If you are thinking of getting a cat, there can be no better place to find one than from a Rescue Centre. Every Year Thousands of cats are abandoned by their owners, become lost, are given up or are just unwanted kittens. All of these unfortunate animals are then thankfully taken in by Rescue Centres and taken care of until a good home can be found for them.

Regardless of the type of cat you might have your heart set on i.e. male, female, specific breed, colour or age, there will always be a match looking for a home in one of the centres somewhere.

Choosing to re-home a cat from a rescue centre has many benefits over buying one from a pet store or advertisement: All Cats are given a through health check before being offered for re-homing. So there will be no nasty surprises later on.

Most centres will vaccinate and neuter cats before you are allowed to take them home.

Cats are assessed to see what sort of home would suit them best, i.e. with children or other animals. Are they happy to be an indoor act or would they require access to a garden.

Rescue centres are able to provide useful advice regarding the care of the cat and will also provide helpful advice after you have adopted a cat.

By purchasing a cat from a rescue centre you are helping to provide funds for the care of other homeless pets.

Another major benefit of choosing a cat from a rescue centre is that you as a potential owner are also assessed. It is very important that you fully realise all that is required from you as an owner and that you are prepared for any financial outlay that may arise in the future. The last thing a lost or abandoned animal needs is to go through another upsetting experience of being rehomed to someone who later on neglects their needs and they have to be re-homed a second time. The benefits to you of being assessed, is knowing that you are fully prepared for most eventualities and that you are paired with a cat that will fit in with your lifestyle. Some cats need a lot of attention whereas others are happier to be left alone for periods of time. If you are out to work most of the day the last thing you will want is a needy cat that suffers anxiety during the day and urinates everywhere due to stress.

Although the process of being assessed may seem daunting it must be seen as beneficiary to both you and your potential new pet and should be approached as a positive process. Some of the types of questions you may be asked are:

What sort of home you have?

Will the cat be left alone a lot of the time?

Are there children or other pets in the home?

What facilities will there be for your cat, i.e. a garden, it’s own room etc.

Are you aware of what regular medical treatment is required for your cat every year and how much it is likely to cost?

Have you owned cats before? This is to ascertain your general knowledge of looking after a cat.

All of these questions will help to match you with a cat that will suit your lifestyle and environment and also provide you with cat care advice if you have not owned a cat before.

When you are introduced to the cats available for re-homing you will be able to ask about the cats individual backgrounds and how it has become homeless. You may also be able to find out what is known of where the cats came from and their previous circumstances. Any underlining health problems or behavioral issues will also be discussed, so that you are fully informed of which cats you may be interested in re-homing.

Many rescue centers will allow you to spend some time in the enclosure with your chosen cat before you make the final decision. Take your time and allow the cat to come to you. It will soon become apparent if you will be compatible or not. However if after all the assessments you find that after a while the cat is not happy with you or you are unable to take care of them anymore, a rescue center will be happy to take the cat back with out any recriminations. They would rather the cat be in a suitable home than abandoned or unhappy.

The right dog can be a source of fun and companionship for many years. But the wrong dog may well turn out to be a nuisance and cause of family dissension. So, give some serious thought to the matter of picking your dog.

Purebred, Crossbreed, or Mongrel

To paraphrase Gertrude Stein: “A dog is a dog is a dog.” No one breed or mixture is better than another. It all depends on why you want a dog and what kind of a dog your particular situation will maintain. There’s only one species of dog, Canis familiaris, with 116 breeds registered in the American Kennel Club. As to the crossbreeds and mongrels, their numbers and combinations are best left to the mathematicians. You may be sure, though, the crossbreeds and mongrels far outnumber the purebreds.

The purebreds, crossbreeds and mongrels are much alike in their general behavior and instincts. Any one of them will offer friendship, loyalty and companionship. And with reasonable care, a dog from any of these groups will turn into a fine pet.

Purebred dogs

A purebred dog is one whose parents and ancestors are of a single breed. It is a dog with a traceable pedigree. In America, purebred dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club. Foreign purebred dogs are registered in the official kennel club of the specific country. The American Kennel Club now registers 116 breeds, divided into six groups.

Crossbreeds and mongrels

You may have decided that you just want a dog, nothing fancy – animal or price. If so, you have a wide range of choice from among the many combinations of crossbreeds and mongrels. They have little monetary value, but they’ll give every bit as much loyalty and companionship as the purebreds.

Don’t think that because crossbreeds and mongrels are purchased cheaply or obtained gratis, they are not highly prized by their owners. Of the 26 million dogs in the United States, more than two-thirds are crossbreeds and mongrels. And, along with the purebreds, these “cheap” dogs are the best-fed and best-cared for dogs in the world.

There are some disadvantages in getting a crossbreed or mongrel dog. To be sure, the crossbreed will grow up to look somewhat like his sire or dam. But not the mongrel; what he will look like is anybody’s guess. Neither the crossbreed nor the mongrel can be entered in dog shows or field trials. So take this fact into consideration if you want to take part in the competitive areas of the dog world.

You will not experience much difficulty in finding a crossbreed or mongrel. And often they are yours for the asking. Consult the classified ads in your newspaper, visit a humane society, or reputable pet shop, and check with any neighbors who have puppies they cannot keep.

Male Vs. Female

The choice between a male or female should be based on facts, not prejudice. There are pros and cons for both sexes. The usual objection to the female is her estrus cycle or heat periods. She has a discharge during her periods, wants to go out and roam, and attracts a horde of canine Romeos. Add to this the excellent chance of unwanted puppies and you have the case against the female.

It’s really not a very strong case. Let’s consider some of the pros for the female. You’ll find she is cleaner around the house, with better control of her bladder than the male. This is an important factor if you live in an apartment. You will recall that the male dog has an instinct for lifting his leg and urinating against trees, poles and fireplugs. He won’t hesitate to use table and chair legs, doorjambs or floor lamps as substitutes.

The female has a strong maternal and protective instinct. She will guard children (especially if raised with them) as closely as she will guard her puppies. Some dog trainers consider the female to be more tractable, more willing to learn and with a longer attention span than the male.

You now should be in a stronger position to find a dog which will really suit you.