Any suggestions on how to get my black cats adopted?

catnamedpanda · Jan 4, 2012

I have some very sweet wonderful black kittens who are about 6 months for 2 of them and less for the most recent girl I that given to me with one of my rescues I pulled from a high kill shelter, she was actually trying to get in, she is solid back and would never had made it out alive there as the animals usually only get a week maybe two to find a home because it is such a small rural shelter. The one I went to get in the first place is going to his new home next week after he gets fixed tomorrow.

Any ways that aside, I have been looking for the two older ones homes for months and I cant even get anyone interested in them. The only person who has called me about them told me they wanted one to be indoor/ outdoor, but because she was going to come inside they were going to declaw her so she doesn't destroy anything, and if all that wasn't bad enough they told me they refused to fix her and would not agree to it because it will cost so much to declaw her.

The girls were much younger at the time and I was going to adopt them out and have them sign a contract requiring them to be spayed. Needless to say I did not adopt them out to those people. Now they are at the age where they have been fixed, are up to date on shots and still no one is interested. I just don't understand how I cant even get one person to be interested. These are them.

mrsgreenjeens · Jan 5, 2012

So you think the problem is because they are black? I LOVE black cats! (But am not in the market for any more at the moment

) And these girls look precious. How are you trying to get the word out about them?

xocats · Jan 5, 2012

All three of your little panthers are gorgeous.
Have you tried Petfinders yet?

catnamedpanda · Jan 5, 2012

Lol yes I think the problem might be because they are black and not tiny little 8 week old kittens. I have an easier time when I have tabby cats. I have put them on craig's list, ebay classifieds and in the news paper and even put flyers in the vets offices and no takers. I tried petfinder once but after I was flooded with spam last time I will never use it again.

StefanZ · Jan 6, 2012

xocats said:
All three of your little panthers are gorgeous.

Make that into a reklam slogan.

Wanna a mini black panter

Mowgli could and had, so can you!

You dont even have to say they are Bombay look alike...

Good luck!

melesine · Jan 6, 2012

Oh they are so adorable! I know when I adopted out Jackson, who is also solid black that the general feeling at the rescue was the black cats are harder to place. I don't know, I love black cats too.

mrsgreenjeens · Jan 6, 2012

CatNamedPanda said:
Lol yes I think the problem might be because they are black and not tiny little 8 week old kittens. I have an easier time when I have tabby cats. I have put them on craig's list, ebay classifieds and in the news paper and even put flyers in the vets offices and no takers. I tried petfinder once but after I was flooded with spam last time I will never use it again.

Hmm. I would think you'd get more spam from Craig's list than Petfinders, but I really don't know for sure. I thought most people used Petfinders when looking for new furbabies to adopt.

ritz · Jan 6, 2012

Thank you for rescuing these adorable kittens/cats. The pictures are great. Hint: see if you can get a picture of them where they are looking off to the side or engaged in some activity, even something as simple as using their scratching post. That way you're looking at what they are doing, not so much their coloring.

It is hard to adopt out adult cats, I have five (now, two) teenage to adult cats that I'd been looking for Forever Homes for since June. My twin sister works for a large government agency, so she posted ads on her agency's intranet. We have had the most success through that venue. I too tried PetFinder twice, both times, lots of spam.

I find that the ad/bio sells the animal. Maybe someone at the animal shelter could review the ad for you? A woman at a national TNR organization offered to tweak my ads, and it made such a difference. Or, as strange as this may sound, ask someone in the field of Marketing who loves cats, to review your ad/bio.

Try to find a "hook"; for Buckley it was "heart of gold". Buckley was adopted last week, a male cat around 18 to 24 months old. For Petey (a bully by any other name), it was "wants to be the center of your universe". All negatives can be positives. Eats a lot = not a fussy eater Sleek as a panther is visually stunning and then you think oh yeah that means the cat is black. And definitely indicate that they were rescued from the grips of death.

Buckley and Petey were abandoned. JD was semi-feral but young enough to be re-socialized. JD was an all black cat, but the college students (mature for their age) were attracted to his personality ("independent") more than his color.

