Pet Vet: Adopt-A-Cat Month

An unbelievable number of cats end up in shelters every year, including thousands born every spring and summer during ?kitten season.? To help promote adoptions of these fun, affectionate animals, June has been designated Adopt-A-Cat Month.

16 Saturday Morning?s Pet Vet Dr. David Visser has some tips to prepare your home for one of these special pets.

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This month, the focus is on giving cats in shelters a chance at forever homes in our community.

National organizations like American Humane and the ASPCA have promoted Adopt-A-Cat Month since 1975, and last year, it was officially recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives.

A statement that was read into the Congressional record acknowledged that approximately 4 million cats tragically end up in animal shelters every year. The aim of the statement was to increase awareness of the pressing need to adopt homeless cats.

Locally there are several organizations that have animals for adoption, including:

• St. Joseph County Humane Society
  
• Pet Refuge
  
• South Bend Animal Care and Control
  
• Cass County Animal Control
  
• Humane Society of Elkhart County
  
• Pets Connect

Every county typically has animal control services and after picking up stray animals, the caring staff will tend to their wounds and infections and get them cleaned up and comfortable. Then, they will get these loving cats ready for permanent homes in their adoption centers.

If you are adopting a cat or a kitten, it?s important to get your home ready ? especially if you don?t already have a cat at home. You really have to think like a curious kitten or mischievous adult cat to figure out what belongings they may damage, but especially what you have in your home that could harm them.

• Think about the types of houseplants you have ? some, like lilies and philodendron are toxic.
  
• Put household cleaners and other potential poisons in locked cabinets.
  
• Make sure that doors, windows and walls are solid and secure to prevent escape or to keep pets in particular areas of the house.
  
• And, change your habits to think about your new cat?s safety. With a new pet, it?s no longer acceptable to leave the front door open while running down to get the mail; that new cat who is used to running the streets will dart.

There are also some supplies, food and other things you need to get ready before an adoption.

The general rule for litter pans, for instance is to have one pan more than the number of cats that live in the home. For large homes, it?s advisable to have at least one pan per level of the house.

Regarding food and water dishes, have a standard, cleanable location away from the litter pan. Many cats will avoid using a pan that is too close to where they eat.

Many people miss the great opportunity of planning before making the big decision to adopt. You can contact your veterinarian for some pre-adoption advice, and remember to have your new cat examined within three days after an adoption.

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If you want to contact the Pet Vet, Dr. David Visser, you can reach him at the Roseland Animal Hospital by calling 574-272-6100 or at the Center for Animal Health by calling 888-PETS-VETS.

You can also shoot him an email at MichianaPetVet@comcast.net.

Source: http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Pet_Vet_Adopt-A-Cat_Month_123154228.html

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