Sophie Cat

 

One of the reasons I put together Sophies site (apart from a bit of fun for everyone), was to highlight the plight of all the cats in the UK (and probably Worldwide) that need new homes. So here is a bit of information about 'rescue cats'.

 

 

Every year, through no fault of their own, thousands of cats & kittens find themselves in need of new loving owners. Sophie was one of these cats. The Cats Protection Society alone rehomes around 60,000 cats every year and at any one time there can be 7,000 cats just in their care in the UK. 

 

When I decided I would like a cat I looked first at these cats that needed a new home as I knew there were many desperate for a new start and a happy secure life.

 

 

Lots of people want kittens and older cats are often much harder to rehome. There are many benefits to owning an older cat:

 

1. Older cats have often come from another home and are ‘litter box trained’ & know about scratching posts.

 

2. Kittens are very lively and crazy running around and climbing the curtains etc. Older cats may have moments like this but are generally calmer and also less destructive.

 

3. Older cats have usually been neutered, possibly micro chipped and up to date with ‘shots’.

 

4. If you are older yourself it might be better to adopt an older cat, as it’s possible a kitten would outlive you.

 

5. Older cats are much more grateful to be ‘rescued’, especially if they previously came from a loving home – they truly feel the loss of their owner.

 

6. If you already own an older cat a kitten is often too stressful as a companion for them so an older cat would be a much better choice.

 

7. Kittens need much more supervision and attention than adult cats.

 

8. Cats often live to 20 years old so even an adult will have lots of years ahead to spend with you.

 

9. An older cat will be fully grown so you’ll know exactly how big it is and what it looks like.

 

10. Like humans they have personalities, so if you’re looking for a shy retiring cat or a livelier cat you should be able to get an idea of their personality, the shelter should also be able to give you an idea of what the cat is like.

 

11. Often purebred cats are available from shelters for a fraction of the cost of a kitten from a breeder (Sophie is an expensive pure Bengal which had I bought her as a kitten would have cost a fortune!).

 

 

 

Some good advice from the Cat Protection Society:

 

Before starting the process of adopting a rescue cat, please take a few minutes to consider the following:

 

1. You could be committing to your new cat for up to 20 years. Can you offer stability?
2. Veterinary fees can be expensive. You should expect to visit the vet at least once a year for a health check and  vaccination. Other preventative health care measures include de-fleaing (usually a monthly treatment) and de-worming (typically a three monthly treatment); seek advice from your vet on frequency. Pet insurance will help with the cost of major illness and emergency treatment. Sophie had 3 visits to the vet within 2 weeks of me owning her! It’s potentially an expensive business. I have her insured as I would want her to have the finest treatment available should she ever become ill again.
3.  You will need to make arrangements for your cat when you go on holiday, this may involve boarding cattery fees.
4. Feeding will cost you a minimum of £5 a week, plus the additional expense of other items such as a litter tray and litter, toys, bowls, bedding etc….. 
5. If you get a long haired cat, you will need to set aside time for grooming.

 

Owning a pet is a serious responsibility and every aspect should be considered carefully before applying to adopt. It’s even more essential for a cat that’s lost one good home to be offered a loving stable environment and most importantly a 'forever home'. And don't forget to keep your kittie safe, apparently a cat is run over in the UK every 2 & 1/2 minutes!

 

 

 

                         One happy rescue cat!