Free kittens.. Not free?

Question

Why is it that people don't know that "free" kitten are not free?! free kittens are more expensive than the shelter cats. I see so many little kittens go to these homes where it is obvious that people don't know how to take care of them, and how much they really cost. I just saved 2 kittens within the past 4 months, and so far I have had to spend hundrends of dollars on them. After shots, and being fixed... they are not "free"... why don't people understand this?

People really amaze me at how utterly stupid they are. (not you guys that are responding).. but people that get these free kittens and expect to do nothing for them

Answer 1

You're right! Probably many of those looking for bargains don't bother with all the shots & may not get them fixed either.

Answer 2

Nothing, I repeat, Nothing is ever free.

But that doesn't mean those 'free' kittens aren't a great find. Yes you still have shots, food, litter, etc to get...but if you were to find someone (like me) who when our cats (ones we'd rescued and were already preggo) had kittens. We got all the kittens their first set of shots along with handed over any items the kitten had or liked while with us. So while not free, the kitten still came with things that made the deal 'sweeter' than not in some cases.

It does sadden me though that so many kittens get picked up free cause the young daughter wants one, but isn't able or knowledge to care for it so it gets taken away soon after cause the parents don't have the time for it.

Answer 3

These are the kittens that usually end up having 4 litters per year and adding to the overpopulation. Shelter cats are fixed, up to date on shots and get a free vet visit usually.

Answer 4

Because a lot of would-be pet owners are irresponsible, uncaring and stupid. They adopt "free kittens" for the same reason they adopt cute little puppies and then get rid of them when they get too large. People don't like to think things through, they think it's too much trouble to actually research a certain breed before adopting. There is no such thing as a "free" pet, but I doubt people will ever realize it: it's all too easy to just get rid of an animal once it becomes expensive or unruly due to lack of training.

Answer 5

Probably because that is only true if people who adopt the free kittens actually plan to take the kittens to the vet. Sometimes people aren't aware of the veterinary needs of animals, especially if they were raised in a household where pets were only taken to the vet if they were sick.

I worked in a vet hospital for several years. Soon after I started, I realized that I had no idea how many vaccines pets really needed or how beneficial neutering is for the pet.

Answer 6

Well, in my case....everytime I go to the shelter to get a cat I get turned down. One case I was successful and they take the cat back. I've been misjudged for not being able to take care of cats. Screw the animal shelter, they want so much criteria for you to adopt a pet. Yes it costs more to get a free pet, but i'd rather that than go through the hassle with the spca. I have 3 beautiful loving cats that I pray for. I spend money on them but I take could care of them. Sorry that the animals at the shelter miss out. But those pets given away for free would end up at the animal shelter at some point or end up on the road killed. To me it doesn't matter who spends the money, as long as those pets are in a good home. And for those pets who do not receive shots that they need by their owners, it is better to be in a place where they get food and water everyday, than out in the wild with the possibility of getting killed.

Answer 7

I got my friend the cat she wanted from a shelter once. She cost $160. Then she got sick (like the day after she went to her new home) and the vet bills cost over $500. The vet said the kitten was sick before I bought her from my friend, and that the shelter had lied to us about it. The shelter would not take the kitten back because she was sick. Over $600 later, my friend has a relatively heathly cat, but she still gets about 3 colds a year (and is an indoor cat, and the only animal in the house).

I got my first cat for free off of craigslist. I brought him to the Dumb Friends League, and got him neutered and his first set of shots for only $10. He has never been sick. He is a year and a half old now.

I got my second cat for $30 including her cat condo/scratching post combination, her litter, her litter box, and her food. I have yet to get her spayed because she is only 4 months old, and I am going to wait. She has only got sick once (a very very mild cold that went away in one day).

So all in all I have spent on my two cats (not including food and litter and toys) about $40 and will have to spend another $10 for the kitten to get fixed.

I have spent about $160 on my friend's cat (not including food and litter and toys)

She has spent about $500-700 on her cat (not including food, litter, and toys).

Therefore, My TWO "free" cats have cost only a fraction of what her ONE cat cost from a shelter.




I love my two cats more then anything in the world. I have brought the older one to the vet for all of his other shots. The kitten will be getting her first ones in a few months. I also bring them into the vet every year for a check up, and none of them have been sick. The oldest has gone twice, and the youngest once. I play with them all day. One is curled up taking a nap on my lap right now and the other is on the back of my chair. I trim their claws and they purr when I do. They get more love then they could possibly want.

Some of you are saying that those of us who get "free" animals do not love or take care of them.

I beg to differ.

They are my babies. They are my loves.

They get way way more money spent on them then I get spent on me.

The apartment is not mine: It belongs to the cats, they just let me stay here.

And they were free, and yes, I knew they would cost me money after I got them. Actually they cost me money *before* I got them. I had already bought the scratching posts and toys and food and litter and everything they would need, and then I got them. I've paid for everything they need (and don't need) and my vet doesn't charge me for checkups because she just *loves* my cats and says they are the sweetest most loving cats she has ever seen.

Answer 8

People get caught up in the "oh, what a cute kitten" mentality & don't think or plan ahead as to what happens when the cute kitten grows up into a cute cat.

That cute kitten is going to need vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery/food/toys/etc.

Answer 9

Kittens are just as much trouble as puppies when it comes to vet bills. I had to take my two in for shots for mange, fleas, ticks, feline lukemia, etc. The bill was $400!

Then six months later I had to take them back again for some other shots that came out to $260.

Then there is food, toys, crates, etc. It's like have furry kids.

Answer 10

You said it, its stupidity. People don't realize that what they are getting is a live animal, not a toy, that needs vet care and other costly items for responsible care. Like the girl who is keeping her cat in a cage until she is getting it declawed. Talk about stupid. Her cat should be taken away from her.

Answer 11

I don't think people should get animals for free, because then they don't value them. If they only cost ten dollars it would still make the cat worth something, and maybe people would take better care of them.
I can't comprehend someone not getting shots for their pets!