Princess Leia was also probably dumped, but also quite young. And Mystique is still a "work in progress" as opposed to "not only no but he!! no you can't touch me". All five cats were abandoned or semi-feral and I retrapped early this year and moved into my friend's cattery where we have been resocializing them. ("Street cat" has less negative connotations than "feral cat".)

Finally, do indicate that there is an adoption fee. If they can't afford the adoption fee, they can't afford a pet.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

feralvr · Jan 6, 2012

Oh they are absolutely STUNNING, SLEEK black kitties!!! Makes me SO furious over people like that who called you about adopting

nfire: I feel so sorry for whatever kitty they do adopt :sniffle:

Anyway - it won't be one of yours :clap:

. I also had three black older kitten's to place last year. I worked through a shelter that I volunteer for and they placed on-line ads for the kitten's for me. It worked great. Could you contact a local shelter and ask for assistance in placing them on their websites? One option anyway. Just make sure you charge something for the kitten's, unless you know the people. Don't give them away free. AS far as the spay/neuter's go - you could contact some local low-cost clinics and might be able to get them done very reasonably. Better to have that done before they get adopted out in case the new owner's don't follow through with the spay's. Here is a thread by Laurie that might be of some help finding a low-cost clinic http://www.thecatsite.com/t/16045/h...ng-and-low-cost-or-free-spay-neuter-resources

You could also post flyer's at all of the local vet's in the area. I have had much luck placing cat's that way too. You can find really great homes that way and most vet's don't mind the flyer's because it might also mean a new client for them :bigthumb: Also, all the local pet food stores and groomers too

Keep us posted and much, much luck they are just precious. I LOVE black kitties and it is sad they are passed over in the shelter's... :sigh:

catnamedpanda · Jan 6, 2012

Ritz said:
Thank you for rescuing these adorable kittens/cats. The pictures are great. Hint: see if you can get a picture of them where they are looking off to the side or engaged in some activity, even something as simple as using their scratching post. That way you're looking at what they are doing, not so much their coloring.

It is hard to adopt out adult cats, I have five (now, two) teenage to adult cats that I'd been looking for Forever Homes for since June. My twin sister works for a large government agency, so she posted ads on her agency's intranet. We have had the most success through that venue. I too tried PetFinder twice, both times, lots of spam.

I find that the ad/bio sells the animal. Maybe someone at the animal shelter could review the ad for you? A woman at a national TNR organization offered to tweak my ads, and it made such a difference. Or, as strange as this may sound, ask someone in the field of Marketing who loves cats, to review your ad/bio.

Try to find a "hook"; for Buckley it was "heart of gold". Buckley was adopted last week, a male cat around 18 to 24 months old. For Petey (a bully by any other name), it was "wants to be the center of your universe". All negatives can be positives. Eats a lot = not a fussy eater Sleek as a panther is visually stunning and then you think oh yeah that means the cat is black. And definitely indicate that they were rescued from the grips of death.

Buckley and Petey were abandoned. JD was semi-feral but young enough to be re-socialized. JD was an all black cat, but the college students (mature for their age) were attracted to his personality ("independent") more than his color.

Princess Leia was also probably dumped, but also quite young. And Mystique is still a "work in progress" as opposed to "not only no but he!! no you can't touch me". All five cats were abandoned or semi-feral and I retrapped early this year and moved into my friend's cattery where we have been resocializing them. ("Street cat" has less negative connotations than "feral cat".)

Finally, do indicate that there is an adoption fee. If they can't afford the adoption fee, they can't afford a pet.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

I will see if I can find someone who could help me write a good add. I always have a adoption fee for them, I worry that they will go to a bad home if I don't.

mrsgreenjeens said:
Hmm. I would think you'd get more spam from Craig's list than Petfinders, but I really don't know for sure. I thought most people used Petfinders when looking for new furbabies to adopt.

I thought it would be great too, until every day I got strange emails and they were for all of the cats I had posted not just one. They were talking about wanting to get a cat, that their family was a husband wife and son, and then in the next line stated that they wanted the cat by the weekend for their daughters birthday. And the there was also stuff about they were already planning the huge party they were going to throw to celebrate the cats arrival and they would send me pictures of the cat at the party, and after that I should expect a picture twice a week. Also in the adds they never referred to the cat as a cat it was the pet or it. I got different variations of similar stories everyday before I deleted the add.

