Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Cat Beds
- Cat Carriers
- Cat Collars
- Cat Dishes
- Cat Foods
- Cat Litters
- Cat Shampoos
- Litter Boxes
- Identification Tags
- Veterinarian
Step1
Make an appointment with an adoption counselor. Calling ahead saves time, as shelters are busy places staffed mostly by volunteers.
Step2
Consult a veterinarian about the health issues of different breeds of cats. Some medical problems are more common in certain breeds.
Step3
Prepare a list of questions and bring it with you to the shelter.
Step4
Request a tour of the animal wards and exercise rooms. All areas should be clean, comfortable and odor-free - indicators of quality care.
Step5
Observe the cats available for adoption. Select an active one that shows no signs of respiratory disease, such as sneezing or watery eyes.
Step6
Ask if the cat has been examined by a veterinarian or animal technician.
Step7
Ask whether the cat has been tested for feline leukemia, vaccinated, treated for fleas and given worm medication.
Step8
Play with the cat and check that she has clean ears, healthy pink membranes in her mouth and no evidence of diarrhea under the tail.
Step9
Check the skin for flea debris or patches that are scaly, inflamed or lacking hair. These could indicate ringworm, which is treatable but contagious (to you and other pets).
Step10
Pay the adoption fee and consider making a donation. Most animal shelters are private, not-for-profit organizations, operating solely on donated funds.
Step11
Be prepared to leave the cat at the shelter an additional 24 hours. Most shelters require this waiting period to discourage impulsive adoptions.
Step12
Take the cat to a veterinarian soon after adoption. Follow the veterinarian's recommendations for completing the vaccination, worming and preventative health protocol.
Comments
petsRgood2have said
on 1/27/2007 Be Aware of FIP-We adopted a 5 month old healthy looking & acting kitten from a shelter. We only had him 3 months and we had to put him to sleep this week because he became so ill with Feline Infectious Pertinitis. Our hearts are broken. We're so glad he came into our lives and brightened them up, but his time with us was just too short. He was only a baby. We didn't even knew FIP existed. It is a horrific painful fatal virus with no cure. FIP is very rare, but it is fatal and it takes kittens that have low immune systems. Keep adopting--just be aware.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you are away from home a lot and want to adopt an indoor apartment cat, consider an older one. My (about) 10-year-old adopted cat is perfectly happy being alone for 10-12 hours a day while I'm at work. And she can be left alone for a couple of days if I go out of town. But, younger cats that I've babysat tear up the house when I'm gone because they're bored. And it's not fair to a kitten to be left alone all day with no stimulation.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Competition happens! Ask for as much of a history as you can get about the cat you're adopting. Many abused cats will be loving pets but because of their mistrust, they may compete with other cats and may be a difficult choice if you have existing pets or want to adopt more than one. Contrary to popular belief, some cats don't like other cats and are "only children." Be prepared to hear this if your cat has had a difficult kitten-hood.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If the cat at the shelter is shy, don't necessarily turn it down as a prospect for adoption. Many "shy" cats are animals that have been through some abuse or trauma in their young lives and aren't so well adjusted to humans. Trust has to be earned if broken. I adopted an abused cat that hid under the sofa for a week without using the litter box. Bit by bit she emerged to find that she'd get petted and fed on schedule daily. I now have a loving companion who "talks" to me and thanks me constantly. I couldn't ask for a better cat!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Remember that kittens are just like toddlers in cat form. But let me add something very important. They're 4 legged explorers who will rampage through your house, make it their own, crawl on EVERYTHING, knock stuff down, scratch your beloved upholstery, and look at you innocently as though they did nothing wrong. Adult cats know how to walk over things, are generally more relaxed, are more accustomed to scratch on a scratching post and are independant and self-sufficient animals. Remember the adults when adopting and that an adult cat immediatly turns "kitten" when confronted with a fascinating toy or ball of string.