You’ve decided to provide a cat from a shelter with a lifelong home. There are a lot of animals in the world that have been neglected, abused, or whose owners were unable to care for them any longer. Every single one of these animals is yearning for a second chance in a loving home.

Before bringing your new family member home, there are numerous factors to consider, whether you’re hoping to adopt a kitten or an adult cat with a fully formed, distinctive personality. This guide will show you how to adopt a cat and what you’ll need for your new pet.

Things To Know Before Adopting A Cat

Finding A Cat To Adopt

The first step in figuring out how to adopt a cat is to choose a reputable shelter or charity that is acceptable for your needs.

If you conduct an online search on ‘kittens for sale near me”, you may quickly locate a lot of these. Moreover, you might try searching for the nearest kitten rescue facility near you on the websites of Cats Protection, Blue Cross, ASPCA, and RSPCA.

There are many RSPCA cats for adoption. You can try rspca cats if you are from the UK or ASPCA cats if you are from the US.

Once you’ve found a kitten rescue organization, you can usually find a list of the cats available for adoption online. Alternatively, you can chat with the personnel at the organization for guidance on the breed of cat that will work best for you.

One thing to be aware of is that before you officially adopt a cat, most adoption centers will organize a home visit to ensure it is an appropriate setting. They might also like your family members or other pets to attend the first appointments if you have them in order to make sure you all get along.

Finding The Perfect Cat

Choosing a cat with the proper personality to blend in with your current family is one of the most crucial decisions you will make when adopting one. Shelters will be able to provide you with a thorough background on each of their residents as well as advice on which of their cats could work best for your household.

Cat Breeds

The breed of cat that is best for you must be chosen, just as it is vital to decide whether to adopt a cat or get a kitten. Despite the fact that each cat has a unique personality, you can learn a lot about a cat’s breed.

A wide variety of breeds, including wonderful moggies (domestic short or long hair cats), are frequently available at rescue centers.

Talk to the personnel at your neighborhood rehoming center once you search “kittens for sale near me” on google or any other online platform and do some research on the options. They will have a great deal of information regarding the breed that might be perfect for you.

Examining Their Health

It’s critical to confirm the health of a cat before adopting it from a rescue facility. The first thing to do when looking at a kitten is to make sure it has been properly weaned and is at least 8 or 9 weeks old.

While examining your new prospective pet’s health, use the following health checklist:

• No discharge should be present in the eyes, as this may point to a respiratory issue.
• The nose should be free of mucous and show no symptoms of sneezing. It should also be cool and slightly wet.
• Black specks and a dark brown, waxy discharge in the ear canal may be signs of ear mites; otherwise, the ears should be clear and pink. Although mites are simple to eliminate, they may indicate that the pet is not receiving adequate care.
• How does their stomach appear? Worms or inadequate nutrients could be to blame for a bloated stomach.
• Look behind them to see if there is any sign of diarrhea.
• The coat should be shiny and free of any matting.
• To walk around and jump with comfort, your legs should be straight and well-formed.

The information above might not be relevant if you intend to adopt a rescue cat with special requirements or a chronic illness.

But if you adopt your kitty from a reputable rescue facility, they’ll give you advice on how to care for them and be entirely open about their medical requirements.

Personality Preferences

Cats in rescue facilities range greatly in personality from outgoing to more reserved. It’s crucial to remember that a lot of cats enter shelters in unfavorable circumstances, so there may be cats who initially seem anxious; nevertheless, with some love, patience, and care, they’ll grow into the best friends you’ve ever known.

Try not to allow a cat’s behavior in a rescue center to cloud your judgment; keep in mind that it might be a bit of an odd location for a cat.

Costs

Is adopting a cat expensive? Depending on the organization or cat rescue facility you choose, the price for adopting a kitten or cat varies.

Most animal shelters require an adoption fee, which varies in price depending on the organization before you can take your pet home.

The care and attention your cat received while residing at the facility is covered by this fee, including the initial medical bills for neutering or spaying, microchipping, and vaccines for kittens.

Veterinarian expenses are likely the largest expense to consider. Planned expenses include vaccinations, deworming, and flea prevention.

But, the most expensive expenses could come from unexpected vet expenses. Following an accident or illness, medical treatment or even a hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars. If available, pet insurance might help you pay for unexpected veterinary costs even though it comes at a monthly premium.

While making a budget, it’s common to forget about the cost of boarding if you go on vacation. If not, there is an additional cost to take into account. You may have friends or family who can look after your pet while you are gone.

How To Adopt A Cat – Step By Step

1. Look for cats that are up for adoption

2. Fill out the application form

3. Visit your pet at the facility

4. Schedule a home visit

The center will then set up a home visit so they can advise you on things to consider before your rescue cat arrives.

They may offer suggestions on your cat’s surroundings, food, and toys, as well as any other cat care advice you might require.

For instance, in addition to a nice bed, your cat will also require a cozy hiding place for those times when they wish to escape the outside world, especially while they are settling in.

5. Bring home your new cat!

When everyone agrees that the cat or kitten you’ve chosen is the best fit for you and that your home is suitable and ready for the newest member of your family, it’s time to return to the center to have your new member formally signed over!

Your center should supply you with a blanket or other item from your cat’s pod so they can feel comfortable traveling to their new home.

That’s it. Now you can take the new family member to your home.