Ten Reasons to Adopt an Adult Cat Instead of a Kitten,
Part 1
Part 1 (Reasons 1 through 5)
A (somewhat) Tongue-in-cheek Argument in Favor of Older
Felines
So today
is the big day. You're on your way to the local animal shelter to adopt a
new kitten. Congratulations! It's a big responsibility, but you should be
happy to know that the Powers of the Universe are about to stamp your soul
with a golden star that will insure your entry into heaven, or at least
guarantee that you won't be reborn as a rat.
You've probably given some thought to what kind of kitten you want: Tuxedo
or Calico, male or female, large breed or small. But have you considered
adopting an adult cat? You may find that there are many adult cats waiting
for homes than kittens. Take a minute to think about it. You may be glad
you did. Here are ten reasons why you should adopt an adult cat, instead
of a kitten.
1. What you see is what you get.
When you
adopt an adult cat, you know what you are getting. Sure, kittens are cute,
but you never know what the future holds. An adorable kitten could grow up
to be a really ugly puss. This is a big risk. Go for the sure thing. Take
a sweet-faced old Tabby.
2. High mileage cats still run great.
Used
cats aren't like used cars. They aren't at a shelter because they are
defective or worn out. They may have simply outlived their former owners
or been unable to join them at a hospital, nursing home, or new apartment.
Some cats get lost and end up at a shelter. And many are brought to a
shelter after a family member develops allergies, or an aversion to the
family cat. (In those cases, it is the previous owner that is defective,
not the cat).
3. Adult cats aren't as "chewsy".
Kittens
are like human children: everything goes in their mouths. Whether teething
or just exploring bits of the world around them, kittens can be very
destructive little bundles of fur. Kittens chew on shoes, the corners of
books, ear lobes, carpet tassels, electrical cords, drapery strings,
plants, and much, much more. Adult cats typically chew less, if at all.
They tend to save their energy for more important activities, like
tormenting the neighbor's Terrier.
4. Kittens stumble in blindly, where adult cats fear to tread.
Two well
known clichés about cats are: "curiosity killed the cat" and
"cats have nine lives." And curiosity usually leads to the loss
of about 8 of a kitten's lives in its first year. Kittens tend to get into
much more trouble resulting in accidents and injuries (see, for example,
the reference to "chewing electrical cords" above). Kittens eat
things they shouldn't, fall from high places, unsuccessfully attempt to
make friends with the neighbor's tormented Terrier, and generally worry
you half to death.
5. Kittens are lacking when it comes to licking.
Few
kittens have mastered the fine art of self-grooming. While adult cats may
spend up to half their waking hours licking fur, kittens are just too busy
enjoying life to clean themselves properly. When you consider that kittens
are really just dust-mops with legs, and that they generally display
marginal litter box etiquette, you might want to master the somewhat
dangerous art of cat-bathing.
Continue onto Part 2 (Reasons 6 through 10)