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Who’s Got Shelter Cats? #FoodShelterLove

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Food, Shelter, & Love Program, but Stunning Keisha only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.


June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. That is funny cos I always thought Adopt a Shelter Cat Month was January cos that’s when this little ex-shelter cat was sprung from a lifetime of cages and bars. I’ll never forget my time at the two shelters. The first one was supposed to be a no-kill but why did a rescue group spring me and some furrends to save us from getting PTS? They thought I was worth rehabilitating and I found myself in another shelter still waiting. On January 29th, 2006, an elderly couple came to the adoption event, paid my bail and took me home. They had seen my mug shot in the post office stunning photo on something called petfinder.com and liked what they saw.

I’m here today to stump for cats who haven’t been as lucky and still find themselves in shelters across the country through no fault of their own. Maybe during kitten season they were born to feral parents on the streets or maybe they once had homes with humans who were lacking cat care skills or who passed away leaving no one to care for the cat. Perhaps they ran away from cushy homes looking for adventure and now found themselves on the streets like my cousin BB. Homeless, abandoned, feral and missing cats who find themselves joining the shelter population need good nutrition like Hill’s® Science Diet® provides.

Photo of missing adult cat BB © Melinda Diaz Magala. Adult Optimal Care photo © Hill’s Pet.

We’re hoping he’s at one of the nearly 1000 shelters that the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® program is making a difference at. Since 2002 the program has donated over $280 million worth of food to those shelters and to date have helped more than 8 million pets find their forever castles.

There are many reasons to adopt a shelter cat to enrich your life. The most important one is that you save three lives: the cat you adopt, a grateful cat who can then be pulled off the street or from a kill shelter to take the empty cage and perhaps your own if you’re suffering from depression or need a little someone to keep you company. Cats are good at stress reducing and have many health benefits.

Photo left © Hill’s Pet. My kitten photo is courtesy Petfinder.com

A week after the peeps brought me home, Pop had major, major, major back surgery (his surgeon’s words, not mine). When he came home from the hospital, I was there for him. He couldn’t pet or hold me cos I was even more feral back then but I followed him wherever he went. I laid beside him in bed. I walked with him into the kitchen to eat. We bonded. He hated taking time off from his job and I alone kept him sane during those six weeks home.

Autumn’s story is a bit different. She came from the same rescue I did but she was adopted to help Gramma cope with the loss of Grampa and then Chizzy. She was a sweet and gentle lap cat who bonded instantly with Gramma.

I would not recommend adopting a cat—especially a kitten—if you think that cats sleep all day, don’t cost a lot to maintain and will entertain themselves. Before you adopt, you need to take a look at your lifestyle and do research on which cat would fit that lifestyle best.

Cats such as myself can be high-maintenace. We require scratching posts so we won’t scratch your expensive furniture, cat trees so we won’t climb the drapes, toys and interactive playtime. Most cats thrive with interactive play using laser pointers or feather wand toys. It gives us exercise and hones our hunting skills. We also require good nutrition to keep us healthy so we live longer and disease-free.

Please adopt us! We’re at Happy Feet, Secaucus, NJ.
If you’re adopting a kitten, you might be instructed to feed him/her Hill’s® Science Diet® Kitten Healthy Development Original formula which provides balanced, easy-to-digest nutrition with added vitamins to promote healthy growth of vital organs and protect the immune system. An adult cat would need Hill’s® Science Diet® Adult Optimal Care® Original formula to help promote a healthy weight and improve skin and coat and healthy vital organs, including heart and kidneys. Stunning Keisha does not recommend feeding a diet consisting of only dry kibble. Hill’s Science Diet also makes wet formulas for cats and kittens.

I know this is a lot to read and digest but trust me, adopting a kitten or cat is worth it and now is a great time. For Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, many shelters are offering lower fees and BOGO. The only thing better than adding one new kitty is giving them a friend by adding more than one.

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Would you like to comment?

  1. How can you grow even more beauteous every time I see you, my darling? We loves your 'doption story, and we are sure you purrsonally are responsible for your pop's recovery!
    I will tell the Human to buy me a Hills canned food to try, too. ;-) I get a few crunchies cause I like them so much, but mostly the Human tries to feed me wet food. xoxoxo

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  2. CK, I was a shelter cat too. And I think shelter cats make the best pets because we're SO appreciative of getting out of the crummy shelter. Paws up to Hills for focusing on shelter kitties.

