Dear Critter Corner: After quite a few talks with my partner, we have finally decided that our children are old enough to understand the responsibilities that come along with adopting a new pet. They have been asking to expand our family over the past few years, but we would like some advice on how best to choose the right pet for us. We have some experience with cat sitting my sister’s cat when they go out of town, but we would prefer to have a more social cat. Do you have any suggestions on how best to do this?
Adopting a new pet during the holiday season can be very exciting for the family, but it is important to have an idea of what pet would fit best into your lifestyle. I would highly recommend sitting down with the whole family to make a game plan and have everyone on the same page before starting to look for your new furry family member. I suggest researching the adoption process for each of the places you plan to visit and checking out the resources they offer for new adopters.
When you arrive at an adoption center, it can be very overwhelming since there are so many adorable animals that are available to be adopted! I would suggest keeping an open mind when looking at all the available animals and asking the staff members any questions you might have. The adoption staff will be able to help match you with a pet that will fit well into your lifestyle and be able to advise you with the next steps in the adoption process. The whole household should be present when meeting the cat or kitten you are interested in adopting and be able to give their input. It is important to remember not to rush this process and to have the whole family on board before moving forward with bringing a new family member home!