This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® and Food, Shelter & Love® Program, but Dog Mom Days only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
I love cats. Yes, I will probably be a “crazy cat lady” some day, but I fully embrace it! I had cats in my house growing up and I think they are absolutely beautiful, majestic animals. Animal rescue is something I am very passionate about and June is adopt a cat month, so what better time to bring awareness to all of the homeless cats in shelters that need loving families!
I have rescued two cats of my own from shelters. My cat Sadie is a polydactyl calico cat. That means she has extra toes! Sadie has two extra toes on each of her front paws. I adopted her from the Arizona Animal Welfare League in May 2011. At the time she was six months old. Honestly, Sadie chose me. I asked to see her and she climbed on my shoulder like a monkey and wouldn’t get down! I looked at the volunteer and said, “Well, I guess I’m taking her home!” Sadie is extremely loving and gentle, but also independent. She does well with change and transition and is always ready to explore a new place!
I adopted Joey from a cat sanctuary called Saving One Life. He’s a gorgeous tabby cat. When I brought him home, he was two years old. Joey had been in foster care for over a year at that point – no one wanted him because he’s disabled. Well, the first time I saw him, I fell in love. Although he has radial hypoplasia, a birth defect that left his front legs deformed, he’s like any other cat. He’s not trusting of people, most likely due to his special needs, but Joey is attached to Matt and I at the hip. When he sees us, he instantly starts purring. He’s also very vocal, which I love. Yes, I have conversations with my cat.
Right now it’s kitten season. Shelters are overwhelmed with kittens due to many strays and feral cats not being fixed. Summertime is always a busy time for shelters, so it’s a great time to adopt a cat! My cats have brought me so many amazing memories and funny moments! They are a blast to watch, and I know if you opened your heart and household to a kitten or adult cat, you would get years of unconditional love and laughter! If you do adopt a kitten, here is a great food to get them started on. Too many adult cats also need homes. Please consider adopting an older cat because their chances at survival in a shelter are less than that of kittens. Here is a food you can give to your new adult cat!
It’s a good idea to prepare for the adoption of your new cat:
- Make sure they have a comfortable place to sleep, including a comfy padded box, basket or bed. Cats sleep up to 18 hours per day so it’s important that they have a wonderful place to sleep.
- Get some fun cat toys! You will quickly learn which toys your cat prefers. Ask your veterinarian for specific recommendations if necessary.
- Have the proper amount of litter boxes. Ideally you want to have two litter boxes per cat, in different places in your house. Make sure they are in a quiet, low traffic area so your cat can have privacy. Also, clean the litter on a daily basis. Cats prefer a clean litter box, and you can try different types of litter (clay, clumping litter, etc) until you find something that works best for your cat.
If you are worried about introducing a new shelter cat to your dog at home, here are some fantastic tips on how to make the transition easy and stress-free! There are also ways you can make sure your home is kitten proof, such as:
- Securing any liquids or harmful chemicals they may get into
- Making sure that house plants you have are not toxic to cats
- Securing any hazardous objects that could harm your kitten
- Being aware of accidental traps, such as the toilet and washing machine. Keep toilet seats down and dryer doors closed.
Considering bringing a new cat into your home? Now is the perfect time! Use this tool to find a shelter near you that partners with the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program! The ultimate goal of the program is to help pets find their forever homes. Hill’s believes that when you adopt, you provide a shelter pet with another chance at finding love. When you adopt a new pet from the program, Hill’s also provides a free bag of Science Diet® pet food or a $5 off coupon to the pet parent for each adoption to further ensure a smooth and easy transition for pets to their new home. Click here to learn more about the program and how you can help.
This month, and always, I hope that you consider saving the life of a kitten or adult cat. Can’t adopt right now? Fostering is a great way to help! Every animal is deserving of a loving home, and with the rights tools, I know you can give a cat the best life possible! Choose adoption – you’re saving a life! And happy adopt-a-cat month!
Have you ever rescued or fostered a shelter cat?
Cathy Keisha says
Pawsome post! We’ve all been shelter cats or strays off the street. TW adopted Autumn cos she was “one toe short of the full deck.” She was a pretty calico but TW feared no one would want her because her cage said she’d had a toe amputed. Silly, right? Your Joey is sooooo cute. I can see why you fell for him.
Amanda says
We have a lot of feral cats in our neighborhood. Everyone takes care of them and I’ve tried to take a couple in but they are just so scared. I wish people would give special kitties more of a chance. Joey is extremely loving, cute and fun!
Chelsea Price says
What a great post! Aww, I love Joey – I think unusual differences like that make a pet even more special. I grew up more of a cat lover, though now I love both cats and dogs equally. I had always wanted a cat, but when we tried adopting one a few years ago, we found out that Jared was terribly allergic. I tried to get him to “tough it out”, but he has asthma, and we didn’t want to risk it. So I have to get all my kitty cuddles in at the local shelter!
Amanda says
That’s great that since you can’t have a cat due to Jared’s allergies, you still go love up on them at the shelter! How wonderful. I also grew up more of a cat lover. It wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I fell for dogs!
Seville at Nerissa's Life says
I landed on the peeps’ doorstep a few years back and they invited me right in. It was just a few days before Christmas and I was cold and hungry. They tried to find my previous peeps but to no avail. Then came Christmas and I after that, I wasn’t going anywhere. I had found my new home. MOUSES!
Purrs,
Seville
Amanda says
That’s the best Christmas present ever! How wonderful!