How to adopt a cat from a shelter in Russia

The pandemic has affected the daily lives of not only people, but also animals, which are now more often adopted from shelters around the world. Russia is no exception. In addition, Moscow even launched the delivery of pets from the shelter to the house of the new owner. Who do Russians choose as pets? For many years, Russia has topped the list of countries where cats are preferred. According to statistics, there are almost 34 million of them in the country, which is almost twice as many as dogs.

If you, too, are thinking about adopting a cat from a shelter, but do not know where to start, then this guide is for you.

1. Do an allergen test to make sure you and your household are not allergic to cats. To do this, you need to contact the clinic and pass the appropriate analysis. However, a negative result does not guarantee that intolerance will not develop in the future.
2. Decide on the desired age of the pet. Despite the fact that many people prefer to adopt kittens, there are many advantages to having an adult cat. First, you can choose an animal with which you will definitely get along with the characters. Secondly, it is possible to bypass the cat’s “teenage period”, after which it is often necessary to change furniture and especially fragile interior items.
3. Choose a shelter. In recent years, the number of public and private animal shelters has increased in Russia, and more and more volunteers are helping these organizations as volunteers and partners. Many shelters are active on social networks, and to find the nearest one, just enter the hashtag #shelter in the search bar and add the name of your city to it without a space.
4. Try yourself as a cat owner. In some shelters, it is possible to help the shelter by taking “patronage” of the animal – regularly visit, feed and spend time together. This will help you understand whether you are ready for such responsibility.
5. Prepare for the interview. Shelter workers and volunteers take a responsible approach to choosing new owners for their wards, so do not be surprised if you are asked to describe yourself in detail, check documents, or even be required to show the conditions in which the cat will be kept. In some cities, such as Moscow, future owners may be required to have their own housing.
6. Complete all necessary documents. When taking a cat from a shelter, you will need to sign an agreement on the transfer of the animal, and for the cat itself, you will need to get a veterinary passport, which includes vaccinations and other important information.
7. Buy a “dowry” for your new four-legged friend. The minimum set of necessary things must be purchased in advance: bowls for food and water, a tray. A special shampoo and scratching post will not be superfluous. For the first time, it is better to buy food and filler for the tray the same ones that were used in the shelter so that the animal experiences less stress in an unfamiliar environment.
8. Find “your” veterinarian. If there are cat owners in your environment, it is better to contact them for recommendations. Veterinary clinics are easy enough to find on a city map, but trusting online ratings is not the best strategy. If there are no cat lovers among your acquaintances, then you can try to seek advice from professional breeders. A thoroughbred cat sometimes requires special health care, so those who breed kittens for sale probably know who to contact and who not to.
9. Be prepared for the fact that the adaptation of the cat in a new place may take some time. Even if the acquaintance at the shelter went well, the beginning of a life together with a pet does not always go smoothly. Cats, like people, have different temperaments and react differently to stress. Let the new tenant settle in, be calm and friendly. 

A pet is a big responsibility and risk at the same time. Unfortunately, the relationship between the owner and the cat is not always successful, so cases when the pet is returned back to the shelter are not uncommon. So, before you join the ranks of cat owners, you need to assess how ready you are for this.