Minerva (gray and white) & Tiberius (black and white) are thriving very nicely… And growing like weeds, weeds with voracious appetites. Tiberius has been eating kitten food, and nursing a little, but Minerva continues to mainly nurse. She’s just starting to eat the kitten food, so that’s a good sign that the weaning process has begun. Pookey, and I, take turns feeding them, and it seems to be working out well. He feeds them early in the day, and I feed them late. It’s such a joy to see them fall asleep, with their round tummies, after they’ve glutted themselves on their food. It’s so cute sometimes I think my head is going to explode from it.

We’ve seen their mother here, and there, and she’s definitely eating the food I’ve put out for her. She’s slowly getting bolder, but I think she’ll remain skittish for quite some time. I’ve named her Juno, and will probably have to end up trapping her so she can get spayed. *sighs* When I do that I’ll be able to see how friendly she is, and hopefully she isn’t feral. *sighs* Female cats can get pregnant any time during the year, and will have kittens up until they die. A pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can exponentially produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period. Which is why we’ll need to trap her sometime soon, and get her spayed.

Below are the Top 10 most important things potential pet adopters should consider to ensure they have the best possible adoption experience. Education is a crucial factor in keeping pets in forever homes, and that’s why this Pet Adoption checklist can be a valuable resource for potential pet adopters.

Before You Adopt – Give This List Some Thought:

1. When you adopt, you need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life, no matter what that entails, just as you would with a child.
2. Be prepared for a pet to affect other parts of your life for as long as you have the pet, which can be up to 15 years for a dog and 20 years for cat. Your pet’s well-being will have to be considered in all kinds of decisions, including travel, social life, relocating to a new home, adopting other pets, having children, etc.
3. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live, especially if you rent or belong to a homeowners’ association.
4. Make any necessary modifications to your yard and fence, if you have one, to provide for your pet’s safety and to prevent your pet from escaping.
5. Never give a pet as a gift.
6. Choose a pet appropriate to your living situation and lifestyle. Figure out what size, age, and energy-level pet is most appropriate for you.
7. Never adopt a pet on a whim or because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight. Do your research and carefully consider all the aspects and implications of adopting before you make a decision.
8. If you’re adopting a pet for your kids, understand that the responsibility is yours. Kids, by their nature, often tire of things that were once new and exciting, and this includes their pets. You will most likely end up being the one who provides most of the pet’s care.
9. Plan for a several-week adjustment period during which there will be challenges.
10. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation. For example, walk dogs according to individual need, provide playtime and appropriate toys for both dogs and cats, spend time just petting and talking to your pet, and include your pet in family activities.