Adopt a Shelter Cat Month in June

It's that time of year to focus on cat adoption. How did "Adopt a Cat Month" start? Well, first, the official name seems to be "Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month." While I have not been able to pinpoint how the promotion originated, I think it is a very important public awareness campaign.

So many cats are turned over to shelters, or--worse--just dropped off in front of houses, on the street, or out in the middle of nowhere. Failure to spay and neuter cats results in literally hundreds and thousands of unwanted kittens all over the country.

As a pet lover, it breaks my heart to think that so many lovable pets--both cats and dogs--are waiting in cages across the country for their forever homes. It hurts even more to think of how many thousands of pets, many of them perfectly healthy, are put to an early death due to overcrowding.

If you like cats and have room for another one (or even more), consider adopting a cat or kitten in June. I have known people who didn't know they liked cats until they were around them. Yes, these were the cat haters who so adamantly declare, "I don't like cats." Cats are cool. There are many folks who really like them once they give them the chance.

I've had quite a few cats in my adult life, a couple of which I adopted from a shelter. Others were given to me or sort of dumped on me. About those shelter cats, though . . . well, they have their own special stories.

Blackette chose me. She sure did. I had one male cat, Blacky, who had just lost his brother, Stinky, and needed a friend. (Yeah, I was great with names back then, huh?) I thought Blacky might like another adult cat, so that's what I had in mind when I visited the local animal shelter.

I was enthralled with all the cats and kittens and had a hard time making up my mind until this fluffy black cat pressed herself against the cage as I came near her. I touched her through the cage, and she purred. I took her out and held her. She was a soft ball of fur in my hands, not resisting me at all. I put her back in the cage. She immediately started rubbing against it again. Not one to make a quick decision, I went home to "sleep on it." I couldn't get that sweet cat off my mind. The next day I went back to get her. Or she summoned me.

Blackette was a joy. Graceful on her feet, she was referred to--aptly--by one of my friends as "Ballerina." It fit. Blackette touched my life for about eight years until she passed away in 2002. That's a sad story itself, but I cherish the time we had together.

The year after I adopted Blackette, now used to having two adult cats in the household, I had a hankering for a little kitten. I visited the shelter, and, of course, there were lots of cats, young and old, to choose from. What caught my eye this time was a tiny, tiny kitten with watery eyes and a bandaged front leg. She was sickly, had been given some kind of injections, and would surely be on death row soon if she wasn't adopted. This time there was no hesitation. I couldn't leave without her. I called her my little kitty, and that became her name.

Little Kitty was a doll who sadly died from a congenital kidney defect at only five years old. With the help of my friends, I gave her IV injections daily to try to keep her alive, but that wasn't enough. She died the same year as Blackette, just six months before. That was a tough year, to say the least.

Why do I tell my stories? To show what special bonds come from connections with shelter cats. I gave both of those cats secure homes filled with plenty of fun and lots of love. I gave them what they needed, and I was rewarded with the special bonds that we formed.

Are you convinced yet to adopt a cat? Cats are just cool. Their personalities are unique. Each one has its own quirks, likes, and dislikes. There are boo-coos of neat reasons to adopt a cat or two . . . or three.

• Cats are cuddly. On a cold night, I am sure to have a cat at my feet and one near my head. They like to get close, which comes in handy when the heat is out.
• Cats maintain themselves. Some people bathe cats. To me, that's a death wish, or at least a serious accident. Cats have build-in sandpaper tongues that do the job just fine. And if the job isn't good enough, another cat will step in to finish the job.
• Cats can be left alone. Unlike dogs, who have to be fed at certain times so they won't gulp down their food all at once, cats can be left with a couple days worth of food and be fine. Plus, cats don't have to be let out to go to do their business. I have noticed dog litter in the pet stores these days, so maybe dogs are trying to compete in this area. I just know that I can leave six cats alone for two days (just one night away) with several containers of cat food and water, plus two clean litter boxes, and they will be just fine. I do have them checked on if I'm going to be away longer than that.
• Cats are super photogenic. Why are cat websites, books, pictures, and youtube videos so popular? Because cats are so darn photogenic. Photos capture cats' incredible personalities--their curiosity, their ingenuity, and their darn cuteness. This is the same in videos. Cats are entertaining. They do funny things. Ask any cat owner.

These are only a few of all the great advantages to having a cat.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. You have the information you need.

I hear that some shelters and other rescue organizations are having special deals in the month of June, such as waiving adoption fees on certain cats, such as older ones, in order to push more adoptions in June.

I hope you will consider visiting your local animal shelter to find your own special connection with a cat who needs you.Who knows? Maybe it will choose you to make it easier!

Petfinder.com is another source to help you find your perfect feline match. If you can't adopt a cat yourself, you can find tips on ways to promote Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month. Make a difference in a cat's life in 2014.