Anyone who’s adopted a fluffy little kitty into their family before knows all too well the impact that it can have on your life, as well as the cat’s. Suddenly, you have a curious companion crawling on top of every single surface in your home, and you’re able to see the amazing growth that this tiny creature can experience. And while it can be tempting to pick out a precious kitten from a breeder, getting a rescue cat can be much more rewarding, for you and the little fur ball itself. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), about 3.2 million cats enter the animal shelter system in the US every year.

These cuties are just sitting there waiting to be adopted into loving homes, but unfortunately, many of them will never live to see their “gotcha day”. Approximately 530,000 cats are euthanized in American shelters annually, meanwhile plenty of breeders are out there bringing new kitties into the world unnecessarily. But the good news is that people simply love cats. We can’t get enough of them! That’s why over one third of all households in the US have a feline family member, and it’s estimated that there are over 600 million kitties in the world, with about 400 million of them residing in Asia. 

There’s a common joke online that dog owners tend to get their pets from prestigious breeders that charged them hundreds of dollars, while cat owners tend to acquire their pets through finding them in dumpsters or simply being followed home by them on a random day. And while this is not always the case, of course, it is common for people to take in strays. In fact, behind obtaining their kitties from friends and/or family members, adopting a stray or feral cat is the second most common way cat owners acquired their little fur balls in the United States. About one third of all cat-owning homes in the US report that at least one of their cats came from the street.

To learn more about why it’s important to adopt rather than shop when it comes to welcoming cats into our families, we reached out to Vicky Halls, Head of Unowned Cats at International Cat Care, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. “There are so many pre-loved cats out there and even kittens, part of unwanted litters or born to cats that are unowned,” Vicky says. “It makes perfect sense to adopt a cat or kitten that really needs you. Why encourage people to breed and sell cats to meet a demand that can be filled by cats waiting for their forever homes in cattery pens or foster care around the world?”

We were also curious about what kinds of transformations Vicky has seen rescue cats undergo. “Many cats struggle in homing centers, they hate being in cages and pens which makes them feel so out of control - everything seems so unpredictable. Once they find themselves in a loving home, they often blossom,” she shared. 

“It's so hard to predict how a cat might behave in a new home though, particularly if the homing organization has not been able to get any information on a cat's back story,” Vicky noted. “You have to make educated guesses about cats in this challenging environment, but there are many really experienced people out there doing just that and using that information to ensure the match between adoptive family and cat is the right one.”

Vicky also opened up about the benefits families can receive from adopting kitties into their lives. “You cannot ignore the fact that it feels good to give a home to a cat that really needs a helping hand at a difficult time in their life,” she told Bored Panda. “Whether you are adopting an adult cat or a kitten, they all grow and flourish in your company, developing quirky and unique habits that emerge as a direct result of the relationship. Every cat is an individual and spending time getting to know them and seeing their personalities revealed, bit by bit, is a truly heartwarming experience, I would recommend it to anyone!”

We also asked Vicky if she could explain what prospective adopters should know before bringing their feline companions home. “I'm a great believer in planning ahead. There is a wealth of information on our website that is worth reading before you make the decision to adopt a cat,” she says. “You also need to consider what kind of cat (e.g. temperament, age) would best suit your lifestyle. If you have other pets this needs to be taken into consideration, as this could greatly influence any future cat adoption. The homing organization is well suited to match you with a cat, so don't necessarily set your heart on a cat you have seen on their website - he or she may just not be the cat for you (and vice versa!). Most cats struggle with being in a cage for any length of time, as I said before, and they all need time, space and patience to adjust to a new home, however loving.”

“Prepare the home beforehand, make sure everyone knows to play it very gently to start with, and allow the cat to decide when it's the right time to make friends with you,” Vicky says. “If you push it too soon, the cat will feel uncomfortable and under pressure. So my advice would be to have patience and be prepared to wait a couple of weeks to see a newly adopted cat settle. There are, of course, some that will arrive in your home, take a quick tour round and settle on your sofa as if they have lived there for years. They really are so individual, it's hard to predict.”

“Cats have very different needs to humans, so I think we owe it to them to find out as much as we possibly can about what they require from us and from our homes and make sure it happens,” Vicky added.

If you’d like to learn more about cats or why your home may need one from the experts, be sure to visit International Cat Care’s website right here!

We also reached out to Cathrine, spokesperson for the adorable cats Bionic Basil and the B Team, to hear her thoughts on why adopting kitties can be so life-changing for you and your new family members. "When you adopt a shelter cat, you are essentially giving him or her a second chance for an epic life. Also, you aren’t supporting unscrupulous backyard breeders by paying hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds or dollars for a pet," she told Bored Panda. "Plus, by adopting from a rescue or shelter, your donation or adoption fee then benefits the organization to assist more cats in the future. Shelters will have probably already neutered your cat or kitten, so this helps to control future overpopulation. Your cat will be micro-chipped and vaccinated, plus you’ll have a good indication of overall health because of the excellent care most shelters provide."

