There are so many animals that are in desperate need of a loving home so if you have decided to get a cat, why not choose one from your local cat rescue home or animal shelter?

By adopting from a shelter instead of buying from a pet shop, you help those animals that are most in need to find a home and help fund the rescue work so that other cats can be saved. Many of these felines have had difficult lives so far – they may have been abandoned, abused or neglected by their owners. So, responsible rescue centres will take special care to match owner and pet and find them a good home. They will give you as much information as possible about their charges’ personalities and histories to help you choose wisely.

At the animal shelter,use your power of observation.

Take some time to just watch the cats and kittens without trying to interact with them. Observe how active they are and what type of attitude they have. A cat that stays huddled in a corner or appears lethargic may be sick, which could mean expensive vets bills in the future. Or the poor cat may nave been abused and so is terrified of everyone and everything. If you have the time and patience, please don’t automatically dismiss an abused feline. They can repay your care many times over.

Give the cat a thorough examination, starting with the eyes. Bright and clear eyes with no discharge or weepiness are a good sign.

The nose should be clean and slightly moist.Again,there should be no discharge.

Ears should also be clean. Those that are extremely dirty are potentially contaminated with ear mites which can be very difficult to eliminate and can easily spread to other cats at home.

Finally, the cat’s fur should be clean, shiny, and free of fleas. Fleas can be particularly bothersome to both the cat and to the owner. Eliminating fleas once they infest the home can be very difficult.

Listen to the cat. A cat that coughs, sneezes, or sounds congested can be quite ill and should be avoided. Also, listen for sounds of contentment. A cat who is purring is probably happy and healthy.A meow can indicate either trouble or contentment – a long, pleading meow could show that the cat is ill. On the other hand, a playful meow could mean the she is already developing a bond with its potential new owner!

Watch how the cat plays. Some pet owners are looking for playful cats that will scamper about the house and chase and play with toys. Others would prefer a more docile cat who will spend hours cuddled up in the owner’s lap.

See how they play with each other first to get a feeling for their disposition. This is particularly important for pet owners who already have a pet cat at home. Then play with the kitties yourself.

Take out a string, ball of wool or car keys and dangle them in front of each cat. The one that seems most alert and active is likely the better choice. Of course, you could always take home more than one if the decision is just too hard to make

It is so rewarding to adopt a cat from a cat rescue shelter and know that you have saved its life and given it a comfortable home but do be aware of potential problems. Any cat or kitten that comes from a shelter will be stressed to some level. This stress has put them at a higher risk of attracting a respiratory infection. They may also be more prone to bite or scratch you before you have bonded. Most cat rescue shelters offer a spayed or neutered cat, with full shots and de-worming but You must also get your cat tested immediately for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

finally,listen to the advice of the shelter workers and don’t rush into any decisions.

As a first time cat owner, you probably have a lot of questions about your new kitten. This article will address the most common ones.

First there is the question of food. Please ignore all those cutsie cat food commercials, and don’t bother with the cat food aisle in the grocery store. Instead, go to a natural food store, or a pet supply store that specializes in natural products.

A premium quality food will have no by-products, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It will list a meat-based protein source first, such as chicken or lamb. The better ones will have more than one protein ingredient.

Grains should be kept to a minimum, and should be whole grains, not fractions such as corn gluten meal or rice bran. Some of the newer cat foods are now grain-free.

Cats and kittens require a high protein, high fat diet.

Kittens should be fed two to four times a day, once or twice a day is enough for the adult cat. Pick up any leftover food after thirty minutes.

Don’t worry if it doesn’t look like the kitten is eating much. Even adult cats usually eat a small amount at a time, and kittens are very small animals. Cats also won’t eat if upset or nervous, as your new kitten will probably be.

Be sure to have water available at all times, though most cats do not drink much water, especially if they are eating canned food.

For food dishes, any small, shallow container will work. They seem to have the easiest time getting every last bit out of dishes with rounded bottoms. You can offer treats if you like, but don’t overdo it,or the cat will wait for them and not eat it’s regular diet. Too many treats will make your cat fat, which is unhealthy. Be sure to use a premium brand of treat as well, and never feed the soft ones – they contain harmful chemicals.

Though not a big part of a cat’s diet, many of them like some fruits and vegetables. Experiment to see what your kitten likes and use tiny bits of these for treats. Some foods they often like include cantaloupe, broccoli, green beans, asparagus and squash.

Treats can be used to train a cat, and can be useful in getting them used to brushing and nail trimming.

The next item you will need for a cat is a litter box or two. The type of litter you choose depends more on your preference than the cat’s, although as a rule I would avoid any scented litters.

Keep the boxes clean by removing solid waste several times a day. Clumping litters allow you to remove the urine as well, but these types may not be good for your cat’s health. The properties that allow the litter to clump together also cause it to clump in the cats intestine if they ingest too much of it. (They will often have a grain or two stuck to a paw, which they will swallow during grooming).

For non-clumping litters, stir the litter to disperse the urine, this allows it to dry quickly and lessens odor. Depending on how dirty it is, you should empty the box completely and replace the litter at least once a week.

