doubted myself) and said it's going so slow and I should just let them hash it out. But my cats and I persevered and here we are, two months later, and there's peace in my house. My cats are the best of friends, they love playing with and grooming each other, and they bring me so much joy. ❤

[frederiekbiesma]

I want to thank you for your work. Always had cats in my life, I am 65 now, but not getting a scratch from all the cats that I have had and rescued...slow blink... soft voice, not moving quickly, and most important when meeting a new animal, let them come to me and the we take it from there. It even helped with teaching, as a music teacher I have taught pupils with autism and 'animal' behaviour was one of the best tools ever.

[slc]

Amen on the nail clipping! Those jabbers hurt when they wake you up. I started clipping when I got him at 6 months old. Every month. He gets a nutritional supplement every time so he is good with it. And it saves my skin. And double Amen to good nutrition! I started him on both wet and dry. Then he only wanted dry. I switched both dry and wet foods and he eats both. He'll be 20 next month. Hoping for a few more great years.

[melissaalexander]

So it definitely depends on the dog…. My dog LOVED cats. The first kitten I brought home she treated like her baby. Wanted to clean her and played gently with her. She even covered her poop in the litter box with her nose, when the kitten didn’t! Yes I watched her do it. I was completely amazed by that! Best dog I’ve ever had. Miss her every day ❤️

[Soundthenew]

Cat proofing for sure is a must. I have 2 kitties, one is 16 and one is 2. The older kitty had never tried to open cabinets or anything like that until my new fur baby showed him how. I had to get cabinet locks on everything, even keeping the lid on the toilet locked. Now I build them cardboard box cabinets to explore, they love it

[gavinhammond]

Some of these things don't apply to my cat, and some don't apply to your cat. What does apply, and has been the most useful lesson in cat ownership, to me, is that they aren't dogs, they aren't furry people, they're distinct and individual. Thanks for that Mr Galaxy 😊.

[tealimeteatime]

I wish I knew you, Jackson, way before ! Now, I understand the slow blink, the stare down, the catification, cat's nutrition and I also feel way more confindent toward unexpected cats behaviors 😊 Thank you !

[marywatkins]

Shoot, you ain’t lying about that insurance. My first porch kitty Little Ma’am needed four of her teeth extracted. I was a CNA at the time, and worked double shifts to save up the $900 vet bill-sans pet insurance. Years later, my kitty Peter needed surgery to remove a stomach tumor (later found to be cancerous). I spent nearly $3000 on that surgery, but Spot Insurance came thru with that two-thirds reimbursement afterward!

And yes, Peter is still alive and well. I was told he had less than six months to live after his cancer diagnosis, but he’s still thriving over two years later! 🙌🏿🙌🏿

[GymBunnyQuinn]

We had a fire drill and we were humbled by how poorly it went.

We got the (2) cats used to the new carriers, packed the emergency bag and all of that prep, but by that time I’d somehow forgotten how the bloody things go together.

Quote of the night was mine; “am I going to be responsible for the death of my family because I can’t get the lid on the cat box??”

Absolutely hilarious when there is no fire, glad we got the giggles out of the way in case of a real one.

[law]

Grew up with cats, only a month of my 38 years without one. Will always have a cat 🐈

[cherisek]

I have a lab/gsp mix and when i brought our cat in as a kitten she had extreme prey drive. To the point where she would drool every time she saw him. Consistent training does wonders. I said “ leave it” every-time she would point at our cat. Fast forward. They are now best friends and love to chase each other and play through the house.

[subscriber]

I just lost my girl a few days ago. We had a short but lovely 4 years together but unfortunately, cancer ended her life prematurely. I remember digging into a lot of Jackson Galaxy videos which helped me work with her to get over a lot of anxieties she had to improve her quality of life. Thanks to the info, she lived a good life, learning that things like the backyard is a safe haven and that she can roll around in the grass and sunbathe in comfort (monitored of course). But when I adopted her, they didn't tell me about her FIV. So when I had gotten insurance just before our first vet visit, they basically rejected her when they got the diagnosis only offering dental coverage which was more expensive than actually paying. I wish someone had told me about that. I still chose to keep her since she had the most amazing personality and, honestly, the sweetest and least problematic cat to have ever walked the planet. I miss her dearly. Thanks for the resources that helped to make her few years with me, great ones.

