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VET TIPS FROM DR. KUMAR
Adopting a Cat: Owner’s Guide to America’s Most Popular Companion
Sudesh Kumar DVM, MS, PhD, Durham Veterinary Hospital
Do you know that cats are America’s number 1 companion pets outnumbering dogs by some 15 million? This article tells you what’s important for your cat’s care and how you can provide a healthy life style to your cat companion.
Why Buy if You Can Adopt
Vast majority of pet owners consider pets to be members of their families. With proper veterinary care and good nutrition the cats are living longer and healthier lives than before. As the popularity of cats increases so does their unfortunate abandonment. As a result of the economic downturn, some cats end up being disposed by their owners on the streets. The shelters are overpopulated with cats especially during spring and summer kitten season. According to American Association of Feline Practitioners, only one in five shelter cats will ever find a home. Therefore, adopting a cat from an animal shelter is a wonderful idea.
Owners can choose from a variety of colors, shapes and sizes of cats. More active cats can be good for families with children while a more peaceful cat may be perfect for an older person. If you don’t have the time and energy to take care of a super energetic kitten, you can have the option of adopting a quieter mature adult or a middle aged cat. Adopting more than one cat is a better idea because owners report less behavior problems in their cat companions if they have two or more cats in the household. Moreover, two cats can provide each other company when the owners are not at home. Shelters provide the option of adopting littermates that can flourish better as they grow together.
Before You Take It Home
If you already have a cat and you are considering adopting a new one, make sure you do not introduce the newcomer until it has been examined by a veterinarian and checked for deadly infectious diseases like feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses, ear mites, intestinal parasites and fungal infections.
Spay/Neuter
Kittens can become pregnant as early as 4-5 months of age and each cat can have two litters a year. So you can imagine that cats can breed like rabbits. Spaying or neutering a cat before maturity prevents not only over population but also takes care of uterine infections and mammary cancers.
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Many owners want their cats to enjoy the outdoors since the common perception is that cats are curious explorers and should be allowed to experience more interesting things outside the home. Some times we also overestimate their intelligence in avoiding dangers outdoors. Depending on where you live cats are exposed to a variety of dangerous situations outdoors including the possibility of being hit by a car, being attacked by predators like coyotes, fisher cats, birds of pray, dogs and unvaccinated stray cats. Once outside, the cats can lick antifreeze, chew poisonous plats, walk through pesticide treated lawns and lick their feet while grooming. Even though keeping cats indoors is the safest option, you can let them out in your fenced in yard under supervision, walk them on a leash or a harness like a dog. A number of toys and accessories are available to keep cats actively engaged and have fun indoors. Simply go to the toy section of pet store and you can find all sorts of wonderful cat toys. Take the time to stimulate the play for pray instinct of your cat by dangling a rope with a furry hairy tail, a laser pointer or simply rolling a ping pong ball. Avoid dangling your fingers as your cat might pounce on it and inadvertently hurt you.
Get Your Cat Identification
Break away collars with ID and microchips are a must for all the cats as they are for all dogs. The chances of finding a lost cat are remote in the absence of proper identification. According to American Humane Association, only about 2 per cent cats will find their way back home once they are lost. Make sure you register your cat with the microchip provider so that the cat can be traced back to you if someone finds it.
Go ahead and find yourself a lovely “purr baby”! Go to your local shelter and spoil your self with two instead of one cat gifts at no or minimal donation. Remember, your friends at Help Willy’s Friends and Durham Veterinary Hospital are working hard to help save those cats and save you some money.
In our next newsletter we will discuss cat nutrition, preventative veterinary care and treatment of cats.
Resources and References
American Association of Feline Practitioners
American Animal Hospital Association
Catalyst Council
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