How do you part with kittens?

Hi,

I have 3 soon to be 8 week old kittens, I've had them since they were 3 and a half weeks, dropper fed them worried over them and now have to find homes for them. They are sooo sweet, but I already have to many cat's in the house. It's breaking my heart to have to give them up, any thought's?? I want so bad for them to have the very best homes, how can I be sure?

Thanks for any help with this,

I can relate. We bottle fed 4 last fall. We adopted one of them to a friend down the street, kept one, and the other two were adopted through a local rescue group that works out of PetSmart. We didn't leave them at PetSmart but took them up on Saturday when they have adoptions and let the rescue group screen the potential adopters. They ended up being adopted together so I felt pretty good about that.

It was hard to let any of them go.

First of all, ***you do NOT *Give* them away***. Any idiot who wants a cat for a less than honorable purpose can lie to you with the greatest of skill about everything. Look at Bill Frist.You charge an adoption fee. 8 weeks is old enough for any vets who do juvenile spay/neuter to go ahead and fix them. Check with the Humane Society to see if there is someone in your area who can do it cheaply. You want these animals fixed before they leave your custody, *or you're just potentially adding to the overpopulation problem*. Then, charge how much it cost you to have them fixed as the adoption fee. I'm assuming that you've already started their shots on your own, but if you haven't, also do that. Releasing a cat from your care without being current on shots and being fixed isn't really 'rescuing'. If a potential adoptor balks at paying these costs, you can rest assured that they would not spend the money to have the cat fixed and to get their shots. Anyone who is serious about adding a pet to their family will have researched the ultimate costs and realize they're getting their money's worth. Then, you have them fill out an application, asking them who their vet is, who their employer is, how long they've lived at their current home, whether they rent or own, and how many children they have and their ages. Sample adoption applications are available from many rescue groups on the net. Be sure to include the standard legalese fineprint release about suing you as well as that the animal won't be used for dog fighting or research. THen, call the vet and ask them how long X has been a client and how many animals they've had on record there and if they've been current on their shots and spayed and neutered. If someone lives on a busy highway and has gone through 9 cats in the last 3 years that have gotten run over, they obviously would be a poor choice of home. But, people like that will lie straight to your face and tell you how wonderful a home they will give the kitty and how much they'll love it. **Love is NOT enough** You want to be sure they'll be responsible, which is expecting a lot more and is more difficult to quantify. Be sure and check with the landlord if the adoptor rents. You'd be surprised at how many people *say* the landlord has no problem with them having pets, but they haven't paid the $400 pet deposit and have no intention of doing so. Also be very cautious of families with young children. Young children and young pets do not mix very well at all, unless the child has been taught respect for animals. These days when kids don't even have respect for their parents, it's hard to find a family with small kids who I'd trust to not kill a kitten accidentally

Just wanted to thank all of you for the response, it helped me a lot. There is no no-kill center around here, I live in the country. but much of what was said is VERY helpful.!!

Thanks SO MUCH,

God Bless,

The first time is always the hardest, Aimee. Bottom line has always been for me, that the kitten has to be going to a home at least as good as what I can provide.

Home visit is good, before the adoption is final. Getting the kitten started on its distemper shots is also good, especially with hand-reared orphans. The wonderful world of veterinary medicine now allows for kittens to begin vaccinations as early as 4 weeks, finishing up by 12 weeks. Also fecal with worming (roundworms are pretty much guaranteed; coccidia is not unlikely). Charge the adoptors at least what it costs you in vet fees.

Good luck to you and your little monsters.

Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats

That's just the thing... You can't. I knew this lady up in the country some years ago who thought she was adopting out three kittens to a nice fellow. Come to find out, he fed them to his five foot Ball python. By coincidence, he was the parent of my son's best friend, and my son told me all about it. Saw the whole thing, too. I'd be very careful if I had to part with little things that are as sweet and fuzzy as my baby kitties. I'd have to know the people personally.

Be careful

Four years ago, I heard a crying outside. I looked and saw a skinny little cat walking back & forth. I ran downstairs w/a can of food. She practically inhaled it. No owner stepped forth and, after about 80 calls,my husband's aunt adopted her. She was pregnant (so skinny it wasn't apparent, at first). Eight kitties were born and were adored by the entire family. I came over all the time and saw the kittens an hour after they were born. We got to know all eight and gave them nicknames. Incredibly, one was the leader, two were shy beyond belief...each had a distinct personality. Two months later, my hubby & I adopted the leader..we named him Sammy. Three of the others were adopted by those known to the family..remaining kitties were given to a foster family who had an excellent track record for finding good homes for kitties. I often wonder about those adopted who were never seen again and am comforted with the hope that they are loved half as much as my boy, Sammy.