Celebrating Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

Find a new furry companion at your local shelter this month

by Barbara J. Koll, Best Friends Network Volunteer

This month, the ASPCA encourages you to find a lifelong companion at your local animal shelter.

French writer Colette once said “there are no ordinary cats.” Stop by your local animal shelter or humane society and you will find that shelter cats are extraordinary but never ordinary. You will find cats of all sizes - from tiny to humongous; and all ages – frisky, bouncing kittens, mellow older gentlemen and elderly matrons; and all colors – solid white and black cats, tuxedos, blue gray tabbies, yellow tabbies, calico, tortoiseshell and everything in between. Adopting a cat doesn’t just save a cat’s life, it changes yours. You will be blessed with love and gratitude for life and you will know that you have saved a precious life.

June has been designated “Adopt a Shelter Cat Month” by the ASPCA. During June, animal shelters and rescue organizations throughout the country promote cat adoptions by having open houses, offering special incentives for adoptions and teaching the public about responsible pet care.

The estimated population of homeless cats in the United States (70 million) is almost equal to the number of owned cats (75 million). Sadly, out of the millions of cats who enter shelters each year, only about one in four are adopted. Most of them – more than 70% - are euthanized. You can help reduce that number by adopting a shelter cat – or two or three. It will improve your life by giving you a companion who will show you unconditional love and at the same time will help combat the nationwide tragedy of overpopulation.

For information on the ASPCA Click Here

For a partial list of Mississippi shelters Click Here

Photo credit: The photo used for this story is courtesy of Petfinder.com. The cat in the photo is Bob and he is available for adoption from the Community Animal Rescue and Adoption in Jackson, MS. For adoption information Click Here