Prehistory
I always loved cats. And it drove my mother crazy, who treated the animals coldly and did not burn with a desire to start a pet. My heart melted at the sight of furry muzzles. Often, after returning from a walk or from a friend, I simply put parents before the fact: “I could not leave him, he’s so wonderful!” – and the cat stayed with us. And so time after time.
Much later, after moving to St. Petersburg, I got an eye on the recruitment of volunteers in a feline shelter, and at that time I was tormented by the strongest kotonezodatelnost. Like most people, I knew almost nothing about cat shelters and how they were arranged. I just wanted to talk with animals, and eventually remained a volunteer for many years. And all because I got into a place that changes lives.
I saw many stories – joyful, funny, sad. But most importantly, they were all kind. And three years later in this orphanage I met my cat Gosh – the best in the world. And he is dearer to me than any thoroughbred champion. Now I’ll tell you why.
pros
1. Age
The most unobvious plus of the fur seal. For some reason, many think: if you start a pet, then it must be a kitten, which can be raised and get the perfect pet. But people do not always understand what difficulties they will encounter, trying to accustom them to a pot or to teach them to eat dry food.
With small kittens worries are almost more than joy: here he has shit, then he broke, there he got stuck. This is the same children, scolding them for the rout in the apartment is useless: they will not understand. You can not forbid the child to play. Or, for example, I lost a kitten in a room of 12 square meters. However, it was not difficult: the kitten was about the size of a hand. Sometimes you think, as though this trifle can not be crushed inadvertently.
And the adult cat will enter your house with all the necessary habits. In the orphanage and the pot they will be taught, and they will understand the food.
Also, animals necessarily castrate, and you do not know the “charm” of landmarks and cat cries at night. And with the shelter cat you will only have to get used to each other. And then we smoothly go to point number two.
2. Character
You read the literature about the nature and temper of a certain breed, the breeders told us about the wonderful cats that parents have with their baby, everything is wonderful. But you will never guess what a small fuzzy miracle will grow into, for a natural character can make a monster out of a miracle. And this can not be corrected by any upbringing.
Once a thoroughbred oriental of incredible beauty came to our shelter – just a picture. But because of the character and behavior among themselves, we called him no differently than Lucifer. He took off on his back on his shoulders, using only claws. He bit underhandedly, if they did not pay attention to him. He had to allocate a whole room, because he could not stand the rest of the cats. When he was found a new home, we breathed a sigh of relief and finally stopped trembling from any movement in our direction. But the breed is very friendly in all descriptions.
You can never know what to get by buying a kitten. In the shelter, you can choose a pet that will match all your ideas about the ideal cat.
For every taste: a gentle mattress, to just get on your knees, or playful teaser, sweeping away everything in its path in the pursuit of the ball. The curator will talk about the features of the nature of the cat, how to communicate with him better, what he likes. Or you, like me, will fall in love at first sight.
When I first took Gosh in his arms, he put his arms around my neck, buried his face in it and snuffled. And, of course, I melted. Now it seems to me that this was a tricky move to get into the family, because more he never repeated this trick. But at that moment this tenderness in behavior bribed me. I realized: this is fate. And, despite all the difficulties of adaptation, our mutual love is held on the same tenderness.
3. Supports the curators
Whatever happens with your cat, be it a disease or a delayed adaptation, contact the curator from the shelter and he will help you.
The volunteer at the shelter not only knows the characteristics of each cat, but also gets experience of treating animals. And proven doctors will be prompted, if necessary. All support will be personal, only for your cat. You will not be left alone with the problem, the hospices do not abandon their own in need.
4. Price
If you do not plan to perform at exhibitions or become a breeder, then leave your money for vacation, and go to the shelter for a cat. Buy a cat to brag about how much money was spent on it, at least strange. And if you are looking for particularly beautiful breeds, then, believe me, among the shelter cats there are very special handsome men. And that love creates love and how they flourish at home – this you will not see in any thoroughbred cat!
