Category Archives: Rescue

August 10, 2018 · 7:00 am

Abys Cat Adoption Process and Checklist Part 3

Abys Cat Adoption Process and Checklist Part 3

Welcome your cat into its new home!

Have your cat vaccinated, neutered or spayed, and microchipped

If you adopt from a shelter, often these cats will already have this done, or it will be necessary for you to get it done once they reach a certain age. Your cat will be vaccinated against feline distemper and rabies, but there are other vaccinations that your vet may recommend. If your cat isn’t neutered or spayed, the first examination is a perfect time to set up this very important surgery. Microchipping (implanting a traceable chip just under the skin) is also a great idea if your cat ever is lost.

  • It isn’t cheap providing the best health care for your cat, but emergency treatment for preventable diseases or conditions is much more expensive. Getting pet insurance helps reduces costs too.

 

Provide a litter box for the cat

Take a plastic litter box and fill this indoor “restroom” with clean kitty litter. Set the litter box in a quiet area of your house where your cat can easily get to it. When you bring the cat home, show her where the litter box is so she knows where her restroom is located.

  • You might put the litter box in a quiet hallway or second bathroom.

 

Litter train your kitten

While adult cats will already know what to do, you’ll need to train your kitten on how to use the litter box. Training a kitten is pretty easy. Have the box located in an easily accessible spot and set the kitten in it. She will usually use it then and as long as she’s shown it a couple of times she’ll get the idea. Make sure the box isn’t too high. This way, she can get into it easily.

  • Be sure to clean the box daily and change the litter every week. This will keep the box fresh. If you let your cat outside, you may often find that they will go to the toilet outside, which means you won’t have to clean out the box as often (or possibly even have one at all).

 

Offer food and water

Set out a food and water dish that your cat can always get to. Choose as high a quality cat food as you can. This may cost more initially, but food is one of the cheapest ways to keep your cat healthy. If you use dry food, give your cat a can of wet food every once in awhile. Make sure the water dish always has clean, fresh water. Avoid giving milk or cream, since they can cause diarrhea and gas.

  • Follow the feeding instructions that come with the cat’s food. Cats can either have food free choice (as long as they don’t overeat) or can be fed three times a day. Keep treats to a minimum, since obesity in cats is a problem that can predispose them to serious diseases like diabetes.
  • Feed your kitten a specific kitten food until she turns one, or before if she gains too much weight, or is spayed. Then, transition her to adult cat food over a period of seven to 10 days.

 

Provide a scratching post and toys

Cats need to scratch for behavioral health. If you don’t offer a scratching post, your cat will scratch wooden furniture and other items. If you find loose claws around your posts, don’t worry, cats lose their claws and replace them with newer sharper claws. If you wish to trim your cat’s claws for the safety of your family or others, ensure you get a vets advice so as to ensure you do not hurt or alarm your cat when doing so. Only trim if necessary, as cats use their claws for many different things, and life is easier for them when they’re sharp, not trimmed.

  • Toy mice and other fun toys will help keep your cat entertained and give some exercise.

Decide whether your cat may go outside

If you do let your cat outside, be sure to install a cat flap so she has a way back in. Magnetic cat flaps are recommended as then other cats cannot enter your house. Keep in mind there are a lot of serious hazards outside for cats, but often over time, cats should come to recognise dangers and avoid them eg. Busy roads or regular dog walkers. Cats that go outside may bring you ‘unwanted gifts’ but this is just in their natural hunting instincts. Also, if your cat starts going to the toilet outside, you’re less likely to have to clean out the litter tray as often.

 

Socialize your cat or kitten

Some cats or kittens with limited human contact might be uncomfortable around people. If your kitten runs, hides, and hisses or spits if she can’t get away, she’s not being aggressive, just fearful. Place the kitten in a cat kennel that’s in a room in the house where there is a lot of human activity, like a kitchen or living room, so she can slowly get used to the TV, radio, and normal everyday human activity.

  • Go slow. Don’t force your cat or kitten to interact with you. Gradually let her come to you.

 

Let the cat or kitten get comfortable with you

Use small bites (less than a fingertip full) of canned kitten food on a spoon tip to entice the kitten to you. In very fearful kittens that do hiss and try to run, wear leather gloves to avoid bite wounds to the hands. Wrap the kitten in a towel with only her head sticking out. This calms the kitten and protects you from scratches.

  • Hold the kitten close to your body so your warmth and heartbeat soothe the kitten. Do this for a couple of hours a day to make her comfortable with you. You will know you’ve been successful when the kitten is comfortable enough to purr and fall asleep while you are holding her.

