Thinking of adopting a cat? Check out these Potter League tips to find the best fit
Hi friends – it’s your favorite feathered friend, Tuki, coming to you from my perch at the Potter League. I hope everyone is enjoying this fine weather - I just love sitting on my perch near an open window (with a screen, of course) to enjoy the fresh warm air.
I just happened to be listening in on the staff here at the Potter League who were talking about upcoming events, and they mentioned that June is Adopt a Cat Month! June is the perfect time to add a new cat or kitten to your family since the kids will be out of school soon and need something to keep them busy - and what’s better than caring for a new cat! Of course, there are a few things to think about before adopting a new cat or kitten.
Find the best fit
What is your home and family life like? Now that the world is starting to get back to some normal activities, are you and your family out and about more or are you still spending a lot of time at home? Cats, especially kittens, need social interaction and exercise. If you are gone frequently an older cat, rather than a kitten, might be better for you. You probably don’t want them finding ways to entertain themselves when you are not home. Visit with different cats at your local shelter to see what cat’s personality fits best with your family.
Consider your budget
Adopting a pet is a financial responsibility as well as a time commitment so you want to be sure that you think about the costs of cat ownership before you bring one home. Cats can live well into their teens so for those of you with commitment issues - a cat might not be for you! Consider the cost of food, regular veterinarian visits and vaccines, not to mention plenty of cat toys! If you are thinking about a kitten, spaying/neutering and microchipping may also be needed (if you adopt from the Potter League, we do all that here for you).
Prepare the family
Discuss the decision to adopt a cat with everyone in your household and be sure that they are all in agreement. Your cat will be curious and want to interact with everyone living in your house, so you want all your family members to be comfortable when bringing a new cat into your home. If you have other pets, be sure to ensure you have a plan to introduce your new furry family member to the current ones. How you do this will depend on the type of pet you already have and their personality as well as the temperament of the new cat. Your veterinarian and the staff at the shelter or rescue where you adopt your cat can help you with this too.
So, you’ve made the decision to get a cat - congratulations! Now what?!
Gather your supplies
You want to have everything ready when you find the purrfect cat for you. Visit your local pet store to find everything you need to make your cat feel at home. At a minimum, you need a litter box, cat litter, a food bowl, and a water bowl. But there are some other things you should consider. Since cats don’t usually get manicures, they keep their claws short and worn down by scratching so you should give your cat something appropriate to scratch. A scratching post or piece of corrugated cardboard can do the trick. You can search online for inexpensive do-it-yourself scratching toys, as well.
Find a veterinarian
You’ll probably want to take your new cat to visit the vet soon after bringing them home. If you already have pets and have a veterinarian, let them know you are adopting a new pet and schedule a visit. They will check to be sure your new cat is healthy and can give you some tips on feeding and socializing, and answer any questions you have about acclimating your pet to their new home.
Prepare the house
Cats can be sensitive to a new environment and it often takes them time to adjust to a new home. We recommend providing a smaller area for them the first few days while they acclimate to your home. Put their food and water bowls in that room as well as the litter box in an area away from the food bowls. Many cats feel safer in small spaces so consider a covered cat bed or place a comfy blanket in their cat carrier. You can also cut a hole in a box and add a blanket so that your cat can get away from it all when they need to. Once your cat is used to their new home, they will want to explore, so check your countertops, dressers and other potential cat perches (see, other animals besides us birds like perches!) to be sure there is nothing that can be knocked over if they decide to investigate.
I hope to see you at the Potter League when you come to pick out your new cat or kitten!
‘Till next time, your friend,
Tuki
Mail questions to Tuki, P.O. Box 412, Newport, RI 02840, or send email to TukiTalk@PotterLeague.org. The Potter League for Animals can be found at 87 Oliphant Lane in Middletown and online at potterleague.org.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Tips for adopting a cat from the Potter League in Middletown