Cathrine also noted that if you're looking for a specific breed of cat, "There are many rescues which look to re-home pure breeds, so a little search on Google can point you in the right direction to find your dream cat." And while you may have your heart set on a kitten, keep an open mind to older cats as well. "Never discount the senior section for a potential new roomie. Who knows, you may actually find your soul mate with an elderly feline," Cathrine says. "And most importantly, you’ll enrich their life and yours."

Cathrine also opened up about one of the most wonderful transformations she's witnessed among her own rescue cats. "In the right home with the right family, cats thrive," she says. "Their purrsonalities grow and begin to shine. Many years ago, I adopted a completely feral adult female cat from my local rescue; she had been part of a 100-cat feral colony at an old people’s retirement home, and she was one of the very last to be trapped. She had been living in an abandoned greenhouse in the gardens and being fed by the kindly residents. She was completely terrified after being trapped and taken to the rescue, and I was told that she really wasn’t suitable for re-homing in the traditional sense as she was completely unsocialised, but always up for a challenge, I adopted her along with a male adult black cat who’d been a stray."

"I named the feral kitty Mildred Marbles or Millie for short, and after bringing her home and releasing her from the carrier, she bolted upstairs and found her way into the small bedroom, where I had an antique bed," Cathrine went on to share. "She promptly crawled up underneath the bed, onto the wooden lats, and hid among the bed springs. It was at that moment I realized I had a lot of work to do to help her acclimate to her new home, so I set up a litter tray in the room and a quiet corner for her food and water."

"Every night for three and a half months after I got home from work, I would spend up to three hours on the floor, half under the bed and just talk quietly to her while she hid among the springs," Cathrine continued. "I would place tasty treats on the lats, so once I’d left her alone, she would have something yummy to eat. And in all those months I never saw her anywhere else in the house, but I kept trying to lure her out, and then one day I came home from work to the best surprise. She was sat on the kitchen table downstairs."

"From that moment on Mille decided that she’d had enough of living under the bed and moved freely around the house, finding sunny windowsills, soft cushions, delightful beds and comfy sofas to snooze on," Cathrine told Bored Panda. "As her confidence grew around me, she went from being totally petrified of people to the biggest fuss monster I’d ever known, and anyone that ever came to visit would also be greeted with much gusto as Millie introduced herself and demanded fuss. Her transformation was truly incredible, and in all my years of being a cat guardian, I have never seen such a wonderful outcome."

Cathrine also detailed some of the best benefits cat owners receive from welcoming little fur balls into their families. "After the settling in phase, having a cat is one of the best things ever. You have an epic roomie, a best furiend, and a top listener, plus there is scientific proof that owning a cat can boost positive emotions and increase a person’s energy," she shared. "They also make great counsellors, albeit silent ones, and assist in mental wellness, so if you find yourself in a low state or you’re just not feeling your usual self, your kitty will be there to help you through the tough times and help to reduce your stress. And talking of stress, just petting a cat can help to decrease levels of cortisol and listening to their purring is also highly relaxing and beneficial."

"You get into a daily routine with your cat, and they, like us need to blow off steam. So by playing and interacting with them, you get to move more and your kitty gets to vent and have an absolutely epic time and while you’re engaging, this strengthens your bond further," Cathrine continued. "Cats are also very clean, they are one of the most hygienic pets, so what’s not to love? In my humble opinion, they truly are the most purrfect pet."

Finally, we asked Catherine to note what prospective cat owners should be aware of before expanding their families. "Ask yourself, are you ready to care for another being for anything up to twenty years or more? For example, our oldest cat Amber will be twenty-one in October. If you’re not able to offer a lifetime obligation, then perhaps owning a cat isn’t for you," she noted.

"From my experience, all cats are different, just like people. And living in a multi-cat home with six cats, you really get an understanding of just how no two are alike. My advice would be to always take your time in the first few weeks while your kitty gets used to his or her new surroundings," Cathrine told Bored Panda. "I would also plan ahead and pick a low-traffic place in your home for food and water bowls, and if possible, try not to place the food and water bowls right next to the litter tray. Some cats may settle right in like they’ve always been there, and others may be more like Mille, timid, shy and incredibly nervous. In cases of a more timid cat, it could take months before he or she is totally comfortable. Just take your time and don’t try to force things, the more naturally you let the relationship evolve, the better it will be."

Cathrine also noted that there are some cats who won't ever become lap cats. "My tuxedo kitty, Posie was a very angry stray," she shared. "I do not know what happened to her before I adopted her, but it couldn’t have been good. She would lash out and didn’t like to be handled much and was highly temperamental. Even after fifteen years, she was still a bit grumpy. My point is, accepting your cat on their level is necessary for a happy home, so if they aren’t a fuss monster, that’s okay, and if they are a supurr lap cat, that’s okay too."

If you'd like to learn more about cat-keeping from Cathrine or keep up with the wonderful adventures of Bionic Basil and the B Team, be sure to visit their website right here!

We hope you’re enjoying this heartwarming list of cat transformations, pandas. Whether you’ve never considered getting a cat in your life or you’re already on track to become a classic “cat lady,” we hope you’ve been able to appreciate some of these incredible photos of cats who are absolutely thriving now. Keep upvoting all of the pictures that inspire you, and let us know in the comments if you’ve ever adopted a cat who’s had a radical transformation. Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article on the same topic featuring even more adorable kitties, look no further than right here!