Does this seem fishy, or am I being overprotective?

I have two kittens that I have been fostering. As part of the effort to find homes for them, I posted about them on craigslist. Tonight I got the response I'm posting below. Is it just me, or does this send up any red flags for anyone? Should I respond? What do you all think? This is verbatim:

"i am intresteded in the kittens please respond back i am lovable to aniamls and i even work at a aniamal hospital so if the cat gets sick i can take care of it"

Well, if nothing else it makes me question their spelling skills!
Ask for references, specifically ask for a reference from the clinic they claim to work at--if they cant give you one or get cranky about it...keep looking
I would be super cautious about anyone else in general: get references, do a home visit and maybe even do a background check before you give them the cats (to check for criminal charges specifically animal abuse charges). Maybe ask for a small "deposit" from people who apply that you could return/refund if they don't get the cats: if someone were to get cranky about that that could be a red flag

I live in Chicago also and know of a few people who could possibly help you to place the kittens: PM me and I'll send you their info.
If I wasn't moving in a few months...I'd be tempted to adopt one myself!

Yeah, you'd think anyone working at an "animal hospital" would know how to spell it. Or even say which one they were associated with -- if we were organizing a literacy campaign, someone who works at a library wouldn't say "I work at a liberery". They'd say "I work at the Maple Library down on fifth street, and we could host the event in our reading room that has a capacity of about 40". If you are trying to make a good impression (which she is trying to do), a certain level of specificity is needed to make yourself seem legitimate. It is like people who tell you their pets are fully vetted but they can't produce any records or state from memory the name/location of their vet.

And spelling and grammar is notoriously "loose" via informal communication, but somehow you don't exactly get the idea this person earns enough income to live above the poverty line. And sorry, it costs at least $500 a year to provide basic care for a single cat.

I just hate that I feel like a snob not answering it, but frankly, it reads like spam. Like I said, it seems fishy. If someone works at an "animal hospital", wouldn't they have access to plenty of kittens up for adoption? It just seems desperate.

Since these kittens are in my home, I have to have potential adopters come here to meet them, so I'm ultra picky. I always make sure, also, that there is someone here with me, and I have contact information on them. I also do ask many questions, ask for references, vet checks, and an adoption fee to help offset the speuter costs. Nobody leaves my house without the ol' "snip-snip"!

I would personally look elsewhere for a suitable home. This reply smacks of that outfit that recruits people to get kittens and ship them overseas for...well for bad things.

Go with your gut instinct. Have learned this from experience!

"...and I will love him, and pet him and I will call him George ..."

Go with your feelings, I think they're accurate.

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

"...and I will love him, and pet him and I will call him George ..."

Go with your feelings, I think they're accurate.

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OMG, you are so bad! I love it!


Thanks for backing me up on this everyone. I am going to trust my first instinct, and not answer that one.

MA, that's what I was thinking, but thought I was being paranoid.

I listed a foster cat on a google forum once, and then got so worried that someone would call. I felt like I was prostituting my daughter! I am very lucky to work with a foster group who adopts at Petsmart, so we usually meet prospective owners face to face. I don't know what part of Chicago you are in, but maybe joining up with a larger group will help?

Good luck in finding a good home! I'm sure someone out there is just NEEDING these precious babies!

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

I listed a foster cat on a google forum once, and then got so worried that someone would call. I felt like I was prostituting my daughter! I am very lucky to work with a foster group who adopts at Petsmart, so we usually meet prospective owners face to face. I don't know what part of Chicago you are in, but maybe joining up with a larger group will help?

Good luck in finding a good home! I'm sure someone out there is just NEEDING these precious babies!

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The groups here in Chicago are full full full! The group I've volunteered with in the past lets me post them on their website, but they just can't take any more on. I would love to have them at petsmart, but The Anti-Cruelty Society showcases their kitties there. Posting them online is just one of the resources I use. Much as I wish I didn't have to.

I will find a great home for these guys, it will just take a little more time.

Originally Posted by clixpix

The groups here in Chicago are full full full! The group I've volunteered with in the past lets me post them on their website, but they just can't take any more on. I would love to have them at petsmart, but The Anti-Cruelty Society showcases their kitties there. Posting them online is just one of the resources I use. Much as I wish I didn't have to.

I will find a great home for these guys, it will just take a little more time.

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I didn't mean to sound like posting cats on-line was always a bad idea. I know many sites (ex Petfinders) are a great resource for people searching for a kitty. Where is your litter posted? I am northwest of Chicago close to the Wisconsin border.

Just thought I'd check in to see how the search for homes for the kitties was going. Were either of my contacts at all helpful? Maybe you should just post about them somewhere on this board w/pictures--there seem to be a fair amount of us Midwestern folks on here!
Good luck and if there's anything else I can do, let me know!

Originally Posted by clixpix

The groups here in Chicago are full full full! The group I've volunteered with in the past lets me post them on their website, but they just can't take any more on. I would love to have them at petsmart, but The Anti-Cruelty Society showcases their kitties there. Posting them online is just one of the resources I use. Much as I wish I didn't have to.

I will find a great home for these guys, it will just take a little more time.

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Why not ask the other groups to post your kitties as a "courtesy" post..or have you listed as the foster. It seems like a win/win situation to me. 1. they don't have to use their space for your kitties 2. you get to have a reputable rescue posting about them (and potentially screening them) 3. they get to keep the adoption fee.

Katie

Originally Posted by clixpix

OMG, you are so bad! I love it!

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Sometimes (bad that is!)