Discover the Many
Kitten Adoption Options
Thinking about kitten adoption? Finding kittens for adoption can be an exciting experience. It can be fun choosing just the right kitten from all of the various colors, breeds, and temperaments. No matter if long haired or short haired, there are literally endless kitten options to choose from. But, before you rush off and buy your feline friend, examine the pros and cons of adopting kittens.
Why Adopt A Kitten?
- Think about why you want a kitten. Is it because they’re cute and cuddly? Of course they are! But, keep in mind that they won’t stay kittens forever. And kittens may not be so cute if they are climbing your new curtains or chewing on your best shoes. They require lots of work. If you travel a lot for business or have a busy lifestyle, a kitten may not be for you.
- Can you afford a kitty? A single kitten can cost roughly one thousand U.S. Dollars annually to care for all of their major expenses (food, litter box). This figure does not factor in the cost of extra accessories like clothing or toys. If your kitten becomes sick and needs ongoing veterinary care, the expenses are even higher.
- Are you are particularly neat and tidy and like order? You may want to reconsider getting a young kitten and trying getting an older cat. Kittens can be messy and rambunctious. They love to jump on tables and play in their litter boxes. If you have your heart set on getting a kitten, make sure you can deal with the mess.
- Looking to get a kitten as a child’s present. Some children are notorious for wanting a pet and then becoming bored with the care that is involved. Save yourself the trouble. Take your children to a kitten shelter to let them interact with kittens before actually buying one. Watch how your child interacts with the kittens. Is your child gentle or rough? Does your child understand the work involved with kittens? Is your child old enough to handle kitten care? Toddlers are often too young and the lack patience to deal with kittens.
- Is it holiday time? The rate of kitten adoption tends to spike during holiday times. Unfortunately, people often get bored with them. All of the holiday guests are gone. Children get tired of playing with kittens. While adults grow weary of buying kitten food and paying for vet bills. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the amount of work required to care for a kitten. Underestimating the amount of work needed to care for a pet may lead to having to put the kitten up for adoption.
- Do you have enough space? Most kittens do not need a lot of space. But, too many pets in a small space can spell trouble. If you rent an apartment, check your lease to make sure you can have pets. Before you adopt kittens, think about the available space in your home.
Adopt a Kitten or An Adult Cat?
The best time to adopt a kitten is after 12 weeks. At that point, the mother cat has had time to train and socialize her offspring; allowing you to adopt a slightly more tamed kitten. A young kitten requires more work than adult cat. Your kitten will need to be litter box or toilet trained.
Yet, one of the benefits of getting a younger kitten is that they can be trained right from the start. Do you have another cat at home?
An adult cat may have to be retrained and unlearn established behaviors. Another benefit of getting young kittens to adopt is that they are less of threat to adult cats than another older cat.
Cat society is based on hierarchy. Older, adult cats tend to be dominant. Two adult cats may fight over who is most dominant. Getting kittens minimizes this potential problem.
Can you tolerate high levels of activity? A younger kitten could tire you out otherwise. Kittens can get into more trouble around the house and are more rambunctious. Adult cats are calmer and their personalities are established. Kittens sleep more and it may be less likely to see their true personality until they are older. With adult cats, what you see is what you get in terms of personality.
Do you have small children? Older cats instinctively tolerate young children pulling and yanking on them (to a degree!). Kittens may scratch or bite children, if they play too rough.
Places to Adopt Kittens
Why is Kitten Adoption from Shelters So Hard?
Kitten shelters want to make sure you and your new kitten will be a good match. We’ve all heard the joke that it is easier to adopt a human child than a kitten from a shelter. But, if you’re patient and offer a kitten a stable environment, you should have no problem adopting a kitten.
Questions Shelters May Ask Prior to Kitten Adoption
- Do you rent? Can we see your lease to be sure you’re allowed pets?
- Can we see your other pets vet records?
- What is your family size, ages, and activity level?
- What are your reasons for adoption?
- Do you or your family members have feline allergies?
- Who will be primarily responsible for the kitten care?
Basically, shelters want to know that you are educated and are prepared for the responsibility of owning a kitten.
Benefits of Kitten Adoption
Adopting a kitten can benefit both humans and kittens. Some studies have shown that having felines can lower stress levels and decrease the risk of heart attack.
Kittens are great companions and can teach kids responsibility. Also, merely having a kitten around the house may help keep rodents away.
Most importantly, kitten adoption saves kitten lives as well. Many kittens would be euthanized if not placed in loving homes.
Remember...kitten adoption can save lives!
Check Out These Cute Kittens Available for Adoption!
Photo by Lucy Boynton @ flickr.com |
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