Skye, vet nurse:
The perfect time for adopting is now!
We’re coming to the ‘tail’ end of an extended kitten season due to unseasonably warm weather throughout March and April. Kitten season usually ends at the end of summer, which means the majority of our kittens have grown into cats and found forever homes by now. So what we are seeing at the moment is an increase in ‘teenage’ cats, kittens that have passed the four-month mark, still here and waiting for their own happy ending.
These cats, though not small as a kitten, are still kittens really, especially at heart - they love to play, they’re just as affectionate and they have just as much energy, if not more!
From a vet nurse’s perspective, these older kittens are very healthy, very sociable, and have been cared for by myself and the workers here with 100 per cent devotion, as we do with all our cats!
The best thing about adopting a kitten around the 6-month age is they have had a chance to develop their personalities, and you will find it more beneficial for you. You get a better idea of whether the cat will suit your home and your own personality. Considering the average lifespan of a cat is 15-20 years, a 1-month-old kitten as compared to a 6-month-old kitten isn’t worth the comparison; it’s not going to make a difference at the end of the day!
Also, people often adopt the mature kittens because they are not as much work as the younger ones; these cats are as much fun as a kitten, but without the hard work of a baby.
Please don’t discount a cat because it’s not the smallest. It’s better to get a cat you know you get along with, because it will be an important part of your family for a long, long time!
3 Comments
Giselle said
Adopting an older cat is the best thing you can do. Older cats are gentle souls who love to frolic and play. They are real characters.
amanda@braveheartmedia.com.au said
I agree with you Giselle! Considering the average life span of a cat is 15-20 years, as Skye says, if you adopt a 2 year old cat for example, that’s (hopefully) 13-18 years you’ve got of fun and happiness!
Kelly said
I totally agree with this article!
I recently adopted two 4.5mth old sisters, and they have settled in so well, much easier than when I had a smaller, younger kitten many years ago.
Still chase each other around just like smaller kittens, they are a joy to have. As they say, the only thing better than one cat, is two! Or three in my case