There are many older cats (over 6) at shelters looking for a good home. They are older and wiser, but often free. If you can give a cat a good home don't just look at the kittens!
By Nadine
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am getting a cat from a friend who rescues cats from assorted places. She got this girl and her sister several months ago. She is extremely friendly and is more like a dog. Long story short I am a dog lover, but can't have one due to physical limitations, but would like some company. My friend thinks I will do great with this lovely cat.
I hate to admit it, but I am still nervous even after saying I want her. I have been around a cat at work for the last 3 years and fell in love with him. I am here seeking information, anything that you can say to encourage this person recently on disability that misses work and going out.
Trust yourself and your new fur baby. She needs you as much as you need her. She will warm up to you, and you two will be the best of friends!
Cats can be the best company, especially if they are dog like! They are often independent, but loving on their terms. It is so therapeutic to have a warm, sentient creature around.
If you are nervous, maybe your friend can help you the first day or two to set a routine so you are comfortable with the litter cleaning and food prep.
Maybe she can help you select toys and bedding that are safe for you both...things like balls are a hazard for you, so maybe a scratching post and some soft toys like plush mice or feather wands.
Post back with updates! Maybe you can enter your new kit in Thrifty Fun's pet contest!! That would be fun!
Blessings!!
It sounds like you know the cat well and have been around her for a bit now. You know if the cat is right for you or not. It is just something that you feel when you see the cat. It already sounds like you love the cat and feel that it is a good fit for you. You are just nervous to make a commitment to accept the cat and take care of her full time. Trust your gut and your feeling. You will know if this cat is right for you or not.
I have the same opinion as the other people that have responded in that it seems you already know you want the cat. I'd like to add that cats are great for reducing stress. They also provide companionship. Some of the adjustments you have to make when you experience physical limitations that alter your lifestyle is finding purpose and adjusting to a new schedule/lifestyle. Adopting a cat that will depend on you for care and love will give you purpose. Cats are also great at keeping you on schedule with feeding and they don't mind insisting you pet them or engage in interactive play with them.
I adopted 2 six year old female cats. The previous owner wants to visit them, after a week in my house. Will this unsettle them?
By Sharon
I can understand why you are concerned but I can soooo deeply empathise with the former cat-mum/dad! They want to be absolutely sure they've put their former fur-baby into the right new home. I hope you'll not only encourage a brief (one-time only) visit, but will be good enough to send them updates including pictures of how the cats are.
When I remarried and moved to the UK in 2010 I ended up having to rehome my two cats (neutered male-5yo, spayed female-3yo). In a way making that decision was the hardest part of the move because my son and grandson come over for visits regularly-I get to see them all the time.
But the new cat family refused from the beginning to let me know how they were doing and I still have nightmares because I don't know how they are. I raised the female from a tiny kitten, and the male was a 9mo old rescue-they trusted me and I feel horrible thinking they might have gone through a hard adjustment feeling they'd been abandoned by me. An email with pics of those two looking happy and comfortable would have settled it for me, and shouldn't have been too much trouble, I will never understand why they wouldn't let me know the cats are ok.
So, while yes it might be a little unsettling for the cats for a day or so after the visit, it will ease the mind(s) of the previous family, and if you are providing a good home for them, the cats should settle back into their new routine and be fine.
And the former family will be reassured the cats are ok. I'm really not kidding about the nightmares I'm having about my two, I really believe 'pets are family' and are for life, and it was horrible having to find them a new home. I feel as though I abandoned them, and it's primarily because the people I trusted to rehome them wouldn't let me know they are ok.
Please consider permitting the visit, and please keep the former family updated via email. A few emails with pics over the first year should be enough to help the humans make the adjustment.
And if it helps, I've rehomed cats and dogs and always made sure the former family is updated-doing so has never caused a long-term problem for the animal, the formers, or me. My new husband and I fostered a cat here in Scotland over the long 2011-12 winter owing to an illness and simultaneous house move; when we tried to take him back to his family in the summer, he refused to get along with the other cats in the home so he's rehomed permanently at our house.
I email his former family every couple of months-seems to help the former 'mum' especially because she and the cat had a very strong bond. But he's happy here as the 'only' cat, too, so it's working out for everyone. She knows he's ok, he has the life I think he's always dreamt of, lol. Win-win:)
