Buying a cat vs rescuing a cat

I know a lot of people think to buy a cat - instead of going to the shelter for a rescue cat - is a shame.  My cat did come from a shelter & he is great. And I would always look there. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't buy a cat; there are certain P-Bs that appeal to me.  I look at it this way ...any cat born is at risk of becoming a shelter cat ...so it's kinda like saving them anyway. The wrong person can buy a cat then it ends up in a shelter ...in need of being rescued. Or worse ...it never makes it to a shelter. If you buy a cat and give it a good forever home ...to me, that is a rescue.  Just wanted to say ...

We bought a PB Border Collie a few years back ...he came from a poor farm family that wasn't financially capable of caring for their dogs properly, although they were breeding for 'supplemental income'  ...I truly feel we rescued him.  I felt sorry for the ones we left behind, not knowing what kind of homes they would get. (I want to point out however this was not a puppy mill and the dogs not were neglected ...they were being fed Dad's & had shelter).

I think the biggest thing that needs to be done is spay & neuter. I cannot believe how many cats & dogs do not get fixed.  Many people just won't spend the money. So more and more unwanted pets are always being born. Of course feral populations can get out of control.  We had several feral kittens turn up on our property a couple years ago.  I began leaving food for them but 1 by 1 they disappeared ... I never saw their mama - perhaps she was the first to fall prey ...it all breaks my heart.

I agree.  It bugs me to hear folks brag about how they are so wonderful for feeding strays yet won't even look into TNR programs.  Too busy patting themselves on the back I suppose.

There are no TNR programs around here ...there needs to be. I know in many parts of the country there are.

LoriBeth said:

 
There are no TNR programs around here ...there needs to be. I know in many parts of the country there are.

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Wow.  Even in extreme rural GA I could find vets that would do it at a reduced cost.  Sometimes it just takes talking to the right vet.

We can't "fix" other people, but we can live the way we would like them to live, and we can educate, not by preaching but by doing.  I think that's what TCS is all about generally, is sharing knowledge, educating each other, for the sake of the cats.  It's only recently that cats got so much public attention and thus understanding -- they benefit so much from their guardians becoming educated.  

The declawing issue is just one example.  MOST people, once they learn what the procedure is and what possible problems it could cause, over and above the pain and the poor cat having to learn how to walk again, would NEVER do it to their cat.  But there are some who can't be bothered to clip claws and feel it is their right to modify their animal to make their lives easier.  Even education will not help them because they don't care.  We can't change that, but we'll save a lot of cat toes by continuing to educate folks in all the ways we can. 

You would be surprised at how many cats I've allowed to stay in their homes by teaching their owners that the cat needs to be neutered and spayed, then it won't howl and stink and spray the furniture, and then telling them where and how they can get that done economically, and even doing the transport for those that can't get to the spay van because their job hours interfere.  Such simple things can save a cat's life.

l agree with you too, a cat is a cat and they all need a home.

l've had rescues and strays my entire life, but my current 3 cats were bought. Due to my age they're my last pets (l couldn't leave anyone behind) and for the first time in my life l actively sought out specific cats. They're neutered and very much loved.

Agree too about the spay/neuter. l live in Canada and the cost is outrageous. We do have TNR though l'd never heard of it until l came to this site, and then looked it up. l've never heard it advertised, which is a shame. The cost of a kitten at our city humane society is $225. While this amount includes a neuter, some people looking for a cat are very shortsighted and don't factor in future costs of a cute PB-looking kitty they can buy online for the same price.

peaches08 said:

 
Wow.  Even in extreme rural GA I could find vets that would do it at a reduced cost.  Sometimes it just takes talking to the right vet.

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Well ...I found nothing when I Googled it ...perhaps I could initiate something with our local vets ...perhaps no one has ever appealed to them.  We do have programs to help defer the cost for pet owners, but so far I have found nothing for ferals in my area

Andrya said:

The cost of a kitten at our city humane society is $225. While this amount includes a neuter, some people looking for a cat are very shortsighted and don't factor in future costs of a cute PB-looking kitty they can buy online for the same price.

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I didn't pay anything when I got Shelly last February. I adopted from the local Humane Society. They spay/neuter every animal before they go up for adoption, and update shots, and test/treat for fleas, parasites, as well as chip them (the chip registration gets switched at the time of adoption). All cats age 3 and over are free, and since Shelly was already 3 (she just turned 4 on June 3), I didn't pay a cent for her. The most this place will charge for a cat is $100, and those are for kittens/cats that are purebreds or exotic breeds.

AutumnRose74 said:

 

I didn't pay anything when I got Shelly last February. I adopted from the local Humane Society. They spay/neuter every animal before they go up for adoption, and update shots, and test/treat for fleas, parasites, as well as chip them (the chip registration gets switched at the time of adoption). All cats age 3 and over are free, and since Shelly was already 3 (she just turned 4 on June 3), I didn't pay a cent for her.

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Exactly. The amount is very off-putting and pushes more people to buy online. lt's adding to the already poor state of affairs. 

When a shelter (such as yours) gives cats free or for nominal price, already neutered, why would anyone go elsewhere for a cat? That's the perfect situation, and l wish it was the same up here.

The shelters here all have fees ...but all cats are spayed/neutered ...generally no grooming is done but shots/fleas/worming is taken care of.  All of the shelters I know of in my county are under $100 ...which is a good deal considering all the vet care included

Wow, are you in a big city or small city @Andrya? In my small hometown, it's $150 for a cat, and the rescue I got Kismet from is $175 here in Toronto (which seems to be about par for other rescues), whereas Toronto Humane Society is $60 for a cat. A humane society back in the region of my hometown was so overrun with cats that they cut the adoption fee to $48 and saw a huge peak in adoptions, all animals health-checked, vaccinated, and speutered.

