Two beautiful boys ( newly socialized kittens ) in NWO area desperately need homes!

kittychick

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Pip & Izze (named b/c didnt know for weeks "Izze a boy or Izze a girl....he's a boy....Pip is short for Pipsqueak as he was truly the runt) 2 short-haired, adorable black & white low-maintenance boys still learning to accept the love we crave & deserve. We started life as ferals - momma took off when we were only 5 weeks old (7 weeks ago) when a raccoon family attacked where we were hiding in the dirt. So overnight we became homeless orphans-but a kind foster family took us in, and started teaching us humans aren't as scary as we thought they were :)

We're super-clean, VERY quiet,extremely healthy, with not ONE litterbox mistake since we came inside! We're both purrsonality plus-& could play play PLAY for hours!!! IZZE is the bigger of us,and if approached with just a calm voice & a little patience, IZZE becomes a big precious ball of purrrrrrr, even "head butting" if he feels loving ends too soon. He comes running from wherever he is when his foster folks enter the room with a happy "chirp" & leap to the coch for neck scratches. His foster folks have deemed him "The Lounger" as he loves to plop a foot away after a good rub/play session & leisurely watch his brother go nuts. His brother PIP isa very funny boy who enjoys attention, just not on the first date ;) But once he knows you like what he likes---laser pointers, ham, & anything on a string---he's happy to eat off your finger, park himself on your leg for a nap, or even occasionally roll over for a belly rub. We still have our shy moments (after all, we're navigating this world without a momma?!?) but we're learning to love curling up with them for naps & sitting on their laos eating yummy stuff is fun. We've come a long way from those little scared bundles---welcome & CRAVE human companionship--we'd make wonderful additions to a home that understands we need a quiet start---& that we'll surely continue to blossom even further(we've already come leaps & bounds with just a few short weeks of foster love!).

We'd SO love to stay together as we cuddle every night, but if that's too much for some, we're willing to split up if it means forever homes for us!!! We're still shy enough in certain situations that pour chances of surviving a shelter situation are bleak (a kill shelter wouldn't give us long, & a no-kill would overwhelm us, meaning languishing huddled in the back of a cage, probably for life...which is no life).

Our foster parents can't keep us much longer. We're getting neutered & felv tested next week---so we'll make sure we're brushed & ready to go!!! Soon we need a soft place to call a forever home----could it possibly be YOURS!!!???!!!!! Reply here if your interested (if you're not interested but know someone in this vicinity who is, please let them know). Happy to answer questions --& arrange for a meeting @ your convenience! These guys deserve it! Photos attached (Pip as much more black on his face-the white blaze is much larger on Izze's face).
 

eb24

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I'm not able to adopt them but wanting to help out your ad- what is NWO short for? It will be hard for someone to want them if we don't know where they are!

In addition to here also try placing an ad on your local Craigslist and on Petfinder.com. Yes, you do get a lot of crazies so be ready to screen carefully (look online at no kill shelters and use their application as a template for the kinds of things you want to ask). I have re-homed my last 4 foster litters via Craigslist so it does work! 

Best of luck! 
 
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kittychick

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Thanks for the kind words!! I'm in Northwest Ohio. I'd love to utilize petfinder, but have no idea how to do it as an individual-any suggestions? I'm worried about Craigslist-I've heard such scary things-you've really had luck with that? (I love these two guys to pieces)
 

eb24

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Ah- My guess was Northwest Oregon. 


The problem with posting it here on TCS is that this is an international forum. Meaning, there is a small likelihood that you will find someone who is both in your area AND looking to adopt. 

I have indeed had great success with Craigslist. But, part of that is being an excellent screener. I always ask follow up questions to my ad to scare off some of the crazies. Usually I ask the questions that through my shelter would be disqualifers (how do you feel about declawing, are there any children under 3 in the household, would the cat be allowed outdoors, ect) as well as general getting to know you questions (why do you want to adopt a cat now? Who lives in the home? Who would be the primary caretaker, ect).

