Too many people believe adopting a cat or kitten is as simple as taking them home in a box and allowing loving nature to take place. Voila! You have a Velcro pet.

Not true.

Cats, when neglected or threatened or just misunderstood, can scratch furniture, pee and poo outside litter boxes, and in some cases, bite.

Cats do not ask for much in life. Here are essentials:

1. Routine. They are creatures of habit. They want to know when you will leave and come home. When they will be fed and how much of their favorite food. When their litter boxes will be cleaned. When it is playtime and for how long. When the lights in the house go off as you prepare for bed. And, alas, if you will allow them on your bed. (They will continue to enchant or annoy you until you do.)

Here is Siggy as a kitten in her first play session:

1. Killing. Cats are predators. They are not even fully domesticated, containing much of the wildcat’s DNA. For instance, my cat Siggy actually runs like a Cheetah. (Her Basepaws DNA suggests this, and this video confirms it.)

So make sure you get a wand toy and play with him/her/them a few times per day. At first play time will seem like a chore, but soon you will revel in it. Other popular toys are squeaking mice, ping pong balls and anything that falls on the floor.

3. Food. Cats become anxious about food. Keep a bowl of hard kibbles around 24/7 and serve wet food two or three times per day. The wet food is especially important for males as they can get stopped if they don’t drink enough water. (You don’t want to pay the vet $2000 for each incident.) Buy a cat water fountain to make sure your cats are getting enough liquid.

4. Clean Litter Boxes. You need two boxes for one cat and at least one extra box for each additional cat. In other words, if you are guardian to two cats, at least three litter boxes. (We have two cats and four boxes.) Do not place them near their food station, and clean them every day. We tested several litter brands and decided this is the best for our cats:

Fresh Step really does eliminate odors and has excellent dust-free clumping.

5. Their Own Space. Cats are territorial. If you have a dog in your household, or small children, there may be a fight for space. Cats are tree climbers or bush hiders. If yours is a tree climber, get a good tree stand. If yours is a bush hider, make sure there are routes to escape dogs, babies, and other living creatures (including humans). If you live in an apartment, think about leash training your cat. They need to take walks.

Here’s a video of Siggy on her leash:

These are the basics, of course. Buy scratching posts and leave them by your furniture so that they don’t scratch that. Buy kitty treats for regular feeding after good behavior. You do need to brush cats, trim their nails (or have your vet do it when you schedule regular checkups), and speak to them in low, loving tones. (Blink your eyes slowly as that means “I Love You” in cat talk.)

Also, consider making your cats indoor pets. Indoor cats can live to 15-20 years. Outdoor cats live an average of 2-5, often being killed by cars, other predators or poisonous plants.

All of this may sound daunting. But the rewards are amazing. Cats are said to enchant guardians by rubbing their scent from cheeks on them. They help people live longer and alleviate anxiety. They cuddle, and give kitten pumps as if massaging you. They are marvelous creatures, and have one more benefit: For some reason, perhaps due to their magic, they become our children even more so than dogs.

Also, here are common mistakes of cat guardians: Never use your hand as a toy because this will teach them to bite hands. Never use a spray bottle for perceived bad behavior. (Instead, point your finger at their nose and say “No.”) Never strike a cat. They do not understand violence coming from their guardians. Do not dress them up in silly cat clothes; they are beautiful they way Nature created them. Do not feed cats spicy or sweet table food, especially items with carbohydrates lacking protein.

Finally, we know many of you would like a Maine Coon as lovely as Freya or Siggy. You can buy from a legitimate breeder but be on the lookout for scams. You can usually find a domestic long hair at the local shelter that typically will have Maine Coon DNA along with other breeds. There are Maine Coon rescues, too. When you adopt from a shelter, you will be saving a feline life.