Cats as Christmas presents

Why Christmas is the perfect time to adopt a cat

The holidays are the perfect time for many people to adopt a cat, assuming they plan ahead and know what they’re getting into. Here’s why:

1. What better gift than to give a cat the gift of life?

Aren’t the holidays about giving? A few million cats are still killed annually in U.S. shelters due to a “lack of homes.” If you adopt a cat, you are saving a life. I can’t think of a more meaningful way to celebrate the holidays.

2. It doesn’t have to be a “surprise gift.”

Certain rescue volunteers tend to freak out over the idea of animals as gifts. Of course, there are always going to be situations where people give family members cats without thinking it through. But not all gifts have to be surprises, and even if they are it can still work out. A friend gave me a 12-week-old kitten as a surprise, and I still have Scout 8 years later. He’s awesome, and everything worked out perfectly in our case.

But not all gifts have to involve putting a bow on the kitten and placing him under the tree as a surprise. The gift could be planned in advance so on Christmas Eve the family goes to the shelter to choose a cat after thinking it through for weeks. Or maybe the gift involves one family member paying the adoption fee of a cat for another family member.

We should give pet owners more credit.

3. You create lasting memories for your family.

This just might be that one Christmas your kids will always remember because it will be the year Mom got them a cat. Shit, I’m 30 years old and if someone got me a cat this year it would definitely be my favorite Christmas so far. 🙂

4. Some shelters offer holiday adoption discounts.

You can most likely find a cat for free or at a discounted rate through a holiday adoption event. We all like to save a little money when we can. And if you’d like, you could still make a donation to the shelter on the day you adopt your cat or on a future date. You’ll also be saving money because the cat will already be vaccinated and spayed or neutered if age appropriate. It may also be microchipped.

5. The kids are home from school, and you might be home from work.

If you have children, they’ll be home from school to help out with the cat as far as feeding the cat, scooping the litter box and teaching the cat the new rules of your home. You may also appreciate help introducing the cat to your other animals.

While cats will generally adapt to the new house on their own, it’s still nice to at least have one day off from work to observe and supervise the cat. Plus, being able to spend more time with the cat initially will help the two of you bond. And who doesn’t want to stay home and play with a new cat or kitten?

Have you ever adopted a cat over the holidays?