We have a lot of cats and kittens who are in need of a forever home.
I'm always getting inquires about kittens, the biggest problem seems to be the age of the kittens. Most people want a tiny kitten, around 8 weeks old. Once the kittens reach 4 months old, then they're overlooked and wind up staying here for a long time, unwanted. Not that there's anything wrong with the older kittens, they're just too old.
When kittens arrive here, they're often sick from something. They'll have worms, upper respiratory infections, fleas, you name it. Before they're adoptable they have to go to the vet for a check up, have a test for feline leukemia/FIV/heartworm. They need shots, and if old enough, they have to be spayed/neutered. This all takes time. I never get kittens who've already been to the vet and healthy enough for immediate adoption.
The only time I have kittens who can be adopted at 8 weeks old is when they're born here. Even then, I prefer not to adopt them out that young. The best age to adopt kittens is at 12 weeks, not 8 weeks. They really need a few extra weeks with their littermates to become better socialized.
Someone recently asked about adopting one of the kittens that I have who's 6 months old. Once the potential adopter found out the age of the kitten, she changed her mind. She said she had to have a kitten under 4 months old so it could grow up with her 10 month old daughter. I don't understand how that works. A kitten grows quickly, human babies do not. A well cared for indoor cat can live to be 20+ years old. So it shouldn't matter if a person with a young baby adopts a kitten or adult cat, they can both grow up with the human children.
Adult cats are much better for small children anyway!
Yes, kittens are cute and adorable. But the cute and adorable stage is so short lived. Then they grow up to be beautiful adult cats. I have a house full of beautiful, well behaved adult cats that have been here a long time waiting for someone to adopt them. They were all kittens once, then thrown away like trash when they were no longer cute and adorable. Rescues and shelters all over the US are packed full of wonderful adult cats who need homes. Millions are euthanized each year because nobody wants them. They were all kittens once too.
Please consider adopting an older kitten or adult cat. They're better behaved, already have shots, healthy, spayed/neutered, and move in ready.
This is an excellent article and very true. Except you skipped the middle stage between the cute kitten and the adolescent brat. If someone adopts an adult cat they can skip the trying teenage months.
ReplyDeleteI love our kitten we adopted from Little Mews Cat Rescue and Founding Home here in Oxford, NY. But I am also glad she is entering that beautiful young adult stage now.
Were I to adopt again I would most certainly get an adult sweet cat!
Linda
I've had many people adopt adult cats from us over the years and have been very happy with their cats.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the "brat" stage. Kittens can be little terrors. Like naughty toddlers, they're into everything and can be very destructive. An adult cat will be content snoozing on a sunny windowsill all day while you're at work. A kitten will be taking down the curtains, then checking out all your nice antique glass things on the shelves and knock them to the floor one by one.