To further screen, make sure you have an adoption fee attached with them. Hopefully they have been vetted so you can make it higher but if not, even asking for $20-$30 is enough to get non-serious inquires to take a hike. If you aren't comfortable with taking money from people you can ask that it be given as a gift card to a local petstore so that it will further your fostering interests or, tell them you will give that money to their vet to help cover some of those costs and to ensure that they actually get it done. 

If you do decide to have someone over to the house be sure you are not there alone! Always, ALWAYS have someone with you. And, if they are really interested I wouldn't hesitate to have them fill out an application. I'm including the one that I use. ( http://www.maxfund.org/pdfs/MaxFundApplication.pdf ) You can modify it to just apply to cats. Explain to them that adopting is a serious matter and a commitment they are making for the next 20 years. If they have good intentions then they should have no issues about answering a few questions. It's a double bonus because you not only get to vet them as potential owners but it really gets them thinking about whether they are really ready for this commitment. If you aren't comfortable having them fill it out then just go ahead and verbally ask all the questions. 

I never do same day adoptions- ever. It's best for everyone to have a few days to think about the decision. My feeling is by setting it up this way and going through each of the steps you are cutting out as many of the unknown factors as you can, and will hopefully end up with some wonderful adopters. I have had to screen through some bad families in doing this but using all these steps it was pretty easy and pretty obvious. 

If you are still worried about doing it yourself try contacting some of the local shelters in your area and see if they will do the adoption for you. You would still keep the kittens in your care but they would set up the potential family visits and do the screening for you. 

As for Petfinder: you are right. It is only for shelters. Because I do so much updating for my shelter I forgot that it wasn't actually coming from me. Sorry about that misinformation! 

If I can answer any more question please, don't hesitate to ask. Otherwise, get out there posting! 
 

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Good idea starting a thread here in SOS for these two beauties. I am going to re-post the links I posted in the Feral forum for you... the example of a good adoption agreement and the article on how to safely find homes for kittens in the hopes that they may help you.

:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: for these darlings! Your doing a great thing for them - don't give up and keep making those calls - a door will open. ;)

Here is the helpful article by Mary Ann Miller:
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/kittens-to-good-homes

A suggested sample adoption application:
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/200962/cat-adoption-application
 
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feralvr

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I never do same day adoptions- ever. It's best for everyone to have a few days to think about the decision.
I do agree to a point but it is not always feasible to send away potential same day adopters. Just use your own judgment and make sure that you have them sign an agreement, stay in touch closely, and return the kittens IF (and usually it does work out) they can't keep them. Same day adoptions have the same chance to fail as ones who think on it for a few days. Usually people looking to adopt cats/kittens are ready, have already thought it through and ready to commit. ;)
 
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kittychick

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Thanks everyone for the encouraging thoughts. Just spent two hours down in the "foster/feral kitten room" (which is actually a huge bedroom in our basement)---and they are so sweet and getting sweeter (by "former feral kitten" standards anyway!). I laid down on the bed for a bit (it has been a long day and I was getting sadder and sadder as I watched them since the potential Monday adopter must have changed her mind as she suddenly stopped returning calls this morning). And for the first time, Izze came up on the bed, walked up by my face and curled up--then seemed to sense something was wrong (I was crying). He gently pawed at my face like he was wiping my tears and just purred and purred!!! What a change from the kitten we could barely touch just a week and a half ago! Even Pip came and laid his head on my leg! Unfortunately, they sure are starting to get a little less "kitteny" looking already - I can definitely see "teen kittens" now - which always makes it harder to adopt out. But I've revamped my flyer today and will take it around town to vets, etc. as suggested tomorrow - and am sending even more emails around tonight. So the "boys" keep progressing - which is great - but sad that my only recent lead seems to have disappeared. 

But thanks for the encouragement to keep pushing and the happy thoughts! This site is a godsend!!! 
 

belle8bete

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I got my first cat from craigslist....so not all people on there are sketchy!  

