Where Should You Get Your Cat? A Guide to Ethical Adoption


Bringing a new cat into your life is exciting, but where you get your cat matters – both for your future pet’s wellbeing and the broader feline community.

Below we’ll explore the options, what to consider, and ways we think you can do the most good when making this important decision.


Orange cat laying on its side, looking out at the camera through a wire grid cage.

Adoption: The Most Rewarding Path

Adopting from a shelter or rescue organization is often the most ethical and practical choice. If you want to do good, then as the mantra goes, “Adopt, don’t shop.”

Here’s why:

  • Overpopulation of feral cats is a huge problem, and these animals often live very hard/short lives. Adopting a cat from the shelter means one more cat spared from life on the streets.
  • Your adoption fee supports local animal welfare efforts
  • Shelter cats usually come vaccinated, fixed, and microchipped
  • You’ll find cats of all ages, personalities and breeds
  • Most importantly – you’re giving a deserving cat a second chance

Plus, shelter staff can tell you about a cat’s known history and personality, helping ensure you find the perfect match for your home. Be sure to read our guide on what to ask when adopting a cat.

Consider a “Less Adoptable” Cat for Making the Biggest Impact

Some cats wait longer in shelters through no fault of their own. And sadly, many shelters euthanize animals if they are not adopted within a certain amount of time in order to make space for more rescues.

By choosing one of these overlooked kitties, you can make an incredible difference in a deserving cat’s life. You may even literally be saving it!

Let’s take a look at the kinds of cats that too often fall into the realm of the forgotten at the shelter.

Senior Cats

Older cats often make wonderful companions. Here’s why:

  • Already developed personalities – you know what you’re getting
  • Usually calmer and less destructive
  • Often already litter box trained
  • More likely to be content as lap cats, depending on background and personality
  • In many cases still have years of love to give

Cats with Special Needs

Whether it’s a chronic condition or disability, these cats can thrive with the right care:

  • Many conditions are manageable with simple routines
  • Often extremely loving and grateful
  • May be more bonded to their humans
  • Can live long, happy lives with proper care
  • Usually come with known medical histories

Black Cats

These beautiful cats often wait longer for homes due to old superstitions:

  • Just as loving and playful as any other cat
  • Often have striking personalities
  • Actually thought to come with good luck in many cultures
  • Usually have gorgeous, sleek coats – look like mini panthers!

Shy or Timid Cats

Some cats get overlooked because they don’t present themselves as super-friendly right away.

But it’s important to remember that the shelter is an extremely stressful environment for a cat, so you may not get to see every cat’s full personality in one pass.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind about shy cats:

  • Can become incredibly devoted once they trust you
  • Often form deep bonds with their humans
  • May be perfect for quiet households
  • Usually less demanding of attention
  • The transformation can be incredibly rewarding

Getting a Kitten From the Shelter

Kitten availability is seasonal in most areas. Shelter kittens typically come with advantages:

  • Already started on vaccinations
  • Usually spayed/neutered when old enough
  • Early vet screening for common issues
  • Have at least some socialization with humans (and their siblings)
  • Sometimes fostered in homes (these ones are typically even more socialized

Fostering to Adopt

Fostering to Adopt is a fabulous path if you have the space and time for it. Fosters homes for cats and kittens are in constant demand. And those who do it are providing an invaluable service.

Not only does it save needed space in the shelters, it reduces stress for the cats by saving them from having to stay in a shelter.

It’s not for everyone, and it takes some know-how and committed responsibility. But it’s a great way to adopt because it allows you to get to know cats very well before you decide that one (or two!) is a match for you.

In fact, this is how I ended up with my current trio of cats (Gandalf, Phoebe, and Bean). If you want to know more about how it works, check out this article on why fostering to adopt is a great way to go.

TNR Programs: Another Ethical Option

Trap-Neuter-Return programs help manage feral cat populations humanely.

Sometimes they find friendly cats or young kittens during the process who would make great pets. When that happens, they may try to find a home for the cat rather than return (the R in TNR) it to the life it was living.

Adopting one of these cats helps reduce outdoor cat populations and frees up space in shelters for other animals.

What About Breeders?

We typically discourage getting a cat from a breeder just because there are already far more cats out there in need of homes than there are people who will adopt them.

So while we highly encourage adoption/rescue, we recognize that some people have specific needs that lead them to consider breeders.

Breeder Green Flags to Look For

If you go this route, look for these signs of a responsible breeder:

  • Specializes in just 1-2 breeds they’re deeply knowledgeable about
  • Provides health clearances for genetic conditions
  • Raises kittens in a home environment, not a facility
  • Limits breeding frequency to protect mother cats
  • Interviews potential adopters to make sure they’re ready for a cat, and offers ongoing support
  • Has a waiting list (good breeders don’t usually have “ready to go” kittens)

Be very wary of backyard breeders or pet stores. These sources often prioritize profit over animal welfare.

Breeder Red Flags to Look Out For

If the breeder has any of the following signs of poor practices, it’s best to move on and look elsewhere.

1 – Always having kittens available

This suggests overbreeding or multiple breeding facilities. Quality breeders have waiting lists because they limit litters. It may also indicate cats are treated like reproduction machines. Seasonal breeding is more natural and healthier.

2 – Won’t show mother cat or home conditions

Quality breeders proudly show their setup. Hiding their practices suggests bad practices.

3 – No health records or screening process

Good breeders document everything and screen buyers carefully and selectively.

Suspicious Sources to Avoid


In general, it’s best to be cautious about getting cats from these sources:

  • Parking lot giveaways and “free kitten” ads
  • Pet store chains
  • Online marketplace sellers with multiple litters

Be extremely wary of parking lot giveaways, “free kitten” ads, pet store chains, and online marketplace sellers with multiple litters.

These sources often involve unvaccinated or sick kittens, lack proper health screening and medical records, and may separate kittens from mothers too early (prior to 10 weeks of age).

Many pet stores source from commercial breeding operations where profit is a priority over animal welfare, while online sellers may be running questionable backyard breeding operations with poor conditions and overbreeding.

You could end up with hefty vet bills, heartbreak from a sick kitten, or unknowingly supporting unethical breeding practices.

Last Meows

Where you get your cat impacts both individual animals and the broader challenge of pet overpopulation. By choosing adoption or other ethical sources, you become part of the solution while gaining an amazing companion.

And of course, do your homework and be sure you’re actually ready for a cat at this moment in your life. We have a series of articles to help you with this:

Ready to start looking? Check your local shelters and rescue agencies first – your furry feline buddy might be waiting there right now.

Explore our Cat Training Collection:

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The information provided here is not meant to replace professional guidance from your own veterinarian or cat behavior specialist.

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