10 Questions to Ask When Adopting a Kitten or Cat
Each year in the United States millions of unwanted cats and kittens are euthanized because there are simply not enough homes for them all. This is a very sad but true fact. If you are planning on adding a new furry friend to your family, won’t you please consider adoption first? If you want a purebred cat, such as a Maine Coon or a Siamese, no need to worry, there are many cat rescues in the United States that specialize in the adoption of specific breeds. The Siamese Rescue Organization, for example, has saved over 15,000 cats nationwide. They are truly dedicated to finding homes for misplaced, abused and abandoned Siamese. They have rescue centers located in California and Texas as well as in the Pacific and Rocky Mountain regions of the country.
If you are interested in adopting a kitten, spring time is the best time! Though shelters receive kittens all year long, they are usually over-run with kittens in the spring. Though kittens are adorable, please don’t forget about the wonderful, older felines that need homes too. Older cats are often harder to place and, therefore, at greater risk of euthanasia. If you are interested in adopting a solid black cat, be aware that most shelters and rescue organizations do not allow the adoption of black cats around the Halloween season. Unfortunately, there are people in the world that do not treat our furry, black, four-legged friends very nicely, especially around this haunted holiday.
Once you have decided that adoption is the best option for you, it is a good idea to have a list of questions prepared before you walk into the rescue shelter. Knowledge is power, the more you know about the cat or kitten you are about to adopt, the better!
Questions to ask when adopting a cat:
1. What is the adoption fee?
2. How much human contact has the kitten received since it has been at the shelter?
3. Is the kitten or cat litter box trained?
4. Is their health and/or background information available?
5. If they were given up by an owner, what reason did the owner provide for relinquishing his pet?
6. If they do have health problems, what are they and what will the cost be to you?
7. Does the cat or kitten get along well with other animals? Have they had contact with other animals while living at the shelter?
8. How has the kitten been living while at the shelter (cage, foster home, open play room?)
9. What is the background of the organization you are rescuing your cat from? Are they a no-kill organization? If for some reason things do not work out with your cat or kitten, what is their policy regarding the return of the animal or its transfer to another owner?
10. May you spend some time with the cat or kitten in a quiet room to see how it interacts with you?
When it comes time to add a new kitten or cat to your family, adoption truly is the best option. It is a noble and wonderful thing to do! When you choose adoption, not only do you give a homeless cat or kitten a new lease on life and a forever loving home, you allow another animal to be saved from certain death. If you are not in a position to adopt, then consider making a donation or becoming a foster parent. Most animal rescue organizations and shelters depend solely on donations and the kindness of others in order to operate.
About the Author
Among other blogs, David writes for kittencareguide.com, a blog devoted to adopting and caring for kittens and cats.
