Adoption fee

I'm saying exactly what ZoeThor is saying! My partner and I are full time in school yet, and on a very tight budget, but our cats are a part of our budget and get everything they need and then some. That is including neutering, vaccinations, the unexpected vet visits and medications, high quality food, cat houses, beds, toys, cat grass, etc etc. Our cats are the most spoiled cats of any I've ever met and are treated as if they were my own children. Paying a large sum of money [cash] upfront is sometimes not possible, and I do think that if you're unwilling to make exceptions on this you are ruling out some amazing potential homes for kittens.

In addition, if you read my previous posts I never said that the kittens should be given away for free. I simply advised that the costs should not be too high. I, in fact, would disagree with giving them away completely free. I said that it depends on where you live and at what costs people can go to a shelter and get a kitten. Especially this time of year where there are many kittens available, people can and will go elsewhere if you are asking too much and you may end up stuck with kittens that you yourself are unprepared to provide a home to.

I have already stated that if the kittens just go to their homes with shots their will be a $25 adoption fee. If they get spayed/neutered there will be a $50 adoption fee or maybe a bit more. If these kittens were going with nothing I would probably charge a $15 dollar adoption fee, again I don't want to give these kittens to wackos just looking for a free kitten. They are all going very socialized and loved and sweet. All are socialized with dogs and children and lots of different people of all ages. They are also going to their new homes with a cd of all pictures i've taken of that kitten if the adopter wants that of course. If I can't find good homes for them I will keep them. It's as simple as that.

Originally Posted by Lindsey88

I have already stated that if the kittens just go to their homes with shots their will be a $25 adoption fee. If they get spayed/neutered there will be a $50 adoption fee or maybe a bit more. If these kittens were going with nothing I would probably charge a $15 dollar adoption fee, again I don't want to give these kittens to wackos just looking for a free kitten. They are all going very socialized and loved and sweet. All are socialized with dogs and children and lots of different people of all ages. They are also going to their new homes with a cd of all pictures i've taken of that kitten if the adopter wants that of course. If I can't find good homes for them I will keep them. It's as simple as that.

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I agreed with those fees to begin with. And if you're willing to keep kittens that you couldn't find good homes for then that is even better!

You really need to get them fixed, as was said before it is VERY easy for people to be too busy, to forget, to put it off due to money or time (then they get preggo, or make more babies) and the cycle continues. This is how the pet overpopulation is out of control, little situations like this, they really add up. The pet overpopulation problem isn't all from evil people, it is from forgetful people, or people that mean well but things don't always go as planned in real life, people say things and mean well, but they don't always follow thru for one reason or another - sometimes valid reasons even - but that doesn't change the fact that the animals are the ones that pay.

You CAN make the difference, a big difference, by going the extra mile to get this kitties spayed and neutered, it might be more work, but the cats deserve this, talk to vets, explain your situation, give them to a reptuable very good shelter, this is for the best. They are wonderful at screening homes and have a lot of experience doing that sort of thing. They can fully vet the kittens. And take them back should something happen at any time.

Yes, it is great you socialized the kittens, yes it is great you are on here trying to figure out the best way to do adoptions, and all of that - but you really need to get these kitties altered before you place them in their new homes.

I know one adoption place that makes their adopters go to the vet and place a deposit with that vet for the procedure before they allow the adoption of a young puppy. They call the vet place, confirm vet records, check the background and home, then let the person make the deposit with the vet to be spayed/n before they are allowed to take the animal.

As you will learn about me (it's only my first day on the forum!) I breed gerbils. I enjoy this as a hobby and am interested in bettering the species as pets, and the genetics interest me as well. Obviously, a gerbil will not cost much if you go to a pet store, somewhere between $10 and $15, sometimes more sometimes less. I do ask for an adoption fee too, despite how impossible it is to make money in this type of animal husbandry. I have several reasons for asking for an adoption fee:

1. When an animal is free, it's easier for people to take it less seriously. I've heard the term "throw away pets" too, in reference to animals that are "free to a good home". Spending a little money on the animal initially kinds of sends the message that this is something that is going to cost money its entire life. They realize this is a responsibility, and not a stuffed animal.

