Some Great Tips for Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month

Hancock County Humane Society is celebrating the national Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month this June. It’s an ideal time to adopt a feline, since the spring and summer months typically bring a surge of kittens and cats to the nation’s shelters. Whether you’re looking for a fun, frisky kitten or a mellow, mature cat, you’ll find the perfect feline at our shelter. We have cats of all breeds, ages and personalities, and they’re all looking for loving, permanent homes.

Hancock County Humane Society encourages people to enrich their lives by adopting a cat and offers these tips to consider when adopting:

• Age: While kittens are hard to resist, adult cats are often better suited to families with young children. Mature cats respond better to being handled by inquisitive toddlers.
• Number: It can be beneficial to adopt more than one cat or kitten, especially if the pets will be left alone for long periods while you are gone. Not all cats enjoy companionship, but many are very social with members of their own species.
• Personality: Many cats are under a great deal of stress in a shelter environment. A cat’s true personality may not emerge until he has been in his new home for several weeks. Hancock County Humane Society encourages you to visit the cat you’re interested in several times and to talk to the shelter staff.
• Coat: The longer the cat’s fur, the more brushing will be needed to prevent painful matting.
• Nutrition and health: Good nutrition and twice-a-year vet visits will help your cat stay healthy and happy. Keep your cat indoors to prevent her from contracting diseases, being hit by a car or getting hurt by other animals.
• Tags and microchips: Millions of cats are taken to animal shelters as strays each year -- but only about 2 percent of cats without an ID tag or microchip are reunited with their owners. Make sure your cat wears a collar and tag with the cat’s name and your name, address and phone number. Microchips provide permanent identification that can never come off or get lost.

See our homepage (link at right) for our shelter address, hours, and photos of our current pets!