There’s something about a stray animal that tugs at your heartstrings. I remember when my beloved cat, Oscar, came to live with us. He was the tomcat of the neighborhood, the tough guy. But he was homeless until he literally walked through our door one day and into our hearts.
He died in October and I don’t think we’ll ever have a cat like him again. But if I do start looking, I’ll be following some advice my husband learned while watching Animal Planet.
According to the show, if you are adopting a cat, there are two major things you can do to help ensure you get a good one.
1. Pick him up and he should start purring right away.
2. Hold him with his back against your front, paws sticking out. If he drops his back legs, rather than bringing them up in a ball, that’s another big plus. It shows he is laid-back and trusting.
ASK AN EXPERT
Getting to know a new cat
Q: I want to adopt a cat, but I’m not sure how to pick a good, laid-back one. Any suggestions?
A: In cats the temperament is largely an inherited trait. The kittens of a laid-back mother will often be laid back themselves. Laid-back traits are often bred into certain purebred kittens, like Rag Doll or Persian cats, for example.
However, in random-bred cats, like most of the cats and kittens in a stray or shelter environment, potential new owners need to spend time with an individual cat to determine if they are being matched with the perfect personality for them. Shelter personnel will know all of the cats well, and would be happy to fill you in on each cat’s personality traits and quirks. Temperament testing in cats, especially in stressful environments, is both unreliable and unfair. Once a cat is moved to a home environment they often become much more affectionate, comfortable and will soon be finding their place in your family. Heavier cats are often less active and more prone to being couch potatoes; sleeker refined cats that look “built for speed” like a Siamese are often more active, inquisitive and vocal. Time and patience with several candidates and the advice of the experts should help you find the perfect friend.
— Karen S Walsh, LVMT, McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center