2. People working for testing labs scoure the internet looking for pets who are "free to a good home". I simply do not want to be a target of this type of person.

3. Animal hoarders play the same role as the person mentioned above. They love to look for animals who are "free to a good home". When I used to enforce this no charge policy, I went to a woman's home who was adopting some of my gerbil pups. When I arrived I was shocked at what I saw; 5 cats, dozens of hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits, in cohabitation and less than acceptable living units. I had to deny this woman of the gerbils she was planning to adopt and quickly changed my "free to a good home" policy. For this reason, I would discourage you from discounting a person for adopting two of your kittens.


I also encourage you to establish and application which requires a vet reference in addition to personal references. While the personal references may be a bit bias, their vet will be able to tell you the potential adopters history with their animals. Feel free to borrow anything you please from my application: http://jilliegerbil.googlepages.com/adoptionapplication


These are your kitties! Don't feel like you are doing too much when it comes to finding them new homes! It's up to you and your own discretion! If somebody isn't willing to follow your set procedure, that's too bad for them!

I wish you luck making this decision and finding homes for the little ones!

PS: I think a fair rehoming fee is between $50 and $75. A person who is serious about bringing a new animal into their life will have no problem paying this!

Originally Posted by Lindsey88

So you think I should spend hundreds of dollars on shots/spaying/neutering and not charge an adoption fee? I don't see anything wrong with getting free kittens I got Sophie and Olive as free kittens from my neighbor I also support adopting from shelters. I just want to charge a small fee so I know these people are serious. People tend to take good care of things they pay some money for.

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I never said you shouldn't charge for medical care that has already been done for the cat. In that, you have saved them that money by doing it for them, and of course they ought to be willing to give it back to you. It's the fee that is simply for the sake of an "adoption fee" that I have troubles with. And as I said, whatever makes you the most comfortable is obviously fine. But what I was just trying to put out there is that adoption fees rule out owners like myself, who are good to their animals, and responsible, but living on a tight budget.

I love my cats. Desperately. But I could not have paid money over and above vet bills in order to get them. All I was trying to do is let you see another viewpoint, from someone young, poor, but loving cats.

I agree about requiring a re-homing fee. Too many teenagers looking for free cats to do bad things to (an over generalization, I know). I think a fair re-homing fee for kittens is $50-75. This is not unreasonable. It won't deter a good pet owner from adopting and helps the rescuer (whether it be a group or someone who just found the poor animals) recover some of the costs they have spent on the animals. Nobody is making $ off of an adoption fee. When I adopted Matilda , she was $75 and that covered her micro-chip (she arrived at the shelter already spayed/neutered but they would have done that too). She was up to date on shots. Chloe was a kitten (12 weeks old) when I adopted her. She was $50 but not spayed/neutered and not micro-chipped. She was up to date on shots and they gave me the rest of the vaccines to do myself because they get them at cost. (I didn't end up doing them myself though).

You can't let them go to a new home without being spayed or neutered. I realize that $ is an issue so here are a few different ways to go about this (most have been mentioned, some haven't I don't think). Only about 1/2 of potential adopters are going to spay/neuter kittens, which means that if you don't take care of the issue now, there WILL be future kittens. Then the problem just repeats itself.

1. Pay for spaying/neutering before advertising the kittens. The $ will partially be recovered by the adoption fee of each kitten. This is the best option, but if you don't have the $ to do it, then that's not viable. I don't think you need 2 weeks after spaying/neutering for the kitten to recover. Females might need more recovery time, but even then it's not 2 weeks. I would keep them as long as they are on antibiotics, but invite people to come see them in person before they are ready to go (remember, the smaller the kitten, the easier to adopt!).

