You should take the time to visit several shelters before you decide on the cat you want to bring home to your family. Your first visit should be to check out the centre itself. You want to adopt a cat from a place that is clean and ran in an efficient way. You can tell by just observing whether the place is well kept and if the staff seems to enjoy working with the animals.
Once you have decided which shelter you are going to use to adopt your new pet the next step is to find out about their adoption process. You will be able to find out what type of information is needed from you, such as information on existing pets in the home. You should ask about cost at this time so you know what to expect when you find the right cat or kitten.
The RSPCA and most welfare organisations will ask for a donation of a specific amount. This helps them to be able to provide care and any type of veterinary treatments needed, including vaccinations and neutering. The cost is usually minimal considering the prices of purchasing a cat from a breeder.
Adult cats are usually already littered trained and adapt will to a new home. They seem to be more laid back and affectionate. If you are considering a kitten just remember that they will need more time to become litter box trained and have to be fed more often. When they are real young they need constant supervision until they know what their limitations and boundaries are.
Make sure you talk to the people at the shelter and find out as much as you can about the cat or kitten that you are interested in. They should be able to tell you why or how the cat came to be at the rescue centre. You want to know as much as possible because some cats landed there due to people moving or having a baby. On the other hand some ended up in the shelter because of behavioral problems.
When you are choosing a cat or kitten make sure you pick one that is active and seeks affection from people. An adult cat should be comfortable with handling and petting without hissing or scratching. Kittens should be relaxed when picked up and handled and most of them will start purring. Ask the staff at the centre about anything they have observed about the cat’s personality and take that into consideration also.
When you are choosing the shelter cat that is best for your family make sure to look at them closely. A healthy cat or kitten has clear bright eyes and a shiny coat. They shouldn’t be real skinny or show any signs of illness such as a runny nose or diarrhea. Be on the look out to see if the cat is scratching constantly or if it is missing any hair around the ears or on the legs. This can be a sign of ear mites or fleas.
After you have made the decision on which cat or kitten that you want to adopt you will then arrange for the adoption to take place. This could take several days depending on whether a home inspection is involved. While you are waiting to pick up the newest member of your family you can make sure you have everything needed for your new cat or kitten. This would include a bed, food and plenty of toys.
Once you bring home your cat or kitten make sure you give them plenty of space and time to get use to their new surroundings. Cats adapt quickly and easily to new environments. In no time at your new cat will fit right in with the rest of your family.
Today, pet insurance is readily available and is like having health insurance on yourself; it is there when you need it for those unexpected large health-related bills. By having this kind of insurance you can ensure that your cat will get the best treatment if they are ever injured or seriously ill. They don’t have to be kittens to be eligible. Any cat no matter their age can be covered with pet insurance; as long as you keep the premiums up they will be covered for their lifetime.
Karen Corey
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-on-choosing-a-rescue-cat-694778.html
#1 by Jayne on June 6, 2010 - 4:00 pm
Looking for a new Rescue dog after the holidays, any tips?
My Fiance is looking to adopt a dog after the Holidays towards the end of January. While I won’t be with him in the dog for about a year full time, I am being included in the picking and adoption process. I was wondering if any of the experienced adopters have any tips for adding another dog into the mix.
Here is what we have:
He has 2 Cats and a dog.
The dog he has is around a year old, house broken, and is a Medium Boxer/sight hound mix. She is SUPER people, cat, kid, and dog friendly and is higher energy (which may drop slightly after her spaying)
He is able to give 2 long walks a day, or a free run in a securely fenced field.
I also have a Dachshund, who travels with me and a cat who keeps to herself.
We are looking for a Medium to extra large mix (or purebred), and would like something shaggy (though we won’t choose a dog based just on that), we also what a dog that is between 1 and 3 years old.
Any suggestions on what we should look for when we start our search, and what breeds you feel fit us well. He/we both also travel a fair amount, and love to camp and spend time outdoors.
Any help would be great!
I would LOVE a Shepherd or Shepherd Mix as well, but unfortunately that would create a problem as my mother is TERRIFIED of them due to a horrible childhood experience, and I don’t think she would EVER let us bring it home. So that makes me sad. We could get away with a mix of a shepherd that didn’t look overly Shepherdy. Which is sad, that because of my mothers fear we have to eliminate a common mix.
Good point on being cat tested (Danes and Pits).
Our Current Rescue (boxer mix) is not a dominant dog in any way, but your tips were good. We will take those into account. The 3 cats could care less about the dogs, and one will even play with both the boxer and dachsie. They aren’t fazed by much. One of them is a rescue that we brought back from late stage Hepatic lipidosis.
#2 by kensingtonboi on June 6, 2010 - 9:02 pm
Sounds like you have put much thought into what your initial requirements are. I would take along your current dogs and help them pick out their new adopted brother / sister. Good for you for giving a baby a new chance at life! Good luck.
References :
#3 by Evan P on June 6, 2010 - 9:04 pm
I recommend Golden retriever, or a german shepherd. Both good dogs!! Very loyal!!! I love them!!!!!
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#4 by jointwohearts on June 6, 2010 - 9:06 pm
If you can, adopt a pet from a soldier.
A lot of our guys are going to Iraq/Afghanistan and are having to leave their animals with someone or having to give them up.
You can adopt, or even foster until a soldier gets home.
We are fostering a 3 year old kitty for a family member who is going to serve for a year.
Suggested dogs: German Shepherd (I own one. GREAT dogs!), Golden Retriever (great with kids.), German Shorthair Pointer. Bloodhound. Black-Chocolate-White-Blue Lab. (Check out the Silver Labs. Just look at their picture..they are expensive, but are to DIE for! Totally ADORABLE!!)
You can find any type of Rescue agency around you if you google it!
Good luck!
Happy Holidays!
