Finding a cat that connects with you and becomes a new family member is a journey full of anticipation and requires careful consideration. Whether choosing adoption or purchase, thorough preparation and understanding are necessary. This article will detail the precautions for adopting cats and selection tips to help you find a healthy cat suitable for you and smoothly start your happy life together.

Adopting a Cat: A Warm Choice and a Responsible Commitment

Choosing adoption over purchase not only provides a warm home for stray animals but also shows respect and responsibility for life. Every year, a large number of stray cats have no home. Adopting them provides them a chance to survive and helps reduce illegal pet breeding farms. Many shelter and rescue cats have undergone basic health checks, vaccinations, and deworming, and some have even been spayed or neutered, which can save you later medical expenses. Additionally, staff at rescue organizations usually have some understanding of cats' personalities and habits, enabling them to offer professional advice to help you find a cat compatible with your lifestyle.

Of course, adoption may face some challenges. Stray cats might need more time and patience to adapt to a new environment, as they may have experienced mistreatment and need your understanding and care to build trust. Some adult cats may have formed certain habits that require more effort in guidance and training. However, remember that accompanying a cat in overcoming difficulties and reintegrating into a family is a very rewarding process.

What preparations do you need before adopting a cat?

Before welcoming a cat home, a series of preparations are essential, not only for the cat’s health and safety but also to help both you and the cat quickly adapt to your new life.

• Material Preparation:
  • Food and Water: Prepare high-quality cat food and clean drinking water. Kittens and adult cats have different nutritional needs, so select food suitable for their age.
  • Food and Water Bowls: Choose bowls made of safe materials that are easy to clean. It is recommended to place the food and water bowls separately.
  • Litter Box and Litter: Prepare a litter box that is deep enough and appropriately sized, and choose low-dust, highly absorbent litter. Cats are naturally inclined to use the litter box but might need guidance when new to an environment.
  • Scratching Board: Provide a scratching board to satisfy their natural claw-sharpening instinct and protect your furniture from damage.
  • Cat Bed or Comfortable Resting Area: Cats need a safe, comfortable place to rest and sleep.
  • Outdoor Carrier/Cage: This is necessary when taking your cat out (for example, to a vet), providing a sense of security.
  • Toys: Various toys can help cats expend energy, practice hunting skills, and relieve stress.
  • Daily Care Tools: Prepare grooming tools like combs and nail clippers for daily care.
• Environmental Preparation:
  • Create a Safe Space: Cats are naturally curious and love to explore. Ensure the home environment is safe for the cat by securing fragile items and toxic substances and sealing windows and balconies to prevent falls.
  • Set Up Quarantine Area: If there are other pets at home, the new cat should be quarantined for a period to gradually become familiar with each other's scent, avoiding stress reactions and potential conflicts. The quarantine period is usually recommended from one week to one month.
  • Prepare a Quiet Area: A newly arrived cat may feel nervous. Prepare a quiet, relatively enclosed space to provide security.
• Mental and Financial Preparation:
  • Time and Patience: Raising a cat requires investing time and energy to accompany, care for, and train it. Especially for beginners, learning cat care knowledge and coping with potential behavior issues is necessary.
  • Financial Ability: Caring for a cat generates ongoing expenses, including food, litter, treats, toys, vaccines, deworming, and possible medical costs. Ensure you have stable financial capability to afford these expenses.
  • Family Members’ Consent: Before adopting, obtain consent from all family members to ensure everyone can accept and treat the new cat well.
  • Preparing for Future Changes: Consider possible future life changes, such as moving, getting married, or having children, and whether you can continue providing a stable environment for the cat.

Choosing a Cat Suitable for You: Appearance Is Not the Only Standard

Picking a cat is not just about appearance. It is more important to find one that matches your lifestyle and personality.

