This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Food, Shelter, & Love Program, but Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Kizmet was my pet store rescue and Jazmine was my pet expo rescue. Adopting them has been one of the best decisions of my life and the love and joy they bring to our household is beyond compare.

Living in a multi-cat house, with cats of different ages and nutritional needs, I am constantly going to my local pet store to replenish the variety of foods I need to keep my gang happy and healthy. One such trip that I will never forget, along with buying food, I came home with a kitten too – a rescue that melted my heart and had me at meow. A year later, I adopted another rescue kitten – this time at the 11th hour at a pet expo when no one else had stepped up to provide this darling with a forever home. While every day is a good day to adopt a rescue cat, June, Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, is particularly important because June is kitten season – a time when an estimated 20 million kittens will be born, adding to the already filled to the brims population of cats needing a home in shelters.

For those kittens, it is especially important for them to have the proper food they need for their growing bodies and that is why I was happy to be given the opportunity to team up with the Hill’s® Science Diet® and Food, Shelter & Love® Program to discuss how important it is for not only our household pets to have the right foods for their age and body type, but for shelter cats too. And not just kittens – shelters have cats of all ages – from kittens to seniors – and they all have different nutritional needs. Since 2002, the Hill’s® Food, Shelter & Love® program has recognized those different needs by donating over $280 million worth of Science Diet brand foods to nearly 1,000 animal shelters, helping over 8 million pets find a new home…and counting.

With kittens to mature cats in my house, feeding time requires a variety of foods to meet their specific feeding needs.

Hills Kitten Development Original (for kittens up to 1 year) is formulated and enriched with multivitamins to provide precisely balanced, easy-to-digest nutrition to support healthy brain development, learning ability, and to promote growth of vital organs. For cats 1 – 6 years, Hill’s Adult Optimal Care Original is formulated with controlled levels of taurine and phosphorus to promote healthy vital organs, lean proteins to promote a healthy weight, and Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to improve skin & coat. For cats 7 years and older, Mature Adult Active Longevity Original is made with controlled levels of phosphorus and other vital nutrients to reduce kidney stress and controlled sodium levels to supports long-term heart & vital organ health, along with Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to improve skin & coat. All formulas are made with real chicken and no chicken by-product meal.

With each of these different food formulas, the goal of the Hill’s® Food, Shelter & Love® Program is simple: to provide kittens and cats with superior nutrition that will make them healthier, happier and more adoptable as they wait for their forever home. When someone does make that wonderfully life changing decision to adopt a cat, along with proper diet, here are some other key tips for a successful integration into your new home:

1. Visit the vet – Even if your cat comes with papers documenting his shots and history, that does not necessarily mean he has a clean bill of health. Cat are prone to many contagious viruses, typically upper respiratory and it is best to be cautious.

Kizmet at his first vet visit – even though he seemed healthy, I wanted to make absolutely certain he was.

2. Create a safe haven for the newcomer – Cats can be nervous in a new setting, so give them an area such a spare bedroom. Make sure that you have a litter box, food and water dishes, toys, a window for her to look out of, scratching posts, a safe hiding area such as a cat tower with a cubby, and bedding until she feels more comfortable in the rest of the house.

3. Define your home for a cat’s need for vertical space -Because cats are territorial, access to vertical space is a necessity so make sure cats have access to high shelving and cat trees/condos (connected like a superhighway) where they can go around the room without touching the floor.

Kizmet and Jazmine have been best friends since the moment they were introduced to one another. They are seen here enjoying the top tiers of one of the many cat condos we have for them.

4. Have lots of toys for your cat – playtime will keep your cat active and healthy.

5. Brush your cat – not only will it keep her coat tangle free, it will feel good and encourage bonding with you.

6. Keep the litter box clean – it will lessen the possibility of “accidents” happening and is much healthier for your cat.

7. Have your cat spayed or neutered – not only is it healthier for the cat, but negative behavioral issues that can result from an unaltered cat can be greatly reduced.

Most importantly – enjoy! Having a cat in your life will bring you years of love, joy, and companionship. And giving a shelter cat a good home is one of the most fulfilling things you can do!  I believe that and so does Hill’s! For each new adoption, Hill’s® Food, Shelter & Love® Program provides a free bag of Science Diet® pet food or a $5 off coupon to the pet parent for each adoption to further ensure a smooth and easy transition for pets to their new home.

My favorite part of the day is nighttime when the cats come and cuddle with me while I watch TV – Kizmet and Jazmine fit in with the rest of the gang like they have always been a part of the family!