Adoption tips

I have three litters of kittens to place: NO they are not mine but rescues from some lovely folks who do not have the means or ability to care for them... I have the older litter in my outside enclosure( ie first litter of one of the mommy's who is the daughter of the other mommy)... They are 6 months at best guess( No we actually cannot get anyone to remember the exact date and the "facility" they were at has them at 4 months which since all are at least 7 lbs I doubt)... I am planning on a craiglist ad and a flier at the local vet clinics ( they are on the wait list at the no kill shelter but they want a 95$ "donation and have 23 litters ahead)...

I need ideas as I do not want them growing up outside and NO they cant come into the house ... They will be s/n , rabies and exams tomorrow

1) Try to take REALLY good pics.
2) Pull at heart strings. Write the ad as if it were the kitties speaking, ie "Won't someone out there give us the wonderful forever home we so deserve?"
3) Mention all the adoption fee includes. If you have Facebook, put the word out on your status. Get friends to spread the word. Networking is a GREAT tool.

Good luck!

Sent you a PM. Go by your gut feeling - if you get a bad vibe from someone & don't know why - don't get them a kitty. Like Kailie said, play down the adoption fee - some people freak at one. Stress all the medical care they've had & don't list an exact fee in the ad, you don't want people to pick your kittens because they're cheaper than someone else's.

There is an adoption contract you can use here on SaveSamoa.org

lots of tips on what to look for here
http://www.flippyscatpage.com/health.html#findadoptor

At the shelter, we always have them fill out the adoption application before even looking at the animals and go ovver the questions when they do not have the form in front of them to remind them what they wrote to see if the answers differ - usually a major red flag

What we have up on SaveSamoa is an adoption agreement - a contract - not an application (we should put one up, actually). You need references, vet references, where they work - info like that in order to screen people. Eithne's suggestion of checking what they wrote vs. what they say when you talk about it is a good one.

We did this with Billy and Bing. Of course - we ended up with Billy. But we were trying to adopt out almost two year old cats that had been living exclusively outside, and we couldn't foster either.

Have you tried an e-mail campaign to shelters/foster networks in your area to see if anyone can take them in to foster? We have several groups around here that will take in a pregnant momma and socialize the kittens - and get momma adopted out too if it seems like she'd adjust... it just takes a lot of work on the e-mails to find them.

It REALLY helps if you explain that you rescue on your own, but due to current circumstances, you cannot foster any more, and financially you're focused on getting a number of cats spayed/neutered. (A lot of groups don't take the time to READ an e-mail, and just write back some nasty "why'd you let your cat get pregnant" respose, so just nip that in the bud right off the bat).

Go to http://www.petfinder.com and search on just "cat" in your zip code. All the animals up for adoption show up - pages and pages of them. All cats list an org next to them. Click on one animal associated with each org. Within that page you will find a link to a description of the org - track that down, and figure out how to contact them. They all have an e-mail somewhere. But GET A NOTEBOOK and write down the e-mail address and next to it the name of the org. Almost everyone uses private e-mail addresses, so when they reply, unless you have that list of what e-mail was for what org, it can be really hard to know which org you're talking to - you'll find that a really helpful reference.

Expect 2 - 5 responses within a week or two for every 15 - 20 e-mails sent. It's kitten season.

I will be contacting the groups.. I am SO SO thankful for all the help and suggestions ... Though these are not ferals ( Just the Mommas are very very poor( one lady make s less than a 100$ a month and do to the system is unable to get anything but food stamps) my vet did them in the fix a feral campaign when I asked about another program for those on fixed incomes( which includes me).. I am SO SO Grateful, I was told it would be 10$ a cat WHICH I was so happy for .. well the four 6 month olds were done free and I may already have a home for the two girls( If one is not taken soon she will be mine)... I need to find homes for the boys ... I have at least three homes for the others( hoping that all will be adopted by the 10 week mark( one batch is 10 days old the other is 4 days old).... The Momma cats spays are already funded for and I will take them when the kittens wean...

so far I am getting some interest .... I am hoping to adopt them out fast as kitten season here is only a few weeks out ...

YIPPY one got adopted today .. three more too go for this batch

YAY, great news hun! Still sending vibes for the rest!

I happended to go to the vet with my dog also today( she should be okay in a few days ) and saw the local rescuer at the attached pet store ... so got the word out on that end

Well I still have three ... get some interest but mostly from people who are not sure they want another... Then why are you replying to ads?... At my garage sale Friday walked in a young ( I am guessing 10-12 weeks) old calico female... Luckily my friends husband is allowing her to foster the newest rescue... Called the vet and no one knows when the next clinic is or when the local agency that helps with low cost clinics is holding another...

The next batch of adoptes just opened their eyes ... and the second litter is only a week behind them...Praying they all have homes as I am unable to continually care for cats that are not mine( mine are all from shelters I am just ready to become one)

the 10-12 week old is a spayed 2 year old...

I adopted out one of the 6 month old girls today... prayers would be nice ... As all the intrested ones either want a very young ( under 10 weeks) or are unable to come get the kitties for weeks

Sending that those little kitties find wonderful loving homes.