References :
=]! Personal exp!
http://www.silverlabs.com/images/puppynew.png
Awww!!
#5 by Danes & Pits on June 6, 2010 - 9:08 pm
It’s good that you have thought about this and are working together to find a good match for your home that is the biggest battle.
I suggest that you contact a few rescues in your area (either mixed breed or purebreed rescues are in all locations) and ask if they have opportunities for you to have meet and greets with their dogs. That way you can take your current dogs with you and they can help you decide what kind of dogs they would like around. Even though your doxi is with you most of the time, you want it to be comfortable and happy when it does come home.
I would suggest that if your boxer mix is the dog that will interact with your new rescue the most that you should consider getting a dog of the opposite sex, (a male, since I think you mentioned your boxer was a female) and you might also want to get one that is younger than she is. You’ll have less chance of dominance issues with dogs of opposite sexes and females tend to accept dogs that are younger than them easier than older females. I don’t know why, but I assume it’s also related to territory or mother instincts.
You also want to ask the person that you’re getting them from if the dog has been tested around cats. Unless your cat is very dog-savvy you want to make sure the new rescue won’t try to kill her. Chase her is one thing, if she’s dog-savvy enough, she’ll stand her ground or at least make the dog come to an understanding as lons as the dog isn’t a cat killer.
THANKS for considering adopting a rescue…..They will show their gratitude everyday to you for saving their life. It sounds like any dog would be happy with you and if you lived in my area…..I’d love to help you find a forever companion.
References :
#6 by Sara P on June 6, 2010 - 9:10 pm
Maybe a Brittany or Springer Spaniel (or a mix, of course). Smart, lovable, somewhat high energy dogs. Also possibly a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd–they’re generally higher energy than the spaniels (also generally smarter), but they may have a tendency to try to "herd" the cats or other animals (especially if they’re purebred).
Here’s a fun website where you answer questions and it recommends breeds that best match your preferences: http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do
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#7 by K9trainer on June 6, 2010 - 9:12 pm
You need to make sure the new dog will get along well with your fiance’s current dog and also yours. The best bet is a dog that is 2 – 4 years older or younger than the other 2 and opposite sex (you don’t say what sex your dacs is), that is (obviously!) dog friendly and, if an adult, has lived with other dogs before. If you can i would strongly suggest taking the existing two dogs into the shelter to meet with any potential adoptees and give them at least one half hour visit with the dog to make sure there are no major initial problems.
You also need to be sure the new dog is cat friendly or at least cat tolerant. Again, the best idea is to see the dog around cats to ascertain whether it wants to chase or eat them! If your cats aren’t super social then i would see if you can test this with cats already at the shelter.
It sounds like your fiance is ready to give a fair amount of exercise which is great. You don’t say how much training/mental stimulation the dog will get. This is important to take into consideration as some breeds need more of this than others.
Be aware that a longer haired dog will need more grooming, and depending on the type of coat may also require regular clipping. If you are planning to do a lot of camping/outdoor stuff then you may find the longer hair gets dirty/full of burrs quite quickly.
It sounds like a dog who is quite adaptable and social would best suit you, as you seem active people. A fearful, nervous dog is unlikely to cope well with a busy lifestyle or lots of other pets.
It is more important, especially if you are adopting, that you take time to know the dog rather than aiming for specific breeds. I would definitely speak to the shelter staff as they will know the dog better than anyone. Also, be sure to take everyone who will be living with the new dog with you to meet it, especially any kids. Spend as much time as possible getting to know the dog first before making a decision.
Also, keep in mind that it will be a big adjustment for everyone when you move in with your fiance, including both his and your pets. To make the transition as easy as possible it would be great if the dogs could get to know each other before the big move. It would also make it easier for your cat if it can have a room to itself for the first week or so when it moves in, this way the other animals can get used to its smell and it can settle before it has to deal with all the other pets!
Good luck with your choice, and good on you for adopting.
References :
Worked in behaviour, training and adoptions at a shelter for almost 4 years.
#8 by Hannah W on June 6, 2010 - 9:14 pm
go to kijijij.com there you can post a comment for a dog its easy its where got mine
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#9 by Dogtrainer22 on June 6, 2010 - 9:16 pm
Based on your fiance’s dog, I’d stay away from cattle dog and maybe even shepherds in general – NOT because they are bad dogs- they are great dogs, but because they tend to be high strung and have a definite space that boxer-types ignore. That’s recipe for unecessary conflict. Any of the retrievers, or another boxer type (if you think you and your doxi can handle it) possibly a well-socialized pitbull mix.
Obviously make sure the dog is not cat aggressive. Adopt from a shelter that does behavioral assessments if possible. If the shelter doesn’t do behavioral assessments, ask if they have a foster care program and get a dog from- the foster parent will know a lot more about the dog than the shelter would- choose a dog from a foster home with cats so you know exactly what their reaction to cats is.
When I adopt, I’m all about the overall confidence and energy of the dog. Is it a dog that totaly ignores me? One that seems too needy? too hyper? Ask to walk the dog and then visit it alone- you’d be suprised at what you can tell about a dog’s overall behavior once they’ve been out of the kennel for a while and exercised.
Once you’ve narrowed it down- set up an appointment for each of your dogs to meet this dog (if possible-I know you aren’t around) Have the staff help you with this greeting. Don’t worry if initially there is a little growling or hackle raising see how the dogs interact after that initial tenseness. Ideally, the dogs would hit it off within the first 5 minutes or so. After that initial greeting is over, watch for general uncomfortability in either dog. If either dog just seems tense and is doing alot of nose licking, yawning, or wont look at the other dog- it may not be the right dog.
References :
Over 1500 volenteer hours at my local shelter
Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Owner of 2 rescued dogs
Foster Parent of 8 dogs total