If you are thinking of adopting a cat you should know that kittens are sociable and affectionate animals, which require their own space and some independence, but can make excellent pets. Taking care of a cat, going to a shelter or animal collection center, is an excellent idea that implies a responsibility that you must be willing to assume. There are several important aspects that you will have to consider so that the arrival of the new member of the family is a success and in this article of we want to review them, so that you take the step with total security. Take good note of what to know before adopting a cat.
Race and age
You may already be clear about the animal you would like to adopt, for example, because you know someone who has a cat of a certain breed, but this is not always the case. Before adopting a cat, it does not hurt to get some information about the physical characteristics (breed or mix of breeds, for basic health issues) and the character of the cat you want as a pet. Not everyone is the same. There are calmer, more playful, more nervous cats …, although it is something that can change according to their environment, their age and other factors.
It is also essential to decide whether you are going to adopt a puppy or an adult cat, assessing the possible advantages and disadvantages in each case. The kitten of a few weeks will adapt before to the customs of the house, but you will also have to arm yourself with patience to teach basic routines regarding meals or the place to relieve themselves, something that an adult cat will probably understand at first.
Health status
The centers such as protectors and associations that are responsible for the collection of animals to give them up for adoption are a guarantee that the animal has received the necessary care that certifies its good state of health. Another option is that someone gives you a cat, not being able to take care of it, or that you even think about picking up and adopting yourself a cat that you see abandoned on the street but that is affectionate and is very close to you.
In any case, a veterinary review is essential to confirm that the animal does not suffer from any disease or to detect it in order to treat it, to verify that it is dewormed and that the relevant vaccines have been administered, which protect him and also the people with whom he will live.
Male or female?
It is another issue on which you will have to decide, especially taking into account the inconveniences that may arise especially in mating season or with the puppies that a cat may have and the escapades to the streets in mating season, whether we talk about females or males. On the other hand, there are hardly any differences between cat and cat if they are sterilized or neutered, although there are differences between cats, but rather they are due to individual character.
To be calm, ask if the animal you are interested in is neutered or not and, if not, we recommend castrating or sterilizing it. Therefore, in these cases, after all, it is not so relevant if you adopt a male or female cat.
If you have a small or adult cat in front of you and want to know if it is of one sex or another, here is a guide on How to know if a cat is male or female.
What you’ll need
The moment you take home your new furry you will have to attend to him and it is important that you make a small list and start acquiring everything that will be needed to make him feel comfortable (and the rest of the family too).
First, think about how to take it home because you probably need a carrier appropriate to its size. Your feeder and drinker, the sandbox, a cushion or bed where you can sleep, a toy, a scratcher to sharpen your nails (and not do it on the sofa or curtains) and the first provisions of food, in the form of cans of food, cat food, or homemade cat food, are items that cannot be missing from your list.
Microchip
Although it is more common in dogs, putting your new pet an identification microchip is a good idea, since in this way it will be much easier to recover the animal in case it escapes, is lost or stolen. In some Spanish autonomous communities, it is mandatory for cats to carry it and it is also required as a requirement to travel with a cat to some countries. Keep that in mind.
Here you can see a video that explains how are the microchips of dogs and cats.
Are there any impediments that discourage adoption?
It’s a question you should ask yourself before taking the step of adopting a cat. For example, keep in mind if a family member has an allergy to the fur of these animals, if your community of neighbors does not allow pets or if you have a dog, another cat or another animal that is especially aggressive in the presence of a feline.
In the latter case, bringing a cat home is not incompatible, especially if it is a puppy, but you will have to take due precautions until both animals know each other and reach an understanding and mutual adaptation that allows quiet coexistence. To do this, you may need the help of an ethologist or educator.
Adaptation period
Depending on the age and previous experiences of the animal, the adaptation period will be more or less long and more or less complex, but it is a variable that you should always take into account. During the first days, you will have to be patient and give the cat its space, allowing it to ‘investigate’ its environment while you are teaching, little by little, the rules of the house in a positive way.
You will have to spend time with him, so that the bond between you is strengthened, but always without overwhelming him. Remember that play and positive encouragement (small treats when he does what you think is right) are the best way for the cat to integrate quickly into the family. Think that the moment of adopting a cat is only the beginning of a path of coexistence with an animal.
Precautions at home
They are mischievous, agile and curious, so before adopting a cat it is important to take some measures and establish new rules or customs at home. For example, the first weeks do not leave any food, that you do not want to give him, at his fingertips because even if you think he will not reach the steak you have left on the counter, he will most likely end up getting it.
Also be careful with the cabinets, because cats like to hide in them and close the door or drawer for an oblivion could cause more than one accident. Here we tell you Where a cat can hide.
Caution must also be taken with heaters and electronic equipment that the cat could accidentally fall, as well as with access to the outside, especially if they are windows or balconies of high floors, to which you have to put meshes.
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