Feralvr said:
Oh they are absolutely STUNNING, SLEEK black kitties!!! Makes me SO furious over people like that who called you about adopting

I feel so sorry for whatever kitty they do adopt

Anyway - it won't be one of yours

. I also had three black older kitten's to place last year. I worked through a shelter that I volunteer for and they placed on-line ads for the kitten's for me. It worked great. Could you contact a local shelter and ask for assistance in placing them on their websites? One option anyway. Just make sure you charge something for the kitten's, unless you know the people. Don't give them away free. AS far as the spay/neuter's go - you could contact some local low-cost clinics and might be able to get them done very reasonably. Better to have that done before they get adopted out in case the new owner's don't follow through with the spay's. Here is a thread by Laurie that might be of some help finding a low-cost clinic http://www.thecatsite.com/t/16045/h...ng-and-low-cost-or-free-spay-neuter-resources
You could also post flyer's at all of the local vet's in the area. I have had much luck placing cat's that way too. You can find really great homes that way and most vet's don't mind the flyer's because it might also mean a new client for them

Also, all the local pet food stores and groomers too

Keep us posted and much, much luck they are just precious. I LOVE black kitties and it is sad they are passed over in the shelter's...

I don't know if my local shelter would post an add for me, the cats that are there are lucky if they even get posted on their website with the dogs. I am going to put a new updated flyer up at the vets as soon as I get more ink for my printer. The girls are all fixed now, I found a wonderful low cost spay clinic here where neuters are $40 and spays are $50. If they need any shots they are $10 each. Very affordable prices, I have convinced several people at work to get theirs fixed by telling them about the clinic, since they don't have the money to fix them at the vet.

ritz · Jan 7, 2012

CNP: I got the same kind of spam mail. Daughter, party, etc. Frustrating. My contact, the person who wrote the ad, strongly suggested reporting the spam to PetFinder. She also contacted the person doing the spam saying "I am assisting...." Not surprisingly, we haven't heard anything from the spamer.

Feralvr: get idea about posting an ad at the vets!

Great news about low cost S/N. I volunteer for a cat sanctuary and get FIV/FELK testing done there. I go through a low cost S/N organization, same price as your place.

Good luck!

StefanZ · Jan 7, 2012

Ritz said:
Finally, do indicate that there is an adoption fee. If they can't afford the adoption fee, they can't afford a pet.

Yes, do always take an adoption fee. If it by any reason is sensitive or anyting, let the adopter pay a donation, minimum 15 dollars*, in THE CATS name, to some worthy cause. Some cause which feels good for the donator. Doctors without boundaries, some church helping group, some cat rescuing group, etc... This making also a magic bond - connecting the adopter with noble feelings whenever they look at the cat.

The only exceptions may be if you KNOW it will be an excellent home, and you know the adoption will be received as a costly, precious gift.

Take more if it is proper at your place and circumstances. 15 dollars is the absolute minimum.

* 15 dollars is ridicoulusly low. But here in Sweden cats, barn-borne and some others too, are still given away for free "to a good home", or sold "10 cent a paw and a dollar for the tail." So 100 kronas (=15 dollars) as all papers and ad-lists did agreed as their minimum for allowing to write in ads, is at least a step forward.

feralvr · Jan 10, 2012

CatNamedPanda said:
I don't know if my local shelter would post an add for me, the cats that are there are lucky if they even get posted on their website with the dogs. I am going to put a new updated flyer up at the vets as soon as I get more ink for my printer. The girls are all fixed now, I found a wonderful low cost spay clinic here where neuters are $40 and spays are $50. If they need any shots they are $10 each. Very affordable prices, I have convinced several people at work to get theirs fixed by telling them about the clinic, since they don't have the money to fix them at the vet.

