cat adoption Archives - Page 3 of 4 - MyThreeCats.com CatBlog

Adopting a cat for the holidays? Think twice…there are some great alternatives!

We all know there are thousands of homeless cats of which some of the luckier ones residing at animal shelters have at least a fighting chance of being adopted into a good home.

December seems to be one of the most active months at shelters nationwide. Well meaning people think of shelter cats as potential gifts for their friends or family members. They’ve either overheard them talking about how nice it would be to have a cat at home, or assume that because they’re living alone, they should have a pet. They’re trying to do a good turn for both the person and the shelter cat.

Before you move ahead with your gifting plans, think twice.

More “spur of the moment” adoption decisions happen at the holidays, with the perception that a cat would make an ideal holiday gift. Did you know that many animals adopted in December from shelters nationwide find themselves back at the shelters after the holiday season? This is either because the “gift” recipients really aren’t ready to adopt a cat, or they never really wanted to adopt a cat.

College students who adopt cats or receive cats as gifts at the holiday season, or at any time of year will likely only keep them for a brief time. First, their landlords may disallow pets. Second, they can’t really afford them. Finally, even if they are able to keep the cat for a semester or two, they end up leaving school for various reasons, including graduation. What happens to the cat? Students’ life changing plans abruptly disrupts the cat’s lifestyle as well. Is this really fair to the cat?

Consider these alternatives to honor and assist a shelter cat at the holiday season:

Only adopt a shelter cat when you’re absolutely sure you want and can afford her;
Avoid adopting cats for others. Let them make that decision, and if they do, you can accompany them to the shelter if that suits them or, have them select a shelter cat, and then offer to pay the shelter the adoption fee;
Donate toys and other necessities to your local shelter. Either deliver them in person or have the store of your choice ship them directly to the shelter. Call the shelter ahead of time to find out what supplies they need and to make arrangements for delivery or drop off.
MyThreeCats.com ships directly to shelters – just add the shelter’s name and address as the Shipping address, and we’ll enclose a card with your name, address and contact information as the donor. You’ll be enriching the shelter cats’ lives and donating to a worthy cause.
Make a cash donation to your local shelter (as we do). Many shelters have websites that accept on line donations.

Thanks for listening. We wish you and your feline family a very merry holiday season!

It’s National Cat Day!

Celebrate October 29^th in a number of great ways.

Watch an internet cat video (or two, three or four)
visit a local Cat Café, if you’re lucky enough to have one in your town
Adopt a cat from your local animal rescue organization or shelter
Have some serious quality play time with your own cat!

Here’s a video we thought you might like. Enjoy!

Texas Former Shelter Cat Sheds 22 Lbs., Purr-sonality Blooming at 19 Lbs!

A former 41 pound cat dubbed Skinny has lost more than half of his weight to become the darling of a Dallas based veterinary clinic.

Skinny admits he's a much happier cat these days. — Skinny admits he’s a much happier cat these days.

It's all in a day's work. Skinny sails through his exercise routine. — It’s all in a day’s work. Skinny sails through his exercise routine.

Dr. Brittney Barton says the orange tabby she adopted in 2013 has slimmed down to 19 pounds with exercise and a special diet. Barton calls Skinny the “resident cat” at her practice, HEAL Veterinary Hospital.

Barton said last week that Skinny spends weekdays roaming the clinic. The ex-fat cat’s weekends are spent at home with Barton and her family.

Skinny was founds abandoned near Dallas in 2012 and ended up at a shelter. The vet says Skinny just had his annual checkup and is healthy.

Source: Associated Press

Planning For Your Pet’s Future… Without You

Did you know that approximately 5 to 7 million dogs and cats enter US animal shelters each year, and approximately 3 to 4 million are euthanized? That’s 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats. That’s a pretty staggering number, isn’t it?

It is so important to for pet owners to think about who will care for our pets in the event of our inability to do so, so that our pets don’t become a shelter statistic. Now maybe someone immediately comes to mind, when you think about who you would entrust your pet’s care to if you were not around. But there are still some things to consider:

DO NOT assume that the caretakers you have in mind, including rescue organizations, will accept the responsibility of caring for your pet. We’ve seen so many pets end up dumped in shelters because the designated caretaker had no interest in assuming the responsibility. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you speak with each individual or organization to make sure they are ready, willing, and able to care for your pet if you’re not.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, make a plan for more than one possible guardian for the care of your pet, should the need arise. This way, if the primary guardian you’ve selected is unavailable or unwilling when the time comes, your pet will not be left without a home. Circumstances change, so it is always best to have a back-up plan.

There are so many things to consider when planning for your pet’s future, and what works for someone else’s situation might not be right for yours. The ASPCA provides a lot of great information about planning for your pet’s future without you, and we highly recommend visiting their website to learn more.

Have you made a plan for your pets, should something happen to you? Their future is in your hands; please be prepared.

Rescue a Shelter Cat in 2015

Are you thinking about adding a cat to your family in 2015? Studies have shown that people who own pets have happier lives, less stress, and fewer illnesses, so we know there are definitely some amazing benefits that come with living with a cat.

But where will you find your new cat?

If you’re thinking about visiting a pet store or private breeder to look for your new furry friend, you should know that:

Approximately 3.4 million cats enter US shelters every single year;
Of those cats, 1.3 million are adopted;
1.4 million cats are euthanized in US shelters every year.

The real question is, why breed or buy while shelter pets die?

Why purchase a pet from a store or a breeder when there are so many perfectly healthy, perfectly adoptable options at your local shelter? There you’ll find cats of all ages, sizes, and breeds. And even though most shelters charge an adoption fee, your new pet will come to you already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.

Little Minnie is a rescue cat who is settling into her brand new home. Did you know that black cats like Minnie are often overlooked in shelters, and it takes even longer for them to get adopted? Thankfully, Minnie beat the odds and now her days are filled with love and light. Shouldn’t every cat have such a happy ending?

How will you make a difference for shelter cats in 2015? Even if you can’t bring a new cat into your home, you can help spread the word by sharing this post with your friends. Let the world know that shelter pets make great family companions, and let’s save some lives.

*Statistics courtesy of the ASPCA.