How do I prepare myself?

I know the time is coming when I am going to have to give my kittys up And I dont know how to prepare myself! I am soooo attached to them all! I dont have homes for them yet, but it is because I am too picky. They arent just going to "anybody". Does anyone else know what I can do? I mean they are nearing 6 weeks, so Im going to be getting homes lined out, but how? I hate it! I dont want them to ever leave. Help please?!
Thanks-Monica

Originally Posted by catloverin_ks

I know the time is coming when I am going to have to give my kittys up

And I dont know how to prepare myself! I am soooo attached to them all! I dont have homes for them yet, but it is because I am too picky. They arent just going to "anybody". Does anyone else know what I can do? I mean they are nearing 6 weeks, so Im going to be getting homes lined out, but how?

I hate it! I dont want them to ever leave. Help please?!
Thanks-Monica

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It just does feel terrible at the time that babies leave...and I know, having given up 4 litters in 2 years. But it would be selfish to keep all that kitty love to yourself.

And on the practical side, if you think of the cost of feeding, the time to care for that number of cats, and all the spay and neuter surgeries...add all of that up, then add $1,000 for emergency vet care for the first year, and you will see if you can afford them financially. It is not fair to a pet to keep it, if when it has a health problem you will not to be able to afford to treat it.

I really recommend calling a local rescue to help adopt them out. They are really good at weeding out the bad people, and those who are just casually committed to a cat, but not really ready to provide the long term commitment needed.

I have 2 acquaintences who I would have adopted to...one who I learned later does not provide complete vet care as often as I think her current kitty needs. The other just informed me today that she lives across the street from a hoarder! Why would you want to adopt my kitten, when there is a houseful of them across the street from you suffering?!? She easily earns 6 figures, so in my mind should either report the neighbor to animal control or pay to have all the person's cats altered and vaccinated herself! (No, I don't know where she lives, and yes, I encouraged her to call animal control! )

Anyhow, the rescues are good at finding homes for babies....look on Petfinder to find a rescue near you.

Actually, you still have another 5 or 6 weeks before the babies should be leaving for their new homes.

I definitely feel for you! I am going through that now. I was very fortunate to find wonderful homes for 3 out of 4 and the 4th one we are keeping.

The first one left on Mother's Day. Today I delivered the 2nd one to my friend's house. Her son was getting him for his birthday. I tied a red bow around his neck and everything! When I handed him to Janet, he looked at me and meowed several times and then just kind of snuggled into her so I felt better. And the smile on her son's face was worth a million bucks!

The 3rd one leaves next Friday. It's harder for me to see how sad momma gets...

Originally Posted by LisaB917

I definitely feel for you! I am going through that now. I was very fortunate to find wonderful homes for 3 out of 4 and the 4th one we are keeping.

The first one left on Mother's Day. Today I delivered the 2nd one to my friend's house. Her son was getting him for his birthday. I tied a red bow around his neck and everything! When I handed him to Janet, he looked at me and meowed several times and then just kind of snuggled into her so I felt better. And the smile on her son's face was worth a million bucks!

The 3rd one leaves next Friday. It's harder for me to see how sad momma gets...

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Mom will be ok....and now is the time to treat her to a spay at the vet. That way, she won't have to worry about getting pregnant again.

Katie

Originally Posted by catloverin_ks

I know the time is coming when I am going to have to give my kittys up

And I dont know how to prepare myself! I am soooo attached to them all! I dont have homes for them yet, but it is because I am too picky. They arent just going to "anybody". Does anyone else know what I can do? I mean they are nearing 6 weeks, so Im going to be getting homes lined out, but how?

I hate it! I dont want them to ever leave. Help please?!
Thanks-Monica

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Monica..there is a really good PDF called "how to find homes for homeless pets" that you can find on my website:

http://www.natewood.net/Rehome.html

It has good information on placing ads as well as a contract that you can have potential adoptors complete. I agree with Beckiboo...however I would approach local rescues and state that you have kittens that you have been raising, you plan to have mom fixed and you are looking to see if they can help you to place the kittens into good homes. I would let the rescue charge their normal fee and keep it and until the kittens find homes, they stay with you as their foster. It's pretty much a win/win....rescue gets their adoption fee but doesn't have to house your kittens, you know the kittens are going to be placed by a group that knows what to look for in potential adoptors. Another plus is many rescues now spay/neuter kittens before they go into homes.

Katie

She has an appt in 2 weeks. Luckily she hasn't tried to get outside as my older cat (who is fixed) is at your feet everytime you open the door. And she can't go out anymore because of my idiot neighbor.

I am starting to get the attention now that she was giving the kittens. Makes me feel a little more loved...

www.petfinder.com and stree on your ad you want to talk to whoever wants a kitten personnally i tried that and got ads from canada with ppl offering me lutricrist amounts of money. so just be careful and say that you need a valid phone number to talk to these people and even if they let you view the house.

Originally Posted by jayates1

www.petfinder.com and stree on your ad you want to talk to whoever wants a kitten personnally i tried that and got ads from canada with ppl offering me lutricrist amounts of money. so just be careful and say that you need a valid phone number to talk to these people and even if they let you view the house.

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NOPE! I *had* one on there and didnt have good luck with it. I immediately took it off there. I am just using word of mouth right now(friends,family) and I might post a ad for my local HS.

Originally Posted by catloverin_ks

NOPE! I *had* one on there and didnt have good luck with it. I immediately took it off there. I am just using word of mouth right now(friends,family) and I might post a ad for my local HS.

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The thing that really helped me - besides making sure that:
1) no cats/kittens were going to be displaced due to an adoption
2) they would be going to people I could "check up" on
3) they would be s/n as soon as their vet would do it

...was to think that I had eleven cats, and these people would each have one (one family took two), and how much better attention they would get that they couldn't get from me.

And...by the time you've had them all for 12 weeks, it's like having a teenager - you're sort of relieved to have them out of the house...sort of, LOL.