All About Cat and Kitten Adoption
If you are thinking about what a swell idea it would be to share your life and home with a pet cat, you should consider adopting from a local shelter rather than buying from a pet store or cat breeder.
Pet adoption or even owning a pet is a major commitment, one that should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision. There are several factors that you should take into consideration before you can decide whether you are ready to adopt a pet.
To kickstart your adoption search, check out Singapore’s online pet adoption platform: Buddle! By connecting paws with homes, their mission helps match furkids in needs with potential pawrents.
Follow @buddle.sg on Instagram now!
How To Adopt A Cat In Singapore?
In Singapore, there are many shelters and organizations which are dedicated to rescuing cats off the streets and providing them with food, shelter,
veterinary care, etc. These facilities welcome and encourage potential pet owners to adopt from their wards for this could free up space so they can take in more abandoned and homeless cats.
If you want to know about the cat adoption process in Singapore, you can check out the websites of the various shelter and rescues. Most usually contain all the information you may need about cat and kitten adoption. Some organizations even have “adoption hotlines” that cater to all queries about pet adoption. Although they follow general procedures and policies governing cat adoption, each may have additional requirements to ensure that the interested cat parent is fully qualified and that adopted cats will have a forever home where they will be showered with love and care through the rest of their lives.
Where to adopt or buy cats in Singapore?
Here at perromart, we encourage you to adopt! Here are some of the popular animal shelters and rescue organizations in Singapore include The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Causes for Animals Singapore, Love Kuching Project, Kitten Sanctuary Singapore, Mutts & Mittens, and Cat Welfare Society (CWS).
Of course, not all applications for cat and kitten adoption are approved. A good number of applications are declined because of various reasons, most of which are associated with factors that can compromise the health and well-being of newly adopted cats.
How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Cat In Singapore?
Most animal shelters and pet rescues in Singapore require interested cat parents to pay an adoption fee that usually covers primary vaccinations, neutering/spaying, deworming, heartworm preventatives, microchipping, and other procedures that the cat may have been subjected to. While it may seem that the adoption fee is quite high, it is definitely cheaper compared to buying a cat or a kitten from a breeder or a “kitty mill”. Having adoption fees can also help deter abandonment or even selling of adopted cats, as well as help defray the shelter’s operating costs. Adoptions costs may range from $25-$250.
There are, however, pet rescue organizations like the Animal Lovers League (ALL) that offer cat adoptions for free.
Adopting A Newborn Kitten
Adopting adult cats have its challenges, but more so with newborn kittens that are either orphans or abandoned by their mother. There are also instances when a mother cat does not produce enough milk to feed her litter. Whatever may be the case, adopting a newborn kitten means you are taking over the role of the mother cat– from feeding to grooming to encouraging elimination to cleaning up after the kittens to socialization. They will also need to be bottle-fed around the clock until they are ready to be weaned at 3-4 weeks of age. Until then, you should be prepared to wake up all hours of the night to feed the kitten/s.
Newborn kittens are still unable to regulate their body temperature thus, it will be up to you to create an environment where they won’t be exposed to extreme cold and suffer life-threatening hypothermia. Kittens will need an external source of heat, such as a heating pad or hot water bottle to keep them warm. The kittens should be placed in a spacious box or crate where they can move around freely and be comfortable.
Transitioning kittens from milk replacer to pet food starts when they’re about 3-4 weeks old. The switch should be done gradually to prevent digestive upsets. Their bodies need enough time to adjust to the new diet.
Orphaned kittens can be adopted by a foster mother cat. While there are successful cases of fostering, some kittens are unfortunately rejected by a foster mother cat and need to be bottle-fed.
Reasons To Adopt A Cat From A Shelter
Being adopted is the best thing that can happen to any cat in the shelter. It is a second chance at life with a family who is willing to provide all the cat’s needs and shower him with care and attention. There are many important reasons why you should consider adopting a cat from a shelter. Aside from being cheaper than buying from a cat breeder, kitty adoption is an honorable and rewarding endeavor. Adoption can also help ensure that you get a cat whose personality is already known, which means no surprises! This is especially true with adult cats. Shelter residents come in various breeds, colors, sizes, ages, etc. and you get to pick the one that catches your fancy. Indeed, there is a lot to choose from.
When you choose to adopt, you are doing your share in helping shut down “kitty mills” whose main purpose is to earn money from selling kittens without any regard to the health and well-being of their cats. Their breeding animals are kept in poor living conditions, kept in cages without human interaction, and forced to produce kittens over and over until they become a liability. Many kittens from kitty mills suffer from various health problems and are prone to behavior issues.
By adopting a cat from the shelter, you free up some space that will now allow them to take in cats that are still in the streets, so they will also have a chance of being adopted and having a family.
Adopting A Cat With Special Needs
Blind, lame, deaf, or cats with medical issues often have a difficult time being adopted. Many would-be cat parents choose those that are active, healthy, normal, and attractive.
It is a fact that cats with special needs can be more challenging to take care of. Aside from any physical disability that they may have, they are also more prone to forming behavior issues. Thus, it is no wonder why many people who adopt cats prefer the “normal” ones. A cat with special needs can be a handful especially for first-time cat owners.
Of course, there will be several important factors that you should consider carefully. You should ask yourself if you can provide a safe and suitable environment for a cat with special needs, if your lifestyle has a room for a special needs cat, are you financially capable, do you have a reliable form of transportation to take your cat on frequent visits to the vet or for frequent emergency care, etc.
But if you do decide to open your home to a cat with special needs, be sure that everyone in the family is on the same page. Everyone should pitch in to prepare a home where your cat’s special needs are met while being showered with love and attention.
What Do You Need When You Adopt A Cat?
The planning and preparation that goes with adopting a cat are just the same as when buying a cat from a breeder or pet store. You need to prepare your home well ahead of time, pet-proofing, and creating an environment where the newest addition to the household will feel safe and comfortable as he hurdles the challenges of adjusting to a new home. For the first few weeks, your newly adopted cat will need his personal space, ideally, a secure room that has been prepared before his arrival. The cat will need his space and privacy while he is adjusting to everything unfamiliar around him. All cat essentials, like food and water bowls, kitty bed or bedding, litter box, scratching post, and cat toys should already be placed inside the room. The litter box should be placed away from where the cat will eat, drink, and sleep.
To make the transition period easier for your newly adopted cat, it is a good idea to ask the shelter if you can bring home some of his things, such as his bedding or favorite toy. You should also ask what pet food the cat is eating and the type of litter the cat is using while in the shelter. Even if you would like to give another type of pet food or use another type of litter in the box, it is not advisable to do so at this time. This will only add to the stress of adjusting to a new home. You may choose to do the switch later when your adopted pet is comfortable with his new surroundings and has fully adjusted to the routine of the household.
