A cat or a kitten? Which should you adopt?

  Posted on June 21, 2010  by Joy of Living  No comments

Jessie here….the local, lovable dog! The emphasis of our blog this month is on adopting a cat.  There are so many animal lives to be saved , and the pet population is grateful for everyone of you who decides to rescue either a cat or a dog.  We thank  you from the bottom of our hearts.

Now, if you are thinking about adding a feline to your domestic environment, you may be wondering if you should get a cat of a kitten? Let me give you some input in that area to allow you to make a more informed decision.

First of all, kittens are truly adorable (except for our house cat, Bo.  You should see some of his baby photos!  I will spare you those!) However, kittens do grow up into cats.  Some of the cutest kittens are now some of the best looking cats.  Remember these fine points when considering a kitten or a cat:

• A kitten is a kitten for a short period of time. (Ah…they grow up so fast, don’t they?)
• Kittens, like kids, require constant supervision.  Adult cats don’t.  How much time do you have on your hands each day?
• Kittens, like kids (and like Bo!) can be destructive.  They will knock over your plants, chew on wires, tear up your curtains, and even attempt to scale your legs.
• The immune systems of kittens are delicate.  Their health can be tumultuous and unpredictable.
• Grown cats just need booster shots every year or two. With a kitten, you will need to make a greater financial investment in the first year of its life.
• Adult cats should already be neutered, and, in many cases, declawed.
• You cannot create a kitten’s personality, so don’t even try.  Each one is unique.  With an adult cat, what you see is what you get.
• Adult cats are calmer and typically more affectionate.  They have so much love to give!  (Or, in Bo’s case…HEADACHES!)
• You cannot beat the grateful purr of an adult cat who knows he has been chosen out of pure love for who he is!  You can give him the peace of mind that he will not be abandoned again.

Well, that is your Monday food for thought!  Happy cat or kitty adopting!

(Information for this post was found from Adopt-A-Pet, Inc. in Illinois and its related web site.)