Читать книгу The Cat Handbook - Karen Leigh Davis - Страница 28

An animal shelter is an excellent place to begin your search for a cat in need of a good home. While you’re more likely to find random-bred cats there, even purebreds sometimes end up being surrendered to shelters for adoption.

Not all shelters are alike, however. Some are private or volunteer organizations, while others are funded by tax dollars and operated by city or county governments. Generally speaking, an animal control facility is a public institution that must accept any animal brought in. Some animal control facilities, especially those in poorer areas, operate on low budgets and have limited space, and as a result, may be forced to euthanize more animals than they are able to keep and place in homes. Private shelters and volunteer rescue organizations, on the other hand, are more likely to have a no-kill policy. Such organizations are able to exercise this policy by refusing to accept more animals once they reach capacity, or by using a network of foster homes where cats are cared for until they can be permanently placed.

Adoption practices vary widely, but most shelters will require that you fill out a questionnaire and sign a form agreeing to have the cat spayed or neutered, unless this already has been done. Often, by asking a few questions, the shelter workers can help you select a cat that has a temperament best suited to your own personality and lifestyle. Some shelters may even want to visit your home, to ensure that the cat will be housed and cared for properly. Do not be offended by organizations that attempt to investigate your suitability as a pet owner; they are acting in the best interests of the animals they have sworn to protect.

Most shelters also request a donation or charge an adoption fee–usually no more than $50 or $60–to pay for the food and veterinary care the cat received there. If the organization had the animal spayed or neutered, the fee helps cover that cost as well. Another reason shelters charge a fee is that people naturally tend to place greater value on and take better care of a pet that they pay for, as opposed to one that is free.

High-end shelters, or those with bigger budgets to spend, sometimes screen their animals in advance for various parasites and diseases, and administer at least an initial series of vaccinations. Some even spay or neuter animals prior to adoption. Other organizations offer vouchers that can be redeemed at most veterinarians’ offices for a free or discounted medical exam and spaying or neutering. Some shelters also operate information hot lines that you can call if you have general questions about cat care and behavior.

Before adopting from a shelter, find out as much as you can about the history and care that has been provided to the cat. For example:

• Under what circumstances did the animal arrive at the shelter?

• Has a veterinarian examined the cat?

• Has the cat received any vaccinations?

• Has he been checked or treated for internal parasites?

• Has he been tested and found to be negative for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)?

Knowing these details is especially important if you have other cats at home. Usually, this information is spelled out in the contract or adoption agreement that you sign, but if not, always ask. In addition, make sure you understand the shelter’s return policy, in case the animal you adopt turns out to be sick or simply doesn’t work out in your home.