Would you like a free kitten? UK only!

Hi

We have 4 kittens to give away for FREE, were not interested in money, we just want them to go to loving homes, we are in England, in Harwich, in Essex.

There VERY cute, the colours are:

1, All black

2, Black, white & ginger

3, black & white

4, black & white

The mother is very well, normal, eats alot lol, and if you are interested, ofcourse you can see the mother (and father) if you would like to.

The kittens are exactly 4 weeks old today, there playful.

If anyone in the UK is interested in a free kitten, reply here or email me, and we will post up pictures of them so you can choose and look at them etc.

Hope its ok to post this here, we would rather the kittens go to a loving home, than to a pet shop or worse!

Thanks

Matt & Sarah

Please never give kittens away (even on a cat site!) for free. That says you think they are worthless. You need to interview potential adopters, spay and neuter your kittens before adopting them and at least they should have their first vaccine and be vet checked. If you find this finacially difficult, you could recopup the money in the fee you charge.


Free to good home invites people who will sell them to labs), those who use kittens to teach dogsfighting and other undesirable outcimes. Here is a good site that explains it better than I (it is midnight here!)

http://www.animalaidsw.org/free.html

http://www.petrescue.com/library/free-pet.htm

BUT do NOT give them away free. It is not fair to the kittens!

Originally Posted by CyberKitten

Please never give kittens away (even on a cat site!) for free. That says you think they are worthless. You need to interview potential adopters, spay and neuter your kittens before adopting them and at least they should have their first vaccine and be vet checked. If you find this finacially difficult, you could recopup the money in the fee you charge.


Free to good home invites people who will sell them to labs), those who use kittens to teach dogsfighting and other undesirable outcimes. Here is a good site that explains it better than I (it is midnight here!)

http://www.animalaidsw.org/free.html

http://www.petrescue.com/library/free-pet.htm

BUT do NOT give them away free. It is not fair to the kittens!

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I did not know that!!!

We dont have the upfront cash to get 4 kittens all done at the vets, the new owners will have to do that.

Its not that there worthless to us, there lovely, its that we cannot have 7 cats in our apartment, we have 3 as it is, so these guys have to go quickly, all we meant by our post was that money didnt interest us as long as they were going to be loved and looked after, sorry if we offended!

Do you have any ideas how to get people interested?

advertise in a newspaper or with papers posted on things. but when people do want them, interveiwing is a must. not only that but tell them that you WILL be making "surprise visits" to check in with the cats, and make sure they are being treated right. Im guessing some sort of contract like thing needs to be made... but im 16, so im not really sure about that.

Originally Posted by ilovejoelyo

advertise in a newspaper or with papers posted on things. but when people do want them, interveiwing is a must. not only that but tell them that you WILL be making "surprise visits" to check in with the cats, and make sure they are being treated right. Im guessing some sort of contract like thing needs to be made... but im 16, so im not really sure about that.

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I am sorry, but who would agree to surprise vistits? I sure wouldn't. Breeders of purebred cats don't do surprise vistits to you home.
Now, you want to surprise visit someone who adopted your mixed breed cats?
If you get anyone to agree to this, more power to you.
But I doubt there would be many takers.

Draw up a contract (even at 16 I did that with my baby kittens I raised as orphans tho I could only manage to adopt out 2). Absoluteky ask for a fee. Advertise at a vet's office (newspaper ads are not the best place -1st place where bouchers look) and ask local rescues to add a courtresy listing for you if they can. This is alas post kitten season and many many kittens are looking for homes.


Do spay the mom unless you are in the breeding biz as a reputable breeder tho it does not sound like you want to be. Find cheap spay/neuter places. Unfortynatelyu, not spaying a mama cat brings kittens into the world and there are not enough good homes. Create posters and put them up everywhere you can think of.

But do not allow just anyone to adopt them - interview, absolutely do a home visit. The pickerier you are, the better for the kittens!

Can you at least charge some sort of fee so you can see some money towards desexing your domestic cats!

Oh and no way do that suprise vist thing. I'm a Persian & Exotic cat breeder and that would be rather stupid

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

Can you at least charge some sort of fee so you can see some money towards desexing your domestic cats!

