what to do with kittens

dreamweaver · Nov 10, 2006

I did not think that posting this on the kitten care forum would give me the answers or help I need.

I have 4 kittens (use to 5 but the gray one got a home) they are now 11 weeks old and are starting to look like adolesent kittens. Everyone on these forums have stated that you keep the kittens with their mother for 12 weeks.

I'm afraid if I wait anylonger they will not find good homes becuase they won't look like kittens anymore. (now some of this maybe because mom cat is small to begin with).

I started calling to pet stores and cat rescues/adoptions and everyone is full. I am afraid to put but free kitten signs becuase someone scared me that free kittens end up being snake food for pet snakes. (I can't imagine) And I so don't want to take them to the huname or pet shelter.

Can any one help me on what to do?

dreamweaver · Nov 10, 2006

I have 4 kittens (use to 5 but the gray one got a home) they are now 11 weeks old and are starting to look like adolesent kittens. Everyone on these forums have stated that you keep the kittens with their mother for 12 weeks.

I'm afraid if I wait any longer they will not find good homes becuase they won't look like kittens anymore. (now some of this maybe because mom cat is small to begin with).

I started calling to pet stores and cat rescues/adoptions and everyone is full. I am afraid to put but free kitten signs becuase someone scared me that free kittens end up being snake food for pet snakes. (I can't imagine) I have put signes up with small donations for spaying of mother cat, and got no responces. And I so don't want to take them to the huname or pet shelter.

Can any one help me on suggestions on what to do? If I wait for the rescue leagues to call they will no longer be kittens, and people want kittens.

sazza · Nov 10, 2006

Put signs up at your local vet, library, supermarkets, community centres, etc. Try to include a pic and a good description too. Probably better to state an actual amount, people usually don't mind paying for pets, if they are serious about keeping an animal.

GOOD LUCK!

ckatz · Nov 10, 2006

Where are you located? That way someone local can give you info.

poohandwendy · Nov 10, 2006

Do you have a community paper? Or even nearby communities. You can usually place a free or relatively inexpensive ad in your area. Ask if you can put up a flyer at your local churches too. Pictures would be a great idea, if possible.

Also, I know you are afraid they will lose that 'kitten' look, but really people who are serious about taking in an animal for life do not need them to be teeny tiny. And I am sure they are adorable.

Maybe if you mention the general area in which you live, others here might have some resources you could try?

goldenkitty45 · Nov 10, 2006

My kittens (mixed or purebred) still looked like kittens at 4-6 months old. Yeah they might be a little larger, but they are STILL kittens and act like it. So your kittens at 11 weeks old are still very much kittens.

People will still want them. I don't see how you can think of them as looking like adolesent cats - they don't look like that till over 6 months old!

Put ads up in your grocery stores with a donation fee of about $10.

yosemite · Nov 10, 2006

Also please have mom cat spayed for her health and to prevent having to find homes for possibly more kittens. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will find good and responsible homes for these precious babies.

I've merged both your threads to this one since this seems to be the forum you think will get you the most posts.

dreamweaver · Nov 10, 2006

I thought about that after I posted. I live in Rochester Michigan.

I've been getting no help from the local rescues and even the shelters are telling me that they are full.

I just heart broken. I had every intention of getting my baby spayed, but I was too late. I even had an oppointment. ANd now I keep getting lectures from the rescues that are returning my calls to let me know that they are full. I hate to say this and I know that I should have had her spayed before this happened but I didn't and I am an advocate of it, no wonder people just open up their doors and let them go.
I had a stray that decided it was not leaving my yard, and got the same treatment from all these shelters and rescues, I put up the signs everywhere, and the lectures I got from everyone was that I should take her it and that I should be responsible and give her a home. I have two cats and a dog and at the time 5 just born kittens.
I feel I am doing the best for these animals, I'm trying my hardest to find good homes for them, I mean I am their grandmew and want the best for them. SO when I hit a brick wall why is everyone giving me a hard time.

I'm sorry, to have put this on you all, just I just got off the phone from a rescue and got a lecture like I was a pregant teenager and should be thrown into the pits of ....

I'm so upset as it is and had homes for these babies I was all set. I getting to where I can not afford these little tikes.

I'm sorry, but couldn't these people be a little nicer. I have done all I can. Except I was too late with the opointment to get her spayed. I'm sorry everyone, please forgive me.

dreamweaver · Nov 10, 2006

I'm in Rochester Michigan.

I'm doing the flurry of flyers again this weekend (like I've done every weekend) someone on another forum suggested churches as well as vets which I would have never thought of.

I even had big signs out for the trick or treaters and their parents to see, with no good. My husband said that I should have just put them in their cand bags. Here's your treat a little fluffy kitten! dont get me wrong my husband is very attached to all four and we both agree if they do go soon we will have a hard time emotionally giving them up.

sazza · Nov 10, 2006

Sometimes 'word of mouth' is a good way to advertise also, don't give up - there will be people out there who are looking for kittens.

margecat · Nov 10, 2006

Hi,

Do you have a PetSmart store nearby? Ours deals with The Cat Angel Network (for whom I volunteer). They are a no-kill shelter, and are very loving and caring toward their cats--wonderful people! www.catangel.org They also will pay the medical biils, and arrange the vet's appointments (this is done if you surrender or foster them to give to the organization, which it sounds like you're doing.) They also have told us not to post signs advertising free kittens/cats--too many sickos out there. This is one of the reasons why they charge $85 to the adoptive parent(s), and make them apply to adopt a cat. (It also helps to cover the medical fees--they are non-profit, and survive through donations.)

I hope this helps.

