The Animal Center has a neuter-before-adoption policy. This means that all cats and kittens are neutered before they go to their new homes. Early-age spay/neuter is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CT Veterinary Medical Association, and top animal welfare organizations around the country. If the early age spay/neuter concept is new to you, check out this informative article from Best Friends.
At The Animal Center, we do same day adoptions. This means that if you find a kitten(s) who is a match when you come, you can take him/her home the same day. Here is a list of supplies you will need before adopting:
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cat carrier at adoption (if using an existing carrier make sure it has been recently cleaned and disinfected!) |
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litterbox (we recommend 1 per cat in household) |
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non-clumping litter and scoop (you can switch to clumping when the kitten is 6 months old) >>why use non-clumping litter? |
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toys (cats love feather toys --you will want to get "brain" toys and "prey" toys for enrichment and stimulation) |
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water and food bowls (stainless steel is recommended over ceramic. Never use plastic; it can be toxic to your cat and no matter how well you clean plastic, residue remains and germs and bacteria will grow) |
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Food (we recommend brands with no or few by-products) >more info |
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Cardboard scratching post and/or cat tower |
Some of the best tips and advice we've seen on what litter to use, where to set up the litterbox, preventing and solving litterbox problems when they occur can be found on the Cats International website. This is a great website for those who've had cats all their lives as well as for the beginner cat guardian.
What do I feed my cat? Just like there's a range of how healthy the food we eat is, there's also that same range in cat foods. Different brands are made with different standards and ingredients. What you may hear about low end cat foods being the equivalent of fast food for cats is absolutely true. Before bringing home your new cat, carefully research what brands are best to feed your cat as well as consult with your veterinarian.
| Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Nutrition | |
Should I let my cat go outside or keep him in? While the experts have differing views on this topic, it's our belief that this is a personal decision that you should arrive after carefully consideration the risks. Our adoption counselors will go over indoor/outdoor "risks" at the point of adoption.
Should I declaw my cat? You should never declaw a cat under any circumstances. It's a fact that:
| — | Declawing leads to behavioral problems. Cats are at greater risk for developing behavioral problems, in particular aggression (especially around children), biting and urinating outside the litterbox. If you don't want your cat peeing on your walls and carpet, don't declaw him! |
| — | Declawing is animal cruelty. Declawing is a surgical procedure called onychectomy in which the animal's toes are amputated at the last joint. It is mutilation of the cat's toes, is extremely painful to the cat, and may result in permanent lameness, arthritis, and other long-term complications. |
| — | Declawing renders a cat defenseless. It's a fact that indoor-only cats escape from the house from time to time (especially if there are kids in the house) and declawed cats stand very little chance defending themselves against predators. |
Cats depend on their claws for playing, walking, and self-defense. Cats need to scratch; it's hard wired into their existence and helps them relieves stress, exercise muscles, and affirm territory. If you're concerned about your cat scratching where s/he should not (your best furniture), there are many ways to teach your cat to scratch where you want him to. Here are some excellent websites for additional information about cat scratching:
| Why Cats Need Claws (***highly recommended) | |
| http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp | |
| http://www.declawing.org/ | |
| http://www.catscratching.com/ | |
| http://www.de-clawing.com/ |
Alternatives to declawing:
| — | Regular nail trims (Click here for HSUS's helpful brochure on how to trim a cat's nails) |
| — | Appropriate scratching surfaces, especially ones that the cat approves of. If the cat likes to scratch on wood, get a wood and sisal scratching post; if the cat prefers carpet, get carpet posts. Corrugated cardboard will most likely not disappoint the cat and is inexpensive to provide. Train the cats to use them. |
| — | Soft Paws are vinyl sheaths for the nails. |
| — | Double-sided tape will protect furniture (our favorite is Sticky Paws). |
| — | Cat-Around scratchers will fit on corners of couches. |
Whether to adopt a male or female cat is a personal preference. There are no generalities you can make about the nature of female cats vs. male cats. Personalities are cat specific, not gender specific.
Foster Program: Foster families play a vital role in our ability to help local homeless animals. The more foster homes we have, the more kittens we can help.
Volunteer foster parents take in kittens and look after them at home. Foster parents handle them, talk to them, and play with them so when the kittens are old enough for adoption, they are healthy, frisky and very friendly—and they all go to their new homes spayed or neutered.
Our foster program is an opportunity for you to:
- Help save more locally abandoned animals by offering your home as a temporary foster family.
- Give love and affection to an animal who is so young that yours will be the first safe human interactions for that animal, giving him/her a lasting foundation for human interaction.
- Provide a safe environment for frightened or unsocialized animals who have not learned that humans can be trusted. You can help them learn new behaviors and better ways of interacting.
How much time will they require? Kittens stay in their foster home for 2-4 weeks, but the time they remain with you will depend on how old they are when you get them. They generally will need to be fed three times a day and have their litterbox cleaned at least twice a day. Warning: some kittens are messy eaters and/or poopers and require frequent bathing. You should also plan in playtime where you interact with the kittens directly.
What about food and medical care? The Animal Center pays for 100% of the kitten's veterinary care and medicines while they are being fostered by you. We also provide all the food (kittens eat a lot!). Foster homes are generally responsible for purchasing non-clumping cat litter.
Can the kittens mingle with other animals in the home? No. You need a separate room to foster (ideally one that is small and can be easily ventilated and disinfected). Why? Most times, the kittens you are fostering are too young to test for infectious diseases or vaccinate against diseases and virus. Keeping the kittens separate from your animals at home will greatly reduce the risk that your animals will contract a disease or virus from the kittens.
How do I care for them? We will match you up with a litter of kittens based on your kitten experience. Our Foster Program coordinator follows up regularly with foster homes to ensure that all your questions are answered. Contact us today about fostering (203)270-0228.
Barn Cat Program. If you are need of a kitty for your barn, consider adopting a feral cat. These cats will keep your barn tidy and present no danger to people or other animals. Cats are neutered and up to date on vaccines. To request a barn cat(s), please fill out our adoption form. Our fee for barn cats is $50, whether you take one or more of them.
We operate our adoption program through volunteer foster homes in the community. To adopt from us, the first step is filling out our form (below). The information you provide will help us match the kittens in our program with your needs and lifestyle. Once we receive your form, we will contact you to set up a time that's convenient for you to meet the cats/kittens in our program. Adoption appointments are held 7 days a week, evenings and days.
| Download Adoption Form, Word Format | Download Adoption Form, PDF Format |
