Suspicious of many, * sudden * inquiries for "Free cat"

It sounds like a good thing - many people suddenly inquiring about an abandoned animal you're trying to re-home - right?

Except it seems statistically unlikely.  When something doesn't seem right, it often isn't.

Had same ad on craigslist (& other places) - since Dec.  Same exact wording for > 3 weeks & no hits.

And the ad was there, near top of list all along.

Then in last 2 days, a bunch of interest (all claiming to be men).  One guy even emailed me a 2nd time in 2 days, after I told him I was tied up & would contact him ASAP.

Statistically, seems very unlikely there'd be a sudden rush, after so long with no interest, when nothing changed in the ad.

Many of us have read the warnings - on many sites -  how more "free" animals than you want to think about wind up meeting gruesome fates.

Some say there are no coincidences.

It made me wonder if the wrong kind of people watch free pet ads to see which ones are up a long time.

Then after a set time, figure the owners / rescuers are tired, fed up & will give them away - no questions asked?

Made me wonder if there's a big animal abusers convention in town, or vet students have big exams coming up.

The carefree, unsuspicious antelope always get eaten 1st.

If you have a local rescue organization that does adoptions nearby, you can try asking if you can adopt your cat out through them. They probably won't mind, especially if you continue to "foster" it until you find it a home, and that way your cat can get a lot of exposure. Where I've volunteered, the foster can always have final say on who the cat is allowed to go home with, and they can even require a home visit first. 

I wouldn't adopt a cat out to just anyone on craigslist, either. I do kind of doubt that vet students with amoral intentions are behind this, though.

I never let a cat go to a new home for free. I always get any cats and kittens I'm trying to re-home blood tested, vaccinated and fixed and ask the adopters to pay a fee that covers this.

I'm still out of pocket for food and any medication the cat needed, but at least it puts the more dubious types off.

Glad you listened to your intuition on this one.

 GOOD INTUITIONS!!!! I do agree. Sadly, many people "getting rid" of cats really don't care because the cat wasn't theirs to begin with - maybe it belonged to a deceased parent, a child who moved out, or was abandoned by former tenants....all of the sad circumstances that leave a kitty to either their own devices or totally reliant on whatever human happens along in their life. My prayers and vibes go out to all those wonderful people who step up and help out in the right ways, to ALL of His creatures, cats, birds, people....

My sister keeps watch on Craigslist just to flag posts from people that are trying to re-home Shibas that were bought from breeders. She used to be a breeder and most (if not all) request the dog be returned to them if they do not want it any more. The reason my sister does this? She knows that people out there are always looking to get their hands on dogs for fights or other horrible things. And she knows almost all the Shiba Inu breeders in the area, and quite a few in across the country.

I imagine the same would be true for cats.

I'm so glad you listened to your instinct in this case. I agree with what another poster said, possibly going through an adoption agency and fostering the cat in the meantime. This would help both the cat, and you.

Id never adopt an animal out for free because of this reason. Even a $20 fee would help deter many suspicious people.

Thanks everyone - so many good thoughts.
I agree w/ the possible issues of letting animals go for free. This specific cat isn't a kitten or 1 - 2 yrs old. I'm in a quandary on charging something, but my gut says if trying to re-home older animals, and they may have some special needs - even fairly simple - you may become the animal's permanent owner. My observation & several also said, most people don't want 4 - 6+ yr old cats - at all, much less pay much for it. Some would - guessing a very small % of all prospects.

I agree w/ & really appreciate the input & was obviously concerned, but wondering how many people I'd have to correspond w/ to find a suitable one that'll pay for an older cat? Much less pay for blood tests, shots, spay / neuter, etc., for an older animal. Of course, if you put "adopter must pay for x,y,z..." in the ad, the "bad seeds" won't contact you.

