Must-knows when adopting a cat: an expert's opinion

It’s officially the Season of Pet Happiness here at Trusted HQ  - so it’s just like any other day for us, naturally!

To celebrate all things contented purrs and mellow meows, we’re here with Kendall Schulz - Adoptions Services Director of Helen Woodward Animal Center - to explore all things cat adoption.

So, if you’re thinking about adopting a cat any time soon, take a look below as we dive (claws-first) into things to consider before welcoming a feline, cat-proofing your home, and tips on the process of cat adoption.

Things to consider before adopting a cat

So, you’re looking into adopting a cat and you’re wondering what to know before getting a cat. Well, allow me to be the first to congratulate you. While adopting a cat into your family is a big responsibility, it’s also incredibly rewarding and your new feline will provide you and your family years of joy. 

To maximize your kitty’s success in their new home, we’re going to go over a few guidelines and tell you what you need to know before getting a cat.

• Prepare your home. Also known as ‘cat proofing’, you’ll want to make sure your home is ready for your new feline friend.
• Other pets and children. Give them time to get used to their new environment before introducing other pets and children - cats are creatures of habit.
• Litter box success. Most felines will use their litter box instinctively. It’s important you place the litter box in a location that’s quiet and gives your cat privacy, but is also easy for you to access for cleaning (which you’ll need to do often!). 
• Exercise. Play with your cat every day. Physical and mental exercise with proper cat toys satisfies their natural predatory instincts, and prevents boredom and negative behavior.
• Cost of cat care. Your cat will require regular check ups with their veterinarian ($70-100 yearly), and will need to stay up-to-date on their vaccines (between $30-50), and they may require dental work with age. 
• Spaying or neutering. Spaying or neutering your cat is the easiest way to ensure they live longer, have fewer health issues, and have a happier life in general. We at the center recommend it for all felines.

Cat-proofing your home

Before adopting a cat, you need to get your home ready for them. This is called ‘cat-proofing’ in the trade. Here are a few guidelines to ensure your feline is happy and healthy in their new home!

• Don’t leave small objects your cat can choke on laying around. 
• Hide all toxic household items.
• Secure excess lengths of electrical cords so your cat can’t chew on them.
• Provide a variety of scratching posts in rooms around your home.
• Make sure your window screens don't have holes in them and are tightly secured to the frames.
• Make sure all doors are shut securely. Cats can easily push open a door that has been left ajar.
• Keep all toilet lids closed. Kittens can fall in and drown and cats might drink from the toilet and ingest toxic chemicals.
• Never take your cat outside without a carrier.

Cat supplies checklist

Many people who come through our adoption center wonder what supplies they need before adopting a cat. Fortunately, supplies shouldn’t take up much of your cat adoption checklist. Before adopting a cat you should look into getting:

• Food and water bowls (one of each per cat)
• At least one litter box per cat
• Cat litter
• A cat carrier to get them to and from their veterinarian
• At least one scratching post per cat
• Cat toys (my cats growing up always loved wand toys with a little mouse plushie at the end)
• A brush (this is especially important if you have a long-haired cat)

How to adopt a cat: the process

Adopting a cat is a very personal experience that differs for everyone. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how to adopt a cat, there are some broad guidelines that most people who adopt a cat follow.

Find out where to adopt a cat 

We always advise people to visit the shelter local to them or cat rescue center as there are an unbelievable amount of orphan cats looking for a forever home. Helen Woodward Animal Center always has a large roster of loving felines looking for their forever families.

Kitten or adult cat?

Then, you should determine whether you’re looking for a kitten or an adult cat as your new furry family member. 

Kittens are incredibly cute and have their whole lives ahead of them. They’re often an unknown as their personality hasn’t developed yet and they can be guided by their owners. However, this malleability of their personality comes with growing pains, and kittens are often much more work than older cats. 

Most of the time, adult cats will enter your life with their personality fully formed. When you meet an adult cat in the shelter, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into personality-wise. At this point, it’s a good idea to figure out whether you’re compatible! 

Adopting an adult cat also requires less work than adopting a kitten and might be better for a first-time pet owner.

Visit your local shelter or rescue center

Once you’ve figured out if you want a kitten or an adult cat, it’s time to look around your local shelter or rescue. 

A tip I give all of our cat adopters here at Helen Woodward Animal Center is to be on the lookout for a connection before even thinking about your adoption application.

It’s hard to explain, but when you meet the right feline for you, you’ll know. There will be a feeling of connection you won’t get when you look at the other cats in the shelter. Never try to force this connection, because there’s no better connection than a cat you have a genuine connection with.

Once you feel you’ve chosen the right feline for your family, the adoption center you’ve opted for will take you through the process. This will almost always includes an adoption application, as well as potentially verifying employment, residency and in some cases, home visits.

Want a hand with naming your new feline?

Back to us at Trusted HQ! Finding the right moniker for your new feline friend is no mean feat, so explore these unique cat names for some inspiration.