MargeCat

kumbulu · Nov 10, 2006

dreamweaver, although free kittens are a bad idea because of the reasons you have already stated, it's OK to just charge a small amount like $10-$15. This is enough to stop the people who want free kittens for bad reasons but is a good amount for most people. I'm sorry you're being made to feel bad but I guess each shelter you call doesn't know that you've already had 'the lecture' from everyone else. You are doing the right thing by these kittens and the mumcat. Good on you for not only wanting to have her spayed initially but also planning to have her spayed now.

tnr1 · Nov 11, 2006

Originally Posted by dreamweaver

I thought about that after I posted. I live in Rochester Michigan.

I've been getting no help from the local rescues and even the shelters are telling me that they are full.

I just heart broken. I had every intention of getting my baby spayed, but I was too late. I even had an oppointment. ANd now I keep getting lectures from the rescues that are returning my calls to let me know that they are full. I hate to say this and I know that I should have had her spayed before this happened but I didn't and I am an advocate of it, no wonder people just open up their doors and let them go.
I had a stray that decided it was not leaving my yard, and got the same treatment from all these shelters and rescues, I put up the signs everywhere, and the lectures I got from everyone was that I should take her it and that I should be responsible and give her a home. I have two cats and a dog and at the time 5 just born kittens.
I feel I am doing the best for these animals, I'm trying my hardest to find good homes for them, I mean I am their grandmew and want the best for them. SO when I hit a brick wall why is everyone giving me a hard time.

I'm sorry, to have put this on you all, just I just got off the phone from a rescue and got a lecture like I was a pregant teenager and should be thrown into the pits of ....

I'm so upset as it is and had homes for these babies I was all set. I getting to where I can not afford these little tikes.

I'm sorry, but couldn't these people be a little nicer. I have done all I can. Except I was too late with the opointment to get her spayed. I'm sorry everyone, please forgive me.

I would try a different approach....call them back, tell them that you are willing to foster the kittens (so they won't take up space with the rescue group) until they are adopted....but because you don't have nearly the experience that they do (believe me, rescues need to hear they are doing a GOOD JOB) that you were hoping that they would help you by crossposting pictures of your kittens on their website. You would even allow for them to charge their normal adoption fee and keep the funds (which is a win for them) if they would assist you in finding these little ones the perfect home. Oftentimes rescues are willing to work with people who are willing to work with them.

Also...it is critical to get mom spayed. If you haven't done that yet....that needs to occur.

Katie

gizmocat · Nov 12, 2006

I would contact local churches as well.

dreamweaver · Nov 13, 2006

Thank you everyone for bringing my spirits back up. My husband and I posted a ton of signs around town both of us had people say they would call us this weekend that they difinately wanted one. But we never heard from any of them.

This weekend we will do it all over again. My mom keeps saying that I need to stand outside a grocery store with the kittens in a box. I don't think she understands that these kittens are not helpless babies any more, they would never stay in a box and its too cold to subject these babies to the cold.

I like the idea of asking the rescues to post my babies for me and I would foster them in the mean time. I will try that. Thank you.

cairo · Nov 14, 2006

I know your frustration so well. Earlier this year I rescued 3 kittens born under a concrete slab next to a busy intersection. We had trouble catching the mom, but the kittens lived with me for a few weeks until they were old enough to be adopted out.

I tried to get help from local rescues and shelters, but the nice ones were full, and the other ones were full of meanies accusing me of all kinds of things because I had rescued these kittens. No one would help with the mom either, and we ended up having to trap, spay and release her ourselves.

In the end I successfully adopted two out through Craig's List. I had many inquiries there, but because I was honest about the shy disposition of the kittens, only two found a home that way.

The other thing I did was take them to a low cost vaccination clinic at my local pet store. It worked out great cause the other people in line just fell in love with the little things. The family had been looking for a kitten, but when they saw my kitten they were inlove.

I ended up giving them up for the cost of the shots $33 each. I got e-mails of everyone who the kittens went to and kept track of them during the first few weeks with them. It made me feel better about giving them up.

dreamweaver · Nov 15, 2006

I've been able to adopt one out.

And the good news the person that had me the most upset and caused me to write my frustration reply has sinced called me and apologized and will be helping. She also said that I should not fret as the kittens are getting sparse and with Christmas right around the corner people are willing to adopt the 4 and 5 month olds.

So I have 3 left, and have gotten a few calls, they don't seen happy about them being tabbies although I try to sound very enthusiastic about them being marbled becuase I have never seen anything like them before.

Thank you once again for all your kind words and help.

bcoo · Nov 16, 2006

Please try to find a low cost clinic and alter the kittens before they are placed. They will be fully vetted for a year at that point. Yes, it costs money but it will prevent you adopters from adding to the overabundance of cats and kittens.
Shelters and rescues cannot help everyone. There simply isn't enough money and manpower to get it all done. Not until more cats are altered.

dreamweaver · Nov 17, 2006

Just wanted to update everyone. One of the rescues that gave me the hardest time had called and apologized and offered help if she can to find homes for them.

In the mean time I am now down to 2 kittens, and the one that I loved was chosen today, and I figured beng male and plane he would be the last one picked. All familes were responsible with promises of neutering and spaying. and all paying a small donation fee to help my spay mom.

Thank you once again for your kind thoughts and encouragement.

I'm almost an empty nester.

dreamweaver · Nov 20, 2006

Well, my flyer blitz worked and it seems that if I had 20 more kittens they would have been gone as well.

I was very happy with everyone that adopted on of my babies, I know that they will all be in good homes. All three sets of parents had so many questions about them and all planed on Spaying and neutering, that I am very please with they new homes.

I was terribly said though about the last call I answered, they son is very sick and they thought that a kitten would cheer him up.

Thank you once again for all you help and suggestions. Momma is now back to her loving self, which I have not seen or enjoyed since I noticed she was pregnant in June. She now has an appointment for Spaying.

Thank you again.

what to do with kittens

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