Bringing anew cat or kitten home is an exciting event, but not one to be taken lightly. Although cats and kittens are often considered lower maintenance dogs, you shouldn’t go adopting a catlightly..Adult cats can live up to 20+years, so cat parents should be prepared for along term commitment , before embarking on the the adoption journey.
When you decide that you are ready forcat adoption, you should consider whether you would like anolder cat or a kitten,spending time with your cat, before adopting its a good choice
Things to know before adopting a cat
A kitten requires more time for training and usually more trips to the vet for wellness visits and vaccines during the first year. If you lack the time or commitment for caring and training a kitten, an adult cat might be the best choice. Also, saving an adult cat, especially from an overcrowded shelter and bringing them in to a peaceful,quiet environment, is a good deed that can bring you years of love, devotion and appreciation.
When you are ready to adopt you can check your local shelter and rescue sites for adoptable pets. Filling out an application and getting pre-approved is a great way to make sure you are ready when yournew friend becomes available. Once you are allset to bring your new family member home, you will need the following essentials.
Essentials for adopting a cat
You will need to make sure you have the following essentials to ensure a smooth transition of adopting a cat:
1. PET CARRIER
Most shelters and rescues don’t provide adopters with a pet carrier. Some offer a cardboard carrier for smaller pets, such as kittens, but those won’t last or work when you need to take your new kitten to the vet or on a trip. Another helpful tip, is to get a durable (puncture proof) carrier with wide openings on the front and top to transport your new pet in a stress free way.
2. VETERINARY CARE
Ideally you want to interview Vets before you bring your newcat or Kitten home.
Having a Vet picked out is important especially with pets coming from shelters or rescues, with limited resources. It’s common to wait several weeks for an initial vet appointment, so it’s important to have one lined up.You need to have your vet’s phone number, saved in your phone for an emergency. You’ll want to take any medical records you received from the adoption center on your first visit. So they know what vaccines are due or tosolve their health issues.
3. KITTY LITTER
One of the advantages of adopting cats is that they can use a litter box with kitty litter , rather than having to go outside, especially in the colder months a litter boxis much better.. When choosing a litter box you should look for one large enough for a cat to turn around in, has high sides to contain spray, and has a low entry lip (so it’s easy even for less-mobile cats to enter).
There are lots of choices in design available, so you can even consider finding one that matches your living space.
4. FOOD & WATER BOWLS
To keep your cat’sfood and water bowls sanitary choose stainless steel, ceramic, or glass. Plastic traps bacteria, even with regular washing. Remeber, cats need fresh water for good health..so give them plenty of good food and water
