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As I’ve mentioned, having a cat in your life can be a wonderful thing, but how you get it can make it more special.  In this blog post, I will discuss the differences between humane societies, pet stores, or the kids in front of the grocery store with a box full of kittens.

First, let me write about humane societies. 

Saving a life:  Probably the most compelling reason to adopt a pet from a humane society is to save its life.  Unfortunately, animals who are not adopted are often euthanized and disposed of.  Almost every animal shelter I know of has cats or kittens in need of a good home.

Supporting a good cause:  The staff of volunteers at humane societies work very hard to rescue animals and return them to good health before getting them to a good home.  This means your new pet has had a thorough health screening and sometimes even spayed or neutered as well as its vaccinations and other necessary shots and dewormer.  Almost every pet I have ever obtained at a humane society has also been microchipped for easy identification should they get lost or stray.  Generally, the staff at the humane society can also give you a good idea as to whether the cat or kitten will be a good fit in your house or around children.

Variety:  Usually, most humane societies have a wide variety of cats to choose from.  You may want a Siamese kitten, Maine Coon, or Toyger.  The type of cat or kitten you get can make all the difference between success or failure as a cat owner.  The experts at a humane society can usually tell you the differences between the breeds and help you with this important decision.

Support:  Another consideration is the knowledge staff at humane societies have.  They can help by providing resource information such as veterinary care, food, and even training.  Never be afraid to ask for help.  Most people do not know everything, so it is always good to ask others for their thoughts.

Second, would be adopting from a pet store:

          Here, there are only a few benefits to adopting a new cat or kitten from a pet store.

Convenient:  Pet stores are everywhere and they usually have a good selection of cats or kittens ready to adopt.  The staff at pet stores are not usually as concerned about where the animal is going, which can make the adoption process a little easier.

Responsibility:  Some pet stores work closely with breeders to ensure they are not adding to the overpopulation of cats in the world.  They really do care about the animals’ welfare and seek out responsible sources and not just “puppy mills” when buying their supply of animals.

Health and welfare:  As with humane societies, most pet stores offer health guarantees because the cat or kitten has been evaluated by a healthcare official and given all of its vaccinations before it is allowed to be adopted.  Pet stores also may offer spaying and neutering as well as microchipping, which makes adopting from a pet store, generally a good idea.

Resources:  Pet stores also offer a plethora of choices when it comes to food, watering, housebreaking, toys, etc.  They will gladly sell you whatever you think your new friend will need.

Lastly, adopting from a Friend or Acquaintance, or those kids in front of the grocery store with a box full of kittens:

This would probably be my last choice, simply because you never know what you’re going to get.  Usually, there is not a lot of variety to choose from.  The animal may or may not be in poor health.  One of the worst things people do is bring sick animals into their homes and run the risk of infecting their other animals, or worse, their children.  Generally speaking, it is very difficult to know the animal’s history, temperament, behaviors, and as mentioned, its health history.

So what are the benefits, if any, of adopting a pet from a friend or family member?

Saving a life:  I’ll return to saving the cat or kitten’s life.  Generally, these individuals want to “get rid” of the animals before they are forced to dispatch them themselves.  As ugly as it is, we have all heard horror stories of some guy putting a litter of kittens in a gunnysack and drowning them in the lake or river.  Or using the carbon monoxide from their vehicle’s exhaust to asphyxiate these poor little creatures.  Adopting a cat or kitten from these children may just save its life.

Support Network:  Adopting from someone you know can also provide you with a built-in support network. Especially if that person belongs to some kind of club or organization associated with the type of cat or kitten you are adopting.  They can offer advice and possibly even extra care when you are unavailable.  It can also help your relationship with the person you are adopting your new furry friend from.

Lower adoption fees:  This is a no-brainer.  In most cases, the cat or kitten has not had all of its vaccines or veterinary care before adoption.  This is almost always completed at humane societies and pet stores, which is going to up the adoption fees.

As you can see, no matter where you are adopting a cat or kitten from, there are advantages.  I would say the biggest advantage in all three, is that you are helping to save the life of one of God’s little creatures and hopefully able to form a strong bond with your new friend.