The first thing you should know as a cat owner is you don't own the cat. If anything, the cat owns you. Yes, Yes, I know. You are the Human. She's an "animal". You can keep telling yourself that when you are cleaning her poop. Remember, she is the predator animal. You are the prey animal. The cat is higher in the food chain than you. From her perspective, she is the higher being.

Simply put, you are the prey that she doesn't want to eat. That makes you even lower than the prey that she does want to eat.

The second thing that you have to remember is you don't pick the cat. The cat picks you. Yes, you do all the work of picking the cat. You drive to the store/shelter looking for the perfect cat. And you take her to the vet, and get her the shots. Then you get the food bowls, water bowls, litter box, food, treats, litter and toys. You will do all the work, but she will do the picking.

When you go into the store/shelter, try to spend at least a few minutes with the ones you're interested in. If the cat shows interest by meowing, rubbing against you, touching you in any kind of way. That cat has picked you. There will be this one cat who will act in ways that appeal to you. That cat has decided that you are right for her, and instinctively knows how to make you fall in love with her. This is the first time you will realize that you don't own the cat, the cat owns you. 

The third thing to remember is cats are individuals. Some cats are friendly. Some cats are not. Some are lap cats. Some are not. Do not force the cat to be what she isn't. You had in your mind that you will get this snuggly kitty who will sleep on your chest at night, and you got one who likes to eat your hair instead? Embrace it! There's nothing wrong with your cat if he or she is shy and not very affectionate. Every cat is unique. :)

The fourth thing to remember is that most cats are picky eaters, and you can't predict what brand/flavour of food they will like. You might have to spend 2 months trying every brand and flavour of food.

As cats are obligate carnivores, they need real meat more than processed by-products in meal form (translation ground-up gizzards, intestines, necks, etc.) Have one bowl for food and another bowl for water. Change the water daily. Never leave wet food out until it goes bad. Cats are sentient beings. Treat them like you’d want to be treated. Also, give a cat love and the cat will return it. :)

The fifth thing to remember is that cats are very clean, but their poop stinks. Yes, kitty poop stinks. Alot. Probably way worse than dog poop. When your cat gets sick, it's going to stink. They also like the litter box clean. You have to make sure you clean it every day, otherwise they will definitely remind you that they own you.

Each cat has a different configuration of litter boxes that they like. Some cats will not go in the box that the other has pooped in. So, you might need more than 1 litter box. One they can pee in, and another they can poop in. It's a good idea to start with 2 boxes, and then adjust according to the preferences of your cat.

The last and important thing to remember is that a cat is a cat. She is not an easier dog. She is no hello kitty. She is a natural born killer. She is a hunter. She has claws like we have fingers. Hunting is as part of her nature as talking to us. To be a cat is to scratch and chase and kill. If you don't provide her with enough scratching surfaces, she will scratch your sofa. Even if she has other scratching posts, she will scratch your sofa anyways, though she may not destroy it completely.

A cat needs to chase, hunt and stalk. If she doesn't, she will chase you. A human looks too much like prey to a bored cat. She will kill stuff for you once in a while and give it to you. She will do it because she loves you and pities you. You, quite obviously, are really bad at catching mice, so she will catch a mice and give you half of it's body. It's a love present. “Here, a treat for you. Much better than the cooked slop you eat everyday.”

A new cat will not just waltz into the house and be at home. Adjustment takes time. Try to read as much about cats and introducing them into a new environment as possible before you bring your new cat into the house. Don't try to change her nature. Don't try to "train" her to be what she isn't. The only thing that you will do is you will cause her to be depressed.

Cats have been training human beings to be good kitty caretakers for thousands of years. Humans trying to train cats goes against the natural order. You want a happy cat? You let her be a cat, and let her own you. :)