I May be Finding Homes for Some Cats

[Tambrey]

You know, we tend to bring in the little sickly ferals, nurse them back to health and get them spayed/neutered shots etc...

Well, ten IS alot, I know, Traci, you have ten also...
but I would LOVE to find good loving homes for some of them...and I was not ever having any luck...well, someone told me about a website where people can trade things for free http://www.freecycle.com

I joined, to find baby things, and when I got the welcome from the moderator, it was listed we can find homes for pets, or try to find pets, on the local site also...
Soooo...I listed the following on the site:

Here in our small town, my family takes in the young ferals of females
we have not caught to spay, and hand raise them to be tame loving
INDOOR ONLY cats.

We currently have FOUR cats available to good homes. Two females have
been spayed, and we have a brother/sister who are young, and still
need spayed and neutered.

We do what we can for these cats, give them lots of love, they are
litter box trained, but once we bring them inside, they NEVER go
outside again...too many dangers! So we ask that the good loving
homes they go to also respect their safety and fears and never let (or
make) them go outside.

We also clip claws from a young age, so they are used to having a
human handle their feet to clip them, so no need to declaw!! We also
work with them on furniture scratching so that is usually minimal, or
in play, with no damage done...

If interested, please contact me and I will send photos and more
individual history...
Only serious INDOOR ONLY loving families will be considered...these
have become our babies, and we only want the best for them!

Within TEN minutes of posting it, I had TWO inquiries on the females...
I will send photos and get to know them via e-mail a bit, thenmaybe visit or have them come here before deciding for sure if the cats will go to their homes...I am soooo worried for my babies, but I know if they can get individual attention in a loving home, they would be happy...

I'll keep you posted...

[Traci]

As you know, I always advise extreme caution when interacting with individuals over the net, especially pet adoptions.

Screen them carefully, and good idea about the physical visits. Pay special attention to how they react to the cats (showing interest or not, showing persistence on bonding, asking questions, finding out if they are likely to followup on vet care, etc) Another good idea is asking the potential adoptors if they are willing to give you updates, or that you can followup on them.

[Tambrey]

yes...that is why I still have so many...I am TOO picky...but I want them to go to GOOD homes...like Gremlin and Yoda...and their mom sends me e-mails, and will bring them to visit the next time she comes up this way

Even though I am initially meeting them via the internet (I met my husband that way ) I will meet them in person and see what they are like, and invite them here to meet the cats, and see how things go...

I had that one girl here at Christmas who was a no go for sure!! SHe came tromping in with her dad and two huge brothers, then as I was holding the newest addition, she suddenly reached for him and he bolted, giving me some good scratches in the meantime...
I just did not like her style or attitude, and that was enough for me ...

[Marty]

I have not heard good things about inviting strangers from the net to visit your home. Most rescues do it on neutral territory, but that might be difficult with cats....maybe you could do a home visit first? Like spec 'em out?

You got me curious now......looking for baby items.....

[Tambrey]

hehehe...Marty...we are going through foster/adoption classes to adopt a child or children from foster care and give them a forever home

We have my one son, but I cannot have any more, and DH has an inherited kidney disease he would not pass on even if I could, so we are going to adopt

There are soooo many little ones out there and believe it or not, many people do NOT like to take the babies...too much work...soooowe are hoping that when all is said and done, we will have a child or two welcomed into our home...

As for people for the cats...we will be careful....probably meet them somewhere neutral first, then invite them over...but meeting them someplace else can give us a better chance to get to know them...and of course, I would never invite anyone over unless DH and DS were here...DS is only 14, but he is 5'10" and 265 pounds!! And when he played Freshman football, they would double team him at first, then they changed to quadruple teamed him...he would just knock them aside two at a time and go sack the quarterback anyways...his favourite thing to do!

[Tambrey]

I got another reply from a nearby person...she got a 20# bag of food her cats did not like and said I can have it for ours...the inside ones stay on the same brand, and I try to keep the ferals on same as well...but I will go and take her up on her offer...free is free...and she did not mention what kind it is...we will see...

anyways...I am off to sleep...it is early...late...whatever...and I have alot to get done this weekend...and my sinuses decided to start acting up wtih this front we had move through today...ggrrrr

[Marty]

Ahhh.....best wishes for adoption of a little one! I always thought babies were the easiest to place (kinda like puppies). Is the cost really way up there? Daughter said it was around 10K.....

[Tina B and crew]

I wish you the best of luck Tambrey...I know it's hard to give them up. I tried for almost a year to find a home for Cricket and never did...so she's #5...that's it for me...I cannot handle anymore than 5 and don't know how those of you that have more do it.

[Tambrey]

Adoption can be very expensive if you go private or international...but we are going through the DHS, state system...the state is paying for classes, home study, licensing, and will pay stipends for any children placed into our home, and a monthyl amount until they are adopted, and all medical bills and dental bills...and depending on what the child's medical issues are, will usually keep them on state insurance until they are 18...we would use our own medical insurance, and the state pays whatever else ours does not...
Sooooo...adopting a kid who has had a rough start in life, and giving them a chance at a loving forever family does not cost a single dime

And unfortunately, alot of people do foster care for the money they can make...I know one family with five kids and they get $2500 a month from the state, now you know it does not take that much to feed and cloth five kids when you feed them mac and cheese and fish sticks and PBJ and carrot sticks and shop at the Goodwill for their clothing, plus do the hand me down thing!!! With that, they want to do as little as possible in working with the kids (now this is SOME families, not ALL) and infants take alot more time and money than older kids...
I know another family...farming family, who would only take teenage boys capable of helping on the farm...not that this is bad, but that is all they want to take in, and they can give these boys a sense of responsibility and purpose...but alot of people just do not want to take the little ones and extra time...up nights, bottles, diappers, potty training...all that...

When you foster, you can actually pick and choose which kids you will accept into your home, because they have ti fit with your current family and lifestyle an beliefs, without too much disruption on the original family...
And the same when adopting...you want to make the best placement to begin with...so there is always the option to say no when they call for a placement...