| Boo Boo is a long haired Manx mix. She is very | | | | shots, spay and medications. She also had heart |
| independent and has been the ruler of the roost for | | | | worms and he ultimately lost her anyway. Be aware |
| the past 3 years. We did have a dog in the home | | | | when adopting pets. If a shelter can not produce a |
| and they got along perfect and were best pals. | | | | clean bill of health from a certified vets office, don't |
| However, it was a dog, not another cat. | | | | take the pet. |
| Our beloved dog had been my best pal for the past | | | | In my search, I found a few possibilites and went to |
| 14 years. She developed lymphoma (tumor on the | | | | met them. Most shelters will have an area that you |
| brain) and had to be put down almost two years | | | | can meet the animals and get to know them. This |
| ago. Since then, our kitty Boo Boo was alone in the | | | | shelter had a "cat" room where they allowed cats to |
| home getting all the attention and not having to | | | | roam free and mingle with other cats of all ages. I |
| share her space with any other animal. She was the | | | | liked this idea, I could get a better idea of which cat |
| queen of the kingdom! However, she was lonely | | | | would get along best with other cats to make sure I |
| when I was away and began to over eat and not | | | | had the right fit for my current cat. The shelter had |
| get the excersise she needed. The Manx breed came | | | | a few cats that fit my preferences perfectly. |
| suffer from depression when left alone or seperated | | | | Previous owners had surrendered perfectly good |
| from is owner. They can tend to be clingy to their | | | | pets for many reasons being allergies or relocation |
| owners, which is a neat thing if you like a devoted | | | | and these pets needed a new homes. I found two |
| and loving cat. Its like having a dog around the house. | | | | perfect candidates and went home to sleep on it. |
| They are always waiting at the door every day | | | | The next morning I had made up my mind and went |
| when you arrive from work and want to be part of | | | | back down to visit my first choice again. And, yes, he |
| your life unlike some breeds that are just hanging | | | | was the perfect fit! He was 3 years old, declawed, |
| around because they have no where else to be right | | | | nuetered, current on all shots and microchipped just |
| then. | | | | waiting on a home. He had been there for a few |
| I decided to adopt a new buddy into our tribe to | | | | months and the price was reduced. I paid a 50.00 |
| keep her occupied during my absence. I wasn't sure | | | | donation and got the healthy cat, all the docs on his |
| of a kitten or mature cat. Since she is no longer in | | | | shots, nueter and microchip, a pet carrier and a 5lb |
| the "kitten" playing stage, that might not be a good | | | | bag of Science Diet cat food. Also assurance that if |
| idea and could cause problems if the active kitten | | | | something didn't work out with my current cat or if |
| wanted to play a little to much. So, I decided to | | | | he developed health issues, I could take him back to |
| adopt a mature cat who would like to play but not | | | | the shelter for medical attention or a surrender if it |
| over do it and know when to say "ok, stop!". In this | | | | got that bad at home and they hated each other. |
| day and age, the local no kill shelters are overflowing | | | | You can't beat that deal! |
| with wonderful pets to adopt who are released with | | | | I bought our new guy home and followed some very |
| a clean bill of health, spay/nuetured, microchipped and | | | | good advise. I placed him in a spare bedroom to allow |
| current on all shots. Its hard to go wrong with a | | | | him time to get used to the new place. It is a shock |
| shelter adoption. Unlike what you get from places like | | | | to them! Once he got used to the new room, I took |
| Carigslist where people are only looking to dump | | | | him into the family area and let him wonder for a |
| animals with agression issues, bad health and who | | | | while and placed him back into the "safe room" |
| knows what else! That can cost a new owner a lot | | | | where his things were. While he was wondering the |
| of money as well as heartbreak if the pet has | | | | family area, I placed our resident cat in his room to |
| serious health issues and you are stuck with the | | | | check out his smell and start the introduction process. |
| issues of putting them down. Not to mension bringing | | | | My cat was smelling the stranger and the stranger |
| home nasty infections or illness to an existing family | | | | was smelling the resident cats place. Of course, they |
| pet. Always be safe and learn all you can about your | | | | sniffed each other under the bedroom door and |
| new pet. No matter what, no pet is free! It always | | | | there were lots of hissing going on, mostly from the |
