Welcome Home, Baby Boy Kittens

Five days ago, we welcomed two little bundles of furry chaos to our household.  If you're keeping track, that brings us to an even four; two girls, two boys.

We wanted to get another boy cat after having to put Apollo down in January.  I've always read males tend to be more loving and good-natured than females.  It made sense to me because my girls have always been slightly more standoffish.  Apollo would happily snuggle and enjoyed being carried around. The girls don't like to be picked up and accept love on their terms.  They are lovely cats, but they have boundaries.  Apollo had no boundaries. 

My husband and I started talking about getting another cat.  We were concerned about how the girls would react and decided we should get two kittens.  If they were shunned by the girls, the kittens would at least have each other. 

This has turned out to be a wise decision.  As expected, the girls are not entirely pleased with the new living arrangements.  Molly is tolerating it better than Emma, but the boys are sweet and I'm confident the noses currently bent out of shape will straighten over the next couple of weeks.  

On the right is Jack, named after Jack Bauer on 24. He is about 3 months old with fairly common tabby coloring, but more gray than brown. On the left is Ralphie, named after the little boy in The Christmas Story. About 2 months old, Ralphie has beautiful black spots on his sides that make me think of a wild cat.

Adopted from Pet Helpers, in Charleston County.    

Japanese Cat Cafe

What a great idea!  I wonder if the U.S. has something similar. If I had the investment capital, this would be a fabulous way to indulge my love of cats.  In fact, I wonder if creating a cat cafe at local shelters or rescues would help defray the costs of caring for the animals while they await adoption.  Certainly there would be some expenses and health concerns, but overall, doesn't it seem like the perfect way to have a pet even if you aren't allowed one at your rental community? Or maybe your husband has allergies, but your son loves playing with kittens?

I'm not sure about the new law the Japanese government is passing to change the cafe hours.  And, certainly, if you are aiming the law at late-night pet shops and not the cafes, can't you make the wording more specific? We can make laws regarding specific breeds of dogs...I would think the government can find a way to allow the cat cafe to keep it's regular operating hours.

National Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month

You've been thinking about it.

You've been doing your research to help you decide on the best pet for your family.

Now, you might be able to get that cat for free.

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Fresh Step cat litter have teamed up to make it an even better time to adopt an adult cat from your local shelter. For the month of June, national Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month, shelters across the country are waiving the adoption fees for adult cats. Visit the ASPCA's website for a list of participating shelters.

According to a researcher for the ASPCA, it costs $13 a day for a shelter to care for each cat in their facility. Adults cats often spend more time in shelters than kittens and these costs add up quickly. When adult cats are adopted, the adoption fee rarely covers the cost the shelter actually incurred caring for the cat before you arrived to take him home. By offering free adoptions, the shelter is able to reserve their often limited resources while providing a loving home for the cats in their care more quickly than they might have otherwise.

If you've read my earlier post, you already know adult cats make the perfect addition to most families. Now there's no reason not to do it.
      

Adopt An Adult Cat

Many times, adult cats are the last to be adopted from local shelters because of preconceived notions about their behavior. People often think adults cats in shelters must not be using their litter box or they are aggressive or sick. While these things can certainly be true, adult cats are most often in good health and well-mannered.

My youngest, Emma, was a year and a half old when we brought her home. She was surrendered by her family because she wasn't getting along with the dogs in the household. She purrs loud and often. She shares the litter boxes with her new brother and sister with no problems and she has a very loving nature. She can be a little shy around strangers, but she warms up to them quickly. She will inhale every morsel of food she can get her hands on, probably because in the home she came from (dogs and other cats), you needed to be on your game if you wanted to eat. I often compare her to a circling shark because she will hang around in the kitchen wandering aimlessly until Apollo and Molly have finished eating. Since Apollo is on a special diet, I have to hover as well or my little shark beats me to the bowl and devours what's left.

But these are examples of why Mike at the Wayne Animal Shelter says adult cats make the best pets. Adult cats, as Mike explains, seem to understand they are being rescued and are more appreciative than a kitten. They love you right away and show it.

In addition, adult cats already have developed their personality - something you will notice when you are in a shelter viewing your new pet. All three of my cats bonded with me immediately in the viewing rooms at the shelter. Apollo and Molly both curled up in my lap for a nap and Emma was rubbing up against us and purring soon after our introduction. Emma has a naughty streak and doesn't have any fear. She's taken a few tumbles off the bed from playing too hard and she's been known to climb onto and into anything where her head fits - even if it means I have to get her back out. She will, if given the chance, retrieve used tissue from the bathroom trash and eat it. If you pay attention at the shelter and spend enough time with the cat, you will get a peek into these personality quirks. You might not see exactly how the personality is going to play out in your home, but if you're looking for a lap cat (which Emma is not) you will learn right at the shelter whether or not that's what you will get.

Kittens, on the other hand, haven't completely developed their personalities yet and if you aren't the type of person to carry them around, teach them to enjoy attention from strangers and appreciate a good lap, you may end up with a more bashful, standoffish feline. This can work both ways. Apollo has always been gentle and loving, but because of the attention I lavished on him when I was single and he was my only kitten, I can't move about the house without him following me. He must be touching me at all times. This is very sweet, but can be a challenge, so finding balance with a kitten is important. The work is done for you with an adult cat and it becomes a matter of picking a cat with a personality that matches your own.

Check out Mike's videos on the other reasons adult cats make great companions and visit your local shelter to find your new best friend.

National Adoption Weekend April 29-May 1 at PetSmart Stores

How bad do you think the homeless pet situation is in the U.S. today? According to a PetSmart Charities research study, it's probably worse than you think. Close to 8 million pets are living their lives in shelters nationwide and about half of those will be euthanized every year. These aren't the 4 million animals that are inappropriate for adoption, although there are certainly some of those. Most of these millions of animals are perfectly healthy and would be thrilled to have a family who loves them.

When older cats are brought into shelters, often people wonder what is wrong with the cat. Does he spray on the furniture? Does she have an illness that will cost you thousands of dollars? Does he bite? Is she unfriendly? More often than not, the answer to those questions is "no." Cats are taken to shelters because a new husband has allergies, owners might pass away or must relocate and cannot take the pet, or there may be a tragedy of some kind (fire, storms) that separate the pet from its human. Sometimes the animal is rescued from an abusive situation.

If you have another cat in your household, admittedly, it is often easier to introduce a new housemate if the newbie is a kitten. The joy of adult cats is they are more settled. If you don't have the energy for a kitten, older cats are far less likely to climb to the top of the refrigerator to jump on your head or attempt to catch their dinner in your fish tank.

PetSmart Charities, Inc. has launched a social movement to help find homes for 4 million animals. People Saving Pets is hoping to find homes for these animals by giving people a place to obtain information and share it with other community members. They can help you find volunteer opportunities and homeless animals in your area waiting for someone to love them. You can also make a financial contribution to local animal welfare agencies.

The program was officially launched in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, but over 115 animal-welfare organizations are already supporting the movement. If your city isn't already involved, it probably will be soon. You can also "Like" People Saving Pets on Facebook.