[BAMtastico]

I adopted two kittens over a period of two months earlier last year. Watched many videos on this and other channels and then jumped in for the first adoption. So for all is going well. One thing I was not aware of, is how quickly they grow. The first one, a boy was about eight weeks old and just over three pounds. He is now eight months old and eleven pounds. So, don't expect your cute little kitten to stay little very long. The other thing I learned is that my cats don't watch this channel, so they do not know they are supposed to be a certain way. Each cat is an individual with their own personality and you learn to love them in their own terms.

[potsnpaninis]

You’re a real one for making this!! Thank you so much, I’m so excited to have a little furball of my own in a few days!

[jwbach]

Jackson, after our last beloved ferret went to the Great Beyond, we gave the double-decker ferret condo crate to our cat. His food went on the top shelf, litter box on the condo floor, plus a small bed, with another shelf in the middle to ease jumping into the top door that we leave open. He also has a place to go, if quarantining is necessary- just shut the crate door. Each successor kitty has also loved the condo.
LOVE your videos! Thank you! 😻

[mynx]

I have been very very fortunate with all of the great cats that I've had and still have. Never have I encountered a "cat from hell" type of scenario with any of my kitties because I love and respect them and I do everything that you're always telling people to do. Most importantly patience, patience and more patience is given to them!!! I've not always learnt my what to and what not to do from you. Some has come naturally from always having animals in my life and just understanding their needs and desires on my own. I've NEVER forced my attention onto a newly adopted animal and I've always introduced them to each other very slowly always with a door separating them. They could hear and smell each other but seeing and actually touching each other was a slow and supervised process. I never left newly introduced cats alone together even if they were living together already. As a safety precaution when I went out I'd put that door between them again keeping them in separate rooms for their safety. Only once I was 100% sure that they were okay together would I leave them together when I went out and initially only for a short period of time.
PATIENCE has always been the most important key in getting them to accept me and others.
Like all kitties my guys have moments when they go crazy. Every time I trim their claws I never know which kitty I'll be getting until I start clipping! This is the only area where my kitties can get psychotic! They keep me on my toes because one time trimming their claws they're fine and the next time they're acting like big ducks howling their brains out and the best one is their third act....when they go completely psychotic and act like raving lunatics howling, fighting me at every instance!
Unfortunately every nail trimming session is different depending on the cats mood that day!!
Even when they're psychotic, I'm still able to handle them and get the job done without any injuries to me or them. It somethimes just takes more time and patience and eventually the job gets safely done!!!

It also helps when your fur babies trust you implicitly and know that you'd NEVER purposely hurt them!! Like the other day unfortunately my little Himalayan boy had a mishap with me. We were both trying to get somewhere at the same time and I unfortunately stepped on his little paw 🐾 with my boots on!😮😢
OUCH‼️ Poor baby!
He looked at me as I semi-yelled his name (which was wrong of me to yell but I feared I'd really hurt him badly!!) and instantly dropped my voice into the soft soothing loving semi-baby talk tone and he stopped running away and came right to me. I then picked him up and checked his paw and rubbed it gently and apologized to him profusely. After giving him some more loving and a treat (😅 he's a good demon...everything is better with food in his floofy opinion!!😂). He was as good as new afterwards. I still felt really bad but at least he wasn't seriously hurt! Unfortunately he's the type that always tends to get underfoot and stepped on or almost stepped on!! So far he's been very lucky even though I've not been as lucky in trying to avoid him. I've avoided him but I've been slightly injured in the process!

Thank you Jackson for doing what you do! I love all animals but I really really have come to love cats the most! They're the BEST in my opinion! They're both my beloved friends and emotional and health care support providers all in one package...not to mention my entertainment too!😂

[MakunaRGBIC]

My #1 thing I put on the list I tell people, is watch this channel. I love being able to just point people in the right direction and volunteering at my local shelter I get lots of people asking lots of questions.