When to adopt a cat, not a kitten

If you've decided to adopt a cat, remember that there are many advantages to adopting an adult cat instead of a kitten.

For starters, the playfulness of kittens is part of their charm, but it has its downside.

"You have to be able to live with what we call the kitten-zoomies," said Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA's Adoption Center in New York. Kittens have very high energy levels.

Bringing any new animal into your household requires some adjustments, of course. But babies of any species require more "child-proofing."

"If you have plants, rugs, things that can be knocked over - all of those things are going to be changed," Buchwald said. "These antics are cute, but maybe at five in the morning when you're trying to sleep you don't want the blankets pulled off."

"Frequently people have misconceptions about what it takes to entertain and be the caregiver for a kitten," Buchwald said. "People will bring a kitten back to the shelter and say, 'There's something wrong with him. He never calms down. He runs around all night.' We say, 'Diagnosis: Kitten.'"

In contrast, adult cats are calmer and less energetic. In addition, by 2 years old, they have clearly developed personalities. "Then you really get to see what kind of cat you've got," Buchwald said. "If someone comes in and says 'I want a lap cat,' I can do that."

If someone wants a playful cat, it's hard to judge that trait in a kitten. "All cats are playful as kittens. ... With a mature cat, we really see what this cat is going to be like as a companion," she said.

Adult cats are also a much better choice for homes with small humans.

"Young children of toddler age don't know their size and strength, and kittens can be rather fragile," Buchwald said. "You're more likely to have a successful experience with both the cat and the children if the cat is an adult."

There are also health issues to consider. Cats must be 6 months or older before they can be tested for two serious diseases, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).

Cats with FeLV typically don't live past age 2 or 3. FIV, in contrast, much like human HIV, can be managed with the proper care. But the burden of both diseases can be avoided if you adopt an animal that's already old enough to have undergone the test.

Still, those little balls of fluff sell themselves, and despite all the rational arguments, you may decide you want a kitten after all. If so, take two.

"If someone wants to adopt a kitten, we encourage them to take two. They can entertain each other, which keeps them out of the pet owner's hair," Buchwald said.

Kittens also help raise each other. They learn bite inhibition when playing roughly, backing off when their playmate squeals. "They teach each other that very well when adopted out in pairs," and then can apply it to their human companions as well. Without this mutual education, "a playful love bite can break the skin."

Reference: www.theeagle.com

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