Cat Adoption: Kittens, Shelters And Cat Rescues

Each year, millions of homeless cats are taken into shelters in the U.S. Irresponsible breeding and pet handling has led to the serious problem of overpopulation. As a result, too many cats are either starving on the streets or being kept in cramped shelters. A large number of them will be put to death before they experience the joy of a warm, loving home.

For animal lovers, there is an easy way to help alleviate this problem: cat adoption from a shelter or animal rescue. Cat adoption creates more room at a shelter for other strays, so bringing home a single cat will help others as well. Even for the potential owner, there are advantages to adopting from a shelter or rescue over buying from a pet shop. For one thing, the cost of cat adoption is usually much lower. Another is that cat adoption organizations can assist in selecting the right pet based on compatibility with the prospective owner. Cats do not wind up in animal shelters because they are unfit for living with humans; they end up there because there are too many of them. There are numerous cats that would make fine, loving pets if only someone would give them a chance.

Although both shelters and animal rescues shoulder the responsibility of taking in stray cats, they are not the same thing. Animal shelters provide a temporary place for stray cats, unwanted cats, or those given up by owners who could no longer take care of them. There are around 5,000 shelters in the U.S., which keep between eight and 10 million cats and dogs per year. The problem with shelters is that they don't have enough space and resources to care for all the homeless cats. Many shelters have no choice but to euthanize a portion of their animals to create more space. While there are shelters that refuse to kill pets, they have room for fewer homeless cats and kittens than the others.

Rescues differ from shelters mainly in that they do not keep unwanted cats in a single building. Instead, the cats are kept at foster homes until they find permanent owners. Rather than being kept locked up in poor conditions, these cats and kittens are given a loving environment with plenty of interaction with human beings. For those who are considering cat adoption, rescues usually grant the option of returning a pet that turns out to be incompatible with the owner. Unfortunately, since cat rescues depend on individuals willing to contribute to foster care, they have even less room for unwanted cats than animal shelters.

Cat adoption from an animal shelter or rescue is a great choice for the cat and owner alike. Shelters and rescues hold a diverse range of cat types, so there is bound to be something for everyone. While those looking for purebreds can easily find one at a shelter or rescue, a greater percentage of the cats at shelters are mixed breeds. Such cats are far less likely to suffer from genetic disorders caused by irresponsible breeding, which makes for a stronger, healthier pet. Any cat adopted from a shelter - regardless of the breed or kind - will likely make a happy and grateful pet.


Sources:
Salk, Pia. "Rescuers, and Humane Society & Animal Shelter Volunteers: The Unsung Heroes of Dog Rescue and Cat Rescue!" 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com. 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com, 2004. 22 Jan. 2008.
http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/

"Feline Rescue Groups." Pet Place. Intelligent Content Corp., 1999-2008. 22 Jan. 2008. http://www.petplace.com/cats/feline-rescue-groups/ page1.aspx

"Why Do We Need Shelters?" Pet Place. Intelligent Content Corp., 1999-2008. 22 Jan. 2008. http://www.petplace.com/cats/why-do-we-need-shelte rs-2/page1.aspx