Why Adopting a Free Kitten Isn’t Always a Good Idea

It can be difficult to pass by kittens that are given away for free. Walking through the market or passage, you notice a man with a box and a sign: “I will give it to good hands for free.” Against common sense, you look into the box and see a bunch of tiny kittens. Their piercing meow touches your nerves, and your heart melts and loses its ability to resist. Should you take advantage of this opportunity?

Read on to find out why you should think twice before taking a free kitten outside.

The True Price of a Free Kitten

At first glance, it may seem that taking a kitten that someone wants to give away is a good deed. He needs a home and the person offering it is unable or unwilling to maintain it, and you are in a position to help. But the truth is that if you adopt a kitten from a stranger, it can lead to a lot of hidden problems and costs. Here are a few factors to consider:

• Unknown. You don’t know anything about the kitten or the person who gives it away. Of course, you can ask questions about the origin of the kitten, its character, medical history and try to get other useful information, but you should remember that this is a complete stranger who is most likely trying to get rid of the crumbs as soon as possible. How do you understand: what if he just says what you want to hear?
• Health problems. Your new kitty will need vaccinations, deworming, and treatment for fleas and other parasites, and when she’s old enough, she’ll need to be spayed so you don’t have to stand outside the store with a box of free kittens next time. All of this can lead to significant problems. Petfinder notes that initial veterinary bills associated with caring for a “free” pet can run into the thousands, while animal shelters take care of such things well in advance. And while the person giving away the kitten may claim to have already done all of this, the only way to know for sure is to visit the veterinarian.
• Too small kittens. The kitten may be too small to be sent to a new home. People who give away free kittens are often in such a hurry to get rid of them that they don’t wait until the proper time for the baby to be weaned and prepared for life in society, which can lead to behavioral problems as it matures.
• Stimulation of demand. You contribute to the reproduction of future free kittens. People giving away free kittens have already demonstrated their reluctance to neuter their cats. They will never be motivated to do so if it is easy for them to get rid of unwanted kittens.
• The effect of remorse. Most often, people who adopted a kitten for free, even from friends or relatives, later begin to regret their decision and either give the baby to someone else or leave it in an animal shelter. Petfinder cites a study by the National Council for the Study and Policy of Pet Population, which showed that cats adopted for free from friends or relatives are given to shelters more often than any other.
• A kitten from unfamiliar hands can be expensive. Even if the person giving away the kittens (or adult cat) first asked for payment, this does not necessarily indicate that he is a reliable person to adopt the animal from. At the shelter at any time you can find a lot of kittens who need a home, so it’s better to use this option than to look for a pet on Avito. If you want to adopt a purebred cat, make sure the cattery is reputable and can provide proper documentation of the kitten’s origins and veterinary history.

Better than free

If you think you’re ready to adopt a cat, the best alternative is to go to a reputable shelter. Cats in shelters are fully vaccinated, neutered or neutered and have health certificates. They are also observed for behavioral abnormalities.

Another advantage of going to a shelter is the opportunity to get help from qualified shelter staff in choosing the right pet for you. And remember that you are not only giving the kitten a new home, but also freeing up space in the shelter to save another animal.

The decision to adopt a kitten or pick up a stray cat from the street should never be taken spontaneously. In all cases, everything needs to be carefully thought out and researched. Accordingly, no matter how tempting the idea of ​​adopting a kitten for free may be, it is worth considering the hidden costs behind this “free” action and the benefits you can bring by contacting the shelter.