Am I ready to adopt?

The decision to adopt a cat is a big one, and it shouldn’t be made lightly. Before adding any new pet to your family, it’s important to consider all the factors and determine if you’re truly ready to commit to adoption. Here are some things to think about before signing those adoption papers:

How will adopting impact my current pets?

The decision to bring a new pet into the household doesn’t just affect you and your fellow humans, it also affects your current fur children. Change can be stressful for many animals, and it’s important to consider the pets that you currently have and determine whether they’re ready for a new sibling. Do your pets respond well to meeting new animals? Do they have the energy necessary to deal with a small kitten, or would they be better suited to adopting a more laid-back adult cat? One of the most important parts of picking the right addition to the family is determining not only how they will bond with you, but how they’ll integrate with your current animals as well. Make sure that your pets are ready before adopting!

Is anyone in the household allergic, or have a high likelihood of developing an allergy in the future? Additionally, what will I do if I later find out that my child/husband/self am allergic?

It’s not always easy to tell if you’ll have an allergy issue when bringing a new pet into your home, especially if you’ve never had pets in the past. That being said, allergies are one of the top reasons why we see pets put out or returned after adoption, so they’re something you need to consider before the ink on your adoption papers is dry. Do you or anyone in your household currently deal with a pet allergy? More importantly, if you bri ng your new kitten home and discover a month or two down the line that your child is allergic, what do you plan on doing?

Allergies aren’t always obvious, and sometimes people grow in or out of them. You can’t be expected to know whether or not someone in your household will develop an allergy to your new pet, but you are responsible to anticipate the possibility and come up with a plan of action. Is the allergy too serious to be controlled easily with medication? If you determine that you’re unable to keep your new pet due to an allergy issue, please do not under any circumstances release them into the wild or drop them at a shelter. Email us at information@tampacatcrusaders.org and let us know about the issue, we’ll find a solution that’s safe for everyone involved.

Am I willing to commit to this pet for the next 15 years?

Adopting a kitten is in many ways like having a baby. When you adopt a kitten you’re committing to taking care of it for the rest of its life, which is no small commitment. The average lifespan of a cat is 13-17 years, and it’s not uncommon for cats that are in good health to live up to 20 years. Adopting is a long-term commitment, and before you adopt you should make sure that you’re comfortable caring for your new fur baby not just today or tomorrow, but potentially for the next 15 years.

Can I financially support my new pet?

When you decide to adopt, whether you decide to adopt a cat or adopt a kitten, you’re not just making a time commitment…you’re making a financial commitment as well. Generally speaking cats are pretty low-maintenance pets, which is part of what makes them so much more appealing than, say, dogs. Most cats will live the majority of their lives with little to no major health issues, which is great! That being said, there are basic repeated costs associated with owning a cat.

Although Cat Crusaders takes much of the financial strain off new pet owners by covering many of the upfront medical expenses associated with adopting a cat or adopting a kitten (like microchipping, spay/neuter, testing and initial vaccines), you can still expect to spend a few hundred dollars a year on litter, food, toys, and annual vet visits. If your cat develops a medical condition or has an unexpected emergency, the cost could be much higher. Be prepared to work these expenses into your current budget, and determine up front whether or not the additional costs are something you are willing and able to commit to.

Adopting a cat is one of the most rewarding decisions you will ever make, but it’s not one that should be made spur-of-the-moment. You are committing financially, physically, and emotionally to care for your new fur baby for the rest of their life, and that’s something you need to make sure you’re ready for!

Think about the items listed above and take some time to make sure that you, as a family, are ready to welcome a new pet into your lives. When you’re ready to adopt, visit us at the New Tampa PetSmart! 

Submit an Adoption Inquiry

Please note that you must be 21 or older to adopt.