Oh and no way do that suprise vist thing. I'm a Persian & Exotic cat breeder and that would be rather stupid

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Of course. I have two purebred persians and I assure I wouldn't be happy if the breeders declared they would surprise visit me.
The responcible breeder would draw up a contract. I know some even ask for vet references, but again, you want to place your mixed breed cats, and more requirement you put on prospective owners, the harder it would be to place these cats.
A small fee would at least show people are willing to care for the cat.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

I am sorry, but who would agree to surprise vistits? I sure wouldn't. Breeders of purebred cats don't do surprise vistits to you home.
Now, you want to surprise visit someone who adopted your mixed breed cats?
If you get anyone to agree to this, more power to you.
But I doubt there would be many takers.

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ok...sorry? i know plenty of people that do that. They do it for the cats safty. its normally only a one time visit when they know someone will be home (of course when the people are adopting you tell them that you will on ocasion drop by to make sure the cat is still there) People adopting the cats can opt for an ocasional phone call, but that easy to lie right through, and people can say the cats doing just fine and they really have sold it.

"A small fee would at least show people are willing to care for the cat."
not necesarily, say they were adopted out for 25$ and the people who adopted them know that they could sell them somewhere for say... 50$ its still a profit to them.

I agree with what everyone has said here, but would like to add one thing on the visits. I would first do an interview, if you feel okay about that, do a home visit, then if you still feel okay do a visit a couple of weeks after the kitten is placed. Tell them the very first time you meet them about the visits. I know pet shelters around here do the same thing. you could put it in your contract. I have even heard of charging a fee, and after they get the pet fixed and taken to the vet and you get a record of it, giving them back the fee. This assures that they are seious about taking care of the pet, and assures the pet gets fixed. I dont know, if I had kittens, it would be a tough process of finding homes for them. I would be so hard to convince you are going to be nice to them.

Originally Posted by ilovejoelyo

ok...sorry? i know plenty of people that do that. They do it for the cats safty. its normally only a one time visit when they know someone will be home (of course when the people are adopting you tell them that you will on ocasion drop by to make sure the cat is still there) People adopting the cats can opt for an ocasional phone call, but that easy to lie right through, and people can say the cats doing just fine and they really have sold it.

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The owner can place as many requirement on prospective owners as he wants. Unfortuantely, in the end he/she might end up with 7 cats.
Surprise visits, home visits, references, contract, fees-it's all good ideas if he/she gets anyone to agree to this.
But since even purebred cat breeders don't do "surprise visits", I find it hard to believe there would be any takers for the mixed breed cats whose breeder says he will drop by "from time to time" to check on these cats.

how do you know people wont agree to it? as far as i know it happens fairly often. Sometimes its only taken as a warning and no one actually goes to visit. but if its put into a contract that they will then the person who adopted knows better then to sell them. and the fact of pure bred or not has nothing to do with it. its how determined the original owner is to make sure the cats adopted out are safe.

Originally Posted by Roxy_loves_CJ

I agree with what everyone has said here, but would like to add one thing on the visits. I would first do an interview, if you feel okay about that, do a home visit, then if you still feel okay do a visit a couple of weeks after the kitten is placed. Tell them the very first time you meet them about the visits. I know pet shelters around here do the same thing. you could put it in your contract. I have even heard of charging a fee, and after they get the pet fixed and taken to the vet and you get a record of it, giving them back the fee. This assures that they are seious about taking care of the pet, and assures the pet gets fixed. I dont know, if I had kittens, it would be a tough process of finding homes for them. I would be so hard to convince you are going to be nice to them.

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totally agree. but whether with price or not. its just funny when people say its not about the money and then say 'no add a price!' people dont care unless they pay. well what about volunteer people. do they not care about their work unless they are getting paid? i think the interviewing part is good. maybe charging a reasonable fee. unless a normal looking family are really freaky scientist maybe even a background check is in order. who knows. contact friends, family, even pet stores have little signs (at least here in california) that have 'puppy wanted' or 'kitten wanted' fingerprints, family history. whatever. just as long as your secure with your decision. i dont see the problem posting it on here. because this is a cat lover site and im sure theres other people in the uk near by you could email a few times before setting something up. and whether you charge or not. shouldnt be such a huge deal. if breeding animals didnt cost so much. would people even charge? i was under the impression from other breeders i talked to that the reason breed prices vary from state to state is because of the overhead and vet stuff. now i know that breeding animals will never be cheap. but if you didnt have to pay a dime..would prices be so high for purebreds?? i know after paying 599 for my bengal and 650 for my dog, lol. i know i got off topic, lol. but o well.

