Tips For Successfully Adopting a Cat

Introduction

Are you thinking about adopting a cat? Or perhaps you are already the proud owner of one or two. Either way, it’s important to make sure that your new pet is happy and healthy. Cats come in all shapes, sizes, colors and personalities so there is definitely something for everyone!

Adopting a cat

  • Cats make great pets. They’re intelligent, affectionate and clean. They can be trained to use a litter box and are generally quiet animals.
  • If you want a cat that needs more attention than that, consider adopting an older cat who may have lost their family or home before finding their way into your life. An older cat will appreciate the love and care you give them just as much as any kitten would!

Do I really want a cat?

If you’ve never had a cat before and are worried about whether or not you’d be able to care for one, that’s okay. It’s good to know what your limits are with regard to pet ownership. The best way to figure out if you’re ready is by asking yourself these questions:

  • Do I have time for a pet? Cats need attention every day. They will get bored if they don’t have something to do (like play or scratch on furniture) and they’ll let you know by being destructive or just act out in other ways like meowing incessantly at night when they’re hungry or thirsty. If work keeps you away from home often, then maybe having a cat isn’t right for your lifestyle right now; but keep in mind that most cats can adapt to new schedules relatively easily—if it means having more independence!
  • Am I willing/able to take care of this animal? Cats need food, water, litter boxes and toys—and sometimes vet visits too! These things cost money so make sure your budget can handle them before adopting one (ahem…the vet bills can add up). Also ask yourself whether or not there will be anyone else who will help out with caring for the kitty (say…your significant other?) Because honestly speaking – this responsibility falls solely on YOU!

Where can I adopt from?

The best way to find a cat is through your local shelter or rescue center. Shelters and rescues have a wealth of knowledge about which cat would be the perfect fit for you, so it’s important to go there first. If you’re able to meet with someone who knows about cats and their personalities, they can help guide you toward the right choice for your personality type and home environment. They might even let you spend some time with prospective pets before deciding if they are right for each other!

The next step is making sure that the animal has been spayed or neutered—this is done by default when adopting from an animal shelter, but make sure it has happened prior to adopting any pet yourself!

Cat shelter adoption

When you’re ready to adopt a cat, there are many options available. Each of the following types of adoption has its own positives and negatives:

  • Pet store adoption: Adopting from a pet store may be convenient, but it’s not always the best option for animals or owners. While many pet stores do their best to screen for good homes and provide adequate care for the pets in their care, there is still the risk that an animal purchased from one might end up being neglected or abused by its new owner. Additionally, some animal shelters require prospective owners to come in person (and maybe even fill out an application) before they’ll allow them to adopt. If you don’t live close enough to one of these shelters but would like some assurance that your new pet will be treated right by someone else after you take him home with you, adopting through a rescue center could be a better choice than buying from a store—and it also helps dogs who need extra attention find loving homes too!

Cat rescue center adoption

It’s not just shelter cats that can be adopted through a rescue center. Many rescue organizations take in lost and abandoned pets, as well as those that are being surrendered by their owners for various reasons. If you’re interested in adopting one of these kitties, your first step will be to find a local animal rescue organization near you. There are several ways to do this:

  • Visit Petfinder.com or the ASPCA website (theaspca.org) and enter your city or zip code into the search bar at the top of their home page;
  • Call your local humane society;
  • Look at flyers posted around town advertising adoptable animals (you may have seen them while walking around).

How to adopt a stray cat

If you find a stray cat, contact the local animal shelter. If the cat is friendly, they will be able to help you take it home. They should also be able to tell you if there are any adoption fees associated with taking in this particular cat.

If the stray is not very friendly towards humans, don’t worry! You can still adopt and socialize this kitty at home!

Meet the cat in person first.

If you’re wanting to adopt a cat, it’s important to make sure that the animal is healthy, happy, and well adjusted. One way to do this is by meeting the cat in person first.

  • Check how the cat interacts with other people. Does he run away or hide when someone enters his territory? Or does he approach them confidently and purr loudly?
  • Check how the cat interacts with other cats. If there are other cats at the shelter, watch how he reacts around them—does he try to play with them or does he ignore them completely? Also note how he interacts with any children who may be visiting at that time; if your family includes young children then it would be ideal for your cat to get along well with them as well!
  • See if your potential new feline friend will be affectionate towards humans when they interact directly via petting sessions etcetera; this should give an idea of whether they’ll like being held regularly too!

Which cat to choose?

Here are a few factors to consider when deciding which cat to adopt.

  • Personality: The best way to get along with your new friend is if they match your personality. This may be obvious, but it’s worth mentioning because some people think they’re ready for a cat after losing their last one. But if you don’t really like cuddling or being left alone for long periods of time, don’t get another cat until you’re ready!
  • Age: Most shelters and rescue organizations have kittens available for adoption, but there are also plenty of adult cats looking for homes as well. Older cats tend to be more laid back than younger ones because they’ve had time to develop their own personalities and habits (and maybe even become grumpy). However, older cats also require more care than younger ones do—they’ll need regular vet visits in order ensure that all organs are functioning properly and keeping them healthy as long as possible—so consider how much time each person at home has before making this decision together!

What information will I get when I adopt a cat?

Before you adopt a cat, it’s important to know as much about the animal’s background as possible. The shelter or rescue center can usually provide useful information about the cat including its history, health status, and personality traits.

The staff will also be able to tell you whether your new kitty has any special needs that require attention before adoption. For example, if a cat has been declawed in the past and is living with other cats at home, there could be trouble when it comes time for them all to share one scratching post!

While most shelters have an online presence these days (and many even have their own webcams!), don’t forget that they have physical locations too where you can go meet your potential furry friend in person!

Is a kitten the right choice for you?

  • Are you prepared to deal with a kitten’s destructive nature?
  • Are you willing to spend lots of time training your kitten and socializing him/her?
  • Do you have the energy to continue this process when your kitten grows up?

What to take with you when adopting a cat.

When you go to adopt a cat, it’s important to be prepared. You’ll need to take things like an approved carrier and food, water, a litter box and toys for the ride home. You should also bring along cat shampoo if your new friend needs grooming after coming out of the shelter.

Some shelters may allow you to leave with your new kitten immediately; however most require that you come back within one week for another visit so they can make sure the animal is adjusting well at home. If this is the case with your shelter then be sure you have everything ready before leaving so when it’s time for them to check on how things are going later in the week all they have left is getting their paperwork together and signing off on it!

There are many ways to adopt a cat, but it is important to make sure it is best for you and the animal.

There are many ways to adopt a cat, but it is important to make sure it is best for you and the animal.

The first thing you should do after deciding to adopt a cat is research. There are many websites dedicated to helping you find your new pet, as well as people who have adopted cats in your area who might be able to recommend their favorite shelters or breeders. You can also look into adopting through local rescue organizations like [name of organization]. These organizations often provide services such as spaying/neutering, vaccines and microchipping which can save you money while helping homeless animals find loving homes!

Once you’ve found the right person or organization with whom to work, there are several different ways that adopting may go down:

Conclusion

A cat is a wonderful companion, but it can be hard to find the right one for you. You want to make sure that the animal is healthy, has been de-clawed, and vaccinated as much as possible. There are many options when adopting and finding out everything you need before making this important decision will help keep everyone happy!

Leave a Reply