How Do I Adopt a Cat?

If your friends or neighbors have cats then you might be ready to adopt your own. If you live alone, or you have a husband but you don’t like kids, then a cat may be right for you. First of all, adopt, don’t shop! Not only is it expensive to buy purebred kittens, they just don’t live as long as the common house cat, and they can also have a host of health issues. Oh, that and people breeding cats for profits isn’t going to benefit you at all either. So, how do you adopt a cat?

Animal Rescue Organizations

Check locally for any animal rescue organizations. The SPCA and Humane Society are places to start. There may be some registered private organizations that adopt out cats too. Find out if you need to book an appointment in advance, or look up local visiting hours online.

How to Narrow it Down from 200 Cats?

If you visit your local animal rescue center then you’ll notice how you’re surrounded by cats. You may have visited a few, then given up. But don’t. First, you need to find a place to sit down. Then look around you to see who is available. Chances are that there will be some cats who’ll eagerly head up to you. These are the cats you want to pay attention to, particularly if you’re seeking a cuddly lap cat. How does the cat interact with you? Do they rub their head against your hand? Or, do they bite and scratch? Most cat people aren’t concerned with a bit of biting and scratching as that’s normal cat behavior, but someone who’s never had a cat may not like it.

Let the Cat Adopt You!

It’s important to choose the right cat, and that means what kind of care do they need? Are they senior cats who need medication? Eventually, all cats do, but if you’re new to cat love, then you may want to go slowly and adopt a healthy adult cat with short fur. The easiest way is to allow the cat to adopt you. This will be the cat who runs up to you when you’re looking around. They will be the cat who consents to being petted, and who will really like you. You should know that it may be not who you were expecting, but you’ll have greater success when you let the cat adopt you first!

Nothing is better than rescuing a cat (or two) from your local animal rescue organization. Your new family member may settle in quickly, or it may take a few weeks. Either way, you’re now a new cat meowmy and are going to have a great companion!