| Kittens are not the only ones who need | | | | pet that has behavioral problems takes longer, |
| responsible, loving homes. A lot of older cats do, | | | | you can still do so. But the person who gets a pet |
| too. If a stray cat turns up at your door and you | | | | without warning of a problem is likely to bring it |
| cannot seem to find an owner, or if you inherit a | | | | back, take it to the shelter, or give it away to |
| cat from a sick relative, if you end up with an | | | | someone else (and maybe not to a good home |
| older cat for another reason, or for whatever | | | | at all). |
| reason, you can no longer take care of your own | | | | - Spread the news about the cat. Make flyers and |
| cat, you want to find the best home you can. | | | | take out an ad in the newspaPer, and on the |
| Adult cats have the the lowest rate of adoption | | | | internet. Post the flyers everywhere you can, |
| of all animals in the shelter, so they can be very | | | | such as bulletin boards at work, at pet stores, and |
| difficult to place. If you are patient, however, you | | | | at your veterinarian's office. Give them to family |
| may find a home for the older cat. Here are | | | | and friends to post at work, also. The more |
| some tips to follow: | | | | exposure you can get, the better. |
| - Do everything you can to make the cat more | | | | - Ask lots of questions to perspective adopters, |
| adoptable. The pet has a much better chance of | | | | such as whether they have had pets, and |
| being adopted if its vaccinations are current, it | | | | particularly cats, before, and what happened to |
| uses the litter box reliably, and if it is spayed or | | | | them. Just make sure you are dealing with |
| neutered. | | | | someone who understands the long-term |
| - Ask a price. People will show more interest for | | | | commitment involved in owning a pet. |
| something they have to pay for. A price tag also | | | | - Do not take the cat somewhere and let him |
| lessens the possibility that the cat will be sold to a | | | | loose. The lives of feral cats are full of suffering, |
| research lab, or even to people who use them to | | | | disease, or accidents. Do not put any cat through |
| train dogs for fighting (which is more common | | | | this horror. Take the cat to a shelter if all chances |
| than you think). A good general rule is to charge | | | | for an adoption are gone. Even though the cat will |
| enough to cover vaccinations and/or the cost of | | | | have a very small chance at adoption there, it is |
| spaying and neutering. | | | | better to give it a painless death than a short life |
| - Do not lie about the cat's problems, or why he | | | | of suffering and fear. |
| is being placed. Although finding a new home for a | | | | |