How to Adopt a Cat
Adopting a cat or kitten and adding another family member is not a easy process. In America today there are thousands of animals in animal shelters waiting for a loving family to adopt them. Most then seventy five percent of cats and kittens that are left in shelters are euthanized every year. The American humane society wishes that all animals it takes in get adopted but it is not the case with the current recession and financial strains being put on more homes the society just does not have enough money to keep them all indefinably.
If you are currently in the market for a pet feline, please consider adopting from a local SPCA shelter and not buying one from a pet store or breeder. You can accomplish two things; first you would save the life of a cat or kitten that would eventually be killed. Most shelters only have you cover the cost of neutering the animal and shots so you save a ton of money.
The first step p in the process of adopting a cat is deciding what kind of cat would you like. It can be a daunting task when you go to a shelter and see the many different kinds of animals available. Trying to find one of a specific age range, temperament or breed because choosing the wrong at is something you want to avoid.
For instance when looking for a cat you have to ask yourself some questions. Do you want to have a kitten or a 1 year old cat? Do you want a long hair cat or short hair? Is the kitten r cat potty trained? What breeds have better temperaments with children? Doing your research prior to going to the shelter will help you understand cats better and allow you to choose one that is a better fit for your family.
After picking out the type of cat you would like the next step is to locate a local shelter in your area. A good place to start is using Google maps or yellow pages. If you’re still not sure you can contact the SPCA national hotline that can direct you to a location the number is 800-452-1100
Have you Adopted from a Shelter Before?
The next step in the adoption process since you have identified the type of cat you are looking for and have found a shelter is to go and mingle with the kitties. This is important because it gives you and the cat both the opportunity to see what type of personality that they have and if your both a good fit. Most SPCA locations have a visiting room where you can visit with different kitten and cats to help you see how they are with you or your children.
After you have found your new loving feline companion you will need to go over some of the adoption requirements with a SPCA official. Typically there is a small adoption fee and possible fee for the neutering of you new family member. There are some legal paperwork in some counties that require you to register the animal with local authorities but it varies from state to state so make sure you check your local laws regarding the adoption of pets.
Once all the paper work is completed you are ready to head home with your new cat. When you arrive home make sure that you go out of your way to create a welcoming and warm environment for your cat. If you have selected an outdoor cat one thing that you can do is get them a cat condo to protect them from the weather and offers a nice spot to play outside.
On hand you should also have all the supplies that are needed when you arrive home with your new feline. Some things to consider are litter, food, some cat toys these are just the basics of some of your pets needs. If you have never had a cat before ask the SPCA agent when you are ready to bring your cat home usually for an additional fee they will set you up with everything you need.
Adopting a cat is a rewarding and easy process. You get the benefit of a great companion and a new family member. But you also help another innocent animal from being put to death.
