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Information For Your New Cat!
 How often do I need to take him/her to the veterinarian? When you adopt a rescue pet from Advocates 4 Animals he/she will be up to date on shots, tested for FIV and Feline Leukemia and housetrained/litterbox trained. Your new pet will also be spayed/neutered and treated for the prevention of ear mites, fleas and worms. Any health concerns that A4A is aware of will be addressed at the time of (or prior to) adoption. A copy of the pets veterinary records will be provided to you on adoption day (this will indicate when the next set of annual shots are due). Otherwise, you will not need to visit the veterinarian (until the next shots are due) unless you plan on having him/her microchipped or if you prefer to have a general health check by your personal veterinarian. In addition, any health issues that may arise at anytime with your pet are your responsibility and you should address those with your personal veterinarian as soon as possible for the health and well-being of your furry family member. How do I locate a good veterinarian? Referrals are the best way to locate a superior veterinarian. Friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. can provide you with real life experiences they've had with local veterinarians. Of course you can also contact Advocates 4 Animals anytime to ask for referrals as well. In searching for a veterinarian, it is recommended that you choose one who has numerous years of experience in the field and comes highly recommended by those you trust. Why should I choose to adopt a rescue cat? There are countless reasons to adopt a rescue cat! To name just a fewâyou are giving a homeless pet a second chance at life and there is no greater feeling than this. In addition, every rescue pet that is adopted from Advocates for Animals is already: spayed/neutered, up to date on shots, housetrained/litter box trained, treated for the prevention of ear mites, fleas and worms, tested negative for FIV and Feline Leukemia and we KNOW our rescue pets! Because all of our rescue pets are housed in loving foster homes while they patiently wait their adoption day- our volunteers get to know each of our pets very well. Each one has a unique personality and we are able to share that with you. We are therefore able to help you decide if your chosen pet will be a good fit to you and your household/lifestyle. In addition, we provide home delivery--- we deliver each adopted pet to you in your home! Generally, this process makes it easier on the pet to transition into their new home environment. In addition, any further questions about the pet can be reviewed at this time. And finally- Advocates 4 Animals has NO PAID STAFF. We are run strictly through donations and with the kind hearts of our volunteers! Should I have my cat declawed? What should I know about declawing cats? Declawing your cats is a personal preference and we STRONGLY suggest you do your research prior to making this decision. Some of our rescue cats are NOT ABLE to be declawed due to past issues or old age (this will be indicated on their profile). With kittens, it is strongly recommended by A4A and Professional Veterinarians- to not have your cat declawed prior to 6 months of age. Serious health issues, side affects and even death have occurred in kittens who have undergone the declaw procedure prior to 6 months of age. If you do you research and still decide to have your cat declawed- front declawing is all that is needed. In addition, you will want to be sure to have the LASER Declaw performed (check with your veterinarian)- as this is a less painful procedure and the felines tend to heal much faster with this surgery. It is crucial that you work with an experienced veterinarian when having your cat undergo this surgery. Should I keep my cat indoors only? Yes. Your cat should be kept indoors only! If you're looking for an outdoor cat or a "barn" cat- please contact Advocates 4 Animals and specify this preference. From time to time we rescue and rehabilitate outdoor cats as well. However, the vast majority of our rescue pets are classified as INDOORS only. They have been trained to be indoors and enjoy the indoor life- and we are committed to allowing them to sustain this lifestyle. Why is it important that my cat is already spayed/neutered? Spay and Neuter is the most important thing you can do for any pet! 3-4 million healthy pets are euthanized in shelters across the country every year. By having your pets spayed/neutered- you are helping to humanely eliminate the pet overpopulation. In addition, there are many benefits to both YOU and YOUR PETS! Did you know kittens can become pregnant as early as 5 months of age? For all of the facts, please visit www.SpayUSA.org.
I have young children, are there any special concerns I should know about when adopting a cat? There are MANY issues you should consider when adopting a new pet into a household with very young children. Consulting your veterinarian is highly recommended. In addition, you will want to be certain that you and your family do not have any health concerns (ie: allergies) when it comes to pets. When adding a new pet to your home- be CERTAIN that you will have enough TIME to devote to the pet. In addition, it is highly recommended that you teach your children how to behave around pets. Excessive holding should be discouraged. In addition, children should always be supervised when spending time with the family pet. Pets can teach children many lessons- but as a parent you will need to be certain (prior to adopting a pet) that you have the time, patience and are willing to make the commitment to your new furry friend. In addition, DO NOT expect your children to solely care for the pet. Too often this will lead to neglect of the pets daily needs. It is important that you educate your children on the importance of being gentle with the pet(s) and on the daily upkeep of the pet. Try doing "chores" together ie: changing the litter box, providing fresh food and water to the pet, etc. These acts will enforce the lessons of kindness and respect to animals. What type of litter should I use? You will want to check with the organization you are adopting the cat from- to see what brand and type of litter they have been using with the cat. If you prefer a different brand or style of litter- you can adjust your feline to the new litter by following this procedure: -Start your new cat with a full box of the litter he/she is used to -Gradually introduce the new litter after the pets first 1-2 weeks in your home. Do this by adding SMALL amounts of the new litter to the existing litter. Mix together. Each week, add more of the litter you chose to use and take away more of the litter the cat originally used. Over time (generally takes 4-6 weeks to transition)- you will have your cat used to the new litter with no issues.
