Adopting and rescuing a cat from your local humane society is the best gift you can give. Some shelters have adoption rooms where you can spend time with a cat before you adopt it. This is a great idea because you get to interact with the cat and check out their personality. For those of you, who are on the quiet side, make sure you ask “how vocal is the cat?” A vocal cat may not be the best choice for you.

Cats are vocal like people. They will let you know when they are hungry or want to play. If you work at home, a cat’s vocalization may be a distraction for you. Think about this before you adopt a cat from the humane society. It would be ashame if you return the cat because she’s too vocal.

If you have trouble getting up, a vocal cat makes a great alarm clock! This can help you save money on electricity. Wouldn’t it be better to wake up to your cat’s voice instead of a blaring alarm clock buzzer? You cat may also jump on the bed and not leave until you get up. This will ensure that you get to work on time.

When you adopt and rescue a cat, you get a friend for life. You may not find out that your cat is vocal until a month or two. Give the relationship a chance. Your new friend is communicating the only way she knows how. Spend as much time as you can with your cat. Working from home can be tricky because your cat will not understand that you must work instead of play with her. Be gentle, compassionate, and patient. Your cat will understand your routine sooner or later. If not, allow her to sit on your lap while you work. She can be a great motivator!

Rebecca

How vocal is your cat?

Before you adopt and rescue a cat or kitten from your local Humane Society or shelter, make sure you’re a responsible cat parent. Cats and kittens are no different than children. The only difference is that they don’t talk back to you. Then again, cats will be vocal if you’re late feeding them!

When you adopt and rescue a cat or kitten from a shelter be aware that they may require more responsibility and need just a bit more TLC than your cat or kitten. Animals in a shelter are stressed and susceptible to illnesses such as upper respiratory infection. Make sure you’re prepared to nurse a sick cat or kitten for about two weeks.

Tip: Make sure you feed your cat the proper nutrition. Like people, cats are becoming obese. It’s not uncommon to read about a 20 lb. cat. Yikes! Provide your cat with kitty condos he can climb and give him toys like a stuffed mouse he can chase. Consult your veterinarian on how you can keep you cat in tip-top shape.

Remember when you adopt and rescue a cat or kitten, it’s a long-term commitment. Make sure you find one that fits your personality. It’s not fair to the cat or kitten if he or she is too vocal. Write down the type of cat you’re looking for. What color will the cat be? What gender would you like, male or female? What about the cat’s personality, friendly or highly independent? What is your personality like? Knowing before you go to a shelter will help you help the adoption volunteers choose a cat that is purrfect for you!

When you adopt and rescue a cat he’ll become part of the family. If you’re personality is one that sees cats as just that and not a family member, you may want to forgo adopting a cat and get a fish instead. They’re low maintenance and just swim in a bowl or small aquarium.

Children need to be taught to respect and honor pets. Before you adopt and rescue a cat into your home, educate your children. Make sure they know the cat IS NOT a toy! Bring them to shelters and let them get acquainted with a cat or kitten. Tell the volunteers and employees that you’d like to adopt, but want to introduce your children before you bring a cat or kitten home. Perhaps the shelter has some kind of program where they educate children on pets. The more they know and can apply what is taught the better for the animal community.

Adopting and rescuing a cat from your local shelter is the best gift you can give. These animals are stressed out because one minute they’re with a loving family and the next they’re in a tiny cage. Their freedom is taken away and they don’t know why. Plus, they’re hearing new and strange noises they haven’t heard before in their life. Be understanding and patient with a shelter cat or kitten.

Cats and kittens are living creatures like you. They are alive and deserve to be treated with respect just as humans do. Make sure you’re ready for the commitment of being a cat owner. It takes more than time and money; it takes love and compassion as well!

Rebecca

How are you a responsible cat parent?

Claw covers or soft paws for cats and kittens can save your furniture. They’re like “fake nails” for cats and come in a variety of colors. Your cat may need some time to adjust to the covers. Ms. Fluffy may attempt to claw at your sofa, but she won’t do any damage to it.

