Thanks for stopping by to chat about one of our fave topics: cats!

I’m Anneke Malan, and I’ve been loving, studying and caring for cats for the past 30 years or so. During that time I co-founded two non-profit cat welfare orgs in South Africa that are still going strong (http://catpals.co.za and http://ncat.co.za), written many guidelines and a few magazine articles about cats, and acted as guardian of a number of community (‘feral’) cat colonies. All of this has brought me happiness, fulfilment, and pure joy.

In this blog, I would like to share everything I’ve learned about our beloved cats with you in the form of responses to questions I’ve been sent in the past, or questions that I receive from YOU! So please keep your thoughts and questions coming! I will also tell you stories about specific cats or cat colonies and about new or on-going welfare projects in South Africa (see for example Cat Story 1 below).

Finally I would like to thank every cat lover, cat carer, vet and behaviourist I’ve learned from over the years. You’ve enriched my life and you’ve been a blessing in the lives of the cats I’ve been able to help.

Cat Blog 1

What do I need to know about adopting a feline companion?

So you’ve decided to adopt a kitten or a cat – perhaps your first feline companion ever – or to grow your existing cat family. You know that this is a serious decision, and that you’ll be responsible for your new family member for the rest of her or his life. And you are beyond excited!

1 Kitten or adult cat?

The first decision you need to make, is whether to adopt a kitten or an adult cat. Each of these options have definite advantages and disadvantages. If you possibly can, consider adopting an adult from a shelter, as adult cats are not most people’s first choice. They may wait in vain in a shelter for months or even years for that special person to offer them a forever home. Even more needy are black adult cats, who are frequently disregarded when new pets are chosen.

 

The advantages of adopting an adult cat are that they’ve already developed their personality, so you’ll know exactly what to expect from them. They are also a lot calmer, and so may adapt more easily to life as an indoor cat. The disadvantage is that it is a little more complicated to socialise them to a new home and especially to other animals. Provided certain processes are followed, however (see Cat Blog 3 in a week or two), adult cats can be adopted with great success.

The advantages of adopting a kitten are, of course, that a kitten will easily adapt to almost any circumstances, and will provide you with endless hours of entertainment simply by being a kitten. Kittens are extremely energetic and busy, however, and this could become a little tiring if you prefer a calm home. They also need to be kept indoors for the first several months, so watching windows and doors needs to become a daily responsibility. It’s a good idea to adopt at least two kittens, as they’ll keep one another company and entertain you with their exuberant antics.

2 Who to adopt from?

Once you’ve decided what would be the best fit for you, I would recommend that you contact welfare organisations or groups in your area and adopt through them. If possible, don’t support breeders, as so many hundreds of amazing kittens and cats that are not pure-bred end up not finding homes and either becoming strays or being put down. If you would very much like to adopt a certain breed, you’ll often find a look-alike at one of the shelters. Alternatively you could contact one of the breed societies or clubs to ask whether they have any non-purebred kittens available, or adult cats that have to be rehomed for some reason.

3 How to pick your very own feline companion

All welfare groups will encourage you to spend as much time as you need with the kittens and/or cats that are up for adoption, so that you can make sure which one (or two!) really speak to you. Never choose a cat or kitten for someone else: that person may not bond with the feline in the same way you did.

 

Once you’ve chosen your special little cat, the shelter will explain the adoption procedure to you. Ideally one of their members should visit your home before you take the cat or kitten home to ensure that your home is cat-friendly. Alternatively they may bring the cat or kitten to your home and do a home check at the same time. Different groups and shelters have different adoption procedures, but most of them will include the first inoculation and deworming, the ID microchip as well as the spay or neuter (at a much reduced fee) in your package.

3 Preparing your home for your new kitten or cat

Before your new feline companion arrives, ensure that you’ve prepared a snuggly bed or cat cave, two bowls for food and water, some safe toys, and a litter box. It would also be a good idea to sprinkle some soothing valerian powder (sold under the trade name Happy Cat (https://www.takealot.com/all?_sb=1&_r=1&qsearch=happy%20cat%20stressfree%20valerian%20powder%20-%2070g%20box&via=suggestions&_si=e75fa5704cf40a961942e9751a6ed072) around the room in which your new kitten or cat will be socialised at first. See later Cat Blogs on how to socialise your new kitten or cat to your home and to other pets.

Congratulations! You’ve just become one of the millions of hugely privileged people called cat ‘owners’. I can guarantee that, whether you’ve adopted a kitten or a cat, this will be the beginning of a new love story for you. But don’t be fooled, no cat is ever owned, although if treated with the love, care and respect they deserve, they’ll accept you completely and tacitly agree to spend the rest of their lives with you. I hope you’ll feel suitably honoured!

 

 

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Cat Story 1: A feral colony in trouble!