Hey Everybody,
How are you? It's been quite awhile. I've since settled into my new home; it's been two years now 😏.
My family and I wanted to adopt a cat from our local SPCA; my daughter is an absolute avid cat lover, (animal lover at that)
So, we went to our local Peninsula SPCA last Saturday; one of their most busy days. We wanted to get two cats but, after checking them out we found, one was extremely ill and; the other one was a bit skiddish. (Wouldn't be a good match with my autistic son who has frequent meltdowns).
How are you? It's been quite awhile. I've since settled into my new home; it's been two years now 😏.
My family and I wanted to adopt a cat from our local SPCA; my daughter is an absolute avid cat lover, (animal lover at that)
So, we went to our local Peninsula SPCA last Saturday; one of their most busy days. We wanted to get two cats but, after checking them out we found, one was extremely ill and; the other one was a bit skiddish. (Wouldn't be a good match with my autistic son who has frequent meltdowns).
We ended up getting Link (originally named MoMo). My daughter told me cats don't really respond to their names so, the names are really for us ☺
Here's Link cuddled up making his mark in our home.
Link was very underweight when we got him. We asked the SPCA attendant why. She told us, she really didn't know; just feed him and he would be fine.
Well, we checked his medical records that somehow showed up after we already agreed to adopt him and, they said, Link was a stray who was treated for internal parasites, and fleas. Also, the poor fella has a massive lump in his colon. He has had upset stomach and diahrrea ever since we got him. We only found out all these things after we brought him home and took him to our personal family vet.
Needless to say, we had to return Link after all of this. Poor fella.💔! I hope the vet will be able to help him. These animals do need special loving care, since they are shelter animals.
Shelters just need to be upfront with their clients. These animals need to be placed with people who are financially, mentally, physically and emotionally able to care for the animal. It is not fair to the caregiver or the animal to just try and quickly adopt out an animal for the sake of adopting it. It only results in distress for both the caregiver and the animal. Sometimes the animal could end up worse than it was, & many times, it has to be returned to the shelter. If shelters are upfront and thorough, people can decide which cat, well or sick, is right for them and vice versus.
We plan to get another cat later down the line. For now, I'd like to share with you, a couple of things for you to consider, if you plan to rescue a cat from a local shelter or SPCA.
1. Do your research. Be sure you know how to take care of your animal prior to getting it.
2. When it's time, ask questions. Ask to see the animal's history & medical records. (If they are currently unavailable, wait until you have all the facts on the animal, so you can make an informed decision. Adopting a pet cannot just be about how cute and appealing it is. It is a big commitment. Be thorough.
3. Don't be pressured. Animal shelters want to find animals a home as soon as possible. As I said earlier, while they should be thorough, many times it's just not the case. Analyze every aspect. Check medical records. Pay close attention to the health and overall appearance of your potential soon-to-be pet.
If you're willing to take a sick cat, that would be so wonderful. Just make sure you get all the facts before committing.
Finally, adopting a pet can be so rewarding but, it can also be a challenge.
If you're up to it, get out there and, support your local SPCAs.