In our area, we have a mobile microchipping service, but animal services is currently lobbying for a mobile speuter clinic. Right now, humane societies and rescue-affiliated vets offer low cost spay/neuters, usually as promotions during certain dates, but that's only if you can get to them yourself. For people way out in the country, it's less convenient to get a young animal and have to transport it to a clinic.

l'm on Ottawa: http://ottawahumane.ca/adoption/fees.cfm

$175 for a cat and $225 for a kitten.

lt's much less expensive outside the city, although the list of things included is the same.

I'd rather adopt any animal from shelter than to purchase a pure-bred. If I really want a pure-bred, I'd go to a breed specific rescue and adopt from there. I don't care about papers, that's all the high PB costs and bragging rights are!

I adopted my kitties for $100 each, which includes all shots and spay/neutering. I think for older cats, it's $25-$50- depending on the age. Next time I want to adopt an older kitty.

I look at it this way ...any cat born is at risk of becoming a shelter cat ...so it's kinda like saving them anyway

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I don't approve of this mindset. . .it lets irresponsible breeders off the hook. Any halfway responsible breeder will MAKE SURE animals of their breeding nevereverever end up in shelters, through whatever means necessary. If they don't do this, they aren't responsible at all and should not be supported. If you give people money for breeding, this tells them you approve of their breeding practices, and they'll continue doing it. If you don't actually approve of their breeding practices, why encourage them? It is never a rescue if you give the breeder money, because they will use that money to continue creating more animals.

That said, I have no problem with people supporting responsible breeders. I don't personally have any need/preference for a purebred cat, but I don't begrudge people their preferences. If a person has no particular breed preference, then of course they should rescue. Which doesn't always mean a shelter; lots of people have picked up a stray who was pregnant, or through their own irresponsibility have ended up with an unwanted litter. There are also always lots of cats whose owners can't keep them anymore---maybe the owner got sick or went to the nursing home or developed allergies or is moving to a no-pets apartment, etc.

I always end up with strays and other people's unwanted pets. I've never even had the chance to go to a shelter, much less a breeder, because I'm always full up with orphans and strays! It would cost less to get a fully vetted cat from the shelter, but oh well .

I feel the same way. I won't support someone who thinks they can generate an income breeding their animals, or who thinks it's okay to contribute to pet overpopulation when there is no demand for their pet's babies, or whatever lame excuses they can come up with.

I've always loved Siamese cats and would love to have one down the road. I've even followed a Siamese breeder in the province for retired breeders, but when it all comes down to it, I see it this way: I don't need any purebred cat, and even if I wanted a specific trait, it's a trait that is not breed-guaranteed and can also be something that many other cats have. If I can pull one from a shelter or a rescue (and there are plenty of Siamese or Siamese mixes winding up that way), all the better. I know that the retired breeder will always have a good home because it still has one now, and if the breeder is responsible and caring, they'll make sure that cat finds a good home anyway. Cats on the streets and stuck in cages in limbo? Not so much. Plus I'll save a load of money that I can then use towards more food, more accessories, and more medical care as needed.

Willowy said:

I don't approve of this mindset. . .it lets irresponsible breeders off the hook.

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I wasn't saying I approved & supported irresponsible breeding ...so okay - maybe the puppy we purchased some years back was an irresponsible breeder - and I suppose I did 'support' by buying that puppy but that puppy has a great home now & is 6 years old (said with a smile) ...IDK, responsible breeder or not, they can do their best to place their kittens but there are never any guarantees IMHO anyway ...just sayin' ...and I do understand what you're saying ...it just seems you took me wrong

Well, it is a common argument, whether that's how you meant it or not . probably more common among dog owners but cats too. People who say "oh, we rescued him from a pet store". . .maybe they did save that individual puppy from a worse life, but what did they do to that puppy's parents? Or the puppymill's other dogs? They gave the puppymill money to continue torturing their breeding dogs. It's just. . .not rescuing.

it wasn't a puppy mill, it was a farm family with 1 female dog & 1 male dog ...I actually mentioned in my 1st post it wasn't a puppy mill ..anyway, maybe you mean 'generally speaking' - I guess I brought up a touchy subject & I wish I hadn't ...sorry everyone, I guess I shoulda known better

No need to apologize - @Willowy is addressing this as a general statement, because it is touchy where people divide the line between "rescue" and BYB support in terms of buying vs rescuing. It's not a personal accusation that you didn't indeed rescue your dog from what could have been a terrible life.

Having discussions, and indeed disagreements is healthy and IMO a good way to learn and see different views. TCS seems to be one of the most civil places where discussions like this most likely won't get out of hand or personal, and it can be a good learning experience for those involved and for those just passing by.

My own personal view would be to never purchase a PB animal, simply because I am forced to be tortured constantly with the faces of all who end up at the shelter for one reason or another, and I am too sensitive in my heart to even visit in person, knowing there are so many who are there, hoping for a home, to be the chosen one who is lucky enough to get out of there before their deadline is reached, time is up, so their life is ended alone and abandoned feeling. No love felt, no sense of belonging anywhere, I can't even stand it.

There are so many wonderful, deserving cats waiting. 

PB cats will get their homes alot easier than shelter cats. They are considered special, have more worth I suppose.

Nothing in the world is worth more to me than a grateful, loving companion who's life I know I saved. Regardless of whether or not they got lucky and were born with pretty colored fur and blue eyes, etc. it's all about personality.