By vet Graham Lewis
June is Adopt a Cat Month, and if you've ever been on the fence about welcoming a feline into your life, consider this your sign, complete with a gentle nudge from a paw.
Cats have cohabited with humans for around 10,000 years, and honestly, they seem fairly unbothered about the whole arrangement. They allow you to feed them, admire them, and clear up after them, occasionally rewarding you with a headbutt or a warm lap visit and a purr, but only on their terms.
Why adopt or foster? Every spring and summer, local animal charities see an influx of cats and kittens needing homes. Stray and farm cats breeding in these months tends to create a population boom. These charities do incredible work, but space is always at a premium. Adopting a rescue cat doesn't just change their life; it frees up a place for another animal in need of help.
Fostering is a brilliant option if you're not quite ready for a permanent commitment. You provide a temporary home, warmth, food, and company, while a cat waits for their forever family. It's deeply rewarding, and yes, some people do end up keeping their fosters. As a result of this it is common for charities to be always on the lookout for more fosterers.
What's in it for you? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Cats are famously independent, which makes them well-suited to busy modern life. They don't need walking in the rain at 6am, and they're generally content to manage their own entertainment (your houseplants and carpets may bear witness to this). Studies have also shown that living with cats can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure. That said perhaps not when they knock your water glass off the table!
Beyond the health benefits, there's something genuinely special about a rescue cat settling into your home and gradually deciding you're acceptable. It takes time, and it is absolutely worth it.
How to get started
Contact your local rescue centre, they'll help match you with a cat that suits your lifestyle, whether you're after a kitten who'll bounce off the walls, or a dignified senior who prefers a quiet sofa and mutual respect. This June, give a cat a chance. They'll pretend not to care. But deep down, they will.