Every spring and summer, millions of kittens flood animal shelters across the country. That means your local shelter has cats and kittens of every age, color and personality. June is Adopt A Cat Month, which aims to raise awareness of shelter pet adoption and the 1.4 million cats that are euthanized each year. Shelter staffs and volunteers are ready to help you adopt your very first cat — or to bring home a friend for another beloved cat!
Below are snapshots of just a few of the MILLIONS of cats waiting for a family! These irresistible kitties are from the Humane Society of Silicon Valley (click here for even more pictures and stories).
Darla:
A sucker for excessive petting and TLC, Darla is a 6-year-old female who hasn’t met a lap she didn’t like! Just look at those eyes, they say, “I’d like to be your new best friend and cuddle with you. Please!!”
Freya and Astrid:
This darling duo is ready to steal many a heart. Adorable, snuggly, playful and sweet, Freya and Astrid have a lot of love to give and are looking for their forever home.
Barnaby:
This lovable 3-year-old is a sweetheart with a rough exterior. Saved from the streets, Barnaby is on the lookout for a family that doesn’t hold back on the petting.
Valentine:
A beautiful 10-year-old whose personality is always on display, Valentine is relaxed, affectionate and easy going. When she isn’t purring or giving high fives, she is waiting for the perfect forever home.
Sweet Pea:
Like her name implies, this 13-year-old is as sweet as can be. She enjoys afternoon naps in the sun and relaxing with her favorite people, preferably on their laps.
Amber and Aster:
These playful kittens are (fur)balls of energy and almost too much cuteness to handle. They love people, have good manners and even know how to use a scratching post to take care of their nails.
If you are thinking of adopting a feline friend of your own- GREAT!! We recommend this “TOP TEN” CHECKLIST FOR ADOPTING A CAT:
- If you’re thinking about adopting a cat, consider taking home two. Having two kitties will provide the required exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction they need, while also providing more benefits for you! Cats’ purring has been shown to soothe humans as well as themselves – and they have an uncanny ability to just make you smile.
- Find a cat whose personality meshes with yours. Cats each have their own unique personality just like we do! In general, cats with long hair and round heads and bodies are more easygoing and lean cats with narrow heads and short hair are typically more active. A great way to match the cat’s personality with your own is to consult with an adoption counselor.
- Pick out a veterinarian ahead of time and schedule a visit within the first few days following the adoption. You’ll want to take any medical records you received from the adoption center on your first visit. Kittens in particular should accompany you to make the appointment – even before the exam itself – so staff can pet the cat and tell you that you’ve chosen the most beautiful one ever.
- Make sure everyone in the house is prepared to have a cat before it comes home. Visiting the shelter or animal control facility should be a family affair. When adopting a new cat with existing pets at home, discuss with the adoption facility how to make a proper introduction.
- Budget for the short- and long-term costs of a cat. Understand any pet is a responsibility and there’s a cost associated with that. A cat adopted from a shelter is a bargain; many facilities will have already provided spaying or neutering, initial vaccines, and a microchip for permanent identification.
- Stock up on supplies before the cat arrives. Be prepared so your new cat can start feeling at home right away. Your cat will need a litter box, cat litter, food and water bowls, food, scratching posts, safe and stimulating toys, a cushy bed, a brush for grooming, a toothbrush and nail clippers.
- Cat-proof your home. A new cat will quickly teach you not to leave things lying out. Food left on the kitchen counter will serve to teach your new friend to jump on counters for a possible lunch. Get rid of loose items your cat might chew on, watch to ensure the kitten isn’t chewing on electric cords, and pick up random items like paper clips (which kittens may swallow).
- Go slowly when introducing your cat to new friends and family. It can take several weeks for a cat to relax in a new environment. It’s a great idea to keep the new addition secluded to a single room (with a litter box, food and water, toys, and the cat carrier left out and open with bedding inside) until the cat is used to the new surroundings; this is particularly important if you have other pets. If you’ve adopted a kitten, socialization is very important. But remember – take it slow.
- Be sure to include your new pet in your family’s emergency plan. You probably have a plan in place for getting your family to safety in case of an emergency. Adjust this plan to include your pets. Add phone numbers for your veterinarian and closest 24-hour animal hospital to your “in-case-of-emergency” call list.
- If you’re considering giving a cat as a gift, make sure the recipient is an active participant in the adoption process. Though well-meaning, the surprise kitty gift doesn’t allow for a “get-to know-one-another” period. Remember, adopting a cat isn’t like purchasing a household appliance or a piece of jewelry – this is a real living, breathing, and emotional being!
Can’t Adopt? Here are a few ways that you can still help!
– Donate your Facebook status. Just paste this message into the “What’s on your mind?” box at the top of your page: “June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month. Save a life: Adopt a cat!
– Tweet, retweet and repeat the following (or your own brilliant message): “June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. Save a life: Adopt a cat! https://www.petfinder.com”
– Contact your local shelter or rescue group and ask if they have a donation wish list or other flyer they’d like to you to post around your office or neighborhood. They may be holding special events for Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month which you can help promote.
– Share an adoptable cat through your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter accounts each day of the month.
– Sign up as a foster parent or shelter volunteer then tell your friends how great it is. Contact your local shelter or rescue group!
– Write an op-ed about the importance of pet adoption for your local paper.
– Contact your local shelter or rescue group and offer to photograph their adoptable pets and upload the pics
– Donate to your local shelter or rescue group in honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.
Spread the word! Pass on an understanding of the importance of pet adoption!!
For the Best that Pet Lifestyle and Animal Welfare has to offer follow Wendy Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and right here at AnimalFair.com!