How to Go About Adopting a Cat
The Wonders of Cats
So, you’ve been binging on cat videos lately. You’ve been on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok; binging video after video of cute cat content, and you think, “Wow! I really want a cat!”
Now, getting a cat is easy. Trivial, even. It has been estimated that there are over six hundred million cats spread around the world (too little, if you ask me!), with millions of people having their entire job dedicated to the provision of cats and ensuring they get a nice, warm, home. Your home!
However, the difficulty of adopting a cat comes not from a lack of choice, but ironically an abundance of choice.
The Pet Store
One obvious method of giving a cat a home is through a pet store or a breeder. It is exceedingly easy to find a pet store. You look inside and all the cats are bred with deliberacy, to minute detail, with nothing but Instagrammable qualities in mind. The cats found in pet stores have lived their entire life being cared for and pampered by humans. Selective breeding has enhanced the most “desirable” qualities in them, giving these cats squished faces (akin to bulldogs), long coats, tiny legs… qualities that are not natural to cats and can cause serious health issues. Ten percent of households in the US adopt their cats from a breeder or pet store. (alleycat.org)
Buying from a pet store is not humane, and illogical. By buying from a pet store, one less cat in a shelter or on the street finds a “furever” home. Animal shelters are non-profit organizations that have limited space, that unfortunately are forced to euthanize animals when they run out of space. By buying from a pet store, you are promoting the industry which encourages the metastasizing of unnatural and unhealthy cat breeds. Cats are wonderful creatures in that they exist the same way they did ten thousand years ago.
Besides, another disadvantage of getting a cat from the pet store is the lack of love it provides. A cat from a pet store has known no hardships. They are pampered and are given food. They do not know how to survive in the wild, will be extra annoying begging for food and will not give the same amount of love a stray cat would.
The Street Cat
The Street Cat is a fascinating creature, one which comes in a cornucopia of types and colors. There are the “restaurant cats”, (in certain countries) that use their charisma, cute looks and incessant meowing to coax a rib or two from a cat-loving customer. There are the “alley cats”: typically friendly, but occasionally feral, destroying vermin for sustenance, battling other cats in the name of romance and glory, sometimes relying on the charity of a warm-hearted human appreciative of a cat’s inherent pest control qualities for food. You also have what I’d call the “kitchen leechers”, a subset of “restaurant cats” timid of humans they are unfamiliar with (different from normal restaurant cats who are unafraid of any human), living off vast quantities of free food from chefs who ensure their leftovers don’t go to waste.
These types of cats may have lived their entire life on the streets, or were once pets but then abandoned: strays. There is an important distinction to make between a stray cat and a feral one; a stray cat once had an owner or is familiar with humans, while a feral cat is a cat that has had no contact with humans. A “wildcat” is an entirely different genus under felis catus.
All street cats offer love, cuteness, and companionship. It is exceedingly easy to adopt one, too; just carry an obliging cat back home. There won’t be any paperwork or documents that need to be signed; you are not adopting a human. And it’s free.
However, there are some things that must be kept in mind. First of all, for obvious reasons, you must ensure the street cat really is astray, and that it has no owner, or otherwise no human who would be distressed upon its disappearance. Second of all, although it is not absolutely necessary, it’s important to ensure that the cat has been checked for fleas, ticks and diseases. A visit to a vet is important; cats are wild animals, after all. Thirdly, stray cats are likely not litter trained, though cats instinctively prefer the litter box to the couch. Last but not least, any aspiring cat owner should think of whether they want their cat to be neutered. A neuter clamps down on things you wouldn’t want your cat to do, like peeing on the furniture (they still will, but less), roaming around looking for fights, and yowling at 3AM in the morning when mating season comes about. All in all, these extra costs do not amount to much and you’ll end up with a loving, extremely grateful feline companion.
The Shelter Cat.
Last but not least, is the shelter cat. Shelter cats are found in, well, shelters. Shelter cats come from a variety of different backgrounds. Some are brought in from abusive backgrounds. Some are surrendered by their owners when they are unable to keep a cat or do not want to keep a cat anymore. Many shelter cats were found on streets where residents found them exhibiting annoying behavior. Whatever the case, shelter cats are the premier option when it comes to choosing to adopt a cat.
Getting a cat from an animal shelter is easy, cheap, and fast. A typical adoption fee in Malaysia costs no more than RM250; and that is inclusive of vaccinations, deworming, neutering, etc. Getting a cat through an animal shelter is also like shopping. You get a plethora of options and have as much time as you want to choose. Besides, shelter cats are litter trained and should be familiar with a home environment.
Animal shelters, though being benevolent organizations, are also non-profit organizations, and most of their income comes from charitable donations. Animal shelters have limited capacities and cannot hold animals for long periods of time. Typically, if an animal is not adopted for an extended period, they are euthanized. Often, the victims are undesirable cats. Cats with injuries, old cats, cats of specific colors (predominantly black cats). These cats are the most in danger of being left out, and these cats also tend to be the most loving and grateful of them all.
Conclusion
Welcoming a cat into your household — whether your household is a family of four or a university student living alone — is an undertaking, one that must be taken seriously. You must understand the trials and tribulations of owning a cat, and there can be no turning back once you do so — but the advantage of cats is that cats are incredibly low-maintenance animals. On average, American cat owners spend 100$ a year on their cats, whereas dog owners spend an average of 400$. Cats do not need to be taken out for walks or be given attention 24/7. In that sense, cats are wonderful creatures, fiercely independent, yet wonderfully loving.
By: Vittorio Wang
