Obviously, everyone needs to spay or neuter their cats and kittens. Kitten season is here, and many kittens are advertised as “free.” For responsible pet owners, pet health care isn’t free at all, and they need to be fixed. Get your kitties fixed, preferably before they get pregnant or knock up by the neighborhood stray.
According to many rescue organizations, adult cats are not usually surrendered to shelters because of behavior or medical problems. Many times they are there because of allergies, illness or death of owners, a move to a new residence, job loss or simply abandoned. In such cases, there is nothing wrong with the cat. Instead, the problems lie with the owners.
Rescue organizations want people to consider adopting a mature cat as opposed to getting a kitten. Why? Here are some sobering reasons!
With a mature cat …
What you see is what you get: When you go and adopt an adult cat, you know exactly what you are getting. Sure, everyone knows kittens are cute, but you just never know what the future holds. A sweet kitten may grow up to be aloof. Go for the sure thing. Take a sweet-faced adult cat whose personality is already developed. It is easier to achieve a good temperament match between human and animal members of the household and the new pet. Also, a laid-back adult cat, if properly introduced to other pets, is less likely to traumatize an older resident cat or dog than a rambunctious kitten.
Adult cats are not as messy or destructive: Young cats can chew up the furniture, draperies, electrical cords and anything else they can get into. They will knock over your lamps and knick-knacks, shred rolls of paper towels and leave many small disasters in their wake. Adult cats have basically been there and done that! They are calmer and many are scratch-post trained, the furniture is less likely to be destroyed.
Adult cats have much better litter box habits: Kittens often sleep or play inside their litter boxes. Adult cats are usually not inclined to use the litter box for anything other than what it’s supposed to be used for, and they are also more fastidious.
Owners of adult cats usually enjoy a better, more solid sleep: Adult cats are much less hyperactive and less likely to pounce on an owner in the night and bite his toes or run around the house, crashing into things and making noise at night. Young cats also tend to be more needy and demanding, whereas adult cats are more likely to leave their owners alone.
Kittens are more likely to be injured by a child In a household with children, there is greater risk to a small kitten that doesn’t have the common sense to get out of harm’s way. Many adult cats have had some prior experience with children, and they know when to put up with a bit of clumsy handling and when to run away.
Cats are living much longer than they used to: Potential adopters may be concerned that if they choose an adult cat, they won’t have too many years with him or her. However, cats (particularly indoor cats) are living far longer than they used to these days. Most cats are now living into their late teens, and some well into their 20s, because owners are much more protective and better informed, and veterinary care has advanced over the years.
All pet owners receive the unconditional love of a pet who is grateful, as well as the health benefits that come with pet ownership. Don’t be cat-less; visit a local shelter to find your new mature, adult companion!
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