How to Adopt a Kitten From An Animal Shelter and Offer A Good Solid Home

Adopting a kitten from an animal shelter can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. There are many animals out there that need a good home and choosing to take in a kitten can fill your house with love and adventure. The bonding you'll have with your new kitten is not unlike that of a child and parent connection. Here are some tips for adopting a kitten from an animal shelter and giving him a good home. With lots of love and patience, adopting and caring for a sheltered animal will come easily and naturally.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check out the local animal shelters in your neighborhood to find the kitten of your choice. Ask the shelter employees any questions you may have about the cat and be sure you know if it has any illnesses or needs any shots. Most kittens do require shots after adoption, and owners are encouraged to neuter or spay the animals in which the adoption shelter will provide a certain percentage of (credit toward). Ask your local animal shelter which kitten would be a great cat around children (if you have any), with other pets at home, or as an indoor/outdoor pet. Be sure you know just the kind of living situation you'll be bringing your newly adopted kitten into so that you can be sure to get the right cat for your environment. It's important to tell the shelter staff what type of home and living situation your kitten will be placed into.

2. Once you have chosen a kitten to take home, prepare your house for the new arrival. The adoption shelter will hold the animal until you are ready to bring him home as long as you have donated a little money or signed papers stating you are going to be the owner. Clean the home for your new kitten and prepare a space for his food, food dishes, litter box, and toys. Go out and purchase all these necessities to have your home ready for your adopted kitten. Be sure to purchase some fun toys to keep your kitten preoccupied and healthy with exercise. Pick a spot for his litter box and food dish where other animals cannot disturb it r get into it, if you have other pets. Show other pets in the home that they are not allowed to touch the new kitten's food, or litter box...unless of course you will be having other cats share the litter box as well. But, it's a good idea to give each kitty his own food and water dish to prevent jealousy.

3. Pick your new kitten up from the adoption shelter and introduce him to your home. Let him sniff his way around and get used to his environment. Introduce him to other family members including all pets you have at home so that he can get used to everyone. Show your new kitten where his litter box and food dish are so that he has easy access to them. Then, take him to a quiet large space and introduce him to his toys to help him feel more comfortable in his environment. If a kitten sees he has something fun to play with, he will be more likely to stay out of hiding and feel at ease in his new home. Allow other pets to sniff and play with the toys (gently, of course), too so that there is no jealousy and all the animals get to learn to play together. Give equal amounts of attention to each pet so that no one feels left out and your kitten and pets will understand that everyone will be a big happy family. Help other family members to do the same.

4. Play with your adopted kitten often and give him lots of attention to keep him thriving healthy. Pets need love and affection to grow and flourish in a new household. Be sure you play with your kitten often too so that he feels nurtured and mentally healthy. Adopting a new pet isn't just about giving that animal a place to live. Adoption is also about nourishing and love that animal so that it can grow into a healthy adult pet. Just like babies, kittens need bonding time with their owners in order to survive and thrive in a new environment. Without adequate love, kittens and other pets will be more likely to get sick, contract illnesses, and become depressed...just as humans would. Before you even consider adopting a kitten from an animal shelter, be sure you can give it the love, support, and nurturing it needs to survive and live a healthy life.

[pbartelssc]

on 11/23/2009 Good article on getting a kitten from a shelter.

[omghow]

on 10/22/2009 Thanks for sharing. A lot of pet need good homes.

[godfather25]

on 10/21/2009 Awesome article on adopting a kitten from an animal shelter.

[riefderrico]

on 10/21/2009 Kittens are so adorable! Pets from shelters make awesome pets - they truly appreciate being given a great home.

[jeni10]

on 10/21/2009 Great article on how to adopt a kitten from an animal shelter and offer a good home. Shelters are the best places to get pets. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 5*