Sticky Cats and Dogs

No, they're not cats and dogs who like to roll around in unspeakable stuff getting themselves all messy and smelly.

In the world of animal sanctuaries, sticky animals are those who stay with them for a little while - those who it's sometimes trickier to find new homes for. There can be any number of reasons for this.

Cute kittens and puppies don't hang around - they're what everyone wants, and they always find new homes very quickly. There's often a waiting list, or people phoning regularly to see if there are any who've come in recently. Sadly, though, when they stop being cute kittens and puppies, they can find their way back - if they're lucky. Even then though, it doesn't usually take long for someone to come and decide they'd like to given them a home.

The difficult ones are the older animals, those with medical problems, others with behavioural issues, and often siblings who can't be separated. Understandably perhaps, people want an animal who's going to be with them for a while - there's a better chance of this with younger animals, so the older ones tend to get a little overlooked. But older animals have so much to give, especially if they've spent much of their lives in loving homes.

Imagine a cat or dog who's given years of love and loyalty to an older person who then dies - that animal goes through a desperate period of grieving and just wants to be loved and to love again. Our pets can, and do, live to good ages these days, so may have many more years of love and devotion in them.

Often this is compounded by the fact that there are siblings who've always been together. To separate them would be too stressful, so it's important that a home is found where they can continue to live together. They often are a little older, and then of course, because there are two (or maybe more), the feeding and care costs increase. But the costs needn't be prohibitive, and the comfort of having a sibling around can hold back the stress that often starts or compounds medical problems.

Looking after an animal demands real commitment, and in many ways this costs money. An animal with a medical condition will obviously cost even more, but animal sanctuaries will often waive an adoption fee, and maybe even provide medication at cost (much cheaper than from a vet) for the rest of their lives. Also, vets are understanding in this situation, and will sometimes provide prescriptions so that you can purchase medication direct on-line. There are options, so a cat with a medical condition needn't be a worry.

Behavioural issues are the hardest. As well as being sticky animals they can also be boomerangs. Dogs that are hard to handle, and cats that bite are the most frequent returners. Sanctuary staff will do all they can to ensure that an animal goes to a person who understands what's needed, what the issues are, if they can handle them - but frequently people don't properly listen.

Most dogs can be trained, but commitment from the human is required here - in terms of accepting the cost of training and understanding that they themselves are often part of the problem, and hence the solution. Be prepared to be open-minded, and to accept the need to change yourself too.

Cats might look soft and fluffy, but in any number of situations the teeth and claws can come out. Some cats have never been properly socialised, and have never learnt how to be with people, but that doesn't mean that they can't be good pets. It just requires time and patience, and also acceptance of the animal as they are. If a habit of biting and scratching has developed, it can take a long time (and sometimes never) to overcome. Don't crowd or push a cat, give it room and space, let it come to you when it's ready.

All cats and dogs deserve a good home, and not just because they're cute kittens and puppies. If you're thinking about offering a home, try to think about what you can do for the animal, not what the animal can do for you. It's important to take the offering of a home to an animal seriously - but then the rewards can be enormous.