Why are we making it so difficult for adopters to adopt an animal from MettaCats?
We require adopters to fill up our adoption form, which has a couple of screening questions that will allow us to find genuine adopters who will be able to give our animals a safe and happy environment where they will be loved and cared for.
The last thing we want to hear is an unhappy adopter requesting us to take back an animal or bad news about a cat who fell out of the window because the window grilles were not meshed up.
Should I adopt a dog or cat?
Although we have more cats than dogs at our cattery, we love them all! Each animal has their own pros and cons and it depends on your needs, personality and lifestyle.
Dogs Compared to Cats
- Eats more than a typical cat
- Requires daily walks
- Harder to toilet train
- Requires a lot training and discipline
- Smells pretty bad if you don’t give it a shower at least once a week
- May guard your house from intruders and protect you from an attacker
- Enjoy more activities with a dog
Cats Compared to Dogs
- Eats less than a typical dog
- Does not require daily walks but multiple cat naps throughout the day
- Very easy to toilet train
- May not respond well to training
- Smells good with or without a shower
- Will not guard your house or protect your from an attacker
- Will not enjoy stepping out of the house to go to new places
There is an animal for every person. Some like dogs, some like cats and others like both. Which one are you?
How do I pet-proof my house?
Regardless of the type of animal you choose to keep in your house, there are certain things that you need to do differently to live in harmony with your pets.
- Buy rubbish bins with lids or keep them in a cupboard.
- Keep sharp objects like knives, scissors, cutters, tools and needles out of reach from the pets.
- Never leave food lying around on the table or kitchen counter unattended.
- Store toxic household items like pesticides, insecticides, detergents, sprays and other items away from your pets.
- Buy electric cord organisers and enclosures to prevent your pets from chewing on the wires.
- Remove any toxic plants out of the house.
- Keep shoes, socks, rugs and anything else that you don’t want your pets to destroy out of their reach.
- Make sure that glass and breakable items cannot be knocked over.
- Buy lots of chewable toys to reduce the likelihood of your furniture and personal items getting destroyed.
How do I cat-proof my home?
A cat-proof home is a house where a cat can live safely without getting hurt, escaping or falling to its death. Cats are usually very careful but accidents do happen and it is better to be safe than sorry.
Window grilles and gates with 2-inch grilles will prevent cats from escaping or falling, especially if you live in a high-rise apartment.
If you don’t have 2-inch grilles, an alternative would be to install wire or plastic meshes on your windows and gates. Please refer to Mesh Up Your Windows by the Tipped Ear Clan and Cat-Proof Home to find out about the various options of cat-proofing your windows and gates.
We understand that the installation of meshes will make your house look uglier. If you are not willing to sacrifice a bit of beauty in your house for your cats, then you are probably not the type of adopter that we are looking for.
How do I dog-proof my house?
Dogs can be quite a handful because they love to chew on stuff when they are young. Chew toys will improve the chances of keeping your stuff in good condition but the best way would be to keep things out of reach until the dogs grow out of this phase.
Baby gates or pet gates will allow you to section off certain areas from your dog when a closed door is not possible or inconvenient.
Should I Adopt a Kitten, Adult or Elderly Cat?
A kitten (1 year or younger) is very adorable and has lots of energy. It is no wonder most people want to adopt kittens because they are so cute and it is so fulfilling to watch them grow up. However, people seem to forget that kittens don’t stay small for very long. In fact, they reach adulthood within a year.
Common problems with kittens are the scratching of furniture, rough play with humans, toppling of plants, climbing onto the table, damaging your personal items, etc. Life with kittens gets easier once they have settled into your home and your lifestyle.
An adult cat (1 year or older) is still adorable but would have matured and will be less active than they were when they were younger. Having more life experience than a kitten, they tend to be more sociable with humans and require less time to settle into your home.
There are not many surprises with adult cats because their personalities and behavioural quirks should have developed. If you need to look for a cat that suits your personality and lifestyle and you do not wish to take the risk with a kitten, then an adult cat is the way to go.
Elderly cats are cats who are on the last chapter of their lives. They could be 8 years old or older but some of them can actually live for another 4 year or longer. They require less exercise and will be less active than younger cats.
Some of them could have some health issues that you need to monitor and deal with, while others may have behavioural issues. Most of them are simply got old in our cattery after seeing the younger cats getting adopted ahead of them. They are still longing for a human companion and they have lots of love to give.
If you have had a kitten, it would be great if you choose to adopt an adult or elderly cat for the next addition to your home. You will be giving the cat another chance at getting a new home and they will be forever grateful for your love and compassion.