Cat/Choosing a cat
Choosing a cat for a pet
Health Considerations: Feline viruses
Currently there are at least two problematic viruses passed through the free ranging cat populations of the world. One is so-called Cat AIDS, or Feline Immunodeficency Virus, and the other is the cat leukemia virus. The danger from these viruses is not to people, but to other cats. These viruses are fatal, but the animal can be infected with either or both for months or years before illness is apparent. This does mean that if a ketten or cat is adopted as a stray or from a shelter there is the possibility of that animal harboring one of these viruses, and passing it to other cats it then comes into close contact with, perhaps other cats in the home or neighborhood.
Further Reading
External Sites
Adopting a rescued cat or kitten:
USA
Petfinder.com is a portal to a great number of combined rescue groups and shelters. Searchable database (with pictures) of domestic animals that are available for adoption. [1]