• Assess the Cat’s Health Status:
  • Observe Mental State: Healthy cats are usually lively and curious about their surroundings. If a cat appears lethargic or has poor appetite, it may have health issues.
  • Check Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth: Eyes should be bright and clear without discharge; ears clean and without odor; nose smooth and moist without runny discharge; mouth fresh with healthy teeth.
  • Check Fur and Skin: Healthy cats typically have smooth, shiny fur without hair loss or skin abnormalities. Watch for signs of fleas or other parasites.
  • Observe Excretion: Healthy cats have normal waste without diarrhea or abnormal odor.
  • Take for Medical Examination: Whether adopting or buying, it is recommended to take the cat to a vet for a comprehensive health check to rule out potential diseases and parasites. This is especially important for stray cats.
• Understand the Cat’s Personality and Behavior:
  • Observe Interaction: Spend time interacting with the cat to note its reactions. Some cats are naturally affectionate and enjoy being close or petted; others might be more independent or shy. Choose a cat matching your desired interaction style.
  • Know Past Experiences: If adopting, try to learn about its previous experiences, such as abuse or abandonment, which can affect personality and behavior.
  • Consider Age: Kittens are lively and require more time and effort for training and care; adult cats are relatively stable and may adapt more easily to family life, with some already trained to use litter boxes. Senior cats may need special care.
  • Consider Compatibility with Other Pets or Children: If you have other pets or children, select a cat with a gentle temperament that can coexist harmoniously.
  • Whether Socialization Training Has Been Provided: Early social experiences are crucial for a cat’s personality formation; ask the adoption agency if the cat has interacted with different people, animals, and environments.
• Choose Appropriate Adoption Channels:
  • Animal Shelters and Rescue Organizations: These are the primary channels for adopting stray cats and usually provide basic medical and behavioral assessments. There are well-known domestic online and offline adoption platforms and organizations, such as PetHome, Lucky Stray Cats, and Pet Support Adoption Center.
  • Individual Rehoming: Some cats are rehomed individually for various reasons, requiring careful understanding of the reasons and the cat’s condition.
  • Avoid Unknown Sources: Avoid obtaining cats from unqualified or uncertain sources as it may pose health and safety risks.

Bringing Your Cat Home: Patience and Love Are the Best Adaptation Aids

Once everything is ready and you bring your desired cat home, this is just the beginning of a new life. Cats need time to adapt to new surroundings; your patience and love are key to helping them through this period.

• Progress Gradually: Newly arrived cats may hide. Do not force them out; give them time and space to explore and adapt.
• Maintain Stability: Keep the home environment stable during the cat’s adjustment period and avoid sudden changes.
• Build Trust: Establish trust through gentle petting, soft talking, and offering food. Avoid frequent picking up or disturbing at first.
• Guide Use of Litter Box and Scratching Board: Help the cat find the litter box and scratching board locations and encourage their use.
• Pay Attention to Diet: Cats may refuse food initially due to stress; provide boiled water and familiar cat food, and they will eat naturally once adapted.
• Monitor Health: Closely watch the cat’s eating, elimination, and mental condition. Seek veterinary care if abnormalities appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Adoption Cost Money?
  Adoption usually requires paying a fee that mainly covers medical care, spaying/neutering, vaccinations, and other expenses incurred by rescue organizations, rather than the cat’s price. Compared to buying a purebred cat, adoption fees are generally much lower and can sometimes be free; the priority is the adopter’s ability to provide a good living environment.
• Is It Better to Adopt an Adult Cat or a Kitten?
  Kittens are lively and cute but need more time and energy for training and care. Adult cats have relatively stable personalities, may adapt more easily to a new home, and some have already learned basic skills like using the litter box. Choosing depends on your available time, energy, and preference for the cat’s personality.
• How to Determine if a Cat Is Healthy?
  You can make an initial judgment by observing the cat’s mental state, eyes, ears, nose, fur, and excrement. The most reliable method is to take the cat for a comprehensive health check at a veterinary hospital.
• What to Do if the Cat Urinates Inappropriately?
  Inappropriate urination may be caused by various reasons, including health problems, stress, litter box issues, or behavioral problems. It is recommended first to rule out health issues, then check if the litter box is clean and comfortable, analyze potential stress factors, and seek help from a professional pet behaviorist.
• Is It Suitable to Keep Cats with Small Children at Home?
  If there are children at home, choose a cat with a gentle temperament that can get along well with kids, and educate the children on how to interact properly with cats. Also, ensure the cat has its own safe space to retreat to when needed.

Summary

Looking for a pet cat, whether through adoption or purchase, is a decision that requires serious consideration. Fully understand the meaning and process of adoption, prepare adequately in terms of material, environment, and mental readiness, learn to select a healthy cat suited to your lifestyle, and provide sufficient patience and care after the cat comes home to ensure a happy and fulfilling life for both you and your cat. Choosing adoption over purchase offers a warm home for homeless cats and is a very meaningful choice.

References:
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Where to Adopt Stray Cats? From Selection to Care, A Complete Guide for Beginners!
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