The mother cat usually trains her offspring to use the litter box. Unless you have adopted a feral kitten that has never seen one, the most you may need to do is to put the kitten in the box and scratch the litter a little bit. Let him get out by himself, so he can orient himself to its location. A scratching post for your kitten will save your drapes and furniture. Sisal posts are best, but many cats enjoy the cardboard ones,sprinkled with a little catnip.

Get your kitten used to having his paws handled early on, in preparation for your trimming his claws. Buy a special scissors for the purpose, and make it a pleasant occasion for the kitten. Do this by giving extra yummy treats or by giving him lots of love and affection in between each snip of the scissors.

You will want to have your new kitten examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Friends and coworkers can act as referrals to veterinarians if you don’t have one in mind. Choose a vet as you would any doctor. You want someone you can be comfortable with, someone who will answer your questions and take time to talk about your concerns.

Kittens love to play – especially late at night. They don’t really need any special toys, but you may enjoy shopping for them. When giving them something to play with, give it the same thought you would in giving a toy to a baby or small child – as in can they swallow this?

While string and yarn are thought of as cat toys, they are actually dangerous. String can do severe damage to s cat’s intestines if they swallow it, and some cats will do that. I have made simple catnip toys by stuffing infant socks with dried catnip and sewing them closed. Paper bags also make great toys.

Cat beds are nice, but few cats restrict themselves to one sleeping place. You may find them on your bed, the back of the couch or your favorite chair. Where the sun is, so is the cat. Cats like small spaces, so the kitten will probably be most comfortable in a kitten-sized bed, which means you will have to replace it as she grows. A basket lined with a soft towel works fine, too.

The world is a scary place for young kitten, especially if it has just left its mother. To minimize stress, put your kitty in a quiet room by himself when you first bring him home. Put his food, water and other supplies in there with him and leave him alone for a while. Allow him time to get used to a new environment before adjusting to people. In no time he will discover that your lap is a very comfortable place to be and your touch is a source of pleasure.

Cats are amazingly self-reliant animals. They will learn the ropes just fine. In a day or two, open the door to the cat’s room and let him begin to explore.

Kittens should come in pairs. One is fun, but two is better. The two will play together, sleep together and provide endless hours of entertainment and photo opportunities. They will also chase each other across your bed at 2:00 am.

Instead of spending a lot of money purchasing a pet, many people decide to adopt them from families that are looking to get rid of a pet, or animal shelters. Typically, animal shelters have to put pets asleep after a certain number of days if they cannot find a home for them. This is why it is so important to adopt a pet from an animal shelter. While there are some animal shelters that do not euthanize pets, the ASPCA is the largest animal shelter and they find themselves having so many excess animals on their hands that euthanasia is their only course of action.

If you are interested in choosing a cat, remember that even though cats are easier to take care of than dogs, that they are still a big responsibility. There are a lot of reasons why adopting your cat from an animal shelter may be the best choice. First of all, it could very well be saving the cat’s life. Next, animal shelters will often spay or neuter the animals before you adopt them. There may be some nominal fees involved, but adopting a pet from a shelter is still the cheapest way to buy a cat. If you have a lot of time for your new cat, then try to adopt when it is as young as possible. This way you will be there to help raise it. On the other hand, if you have a very busy family, an older cat may be the best choice.

If you are interested in adopting a dog, then you are going to have to put a lot more time into your decision. First of all, you have to consider who will be taking care of the dog. If this is going to be a pet for children under the age of 7, then a puppy may not be the best choice. They have sharper teeth and claws, and more brittle bones that could break with rough handling. Therefore, older dogs are recommended for children. Also, if there are seasoned citizens in your household, then you may not want to adopt a dog that is too large or strong.

How about birds? These are fascinating animals that you may be able to adopt as well. They are easy to take care of, but there are some interesting details that you have to take into consideration before letting into your home. First, birds are not domesticated animals. Some avian diseases can be transferred from birds to humans. They may induce allergy attacks as well. You should also know that birds, particularly the parrot family, are loud and messy. They will squawk throughout the day, and when they eat they shred their food leaving bits and pieces everywhere. Birds also have sensitive lungs and need good air quality. Smoking indoors with a bird in the house can be very dangerous to its health. Birds can also live up to 50 years, so make sure that you are ready for the long haul when taking them in.

A cute little puppy is a great addition to your house. This cute cuddly wonder will fill your house with happiness. If you are thinking of bringing a puppy to your home, you could adopt a puppy from a local animal shelter or you could get a puppy from a reputable breeder. In this article we are going to focus on adopting a puppy from a shelter.

There are several animal rescue centers that provide dogs to people who want to adopt dogs. These dogs require home and love. If you think that only ‘problem dogs’ are available in these shelters, then you are wrong.

It is sad but true that many older and adolescent dogs are thrown into these shelters every day. These also include unwanted puppies and puppies abandoned by their mom-dogs. You would be surprised to find purebred dogs and puppies in most of these animal shelters.

