June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and we all know that there are plenty of cats in shelters that could use good forever homes. June also marks the height of “kitten season,” when large litters of kittens are born and often end up in animal shelters. However, before you decide to adopt, please keep a few things in mind. These tips are courtesy of American Humane.

If you’re thinking about adopting a cat, consider taking home two. Cats require exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. Two cats can provide this for each other. Plus they’ll provide more benefits to you. Cats’ purring has been shown to soothe humans and themselves — and they have an uncanny ability just to make you smile. A great place to start your search is online. Sites like lycomingspca.com and lapsshelter.org let you search available cats and narrow your search, and more quickly find the match that’s right for you and your new feline friend.

Find a cat whose personality meshes with yours. Just as we each have our own personality, so do cats. In general, cats with long hair and round heads and bodies are more easygoing than lean cats with narrow heads and short hair, who are typically more active. Adoption counselors can offer advice to help you match the cat’s personality with your own.

Pick out a veterinarian ahead of time and schedule a visit within the first few days following the adoption. You’ll want to take any medical records you received from the adoption center on your first visit.

Make sure everyone in the house is prepared to have a cat before it comes home. Visiting the shelter or animal control facility should be a family affair. When adopting a new cat with existing pets at home, discuss how to make a proper introduction with the adoption facility.

Budget for the short- and long-term costs of a cat. Understand any pet is a responsibility, and there’s a cost associated with that. A cat adopted from a shelter is a bargain; many facilities will have already provided spaying or neutering, initial vaccines, and a microchip for permanent identification.

Stock up on supplies before the cat arrives. Be prepared, so your new cat can start feeling at home right away. Your cat will need a litter box, cat litter, food and water bowls, food, scratching posts, safe and stimulating toys, a cushy bed, a brush for grooming, a toothbrush, and nail clippers.

Cat-proof your home. A new cat will quickly teach you not to leave things lying out. Food left on the kitchen counter will serve to teach your new friend to jump on counters for a possible lunch. Get rid of loose items your cat might chew on, watch to ensure the kitten isn’t chewing on electric cords, and pick up random things like paper clips (which kittens may swallow).

Go slowly when introducing your cat to new friends and family. It can take several weeks for a cat to relax in a new environment. It’s a great idea to keep the new addition secluded to a single room (with a litter box, food and water, toys, and the cat carrier left out and open with bedding inside) until the cat is used to the new surroundings; this is particularly important if you have other pets. If you’ve adopted a kitten, socialization is crucial. But remember — take it slow.

Also, please make sure you have time to dedicate to love and play with your new friend and time for grooming. Long-haired cats can require a good 20 minutes per day for proper grooming!

What if you are unable to adopt? Don’t worry; there is still plenty you can do. Donating either money or supplies to the SPCA (Lycoming or Clinton counties), LAPS, or the Beckoning Cat Project locally is a great way to support Shelter Month. You can also contact the Beckoning Cat Project about their Trap-Neuter-Release programs to help cut down on feral cat colonies in the area.

Local shelters also have several great events happening in the coming weeks that you can participate in to help support their cause.

The Lycoming County SPCA will be hosting a Community Yard sale at the SPCA on June 12th from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Beckoning Cat Project also has a fundraising yard sale at the clinic on Friday, July 16th, and Saturday, July 17th, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

If you are feeling frisky, be sure to support the Clinton County SPCA in July. They are holding a Furry 5K and a 1-Mile Dog Jog. That event is July 24th beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Castanea Fire Co. Picnic Grounds in Lock Haven.

Be sure to check out their respective websites and Facebook pages for details!