MAY 28, 2009 ISSUE
June Is Adopt-a-Cat Month at Watauga Humane Society
Society Chooses Adopt-a-Cat Month Spokescats
A plus of adopting an adult cat is that you know what its personality is like. In the cat room at the Watauga Humane Society’s shelter, you can interact with the cats a lot like you will be doing in your own home, as ASU students Cayla Schrader and Brad Hardee are doing. Photo by Kathy Copley
Sabrina, Tommy and Deuce hope you will take Adopt-a-Cat Month seriously and stop by the Watauga Humane Society Shelter for a test purr.
And to sweeten the deal, the Watauga Humane Society is offering a special fee for adopting an adult cat between now and the end of June. The adoption fee is $50 rather than the usual $75 for the first 30 adult cats that are adopted, and it includes spay/neuter surgery, a microchip for easy identification if the cat becomes lost, testing for feline leukemia and feline AIDS, deworming, up-to-date rabies and feline distemper vaccinations, a bag of Science Diet cat food, a complimentary wellness examination with any participating local vet and a coupon for a discount on the first purchase from The Pet Place in Shadowline Shopping Center.
Why a Cat?
Butterscotch (top) is a 6-year-old female cat and Pythagoras—named after the legendary Greek mathematician—is a 2-year-old male. Their owners said, “They embody the quintessential shelter success story. Pythagoras went from being an alley cat scrounging for food at an apartment complex to being king cat with three consorts. Butterscotch has the sweetest face and personality among all cats in Watauga County.” Both were adopted from Watauga Humane Society. Photo submitted
As Adopt-a-Cat Month Spokescats Butterscotch and Pythagoras could tell you, cats make great pets, even for people with fast-paced lives—and they have become America’s most popular pet. They are not the reclusive loners they have a reputation to be, and you don’t have to rush home from work to let them out.
Like dogs, cats provide physical, emotional and social benefits for their people. They bring companionship, love and a sense of calm to the end of a hectic day. Blood pressure goes down when people interact with pets. Coronary heart disease patients with pets have higher survival rates. Children with pets demonstrate increased ability to nurture and care for others.
“June is one of our busiest months,” said Shelter Manager Lynn Northup, “because we and Animal Care and Control receive the inevitable onslaught of unwanted spring kittens and cats looking for good homes. The large number of cats and kittens can be a challenge to shelters, but it means a wide selection of sizes, colors, markings and temperaments to choose from. Spend some time in our cat room to see who chooses you.”
Introducing the Newcomer
When you introduce a new cat into a household with established cats, it’s a good idea to introduce them slowly, over the course of a couple of days or longer.
“A plan I’ve used successfully,” said cat owner Kathy Copley, “is to put the new cat in a smallish room like a bathroom—where it can’t hide from you—equipped with food and water bowls, a litter box, soft bedding like a folded blanket and some toys. Plan to spend time in that room with the new resident. Read the newspaper or a book, balance your checkbook or whatever. After a couple of days, let the new cat have the run of the house and put the established cat in the room the new one just vacated. That way, the cats become aware of each other long before they actually meet. After a couple of days, let them meet under your supervision. There may be some hissing, but it is likely to be short-lived.”
Northup added, “Don’t force it. Let the cats take their own time to become acquainted with each other.”
“We have a cat room full of friendly, litter-box-trained cats that would love to sit on your lap or sleep by your chair,” said shelter staff member John Graves.
Come In For a Test Purr!
Kittens continue to be available for adoption at our regular $75 adoption fee. Check out all the felines available for adoption by clicking to www.wataugahumanesociety.org.
For more information, call the shelter at 828-264-7865 or stop by 200 Casey Lane during the shelter’s regular business hours—12:30 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday.
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