How to be a responsible owner of a cat adopted from a shelter or pet store

If you acquire a cat from the shelter or rescue center, you’ll be subject to their rules, and most will require any animal that leaves their kennel to be spayed or neutered, regardless of age. In the United States, veterinarians now neuter and spay kittens as young as eight weeks old.

However, in Britain this is not usually done until cats are six months old. If you buy a cat from a breeder or pet store, ask about the health guarantee. The ethicist will give you a certain number of days in which to have the cat examined by your vet. If it’s not healthy, you may be able to return it for a full refund.

Before a kitten is sold, it must have received at least its first vaccination and instructions must be given as to when the others are due. If you sell it at a pet price, not for breeding or exhibition, you don’t need papers.

Often, however, the documents will be provided with proof from a veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered. At other times, breeders will issue the papers and check the space to indicate that the kitten still needs to be spayed or neutered.

If you sell him as a breeder or show cat, he will charge a higher price and you are also required to provide your documents. There is no reason why you shouldn’t have all the documents ready, so a buyer should never agree to it unless all the relevant documents are available at the time of the sale.

Take steps for your cat in case of unexpected hospitalization or death. Any homebound animal can be neglected, so be sure to leave a written message with a friend, relative, or neighbor so they can come in and care for your pets in a pinch.

You should always take your new kitten or cat to a vet for a checkup, no matter where you get it. Must be in good health and free of parasites. However, if you’ve had it for more than ten days and you come down with a cold or something similar minor, don’t worry, as this is to be expected and not a cause for concern.

If you move to another country, your cat may need to be quarantined. Check with the relevant authorities about the quarantine laws in that country.