However, I put up an ad saying that I WANTED a kitten and someone contacted me to discuss it.  I also talked about how I am a grad student and generally made it clear that I wasn't a nutjob. 
 

eb24

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I do agree to a point but it is not always feasible to send away potential same day adopters. Just use your own judgment and make sure that you have them sign an agreement, stay in touch closely, and return the kittens IF (and usually it does work out) they can't keep them. Same day adoptions have the same chance to fail as ones who think on it for a few days. Usually people looking to adopt cats/kittens are ready, have already thought it through and ready to commit.
I think your counterpoint is fair as well. I think part of the reason I am iffy with same day adoptions is because most of my rescue work has been through the shelter and this is their strict policy. So, it's just sort of ingrained in me. Now that I am starting to do my own independent "fostering" (pulling Queens from the shelter myself) I have just followed their model because it's what I am comfortable with. Though, I can't say I would shun the idea with the right person/family under the right circumstances. I broke the cardinal rule and said never ever: we all know there is always an exception. 

But thanks for the encouragement to keep pushing and the happy thoughts! This site is a godsend!!! 
I'm SO glad you are finding the site helpful! It makes a big difference when you feel like you have support backing you up and a place to turn if you get frustrated. As much as we are all here to support the felines, we are also here to emotionally support YOU. And, fostering and re-homing kittens always comes with a complex array of emotions. Trying to find a home is exciting yet frustrating, and watching them leave is both happy and sad. Feel free to vent the good and the bad as you need to!
Oh, and no, there wasn't an adoption fee.  
Just curious, but was your kitten vetted at all? That's usually when you see any real sort of adoption fee- so that the previous caregivers can recoup some of their losses. Even if not I would still ask for a good faith adoption fee simply to prove commitment. If someone won't pay $20 for a kitten it's less likely that they will want to keep up with all the expenses that having an animal in the home brings. That said, just having finished law school, I totally know what it is to be a "broke" student, and that every $20 matters. And, that it sucks to pay that when it could go to something for them like vet bills or food or toys. 

All in all it's a judgement call. I would attach an adoption fee to the kittens to help ensure serious inquiries only. The last thing you want is a spur of the moment decision that they want to back out of later (think adorable, fluffy, FREE kittens in a cardboard box. Who could possibly say no to picking one of them up?!!?!) If nothing else you can waive it at the end, or ask that it be given as a pet store gift card (that could even be given back to them), or as partial payment for a future vet visit. You can always go back and say don't worry about it, but you can't get to the end of the agreement and then ask for good faith monetary insurance. Better to err on the side of caution! 
 

tulosai

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I do agree to a point but it is not always feasible to send away potential same day adopters. Just use your own judgment and make sure that you have them sign an agreement, stay in touch closely, and return the kittens IF (and usually it does work out) they can't keep them. Same day adoptions have the same chance to fail as ones who think on it for a few days. Usually people looking to adopt cats/kittens are ready, have already thought it through and ready to commit.
This.  I did a same day adoption of my cats at a shelter and they've been my faithful companions for many years. I do think going through craigslist can make it a bit rougher but I think if there's a fee and an application comparable to what you find at a shelter and you've had some prior emails back and forth there is no harm in letting them go same day if you get okay vibes.  As a foster mom, over half of the people who end up adopting my kittens  initiate the process the same day they see the kittens, though it takes a bit longer since they have to be interviewed by the shelter after submitting the application.  Nonetheless, almost 100% of them who initiate same day follow through and take the kittens within 48 hours and nothing would have really changed if they'd just been allowed to take the kittens immediately if that makes sense.
 

tulosai

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Just curious, but was your kitten vetted at all? That's usually when you see any real sort of adoption fee- so that the previous caregivers can recoup some of their losses. Even if not I would still ask for a good faith adoption fee simply to prove commitment. If someone won't pay $20 for a kitten it's less likely that they will want to keep up with all the expenses that having an animal in the home brings. That said, just having finished law school, I totally know what it is to be a "broke" student, and that every $20 matters. And, that it sucks to pay that when it could go to something for them like vet bills or food or toys. 

