Sharing life with a cat is something extremely comforting and special, they are wonderful beings and magnificent home companions, something that you will know perfectly well if you are lucky enough to live with a small feline. If this is not the case, or you want another kitten to keep you company and you are interested in adopting a kitten best family pets, with this article you will be able to learn more information about the process of adopting a cat, what requirements it requires, where to do it, at what age Is it better or how much does it cost? You must know in advance that a cat is not a toy but a being with feelings and needs and you must carefully assess whether you are going to be able to offer it everything it needs before making the decision to adopt it. If, on the other hand, you are more than sure that a cat is for you, congratulations! You are about to discover this incredible animal, and we invite you to continue reading this AnimalWised article to learn more about the subject. Let’s see how to adopt a cat in detail!
What does it take to adopt a cat?
If you are wondering what you need to adopt a cat, below you can find out all the requirements to adopt a cat safely and legally. The first thing you should keep in mind is that you have to be aware that a cat is another member of the family, that it is a living being that needs attention and care and that you must be willing to give it all until the day it dies. You must evaluate everything very well and if you do not have enough time, money or involvement, it is better not to think about adopting.
If, on the other hand, you have it, you should know that the requirements you must meet are the following:
- Be of legal age.
- Confirm your identity with your ID or equivalent.
- Live in a stable place with all needs covered.
- Proof of address through a document that justifies that it is your property or that you rent it.
- Sign an adoption contract : it is a document in which the person who adopts a cat agrees to take care of it and keep it in the best conditions, not abandon it, not use it for breeding, sterilize it if it is not and notify the organization of any loss or death.
- Come with a carrier.
- Microchip identification of the cat if it has never been identified.
- Take charge of all preventive treatments throughout your life.
How can I adopt a cat?
To adopt a cat you must first go to an entity that offers cats for adoption and show interest. Each entity presents an action protocol but generally they will ask you a series of questions or a questionnaire in order to get to know you better and determine if you are a good candidate to adopt a cat.
They may schedule you for a visit to your home to check if the conditions in which the cat will live are adequate for its quality of life and well-being and they will make you sign the adoption contract and ask you for the requirements discussed in the previous section. Finally, the payment and delivery of the animal will proceed and they will tell you that you will be in contact to follow up on the adoption process and how the cat adapts to the new home.
How to adopt a stray cat?
If you are wondering how to adopt a stray cat or how to adopt a street cat, you should know that the process is usually simpler, but yes, you should make sure that the cat does not have an owner by taking it to a veterinarian and looking for the microchip. If it does not have an owner, and once the health examination has been passed, you can take it home and start taking care of it. While domestic cats can have a life expectancy of up to 18-20 years, a stray cat usually does not exceed 5 or 7 years, so adopting a stray cat is a feat to be proud of.
Now that you know the process of how to adopt a cat, even one from the street, let’s see what is the best age to adopt a cat. Keep reading!
What is the best age to adopt a cat?
Cats of any age can be adopted, but it is always important that, if they are kittens , they remain with their mother and siblings until they are at least 8 weeks old , to complete weaning and improve socialization. This does not mean that the best age to be adopted is 8 weeks, but that from this age onwards the adoption can be carried out under better conditions. We tell you more about ” Weaning cats, when and how? ” so you can have more information on the subject.
Adopting an adult cat that has lived in shelters or shelters can be rewarding because they tend to have emotional shortcomings and are extremely grateful and affectionate with their adopters, although there are always exceptions and there are cats with past traumas or bad experiences that can cloud their interaction and sociability. Adopting an adult cat is generally more economical since they are usually already sterilized, identified and have had their first vaccinations. In the following post you can discover the keys to ” Socialize an adult cat .”
Adopting a kitten has the advantage that they are learning every day, they are more active, restless and playful and you can get them more easily accustomed to your routines and hygiene and care methods such as cutting their nails , bathing them or educating them not to They scratch where they shouldn’t, which is usually more complicated in older cats.
Where to adopt a cat?
You can adopt a cat in several ways and in different places. You may know a friend or acquaintance whose cat has recently given birth and they want to give the kittens up for adoption. You can also sometimes find them in veterinary centers or pet stores and, in other cases, in internet advertisements or posts shared on social networks. social networks . These types of adoptions are usually free as long as they are private, but you must also assume the legal and health responsibilities that come with adopting a cat.
On the other hand, you can choose to go to non-profit entities such as shelters, shelters or animal shelters. Generally, most have a website where you can see the animals that are up for adoption and even detailed information about each specimen and if not, you can go in person and observe the cats they have to choose your future life partner directly.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
The approximate price of adopting a cat is between €50 and €120 , depending on:
- The organization where we adopt it
- The age of the cat to be adopted
- What adoption includes
In some cases they cover sterilization by the entity’s veterinarians and the first vaccine, especially in protective ones, although generally the placement of the microchip and internal and external deworming are always included in the price.