Adopted a kitty today - and not a kitten, a full grown cat. We named her Honey Pot.
My son is working at our local animal shelter as a volunteer (though it is not voluntary, yet. He is doing community service for carrying tobacco products to school, but plans to continue to work there as a volunteer after his service hours are complete) and he works with the cats.
The people who work at the shelter told me that they adopt out every single one of the kittens, but very few people take the adult cats. These cats end up living their entire lives in what should be a temporary holding cage - but it is usually their home until they pass on. These cages are small... and any idiot can see how badly the residents of these cages crave human love and affection. Please, adopt an *adult* cat. $40 adoption fee (at our shelter; that fee may be larger or smaller at the one near you) and the pet is spayed/neutered, vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms. Kittens are cute, yes, but they aren't the only ones that need and want to feel love.
Do me this favor. If you are looking for a pet and love cats, please visit your local Animal Shelter and adopt. There are tons of beautiful animals just aching for a home and someone to love. Don't leave them to die alone in a cage simply because they grew up before you found them.Peace & Love (please share some)
~Effie
What a wonderful post, dear. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kara. It's sad to think so many cats get left behind just because they aren't little anymore. It breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. We actually adopted our cat, Olivia. She is one of the fattest, nicest cats in the world. We couldn't be happier with the cat. And I used to hate cats as a kid. I agree - adopt one.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to see someone of a like mind raising awareness of something I try to preach about every day. I'm a huge proponent of adopting from animal shelters, the older the better. I have three rescue cats now and they are all wonderful, amazing companions.
ReplyDeleteI adopted my first rescue cat, Whisper, two years ago, when she was eight years old. Unfortunately she's of a very skittish disposition due to coming from an unkind home and didn't get along with our resident seven year old cat (who passed on shortly after we adopted Whisper, bless her heart), so we opted to adopt two kittens when we inevitably decided to get more as not to distress her more than was necessary.
With my whole heart I wish that more people with the money, space and love to give would adopt from shelters, and especially welcome older cats into their home. Often they make the most loving, compassionate and loyal pets of all.
I'm so glad to hear you adopted an older cat, and hope she's settling in well :) Also it's wonderful to hear that your son plans on continuing his volunteer work at the shelter; they always need more helping hands.
Thank you Arkadia! Yes, my son loves working at the shelter. He thought at first he'd hate it, but he really enjoys it. And I'm very proud of him.
ReplyDeleteThank you too for adopting adult cats. They are so sweet, and yes some need more patience and gentleness from their human caregivers, but it's worth it.
Honey Pot is settling in nicely... she seems very happy. She patrols the beds at night, taking time to sleep with each of my kids and then me and the spousal unit. She doesn't like it when people walk past her while she's on the floor and hides when someone does, but that may pass. Even if not, she can hide anytime she wants. If it makes her feel secure, why not?
I'm so glad to hear she's settling in well and seems to be so loving! I adore kitties who make a conscious effort to spend time with each member of the household, it's incredibly cute. We've had our adopted 9 year old kitty for a year and a half now and she's still very skittish around strangers and will dart behind cover if anyone but my partner and myself gets too close, but she's come leaps and bounds since we first got her.
ReplyDeleteI hope everything is well for you :)