Pets Information

How To Adopt A Shelter Cat - Your New Cat Will Thank You For Reading This Article


If you are thinking of adding a feline to your family, consider adopting a cat from your local animal shelter or humane society. The animals have been carefully screened for adoptability and have usually been worked with to enhance sociability.

Unfortunately, many people think that only "bad" animals wind up in shelters. Actually, the opposite is true. People relinquish their pets to shelters when they are no longer able to care for them. Sometimes this is because the owner was unprepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for a pet.

If there is no indication of 'reason for surrender' on the cage at the shelter ask - a cat that has been given up because of bad behaviour may not be the best choice - no matter how cute she is.

Often, however, caring owners struggling with life-changes or trying to cope with family tragedy realize their pet would be better off with someone else. They bring them to the shelter because they know the animal will be well-cared for and placed in an excellent home.

Shelter staff carefully evaluates each animal for physical and behavioral soundness. They make note of quirks, and work with specialists to eliminate negative behaviors. Most shelters have adoption counselors who interview potential adopters to understand their needs and lifestyle so they can make the perfect match.

Your first contact with a shelter cat will probably be when she is in her cage. Don't be put off if she ignores you completely. Keep in mind that many new people pass by her cage each day, and she has to cope with all the noise and stress that accompanies that. A shelter worker can arrange for you to meet the cat in a quiet room. Again, she may not pay much attention to you, but watch how she acts towards the staff person. This is who she is more comfortable with. While you observe the cat, talk with the staff member and learn all you can about the cat's likes and dislikes.

Take a cat carrier with you to the shelter - much easier than having your new cat running around the car as you take her home.

Bringing your newly adopted cat home is exciting for you, and a little overwhelming for her. Have things prepared before you pick her up from the shelter. This includes having small area for her to call her own. A bathroom or extra bedroom works well. Furnish it with a bed, food and water bowls, scratching post, toys and a litter box. Spend some time with her in the room with the door closed. She may totally ignore you while she explores her new surroundings. Keep her confined to this room until she seems relaxed in your presence. Then you can allow her to roam the rest of your home.

Some cats take longer than others to adjust to new situations. Your cat has gone from a home to a noisy shelter to another new home. Change is stressful for cats. You can help her adjust more quickly by establishing set routines. Begin feeding, grooming and playing with her at the same times each day, and she'll feel at home much sooner.

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MORE RESOURCES:

The Associated Press

Pet-lover McCain finds the scent of their votes; petless Obama lags
Los Angeles Times, CA - 7 hours ago
Americans like their pets. Two out of three of our homes have pets, a whopping 163 million dogs and cats living as full family members. ...
In poll of pet owners, McCain tops Obama The Associated Press
Is McCain "best in show" for pet people? San Francisco Chronicle
Police: Pet Owners Not Abiding By Laws WJACtv.com
CW33 Dallas/Fort Worth KDAF-TV - Boston Herald
all 250 news articles


Pets suffer as owners feel pinch
Dispatch Online, South Africa - 1 hour ago
With pet owners feeling the economic pinch, the AWS has had to cope with an increasing number of unwanted pets, but never one delivered in this manner ...


Shakespeare Festival heads south, forces fans leave pets, coolers ...
Palm Beach Post,  United States - 3 hours ago
By BILL DIPAOLO JUPITER — This year's Shakespeare Festival will go on, but leave your coolers and pets at home. The usual oceanfront venue at Carlin Park ...
Park Rangers Face Cuts WPEC
all 2 news articles


Dumped pets sent to Dundee as rescue centres swamped
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 19 hours ago
By HAZEL MOLLISON UNWANTED pets are having to be sent to Dundee to be rehomed as callous owners in the Capital abandon them to go on holiday, ...
Salwan: Pet diseases no small matter The Argus
all 4 news articles


Ridding your pets, home of fleas
KHOU, TX - 3 hours ago
Whilden suggests that pet owners use a monthly topical treatment, but then check to make sure it works. Even after using flea controls such as Advantix, ...


Methodology for Pets and Politics poll
The Associated Press - 20 hours ago
The sampling error margin is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points for the subsample of 1185 pet owners and 4.1 percentage points for the subsample of 570 ...


BBC News

Owners 'kill pets with kindness'
BBC News, UK - Jul 7, 2008
By Fiona Stalker A leading veterinary charity has said the problem of obese pets in Scotland is now the worst it has ever seen. The People's Dispensary For ...
ONE IN 5 DOGS MISS OUT ON THEIR WALKIES UK Express
all 2 news articles


SBAWL wants to save pets’ lives
Bryan County News, GA - 1 hour ago
Even with those numbers, we hope to turn those pets around within a month. This would add up to 400-600 animals adopted out each year – which is close to ...


Shelter sees influx in lost pets after long, loud weekend
The Olympian, WA - 13 hours ago
People who are looking for their lost pets can check with Thurston County Animal Services at 360-352-2510. Owners also can drop by the shelter from 9:30 am ...


G8 critics...Weaker Bertha?...Pets and politics | KXNet.com North ...
KXMC, ND - 18 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) An AP-Yahoo News poll finds that pet owners favor John McCain over Barack Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in ...

Pets - Google News

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