When you adopt an adult cat, you avoid all the turmoil of raising a kitten. Kittens have a lot of energy, are prone to biting and scratching, and demand a lot of attention. Raising a kitten can be a lot of work and you’ll probably have to make significant changes to your home and lifestyle to accommodate the new addition.

 If you’ve ever raised a kitten before, you’ll know that the first year is full of mischief and mayhem as they grow and mature. Adopting a grown-up cat means you’ll probably bypass the worst of this and get straight to the good stuff. You’ll get a well-adjusted, independent adult cat who is probably past the chewing and spraying stages of kitten development.

They can come home with you today!

As we’ve already discussed, kittens need a lot of care. They have to be fed on a strict schedule,  neutered, vaccinated, and have their litter box kept clean. If you adopt an adult cat, you can skip all the hassle of kitten-rearing and start enjoying the benefits of having a feline friend straight away. 

Adopting a grown-up cat also means you can skip the kitten selection process. With a kitten, you need to decide which breed you’d like, find out what color variations are available, and then wait for the right one to be born. If you adopt an adult, you can skip all this and go straight to adopting a fully-grown cat that’s ready to come home today.

Image source: Pixabay

They won’t require as much training!

New kittens require a lot of training before they can be trusted around your other pets and children. Adult cats, on the other hand, are often trained. 

Cats who have been living in a shelter environment will have learned good hygiene, rules around the house, and how to get along with other cats. You may not even need to litter train them as many shelters will have done this for you. While you should always train a new kitten, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort by adopting an adult cat who is already trained and has the skills you need him to have.

Older cats are often already litter trained!

As we’ve already discussed, kittens need to be litter trained while with an adult cat, you will probably avoid the training for a correct use of the litter box from scratch. There’s a good chance they will be already been litter trained. 

While living in a shelter, the staff there will have already provided them with all the care they need. Many shelters use a “litter train all cats” approach, which saves volunteers time and effort. If you adopt an adult cat who has been living outdoors, though, there’s a chance she may not be litter trained. In this case, you’ll need to provide them with a litter box and show them where to go.

Image source: Pixabay

They may come with vetting already done!

When you adopt an adult cat, you may find that it has been vaccinated and neutered already. This can be a huge time saver and will help you avoid the financial burden of having to get your new friend vaccinated and fixed. If you adopt a kitten, you’ll need to get them vaccinated and maybe neutered as soon as possible. Waiting too long can put your cat at risk and her health can be affected by the decision to put off her vaccinations. 

If you adopt an adult cat, though, you can often skip the waiting list and have your new friend vaccinated and fixed within a few days. This means you can have her in your home sooner and get her settled into her new life.

There are many great older cat breeds to choose from!

There are so many great breeds of adult cats to choose from. You can find a large selection of different breeds, colors, and sizes of adult cats at your local shelter. Choosing a kitten can be a bit trickier, as the breed, size, and color of kitten will dictate their price. 

You can also find a wide selection of adult cats for adoption online. The only thing you need to make sure of is that you choose a breed that will fit into your lifestyle. If you work from home and spend most of your time in one room, you don’t want to adopt a breed that needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Likewise, if you have an active lifestyle, you don’t want to adopt a breed that is more suited to a calm indoor environment.

Image source: Pixabay

Finding the right older cat for you

When you’re out visiting shelters and trying to find the right cat for you, you’ll want to keep an eye out for a few things. You’ll want to make sure the cat is healthy and has been vaccinated. You’ll also want to make sure the cat is friendly and seems interested in your attention. Remember, adopting an adult cat will mean that you’re committing to keeping this cat for life. You should feel just as attached to your new friend as you would a kitten, so make sure you take your time and find the right feline companion for you.

Conclusion

Adopting a kitten is great, but there are many advantages to adopting an adult cat. They are usually past the worst of their obnoxious kitten behavior. They probably have already been vaccinated and neutered.

Adult cats may also have learned good hygiene, rules around the house, and how to get along with other cats. And there are many great adult cat breeds to choose from. If you’re thinking of adopting a cat, you should consider adopting an older cat. They’re often overlooked by potential adopters, but adult cats have a lot to offer as well. They’re often less challenging to care for and require less training.

And remember, if you adopt an adult cat rather than a kitten, you’ll save two lives — the cat you adopt and the kitten that will take its place in the shelter.