Benefits of Adopting an Adult Pet: Guest Post by Valerie Lee Veltre

Valerie Lee Beltre wrote her children's book Moo Kitty Finds a Home after she rescued the real Moo Kitty. In this guest post, reprinted with permission, she speaks to the importance of adopting adult animals as pets.

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Benefits of adopting an adult pet

reprinted with permission from Moo Kitty Finds a Home © 12/11

If you are considering getting a new pet, don't automatically decide to buy from a breeder or pet store. Consider adopting from a local shelter.

Some of the unique advantages of mature cats and dogs are:

* What you see is what you get. You can judge the animal's temperament ahead of time.

    - You know pretty well what you're getting with a grown cat's or    
      dog's-activity level, sociability and health.
    - Given time in a loving environment, a grown cat forms just as
      tight a bond with his new people as any kitten can.
    - Most kittens and pups are cute, cuddly, and passive--some will
      grow up and stay that way, and others will grow up to be little
      terrors.
    - An adult animal's personality is pretty much set, giving you a
      better handle on how well he'll fit into your household and
      whether or not she'll get along with any other pets.

* Less expensive. The cost of adopting a pet at an animal shelter is usually inexpensive compared to buying one from a breeder or pet store since they have already been neutered, wormed and vaccinated.

* Already trained. You don't have to go through the demanding stages of training a new kitten or puppy. Raising and training kittens and puppies require a lot of time and know-how.

* An adult animal is likely to be socialized to be around people and other animals.

* The animal will be litter/house trained.

* It will be less likely to engage in destructive behaviors.

* Adult animals are more sedate, making them a practical choice for the elderly and families with children.

* An adult animal can be left alone for longer periods of time than a kitten or puppy when needed.

More tips can be found in Moo Kitty Finds a Home and at mookittyfindsahome.com.

Review of Moo Kitty Finds a Home by Valerie Lee Veltre

Moo Kitty Finds a Home is a picture book by Valerie Lee Veltre that is based on a true story.

Moo Kitty loves his human. She is an elderly lady who adores him. They spend a lot of their time snuggling together. One day, she passes away and goes to Heaven. The people who clean out her home take away Moo Kitty's favorite belongings and then throw him to the curb. Bewildered and alone, Moo Kitty realizes he is going to have to fend for himself. He has faith that he can do it, thanks to three guardian kitties who keep watch over him.

As he wanders around, he meets a man named George who takes him in long enough to feed him a solid meal. George's friend can't possibly adopt any more stray cats and his wife is very allergic to them, so he takes him to the shelter. Moo Kitty watches as all of his friends are slowly adopted, leaving him behind.

Finally one day a family comes to visit the shelter. Their little girl falls madly in love with Moo Kitty, so they adopt him and take him home. Now Moo Kitty is well-loved again and happy.


This book is really sweet. My cats have always been adopted from people abandoning them nearby. My life would not be complete without them. Not all cats are as lucky, though. Many end up in shelters, some for the rest of their lives. Reading this book made me want to drive out to the local adoption shelters and rescue as many as I can, though that is not a practical idea.

Kids love animals and they are sure to fall in love with Moo Kitty as they read about his adventures. The book feels a little long to read to really young ones, like three years old. At the same time, the charming illustrations and a desire to know what happens to the poor kitty are sure to keep them interested.

The end of the book contains an essay about the benefits of adopting an adult pet versus a baby. Veltre also offers suggestions for preparing your home for a new pet, how to select the right one and how to help him settle into your home. These practical suggestions are great advice to be shared in the home, as well as offering fodder for lessons at school. Perhaps Moo Kitty will inspire a family to provide a new forever home to an abandoned pet!

Visit the Moo Kitty website.

Meet Valerie Lee Veltre, Author of Moo Kitty Finds a Home

Valerie Lee Veltre is the author of the children's picture book Moo Kitty Finds a Home.

Fond of creatures great and small, Valerie believes each deserves love, compassion, adequate care and admiration. After having lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1993-­‐2011, she currently makes her home at Bee Tree Farm, in the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass horse country.

Valerie makes the most of this location as an equestrian, spending time riding her two horses. She shares her home with a variety of four-­‐legged creatures, including a dog and five cats.

She’s a fan of the outdoors in general, and enjoys making connections with the Earth through gardening. Along with her love of animals, she deeply appreciates the occasional good laugh with human friends and family.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East Stroudsburg University, Valerie concentrated in Creative Writing and has always wanted to be a writer. An avid reader, she was inspired to write and illustrate her first book, Moo Kitty Finds a Home, after she rescued real-­life Moo Kitty and gave him a forever home. She believed the resulting children’s book would help educate young readers about the importance of animal rescue, and especially adult pet adoption.

The real Moo Kitty is alive and well, enjoying making daily excursions to inspect the flower garden at Bee Tree Farm. He can often be found in his favorite chair, napping on his mint green blanket. Along with so much else about the bucolic setting, Moo Kitty inspires his human to further pursue her writing career.

Now aspiring to be a full-­time author, Valerie is currently planning her next book. She speaks to libraries, classrooms, church groups and community and civic organizations about adult animal rescue, sheltering and adoption. To learn more about her availability as a speaker contact her publisher at editor@lifereloaded.com.