I do not need to go far for example: I have Gosha. He turned from a skinny, indistinct teenager into a smart fluffy cat. Everyone loves him, without exception, who has met him. He conquered the hearts of brutal guys, avid doggies and dull skeptics. Each of my friends has a photo with Gosha for Instagram.
The popularity of the cat is such that when I left it with my friends for 10 days, upon return I was presented as “Goshenka’s mother”. And I’m not sure that a pedigreed cat could achieve such glory.
5. Uniqueness
Do you want to stand out among the owners of animals? Want a unique pet? There’s no need to drag a crocodile out of Africa: I have something to offer you.
For example, I’m familiar with a cat named Lambada. And this is not just a name. She does not walk – she dances. Lambada hit the shelter with curved hind legs, and this made her gait special. She can wiggle like a real model, and any gymnast will envy the grace of her poses.
They say that cats do not like water. But the cat Tyson does not know about this, so he arranges daily bath procedures right in the trough-trough. He would still for the full happiness of air foam with the scent of valerian so that someone scratched behind the eye.
My Gosha is almost an established Instagram star, and Vasya stands out among the younger generation. The combination of huge sad eyes and striped silk will not leave indifferent any commentator. Gentle Vasya is born to be a star, he is photogenic and likes to pose. And you do not have such long whiskers anymore. It remains to find the producer and collect a bunch of likes.
Every cat from the shelter is unique. There is no monotony of the breed and the standard of behavior. Coloring can be the most incredible, and addictions – the most unexpected. And therefore, among such diversity, you can definitely find a friend for your soul.
Minuses
1. Health
Most cats fall into a shelter from the street, where they lived in the cold and without a normal meal. In animal shelters, animals are treated, they often get out of the world, and further the cats live as if nothing had happened. But some people will need a special food or periodic courses of treatment. The curator will warn about the diseases, if they have an animal, and tell you what to do about it. Seriously sick cats are few, but that can emerge in the body of an animal through the years because of the difficult childhood on the street – no one can foresee.
2. Adaptation
Priyutskaya cats do not trust people very much, because often they did not voluntarily turn out to be on the street or fell into a shelter at once from home. To such a cat took you as the owner, will have to make a lot of effort. Prepare all your love and care and have patience. But waiting is worth it, because in these cats there is an unspent reserve of love, hidden under a heap of adversity, and if you get to it, you will be rewarded doubly.
3. Connection with the shelter
Be prepared that periodically you will be called by the curator to find out how the cat feels and how you live together. This is a compulsory measure, because the volunteers sincerely love and care for their animals for their fate. When the owner and the cat are friendly, the curators will calm down and stop worrying.
How to find shelter
Most shelters are running social networking sites. Find them can be the usual query “cat’s shelter City N“. If suddenly there was not a single shelter, try to search in the nearest city. Do not be afraid, volunteers will help with the search for transport and organization. I know a cat who moved from St. Petersburg to Germany, and everything went fine.
Pay attention to the size of the shelter. It is better to choose small, where there are not more than 50 cats. In small shelters, volunteers are easier to follow animals, they will be able to notice illnesses, perform treatment, and teach a cat to communicate with people on time.
Communicate with the curators. They should literally interrogate you. This is normal, because their task is to find adequate hosts for the animal.
In a good shelter they conclude a contract for the transfer of the animal, they will ask for a phone number and address.
They will not come home to you. This is rather a safety net so that the curator would not worry if the owner suddenly stopped contacting immediately after he took the cat out of the shelter.
You still can not take a cat forever, but you really want to mumble in the house? There is a way out: overexposure. You can help the cat get used to the person and teach him to be a pet, and the curators will continue to look for him as a permanent home. Maybe after that you will understand that you are ready to live with a cat for a long time together, and you will take it for good.
A shelter cat or thoroughbred cat is to choose in any case you. But remember that good deeds make us truly happy. If you come for an animal to a shelter, you will save one life. And this is not so little. Whatever they say about the independence of cats, believe me, they understand everything and are able to thank. After all, every cat needs a house.