 

Watch your cat in her new surroundings

Now that you have a new cat in your home, make sure all the family members know how to care for her properly. Teach children not to be too rough, and introduce the cat to other animals so that she won’t be afraid. If you have a kitten, don’t let larger children play too rough with her. Pay attention to your cat’s eating, behavior and bathroom habits so you’ll know if she seems ill.

  • Play with your cat often and meet her needs. You’ll find your new pet makes an excellent companion.

 

Part 3 reprinted from: https://www.wikihow.pet/Adopt-a-Cat

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July 31, 2018 · 7:00 am

Abys Cat Adoption Process and Checklist Part 2

Abys Cat Adoption Process and Checklist Part 2

Find a cat that matches your personality!

Test Drive your potentially new room mate

Just like a new car or another large purchase, you want to make sure that you are comfortable and making the right decision. So contact your local breeder or animal shelter and spend time with your potentially new house guest. If you are interested in a purebred cat, meet your local breeders and ask about their adoption process and how to get started.

Regardless if you are looking for a cat from a breeder or from a shelter, talk with the staff. They will be knowledgeable about their cats and kittens behavior and habits. Describe to them your routine and what you’re looking for.  They will be able to help.

  • It’s possible to check craigslist or newspaper advertisements in your area, but understand that will be risky. These cats may not be up to date with their vaccines or have other health deficiencies that go undisclosed.

Contact Abys to identify a reputable cat breeder in your area.

 

Look for a healthy and happy cat

The eyes should be clear, with no discharge or tearing. The nose should be clear of discharge or mucus and the cat shouldn’t sneeze or cough. The hair coat should be clean, reasonably smooth and free from matting in long haired cats. Run your hand against the grain of the hair to check for fleas (small, brown quick moving bugs along the skin.

  • Kittens with “pot bellies” may have just eaten or they may have intestinal worms. You should also look for any sign of diarrhea in cats or kittens (either in the litter box or smearing around the rear end).

 

Make friends with many different cats

During your visits to a breeder or a shelter, or other source, play with the cats that you are considering and look at multiple different ones to get a better idea of what you are looking for in both the short and long term. It’s incredibly easy to fall in love with a cat, so when you do make sure it is the right cat for the right reason. Consider if your personalities match, if they will fit in your current and future home, ask for any other observations to make your decision easier.

  • Are you looking for a cuddly cat? Do you need it to sit in your lap? If so, you should be able to tell very quickly if the ones you’re looking at will fit your needs. Or are you looking for one with a bit more independence?

 

Starting the cat adoption process

After you found the perfect furry friend, you should consider what the next steps are to take the cat to its new home. Depending on whether you are buying from a breeder or animal shelter will dictate what steps are required. In any case, you will need fill out paperwork and pay a small fee to take the cat home. Breeders will likely charge a significantly higher charge for a cat. Both breeders and shelters should offer paperwork documenting the current and past health and immunization of the cat.

  • Breeders require in nearly every circumstance, evidence of a safe and favorable home environment before discharging the cat. Shelters will likely ask similar questions and require a written statement from your landlord (if you rent), stating the cat is allowed on the premises.

 

Take you cat or kitten to the vet within the first week

Within the first week that you bring your cat to your new home, be sure to bring it to your own personal veterinarian. Review the documentation that the breeder or shelter provided with the vet and ask them to provide an additional analysis on your cats health.

  • Taking proper preventative measures with your veterinarian can prolong the life and happiness of your new cat.

 

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July 25, 2018 · 1:00 am

Abys Cat Adoption Process and Checklist Part 1

We at Abys know that you’ve been thinking about getting a cat just by the fact that you landed on our page. If you’re at the point where you’re still tossing the idea around in your head, you are in the perfect spot. Before adopting a cat you need to do some research and really put some thought into what kind of cat you want and will be happy with. After all, a cat can live for 15 or more years! Before adoption, consider a cat’s sex, age, and personality. Also consider if your home or apartment is an environment where your cat can be happy throughout its lifespan.

 

Do your due diligence before adopting a cat

Deciding what kind of cat fits your personality and lifestyle

Are you interested in a purebred Aby cat? Or a mixed breed cat with unknown heritage? Aby purebred cats are an excellent option for someone who knowns and appreciates cats. With a mixed breed cat there is the uncertainty of potential health issues which come attached if you adopt from a humane society. If you do adopt, make sure that the breeder or shelter has tested for diseases and provides you with the testing report before you adopt!

  • If you do your research and determine you are interested in a purebred pedigree cat be sure to research reputable breeders who treat their cats well. Make sure that the breeder comes with experience with the cats genetics and breeding, and who will support you even after your adoption.
  • If adopting from a shelter or rescue, do not adopt before you see that the cat is up to date on the vaccinations and spayed or neutered.