Good idea, Molly.  Except most of the groups I know would require that a pet have all it's shots (quite a few). Which is quite understandable, but we don't have the $ to run to a vet every time a stray shows up. A lot more than you'd think. Often mothers w/ kittens in tow. Neighbors move & leave pets, or stop feeding them or let them reproduce & run wild.  And it's not that "low rent" a neighborhood.

Norachan, you sound like a precious soul. I assume $ isn't an object (or... maybe it is). Do you always get your $ back, or do you regularly acquire new pets? :lol3: And how do you find adopters?
I couldn't compete w/ the local non-profit rescue groups, that get vet discounts, donations, donated food, etc. It'd cost me way more than the adoption fees that groups charge - or SPCA / Humane Soc. Unless I'm wrong on that, and unless it's a talking / dancing cat, why would adopters pay me so much more? Yes, there's a low cost, non-profit spay / neuter, basic tests & vaccinations clinic near me, but it'd easily cost me $150 for spay & basic vaccinations.

She may be spayed. She was someones pet - once. We sure couldn't find them.

That same clinic has adoptions:

Adoption Fees are $50 for kittens, $35 for cats between 1 and 3 years of age and $20 for cats over 3 years of age.

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We contacted many rescue groups for this cat - most didn't reply.  The few that did were all full - didn't mention that we could foster the cat, or who pays for vet treatment, etc.  Only one took our name & pics.  I guess we're foster volunteers w/ them now??  Even groups we've worked with before & made donations to didn't offer us options.  Maybe they have all the volunteers & cats they need?

We have given neighbors' abandoned young kittens away outside of pet stores- w/ mgr's permission.  But it's easier to control kittens.  An adult cat could get spooked & take off.  Maybe put a harness on.  In front of a store, you don't have much chance to check out the adopter.

Don't know how old she is - but think the V. young vet's estimate at non-profit clinic may've been much too old. Considering only 1.5 mo. after nearly dying - couldn't stand, wouldn't eat, didn't know her name, she's now far too playful - with us & on her own, runs & eats too much - to be in mid teens.
Weighed just > 5 lbs - fur covered skeleton. I force fed her & gave other "vet approved" OTC meds for at least 3.5 wks until she started eating some. She didn't groom for 3 wks.

The 1st wk, I came very close to putting her down (I'm disabled & have to maintain house & anything that breaks). One reason I didn't give up was she's a truly gentle, affectionate, well behaved cat - even right after force feeding, medicating - never tried to bite / scratch. Was always ready for lap, attention, brushing - right after.

Still occasionally had a bit of wobbly leg - started giving

CatOMight said:

Then her appetite & she took off (running) like a rocket. Amazing transformation. She's an eating machine. Looks like she was never hours from death. Jumps on beds, tosses mice around, sprints to the food bowl & after toys. Sitting in my lap as I type. I'm ashamed to say I'm sleeping w/ another woman. Very pretty & gives kisses. A bit hairier than I prefer in women. All over her body. Maybe hormonal.

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Oh my, I really cracked up at this very last part.

She sounds so sweet Is there any chance you may consider keeping her? It sounds like she makes a nice companion, even if a bit hairier than you prefer in women. Is she fixed by chance? She sounds like she'd probably bonded with you quite a bit and vice versa.

Is she fixed? I can't imagine anyone wanting to get a cat that doesn't already have all that "main stuff" (fixed and vaxxed) done. Unless they are creepers like you were getting.

As for her age and chance of adoption, yes, people do tend to flock more toward kittens. But there are people (like myself) that prefer adults as a rule. I got two kittens in July that were strays, and I love them to bits! But I've had enough kitten in my life to last me at least five years or more :lol3: And I know others feel that way too.

I agree with listening to your gut. This really resonates with me because we've had a convicted cat killer relocate to our area recently and already under investigation for continuing crimes in this area.  Some local rescue groups were spreading the word to be aware of who you are rehoming a pet to.  With kitten season coming; it's going to be even easier for someone like this person to find free cats.  Yet another reason spaying and neutering is SO important!