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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.

Is a Senior Cat Right for Your Family?

It’s Adopt A Senior Pet Month! Did you know that senior cats can actually be the PERFECT pet for busy households? Bringing a young pet into your home can be a ton of work with kids, work, and all the fun activities and running around. But having a sweet pet that is already potty trained and is the best napping buddy can be a dream come true.

Adopting an older pet also gives families the benefit of knowing your cat’s personality is already developed. Quickly, your family will know if a cat is the right fit for your home and lifestyle, if he will get along well with your kids and how much canoodling he can take. This is great news, because another benefit is that pets can really help develop your children’s sense of responsibility and self-esteem! But, just because your new pet already has a fully developed sense of self, don’t think he can’t learn new things. In fact, he might adapt his behavior with new training faster than young cats, due to his cognitive development.

So before writing off older pets, try meeting a few. You might fall in love!

Check out PetMD’s slideshow to read all the fabulous reasons you should adopt a senior cat and tell us in the comments, would you ever considering adopting a senior pet?

3833hrPeekandPrizeToyBoxsmaller — Peek N Prize Toy Box at MyThreeCats.com

What types of environmental enhancements do you offer your cat?

Caring for cats properly involves much more than simply furnishing food, water and a litter box. Environmental enrichment, such as toys, food puzzles, perches, and even hiding places, can really change the quality of life for almost any cat.

The Winn Feline Foundation recently took a look at this issue in a group of shelter cats on their blog. Environmental enrichment in shelter cats is an excerpt from a study which provided a food puzzle to a stable group of shelter cats and examined their reaction to the puzzle and their interactions surrounding the object. The study concluded:

“a stimulating item that can be shared by all individuals in a stable group, such as a puzzle feeder of appropriate size, can play an important role in promoting positive social interactions among cats and improving their welfare.”

Certainly, in shelter cats, this is an important study. It underlines the need for more than just basic care in the lives of these animals and the fact that this enrichment is easily achievable. After all, the ultimate goal is to give these cats the best chance for adoption. Cats that are comfortable in their environment and confident will show it in their behavior. And confident behavior is much more “adoptable” than a cat that is hiding in his cage or, worse yet, acting in aggressive manner out of fear.

However, this study also can be extended to those of us who keep multi-cat households. I have three cats and frequently see two or more of my cats interacting with the toys and puzzles at once. In fact, it seems as though if one cat shows interest, it generates interest in the other cats as well.

Many environmental enhancement toys, cat furniture and other items can be found at www.MyThreeCats.com, the experts in optimum care care and well being.