Contact Abys to identify a reputable cat breeder in your area.

 

Determine what kind of breed of cat you want.

Do your research to find out which breed of cat suits the time you have available for it and your needs. Afterall a cat will be your friend for 15 or more years! Different breeds and different mixed breeds have very different personalities including energy levels, playfulness, being held, scratching, and other habits. Traits that should be considered in a cat before adoption are:

  • Energy level
  • Need for attention
  • Affection towards owner
  • Vocality
  • Docility or calmness
  • Intelligence and independence
  • Need for grooming (sheds a lot or very little)
  • Compatibility with other pets

What age of a cat should you adopt? How long are you looking for a companion?

How much time and attention are you able to provide your pet? Kittens are extremely energetic and often immature and non-independent. This can lead to the cat being neglected if proper care and attention is not provided. Adult cats (over the age of 1 or so years) are often much more dependent than kittens and can usually take care of themselves for extended periods of time. If your family will need to compete between the needs of your kittens and your family, then perhaps an older cat is more suitable for your lifestyle.

  • If you have the time and energy for a new kitten, they are always an adorable addition to any family. If you are on the older side and are looking for a more mature friend, consider adopting an adult cat. Older cats also tend to be overlooked at shelters and make for excellent lap cats and companions later in life.

 

Do you want a male or a female cat?

In most scenarios the average cat owner will spay or neuter their cats. After this occurs, both the male and female personalities are rather similar to each other. Despite what you may hear from rumors, after a cat is spayed or neutered both male and females have the same chance of being a nice, friendly, lap cate. If you decide that you do not want a cat that has been spayed or neutered, consider these key behavior differences.

  • Male cats tend to get into fights, and want to roam outside and are often not good indoor pets. They also tend to be more liberal with using the litter box.
  • Female cats tend to be very vocal when in heat. They will also try to leave the house to get outside and mate. If they do get out and get pregnant there is the task of a new litter of kittens and the possibility of something going wrong during birth.

 

Consider one or more cats!

Humans love company and cats do to! If you adopt two cats, you don’t have to worry about one being socially deprived or bored and getting into trouble. So if you’re going to take a leap, go for two.

  • Make sure you have the time, space, and financial resources to manage and care for two cats.

 

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October 14, 2017 · 4:10 pm

NAR – Abyssinian Placement Program

NAR – National Abyssinian Rescue – Priority

Over the course of several weeks we have had numerous readers and local residents contact us through our website as well as our local humane society partners (who regular feature healthy and happy cats on their homepage).  And what we have found is that we have placed all 3 of the Abyssinian cats that were brought to use because their current owner is no longer able to attend to them.  However, through the humane society we have brought in over a dozen cats every month and are struggling to find homes for all of these beautiful animals.  Therefore, we would like to announce our partnership with the Humane Society of Michigan to sponsor and assist with cat adoption the week of November 3, 2017.

Michigan Cat Adoption – NAR

The Humane Society of West Michigan is hosting a cat adoption special, where all adoptions will be properly spayed or neutered as well as properly vaccinated. This will be taking place from November 3 to the 6.

The Humane Society will be reducing their adoption fees for cats to $10 and for kittens to $25. Dogs of all breeds are undergoing a similar adoption week where the prices are reduced by 25%, bringing the vast majority to under $100. For more information on where the adoption event will take place, contact the Michigan Humane Society here.

 

NAR Role in Cat Adoption

In order to assist our readers and the communities in which the live in (feral and stray cats included), we have begun answering questions and calls regarding the resources, local cat organizations, shelters, rescue groups, veterinary clinics, spay and neuter clinics for readers in the Midwest and Northeast Michigan. All of our advice is free of charge and is designed to give our readers the best experience with their new cat.  We also specialize in helping new cats adapt to a new home. For specialty lessons click here.

If we refer you to a local resource, please be aware that each group or program is run separate from ours. Some may focus on only spay/neuter projects, while others may  help foster kittens and cats in order to find homes for them.  Regardless, we will be happy to help locate and care for your community cats and provide you with the information required to keep them safe.

If you know of a group of have reached out to one for help, please send us an email with the group you used, and your contact information to: info@abys.net.

 

NAR Adoption Partners

Over the past year we have worked closely with the following organizations to help provide top of the line cat care for Abyssinian’s as well as other cats in need.

Humane Society of West Michigan

For over 130 years the Humane Society of West Michigan has operated under a seemingly simple mission, one that we feel provides both animals and those who care for them with an irreplaceable resource.

Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan was founded over 75 years ago to help shelter the homeless animals of southwestern Michigan. We continue that mission today by providing programs and services that annually impact thousands of people and pets in our community.

