Ministry of Cat is all about promoting the adoption of cats to do our own small part in improving the lives of strays. All our resident felines will be former street animals that have been rescued and brought back to health by our amazing partner Animal Mama.

If you are looking for a new pet, you should know that adopting (whether off your local shelter or rescue cat cafe) is just a much better idea than buying them at a pet store. Here is why:

1. You are giving strays a chance at a better life

Strays in Cambodia lead a precarious existence in the streets. Even if they are living in the local pagoda and fed by monks, the list of illnesses — from intestinal parasites to skin and eye diseases — that street animals suffer from is nearly endless. This is mostly due to a very poor diet, as often they are fed just rice, which lacks essential nutrients that carnivores, such as cats, need.

By adopting at your local shelter, you are freeing up space that other strays badly need, and giving them a chance to be adopted by a loving family.

2. You won’t be supporting animal mills

The thing about buying a pet at a pet store is that there is no way of knowing where the animal comes from. While there are plenty of breeders that truly love their animals and treat them with care and compassion, there are also those who are only in it for the money. These are the so-called puppy or kitten mills.

In animal mills, soon-to-be pets live in squalor, as the people behind these operations skimp as much as possible on animal-care related expenses to maximise profits. Animals often live in cramped and unsanitary spaces with just enough food to keep them alive.

By getting your pet at your local shelter, you make sure not a dime of your money goes towards funding puppy and kitten mills, or other kinds of unethical breeding behaviour.

3. You support shelters and their animals

Fortunately, Phnom Penh has various shelters and animal orgnisations that are doing a commendable job at giving strays a chance at a happy, safe life. You can support their work by using their services, which of course includes adopting off them. The cost of adoption goes directly towards providing better care for the other animals in the shelter.

4. You’ll get a great animal

Everyone we know in Phnom Penh that has adopted a cat or dog at a local shelter is more than happy with their decision. Younger animals adapt quickly to life in a human home, but senior ones also have a high success rate, and may require less of your attention as they have lower energy levels, and exercise and food requirements.

At local shelters, you will also find animals that were left behind by their previous owners for no fault of their own. They are great animals — already housebroken — waiting to join your family!

5. You’ll save money!

Whether buying a purebred at a pet store can cost hundreds of dollars, adopting at a local shelter is often free, or you’ll have to pay just a reasonable fee that includes vaccination, sterilization and a passport for your pet — a much better bargain!

Many people in the city that crave animal companionship have already resorted to one of the various excellent vets and shelters in town to find their new best friend, instead of buying a fancy-looking animal at a pet store. We hope you do too!