Which is better? To adopt and love, or allow it to be put to sleep.?

Question

Is it better to adopt and love a stray cat, give it food and water, and a loving home inside, or take it to a shelter where they are having to put them to sleep on a regular basis. Too many cats and kittens are constantly being put to sleep because people cannot afford food, vaccinations and the testing that goes along with shots. And that's after the cost of neutering. And add in vet care when they become sick. So should they be given the chance of a decent life or killed?

I posed this question because I have heard the phrase "responsible pet owner" so many times. The first 8 cats I had were all neutered, tests, vaccinations wormed and the whole list. Than a neighbor abandoned 8 at 1 time with a pregnant mama cat. All I could afford to do was neuter, feed and love. We all lived together as a family, on a daily basis, good times, rough times and confused times as I learned "cat ways" and they learned "my way". Now, after hearing the phrase "responsible pet owner", I have wondered if I was wrong or if food, water, shelter, vet care when sick and love was enough or better than death. And I really do love them. They are family. I have loved and lost many times.

Answer 1

adopt and love, i am not sure what i would do if i hadnt adopted my kitty cat Bo

Answer 2

This is a sad and moral question. Do you have the room and time it'll take to take in a cat? Are you able to afford the medical care required, spay or neuter, vaccinate and deworm? The main reason why cats are being put to sleep is because there are too many cats. Cat owners who do not spay and neuter just add to the problem. For every human born 48 cats are born! If you can care for the cat I'd save it, if not the shelter may find it a home.

Answer 3

Of course they should be adopted! In an ideal world, no animal would go without a home. But unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world. There are people who don't treat animals the way they should be treated. They aren't looked after, they're treated as a piece of furniture or a fashion accessory, and they're dumped at the nearest pound (or worse) when they wind up pregnant/too old/too big/unwanted/unfashionable. Sometimes, people can't afford to look after an animal, let alone themselves. It's a big responsibility, taking up time, money and emotional commitment. Not to mention compromise and a change in life-style. It would be unfair to ask people to raise an animal they're not ready or capable of raising.

And sometimes, it's kinder to have an unwanted animal put down than have it running around in the wild, producing more strays. Or in the hands of someone who will be intentionally or unintentionally cruel to it.

My cat is a shelter cat, and I can't begin to describe how much she has enriched my life. She's getting near the end of her life, but I know that my next pet (should there be one), will be from a shelter, too.

Answer 4

I think it is about the quality of life. We adopted an older dog, 7 or 8, that had been severely abused and neglected her whole life. We bought her toys - which we also had to teach her to play with - and gave her food and water and love. We took her to the vet and paid $350 to find out whether her ear infection was just an infection or a chronic problem. We introduced her to cats and children and love. My mother and I almost cried the first time she wagged her tail, and I actually did cry the first time she chased the ball I threw for her, instead of dropping to the ground and cowering in fear like she usually did.

We had her for eight months. Then her liver started to go. She became agressive towards me. We had bloodwork done, and it was not a good prognosis. With drastic lifestyle changes and tons of medication, she might have had another year. We chose to put her down while she was still having the time of her life. We spent eight months giving her the love she never had for eight years, and we never once regretted adopting her or putting her to sleep.

If you had feral cats that would come and stay in your house, and you had the means for basic vet care, food, and shelter, I'd say give it a shot. Once you bring it to the shelter, if - and only IF - it passes a temperment test, it only has like a week to be adopted before being put down. I'd rather try, like we did with Magick (our dog).

Answer 5

They, & all other animals, should always be given the chance to live.
I have a White Russian Siamese that I adopted in 1990 when he was 3, he is 19 years old now & I have never regreted adopting him.
I also had a Rottweiller that I adopted when she was 2 1/2 yrs old ( she passed away earlier this year ) she lived to be almost 15 & she was the best guard dog & friend I ever had.

Once an animal decides you are worthy of its love it will give it to you unconditionally.

To the people that answer this negatively - think how you would feel if you were in that animals place...

Answer 6

Too many are being put to sleep because people won't get them fixed, not the cost of food. That and because people don't think they are as cute when they grow up. I say give the cat a decent chance at life.

Answer 7

Better to adopt. I have a cat who was a stray, and he is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. He is a loving wonderful cat. I cherish him. They all deserve a chance at life, and to be loved. Not mistreated, thrown on the street, and put to sleep. Give him a loving home..PLEASE!!!

Answer 8

Stray animals can be great pets. All my pets have been strays or shelter specials. Don't take on more than you can handle. If you can't get it spayed/neutered and don't have the time, you are better off dropping it at the pound.

Answer 9

I adopt adult cats for this very reason; they deserve a shot at a good life. If I found a stray and nursed it back to health, I don't think I'd ever be able to take it to a shelter....too risky....and I'd become attached.

Answer 10

They should be given a very decent life and if they can't afford anything, well I think an animal shelter or a vet should buy things or at least help with raising it?

Answer 11

I think is better to adopt a stray cat as they didn't ask to be born.I would rather keep the cat or kitten which ever it is. Yes they should be giving a life.