Humane Society of South Central Michigan

The Humane Society of South Central Michigan (HSSCM) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, age, disability, national origin, marital status or veteran status.

Milwaukee Windows

We are Milwaukee’s Premier window contractor serving the Milwaukee area for over 20 years, with our eyes set on our first expansion into Michigan in the summer of 2018.  We are happy to help Guy Little and his colleagues find homes for cats whose owners have deceased or no longer want them.

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August 1, 2017 · 11:10 pm

National Rescue

National Abyssinian Cat Rescue and Adoption Website

Welcome to Abyssinian Rescue. Thank you for stopping by! At Abyssinian Rescue we believe every animal deserves the best in life and we have invested a lot of resources to make that happen. We help lost and found aby cats find their owners, place abys who were abused or neglected in new homes and replace owners who cannot care for their cats anymore. Since we opened, hundreds of cats and kittens have found a loving home through our adoption program. All the cats in our care receive daily care from committed staff and volunteers.

What’s more, we provide informative and useful information on the human-cat relationship to help pet owners to not only keep their animals healthy, but also permanently in their homes. Our website has articles on pet training all written by professionals and experts in human psychology as well as animal behavior and training.

Facts about cat adoption

Adopting an Abyssinian can bring a lot of happiness into your life. Besides getting a furry friend for life, you will be getting a friend that will significantly reduce your day to day life stresses and can potentially save your life. And unlike what most people think, not all adopted cats are damaged. In fact most of them end up in rescue homes and shelters for various reasons that are beyond their control. For example some life circumstances may make a loving pet owner unable to continue taking care of the pet, hence he or she drops off the kitty at a shelter, trusting that the pet will find a good home.

Also, being admitted into a shelter, most Abys are usually given a medical exam and any necessary vaccinations to make sure they are healthy before you meet them. And if in case you adopt a cat that requires additional care, our staff will help you understand how to best care for the pet at home. Our staff also conduct behavior assessments, so you can sure the pet you are adopting is safe and ready for her new home. Adoption is simply the quickest and the best way for a pet to leave a rescue center safely. It is like saving a life. If you had the option of adopting and saving a life and not to adopt, what would you go for? You can make a huge difference by adopting a pet!

Adoptions make a friend forever

Although the say a dog is man’s best friend, cats too can be your perfect best friend if you let them into your heart. Anyone who owns a cat, especially an Abyssinian, will tell you that it is very difficult not to fall in love with your furry friend once you establish a bond. Cats not only have the ability to read our emotions but they are also loving and can make you feel special and wanted, with their desire to always be around you whenever you are around.

Whether it is when you are feeling blue or after a long day at work, these pets can read you like no other. Also, a cat is a friend that will never judge you. He will love you to the end of the world and back regardless of whatever happens. They are also good at making their owners feel good because of their affection and their unconditional love will definitely raise your self-esteem.

Better than Buying from a Pet Store

-Adoption helps stop pet overpopulation

Neutering and spaying is mandatory for all cats in our home. This makes sure that the pet you adopt from us will not be part of the pet overpopulation problem.

-Adoption saves lives

Most rescue homes are overcrowded and adoption will go a long way in saving the pet’s life as well as making room for other pets.

-Adoption gives a second chance

The main reason why most people take their pets to shelters is because of life circumstances such as a new baby, a move or a divorce. By adopting the pet you will be giving it a second chance in life to have a family.

-Adoption is cheaper

Cats adopted from reliable rescue homes often cost less than those purchased.

Benefits of adopting an adult cat

Although most people look for an admirable kitten when looking for a pet, they usually don’t realize the patience and time involved in raising the pet properly. Not only do they take a lot of energy and time, they can also be too demanding for first time or busy owners. That is why it is highly recommended that you seriously consider adopting a senior citizen and there are various advantages of this:

-Well-Mannered

Because most adult cats came from other homes, odds are that they have very friendly temperaments and adorable house manners.

-Already Litter Box Trained

Adult cats are already accustomed to using a litter box, so you won’t have a problem with litter.

-Better around Children

While Kittens have sharp claws and teeth and have no idea of how to play nicely, adult cats are much gentler and are way better around kids.

-They Need You

Though cats are independent animals, they still need your attention and love. Adult cats have no shortage of loyalty and affection and you may be surprised of how grateful he or she is to you.

-Lower Maintenance

Kittens have a lot of energy and like moving around. So if you are not careful they can easily start damaging your furniture and house in general. Kittens also require more veterinary checkups to make sure they have been neutered and spayed.

If you are ready for the challenge and you have a good environment for a pet, you should consider going for a cat adoption. This can be a rewarding and pleasurable experience and something that many people never regret.

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