Need a good reason to adopt a shelter cat? We’ll give you four!

When you are ready to add a feline to your family, consider adopting your new best friend from your local animal shelter, foster network, or no-kill rescue. These animals are in desperate of need of homes and they are just as healthy and beautiful as cats from breeders and pet stores. Below are four more great reasons why you should adopt rather than shop for your next pet.

1. You’ll Save a Life, and Your Kitty Will Know It

Shelter cats are pretty miserable. They have to be stuck in cages all day and night unless they are housed in a facility that allows them to roam around for a little while each day to play and socialize with other kitties. They are also often fed poor quality food and they are sometimes in barren cages and unclean environments with other cats that may be ill. When you adopt these animals, they know that they are being saved, and they will make sure to show their gratitude to you for the rest of their lives.

Related:What Are The Most Commonly Overlooked Cats At Shelters?

2. You Can Find Your Perfect Match

Shelter cats come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. You can find an adorable little kitten or an older adult cat who is in need of a home but who has a great personality and a loving disposition. Whether you are looking for a purely white cat, a calico, or a longhaired feline, your local rescues and shelters are sure to have the cat that you are looking for. And if looks don’t matter to you, be sure to visit a shelter and see what kitties are looking for homes. There are very outgoing and playful personalities and very shy and quiet ones for you to choose from, but once you find your true match, you will know.

3. There are Purebreds in Shelters, Too

If you are really hoping to get a purebred cat into your life, rest assured that there are many in shelters that are looking for their forever homes. Once again, there are purebreds of all ages, so you can adopt a kitten you can train and play with or an adult who already has an established personality and won’t pull any surprises on you. The best way to find purebreds is to research breed-specific rescues. So, for example, if you are looking for a Siamese cat to call your own, look for a Siamese rescue that specializes in finding kitties in need of homes, getting them healthy, and adopting them to people who care and understand the breed. These rescuers will even be able to educate you on what you can expect from a particular breed and what care it requires, especially since purebreds have their own unique habits and personalities. Plus, adopting a shelter purebred is going to be a lot more affordable than purchasing one from a breeder.

Related:3 Awesome Reasons For Fostering Cats

4. Your Cat will Already Be Vet-Approved

Another great reason to adopt a cat from an animal shelter is the fact that a vet will already have approved the animal for adoption. If the cat is the appropriate age, he or she will already have been neutered or spayed, and all vaccinations will also have been taken care of. However, if you are adopting a kitten, you may need to get additional booster shots from your vet after bringing your pet home. Knowing that a cat has tested negative for infectious diseases like FIV and FeLV will put your mind at ease with regards to introducing him or her to your current feline family, and having a lot of the required preliminary vet care already completed will help you save money.

Pet overpopulation is a serious problem and many cats are put down in shelters all over the world every single day. To help the problem, rather than make it worse, adopt your next kitty and save a life.