As of: March 24, 2024, 6:00 a.m
By: Larissa Strohbusch
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Poorly socialized, old and disturbed – that’s what many people think about cats from animal shelters.
But is that actually true?
You want a cat and would like to adopt an animal from the animal shelter.
But aren't they all old, sick and behaviorally disturbed?
“Wrong!” says Dr.
Eva-Maria Natzer, head of the Munich animal shelter.
We asked and found out what the most common prejudices really are.
Prejudice 1: Cats from animal shelters all have behavioral problems
It's a common misconception: cats from animal shelters all have a bad history and are therefore anxious or even behaviorally disturbed.
“The cat, like us, is a living being with its own biography.
It is simply not true that all animals have behavioral problems.
Most of them aren’t,” says Dr.
Natzer right.
The animal shelter accepts all types of animals.
So of course there are cats that are rescued from very poor husbandry and bear traces of it.
But in the same way, a loving owner has to give up his pet because he can no longer care for it, for example due to illness.
Ultimately, a frightened cat needs more time - but can still become a loyal companion.
“If someone has little experience with cats, we will not adopt an animal that has behavioral problems,” emphasizes Dr.
Natzer.
“We want to give the animal a permanent home.”
Are shelter cats all old, poorly socialized and sick?
Not true!
© Reinhard Kurzendörfer/IMAGO
Prejudice 2: Animal shelter cats are old
Many people are of the opinion that animals from animal shelters are all old.
But here too, Dr.
Natzer is clear: “We have animals of all ages!” It is true that some owners abandon their animals when they get old.
However, other cat owners grow old with their animals - and are then no longer able to care for them adequately.
On the other hand, many unwanted kittens come to animal shelters, especially in spring and summer.
Prejudice 3: Anyone who adopts a cat must expect a sick animal
“It was never clear to me why people believe that an animal from an animal shelter is sicker than one from a breeder,” says Dr.
Natzer.
It is of course true that older animals tend to be more likely to struggle with illness than when someone takes in a kitten from a breeder.
The advantage of an animal shelter adoption is that the animals are checked very carefully there.
“The keepers have looked after the animal for a while and can therefore say a lot about its health and perhaps any symptoms.
And a treatment plan has already been drawn up.” This can save the new owner a lot of work.
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Prejudice 4: Animal shelter cats are poorly socialized
Many shelter cats grew up in normal families and were socialized and trained there.
And at the animal shelter, the employees also make sure that the animals do not become socially stunted - after all, the cats should remain adoptable.
Of course, there are still animals in whose lives socialization has fallen by the wayside.
“Basically, we make sure that the new owner gets along with the animal,” emphasizes the animal shelter manager.
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Prejudice 5: There are no breed animals in animal rescue
“We often hear this: that we don’t have pedigree animals,” says Dr.
Natzer.
“There is practically no breed that we don't have.” It's just that not all pets are always there when someone is looking for them.
“If you are interested in a particular breed, you may have to look at several animal shelters or wait longer.”