Adopting a Cat: Things to Consider
Congratulations on your decision to bring home a new furry family member! There’s an incredible variety of cats who need homes, from 8-week-old kittens to seniors, from shy cats to attention seekers, and so much more. As you decide which cat(s) to add to your family, we recommend you consider the following factors.
For additional tips on how to find the right pet for you, check out our Behavior & Training Lecture: Adopting/Transitioning Shelter Pets.
How much time and experience do you have?
- Kittens are adorable! They also require much more time, effort and training than adult cats. They need more supervision, as they can easily get into things and are at greater risk of injuring themselves in your home. Kittens are still developing their personalities, and only socialization and time will tell how their personalities form — including how affectionate, social or active they’ll be.
- Adult cats’ personalities are often more clear, so you can choose one who will be a good fit for you and your household.
- If you have a lot of experience with cats, consider one who’s been in the shelter longer and may have special medical or behavioral considerations. You may just be a hero for a cat in need!
Do you have children?
- Cats can bring lots of love to a family! It’s important that every person in the home — especially children — know how to approach cats gently and recognize their limits.
- Some cats are shy, fearful or skittish. Others can be reactive and engage in defensive behaviors when overstimulated. We recommend that cats who display these behaviors find their homes with families who do not have children under the age of 12.
- Though kittens are cute and playful, they are not always good matches for households with young children. Kittens are very fragile and need consistent, gentle handling. They can develop serious behavior problems if not raised with consistency and care by all members of the household.
Do you have a dog?
- If you have a cat-friendly dog, you will want a kitten, a confident adult cat or an adult cat with a history of living peacefully with a dog. It’s important to perform slow and systematic introductions regardless of the cat's age and history.
- Avoid very fearful cats and those who are physically unable to defend themselves (such as declawed cats, three-legged cats, etc.), unless you have a very small and docile dog.
- Make sure you have the time and space to introduce the dog and cat gradually and supervise them together. This process can take weeks or even months.
- Be willing to make practical changes to your environment as needed, such as blocking your dog’s access to the litter box and installing safety gates.
Do you have other cats?
- You and your cats will be happier if you match their temperaments and stay within the same age group when adopting a second cat. If you have a playful, active cat at home, your new cat will need to be comfortable with that level of energy and enjoy those playful interactions. If the cat you already have at home is older and calm, reconsider adopting a hyper kitten!
- No matter who you decide to adopt, integrating a new cat into your home will take time. The cats will need to be separated for weeks or even months, and the introduction will need to be gradual. Cats are territorial animals and often take weeks or months to adjust to sharing their space with another cat.
- Help the cats create a positive relationship by creating good associations. Pair the addition of treats with the scent, sound and sight of the other cat during the introduction process. Provide ample separation time for decompression to avoid creating bad associations.
What size is your home?
- If you have a small apartment, consider whether you should adopt a less active cat (usually an older cat), or if you can devote enough time to play to keep your cat engaged and healthy.
- If you have a very large home, an overly fearful cat may find it overwhelming and spend much of their time hiding. To introduce a shy cat to a large living space, start off by getting them comfortable with one room at first, then slowly expand the amount of space they have access to as they show comfort. It's best to take it one room at a time.
How often are you home?
- All cats require daily attention, from feeding to affection to playtime, but some cats need more throughout the day than others. If your cat doesn’t get the attention they need, this can lead to behavior problems such as biting, scratching and eliminating outside the litter box.
- If you’re gone for much of the day, an independent cat is going to be much happier in your home — which means that you’ll end up much happier too. It's still important to provide independent cats with plenty of mental enrichment activities to keep them stimulated and mentally healthy.
- Consider adopting two cats instead of one, so they can keep each other company, and keep each other engaged through playtime and companionship. An excellent option is to adopt kittens, who thrive when developing with a buddy!
Do you have people over often?
- If you regularly host guests at your home, look to adopt an outgoing or independent cat — one who will enjoy the extra attention or be indifferent to the company.
- A shy cat who is subjected to frequent social gatherings will likely hide and view their home as very stressful.
- Provide plenty of appropriate places for your cat to hide, such as vacant rooms, cat trees, condos and cat caves. Allow your cat to approach new people on their own terms — never force your cat into an interaction. If your cat does approach a guest, have the guest calmly give your cat treats to create a positive association with them.
How much grooming are you willing to do?
- Longhaired cats require much more grooming care. While a shorthaired cat can often groom themselves sufficiently, a longhaired cat will need to be brushed anywhere from daily to a minimum of twice per week.
- The tips of the nails should be trimmed every 2-3 weeks to keep you and your cat safe and healthy. Look into options to help your cat become more comfortable with nail trims and other care and handling.
What kind of personality are you looking for?
- Take a few minutes to think about what you see when you imagine having your perfect cat in your home. Are they playful and energetic? Do they sit in your lap while you watch TV? Are they mischievous or are they calm? Then read the notes on the personalities of the cats available for adoption and talk to your adoption counselor. While cats’ personalities can really bloom once they leave the shelter and get into a home, the best indicator we have of who they are is how they behave in our care at San Diego Humane Society.
- Note that not every behavior will translate to your home exactly: While a high-energy cat in a shelter is likely to be high-energy in a home too, a shy cat in a shelter may open up and come out of their shell in a patient and loving home.