THE CAT NETWORK BROWARD
South Florida Feline Adoptions
Educational Resources
Why should I adopt 2 kittens instead of 1?
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1 kitten can get lonely or bored
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2 kittens will play with each other (they have LOTS of energy!)
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2 kittens will learn boundaries and will have less behavioral issues than a single kitten.
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You are saving 2 lives instead of 1!
Check out our current cats for adoption!
How much of a commitment is a cat adoption?
Adopting a cat is very rewarding, but should never be done lightly. An adoption is a 15-20 year commitment and the animal becomes part of your family. You are committing to providing not only food, water, and litter, but interactive play, safety in your home, and veterinary care for their whole life. Therefore, we do NOT recommend adopting a cat or any other pet as a gift!
What are the benefits of adopting an older cat instead of a kitten?
When adopting a kitten, its temperament and personality will change with time. With an older cat, you know what you are getting! There are less surprises.
Kittens require more attention and play. They are bundles of energy! Older cats are calmer and require less supervision.
Older cats are just as capable of forming deep bonds with their human owners as kittens! While they are calmer, they still want to have play time and cuddle time.
Check out our current cats for adoption!
Where do Cat Network Broward cats and kittens come from?
We work with many rescues, trappers, and social media outlets to find and carefully trap cats and kittens living in unsafe conditions. Life outside is very tough on cats. They risk getting hit by cars, getting parasites, injuries, fights, and even injuries from people who seek to hurt them. If a cat is feral (not domesticated, scared of people) as an adult, it is difficult to domesticate them. In that case, they are trapped, spayed/neutered, and released to a safe location to be fed regularly. We also pull cats and kittens from overcrowded high-kill shelters.
Friendly cats and kittens are tested for viruses and placed with volunteers who give them lots of love and prepare them for their forever family.
Once they are ready, off to Petsmart Lauderhill! They stay in the cages in the back of the store to be seen by potential adopters and where volunteers come twice a day to let them out to play and run around while their cages are cleaned and food/water bowls are filled. As you can see, it takes a village!
We try to help as cats as we can, but have VERY limited resources. Our volunteers do this work IN ADDITION to their everyday jobs. Every dollar helps us save more! Please donate to our cause!
What do I do if I find a kitten?
It is likely that the mother and other kittens are nearby. Survey the area for danger and see what other cats show up. If the kitten is not weaned, it needs special care. To learn about how to care for kittens, please visit The Kitten Lady's website.
Why is spaying and neutering so important?
Spaying and neutering extends the lifespan of your pet! It also curbs negative behaviors that can result from going into heat.
A cat can get pregnant as early as 4.5 months old and can have up to 3 litters a year! That means a HUGE cat population can result from a single unaltered cat over time.
Cats can be spayed or neutered at around 4 months of age, depending on weight. It is a quick and safe procedure.
Should I declaw my cat?
Ouch! No! Declawing is the same as cutting off your fingers at the last knuckle. It helps cats balance and stretch as well as keeping them healthier mentally and physically. They also provide important protection. Some cats have intense, chronic pain after declawing and have trouble using the litter box.
There are many ways to protect your furniture:
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have a large scratching post nearby
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provide scratching boards (like these from Amazon!) next to the couch with catnip to encourage use
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protect specific areas with scratch tape (here on Amazon)
Should I let my cat outside?
It can be very dangerous for your cat and for local wildlife to let your cat outside. There are dangers from other cats, parasites, other animals, cars, people who harm cats, and even rat poison. Letting your cat outside can significantly reduce their life expectancy. They also reduce local bird and wildlife populations by hunting.
To keep your feline happy and engaged:
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swap out toys in your house regularly
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have a large scratching post
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use catnip!
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play with them with laser pointers and wands
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make sleeping spots with views of the outdoors available
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buy puzzle feeders or toys that release treats to encourage their hunting skills
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play cat videos for them (yes, they do exist on YouTube)