Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

Each spring thousands of kittens are born, adding to the millions of cats already housed in a shelter setting.  That means our local shelters and foster-based rescue groups have many adorable kittens to choose from in addition to older, more mellow cats.  A term used regularly in animal welfare is “kitten season” and while it is an adorable term, it is a preventable occurrence because of affordable and accessible spay and neuter services.  

Thankfully, most shelters throughout the country have adopted policies that require any cat or dog (and many rabbits and rats and other species) to be altered prior to going into their forever home.  Auburn Valley Humane Society is an organization that spays and neuters animals (and vaccinates and microchips!) prior to adoption, so as a potential adopter, you are getting a great deal for the price of your adopted pet.  

Please consider adopting a shelter cat (or two!) this month.  If you already have a full home and heart, here are some suggestions of ways to help these cats find homes that aren’t yours:

• Donate your Facebook status. Just paste this message into the “What’s on your mind?” box at the top of your page: “June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month. Save a life: Adopt a cat! Include a link to the Auburn Valley Humane Society or another local rescue organization to make it even easier.  

• Contact your local shelter or rescue group and ask them if they have a donation wish list or other flyer they’d like you to post around your office or neighborhood. They may be holding special events for Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month which you can help promote.

• Pass on an understanding of the importance of pet adoption to the next generation. Talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other up-and-comers about animal shelters and why Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, and pet adoption in general, is important.

Have you adopted a cat?  Tell us about them!