That is great news then - about the girl's getting spayed and great low-cost clinic you found :clap:

. I would now charge at least $50.00 for these kitten's especially now that they are spayed (unless you know the people very, very well

) I agree that if a person cannot afford that upfront adoption fee then they shouldn't be taking on a pet, unfortunately

. I am still thinking of the girl's and hope someone comes along soon and gives them a furrever home :cross: :vibes:

nebula · Jan 21, 2012

CatNamedPanda said:
I thought it would be great too, until every day I got strange emails and they were for all of the cats I had posted not just one. They were talking about wanting to get a cat, that their family was a husband wife and son, and then in the next line stated that they wanted the cat by the weekend for their daughters birthday. And the there was also stuff about they were already planning the huge party they were going to throw to celebrate the cats arrival and they would send me pictures of the cat at the party, and after that I should expect a picture twice a week. Also in the adds they never referred to the cat as a cat it was the pet or it. I got different variations of similar stories everyday before I deleted the add.

BINGO: Scams

I listed Bandit on CL and got the same thing. Pet, and also asking for my address to mail me money, even though it was clearly FREE to a good home!!

p3 and the king · Jan 21, 2012

They are gorgeous!! I have a Phoebe kitty as well. Anyway, I agree about putting them on petfinders... But not so much on Criagslist. You may have to have them fixed yourself. Most people won't do it. And some will probably even have them declawed and not tell you about it if the arrangement is to have them indoors. Thats the thing about Craigslist. It's like an add in the newspaper or hanging up in a pet store somewhere, you just never know the kind of people that will be taking them on. I have found contracts to be useless. So when Genevieve (King Arthur and Morgan La Fay's mother) and her other kittens were ready for new homes, I found friends I knew and trusted because I was disgusted by the people that contacted me from Craigslist and Petco ad. I had several of them tell me that I was paranoid and way overprotective... "It's just a cat dude! Chill." Was actually what one said to me. Well, maybe so to some people... But to me, it's a life in my hands. A precious soul that is counting on me to find someone worthy of them.

That probably doesn't help you too much. But I think Petfinders may be a little more strict on guidelines. But, my advice is anything in the contract like spaying, you'll probably have to do yourself. Most won't spend the money. And most will put them out if they can't declaw. You can't trust people. And a contract at the end of the day is just a piece of paper.

StefanZ · Jan 21, 2012

Right, scams are not unusual. Here Im not thinking on bad joke or people who want to cheat you on the cat - although this surely happens,

but scams as variations of Nigeria Letters or Spanish letters as they could be called in 1800-ties..

Usually some sort of check, which seems to be OK, but several days later your bank discovers it wasnt good. And now YOU must refund it.

They do come on many sorts of ads. Most frequent on ads where the price is relatively high - cars, bikes, or here - pure bred cats.

If the answer looks funny - dont accept it.

Try to look out the people behind. Make sure they are real citizens of the town they say they do live.

Talk with them on the phone... Or if mailing, make sure they are communicating with you for real, not only some standard phrases stacked upon each other.

p3 and the king · Jan 21, 2012

One suggestion that might make people more interested is if they are spayed beforehand, they might have people "biting" at the ads more often. I know a lot of guys that would get a black kitty, and they'd be excellent "daddies" too so don't unapprove a guy because you think he wouldn't be good enough... There are a lot of guys out there that are more into cats than a dog. The thing is, people believe spaying is expensive and if they have to do that, they usually won't. But if they are already spayed, they are more willing to. And you can totally make the money back from it, too... Charge an "adoption fee" ( I'd do that anyway). People are more willing to pay an adoption fee if an animal is already fixed.

catnamedpanda · Mar 11, 2012

Just a happy update, after lots of ads and a few calls but no commitments I have a great home for little miss Pheobe. She is now Star and has a big kitty brother.

I am so happy for her, and her new mommy is very excited to have her.

GoldyCat · Mar 13, 2012

Have you seen hissy's thread on marketing black kitties? She has some fun ideas to get more people interested.

frankencat · Mar 29, 2012

Black cats are my favorite and most of my fosters tend to be black, because the adopters tend to find them less desirable and they end up getting euthanized

I like to put them in sparkly collars or bandanas or bows to make them stand out a little bit and all of those things tend to be on the safer side in regards to dressing to a cat up! I think red looks best on a black cat!
Here's a picture of my current senior foster, Dracula, all dressed up in his sparkly collar!

And Since your kittens are about 6 months old, I'll attach a photo of an all black 7 month old that I dressed up in a flower collar which actually did end up getting more people interested! (I get all my collars at petsmart)

Any suggestions on how to get my black cats adopted?

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