All in all it's a judgement call. I would attach an adoption fee to the kittens to help ensure serious inquiries only. The last thing you want is a spur of the moment decision that they want to back out of later (think adorable, fluffy, FREE kittens in a cardboard box. Who could possibly say no to picking one of them up?!!?!) If nothing else you can waive it at the end, or ask that it be given as a pet store gift card (that could even be given back to them), or as partial payment for a future vet visit. You can always go back and say don't worry about it, but you can't get to the end of the agreement and then ask for good faith monetary insurance. Better to err on the side of caution! 
I always encourage people to ask for an adoption fee that is fully refundable with proof that the kitten has been spayed/neutered. If you have done that, make it refundable on proof that the kittens have had a well kitten exam with the new owners.  Owners that are adopting for bad purposes won't pay an adoption fee most of the time, but they definitely won't take the kitten to the vet.  Making it refundable is a nice safety net and also helps those people who really want a kitten but who $20 does matter to.
 

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Yes the kitty was vetted!  

I think having a gift card to a pet supply store is a great idea, though. 
 

belle8bete

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I think it was just pretty clear from the way I spoke and wrote.  This woman has done this for a while, and I think she probably is good at reading people.  

I posted on craigslist that I was looking for a kitten, that I was a grad student, that I would spoil it, and that I'd had cats before...then she contacted me,,,so she never had a "free kitten" thing up.  She asked me if I was able and willing to pay for fixing and shots and a few other questions by phone.  So, I think it is useful for the "applicants" to post that they want a cat, and the person with the kittens can go through those posts and see if they sound like a nut job...sort of the opposite approach of what I usually see.  

 I was actually skeptical of the people who just wrote me with things like: "i hve kittens 4 free" and I was careful in who I chose to adopt from.  I also would have gladly paid for this kitten (my mom was with me when I picked him up and left a large check with her as a donation for future kitten rescues) but it bothered me when people would write: "i hve kittens u can hve 1 cost is $30" because I simply did not know if the kittens had been to the vet, or fixed, or if the person knows what they are doing when it comes to kittens...

LW was found on the street, so I felt better knowing that this wasn't just someone's unfixed cat getting knocked up.  I know that all sounds very judgmental, but I was when it came to getting my baby!  
 

eb24

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I think it was just pretty clear from the way I spoke and wrote.  This woman has done this for a while, and I think she probably is good at reading people.  

I posted on craigslist that I was looking for a kitten, that I was a grad student, that I would spoil it, and that I'd had cats before...then she contacted me,,,so she never had a "free kitten" thing up.  She asked me if I was able and willing to pay for fixing and shots and a few other questions by phone.  So, I think it is useful for the "applicants" to post that they want a cat, and the person with the kittens can go through those posts and see if they sound like a nut job...sort of the opposite approach of what I usually see.  

 I was actually skeptical of the people who just wrote me with things like: "i hve kittens 4 free" and I was careful in who I chose to adopt from.  I also would have gladly paid for this kitten (my mom was with me when I picked him up and left a large check with her as a donation for future kitten rescues) but it bothered me when people would write: "i hve kittens u can hve 1 cost is $30" because I simply did not know if the kittens had been to the vet, or fixed, or if the person knows what they are doing when it comes to kittens...

LW was found on the street, so I felt better knowing that this wasn't just someone's unfixed cat getting knocked up.  I know that all sounds very judgmental, but I was when it came to getting my baby!  
Everything you say is absolutely 100% true. Those ads also make me skeptical and I put a lot of detail in mine (that they are rescued foster kittens from a shelter, what their vetting has been, ect). And, I agree, far better to adopt a stray than from someone who could potentially have been a BackYard Breeder (to be clear I am NOT calling anyone that: just saying that is a concern when buying an unvetted kitten on CL when the owners had the Mom as a pet. There are of course accidental pregnancies but from reading the ads, without detail, it's hard to know the difference and it's always something I worry about).

