Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    	Well....since we all seem to have reached our catmax in the
    	file, I can see why it's difficult to find very many homes
    	here. I've seen quite a few magazine articles lately saying 
    	cats are the yuppie pet of the 90's, and many households have
    	numerous cats - maybe the `market' is pretty much saturated??
    
    	People who figure they can pick up a kitten at any old
    	farm will not want to pay an adoption fee, but if they know
    	more about cat care and overpopulation, they don't think
    	twice about a fee.
    
    	just my thoughts....
    
    	Sherry
    

    I think it's probably because there are more kittens/cats available
    than puppies or dogs.  Also, there aren't as many "stray" dogs having
    puppies as stray cats having kittens.  
    
    Stray dogs get picked up, stray cats most times have to fend for
    themselves.
    
    my thoughts
    cin
    

    You have a point there, cin - stray dogs get picked up and cats DO have
    to fend for themselves.
    
    About fees - I don't think there is any easy answer here.  I personally
    would rather look in the newspaper and go to someone's house to pick up
    a kitten/cat only because you can see how the kitten/cat lived.  Going
    to a shelter is not the easiest thing to do (wanting to bring home ALL
    of the orphans), but I try to enforce to family/friends who are looking
    for a kitten/cat to save one by going to the shelter.  And, should I
    ever talk my husband into getting another cat, my conscience would
    direct me to a shelter.  The fee is worth it - think of how much it
    must cost to feed these poor orphans.  Someone has to take care of them
    - I am glad to help out by paying a fee.
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunks
    
    
    

    Good point on stray dogs being picked up.  This is true.  I used
    to think the same thing about going to homes for kittens, until
    I was educated about what you might bring home with the "Free"
    kitten/cat.  I love my two free barn kittens, but Rusty's health
    problem has cost close to $500.  While I consider the $$$ well spent,
    that money could have saved/fed a few shelter cats.  What with the
    stray kitten I had w/FeLV, finding out about FeLV and other things
    like this, I would be leary of accepting the strays people say are
    healthy, unless I knew the person well. (and even then???)  
    The really good shelters only put up for adoption the
    animals that pass strict health rules, and are given the shots,
    etc. required to maintain their health.  The money for the fee
    helps pay for the food & medical treatment + spay/neutering, etc.
    Those of us who go to the vet regularly know the prices being
    charged!   
    
    L-

    
    
    		I kinda think a lot of folks (personal observation)
    		in these tough economic times gag at paying for much
    		of anything anyhow. I don't know how it is in the
    		Northeast right now but here in the middle (Colorado)
    		people are pretty squeamish paying for something that
    		they think they could get for free somewhere else.
    		There always seem to be ads for free kittens in the 
    		papers. 
    						kim and catnippy

    Its sad to say, but folks value what they pay for.  A "free" cat
    is a disposable item to many folks.  ANd I'm always harping on
    those who profit by selling the animals for research.  
    
    Of course, we all know "there's no such thing as a free cat".
    
    Most shelter cats have been screened - I know that the ferals I've
    caught have all had the following:
      FLV test   
      Worm Medicine - two types 
      shots - rabies & 4-in-1
      flea-baths
      tresederm - for ear mites
      neutering - except Christie who is only 5 mons old
      
    On top of this - Dusty has had three types of eye medicine in an
    attempt to clear up a runny eye, Both he and Jasmine have had
    VERY EXPENSIVE fulvacin for ringworm ($1 per pill - one pill/day for
    six weeks!), also Jazz was on prednisone initially. 
      Bob was tested for FIV as well as FELV when he was first brought in.
    He was also on flagyl (antibiotic) for a bit in an attempt to clear
    up his gingivitis.
    
    I wish I had the figures for all that treatment.  But when you look
    at that and figure that I only want $25 - to go to animal umbrella -
    as an adoption fee.  I think its a good deal.  Too bad other folks
    don't agree.
    
    When you get a free cat from a litter you have no idea what that
    cat might be carrying.  Unless you know the people and know how
    they care for their cats.
    
      
      

    Also, when you get a "free" kitten/cat from someone you know, that
    doesn't mean it will be 100% healthy.  Not everyone is aware of
    the viruses and may not have had the vaccinations done.  They
    have let their cats out, they come in contact with another cat
    that has something, and this is how the viruses are spread (SO FAST!)
    I have been to many places, barns especially, where the cats are
    just "barn equipment" to catch the mice/rats.  They receive no care
    other than food, and sometimes not even that. They are left to hunt
    the mice to survive.  Then they wonder why they still have mice/rats
    and why the cats are disappearing.  They either die from starvation,
    or find somewhere else where they are being fed by some kind person.
    (yes, I have done this)  Cats/kittens are considered a "disposable"
    commodity.  The two barn kittens I brought home were 5 weeks old,
    but walking, mite, flea & worm infested and 1 shade above starvation.
    They attacked food, no other word for it.  A visit to the vet, ear
    medication, worming, and home for a flea shampoo, and they were
    ready to put on weight.  But, all the food went to growth.  They
    are 9 mths old now, and finally starting to put on weight.  Pepper
    is an absolutely beautiful Mackerel Tabby & White SH Domestic.
    Rusty, who is not healthy, is one funny looking Orange Tabby & white
    somewhat long and somewhat short haired domestic.  He has a fox
    tail, a long face, knock kneed in back, large body and feet, with
    the only pretty feature being his amber/copper eyes.  But, I wouldn't
    trade them in for anything.  I will though, in the future, be more 
    careful about what I bring home.  I got lucky that they didn't have
    FeLV or whatever, and bring it home to my other two.
    
    About selling animals to research...how do those people sleep at
    night?  I couldn't sleep for a long time after I brought the kitten
    to the shelter, where she would be treated humanely.  To drop off
    animals (or steal) them to sell to research labs takes one sick
    individual.  
    
    L-  

    This reminds me of another how-can-they-sleep-at-night thing.
    A few years ago some people in this area were running a scam where they
    promised to find homes for animals whose owners couldn't keep them any
    more, they collected a fee, and then they dumped the animals at the 
    animal shelter.