According to a research conducted, there are around more than eight million surrendered dogs each year in the United States. Adopting these dogs will provide them a house of their own. These homeless puppies are innocent and want a loving home where they can get love from their family members. Many of these dogs are as healthy as you can buy from any breeder.

You need to spend a lot of money when buying a purebred puppy from a breeder. You may have to spend somewhere around six hundreds dollars or more. However, if you buy a purebred puppy from a dog shelter, you can save a lot of money. These puppies are available for anywhere between an amount ranging from seventy five dollars to a hundred dollars. You can pay even less for mix breed puppy.

You can also save a lot of money in other ways when you purchase a puppy from rescue center. First and foremost, these puppies are spayed and even provided all of their shots. You can also get discounts on several privileges including training classes for puppies.

Another important thing is that you would be giving a new life to someone. You may not know but the fact is that millions of dogs are euthanized each year. These dogs are perfectly fine. The only problem they face is lack of family and a home.

Once you adopt a homeless puppy, it will prove to be the perfect mate for you. You can adopt little puppies, adolescent ones and older pups according to your desire. This depends on whether you want to take care of the dog from a very younger age or buy a trained one to stay out of hassles of obedience training a dog.

Adopting a puppy will let you do something for a creature that is living in misery for no fault of his. It is a life saving matter. All you require to do is to give a home of some love to the adopted pup and it will prove to be a perfect mate for you.

So next time you decide to purchase a purebred dog from a breeder, think twice. Try to visit a dog shelter and have a look at some cute little puppies that are waiting for someone to take them home. Take home a friend for yourself. Adopt a puppy!

Visiting an animal shelter can be an emotional experience for an animal lover. It’s difficult to see all the animals in their pens and not want to take them all home. Such feelings are understandable and commendable; however, just be sure that prior to adoption you consider all of the ramifications. And remember, your best friend is waiting for you at your local animal shelter.

Why are animal shelters always filled with animals waiting to be adopted? Well, lack of neutering dogs is a major contributor. Shockingly, it has been calculated that over a six year period, one female dog and her offspring will, if allowed access to male dogs at the relevant times, produce 67,000 puppies! Small wonder that there are more animals looking for homes than there are people who want to adopt them.

Sadly, some 6.5 million animals (mainly cats and dogs) are euthanized each year in the United States alone.

Given the above statistics, it goes without saying that adopting an animal can be a kind and loving thing to do.

But before thinking seriously about adoption, there are a number of things that you should consider.

Many of the animals awaiting adoption in shelters have had a very poor history. Some were abused, some abandoned and some were turned in because the owners had grown tired of the novelty, changed their lifestyle in a manner which didn’t include a dog, or simply didn’t have time for them.

A large number of shelter dogs have been left alone for long periods and some were never house trained.

So if you’re thinking of adopting a dog from an animal shelter, you need to be prepared to work with them.

Many adopted dogs will come to the new surroundings filled with fears based upon earlier mistreatment or the harsh rules of their previous owners. Some dogs will be reluctant to go from one room to another, will shy away when corrected and hide upon hearing a loud noise. New owners must be patient with them and speak to them softly and affectionately.

A shelter dog may be overly sensitive to your tone of voice or to any commands you may give them. You must be prepared to be patient. And you must be prepared to be loving to your new dog, without necessarily receiving any love or acknowledgment in return. Dogs are reasonably intelligent, and they will gradually come to understand their new environment and show their appreciation for your loving care

When shelter dogs finally realize that they can trust you they will likely reward you with more affection and loyalty than you can imagine.

Adopted dogs are subject to all of the behavioral problems commonly associated to dogs in general. These would include digging, jumping up on people, jumping fences, barking and nipping. There are proven solutions to all of these “offences.” If your dog is prone to digging, and always digs in one area, there are a number of effective repellent sprays that work well. If he digs under your fence, a little buried chicken wire works wonders in breaking that habit. Spray bottles filled with water should be kept at hand to break a dog from jumping up and to combat incessant barking. A quick spritz in the face immediately following, or during, the offensive behavior will usually bring about a quick behavior modification.

If thinking about adopting a dog, you should be prepared to deal with the prospect that your new dog may not be completely housebroken. Previous owners may have been irresponsible in their approach to this training, and/or the change of environment to the shelter coupled with the trauma of being abandoned (in whatever circumstances) by its previous owner, may have resulted in the dog continuing to do its “business” right in its pen.

Housetraining is not a relatively straightforward training issue which should not deter you from adopting a dog. Crate training is recommended to assist in this training, and walking your new dog and letting him out in the yard several times a day will also help. Fenced yards and doggie doors are minimal expenses and are essential if you have a dog.

Adopting a dog as a companion for a small child is not recommended. A dog is not a toy and should never be treated as one. Small children must be trained to understand “animal etiquette”. In other words, animals are not to be hit, dragged, ridden or teased. But with shelter dogs in particular, small children may not be safe around them.

Children should be taught that being overly aggressive with a new dog, especially one recently adopted, could cause the dog to react by biting or running away. If feeding and exercising the dog is to be the responsibility of a child, an adult must follow up and take ultimate responsibility for the dog.