I'm sorry if you found my reply offensive as that was not my intent. We had just been talking about how when kittens are vetted there is almost always an adoption fee attached just to recoup some of the expense. So, for the woman to have adopted her out for free means you really must have demonstrated your seriousness and responsibility. I was making a play on your original word choice of "nutcase" in an attempt to be humorous. Sometimes sarcasm doesn't come across in text, hence the emoji's to indicate it was a joke (but clearly a bad one). So, I apologize and hope this explanation clears up any misunderstanding of intent. 
 
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kittychick

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I'm the original "poster" with the two kittens - I'm so so upset, frustrated, scared, you name out.....and running out of places to turn. 

We had two friends come down last night to meet Pip and Izzie - both major cat people, and although I knew they couldn't adopt them, knew they might have friends they could tell about them. I thought I'd made real progress with both. I've come to really enjoy Izzie (who purrs the minute I walk into the bedroom, snuggles and purrs 90% of the time of the 3-4 hours I'm with them a day (our own indoor cats are starting to actually feel/show that they're feeling neglected unfortunately, which is understandable). And Pip was even coming around to at least come lay his head on my knee and sleep - he'll probably never be a lap cat, but he's hysterical and I do appreciate his weird, runty oddness :) He's a hoot. But our friends came in, quietly, did all the "right things", and both kittens were absolutely terrified. Hid the whole time - slunk out to have some "kitty crack" (chicken baby food) but slunk back into hiding as soon as my friends made a peep. In fact, both kittens (they're about 14 weeks now) seem, within the past two days (explain this?!?!) to almost have reverted with my husband. They hide when he goes down to feed them, run the other way when he tries to play with them, etc.

And then our "feral cat/kitten/TNR/socializing train" went further downhill yesterday....we took the food out of the trap we have set (for the last 3 ferals in the neighborhood cat colony - that's what we're down to! Have TNR'd 8 now!!) in our backyard but forgot to "unset it", and my husband came out to discover that we'd trapped an enormous raccoon (which scared my husband to death), and then a few hours later, he accidentally backed over the trap, obviously losing our $80 deposit on it. 

All of that led to what I knew was coming eventually - he (understandably, since we already have 5 inside cats plus the TNR'd ferals outside) said we have to draw the line with the two kittens we've been working with and either get them into the shelter or return them outside (and continue to feed, etc). Although I'm 90% sure I can get them into the no-kill shelter I've fostered for in the past, I also am 99% sure that Pip (and 95% sure on Izzie) would never allow themselves to be touched or picked up in a shelter situation, so would sit in a 3 x 5 cage the rest of their lives. And I know there are fates worse than being an outside cat - but we live in Northwest Ohio, where the winters are very cold and snowy (we do have a large doghouse set up with a heated mat and straw for all the ferals - but none are using it yet), they've now been inside since they were 7 weeks old--and worse, we're a block from a very busy street where cats are routinely hit, and only 4 blocks from a major highway.

I haven't done Craig's list yet - I've been so nervous to. We're driving two hours today on the hopes a shelter that does a lot of feral work will at least help us out in some way. And Monday morning I'm driving to all vets I can in the area to put up flyers. I know I can't chose these kittens over my very tolerant husband, but I just feel so sad and discouraged. 

Any encouragement - or other ideas - appreciated. :(
 

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I suggest you look on craigslist to see if anyone is actively searching for a cat.  I promise you they are not all horrible people....plenty of people, especially students, just don't know how to start looking and they go to craigslist. 
 

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I'm so sorry to hear about all this and I know you must be horribly frustrated and sad. I agree it may be worth looking on CL to see if anyone is looking- it's easier than doing your own post. 

I wouldn't give up on re-homing them yet since you haven't tried the most obvious way. If you are interested, PM me, and I promise I will do everything I can to help you with the CL part. I will help you write an ad, I will help you screen potential families, I will even run the background checks for you. You might be more comfortable if you can tell someone you are going through a third party for the screening process- it takes some of the pressure off of you. And, I have excellent screening credentials. Not only with being involved with a shelter, but with that whole law degree thing. Trust me, I am an excellent screener with all the tools at my disposal. 


You know you have two fallback options: the shelter or turning them wild. Let's give this a shot! 
 
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