Why not DO the visits (which are a totally good idea and every shelter I've ever been to does them) but give them fair warning...just call them 'follow-up visits'. DEFINITELY do follow up phone calls. Ask what brand of food will be fed. Ask as to what litter and what kind of box, where the scratching post is, ask them WHY they want to adopts a cat from you, how many kids they have, where the cat will live and sleep, etc. Quiz them. As a cat owner, you'll be able to tell what's BS and what's not. Ask for references! Make sure to contact landlords if your prospective adopter rents. It's all completely rational, and being a rescue worker, I would wholeheartedly reccommend ALL of it. We do nothing less at our shelter and are even trained as approved humane investigators in our state.

Most of all, make sure you know all of those cats get fixed. It is SO SO SO important to neuter your animals and you DEFINITELY need to make sure your adopters do it to avoid homeless animals!

A local paper, ads up at a pet store or vet clinic, even posting on a blog or website are all good ideas!

Originally Posted by ilovejoelyo

ok...sorry? i know plenty of people that do that. They do it for the cats safty. its normally only a one time visit when they know someone will be home (of course when the people are adopting you tell them that you will on ocasion drop by to make sure the cat is still there) People adopting the cats can opt for an ocasional phone call, but that easy to lie right through, and people can say the cats doing just fine and they really have sold it.

"A small fee would at least show people are willing to care for the cat."
not necesarily, say they were adopted out for 25$ and the people who adopted them know that they could sell them somewhere for say... 50$ its still a profit to them.

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well what if the person lives 2 hours away? you'll drive 2 hours to see the cat? what about people who ship out their pets? (my friends got a dog from florida and hes such an awesome dog in good hands.)on a suprise visit? that sounds almost borderline untrusting. i mean i understand there are people out there who arent good. but come on now dont breed if you feel the need to check up on 10 different cats because you have to make sure you made the right choice. your instict and communicatino with them should be enough. dam i email my breeder pictures of river a few times a month and email her all the time, lol. but thats because im cool like that and shes cool, lol.

Also put a part in the contract that if for anyreason at all they cannot keep the animal that it will come back to you. if they agree to everything, give them your phone number and address, as well as the address of another way to get in touch with you, incase in 10 years they try to find you. (maybe vet, or work.) This way you know they will never end up in a shelter or worse, on the streets.

thats good also!!

Originally Posted by ilovejoelyo

ok...sorry? i know plenty of people that do that. They do it for the cats safty. its normally only a one time visit when they know someone will be home (of course when the people are adopting you tell them that you will on ocasion drop by to make sure the cat is still there) People adopting the cats can opt for an ocasional phone call, but that easy to lie right through, and people can say the cats doing just fine and they really have sold it.

"A small fee would at least show people are willing to care for the cat."
not necesarily, say they were adopted out for 25$ and the people who adopted them know that they could sell them somewhere for say... 50$ its still a profit to them.

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Is there really a market on a mixed breed cats that people can buy them and then sell them?
I am sure all of those are good suggestions, but the person clearly wants to place these kittens, not look for prospective owners for years.
Are there really going to be that many takers for him/her to chose from? Even registered breeders (many of them) don't do many things suggested he/she does here.

I do surprise visits on all kittens/cats that are adopted locally- BUT I don't tell them I do these- that would ruin the intent, and when I show up, I come bearing gifts- kitten food, toys, cat beds, something to take the sting out of the checking up. I learned to do this the hard way, adopted out a cat into a horrible home situation and the woman who took Karma completely snowed me into thinking she was the best cat person in the world. She did not have a carrier with her so I loaned her one of mine- and three days later when it still wasn't returned, I went to fetch it. I was appalled at the condition of the home she was in and she came home with me in minutes. It was nasty, so now, I just do them as a matter of course.

I do get tickled while shopping at the local grocery store, at times someone will grab my arm and tell me how wonderful their cat or kitten is doing. One time this gentleman whipped out his wallet and it was crammed full of pictures of the cat he and his wife had adopted from me years before. That makes me feel good all over.