Benefits of Adopting a Cat

Adopting a cat may be a wonderful thing to do but have you ever thought about the benefits of adopting a cat and how your life can be changed for the better? Read on for my observations and thoughts on how cat adoption, especially during Adopt A Cat Month can make your life better!

The first and most obvious benefit of adopting a cat is that you save a small creature from possible death. With thousands of cats being put to death due to crowded shelters not having enough room your home is a sanctuary for any adopted cat, allowing him/her to live out their life in a save and secure environment.

But adopting a cat can offer so much more to you than just the good feeling of having saved a life. Medical studies have shown that people with high blood pressure and heart disease can lessen the stress on their bodies with the simple act of having a cat in their lap.

And for a single person having someone to come home to is a great feeling! For the businesswoman living alone or the bachelor looking to add a little comfort to his home a cat is a great addition to your household!

Obviously if you adopt a cat from a shelter you keep your hard-earned money out of the pockets of unscrupulous breeders who see kittens as a commodity and supply the pet stores with a never-ending supply - and usually the shelter has a much better pricing system and you know your money is going directly to help other animals. But have you also considered that for an older person a kitten may not be the best choice? Adopting a cat from a shelter also allows older cats to find good homes with mature adults who may not have the willingness or the ability to deal with a kitten and are looking for a stable, older cat to add to their household.

Cat adoption also ensures that the wild cat population is controlled as much as it can be - all cats adopted out from a shelter have been spayed or neutered, guaranteeing that they will be unable to add to the burgeoning population of kittens and breaking the cycle of potential abuse from overpopulation.

As well, adopting a cat during Adopt-A-Cat Month reminds those around you that there are plenty of animals available for adoption during the rest of the year and in need of a good home, even if you already have a cat or two. Why not add another friend to your family?

And if you're living in an apartment or small house adopting a cat is a great way to add a pet to your family without sacrificing a lot of room. While dogs need a yard to run in and need to be taken for walks a cat is perfect for a small household or one with people not willing or able to put the physical time in to take a dog for walks or out for a run. With their natural independence adopting a cat may be just what you need!

Looking for a pet for that child who has outgrown goldfish and hamsters? Consider adopting a cat with the low maintenance and the ease with which a cat can be cared for. A shelter cat will be thrilled to find love in the arms of a willing child!

Finally, adopting a cat from your local shelter helps the community by taking a cat off the streets and placing him/her into a good home instead of having him/her wander the area and possibly become a safety risk, not to mention digging into garbage and possibly becoming a threat to your neighbors.

Adopt-A-Cat Month is here - so why not drop by your local shelter and see if your new best friend is already there, waiting for you?