How To Adopt The 'Purrfect' Cat For Your Family? Feline Adoption Checklist

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

You’re well aware that cat adoption is in your immediate future. But how will you locate a cat, and how will you know whether it’s the appropriate cat for you? The last step is simple. You’ll know when you’ve found the proper kitty. You’ll have an almost mystical connection with the cat who is supposed to be your lifelong companion.

But, before you start looking for that special someone, consider the traits you desire in a lifelong companion. Here is a check list.

My Perfect Cat Is

☐ A lap cat

☐ A lovebug

☐ A buddy who will sit near me and go for walks with me

☐ Indepent and self-sufficient

Lifestyle Preferences

☐ Indoor/outdoor

☐ Strictly indoors

☐ Garage or barn cat

Activity Level

☐ Active, a real livewire

☐ Playful

☐ Relaxed

☐ Couch potato and bed buddy

☐ Loves to be brushed

Appearance

☐ Long hair

☐ Medium hair

☐ Short hair

☐ Tuxedo

☐ Calico or tortoiseshell

Age

☐ Kitten (please adopt two!)

☐ Young

☐ Mature adult

☐ Senior

Other Considerations

☐ Likes dogs

☐ Likes other cats

☐ Is good with kids

Adopt a cat that has never been outdoors if you want to keep your cat entirely inside. It is a fallacy that indoor/outdoor and outdoor cats get used to just living inside. Most don’t, and as a result of their frustration and dissatisfaction with their new lifestyle, they may develop litter box and other behavioral issues.

7 Things To Consider Before Adopting A Cat

You’ve been contemplating it for a long time, and now you’re finally ready. You’d want to have a cat. However, although adopting a cat should be enjoyable, it is also a long-term responsibility. Cats build close relationships with their family members, and rehoming a cat is always a traumatic and heartbreaking experience. To minimize heartache for both you and the cat, try to answer these questions honestly before adding a new family member into your house. They are written through the perspective of a rescuer who has had the delight of putting hundreds of cats in new homes as well as the anguish of attempting to prevent even more “owner give-ups” from ending up in shelters.

Are you prepared to make a long-term commitment? Did you know the average lifespan of a cat is 16 years, and many live even longer?
Does everyone in your family want a cat? If not, it would be best to enjoy the company of cats as a volunteer for a rescue or shelter. The cat’s not going to be happy living with someone who hates her!
What will you do if you fall head over heels in love with someone who doesn’t like cats or is allergic to them? Give this one serious thought. If “give up the cat” pops into your head, it would be better to foster than adopt.
What will you do if you have to move? Cats can be good travelers and can adjust to a new home as long as their people are there, too. If you’d leave the cat behind, adoption is probably not for you. This is especially true of military families facing frequent overseas deployments. If you think you might be stationed someplace where you can’t have your cat, consider fostering instead of adopting.
Can you afford a cat? To be healthy, a cat needs wet food as well as, or instead of, dry. And in addition to food, the cat will need medical care, especially as s/he gets older. There’s nothing sadder than having to “put a cat to sleep” because there’s no money for medical care. Investing in pet insurance or setting up a separate savings account for veterinary care could save your cat’s life someday.
Are your furniture and carpeting right up there at the top of your list of things you care about most? It’s natural for a cat to scratch and accidents happen, especially as a cat ages. Are you willing to think of scratching pads and tall, stable scratching posts as essential pieces of furniture? Will you be able be patient and seek solutions to litter box issues if your cat suddenly stops using his box? These questions deserve serious thought, too.
Do you have time for a cat? While it’s true that cats are “solitary hunters” and self-sufficient enough to keep themselves happily occupied for long stretches of time, they also enjoy human companionship. Will you have time every day to pet a cat and play and brush? Cats are creatures of habit and love predictable schedules and routines. Does your lifestyle allow enough flexibility to create a routine with a cat?

A cat will be as much a part of your family as your spouse and children and will need the same amount of time, energy, and affection. Before you adopt a cat, consider if you are ready and able to make that commitment now and in the future.

Where To Find Your Perfect Cat?

Will you find your perfect cat at a public shelter, with a rescue, or on Craig’s List? There are advantages and disadvantages to all three.

The adoption websites are a good way to begin your search. Most rescues and shelters list their cats on Adoptapet.com and Petfinder.com. Many public shelters also list their cats on Petharbor.com.
Public shelters are rarely no-kill, so if you adopt a cat from one, you’ll be saving a life. Be careful about your choice, though. If you make the wrong decision and return the cat, her life will be in danger again. Look at the cats who have been there the longest first. They’re usually the ones who are at most risk.
Rescue Groups usually know their cats very well and can help you make a good match. Be prepared to pay an adoption fee, complete an application, sign a contract and provide references that will be checked. While you may feel like the group is asking you to jump through a lot of hoops just to adopt a cat, remember that the rescue probably worked very hard to save the cat’s life. They just want to be sure that she’ll be happy and that her new home really will be forever.
Breed rescues are the best place to look if you want a purebred cat. The rescue can tell you everything you need to know about the breed, including potential health issues and other idiosyncrasies. Check with local breeders, too. They might have retired show cats who are up for adoption.
Craig’s List almost seems like a dumping ground for unwanted cats and kittens, although rescues and shelters put their cats on Craig’s List, too. If you adopt a cat on Craig’s List or from the newspaper classifieds, be sure to ask a lot of questions first. What is the real reason the people are giving the cat up? If the cat is being rehomed because of behavior issues, will your house really be quieter and less stressful? The transition to a new home will be less stressful if the cat’s “ex” brings her to you. Ask for her dishes, litter box, bed and other things that smell like home. All those familiar possessions will be reassuring to her in her new environment.

Concerning “stray” cats: Sometimes the best cats are those that find you. But before you take in a stray cat and adopt her, make every effort to discover her family. The majority of cats discovered outdoors were neither discarded or abandoned. They’re disoriented and want nothing more than to return home.

When Your New Cat Comes Home

A cat’s adjustment to a new home might be challenging, so be patient. It might take a cat a day, weeks, or even months to adjust to her new surroundings. This is particularly true for senior cats that have been transferred from their original homes to new ones. They have no idea why their world has been flipped inside out, and they are often bewildered and despondent.

Allow the cat to do things on her own time, even if you’re eager for her to become a member of the family. Don’t press her to come out before she’s ready if she wants to conceal. Make sure she has access to food and a litter box near her secure and familiar hiding spot. She’s not going to stay hidden indefinitely!

Sit on the floor and chat to her while she’s hiding. Tell her how glad you are that she is now living with you and how much you adore her. Play with her with a wand or a fishing pole toy, or offer her snacks every time you see her.

Bach Flower Remedies may help her cope with her stress and adapt more rapidly. Rescue Remedy and Walnut are also excellent alternatives. A few drops of the cure on a fingertip and massage it into the fur on the top of the cat’s head a few times a day works well for me.

Give her the food she ate at her previous home or refuge for the first week or so. She’ll eat better if she eats what she’s accustomed to, and you may gently transfer her to the brand you wish to give her to minimize stomach distress.