Adopting Cats (And How You Can Do the Same!)
A special thank you to Hill's Pet Nutrition for sponsoring this post. All opinions and ideas are my own.
Today's post is all about my sweet kitties. I'm sharing their adoption stories and ways you can help your local animal shelter this August.
Just his past weekend I received a few messages on Instagram asking about my cats. Folks were wondering if I'd posted information on the kitties' backgrounds or tips for living with felines. Although I've talked about my cats over the years, I don't think I've devoted an entire post to them. With that in mind, I brainstormed a few ideas and made some notes for future posts. Today, I thought it'd be fun to start at the beginning and share how my boys came into my life.
This post is especially timely since I recently partnered with Hill's Pet Nutrition. This month they are sponsoring their largest adoption event. (Last year 160,000 pets found their fur-ever home!) I'm excited to tell you more about that event, plus what you can do to help. I'll also share resources if you're looking to adopt! #adoptdontshop
My Cats' Adoption Stories:
As you might know, I have two adorable kitties, Jax and Frankie. If you've been following Inspired by Charm for a while, you may also remember my tabby, Sebastian. He was my first real pet and Jax's best bud. Sabastian crossed over the Rainbow Bridge last February.
I adopted all of my cats. Sebastian and Jax came from shelters. Sebastian was from the SPCA, and Jax was from a small local shelter via an independent pet store.
Growing up, I didn't have pets, except for a tank of fish. But I knew my love for cats was strong. One of the first things I did after I finished college and moved into an apartment of my own in Philly was to go to the SPCA and adopt a cat. That was back in 2005, and Sebastian was the kitty I found.
A year later, when I was visiting a local independent pet store, I instantly fell in love with the cutest, tiniest gray kitten. After paperwork and an approval process, that dear boy, whom I named Jax, went home with me.
I love having two cats. I was especially lucky because Sebastian and Jax became instant friends. Whenever I had to be away from home, it was always good to know they had each other.
Sebastian and Jax moved with me from Philadelphia back home to St. Marys where they lived at my Mom's house for a year and then eventually with me at the Bed and Breakfast. Most recently they relocated with me to Pittsburgh, first to my apartment, and then to Bayberry House. This is when Frankie joined our family.
With Sebastian approaching 15 and Jax 14, I realized I should be on the lookout for another cat. Sebastian was pretty independent, but I knew Jax would need a companion if something happened to Sebastian.
In December 2018, a blogger friend (Thank you, Julia!!) alerted me to a cat in Pittsburgh that needed a home. His name was Frankie. Several people were interested in adopting him, but luck was on my side, and he came to live with me. While there was a small adjustment period, within days, all three of my boys were getting along well and even sharing the same bed.
Unfortunately, just a couple of months later Sebastian became ill and passed.
I was sad to lose Sabastian but so grateful that Frankie had come into my life when he did. It's almost as if Sebastian, sensing his time was coming, had sent Frankie to us. That's what I like to think, anyway.
It has been one of my greatest joys to share my adult life with one or more cats. My kitties are a source of comfort and companionship. I will forever be a proud Cat Lady ... er, Cat Gentleman. Ha!
How You Can Help:
If you're thinking about adding a furry friend to your home, August could be a perfect time. As I mentioned above, Hill's is hosting its largest adoption event this month. It's a month-long celebration to provide resources for pet owners, including a quiz to determine which pet is right for you, pet care advice, and an information portal dedicated to tips for first-time pet owners. In 2019, more than 1,900 shelters participated in this event, and as I stated earlier, more than 160,000 pets found their fur-ever home. I love that!
If you want to learn more about this month-long event and how you can help, Hill's has a webpage with details and resources. You can get information on adopting, fostering an animal, volunteering at a local shelter, donating money or supplies, or even something as simple as just spreading the word to others. Click here for more information.
I hope you enjoyed hearing more about my darling kitties. Do you have any adopted pets? I would love to hear their stories. Let us know about them in the comments below.
The post Adopting Cats (And How You Can Do the Same!) appeared first on Inspired by Charm.