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  3. So glad you were adopted, CK. EVERY month should be adopt-a-cat month. Don't you agree?

    Purrs,
    Seville

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  4. This is a fabulous post! All our kitties over the years have been strays that we took in, but I also volunteer a cat shelter and of course, Ruby is a shelter dog

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  5. There are a bunch of us shelter grads here!!!

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  6. It really is amazing how much of a difference adopting from a shelter makes; not only do you get to find a perfect companion but as you say you're making room for the shelter to help another kitty in need.

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  7. Great post! If I was looking for another cat, I would definitely get a shelter cat. My Jessie Cat wouldn't have it though. Not now. She hates cats and makes their lives miserable. Thank you for sharing!

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  8. Mommy only had 2 kitties that came from good homes and she met their parents and everything. Both brandi and I are rescues. Mommy first saw me at the Petfinder web site and then went to Feline Rescue in St. Paul to fall in love with me for real--in the fur! Brandi came special. She found Mommy at a pet adoption event at PetSmart and wouldn't let Mommy go home without her! Another rescue winner!

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  9. It breaks mom's heart that there are so many kitties in shelters. We are so thankful that companies like Hill's help with awareness and finding homes. Love Dolly PeeS: I hope you got a chance to read mom's guest blog on Cat Writers Assoc.

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    1. Yes, I did! I didn’t realize Rhett was one of Lorie’s cats since TW is so sporatic at visiting my furrends.

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  10. This is such a great post! You are so right about adopting shelter kitty that it saves three lives, especially the kitty who get admission to the empty spot. It creates a good cycle. Of course, I hope there will be more empty cages at the shelters.

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  11. We wish that all kitties had homes, but then we wish for world peace and ya know that ain't about to happen. But we can dream about more and more kitties finding forever safe homes. Very good post CK.

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  12. Bravo CK! I am glad that those peeps rescued you when you were a youngster. Cats are awesome and I hope that more people decide to adopt one for their family.

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  13. What a great post! Thanks for spreading the word about shelter cats. We're pawesome.

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  14. Thank you very much for sharing! I agree with you that people need to consider their options and do their research on how much effort, love, money and time goes into having a cat that is healthy and loved 100%. Your petfinder.com photo is very beautiful no wonder such a great human scooped you up!!

    Thank you for a great read!

    Isabella and mom
    xx

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  15. Ck....a paws a paws a paws ona grate post N even mor a paws for HIll's ta help out like they due ~~~~ ♥♥♥

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  16. Having been in a shelter and classed as UNADOPTABLE and going to bes put down, mes is an advocate for Adoptions and CK, yous has said it well and succinctly! Yous is the bestest Grrl Furrend!
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  17. Shelter cats deserve love, too. We're glad that organizations help make it possible for them to live in shelters until families can find and adopt them into forever homes.

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  18. I am sorry your cousin has gone missing and hope he gets found. That is a great post about the shelter cats. Eric and I didn't come from a shelter, we came from a farm where all the cats and kittens have to more or less fend for themselves and are semi feral. None of them live to a good age.

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  19. Adopting and helping shelter cats is one of the most satisfying things pet lovers will ever do.

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  20. Excellent post CK. I love happy endings and I am glad you got one. I am praying for BB.

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  21. Outstanding, we will share this for you CK. Thank you for a good post - At our rescue the FIV+ can (A wonderful boy called Arthur) is on a Perscription diet, also from Hill's. Thanks to it - he is doing FINE. Hills and a new kitten - transform your life - and as CK says research about that the kitten will expect from you!

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  22. We're glad you were adopted....we wish all cats were!

    The Florida Furkids

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  23. You were an adorable kitten. I hope all the shelter cats find a good home like yours!

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  24. Yes, hard to resist your beautiful face!

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  25. Great post ! We're glad you were adopted by caring and loving humans ! Purrs

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  26. Good post, CK! Adopting a cat is definitely worth it, and we are so glad that your humans spring you from the shelter.

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  27. Oh CK you was such an adowable little kitty girl. Weez so glad TW and da pops adopted ya' and bwought you home wiff them. Gweat posty. Have a gweat day.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  28. What a great post CK! Shelter kitties are the best!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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