Looking to add a new furry family member in 2019? At Wags to Wiskers Pet Supplies, we can help you with that! We’ve got everything you need, from food and litter all the way to bedding and toys, we’ve got you covered. AND, coming January 20th, we’ll be hosting a cat adoption event with our friends from Crafty Cat Rescue, so we’ll have the cats as well! Stop by our Chelsea location at 1192 S. Main Street, Chelsea, MI, 48118 in the afternoon and check out the event on our page for more information!
Before we get into this, if you know anybody that is thinking even a LITTLE bit about getting a new feline companion, please share this with them! We’ll try to convince them together with these 10 reasons to adopt a cat.
#1 - You’ll Save Lives
Sadly, every year millions of loving dogs and cats are euthanized by the United States. It huts so much to write that and think about that. There are too many pets in shelters and not enough people looking for pets, or too many people that are purchasing from breeders. When you adopt, you save a loving animal by making them part of your family and open up space at shelters and rescue groups for another animal who might desperately need it.
#2 - You’ll Get a Great Friend
Animal shelters and rescue groups are brimming with happy, healthy pets just waiting for someone to take them home. Most shelter pets wound up there because of a human problem like a move or a divorce, not because the animals did anything wrong. Many are already house-trained and used to living with families. Cats in many shelters interact with their caretakers and volunteers every day, and these people really get to know their personalities. Particularly with adult cats, you can find a companion with the type of temperament you’re looking for. You could find a playful, active cat or a calmer feline who prefers cuddling and a quieter environment.
#3 - It Costs Less to Adopt
For cheaper than you’d be able to purchase a pet through a breeder, you go home with a loving animal that is already spayed or neutered, is up-to-date on vaccines, and is already microchipped. These operations and necessities can be several hundred dollars up front at your local veterinary hospital, but shelters and rescue groups make it easier and cheaper for you to adopt! Depending on what type of cat you take home, you may also save time on any training and housebreaking as well!
#4 - It’s Good For You
This could be a separate list all on it’s own! Having a pet is obviously beneficial due to the amount of love and joy they bring into your home and your world, but beyond that cats have been know to have positive effects on humans’ ability to cope with stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness. Taking a cat home from a shelter can improve your sense of happiness and general well-being.
#5 - Cats Are Good For You (Physically!)
A recent study found that owning a cat may lead to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke. This is an important finding considering the AHA/ASA says, “Stroke is the number 3 cause of death in women and number 4 cause of death in men.” According to Clinical & Experimental Allergy, research has found that early exposure to a cat in the home can actually reduce infants’ sensitization to the allergens cats produce. As a result, kids have a reduced chance of developing allergic diseases. Basically, having a cat makes you more impervious to health issues down the road!
#6 - Fighting Pet Mills
If you buy a cat from a pet store, online seller or flea market, you’re almost certainly getting a cat from a kitten mill. Kitty mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of animals. Animals from puppy or kitten mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care, and are often very sick and behaviorally troubled as a result. The moms of these pets are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family. And after they're no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold at auction. It’s a horrific process that we don’t want to get further into. By adopting a cat, you are protesting and fighting against this industry.
#7 - Cats Improve Your Home
If you have another cat, or a cat-friendly dog, bringing another cat home from a shelter can help reduce feelings of loneliness during the day when you’re out. Of course, you will want to ask the shelter to help you “cat test” your dog, and if you have a cat, expect a period of adjustment before the new and current cats feel comfortable together. However, if you think your current cat or dog could use a companion, then adopting a cat is another great reason to keep them happy during the way while you’re away!
#8 - Variety & Options
You can find any type of cat you want at a shelter, from kittens to seniors, short-haired to long-haired, all sizes and colors. In fact, if you’re looking for a specific breed, such as a Siamese, you can contact cat-specific rescue groups to find your new friend. Many of the pets from shelters and rescues are already house-trained, which means you’re not only saving a pet’s life, you may be saving your rug. Adopting a mature pet not only gives older animals a second chance, it often means introducing them to your family will be much easier. Cats, particularly older, calmer cats, can provide loving companionship to older adults. They’re easy to care for, and you can find one at a shelter that matches your lifestyle with some helpful advice from the shelter staff and volunteers.
#9 - It’s Easier
Hopefully with all of these reasons we are helping convince you that it’s simply easier to adopt a cat than purchase one. You get all of the health and financial benefits, without the guilt of helping the wrong types of industries. And if you adopt a cat at our adoption event, you’ll be helping local businesses and organizations as well!
#10 - You’ll Change Their Life
More than change this cat’s life, you give them life. And you get a new best friend. You may end up wondering who saved who. If you’re in the market for a new feline, we hope these 10 reasons to adopt a cat have swayed you to adopt locally rather than purchase at a pet store! These loving animals just need your love.
Hope to see you at our event on the 20th!