The Best Cat's Aren't Free Kittens

After a whole lot of begging, pleading and whining over the course of several months; I finally convinced all of the members of our family that we should "get a kitty". We decided that we shoud get a cute little itty bitty kitty that would grow up with us and really bond with us - or so we once thought.......

For a few weeks we searched local farms, classified ads, even kijiji, to no avail. "It's just not kitten season", we're told. "But, there are lots of full-grown cats for adoption"! "Go to the Animal Shelter" everyone tells us.

A few days ago while getting my daily coffee fix; I inquired to the local coffee shop gal if she knew of anyone who might have "free kittens"? Her words were: "There used to be this couple that came in here all the time and they didn't get their cat spayed..... so, she kept having kittens and at one point they said they had like nine cats (because their cat kept having kittens)". "But, I haven't seen them for a few months now.....if I see them, I'll get their number for you and let you know".....

I started thinking about how much a "free" kitten would actually end up costing. I called different local vet clinics checking prices for vaccinations, spaying/neutering and and was absolutely amazed at the prices differences between the local vets. It's really worth it to shop around and check references with other pet owners. Plus, I also thought Vet offices just might have the "inside scoop" on where I might find a kitten. "Go to the Animal Shelter" is what everyone told me!

My co-worker warned me about her bad experience with a "free" kitten. She said they soon discovered the poor little thing had distemper and had to be euthanized. Can you imagine? Getting the kids all excited about a new kitten, only to have to put it down a week later? That's too sad!
I had to think about this rationally ...
We are not home all the time.
A new kitten needs to be supervised all day long.
New kittens like to scratch and chew things, like wires.
A kitten will climb things (like my curtains) and what if it can't get down by itself or worse, hurts itself?
And, I'm just imagining how cranky Johnny will be when our new kitty is running laps around our bedroom at 2am.
Then there's Harlen (who is only 4 years old). Maybe he'll be too rough on a little kitten?
Maybe a kitten just isn't suitable for our lifestyle..... I wonder?

I decided it was best to do the responsible thing and go to the Bowmanville Animal Shelter. This way, we know their kittens will have a clean bill of health and will have the first vaccines and deworming already done. From what I hear, the word is: the Bowmanville Animal Shelter always has kittens for adoption.

One day after school, my oldest boy Jake and I decided to visit the shelter. Of course there were no kittens, really. After all "It's not kitten season". The youngest kittens they had were about 5-6 months old and they were cute, but not what we came for.
There were 2 cats in the North room, a nice older cat and one younger one. The tabby was still kitten-ish, very soft and not quite full grown (a year old at the most, I thought...) The room, wrapped around 2 sides of the wall with a window and this young tabby kept jumping up and over things to follow us around; she seemed to be smiling at us and wanting to play. It was like she was trying to show off for us. It really amused us.
"I want that cat", Jake announced. I'm stunned. And I whispered to Jake: "Don't you have your heart set on a little itty bitty kitty, you know - like 8 weeks old"? And he replied with: "Yeah, but look at this one, Mom - she's a great cat, looks like she really likes us, too". "Everybody wants kittens, nobody wants these cats, so we'd be giving her a second chance wouldn't we, Mom"? "Please mom, can we get this cat"?
I was speechless. I knew I really liked that cat too, but I wasn't ready to admit it.....
"Let's go home, have some dinner and talk about it some more....we can come back tomorrow".

That night, I couldn't stop thinking about that darn cat. I just loved it's antics. She was a winner for sure. I was also surprised to learn just how wise my twelve year boy old is. To see him display such compassion for the animals was really heartwarming. I was truley touched and proud. I knew he was right. How could I argue with him, I thought?

All of the cats at the Bowmanville Animal Shelter are really nice and I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to take all of them home (but that would just make me as a crazy cat lady and I somehow don't think they'd let us do that). Cats need permanent owners. Most of the cats there wanted to check you out and wanted affection. I know they all get lots of attention and great care at the shelter. But, it's still not a life for a cat.
Responsible owners should spay or neuter their animals and don't abandon them when they move across town! The staff do an amazing job of caring and cleaning up after the animals. You can tell they really care and do their jobs well.

The next day, I decided to take another trip down to the Bowmanville Animal Shelter. I walked in and saw she was still there (phew, good thing - it's my lucky day, I thought). I promptly told someone, "I want to adopt that cat" (and pointed to her). I knew she was already vaccinated, spayed and micro chipped (which saves me a whole lot of hassle and expense at the Vet's Office). I didn't really know to much about her history, and I didn't think I'd care to know. I just knew she was the one. Both Jake and I fell in love with her at first sight.

"That's Poppy" I was told. So, I filled out the forms and was soon "approved" to adopt her. While my application was being processed, one staff member told me: "Poppy is the last of a litter of nine that we got in last summer". "She was found abandoned in front of the Zeller's in Bowmanville". "Someone found nine (3 or 4 month old kittens) crammed into this tiny carrier built for one adult cat or a small dog) on the hottest day of the summer".

It never ceases to amaze just how stupid and cruel humans can be.

Then I remembered what the the coffee shop gal told me a few days ago. When you put two and two together.....Well, let's just say: The people who left these poor kittens to rot in the hot sun, last summer.......she's probably served them coffee, but "hasn't seen them in a while".
I know I have made the right decision to adopt this poor little thing (that has spent over half of it's short life-in a shelter).
We did a good deed today.

No where else can you get such a great deal on a "free" kitten. Let's be honest people....kittens are never FREE (even if they're giving them away)! You are going to spend at minimum $600 plus in the first year for proper vet care and that doesn't include the cost to feed the animal!

This cat is already vaccinated, dewormed, spayed and micro chipped and all for just a mere $130.00. What a deal! That's just a fraction of what it would cost at any decent vet clinic. I also have free pet insurance for a while! I need not worry about another booster shot or health check up until next fall. I spent another $25 getting pet supplies: a litter box, litter, poop scoop, food, toys, treats, and this cool rubberized mitt that is a cat brush on one side and a lint brush on the other side...love it!

When I brought "Poppy" home, I brought her to the laundry room, (which will be the permanent location for her litter box). On the other side of the room, I gave her food, water and made her a little bed. In a few days, (when she's not so freaked out about her new surroundings) I 'll move the food and water to the kitchen upstairs. She's just a little bit frightened right now. This is all new to her and it will take some time for her to warm up to us and our home. I keep checking on her and she'll come right up to me, wanting affection. She'll let you pat her for a little while and then she'll do circles around the laundry room, hide and come back for more. I expect it will take some time before she knows she can trust us. She purrs like a little motor boat and clearly wants to be loved! I know she's going to be a great addition to our family and I've never been so happy to have not found a "free" kitten!

I think we'll re-name her "Marley".

I've already made plans for Johnny's next project - A cat condo and scratching post! (Hopefully, I can source some free carpet scraps from the carpet guy I know). We can forage for spare untreated wood and we'll build our new kitty a perch for her window viewing, scratching and napping pleasures!

Oh, and if you hear of someone looking for an Aloe Vera plant, I have one available, totally FREE! I can't keep it - Aloe Vera is poisonous to cats; who knew?

So, if you are wanting a "kitten" to join your family..... I strongly encourage you: please check your Local Animal Shelter, first. You will be surprised by the number of nice cats available for adoption and may just decide that a "free" kitten isn't such a great deal, after all!

P.S. To Miranda (Marley's former "cell mate"): We're spreading the word about you, kitty! (Such a lovely, affectionate and beautiful cat). We've got our fingers and paws crossed that you'll have a new home soon, too! Somebody out there wants a kitty just like you - we're only sorry we couldn't take two!