El Dorado Animal Hospital Celebrates Adopt-a-Cat Month!

According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.4 million cats enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of the cats entering shelters, about 40% are euthanized. These are alarming statistics, but you can help.

June is Adopt-a-Cat Month, which encourages and incentivizes people to adopt cats from their local shelters. During the month of June, participating animal shelters around the Valley will lower or waive cat adoption fees to help place as many feline companions as possible in loving forever homes.

All of us here at El Dorado Animal Hospital encourage pet adoption, which is why we proudly support Adopt-a-Cat Month and do whatever we can to educate pet owners and make sure adopted cats are happy and healthy. Read on for a look at some adoption tips and other ways you can help during the month of June.

Cat Adoption Tips

Whether you’re adopting your very first cat or growing your feline family, your local shelter has cuddly newborns, mellow senior cats, and everything in between to choose from. Here are a few tips to help you find the right cat and to make sure you’re ready to provide a happy home.

• Before adopting an older cat, spend some time alone with her to get a sense of her personality and to make sure it meshes with yours. Also, talk to the adoption counselor or a shelter employee to learn about the cat’s behavior and general temperament. Bringing a cat home from the shelter should be permanent, so make sure the cat you adopt vibes with your personality.
• If you have children, make the adoption process a family affair. Bring your kids with you to the shelter and let them help pick out the new family pet. This is also a great time to talk to your family about the responsibilities that come with pet adoption, and to set ground rules and expectations for taking care of the cat you bring home.
• Stock up on all the supplies you need before completing the adoption so your new cat can start feeling at home right away. You’ll need cat food, a litter box, cat litter, stimulating toys, a comfortable bed, and other items that will help your new cat feel safe and loved.
• It can take several weeks for older cats to relax and feel comfortable in a new environment, so go slow and let the cat acclimate at her own speed, not yours. This is especially important if you have other pets. A great idea is to keep your new cat secluded to a single room with a litter box, food and water, and the cat carrier left out and open with bedding inside until she gets used to her new surroundings and is ready to explore the rest of your home.
• Schedule an appointment with a veterinarian within the first few days after the adoption so you can learn about the general health of your new cat. This will also allow your veterinarian to address any minor problems before they get worse and cause your new companion any pain or discomfort, and cost you more money to fix later on.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you aren’t ready to adopt just yet, there are other ways you can help the thousands of cats in shelters throughout Phoenix who are in desperate need of a forever home.

• Educate your friends and family about Adopt-a-Cat Month
• Donate to your local animal shelter or pet rescue group – We support Fearless Kitty Rescue and Cool Cats Rescue of Fountain Hills
• Volunteer at a shelter to help process all of the cat adoptions taking place this month
• Write to your local legislator about stopping “kitten mills”
• Spay and neuter your cats to help with the feline overpopulation problem in the U.S.

If you’re planning on adopting a cat this month, or any month, make an appointment with El Dorado Animal Hospital to get a full health report on your new feline friend. We offer a full suite of animal wellness services and are a certified Cat-Friendly Practice by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Stop by or call us at (480) 837-0800 to make an appointment or learn more about our cat health and wellness services.

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