I Hope You're Not Squeamish: Felines Found!

Today we present a special guest post from Milo and Kamala Squeamish. (Today is Milo's 10th birthday!) Our mascot felines want to remind you all that June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.

According to the ASPCA, four million cats and kittens enter shelters every year. That's a lot more kittens than they can show on those tear-jerker public service commercials with Sarah McLaughlin tugging at your goddamn heartstrings. So imagine a channel that is dedicated to running that all day long, everyday with different animals each time. That is the reality. There are a couple of programs new to this year that offer you different ways to participate. If you are able to take in a cat, more than 100 shelters nationwide have agreed to drop their normal adoption fees for the month. Fresh Step will donate $1 for every "Like" on their Facebook page, so even if you aren't in the position to welcome a new kitty into your home, there are things that you can do!

We feel like there are a couple of topics that for some retarded reason remain "controversial," though the right answers are actually quite simple and most of the controversy can be reduced to willful ignorance. Combined with the fact that even progressive vets have a difficult time talking straight about some of these issues, they are often treated delicately. Not us--we are going to club you over the head with the truth. We stand by this as realistic and carefully considered advice for the well-being of the animal, without sparing the feelings of those who feel otherwise.

*Spay or neuter. Just do it. Don't contribute to the already overpopulated felines. You are not a breeder, and even if you do manage to find homes for all your kittens, you are reducing the chance of already sheltered cats being adopted.

*Feed a good food. Foods that have corn as their first ingredient are shit. Quality meals will reduce the risk of disease in the long run, even though it is more expensive up front. Look for chow that has a protein listed at the top. Buy it at a pet store, not the supermarket, if you can--sometimes they even stock locally made foods. (For example, here in Philly look for Annamaet.)

*Microchip your cat--it is cheap and can be done while your animal is down being fixed and can help when Professor Whiskers darts out the door unexpectedly. On that note, don't intentionally let your cat go outside. In the city and suburbs, they have to contend with traffic and in more rural areas, wild animals (birds of prey, larger felines and canines, etc.). You are just asking for a shorter time with your pet if you allow your cat to wander.

*Don't fucking declaw your cat. It is cruel and painful. You are not just removing the claw, you are cutting off bone as declawing removes the toe from the last knuckle on. It is a serious surgery that can take weeks to recover from, and if not done properly, can leave your cat with deformed and sensitive feet for life. And of course it hurts! Don't let insensitive assholes tell you that cats don't feel any pain from this, they do!

If you are hellbent on having a declawed cat, wait until one that has already had this unnecessary surgery is up for adoption.

*Finally, be sure that you are prepared financially for the short term and long term costs of having a cat. If they need any procedure beyond normal yearly vet visits, the bills can add up quickly. Medical care for animals is expensive, just as it is for humans. That being said, it is amazing what can done for your cat's health these days--almost any procedure done for a human can be done for a cat, as long as you can afford it. You owe it to the animal that depends on you to at least have modest savings budgeted for emergency care.

Much, much more information written by animal care professionals can be found at the links below. Please be sure to read about all the in and outs, what-have-yous of adopting a shelter animal. If you can't even take the time to do the research in advance, perhaps pet ownership isn't for you. When you take in an animal you are responsible for its quality of life. It is not something that you give away when you move or because you have a second kid. Your pet trusts you with its life, you better earn that trust.