Adopting/rescuing Cats

I agree with you 100%! All of these people want "free kittens" but they don't understand that they actually SAVE money by adopting through a shelter. The shelter I foster for adopts out females for about $130 and males for about $100. This INCLUDES:
1) Spay/neuter.
2) First vaccination.
3) Microchip
4) Defleaing and deworming
5) Complimentary vet visit
6) City Lisence

The shelter here (Saint John, NB) charges $25 for it to just bring a cat in. The cost of that is included in their own shelter fees though. It is a tiny little chip that is inserted between their shoulder blades. It doesn't phase them at all! If for any reason the cat gets out or gets lost, the shelter or many vets can scan them, match the number to your information and contact you to let you know they have your cat. It's a great saftey plan just in case.

You did the right thing! Not only did you save money, you rescued cats in need instead of supporting people that let their cats breed irresponsibly, and you helped support the efforts of the people/organization rescuing the kitties - everyone wins!

Welcome to TCS!

we had such a horrible experience adopting our two kittens from a shelter - originally we went in thinking the same thing as a lot of you... there is no such thing as a free kitten, and heck at least one who has already been fixed and wormed and had their baby shots will be cheaper in the long run - that i have been totally turned off from adopting another shelter kitten, ever.

there is no guarantee that you are going to adopt a healthy cat from anywhere, but our poor little guy was sick when he came home (supposedly healthy, but he had the runs) and it was downhill from there. we spent thousands of dollars on our little guy and he was the sweetest thing, but we spent the 7 months we had him running him back and forth to the vet trying to keep him alive. lost him to FIP at 9 months. it was awful. the money loss sucked but more than that there was the anguish i went through over that cat. i loved him to bits and worried over him every single day from the time he started with the runny poo (immediately) till he died in my husbands arms after force-feeding him for weeks and rounds of antibiotics just trying to keep him going. i still panic over his littermate whenever he so much as blinks funny. i am terrified he will develop it too since there is some supposition that there may be an underlying genetic predisposition to developing FIP.

thankfully our experience was the exception not the rule, but still. no more shelter kittens for us. BUT we won't go the free kitten route either. we chose to adopt a playmate for rosie from a foster home, since the exposure risks and stressors are much lower even in multi cat households than they are in a shelter proper. and then we had two ferals wander into our yard...

so i love the shelters, am so grateful for what they do and would consider adopting a grown cat with a fully functional immune system from a shelter - but not another kitten. too many major stressors on a little baby system in too short of a time.

A good point, but many areas have shelters don't have foster networks.

I'm really sorry about your baby boy. Sadly, FIP is FIP, and whether he came from a "free to good home," a shelter, a breeder, or a foster network, it would have claimed him.

The shelter where I am involved as a volunteer, and have adopted 7 cats from over the last 15 years, supplies all the things listed above in Kailie's post. In addition, they have a return to this shelter policy. Anyone who adopts an animal from there, if they ever have to give it up, they sign an agreement when adopting that they will bring the animal back to the shelter. Some cats have come back lately, after 10 or more years, because of the economic disaster.

The free vet check is good for about two weeks. The idea behind it is to get your vet to see if the animal is healthy. If the vet determines it is not, they will take the cat back and refund your money.

The adoption fees are $155 for cats under 6 years. $50 or cats over 6 years, and those who are long term residents (2008 or earlier). For senior citizens, cats are only $50, regardless of age. And they have lots of sales on cats. Right now, the cost is half price. The reason for the sale, is that the population is very high.

So, to get a get a cat up to date on vaccinations, fixed, micro-chipped, dewormed, defleaed, tested for most serious diseases - well it is all well worth it for $77.50 There is a clinic on the premises, with a full-time vet and three vet-techs. You would not believe the care that is taken to provide the right diet and medications for cats with medical conditions. Many cats that others would not bother with are cared for - for years. And eventually, everyone gets adopted, though for some it can take almost 4 years. My Claude was the oldest resident when I adopted him 3 years ago. He had been in the shelter over 3.5 years. He is big, rather "touchy" and lame. He wouldn't let people pick him up, wouldn't let his paws be touched, didn't like to be touched in some places, and was generally kind of difficult to read. But, he is now a wonderfully loving pet. He lets me know every day how grateful he is that I took him home. And he is "My Boy." Nothing feels better than taking a cat out of there and give him a comfortable home where he gets all the care and attention he deserves.

Of course, bad things can happen, and do. But it is rare, and precautions are constantly being taken to try to prevent sad stories. And I wouldn't say things are perfect, even at this shelter. Compromises are made, and everything is not as I would have it if I were running it. Then again, not all shelters are equal.

Robin

Several of my cats have come from the humane society here - if I'm counting right I've adopted 1/year I've been volunteering. In many cases I've taken them home because they were ill, had health/behavioral problems, or were going to be euthanized.

I also say sorry for your loss!

As to the OP - anytime you can save a life it is a good thing. All shelters euthanize... some in more humane ways than others. Even ones that claim they are no-kill. So taking an animal out of that stressful and potentially deadly situation is a blessed action, IMO.

I certainly agree that shelters can be stressful for some cats, but, not all. Like people with that kind of temperament, crowds can be rough for introverted cats. However, some seem to like that environment. Of course, I think every cat should be in a home.