2. Relinquish the kittens to a shelter. Offer to be a foster home for these kittens through the shelter if they are worried about space. Explain the situation you are in and how important to you it is that they be spayed/neutered. You might be surprised on what they can do for you. Kittens are relatively easy to find homes for and shelters know this.

3. Ask adopters for the adoption fee of say, $25, and then a REFUNDABLE amount of money (say, $100-150) that you give back to them upon proof of spay/neuter surgery. The problem with this is that not many people are going to be comfortable doing this. I've seen shelters do this, but that's different than some random unknown person.

4. Have them pick up kitten from spay/neuter surgery at the vet (that they pay for).



As for as an adoption questionnaire, ask them to e-mail it to you before they meet the kitten so that you don't have to make a decision while they are there in person. Good questions to ask (I took these from an adoption application I'm filling out for a dog)

Basic Info:
1. Name of Adopter(s)
2. Address (and if renting, proof of landlord's permission for cat(s)).
3. Phone Number
4. E-Mail Address
5. Employer
6. Is anyone in your house allergic to cats?
7. What are the requirements for cat owners in your community (i.e. number of cats allowed, vaccine requirements, etc.)

Current Pets:
1. Names
2. Species/Breed
3. Age
4. Sex/Neutered/Spayed
5. Where did you get your pets?
6. Where are they kept when you are gone?
7. Are they up to date on vaccines?
8. What do you feed your pets?
9. Name and Telephone Number of Current or Previous Veterinarian

Past Pets:
1. Names
2. Species
3. Breed
4. Sex
5. How long did you have him/her?
6. What happened to your pet?
7. Have you ever sold, given away, and/or surrendered a pet(s) of yours for any reason?
8. If yes, why?

Other:
1. Why do you want a cat?
2. What circumstances, in your mind, justify getting rid of a cat?

I would also print out sheets on helpful resources for cat to cat introductions, dog to cat introductions, litter box problems, food recommendations, and an article about Soft Paws or something like that.

Oh! And make sure everything is done in cash (not check).

When placing an ad for the kittens, have you decided where you will do it? I would start at vet offices (and include pictures on the ad), PetSmart & PetCo (if they'll let you), and then go to the Petfinder section that lets you put up adoption listings if you aren't affiliated with a shelter/rescue group. Also there is craigslist (provide as much information as you can about where the kittens came from because you will get a lot of hate mail if people think they are from an unspayed pet that you have).

I kinda wrote a lot Best of luck!!

Originally Posted by DezKitty

I never said getting a cat for free, implies there's something wrong with its owner or the animal. You miss understood that, and took liberty and incusing me for something I never said. Its a simple study, research and facts. She came on here to ask what to put her adoption "FEE" for. Not ask If she should charge or not, so actually your jumping off topic. Which is rude, I never said you were a bad owner, and I never mean't to imply such. I never said you had to pay for a cat to be a good owner, but ruling out cats because they cost money Is just as wrong. Supporting a back yard breeder, is wrong. There's nobody that would tell you otherwise, that getting cats from bad owners. Just makes them breed more, knowing people will pick up (literally) there mess. Its a shame you thought I'd say your a bad owner. I never directed anything toward you, It was a repsonse. Nothing more.

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Before you start citing "research and facts" at me, I'd like to see the facts. Where are there statistics saying that pet owners treat their animals better if they paid an adoption fee?

Whether or not you felt that you implied that those who aren't willing to pay an adoption fee are bad pet owners, it certainly came across that way. Saying things like "If you couldn't afford an adoption fee, how could you possible be affording basic care for your pet" comes across as very accusatory and judgmental.

And I didn't realize that it was ridiculously rude to change the direction of conversation on these here interwebs! Next time I guess I'll have to start a new thread.

Sorry Lindsey, for causing a bunch of ruckus. To return to the actual topic, while I don't care for adoption fees, I think that $25 is reasonable, or the total of medical costs for the kitten thus far, whichever is larger.

