Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – By Hartson Dowd

June 26, 2006

June is Adopt-a-Cat month!

For pet owners, June is the perfect time to let the cat out of the bag and into your heart during National Adopt-A-Cat month.

During the month of June, the ASPCA will help match-up families with the purr-fect kitty from a local shelter. Shelters across the country are bursting with little cats and big cats, in all shapes, colors.

To find out more about the wonderful world of cats, join us in this cool celebration and check out the activities we have for you and your pals!

Wanna test your math skills? Cats, Cats, and More Cats will show you how quickly unneutered cats can multiply.

Do you know what countries certain breeds, or types, of cats come from? Try our Cat Breed Geography map quiz and find out.

See how many homes you can find for kitties--and dogs-- in this fun activity, Help Me Find a Home.

Read our Cat Care information to find out how to properly care for your furry friend.

A Catnip Toy, A Catnip Toy-Too and Pounce Patrol will teach you how to make fun, safe toys that will have your new friend playing for hours.

If you're looking for some awesome books about cats and other animals, you'll find them in our cool kid's bibliography, Kids, Animals and Literature. Search under cats.

Established by the American Humane Association, Adopt-A-Cat Month is a national effort to help animal advocate groups across the nation find homes for the more than six million cats that inundate the country's shelters each year especially during the summer months. In the spring and summer, shelters are overwhelmed with kittens. Unfortunately 71 percent of these cats will have to be put to sleep due to shelter space restrictions and limited homes for adoption.

The Adopt-A-Cat program draws attention to these tragic statistics and encourages potential adopters to visit their local animal welfare organization when looking for a new pet.

"While cats are available for adoption all year long, June is usually the busiest month in terms of the numbers of cats and kittens that arrive in shelters.  These loving animals can make a great addition to your family and you get the added satisfaction of knowing that you helped a cat find a home.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing to adopt a cat, including

1. Number and age of people in your household. If you have kids and your children are under six, an adult cat is the better choice.

2. Allergies. Allergies to cats can be extremely serious. Make sure no one in your household is allergic before welcoming a new cat.

3. Financial ability. Proper pet care means yearly veterinary care and the ability to buy food and other needed supplies.

4. Number. If you already have a cat and are considering welcoming a new buddy you need to consider the implications of a multi-cat household including feeding, multiple litterboxes and whether the cats get along.

5. 20-plus year commitment. Cats can live more than 20 years. The commitment is worth it, but you need to be prepared to put in the time and effort over a long period.

Owning a cat provides relaxation and entertainment as well as companionship. Adopting a cat is an exciting adventure, with intangible but valuable benefits. It's like having a little bit of the jungle in your living room.

Hartson Dowd

hsdowd@telus.net