Havana Cats for Adoption in Albuquerque, NM

Havanas are usually affectionate and interactive, following people from room to room and greeting visitors with interest. Many get along with considerate children and calm dogs. Some get lonely when left alone all day, which matters if your job keeps you away for long hours. A second friendly pet or a midday visit home can help.

Plan on two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders, since most Havanas are moderately active. Climbing perches and a window facing the street or a courtyard give a curious mind plenty to watch. Skip unsupervised outdoor time, because Albuquerque coyotes can see cats as prey, especially at night.

No well-documented breed-specific genetic disease is known, though gum inflammation may be somewhat more common, so dental care matters. Albuquerque's very dry air makes fresh water and a pet fountain worthwhile. Because the gene pool is small, schedule a checkup soon after adopting and ask your veterinarian about screening and a dental plan.

A Havana fits lofts, apartments, older adobe-style cottages and Westside tract homes alike, since company matters more than square footage. A sturdy cat tree, a window perch and a few hiding spots make smaller places comfortable. Keep windows and balcony doors screened, and give the cat a quiet room when guests visit.

Winter nights regularly fall into the mid-20s, and snow is light and usually brief. A short-coated Havana will hunt for warmth, so offer a sunny window perch, a cozy bed away from drafts and a blanket. Keep the cat inside, since cold nights and roaming coyotes are a poor mix. On rare snow days, play indoors.

Spring is the windy, dusty season, especially April and May, and blowing grit finds its way through open windows. Keep windows closed or screened on gusty afternoons and wipe a dusty face and paws with a damp cloth. Rattlesnake season also starts in April, another reason to keep your Havana indoors or on a secure, enclosed patio.

Summer afternoons often reach the 90s, though nights cool off, and monsoon storms bring short, heavy rain from July. Close blinds on sun-facing windows, set out fresh water in several spots and let your Havana nap in the coolest room. Never leave a cat in a parked car; in Albuquerque it's a petty misdemeanor.

Fall brings mild days and chilly nights, and the first freeze usually arrives in late October or November. Early October's Balloon Fiesta fills the sky with low balloons and burner noise, especially over the north and northeast, which can startle a curious Havana. Keep your cat indoors at dawn and offer a quiet room.

Albuquerque's dog parks, Open Space trails and the Paseo del Bosque Trail are built around leashed dogs, so a Havana's best spaces are at home: a window perch, a screened balcony or an enclosed catio. Some cats accept a harness and leash on a quiet block, but keep outings short and avoid arroyos and the Bosque near dusk, where coyotes and rattlesnakes live.

Albuquerque requires a microchip for pet cats and spay/neuter for cats over five months, unless the owner holds a $150-a-year intact permit. State law requires a rabies vaccine for cats over three months. There's no city pet license. A household may keep six pets, no more than four of them dogs, and selling animals in public places is illegal.

About 37% of Albuquerque households rent, and the median rent is around $1,227. The six-pet limit applies to renters too. New Mexico caps a security deposit at one month's rent on leases shorter than a year, with refunds due within 30 days. Pet deposits, pet rent and any size rules vary by building, so read the lease before signing.

Expect roughly $25 to $50 a month for food and $25 to $50 a month for insurance. Routine veterinary care runs about $150 to $350 a year, and other costs such as litter, parasite prevention, dental cleanings and supplies run $450 to $1,150 a year. All told, that's about $1,200 to $2,700 a year.