A lot of children will tell you that all they want for the holidays is a pony, puppy, or kitten. Even many grownups would love to see an animal under the tree, but giving the gift of a pet requires a lot of thought, a few preparations, and most definitely, some serious match-making skills. When giving the gift of a feline, there are a few general rules to follow, along with whatever particulars may affect your individual situation:
Properly Vet Any Animal You Give As A Gift
Especially if you're gifting a kitten, it's crucial to bring a veterinarian into the scenario. Kittens can come with all kinds of health issues, from icky worms (you don't want the recipient to have to discover in the litter box) to upper-respiratory infections and even more serious, life-threatening conditions. If the recipient has other animals, they too could be at risk if the kitten you give has any type of contagious health problem.
Consider The Age Of Your Gift Recipient
While there are general guidelines for how old a child should be before allowing them to have a cat, it's really a case-by-case judgment. For example, if you know a young child who's really responsible and has already demonstrated an ability to care for an animal, the gift of cat should be okay; however, even if a child is older, if they're not responsible, or otherwise prone to act in a manner not conducive to feline ownership, nix the idea of a kitten for the holidays. Use sound judgment and be sure to get parental permission, if needed, but ask them to keep your secret.
Think Of Other Possible Complications Before Putting A Bow On A Kitten
The cost of ownership for most animals can be a lot for many families, and pets are usually a lot of work. Make sure the recipient can afford care, tolerate the extra chores involved, and that their home, particularly if it's an apartment, is a suitable environment for the animal. If they have additional pets, too, that could be a complicating factor as well. If you're gifting a young kitten, why not include a gift certificate to have it spayed or neutered, along with getting its first shots? You might also throw in a bag of high-quality kitten food, dust-free litter, a sizable litter box, and a few toys if you're really feeling Santa-ish. With so many considerations, the more potential complications you can solve, the better.
Don't Rule Out Older Cats As Amazing Animal Companions
Kittens happen to be among the cutest of cats, but that doesn't mean an older cat wouldn't be a great fit, too. Shelters usually charge less for older animals, and older pets are often more well-behaved and already trained than their attention-stealing, younger counterparts. A cat that's a few years old may be in dire need of a home, and most animals who are rescued tend to be very loyal and dedicated to the owners who save them. If your gift recipient is an adult, you might even find a senior feline who's a purrfect fit, so look around and try to match the animal with the owner, rather than just finding the cutest kitten.
Decorate The Cat Carrier, Rather Than Boxing The Animal
No animal, including a little kitten, should be popped in a dark and scary box, even for a brief period of time. Instead, purchase a carrier (with the full-grown size of the pet in mind) and decorate it with wrapping paper and bows. Keep the handle exposed for safe carrying and viola--you have a great-looking presentation for your purring present.
Animals make great gifts, especially when everyone in the household is happy with the arrangement. Do your homework, be sure to get a clean bill of health at an animal clinic, and be prepared if the arrangement doesn't work out. No animal should be discarded in any way, shape, or form once the warmth and fuzziness of the holidays have passed. To learn more, contact a vet office like Clovis Veterinary Hospital P A.
Share16 November 2019
When I moved into the town I'm living in now, there was a large population of stray cats. Unfortunately, that population kept growing in rapid numbers because none of the cats had been fixed. I knew that wasn't a healthy situation, so I reached out to a local shelter and a veterinarian to launch a trap-alter-release program. Within about a year, we had the entire population altered and released back to their environments. The logistics were significant, but not overwhelming. That's why I built this site. My goal is to teach others how to launch a similar program in their own neighborhood to help keep the stray cats healthier and safer.