What type of food should I feed? You will want to check with the organization you are adopting the cat from- to see what brand and type of food they have been using for the cat. If you prefer a different brand or style of food- you can adjust your feline to the new litter by following this procedure (first, be sure to check with the rescue organization and/or veterinarian to be sure it is okay to switch foods for your pet. Be sure to always use a solid brand food- so that your pets dietary needs are adequately met). -Start your new cat with a full bowl of the food he/she is used to. -Gradually introduce the new food after the pets first 1-2 weeks in your home. Do this by adding SMALL amounts of the new food to the existing food. Mix together. Each week, add more of the food you chose to use and take away more of the food the cat originally used. Over time (generally takes 4-6 weeks to transition)- you will want to consult your veterinarian during this process. Where should I keep the litter box? The food and water? Keep your cats litter box AWAY from his/her food and water dish area. Cats are neat and tidy pets and do not like to have these items too close together. Anywhere that is easily accessible to the pet is okay to keep the litter box. You will want to be sure that the litter box is in a quite area- so that your cat can have privacy as it uses the box. Food and water should be fresh daily- and the litter box should be scooped daily as well. *If you have multiple cats, it is recommended that you have 1 litter box for each cat in the household. How long will it take for my new cat to adjust to my home? Every pet is different! Depending on their temperament and their past experiences and the type of household/environment they will be living in, the time it takes for a new pet to adjust varies greatly. Some pets adjust overnight- while typically it takes pets a minimum of 2-3 weeks to begin adjusting to their new home. Be sure to be very patient with your new pet- they will want to get to know you, trust you and learn everything there is to know about their new home and their new family. Will my cat want to play with toys? Most cats enjoy playing with toys and every cat tends to have their favorite type/style of toy that they enjoy. There are cats from time to time (generally Senior cats) who will prefer not to play with toys- and simply long for love and attention. Check with the rescue organization whom you are adopting from for any specific preferences or personality traits of your new pet. Will my pet be "purr-fect" all of the time? Of course NO ONE IS PERFECT- humans or animals- therefore no pet will be "purr-fect" all of the time. It is important to realize that pets are living, breathing creatures and they want to please you- however, they will make mistakes. Like people, pets have different personalities and learn at different speeds. Patience is the key in every situation. When owning a pet, it is crucial to be flexible, to learn to laugh and relax and to be very patient with your pet. I want my cat to wear a collar - is there a style that is best? We strongly recommend only using Break-Away collars with felines to avoid any chance of strangulation. This will allow them to break free easily in case they get stuck on an object or cord. This will also prevent them from getting their paws stuck in the collar. How long can I leave my pet alone? We recommend that pets not be left along for more than 24 hours. Sudden illnesses, accidents, and other problems can occur when a pet is left alone for a lengthy period of time. If you are planning a vacation or must leave for more that 24 hours, it is best to hire a Professional Pet Sitter (for those located in Greene County, Oh we recommend Greene County Professional Pet Sitters ) or have a responsible, mature family member or neighbor check on the pet during your absence. I just adopted a cat and it's been 2 nights of meowing. Is this normal and can I expect it to stop? Cats are very routine animals - any deviation from their normal routine can be frightening and overwhelming. Some cats can adjust to new surrounding very quickly, while some take more time to adjust to their new environment. Like people, all cats are different with different personalities and thresholds to change. During the adjustment period - hiding, constant meowing, growling, hissing, loss of appetite and many others things may occur. It is important to be patient with your new feline and allow them time to adjust, the same as you would with a new person entering a new environment. We all wish that they could understand us when we tell them things will be okay, but more often than not, it takes time for our felines to trust their new surroundings. Patience is key when adopting a new pet into your household. I just adopted a young cat and they are nibbling on my fingers playfully - Is this normal and how can I make them stop? It is completely normal that for a younger cat (and even some high energy adults) to play a bit rough (ie: grabbing feet, legs, nibbling on hands, feet etc.). Young cats are full of energy and excitement and need an outlet to fulfill this sense of play that resides in them. We strongly recommend positive reinforcement disiplinary techniques. We believe that rewarding a behavior that is wanted will encourage the behavior to continue and taking away the positve reward or stimulation when an unwanted behavior occurs. If you do not want your cat to nibble on your hands, simply pull your hands away or move to another location. The cat will quickly learn that the attention he is seeking will not continue with that behavior. Who should I direct any further questions to? Any further questions or concerns about your adopted pet including behavior issues and medical issues should be addressed directly with your local veterinarian. *Please note Advocates 4 Animals Feline Rescue & Rehabilitation shall not be held liable for any information provided within their website. Please direct any specific questions or concerns directly to your veterinarian*
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