| costs you something now or later. My last "free" cat | | | | resident cat. I chose a very laid back personality for |
| cost me over 1500.00 in creeping vet bills over a 1 | | | | our new cat since my resident cat was posessive, |
| year period with a upper repsritory infection when I | | | | being a typical trait of the Manx personality. I belong |
| got her, medications, spayed, shots and microchip. | | | | to her, not him! |
| Trust me, NOTHING is free! Shelters have already | | | | I did this process several times during the day and |
| done this work for you. If animals show signs of | | | | into the night. After we had dinner, I decided to |
| agression or illness, they are no placed on the | | | | formally introduce them by opening the door to the |
| adoption lists. | | | | new cats room and let him come out when he was |
| I started my serch by calling my vet and asking them | | | | ready. It went pretty good. The resident cat was |
| the names of some shelters in our area that they | | | | very hissy-spitty towards the new cat but his |
| had dealing with and would recommend. I was given | | | | presonality towards her was great. He just let her |
| phone numbers and web addresses. I started my | | | | hiss and spit and sat in the middle of the room |
| search and looked at the animals on the wed site to | | | | looking at her do her dance. We allowed them to |
| get an idea of what I wanted as well as the cost of | | | | have the great stare down for about 30 minutes |
| the adoption fees. I found that most of the mature | | | | since there was no attack. Only the hssy-spitty |
| cats where at a discounted price because it was | | | | dancing and a few growls, again, mainly from the |
| harder to place them in a new home. Most people | | | | resident cat. Then I placed him back in his room for |
| prefer cute little kittens when making selections. I | | | | the night with lots of praise on what a good kitty he |
| had decided on a mature cat and had a few items | | | | was before I left the room. Then I spent time trying |
| that I wanted with my new cat. I would prefer a | | | | to calm our resident cat before bed and she relaxed. |
| declawed cat if available, housebroken, microchipped | | | | Then she fell asleep in her usual spot. It was a big |
| and spay/nuetered. Of course, my cats are indoors | | | | day for all of us. |
| only and I didn't want a cat that is a great escape | | | | The next morning, I spent time with our resident cat. |
| artist each time I open the door. Always shop around | | | | Then I spent time with the new cat in his room. I |
| for good shelter too. Not all are great and wonderful. | | | | then, opened his door and let him come out on his |
| Look at the shelters conditions and make sure they | | | | on. The resident cat just sat and watched him on her |
| are clean and the animals look clean and well taken | | | | perch. Once he started wondering around, she went |
| care off. There should not be offensive odors, the | | | | on the defence again with the hissy-spitty stuff. The |
| cats and dogs cages or kennels should be clean and | | | | door to his room is open for him to go in and out |
| they should have plenty of water out for the pets. If | | | | then he wants. They seem to get getting along a |
| its dirty or smelly and the animals conditions look | | | | little better. Our resident isn't showing signs of |
| poor, walk away!! Animals kept in poor condition are | | | | aggression as bad the second day as she was the |
| much more likely to have health issues that you will | | | | first day. But, I'm still on cat patrol and monitoring |
| be paying for in the long run and you can transfer an | | | | with a spray bottle of water handy. I will not be |
| illness to your resident pets. My husband got a dog | | | | leaving them unattended in our home for a week or |
| once that had a very bad case of kennel caugh. It | | | | so until I feel they are more confortable with each |
| cost him a lot of money to get that dog well and in | | | | other. |
| the long run it created other health issues for the | | | | If you do have a resident cat that is clingy, make |
| poor dog. The shelter originally told him the dog | | | | sure you try to find a personality that will match your |
| looked to be in poor condition because she was | | | | cats and not just yours or other family members. It's |
| stressed and depressed and wasn't eating. The ugly | | | | not all about "you" when choosing the right pet. Make |
| truth was, most of the dogs had kennel cough and | | | | sure its as smooth as possible for everyone involved. |
| the poor thing wasn't eating because she was so sick | | | | It will be better for everyone in the home if we all |
| and dehydrated. He paid 25.00 to adopt her and it | | | | get along! |
| cost him 2000.00 with in the first 4 months due to | | | | Good luck with introducing your new pet to his or her |
| her time in animal hospital to save her life as well as | | | | new home! |