special needs.....
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| Tue, 08-28-2012 - 8:44am |
What would you consider "special needs" when adopting a cat/kitten? Would you still adopt? What factors would you take into consideration?
I ask cause I now have 2 kittens that would be considered special needs. Doc is deaf (mostly - he actually reacted to the TV last night - I was watching a special about a wolf pack in Washington state and there were howling pups that got his attention - so he may be hearing certain frequencies). And Bourbon (a different litter) has no kneecaps and walks funny. He isn't in any pain and gets around fine - though he can't jump up (he has to climb up the chair to get into my lap).
Doc doesn't require any special care, though I am going to restrict his adoption to no little kids to avoid him being startled and scratching or biting. And obviously he CANNOT go outside unless on a leash...though we only adopt out indoor cats anyhow.
Bourbon will need to be watched. His condition can't be fixed....but he will have to be kept from getting overweight and may develop arthritis someday due to rubbing since there are no kneecaps for protection of that joint. I would be more concerned about him getting around, but he launched himself off the top of the cat tree and landed with no apparent problems last night, so I guess that isn't so much a concern.
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Yes I would consider a special needs cat or kitten. I don't know if I could handle something where they wouldn't live very long though. Deafness like Doc has would be fine and so would something like Burbon has. I adopted Honey knowing she had a severe funnel chest. She only lived for 6 years. The way she acted you would have never known and she died suddenly. I have had several of my elderly cats that had/have special needs because of health problems.
I guess you can let any potential adoptees know that they are a little more work than normal kittens. And screen them good. I hope they both get loving homes.