- Joined
- Feb 19, 2001
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It's a well known fact that black cats and kittens are often overlooked in rescue homes and shelters. People generally gravitate towards the more colorful kittens even though black is the primary color of all colors.
After being asked for the umpty dozenth time "If I had kittens of color." I wanted to scream; "I am NOT a wallpaper store." So kittens were leaving my home going into loving, forever homes but they were "colorful" and not black. We had 16 black kitties, my husband and I started calling the Black Plague Kitties (out of love and respect). The reason, during feeding time, they would all converge all at once and the floor would look like a moving carpet of black ink spots.
So I started thinking about how to make them more "colorful" Several ideas came into my head, but were dismissed because well, I just don't paint cats. Then one afternoon, I was in the pet aisle at Walmart and they were clearing out their doggy clothes XS. I saw these bright, vibrant dog clothes and decided this might just be the answer. I bought several outfits and headed home.
Dressing stray cats in dog clothes ain't easy. They don't want to hold still but food turned out to be a big motivator. I used special treats to get them to accept their clothes, and then when they would eat out of their bowls without fighting the clothes- I knew they were ready for their photo op.
I put the ads up- and oh my heavens- these kittens just flew out the window! In three weeks, I adopted out 16 black kitties. Several families took more than one black kitten and one lady later confided to me, she would have never even considered adopting a black kitten. I was quick to tell the new families that clothes on cats is never a good idea, and this was a marketing trick.
I have followed up on all the adoptions and the kittens and families are doing just great. I am passing on this tip in the hopes that others might try this idea and have equal success with it- I also have another black kitten coming here on Saturday and a family who wanted a black kitten before (But I ran out!) waiting in line to adopt her!
Good luck to all who try this marketing strategy- it really works!
After being asked for the umpty dozenth time "If I had kittens of color." I wanted to scream; "I am NOT a wallpaper store." So kittens were leaving my home going into loving, forever homes but they were "colorful" and not black. We had 16 black kitties, my husband and I started calling the Black Plague Kitties (out of love and respect). The reason, during feeding time, they would all converge all at once and the floor would look like a moving carpet of black ink spots.
So I started thinking about how to make them more "colorful" Several ideas came into my head, but were dismissed because well, I just don't paint cats. Then one afternoon, I was in the pet aisle at Walmart and they were clearing out their doggy clothes XS. I saw these bright, vibrant dog clothes and decided this might just be the answer. I bought several outfits and headed home.
Dressing stray cats in dog clothes ain't easy. They don't want to hold still but food turned out to be a big motivator. I used special treats to get them to accept their clothes, and then when they would eat out of their bowls without fighting the clothes- I knew they were ready for their photo op.
I put the ads up- and oh my heavens- these kittens just flew out the window! In three weeks, I adopted out 16 black kitties. Several families took more than one black kitten and one lady later confided to me, she would have never even considered adopting a black kitten. I was quick to tell the new families that clothes on cats is never a good idea, and this was a marketing trick.
I have followed up on all the adoptions and the kittens and families are doing just great. I am passing on this tip in the hopes that others might try this idea and have equal success with it- I also have another black kitten coming here on Saturday and a family who wanted a black kitten before (But I ran out!) waiting in line to adopt her!
Good luck to all who try this marketing strategy- it really works!