We can’t imagine life without a cat around the home. We know people say that they’re not affectionate or loving, but we have no idea where they get those ideas from. They’ve clearly never experienced the joy of having a cat jump straight into their lap after a difficult day at work or the adorable way they sit with you and nuzzle you every time you’re ill. Cats definitely care about their owners, and they’re wonderful company. The fact that they’re cute and funny is just a bonus!
Cats are among the world’s most popular pets, and there are many ways you could acquire one. Some cats adopt a human owner of their own by running through the front door one day and refusing to leave. Others come to you from a litter of kittens provided by the pet cat of a friend or family member. It’s also possible to buy cats, which is often the only way to get hold of some of the rarer breeds.
While we don’t have a particular problem with any of those methods, today we want to advocate cat shelters and the reasons why you should consider adopting a rescue cat. These are the kittens and cats that have been left behind by other people, and they deserve a second chance. Cats are sometimes the victims of their own cuteness. We see them in pictures on the internet, or in the reels of online slots like ‘OMG Kittens,’ and we want one of our own. Three months down the line, when they still want food and attention every day, the novelty wears off for some people. You can walk away from an online slots game when you’ve had enough, and apparently, some people think it’s fine to walk away from a cat the same way. We feel sorry for those people – they might win money playing that slots, but it’s never going to love them like a pet cat will!
If our emotional appeal hasn’t convinced you to visit your local shelter to adopt a cat, perhaps these great reasons will.
You’re Literally Saving Lives
Unfortunately, not all cat shelters can keep hold of cats forever. There are always new cats in need of rescue, and space is finite. Euthanasia is carried out less now at shelters than it has been in the past, but it still goes on. When you see a cat in a shelter, you might be the last chance that cat has at a long and happy life. Nobody else might give it a second look. You’re actually saving a cat’s life in more ways than one – by freeing up space in the shelter without a cat being euthanized, you’re reducing the demand on that shelter and giving the next cat longer to find a new loving home. Wouldn’t that be a great feeling?
You Won’t Get Any Nasty Surprises
You’re not the first person who’s ever cared for your rescue cat. Even if nothing is known about its previous owners, the staff at the rescue center have been looking after it until you came along. That means they know its personality, and they know its quirks! Some cats are great with children, and others hate them. Some cats love being cuddled, whereas others hate being picked up. All of this information is good to know before inviting a furry friend into your home!
You’ll Save Money
As we covered earlier on, buying a ‘pure breed’ cat is expensive. Even buying a cat from a pet store can be expensive. Getting a cat from a shelter typically attracts a lower fee. In some cases, it doesn’t attract any fees at all – the rescue center is happy for you to take them away free of charge! They’ll also have done most of the other bill-attracting things for you. Most rescue shelters neuter or spay the cats they re-home, and might even have had them microchipped or vaccinated for you. We don’t want to sell ‘good economy’ as the chief reason to get a rescue cat, but it certainly helps your bank balance to do things this way.
There’s More To Choose From
A cat breeder will specialize in one or two ‘types’ of cat at most. Even pet stores generally only choose to sell the most popular or attractive types of cat. Cats don’t choose to end up at rescue centers and nor do rescue centers turn cats away so long as they have room, so the cats you’ll find there will come from all walks of feline life. You’ll find young cats, old cats, cats of every color, short-haired cats, long-haired cats, and everything in between. It’s like visiting a cat superstore. The items on the shelves aren’t desperate for you to pick them up and take them home with you, though – rescue cats are!
Cats Are Great For Your Mental Health
OK, we admit it; this could be listed as a benefit for adopting a cat from anywhere – but somehow, we feel like it counts more when we’re talking about a rescue cat. You’ve done so much to improve a cat’s life by rescuing it, so allow it to make your life a little better, too! There’s plenty of scientific evidence to demonstrate that cats are good for the mental health of human beings, but anybody who’s ever owned a cat doesn’t need to see that evidence. They already know that it’s true through experience! There is such a thing as a specialized ‘therapy cat,’ but the truth is that all cats can be therapy cats. Stroking a cat alleviates feelings of anxiety and stress, and frankly, with the way the modern world is, who doesn’t need a little furry ball of stress relief in their life?
Cats are intelligent creatures. They know when someone’s cruel to them, and they know when someone’s being kind. Don’t doubt for a second that a cat appreciates it when you take them from a shelter into a warm home and then feed them, play with them, and care for them. They’re the best of all pets, and none of them deserve to be left in shelters. Don’t let them stay there for any longer than they need to be. If you want a pet cat, get it from a rescue shelter!
Want another cat but wondered “are tabby ctas loving“?
Leave a Reply