June is Adopt a Cat Month!
The following is a guest post from Susan Daffron.
Thank you for letting me write a guest post for your blog!
My name is Susan Daffron and I’m the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals (http://www.naprp.com) and the author of books on caring for adopted dogs (Happy Hound - http://www.HappyHoundBook.com) and adopted cats (Happy Tabby - http://www.HappyTabbyBook.com).
June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, which is sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and with good reason! During the spring and summer, animal shelters are overflowing with cats and kittens. Although cats are the most popular pets in the US, most shelters still struggle with low adoption rates and dismal return-to-owner statistics when it comes to cats. Take a quick trip around the PetFinder.com Web site and you’ll see that many, many beautiful, friendly cats are waiting for good homes.
The good news is that many households have more than one cat. (I’m not the only “cat lady” out there with more than one feline!) As one who shares her life with two cats, I can attest that cats make great roommates. Unlike my dogs, my cats are generally quite self-amused. They are perfectly content living in my house.
My cats are adults, so they sleep a fair amount these days, but an often-under appreciated characteristic of cats is that they can be extremely funny. Our cats are endlessly amusing. At our house the all-feline team tends to be particularly active in the morning while we’re doing dishes. We call it the “kitty floor show.” The two cats chase each other all over the house, have a big conversation, possibly pound on each other a bit, and then pass out.
Because cats are fairly “low-maintenance,” they can be great pets for people who live in apartments and are away from home all day at work. While you’re working, the cats are probably sleeping. But after work, you get to have a furry face welcoming you back to your home. Of course, when you adopt a cat, you do have to invest time and money to take care of your kitty properly. Plus, you need to commit to caring for your cat for potentially the next 20 years. (One of my cats is 15 and still going strong!)
If you decide to add a new feline to your home, now is a good time to do it. In honor of Adopt a Shelter Cat month, many humane and rescue organizations are running special promotions. Because cats are often happier if they share their household with a feline friend, shelters and rescues sometimes do a 2-for-1 deal on cats adopted at the same time. Some groups also offer special prices for senior citizens because of the health benefits of owning a cat. According to the Humane Society of the United States, owning a pet can benefit both our emotional and physical health. Cats can alleviate loneliness and depression, particularly among the elderly. Studies also have shown that owning a pet can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
When you adopt a cat from an animal shelter, humane society or rescue group, your adoption fee almost always covers spaying and neutering costs, vaccinations, and even a microchip or ID tag. So head to your nearest shelter and save a life by adopting a cat!
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