I only have a lot of experience with this one shelter. No cat is euthanized for behavior or health - unless they are terminally ill and suffering. Cats that can't be socialized are placed in feral colonies on farms. Cats with even some pretty severe health problems are kept alive, cared for, and given the health care and attention they need and deserve.

So, some shelters are rather good homes for a lot of cats, even long term homes. The cats I have now were cats with problems, behavioral, mostly. All have done better since they have been removed from the shelter. But I can't say, other than one who was going kind of "cage crazy" that the others were unhappy at the shelter. They probably had a better life there than they did before the shelter. And all but that one were "floor" cats - loose among many living in a jungle of cat condos, and other furniture designed for them. The one that I adopted who was in a cage had been a floor cat. But because of problems getting along with other (neutered) males, he had been confined to a cage the last 6 months there. That was too hard on him. He needed out of there. But the rest of them seemed fine - though I believe they are happier now.

One thing about taking the loose "floor" cats home, you know that they will be able to get along with other cats. For cats in the cages, we never know what to tell potential adoptors about that. And every one from the floor we get adopted (and they are more frequently adopted from there than from cages), means we can let another one out of the cages. And we really want them out of those cages so they can live richer, fuller lives, even if still in the shelter.

The ones who can't come out of their cages, because of behavior problems, or more often diet restrictions, well, it just kills me. Those are the ones I try to give the most attention to and get them out of the cages, even for just a few minutes. However, some don't want to come out, and some of those I can't get to come out. I work on this sometimes for months on one particular cat. Some are just too scared of coming out. I wonder how any of them ever get adopted. But wonderful people do come along eventually and adopt everyone (though it can take 4 or more years). Even the ones with very special diets and medical issues (but not terminal) get adopted. Some people are wonderful about this kind of thing.

Robin

Coming from a shelter perspective, the only kittens we ever lost to FIP had been in a foster home, and their mom was negative so they got it at the foster home, at shelters, if they are doing their job, they should be minimising contact

I am in Ontario too

Cost of adopting $90-200 depending on which shelter (some offer more testing than others)

Free to a good home:
Spay: $250 Neuter $170
Vaccines: $80 inc visit cost
Flea treatment $45 with vaccines (more if separate visit)
Testing really varies
... the list goes on

Just chiming in about microchipping. It can be painful- depending on the chip. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and the needle is huge. They can do it when the cat is awake, but my vet prefers to do it doing a neuter because then they don't feel it.

About shelters, it depends on the shelter. Overcrowding causes stress and stress causes illness. Being caged in small cages can cause PTSD even in small kittens. I have had more problems with shelter cats and kittens then I have with outdoor strays or "free kittens."

The problem with free kittens is that the people believe the kittens have little value so they are often really ill and will even sometimes die. This is because the people have offered the cat no vet care and what the mom or the dad has passes to the kittens. If we could just get people thinking that cats DO have value and make "free kittens" a thing of the past, perhaps people would care for these precious felines better.

If you work, you can ask your boss about automatic deductions for pet insurance. That is now a viable option here in the States. It never was before. Some corporations that allow this, will also now allow their workers to bring their animals to work. This has been shown to be a positive enforcement that the company cares about the worker. It has lowered stress int he workplace and in some cases, it has also stopped employees from calling in sick when they really arent.

Sorry, I got off subject. There are good shelters and bad ones so do your homework. Make sure they offer vet service to the cats, and are not overcrowded and cramming cats in small cages where they have to live on top of a litter pan and their food and water bowls.

My family has gotten their last 2 cats through the local HS. At that time (I beleive the fees are slightly higher now) an adult cat, not a senior was $75. My mom who was the one officially adopting as the 'homeowner' was eligible for a senior discount but we chose to make up the differnece as a donation. Considering that the shelter cares for these animals until they find homes, spays or neuters those that are not already fixed and takes care of any parasite issues, as well as does their best to personality profile the cats so you have a good shot at finding an animal 'right for you', I think its a bargain. We've had good luck with our family pets, Gracie and the current cat in residence Midori.

Given my choice I would do that again.

I rescued my cat Aya off the streets here in Japan. She was dirty, infested with fleas and sick. I racked up about $300 in vet expenses during her first month with me. Neutering at six months cost about $200. I love her and don't regret for a minute what I did. I also paid about $180 to vet another stray kitten goma that I turned in to the military rescue to find a home for (Aya did not want a buddy).

But again, given the choice if I were to get a new cat I would certainly approach a reputable shelter. i would also probably chose an adult cat. Kitten are cute, but boy are they a lot of work!...

I got my newest as a "free kitten" and as soon as I walked away with that little kitty I was kicking myself because I knew I should have gone to the shelter.

Free kitten

Spay - Over $100
First shots - $40
Microchip - $20 (shelter does them)
First vet visit - $40

~$200

Shelter cat

Adoption fee that includes spay, shots, microchip, and one month of shelter care pet insurance (I was doing adoption drives with the board members for a while, I know the drill) - $65

This shelter also has an altered cat room, the (cat friendly) altered cats go in there, and some non altered cats get altered and live in there indefinitely until they get adopted. When they get overcrowded, sometimes the cats from the altered cat room are $25.