50 Cat Memes Any Cat Lover Would Appreciate

Rachel Geller is certified as a cat behavior and retention specialist, humane education specialist, Pet Chaplain®, fear-free shelter specialist, American Association of Feline Practitioners cat-friendly veterinary advocate, and RedRover reader. Due to her extensive experience promoting cat adoption, we asked Rachel to share some compelling reasons why individuals should consider adopting a cat instead of buying one from a breeder or pet store.

“Most importantly, the cat knows. Adopted cats are grateful. People who don't know and love cats the way I do may not 'get' this but adopted cats tend to be more loving and affectionate than ones bought from a breeder. Many people who have bought cats from breeders, but also adopted cats from shelters report anecdotally that the ‘rescued’ cat acts more affectionately towards them. This could be because cats are very perceptive, loyal creatures and have a ‘sixth sense’ and they understand that you saved them. The cat realizes she has hit the jackpot and knows that her life is much better now than it was in the shelter. I have personally rescued abused and abandoned cats from shelters and watched them turn into the most affectionate cats once they were in my home. The goal of a kitten mill is profit and to produce as many kittens as possible. The adult female and male unspayed/unneutered cats who will be the parents of these kittens are kept in cages with their sole purpose being to breed new cats. They are kept in terrible conditions and so are their newborns. Many of the kittens produced at these mills will have hidden medical problems that don’t become apparent until later in their lives. By then, it may be too late to save them and treatment could be expensive. Few people are aware of these places and their practices and they don’t know that by buying a kitten from a pet store, they are unwittingly supporting this cruel industry. When you adopt a cat you're giving a cat a second chance at life.

Adopting a cat, versus purchasing one from a pet store or a breeder, allows for an additional opening at an animal shelter for another cat to be adopted, thus saving 2 lives. By adopting, you are giving a cat a safe and loving home in which she can learn to be a happy and healthy cat again. Purebred cats tend to be more predisposed to health issues. Mixed-breed cats tend to have less inherited genetic health problems. By choosing a cat that is in good health, but that may have a mixed lineage, you will have a cat with fewer medical problems in her lifetime. Animal shelters take excellent care of their cats due to both the dedication and passion of their employees and volunteers and also because of the many strict regulations around shelters. Some cats may have been abused and neglected before arriving at a shelter, but once there they are given needed medical attention, vaccinations, medicine, care, behavioral screenings, and lots of attention by professional staff members and volunteers; When a shelter cat has put up for adoption, she is ready to join her new family,” shared Rachel.

Rachel is very passionate about cats and that shows not only in her words but most importantly, her actions and work. Rachel’s organization focuses on preventing the surrender and abandonment of cats. We asked her to explain how adopting a cat can contribute to this important mission, and what benefits it offers to both the cat and the owner.

“I founded All Cats All the Time, Inc. so that I could broaden my mission of keeping adopted cats and people together with my free cat behavior counseling and providing cat-related financial assistance. My mission is to ensure there is never a financial barrier preventing people from keeping their cats in their homes when the issue is a behavior problem, but sometimes to solve a cat behavior problem, you need other things besides guidance or a program to follow. For low-income people who want to keep their cats, this can be a terrible hardship. Examples of cat-related items that may be necessary to solve a problem but can be expensive are a scratching post, litter boxes, medical tests, or prescription food. On a yearly basis, I have been able to keep between 900-1,000 cats in their homes completely free of charge... This saves two lives because then an open spot in the shelter can be available for a cat who is truly homeless. This benefits the cats and the people. Shelters are already overcrowded and thousands of cats are euthanized every year. Most people consider their cat part of the family and do not want to give up their beloved cats. It is heartbreaking. By reducing the intake of cats who are being surrendered due to cat behavior problems, we can focus on the cats who are truly homeless and need shelter and rescue. This benefits everyone. Shelters have a limited amount of space and resources and are forced to make the tough decision to euthanize an unwanted cat. If we adopt cats, we can reduce the number of cats who are euthanized and give them a warm and loving home instead. And with cats being great therapy and emotional support animals, a major benefit is easing our stress, helping with mental health and anxiety, and providing companionship,” explained Rachel.