Shelter questions and adopting cats

What are the general fees associated with adopting?

How long does it take? For instance, if we went one day, could we leave with a cat the same day?

Are the cats spayed and up to date on medical things?

I'm sorry if I sound ignorant...I'm new to this.

Re: Shelter questions and adopting cats

If you go to a shelter, you can generally take the cat home that same day. If you go through a rescue organization like PAWS, there is a background check involved.

Any animal you get from a shelter or organization will be up-to-date on shots and such. The only way they will already be spayed/neutered is if they're of sufficient age--I know most vets will only spay/neuter as early as 5 months.

I'm not sure what the fees are in NY (it's been a LOOOONG time since we adopted there), but we rescued our cat from a kill shelter here in NC and the adoption fee was $85.

I'm tempted to say--go to a kill shelter first, obviously because you're saving a life. But it's hard to go there--I thank God every day that when we went to pick out our cat, I DIDN'T know it was a kill shelter. I would have left there with 15 cats.

Re: Shelter questions and adopting cats

I don't know where you live, but ifyou are on Long Island I highly recommend Little Shelter Animal Rescue in Huntington. They are wonderful. You will be so impressed with their cattery. I don't know the fees for cats, b/c I have only gotten dogs with them, but usually they are spayed/neutered already with a full set of shots. And they will not give you an animal that is unhealthy. This is very important.

I adopted my 8 week old puppy, it was $250 for the donation, but when I got my first dog it was $75 b/c she was already 2 years old. But again, it included the spaying/neuterng and the shots. It's also considered a tax deductible donation b/c they are a non-profit organizaiton.

Good luck!

Re: Shelter questions and adopting cats

My vet has kittens and there is no fee. We had to spay/neuter them though.

They were up to date on all shots.

Very well cared for kitties. The staff there is wonderful. Patients find these kittens and bring them to him because they know they will get adopted.

Re: Shelter questions and adopting cats

I just adopted two kittens from NSAL less than two weeks ago.

Their adoption process is a one-day process. It took about an hour after we picked out the kitties, probably less than that. They do ask for references, so you'll need to make sure at least one of your references is available. Both of our references said they did not call -- however, while we were there, one adopter was turned away because they couldn't reach any of her references.

As far as fees, NSAL has them posted on their web site. The fee for a double adoption of cats is $100. I think it's $50 or $75 for one cat (I forget). When we were there, they waived the adoption fee and were working on donations. Since we didn't know that was the promotion, we just donated the regular fee instead.

Our kittens were 9 weeks old, neutered, and up to date on their shots . All the animals in there were up to date on their shots and all the ones we saw up for adoption were already neutered or spayed. Granted, if you get a young kitten, they will need additional shots within the first few months, as they aren't old enoug yet for all their shots. Some of the animals were being treated for small things (e.g., ear infection). The shelter sent those animals home with any remaining meds they needed.

HTH.

Re: Shelter questions and adopting cats

Message edited 11/2/2008 3:29:34 PM.