Adopting a Cat from an Individual

Have I mentioned that I grew up on a farm? “Out in the sticks,” as some would say.

There weren’t any no-kill cat rescues around. There was a shelter.

But most of the people around me went to a person’s house to adopt a cat or dog. Sadly, not many of our outside cats were ever spayed. Needless to say, we had plenty to give away. And when they left the farm, they weren’t spayed then either.

Back in 2003, when I went searching for my first indoor cat as an adult, I called some ads placed by people giving away or selling their cats for various reasons. That was a mistake in my case.

I talked to a few people on the phone, and decided quickly that I didn’t want some lady’s cat that was urinating on the curtains. I’ll give her credit for telling me that though.

My attempts to adopt a cat from a person ended after I went to a woman’s house to meet her cats. I learned a lot from that experience.

One, it’s awkward. This woman had five cats, but the more personable ones were already claimed by friends. She wanted me to take one of the two that were hiding under the bed. But that wasn’t the biggest problem.

Two, it smelled like cat urine everywhere. Yikes, lady. In other words, going to someone’s house is unpredictable, and can even be dangerous.

Three, how do you tell someone face-to-face that you don’t want their beloved pet? (I told her I needed to think about it, and got out of there. I did call later to decline and she acted shocked that I would do so.) I eventually adopted Choco from a no-kill cat rescue in my area. It was a great experience.

I don’t want to totally turn you against adopting from an individual. After all, many people are giving away their pets for financial reasons right now.

However, it’s important to think about what you (and the cats) will gain if you adopt from a no-kill rescue instead of an individual:

• Cats leaving no-kill shelters are always spayed or neutered. This means there will be no accidents down the road. There’s nothing to put off. The deal’s done. Also, the cats have usually been tested and given vaccines.

• You’re supporting a safe haven for felines. These rescues are sometimes the last resort for cats about to be put to sleep in a shelter. No-kill rescues give them a second chance. And, if you do need to surrender your pet, you can rest easy knowing it will not be put to sleep.

• You can give the cat back. If you adopt from an individual, you’re probably stuck. However, many rescues ask that you return the cat if it doesn’t work out, even years later!

• You’re making room for another rescue. Some people choose to adopt from shelters to save a life. That’s admirable, but it’s important to remember that no-kill rescues have to turn away additional cats when there’s no room.

• In many cases, your adoption fee is tax-deductible. Ask about it.

What’s your first choice when it comes to cat adoptions?

(Cat with ball image via flickr. Cat in cage image via flickr.)