Pre-planning $$$ helps smooth the road to pet adoptions

Annie

Way long ago, it was much easier to adopt a cat or dog. There were few formal adoptions with paperwork or fees or scheduled vet visits.  And, many of those casually-acquired pets lived outdoors: remember dog houses?

It's all different now, with more steps and costs, and ways of treating pets never thought of before. Clearly, today’s approach is much better for animals, who get preventive medicines, all sorts of comforts (typically inside) and amusements, and ranking as beloved family members.  

Considering current complications to pet-adoption, people are advised to consider the costs involved beforehand, so they can do right by the animal they want.  (I’m focusing on cats here because I’m in the market – and I hope many others are too.)  

As illustrated by a recent, cautionary Catster article, total adoption costs are up there, what with variables that can affect adoption fees as well as numerous other “necessaries” to count too.   

Age, from beguiling kitten to senior feline, can determine the adoption fee.  So can cat breed: how rare and how popular the desired cat may be.  Adoption location is in there too, with urban adoption fees typically higher than rural fees. The same goes for source: whether the pet comes from a shelter or rescue group, or from a breeder.   

Also necessary to calculate: what services and vaccines come with the adoption fee.  These can include spay/neuter; a vet exam; microchipping; deworming; flea and tick treatment; core vaccinations; feline leukemia test; collar and ID tag – all, ideally, taken care of by the rescue or shelter as part of the adoption process.   

Still other costs connected with adopting a cat are litter and food; vet check-ups and/or booster vaccines; dental work; regular flea and tick treatments; pet insurance (if desired).  

Both basics too: litter boxes – (1 per cat plus one extra is the “rule of paw”) – and a cat bed.  (Sure, cats may ultimately settle on or in their people’s bed, but they deserve to start with something uniquely theirs, a “bed of their own.”) 

After those basics comes a wide range of possible, including a cat tree – a vertical haven for height-loving felines; a cat carrier – for vet trips and visiting; food and water bowls – easy-clean stainless steel advised; toys and (edible) treats – to aid bonding and training; a brush and other grooming tools; a toothbrush and paste -- for the brave souls who’ll attempt feline dental hygiene; a scratching post – for cat claws, instead of furniture!

And too, allowance for pet-sitters and/or pet boarding. 

Everything listed above is only secondary to the greatest, most important expenditure to make when adopting a cat: time.  The cat-adopter must give generously of time if the new cat will settle in and become comfortable, affectionate, bonded. 

So, moving toward adopting a cat can (and should) be serious, time-consuming business (besides great fun).  But. . . after all the drum-beating about what’s needed and cost-estimates, there’s a new, other side to this story!

Just today, the Dodo (TheDodo.com) published a story with a new take on the situation.  Now, the report goes, with an over-abundance of possible adoptable pets, shelters and groups are lowering (and even waiving) prices for available animals.  The reasons given for this: today’s current inflation problems, causing people to be more frugal about expenditures.

https://tinyurl.com/3de98z5t

OK, then, all you wanna-be cat-adopters: get going!    

A blog post alert

It’s August, a traditional vaca time – for me too!  That means fewer if any more blog posts here till closer to month’s end.  But to help tide you over, the helpful link above, about planning to adopt, and the wonderful one right here, about pandemic puppies!  https://tinyurl.com/58hk2kzk   

Taking my own advice -- a happy foreshadowing:

                         Jersey                         Obi pic

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