Where to get a cat ?

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
I want to have a cat,not a pedigree or something just a cute and health cat,, what is the good and easy way to have one in this country?

2
Find a Tierheim and have a lovely time finding one (horrible actually, as I ́d like to take them all?)

3
Do they have baby kittens?

4
Probably not at this time of year as there aren't many kittens born in winter. There will be plenty of kittens looking for good homes from about May onwards.

5
Tierheim is good unless you want indoor cats (in our experience there are not many available). An alternative are the countless cats looking for a home that are rescued from abroad. We adopted our Lotti through these guys and our Anita from here just over the border in Austria.

6
There are lots of cats that need a loving home.

https://www.tierdatenbank.ch/de/tiere.html

Our lil Buggerlugs was in a Tiershutz for 9 months before his previous owner took him in, and was 10yrs old when he came to us.

7
This is the database of homeless animals in Switzerland:

https://www.tierdatenbank.ch

You can search on many filters, including age of animal.

When you see a cat that tugs at your heartstrings, read the dossier describing what this cat will need. If you can offer him the right kind of home, then simply call the rescue to set up an appointment for an interview.

One thing to be aware of is the indoor/outdoor issue. Wherever you stand on this, do make sure you read the cat's dossier and are in agreement with what the rescue believes is right for this particular cat before you call.

Kittens do come into rescue with some regularity, but be aware that many people are also looking for kittens, these tend to be adopted very quickly.

Please also consider adopting an older cat. These too were once cute fluffy kittens - but once past that 'Jööö' stage turfed out by their irresponsible owners. There are always many lovely cats looking for homes, even just a year or two old... if you think you could open your heart to an older cat, please do consider this.

When you adopt from a rescue you will sign a contract to protect the welfare of the cat - be sure you read and understand the contract. If adopting a kitten there will usually be a clause that you must have the kitten neutered/spayed by a certain age. There is of course an adoption fee.

All the best as you search for your little feline friend...

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Do be aware that some Tierheim are cautious of adoptions just before Christmas, because too many irresponsible people want an animal under the tree - and then lose interest and toss the poor critter out later. That is not to say that Christmas season adoptions don't happen, they do indeed. Both my collies Melon and Heffalump were Christmas season adoptions. But the rescues went the extra step to get to know me, to make sure this was 'a collie for life, not just for Christmas'.

8
We had our choice of kittens from the various tierheims in Kanton Schwyz when we went looking last winter. There were also lots of lovely older indoor cats - all there because their owners had gone into nursing homes and couldn't take their lovely kitties with them.

We only went in for one pussy cat, would up adopting two, and really struggled to not give a home to even more! We found there were way more kitties than dogs in all of our local tierheims - don't know if that is normal or not.

Good luck!

9
Well that's one good thing.

What if people said the same thing about their children?

Indoor cats indeed.

10
Quite normal - unfortunately for the homeless kittens and cats.

Because all dogs must be microchipped and registered in a national database it is difficult to abandon a dog without consequences. (Well, at least without getting a slap on the wrist, as our tough-on-paper animal welfare laws are actually pretty toothless. But that's another discussion...)

There is unfortunately no similar law for cats. (Although there has been an effort in that direction.) Cats are abandoned, or worse, all the time. Added to that, the preference for outdoor cats plus the reluctance to neuter means that the cat population is exploding.

There are still far too many homeless dogs - but the numbers of cats in need is staggering.

So a plea to anyone considering adding a pet (of any flavor) to the family soon - If you are in a position to be able to offer a little lost soul what he or she needs, please consider adopting from a shelter.

11
And be prepared for that little lost soul to completely wrap you round their little paw.

Just looking at the data bank for the Zurich area, there are so many beautiful cats currently 'heimatlose'. There's even a Maine Coon which are the most adorable, affectionate cats but need a lot of grooming. There are 'pairs' which have probably come from a loving home where the owner is no longer able to care for them due to ill health, etc...

12
Thanks for your concern, I'm sure though that our two feline friends will enjoy a happier, healthier and longer life than on the streets of Romania & Spain. Just as our previous two that we adopted as kittens and who had to stay indoors because of the FeLV infection they were born with.

13
If you get a slightly older cat, they'll already be trained to use a litter tray. We adopted two one-year-old cats. We had to pay for neutering, vaccinations and chipping.

14

Also note that some refuges only “lend” you the animal for life, they keep owernship and any major decisions regarding the animal has to be done with their approval.

15

Must not go there, must not go there........ Hubby or Maine Coon??

16
Just had a look... check out Tier-ID: 4601

Somebody found a dead (!) pidgeon (even I recognize one by the photo...) and posted it under "poultry" (???)

17

Well, someone now knows where his/her homing pigeon is?

18

Whoever told you that is completely off. I never heard that story anyway, mine used to loose her collar on a very regular basis.....

19
Yes, and then there are loads of urban myths......

20

More cats without collars than with around here. Farm cats are unlikely to have any, but doesn’t mean they’re homeless. Ours did have a collar, but yes she lost it somewhere several times over the years and I had to buy new ones.

So now you know the truth you can tell your friends, can’t you.