Honestly when I look for pets I look for ones with the lowest/free adoption fee. The less I pay for the pet the more I get to spend on that extra collar leash or toy. This is why I go to my local shelter for dogs. For cats so far I have only gotten "free kittens" I don't look down on anyone wanting a free kitten. I just won't give mine away for free lol.

When I am adopting a pet, their adoption fee is the last thing on my mind. I know that if I can't afford the adoption fee, I probably can't afford the pet in the long run. This being said, when looking for a breeder, my #1 concern are their ethics and the health of their breeding stock. I'm willing to spend a little bit more for a healthy pet NOW. For instance, I am "on the market" for a new Siamese kitten (my family has one now, but I'd like my own for when I move out this fall). I found a breeder who seemed to know what they were doing and were willing to drive 5 hours down to me. On top of that, they only asked $300 a kitten, which was much cheaper than I had been seeing. Before I settled on this breeder though, I quickly googled their cattery name. Sure enough, I found several warnings about them. I emailed one of these people and she called me the next morning. She said she bought a Bengal kitten from this breeder in December, and since then has spent over $1,000 on vet fees because the cat has a congenital form of diabetes that only occurs during inbreeding or if the parent has it. Her cat now needs a shot every day of a certain type of insulin which can only be bought from Canada making it very expensive. She is determined to take care and responsibility for this pet, but because she paid a little bit less in the beginning, she is paying much more now. I'm glad I got in touch with her, because now I am adopting from another breeding, and much more content spending $600 or so for a kitten from a breeder with a great reputation and good ethics.

If you can afford pure bred cats, we are clearly in very different places in life. I would never be able to purchase a pure bred (and I tend to prefer mutt kitties anyway... I find them endearing).

Adoption fees with pure breds makes perfect sense to me, as breeding a cat and maintaining good health status of bred cats, with all the genetic testing that must be done and the like, is very expensive. And you're getting a very particular thing from the bargain - a cat with a particular, guaranteed, pedigree. It's just in mutt kitty adoptions that fees rub me a bit the wrong way. BUT, as Lindsey is doing, if the kitten comes with some vet bills already taken care of, I think that obviously the new owner ought to reimburse the person for those bills. After all, it isn't just the money, but also the time that is saved!

For me, $500-$600 isn't a small fee for a pet! There is a sense of security when getting your cat from a breeder, for the most part at least, because you know the typical traits this breed with have and you're not in for any "big surprises". For me, I am willing to spend a few hundred dollars on the Siamese because it's not unusual for them to live past 20 years old and overall, they are a very healthy breed. This being said, I would still spend $100 + at an animal shelter. For quite some time, I worked in the cattery of an Animal Shelter. There I learned how much really goes into each and every animal that goes in there. To keep and adopt out the cats and dogs there, the Shelter needed to pay for a myriad of things; property, employees, cages, cat carriers, food, litter boxes, leashes, collars, neuters spays, vaccinations, advertising, et cetera. Now when all that is said and done, it only cost $50 to adopt a cat and $100 for a dog, and I believe they charged more for kittens and puppies. Clearly, it costs more than $50-$100 to house and care for these animals before they go into their new homes, but as we all know, much animal work yields no profit, despite how much they cost in just a small part of its life.

I agree with both sides of this argument. I think that getting paid for the time and vet bills that these kittens have caused is reasonable. Whether is it because of carelessness or just a accident that the cat got pregnant, the person still made the decision to take care of the problem rather than to just leave it on the street. Also, for some people, including myself, it can be very nice to be able to get a free kitten. It is up to the person who is finding good homes for the kittens. Also, I think that 50-60 is very reasonable since you got all the shots ad and are planning to spay/neuter them. It depends on the person's situation. I have gotten a free kitten and adopted a couple for 65 dollars each so both can work.

Manda

Originally Posted by Lindsey88

Honestly when I look for pets I look for ones with the lowest/free adoption fee. The less I pay for the pet the more I get to spend on that extra collar leash or toy. This is why I go to my local shelter for dogs. For cats so far I have only gotten "free kittens" I don't look down on anyone wanting a free kitten. I just won't give mine away for free lol.

