6 Tips to Adopting a Shelter Cat

Pick a cat you connect with, but also answer a few key questions to make the right match.

Cat shelters are full of wonderful cats who need loving homes. And no matter how tempting it is, you can’t take them all!

Connecting to a cat from the heart is essential, but you need to consider many other factors before adopting a cat who will fit your lifestyle and easily integrate into your household. Adopting a cat is a commitment not to be taken lightly.

Ponder a few questions before adopting a cat:

• Will the cat be alone all day? Cats can become bored and depressed when left alone for long periods of time without someone to interact with. If you are gone for most of the day, adopt a bonded pair of cats. Cats who are buddies keep each other entertained while their favorite person is away from home. Although adopting two buddies can help chase the boredom blues away, the cats will need to have daily, quality time with their favorite person or people.

• Do you have other resident pets? Your new adopted cat must integrate well with your other animals. Introductions will go faster and smoother if your resident cat is cat-friendly. Some cats just don’t like other cats. Ideally, the new adopted cat should be similar in age and energy level to your resident cat and have successfully lived with other cats. Pet dogs should be cat-friendly, never chasing or hurting cats. When integrating dogs and cats into a household, adopt a dog-friendly cat.

• Do you have children? Are the kids cat-friendly? Children should not chase or corner cats and both cats and children should always be supervised when together. Choose a calm adult cat who has lived with children. Your house needs to accommodate high areas, such as cat trees and shelves, that are inaccessible to children. Baby gates will also help create sanctuary areas for the new cat. 

• Do you enjoy highly active cats or would you rather relax at home with a low-key cat who is satisfied with lap sitting and quiet cuddles? Research the different cat breeds and take in account age-related activity levels. Some cat breeds are very active, while others are more sedate. The cat’s age also plays a major role in how busy they are. Kittens are incessant little balls of energy. They need lots more play and attention than adult cats. Senior cats make wonderful companions and as a rule are not as active as kittens or young adult cats.

• Is your house cat-ready? Your house must be large enough to accommodate uncovered cat litterboxes, feeding stations and comfortable sleeping arrangements. In addition, cats need vertical territory, scratchers and interactive toys. Place vertical territory, such as cat trees, shelving and perches throughout your home. If your house is small, place shelves and perches at different levels for vertical territory solutions. Interactive cat toys and cat scratchers help keep your cat entertained.

• Do you like helping special cats? Cat shelters are overflowing with cats, so many elderly cats and cats with physical or behavior challenges are euthanized. Most shelters consider these special cats unadoptable even though they make wonderful pets. Although you might have to slightly modify the home environment to accommodate a special needs cat, it is well worth their companionship and the knowledge that you’ve saved the cat’s life.  

After you know what to look for when adopting a cat, check out your local shelter. Read all of the history, behavioral and medical information that is posted about each of the cats who catch your eye. Some shelters have TLC (Tender Loving Care) volunteers who post their impressions and their experiences with each cat they handle.

Finding the right cat companion involves soul searching and information gathering, but the ultimate decision on adopting a cat comes from the heart.

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