Hello, my name is Catherine. I have long loved animals and have had several of my own over the years. Sadly, I saw two of my cats suffer with feline cancer, one of my dogs had arthritis, and, of course, we faced the usual calamities and injuries pets often face. However, I have had to navigate this on a relatively restricted budget, and through the years, I have gotten quite proficient at that. I work at a library and love doing research on pets and veterinary care as well as a range of other topics. I also love to write so decided to put my info in a blog. Please, explore and enjoy!
Keeping Your animals Healthy and Happy Without Overspending
Cat Adoption Tips: How to Find a Cat With the Right Personality
Ellen Lampi
Like people, cats all have different personalities. If you're thinking about adopting a cat, it's important to make sure that you pick one with which you can build a two-way loving relationship. It's also worth thinking about the kind of home environment you'll offer your new pet to make sure that it is a good match for its temperament.
Don't Judge a Cat by its Picture
Many cat adoption facilities put up photos of their cats on their websites. This allows you to see cats that are currently available for adoption from the comfort of your own home. While it's useful to see pictures of potential pets, you shouldn't adopt a cat simply because you like the way it looks. A chocolate box kitten may look sweet but may have the personality of Attila the Hun; a ferocious-looking tom may look scary but may have the sweetest temperament in the world.
If possible, you should make a visit to the adoption centre to meet and interact with the cat before you decide whether to adopt it or not. This gives you a more concrete idea of how you and the cat will get along in real life. Although some cats may be a little shy or aloof when you first meet them, you'll see more of their personality at close quarters.
Tip: If you don't think one visit tells you enough about a cat, ask centre staff if you can go back for another visit on a different day. Some centres will also reserve cats for you for a few days to give you more time to make up your mind.
Talk to People Who Know the Cat
Adoption centre staff get to know their cats' personalities and typically also have the experience to assess the right kinds of home environments for each cat. For example, the RSPCA gives each of its adoption cats a temperament assessment that can help you decide if a cat is right for you. It's important to listen to recommendations and to be open about your home environment to avoid mismatches.
For example, if you're looking for a cat that is patient enough to deal with a rabble of children, you probably shouldn't adopt an older cat that is looking for some peace and quiet and that doesn't like being bothered by people. If you already have a cat at home, centre staff will also be able to recommend animals that will be comfortable in a cat-family scenario.
Tip: If you have young children, it's worth taking them along to meet any cat you're considering adopting. Cats will make it very obvious if they don't like small people.
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