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You said earlier that you got both of your cats free from your neighbor. You just said that the less you pay for the animal the more you can spend on that extra collar, leash or toy. I think you should have spent that extra money on getting your cat fixed, then you wouldn't have to be worrying about how much to adopt them out for. Seriously.

I think they should all be fixed, no matter what, before you adopt them out. My rescue charges $85 a cat, that includes shots and altering, deworming, etc. In the summer when we are over run with kittens, its' usually 2 for 1.

Originally Posted by Kit E Cat

You said earlier that you got both of your cats free from your neighbor. You just said that the less you pay for the animal the more you can spend on that extra collar, leash or toy. I think you should have spent that extra money on getting your cat fixed, then you wouldn't have to be worrying about how much to adopt them out for. Seriously.

I think they should all be fixed, no matter what, before you adopt them out. My rescue charges $85 a cat, that includes shots and altering, deworming, etc. In the summer when we are over run with kittens, its' usually 2 for 1.

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I tried to get them fixed and made several appointments but things kept coming up and I had to cancel them. The clinic I was going to take them to only came once a month and you had to be there at a certain time. And when I said collar leash or toy I was more talking about my dogs as my cats don't have collars or leashes.

Originally Posted by Lindsey88

I tried to get them fixed and made several appointments but things kept coming up and I had to cancel them.

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So this happened with your own cats? And if you don't alter the kittens before placement, that same thing can and will happen with your kittens. And when those kittens have accidental matings, someone will do the same thing with their offspring, like the cats you got...and this cycle continues. It can stop here, if you go put in the extra effort, talk to vets, place them with a great rescue, and things like that. In the fifteen months after Kali had her litter, 83 kittens were born. Julie found "good" homes for Kali's first four kittens, but she didn't consider the other 79. The sad fact is that every single litter, planned or accidental, adds to pet over population. The cycle must stop before it starts; before that one litter.

If Kali and her descendants were allowed to breed at will, she could be the source of 420,000 cats in just seven years. But 420,000 are not the root of the pet over population problem: Kali's one litter is. One animal, or even a handful of animals, from one person doesn't seem like an insurmountable problem. Ten or twenty persons bringing litters into animal shelters daily makes the picture clearer.
http://www.tulsa-animalshelter.org/just1litter.htm <--Taken from here

In seven years, one female cat and her offspring
could produce: 420,000 cats
http://www.cchumane.org/snap.htm <--Taken from here

Honestly I know all the facts. I have known all the facts for a long time and I am very pro spay/neuter. All my dogs are spayed and every other cat i've had has been spayed/neutered. All my pets exept for my two cats and 1 dog have come from a high kill animal shelter as well. I didn't make this thread to get lectured. I'm going to try my best to get them spayed. I already stated this several times! I'm going out next week or the next to find a job so I can pay for it.

Can we please keep the posts to answering Lindsey88's original questions without making any personal attacks?


Here are a few good articles about finding homes for kittens:

http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/219/K...ood-Homes.html
http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/197/K...-For-Sale.html

I do cat rescue and charge $50 for cats over 6 months old, and $65 for cats under 6 months old. They are altered, Felv/FIV tested, vaccinated, wormed, treated for fleas/earmites, and any other medical needs neccessary.


I strongly suggest you get these babies altered before you place them. In my opinion it is your responsibility to do so, or place them with a rescue that will.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Lindsey88

I'm going to try my best to get them spayed. I already stated this several times! I'm going out next week or the next to find a job so I can pay for it.

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Please don't be offended Lindsey, but when "screening" the adopters, consider your situation. If they can't pay for the cat now, how will they be able to pay for its expenses down the line? Another reason why an adoption fee should be implemented, unless you know the adopter well :-)

Good luck with the rehoming and neutering! I bet if you posted a question on Craigs List in the Pets section (for your region of course) asking about any possible low cost spay/neuter operations some people could point in you the right direction!

Jill