Criteria for potential cat owners

Belle Roma is almost ready to have her kittens. We have the honor of finding good homes for them. Fortunately, here in Germany there are many people who are interested. I was hoping for some advice on what to look for in perspective cat owners. How can you tell if someone is going to take good care of a kitten/cat? We owe these kittens a good home. Thanks for the advice.

Nips

Ask them first, about their financial situation. Can they handle the cost of an emergency vet visit, to save the cat's life? Whether it be NOW or in the cat's old age?

Ask them how they feel about furballs being vomited up; how they feel about grooming a pet regularly; how they feel about giving AT LEAST 20 to 30 minutes per day/evening to love on, pet and/or PLAY with the cat, if the cat is in a single-cat household. (some cats don't like people anyway but if yours are friendly, they need human attention)

Ask them about their furniture. Explain that cats shed on blankets, pillows, sofas, beds. If they have an aversion to buying those little roller things with sticky paper on them to de-fur everything or if they don't like getting fur on them, then they should not have a pet.

Ask them about claws. Same thing goes here for furniture; if they have a $2,000 silk sofa they need to sell it, because Kitty will scratch it. Hah! Tell them to buy a beater sofa...

Ask them their REASON for wanting a cat. This is the real dinger. If they say, "oh the kitten is so cute and my kid wants one", run the other way. KITTENS GROW UP TO BE CATS. And then, kids lose interest. Grown cat winds up either being pushed outside or worse, taken to the pound.

Ask them what their plans are if they cannot keep the cat? Bring kitty back to you OR have some type of Plan B.

If the people adopting a kitten have children; ask them how their kids will react to the cats. Some toddlers & younger children are downright abusive and mean to cats (pulling tails, beating the cats, etc.). Then there are kids who have been raised around pets who are gentle and loving towards pets.

I can think of other questions... I'm just remembering the 2-page sheet I had to fill out when I adopted Hammie from the Humane Society! The lady who was fostering sweet Hammie wanted to make certain he was getting a loving home!

before you hand the kittens over ask them what they have bought in preperation. a potential owner who has bought lots of toys but no cat litter maybe not be realistic enough to own a pet. suggest they but a book about caring for kittens or buy one to hand over with the adoption.

get them to sign a cat contract. type 'cat contract' into a search engine to find an example then change it to suit your needs.

charge a high adoption fee. only those who really want a kitten will pay the money. find out how much your local shelters are charging and charge around the same.

to ensure the kits get the best possible start have them vet checked, wormed, de-flead and vaccinated before you adopt them. make sure your adoption fee covers this.

register them at your vet.

take a number and call them in a years time to remind them about boosters and to make sure they have been spayed/neutered.

introduce them to TCS! explain to them the wealth of info they can find here.

most of all remember this: we all think no-one can love and care for our kitties like we can but thats wrong. try not to be too judgemental but trust your instincts. good luck!

Thank you both for the advice. It is really hard to give them up. But we already have too many. I cannot belive all of the interest to date. It is nice to be able to be picky.

Nips

One more thought:

As a nice, yet un-intrusive and non-rude way to keep in touch with the kittens after they are adopted ---

Ask the new owners to send you photographs. Send them via email, snail mail, anything. Just tell them you'd like to have photos of how the kittens are doing, with a little note here and there about them.

This way -- you have proof they are healthy & doing good! And it will drive home to them that you are concerned for the kittens welfare as they grow into adult cats, versus just birthing them and adopting them out.

The lady I adopted Hammie from did this (she was with the Humane Society, I think I mentioned). Anyways I ran into Bibi several times over the year after I adopted Hammie and sent her pictures, notes, etc. And whenever I'd see her in person I'd give her a great big hug and thank her for saving his life & for "letting me" take Hammie home!!! (Hammie's mom was a stray found very pregnant on the side of the road, so Bibi was very attached to Hammie, having witnessed his birth). Bibi carried a little photo album with her and she put Hammie's pic in there with the other kittens she'd fostered & adopted out. I thought that was really sweet.



Let us know

WHen i went to the shelter, i was actually crying because i saw this girl bring her kitten in and i was so sad. So because i look young and i was crying they wouldnt give me a kitten because i looked too unreliable
BUti had bought a cat toilet litter, litter, lots of food and toys and i didnt want it to go to waste. so my bf went on a frantic search in the newspaper and we drove 60 km to get my little teufel!

I really want another kitten but i think i have to wait for 2 months. before i can afford the vet bills for a second kitty!
Nips if noone wants them ill take one

also maybe tell them this. below are the costs for my 'free' kitten for the first year of ownership.

shots x2; £35
worming x3: £1.50
eye drops for her sore eye: £29
different eye drops when first didnt work: £29
medication when she hurt her back leg: £28
microchip: £25
flea treatment cat:£60
house: £10
spaying (yet to be done) : £35
pet insurance which doesnt pay out for costs under £30: £60

this doesnt take into account pet food (50p a day), litter (£5 a month) trays, toys, beds, treats etc plus expenses for getting someone to pet sit when i'm on holiday. plus the extra food she ate when she was pregnant and the extra cost of the new kitten.

I was just on the humane society's web site and seen an article about this. It was geared twords an adult animal but it had some good points. I will attach the the link in case you want to take a look.

Guidelines for finding a responsible home for your pet

If it's not too intrusive, maybe consider visiting the potential owners homes?