Purrrfect pandemic partner: Cat adoptions increase by 30% amid COVID-19, says shelter

The surge in pet adoptions has spurred a "pandemic puppy" movement, and their feline friends are not far behind.

Some shelter directors say more cats are being requested than before, which is helping curb overpopulation issues.

Meow Foundation's director of operations, Debbie Nelson, says they're adopting out almost faster than they can rescue. 

"Since COVID has happened back in the spring, we've had a really large uptake in applications and interest in adoption," she said. 

The foundation saw a 30 per cent increase in applications in the first six months of this year compared with 2019.

"COVID has made (people) think about how they can help others.… We've had so many cats that have found their home, and that's because people are just giving more of themselves."

As well, cats that may have been overlooked pre-COVID are finding homes, too.

"People that are working from home have more time now to spend with a cat that may have some extra needs or just needs extra time to settle into the home," said the director.

"I think we've just seen a real increase in people understanding the many, many personalities and physical and behavioural needs some cats have."

1,700 cats adopted at AARCS

Deanna Thompson, executive director at the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society, says that while there is still an abundance of cats available, there has also been an increase in people wanting them, too.

"We've been able to move out cats into adoptive homes really quickly, which means we've been able to rescue even more," she said.

There have been 1,700 cats adopted at AARCS this year, which the director says is an increase from last year.

"We're not the only organization in the city doing cat adoptions, so I imagine that thousands of cats have found homes across the province. So that's pretty exciting."

She says one thing that's slowed their process down is making sure each cat gets all of its medical care done.

"The problem has always been, you know, making sure that they get spayed and neutered and vaccinated and healthy before they go into adoptive homes," she said.

Thompson adds she is happy to see the large number of people who are benefiting from adopting cats.

"From people that are living on their own to families being able to to adopt an animal and be able to interact with them while they're home during this time, I think is really good for both people and the animals," she said.

"Hopefully that continues to trend even past COVID and that people will look to adopt a cat."