As you guys know, I foster for the local shelter. I advertise my fosters online and then if someone is interested from there, they have to fill out the application, pay the shelter fee, etc. People are ALWAYS complaining about the shelter fee, and just want "free" cats, without realizing that they end up spending more in vet bills, IF they actually provide vet care.
The fees for the shelter are not huge. A male is approx. $110 and a female is approx. $130 and this includes:
1) Spay/neuter
2) First vaccination
3) Deworming
4) Defleaing
5) Vet visit
6) City License
7) Microchip
Cats that are surrendered already spayed/neutered are actually cheaper. I mean if someone were to just take any cat to the vet, they would pay 2-3 TIMES as much for all of that!
Here is a conversation I just had with a potential adopter. I think I explained things well and remained civil even though I wanted to get nasty... I know I won't hear from her again though. The cats aren't what she wants, which is probably a good thing!
Her: " Hello Im interested in the black and white cat, just wondering if either of the cats are spayed or declawed? Or either are allowed outside? Thank you please email me back"
Me: "Hi there!
Yes, the black and white is a spayed female and the grey and white is a neutered male. Neither one is declawed, but it is very easy just to trim the tips of their claws so that scratching isn't an issue. They were both surrendered to the shelter as strays, so if you were to occasionally allow them outdoor access, I can't see it being a problem, but truthfully I am not sure how they would react as in foster care they are indoor, and were indoors at the shelter as well.
Sky, the black and white female, is a real sweetheart. She would just sit in my lap all day and purr if I were to let her. Are you familiar with the adoption process with the shelter? Let me know if you have any questions!"
Her: " Yes im familiar with the adoption process. That is where I got my first cat from 4 years ago and I still have her. So you are looking to money for this animal since it is a rescue league cat? For the shelter being so full, its too bad they do not cut the prices down. I think its about 100 dollars isnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t it?
I am looking for a male preferably for my cat princess since she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t do well with female cats for some reason. They need to be neutered since I have her neutered as well. And I prefer them to not have long hair."
Me: "Actually where these guys are already fixed, the price is cheaper.
It's $50 adoption fee, $11.30 for city licence and $5 for the microchip so it would be under $80. The prices are the way they are because they include so much with it. Their fee includes spay/neuter, first vaccine, a vet visit, deworming, defleaing, the city license, microchip, etc. If any cat were just brought into a vet to have all that done, they would easily pay more than double that, so it's really a pretty good deal! Depending on the vet, a spay alone costs between $200-$250, but if a cat is adopted through the shelter, the fee includes the spay/neuter.
The shelter doesn't make any money themselves and are completely non-profit. The fees go to provide all of those services for the kitties, and to provide them with the care that they need. The shelter gets no government funding at all, so all of their money comes from fundraising.
These kitties are property of the shelter and I am simply their foster Mom, so if you did decide on adopting one, how it would work is I would meet you at the shelter itself, you would fill out the paperwork there and pay the fee, they would vaccinate the kitty and check it out to treat it for anything it needed and microchip it. Then you could take the kitty home from there. The kitties are in my home though, so you are more than welcome to come and meet them if you would like. The black and white short haired one is a female though and the grey and white one is a male, but he is more fluffy.
Let me know if you would like to come meet them, or if you have any other questions!"
1) Spay/neuter
2) First vaccination
3) Deworming
4) Defleaing
5) Vet visit
6) City License
7) Microchip
Cats that are surrendered already spayed/neutered are actually cheaper. I mean if someone were to just take any cat to the vet, they would pay 2-3 TIMES as much for all of that!
Here is a conversation I just had with a potential adopter. I think I explained things well and remained civil even though I wanted to get nasty... I know I won't hear from her again though. The cats aren't what she wants, which is probably a good thing!
Her: " Hello Im interested in the black and white cat, just wondering if either of the cats are spayed or declawed? Or either are allowed outside? Thank you please email me back"
Me: "Hi there!
Yes, the black and white is a spayed female and the grey and white is a neutered male. Neither one is declawed, but it is very easy just to trim the tips of their claws so that scratching isn't an issue. They were both surrendered to the shelter as strays, so if you were to occasionally allow them outdoor access, I can't see it being a problem, but truthfully I am not sure how they would react as in foster care they are indoor, and were indoors at the shelter as well.
Sky, the black and white female, is a real sweetheart. She would just sit in my lap all day and purr if I were to let her. Are you familiar with the adoption process with the shelter? Let me know if you have any questions!"
Her: " Yes im familiar with the adoption process. That is where I got my first cat from 4 years ago and I still have her. So you are looking to money for this animal since it is a rescue league cat? For the shelter being so full, its too bad they do not cut the prices down. I think its about 100 dollars isnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t it?
I am looking for a male preferably for my cat princess since she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t do well with female cats for some reason. They need to be neutered since I have her neutered as well. And I prefer them to not have long hair."
Me: "Actually where these guys are already fixed, the price is cheaper.
These kitties are property of the shelter and I am simply their foster Mom, so if you did decide on adopting one, how it would work is I would meet you at the shelter itself, you would fill out the paperwork there and pay the fee, they would vaccinate the kitty and check it out to treat it for anything it needed and microchip it. Then you could take the kitty home from there. The kitties are in my home though, so you are more than welcome to come and meet them if you would like. The black and white short haired one is a female though and the grey and white one is a male, but he is more fluffy.
Let me know if you would like to come meet them, or if you have any other questions!"