Instead of declawing your cat, put claw covers on him. Many people don’t know how painful and barbaric declawing is. I was given some handouts from the AZ Humane Society that showed how a cat is declawed. It was not a pretty sight to see. They chop off the claw at the knuckle! Ouch! This is very, very painful. Just imagine how you’d feel if someone chopped off your finger right at the knuckle. I thought so…

Dr. Christianne Schelling: “Your cat’s claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw; the last bone of your cat’s claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat’s “toes.”

Claw covers such as Soft Claws can be purchased at pet stores such as Petco and PetSmart. Check with your local Humane Society as well. Some of them may have a store where you can purchase the claw covers. You’ll be helping out the animals because the money goes back to the Humane Society.

Make sure you test one of your cat’s claws before you put covers on each claw. My cat Benny has sensitive claws. He’s managed to take-off the majority of his Soft Claws. When I put the covers on him he yelped. I’m working with him so he ONLY scratches the kitty furniture. It takes time and patience; he’s getting there.

Cats like to scratch. Before you adopt and rescue a cat make sure you’re ready for the entire package which includes scratching at furniture. It’s a possibility that your cat will leave your furniture alone. My cat CeCe doesn’t bother with the furniture. She has her moments, but I catch her in time.

Your cat may have sensitive claws like my cat Benny. Check with your veterinarian to see if there’s something else you can do besides claw covers. You can spray your furniture or put sticky tape on it but that’s not very attractive. You could cover your furniture to protect it. Ask your veterinarian for advice on how to deter your cat from clawing at your furniture. He may need to go to cat training. Is there such a thing? Good luck!

Rebecca

What color are your claw covers?

I’ve been blogging about my new cat CeCe whom I rescued from the Arizona Humane Society on August 9. I’ve been slowly introducing her to my cat Benny and he’s responding in a manner that has surprised me. He likes to tackle CeCe from the front like a wrestler from the WWF or WWE! New cat introductions can be a bit tricky.

CeCe was quarantined for over a week because she developed an upper respiratory infection. I was told by my veterinarian to take the new cat introductions slow. I was advised to try the “crate” technique; I didn’t do this because I was not about to go out and buy a crate. The alternative was to introduce Benny & CeCe in small time intervals each day. This was an experience.

Tips and Tricks

• Have someone else bring in the new cat. Ignoring the new cat will put the resident cat at ease. You give your cat the impression that it wasn’t your idea to bring another cat into the home.
• Keep the new cat away from your cat for at least two weeks. Even if the new cat was only at a shelter for five days or less they still can develop an upper respiratory infection.
• Make sure the new cat has its own feeding dishes and litter box. This way your cat will not be susceptible to an upper respiratory infection.
• Shower your cat with love and attention. There’s no reason to stop doting on your cat because of a new cat. And, it will show your cat that he/she still has primary status with you.
• Make sure the cats are spayed or neutered. Cats coming from the Humane Society will be spayed or neutered. Most shelters will offer the service for a low cost.
• Allow your new cat and resident cat to get to know each other under supervised play time. If their play gets to rough (fur is flying) separate them and try again in a few hours or the next day.

Benny is getting used to CeCe, although he doesn’t always show it. He was used to being the “King of the Apartment.” Now he must share me with this other cat who took a lot of my attention because she was sick. Yes, new cat introductions are just like introducing a 3-year old child to its new brother or sister.

I would like for Benny and CeCe to share a bathroom. Right now CeCe’s food and water is in my bedroom and her litter box is in my bathroom. Benny is known to use the litter box as well. It’s not fun having kitty litter all over the floor, especially when you step out of the shower and step on it. Yuck!

It’s interesting all of the “myths” that surround new cat introductions like male cats are more affectionate and accepting and a cat of one sex is more accepting of a cat of the opposite sex. These people obviously haven’t met Benny. He’s affectionate and growing tolerant of CeCe, but he’s still getting used to her in his own way on his own time.

I may not have done the new cat introductions the “right” way, but at least Benny and CeCe are getting used to each other. It may take another month or two before the claws, hissing, and spitting stop. Until then I’ll keep my chin up and pray that these two learn to get along. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Rebecca

What advice do you have on introducing a new cat into the household?