Before you rush off and adopt a bundle of fluff, here’s some advice on adopting a cat.
Things to consider before adopting a cat
• Will your other pets accept a new cat
• Are you prepared for possible behavioural problems like – scratching furniture – Urine spraying / marking territories – Inter-cat aggression
• Your other cat could leave your home for good
• Owning a cat is very different to owning a dog
• Consider Your Lifestyle – do you choose a Kitten or adult cat?
• Do you prefer a cat that is friendly and outgoing, or one that keeps more to themselves
• Do they need to get along well with children or other pets, or will they be an only cat?
• Long-haired cats are beautiful, but they require a lot of grooming and maintenance
• Cats with special needs will need more of your time and attention, and might also need regular veterinary care
So you’ve decided that adopting a cat is the right thing to do – so here’s some tips on how to successfully integrate your adopted cat into your family
How to integrate a new cat into your family
• Place the new cat in an isolated space at first, and then gradually allow it to gain more space room by room as your other pets become aware of it. Be patient through this process as it will take a while for the new cat to be accepted.
• Allow your other pets to have their own space, where they can hide if necessary
• Ensure you have a litter box for every cat plus an additional one
• Ensure each cat has their own food bowl
BLACK CAT MYTHS
MYTH: YOU SHOULDN’T ADOPT A BLACK CAT
Black cats have some of the lowest adoption rates and highest euthanasia rates in shelters. Some shelters even stop adopting out black cats in October altogether in fear that they’ll be used as Halloween props.
WHY ITS BUSTED
Don’t refrain from adopting a black cat. Your purrfect match just might be a sweet black cat waiting for you at your local shelter.