What to Look for When Adopting a New Cat

Congratulations on your cat adoption! You are about to start a wonderful, fulfilling relationship, because adopting a new cat brings about a lot of change for both the cat and the people who love it. Instead of purchasing a cat from a pet store or breeder, you might want to adopt one from a shelter instead. One advantage is that it is less expensive. The cost of a health check, vaccinations, and spaying or neutering, all of which are typically performed prior to the adoption of a cat, is typically covered by the adoption fee. Before letting a cat out, many shelters also look at things like her temperament. They can help you choose a cat that's right for your home, personality, and way of life. In addition, shelters offer a wide variety of cat characteristics, including young to old, long-haired to short-haired, and temperaments, colors, and coat patterns. Various purebred cats are available at numerous shelters. However, a cat shelter can be somewhat overwhelming due to the sheer number of cats available.

Here are some guidelines from our team at MerrJep.al to help you choose the best match and narrow your choices.

Take your way of life into consideration

A tiny tabby kitten lies on the ground and paws at a fuzzy mace siameze toy. It's a good idea to decide what characteristics you want your new cat to have before you start the adoption process. This necessitates taking into account your personality and way of life. Do you have a full-time job, frequently travel, or regularly attend evening social events? If this describes you, you should probably go with a straightforward and independent cat. If her human companion is always absent, a cuddlebug kitty may feel alone.

If you prefer to stay at home, a cat with a lot of affection or a lot of energy is a great companion. A rambunctious kitten that will zip around the house, bat toys around, and playfully attack your fingers can be managed by those with ample free time and patience. Consider adopting a calm and affectionate cat if you're looking for a feline companion to cuddle up with at the end of a long day.

Also think about the makeup of your family. For instance, if you have small children or other pets, you'll need a calm, friendly cat who has been well-socialized to deal with people and animals. If you can't keep an eye on them all the time, you might also want to look for an older cat. Despite their adorableness, kittens are fragile and susceptible to injury from grabby young hands or impatient older animals.

 

Adult versus kittens

When you mace per adoptim falas, be prepared for a lot of affection. First, you need to decide whether an adult cat or a kitten is better for your home.1 Because kittens' personalities are still developing, they need a lot of socialization. They're really adorable, but on the other hand they're extremely vigorous and can cause problems if unattended for a really long time. They're delicate, so you really want to watch them intently assuming that you have different pets or little kids.

Grown-up felines can be let be longer and are more happy to rest and engage themselves capably while you're gone. They are more likely to be litter trained, but if they picked up any bad habits from their previous owners, they may need some "retraining." An adult cat's personality will be clearer to you from the start, but kittens are more adaptable and willing to be trained.

You could likewise need to consider embracing two felines as opposed to simply one. Felines will get more activity and mental excitement in the event that they have one more feline to play with.

Short-haired vs. long-haired

Should your cat have long or short hair? While long-haired cats are beautiful, they require significantly more care. They need to be brushed on a regular basis, and the fur around their hindquarters might need to be cut short to prevent accidents in the litter box.

Even though the danger of short-haired cats can still cause allergic reactions and shed, they require significantly less brushing. There are five cat breeds that don't shed or don't shed at all that you might want to consider if you want to avoid fur as much as possible. Keep in mind that these also have particular requirements. For instance, a furless cat might require more frequent baths.

Personality and temperament

Do you prefer a cat who is social and outgoing or one who prefers to be more private? Is it necessary for her to get along well with other cats or children, or will she be the only cat? Do you want her to be more upbeat and jovial or more laid-back? Do you want her to be talkative or do you prefer her to be quiet? Prior to visiting the shelter, it is essential to determine your preferences because these characteristics have a much greater impact on how happy you will be with your new cat than superficial characteristics like her coat. Fortunately, protection permits and urges you to connect with the felines prior to taking on in a feline assigned room. You will be able to learn more about her temperament from this. Assuming she is open and able to play with toys, she most likely is really friendly. She will probably take some time to warm up to you if she hides in a corner. She is probably a great companion for cuddling if she is friendly, lets you pet her, and purrs.

 

The color of their fur

Cats shed hair of all lengths. If your living room is white or light in color and you want to keep it that way, a dark-colored cat probably won't make you happy. Similarly, if you intend to cuddle your cat and have a lot of navy or black in your wardrobe, you should probably avoid a white or light-colored cat.

Shelter cats are an excellent choice

It is commonly held that animals in shelters suffer from behavioral or physical problems. That is generally not the case. The most common reasons why animals end up in the care of shelters are difficulties and changes in the lives of those who are responsible for their care. Animals frequently end up in shelters when their owners move, lose their jobs, or must concentrate on stressors unrelated to pets—this does not reflect poorly on the cats in need of a new home.

Special needs of a breed

If you want a purebred cat, find out what the breed's special needs are. Even though every cat is unique, genetics can still have an impact on a cat's temperament and health. Certain health issues may be prone to certain breeds. Due to the shape of their faces, some animals, like Persian cats, may not be allowed to fly on airplanes.

Based on their breed, purebred cats, like the Siamese, have characteristics that are somewhat predictable. A Siamese, for instance, is known to be extremely vocal and boisterous. You can be sure that a Maine Coon will be friendly and affectionate, just as Siamese cats typically live long lives and have loving personalities. Ragdoll cats are generally affectionate and calm, preferring to cuddle indoors. Bengal cats are energetic, enjoy learning tricks, and require a lot of exercise. Research the various cat breeds and their temperaments prior to going to the shelter.

Keep in mind that most cats are mixed breeds and belong to the common domestic house cat category. Cats with distinctive coat patterns, such as tabbies, tuxedos, calicos, and tortoise shells, as well as short-haired and long-haired varieties, fall into this category. The demeanors of these felines can differ fiercely. Indeed, even two felines who seem indistinguishable outwardly can have immeasurably various characters.

Don't forget that breed and coat markings are not the same thing. A tabby cat, for instance, refers to a pattern on a cat's coat rather than the breed of the cat.

Choose a veterinarian in advance

Get recommendations from people you trust before choosing a veterinarian for your cat. Within the first few days of adoption, the American Humane Society suggests scheduling an appointment for a comprehensive examination. Take the shelter's medical records with you to the vet.

Choosing your cat

A lot of shelters have adoption counselors who can help you find the right cat. In the event that no advisors are accessible, you can in any case converse with cover staff and volunteers who have invested energy with each feline and become more acquainted with their characters. When meeting a cat for the first time in a shelter environment, which can be a stressful situation for the cat and she may adjust her behavior accordingly, it can be difficult to gauge her true personality if you are alone.

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