Adopt a Cat in June

In general, animal shelters and other agencies do a great job of taking care of cats (and dogs) and “marketing” them for adoption. That’s especially true in Delaware County, where Providence Animal Center and Cat Nook Café in Norwood, among others, offer cats of all sizes, ages, and colors.

So, why should you adopt a shelter cat?

• You are literally saving a cat’s life! Somehow it ended up in a shelter. Maybe it was born a stray. Perhaps it was rescued from a cruel situation. Often, people surrender pets because they must move, and their new place does not allow animals. And then there are the sad cases where the pet’s owner dies, and it has nowhere to go.

• The variety of cats available is impressive. Who does not love a kitten, for example? And it should be noted that we are nearing the height of kitten season, so there is no shortage of furry bundles of joy.

• But there are plenty of adult cats that need a home, too, and these sometimes are harder to adopt – yet cats from ages 1 to 7 are nearly as playful and healthy as kittens.

Then there are the true special cases.

Often, you find cats with medical needs (not necessarily life-threatening, but they may need medicine or a certain environment) and senior cats. Adopting a cat in its sunset years certainly is not for everyone, but anyone who has lost a beloved, aged cat can tell you of the bonds formed in those final years. And plenty of cats 10, 12, even 15 years old are still largely healthy and have plenty of love to give.

The pandemic may be ending, but it has created additional challenges for shelters that may be struggling with funding and supplies, not to mention limited foot traffic.

If you are thinking of adopting a cat, there is no time like the present!

AG