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June Is Purrfect Month To Adopt A Kitten, Cat

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By KRISTEN LEVINE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 5, 2008

Cats are first when it comes to America's favorite pets. We cat lovers are owned by 85 million of them in the United States.

They're playful, intelligent and affectionate, yet their independent nature makes them different from dogs.

Although I'm a certified dog person, I like to proclaim my love and respect for cats each June so that I can remind readers about the hundreds, possibly thousands, of tiggers, tabbies and torties available at animal shelters and rescues.

June is national Adopt-A-Shelter Cat month.

"June is always the busiest month in terms of the number of cats and kittens that arrive at shelters," says Marissa Segundo, public relations manager for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Tampa Bay. "And all they need is a loving home."

Adoption is a great option because fees are reasonable and typically include spaying or neutering, vaccinations, microchip for identification and feline leukemia testing.

Before you head out to pick up your cat, a quick reality check is in order. Consider the commitment your family should be willing to offer this new companion.

Will you mind sharing your home with a roomie who sheds, tracks kitty litter and throws up hairballs? You'll probably welcome an entertainer, but can you live with a cat that doesn't clean up after itself?

Plan For A Lifetime

Cats typically live 12 to 16 years, sometimes longer. Are you able to provide food, shelter, veterinary care and companionship for her whole life? How old will you be in 16 years? How many moves do you anticipate making in that time? If you rent, are you willing to limit your choice of residences to accommodate your cat? What major life changes might you experience - marriage, divorce, children? Will your commitment to kitty endure these changes?

Know this, too: Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives. Statistically, an indoor-outdoor cat may live only four to eight years. If you want to keep your cat inside, think about where you'll keep its litter box and what you'll provide for scratching and entertainment.

Don't forget to factor in finances. A healthy cat will cost approximately $640 a year, according to a study by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That includes food, veterinary care, litter, supplies and toys.

Regardless of these truths, cats are America's most popular pets because they are excellent companions, have a relatively easy care regimen and require only modest living space.

What's your favorite cat type? Arduous, arrogant, sarcastic or silly - their personalities are as varied as their colors and coat patterns.

Choosing Your Feline Friend

Frankly, when it comes to choosing, it's often the cat that does it. Many cat owners admit going to the animal shelter with a mental list of kitty criteria, only to emerge with a cat that meets none of them.

Regardless of whom you decide to take home, it's important to decide whether you want a kitten or adult cat.

"Kittens are fun, but you never know what kind of cat you will get. Adopting an adult cat is a great choice. They know how to use their claws appropriately; you know their personality," points out Segundo.

Additionally, kittens can be rambunctious and will require house training and patience. Kittens also have sharp teeth and claws, and should not be left alone with small children.

Adult cats adapt more easily to the home and are usually litter box-trained. Mature cats are calmer. Their size, temperament and personality are developed, so there are fewer surprises.

If you're not ready to make a long-term commitment, some shelters, including SPCA Tampa Bay, seek foster parents.

"Our foster volunteers care for pets until they are big enough for adoption," Segundo says. "It is a very selfless and rewarding job."

Adopt a Cat-Bay area shelters/rescues

•Cat Call; (813) 657-7078, www.catcall.org

•Friends of Strays; (727) 522-6566, www.friendsofstrays.com

•No More Homeless Pets of Hillsborough County; 813-920-8359, www.nmhp-hc.org

•Hillsborough County Animal Services; (813) 744-5660, www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/

•Humane Society of Pinellas; (727) 797-7722, www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org

•Humane Society Tampa Bay; (813) 876- 7138, www.humanesocietytampa.org

•Petfinder.com

•Pinellas County Animal Services; (727) 682-2600, www.pinellascounty.org/animalservices/

•SPCA Suncoast (West Pasco), (727) 849-1048; www.spcasuncoast.org

•SPCA Tampa Bay; (727) 586-3591, www.spcatampabay.org

•Suncoast Animal League, (727) 786-1330, www.suncoastanimalleauge.net

•Find other adoptable felines by logging into www.tbo.com and enter keyword "pets" to find a comprehensive listing of Bay area animal shelters.

Contact pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; or kristen@ fetchingcommunications.com.

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