Have you ever thought about adopting a kitty? Kittens come to mind when someone decides to add a cat to their family. And sure, kittens are fun and cute, but they can also be a challenge. Kittens have lots and lots of energy that sometimes leads to destructive behavior. Most kittens need to be trained to use the litter box. And that cute little face? Someday it’ll be just another adult cat.
Adult cats are usually more mellow. There are a bunch of them at the San Martin Animal Shelter and they’re all healthy and affectionate.
I can think of at least two reasons an adult cat is a better choice for adoption. First of all, what you see is what you get. Kittens sometimes change their personality when they grow up. Peg and I adopted a sweet, affectionate little kitten we named Janie many years ago. Janie is now in her teens, and she ended up being one of the most aloof, “don’t touch me” cats I’ve ever seen. She never sits on our lap and cuddles. She’s too independent.
Let’s say you choose a loving adult cat at the shelter. You know, one that enjoys being held and cuddled. He or she will be the same when you get home. You’ll have that same affectionate cat on the couch with you.
Secondly, mature cats at the shelter aren’t old. Many are young adults and will live for 10 years or more. And, they’re certified healthy, so you don’t have to worry about inheriting a lot of ongoing medical problems and expenses. So why not consider adopting a mature kitty? It could be the best choice you ever make.
Q:
Rico is a fixed male cat, but still thinks he’s macho and fights with whatever cat comes into our yard. Last week he had a swollen cheek. We thought it was a fight wound, but we never saw any blood. Could this have been a tumor or something else?
A:
Rico’s lumpy face probably was an infection or abscess caused by a claw wound he got while fighting another kitty. Once in a while these cheek wounds break open and drain into the mouth. When this occurs, no one sees any of it. Rico may have had some bad breath when he swallowed all that gunk. But in this case, he won’t need to see a veterinarian for treatment unless the swelling builds up again. If he has an infected or broken tooth, the swelling in the cheek may reoccur. And if it does, he’ll need some help. Dental problems like that require medical attention. So keep an eye on your tough guy. And think about keeping him indoors, away from all these conflicts. These fight wounds are more dangerous than you might think. And other cats roaming in your yard carry several very dangerous diseases, including Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), the kitty form of AIDS. Rico would be safer if he lived inside. And your vet bills would be a lot smaller.
Q:
Every time we hear a siren, Klaus (our 4-year-old wiener dog) starts to howl. He doesn’t seem stressed, just compelled to answer the call of an ambulance or fire truck or police car. What makes him do this?
A:
Klaus’ behavior isn’t unusual; a lot of dogs respond to sirens the same way. Dogs are social creatures. Wild dogs like coyotes and wolves live in packs. And when they’re out hunting, they call to each other as a way of communicating. Klaus has this same instinctive behavior. He really can’t help himself. He’s just compelled to answer that call.
Interestingly enough, if you are out at night near a county park where there are coyotes, you may hear the same thing happen. We were out for a moonlight walk one night and a fire truck went by with lights and siren going full force. Several coyotes nearby suddenly started howling. We hadn’t seen them in the dark, and didn’t even know they were there! What a surprise that was!
