NER: This is normal, right?

bunnybean

So I have mega baby fever, and I also have kitten fever.  I've decided kitten fever is safer.

So I've been on Craigslist and saw an ad for a litter of  7 week old kittens, $35 adoption fee, located in my city (not all the way in DC or MD).  Awesome!  I write the lady, ask if any are female.  She says, they're all female, which do I want.  Yay!  So I ask if I can come by to see them.  No response.

It's normal to ask to see the kittens first, right?  How was she planning to get the kitten to me without me coming over?

Is this woman too flaky?  Should I look elsewhere?

(disclaimer: these kittens are so cute it hurts).

talltalltrees

I think that's normal. Maybe she just has been busy or something.

How many kittens are you talking about?????

Also, since my cat died, DH really wants a kitten. We went to the shelter but it was too soon and too overwhelming. However if I had a big house and didn't already have two cats, I would have been unable to resist taking home all four tiny occupants of one of the cages. You looked down and there were these four tiny heads and eight huge eyes looking up at you. They were SO adorable. It hurt not to be able to take them home. But that's what i hate about the shelter - it hurts not to be able to take them ALL home.

EastSideFluffy

Is this with some rescue service or just some random person?  If it's a random person, I'd stay away.

But otherwise, she could have just gotten busy at work.  I wouldn't worry too much just yet.

bunnybean

So true, TTT.  Our family cat died when I was 14, and we finally felt ready to get a kitten a few months later.  The cat my parents have now was who we chose, and she was so tiny and different looking (she was only 4 weeks) that I had trouble warming up to her at first.  I felt disloyal to my other cat! But she was so affectionate and adorable, I had to love her.  She used to get right under your chin to warm herself (she still tries to do this now at 8 lbs). 

There are four kittens in this litter.  I should Fed Ex one to Atlanta!

Elizabeth81

I also have kitten fever.

But, I also have puppy fever. I didn't till I went over to my friend's house and played with her year-old Brittany (sp?) and he was just too cute.

bunnybean

It's just a random person, not a rescue.  Maybe that is sketchy! 

Lyss, your DH wants a full house!!  That could get crazy.

Yeah, I read that a shy cat like ours should have a similarly shy kitten added to the family so he doesn't feel overwhelmed.  Luckily our rat is undaunted by everything.  If given the opportunity (and our timid cat gets near enough), she will touch noses with him.  It's sooo cute.

jessawakawaii

don't pay for a kitten unless it's been wormed and had vaccinations. we're at the end of kitten season, but there should be tons of FREE kittens on craigslist, or kittens from a rescue that have already had their shots and come with spay/neuter coupons.

MarquisDoll

jessawakawaii:

don't pay for a kitten unless it's been wormed and had vaccinations. we're at the end of kitten season, but there should be tons of FREE kittens on craigslist, or kittens from a rescue that have already had their shots and come with spay/neuter coupons.

Ditto.  Kittens from individuals should be free.  She might just be busy, but this honestly sounds like a bit of a scam...like she expected you to pay her and then she never delivered.

talltalltrees

Good point, jess. Why is she charging an adoption fee if it's just a random person?? Our shelter charges $65 for a cat but it comes already neutered, microchipped, all the appropriate vaccinations and such (plus I'm sure some of it goes to support the shelter too). If it's just a random person, you're going to have to take them to the vet anyway. Hmm...

 

bunny, are you talking about taking all four or just one??

bunnybean

Interesting, I never though about charging being a bad call.  If I found some kittens and wanted to get them homes, I would definitely charge to make sure good people who care about kittens would be the ones inquiring.  Although I'd also take them to the vet, but I'm a crazy cat lady.

talltalltrees

Yeah I think we are going to wait until after the holidays to get a kitten. It's so soon after losing our other cat, I don't want to rush it. He had such a distinct and unique personality, I don't want to kind of like, expect this kitten to be the same, you know? Plus, with the baby coming, it wouldn't be fair to the kitten, since they need so much attention and it might get lost in the shuffle and craziness. So hopefully things will calm down enough over the holidays that we can bring one home.

bunnybean

Oh no, just talking about 1 kitten, TTT!  We already have one cat, one rat, and a 968 sq ft apt. 

talltalltrees

bunnybean:

Oh no, just talking about 1 kitten, TTT!  We already have one cat, one rat, and a 968 sq ft apt. 

Ahh ok. I thought four cats was a lot, but then, I don't know many people who love animals enough to adopt a homeless rat either, so you never know.

talltalltrees

Also, to fuel my kitten lust, can you send a link to the pictures of the kittens???

bunnybean

talltalltrees:

bunnybean:

Oh no, just talking about 1 kitten, TTT!  We already have one cat, one rat, and a 968 sq ft apt. 

Ahh ok. I thought four cats was a lot, but then, I don't know many people who love animals enough to adopt a homeless rat either, so you never know.

Haha, we are crazy animal people.  We know.  

Confession: I did not really want the rat at first.  I knew she needed a home and to be cared for since she is a domesticated rat, but I didn't want to be the one to take care of her.  Now I love her!  She's so much more fun than I thought she'd be!

Here's the listing:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pet/852279700.html

 

MarquisDoll

bunnybean:

Oh no, just talking about 1 kitten, TTT!  We already have one cat, one rat, and a 968 sq ft apt. 

Hey, that sounds spacious to me!

(My sorority sisters, all of whom lived in Manhattan at the time, said 'this is so big!' when they came to the housewarming of our 400 sq ft studio).

meshaliu

bunnybean:

  

Confession: I did not really want the rat at first.  I knew she needed a home and to be cared for since she is a domesticated rat, but I didn't want to be the one to take care of her.  Now I love her!  She's so much more fun than I thought she'd be!

Rats are great pets. We had several when I was growing up: Tiny, Tiny Jr., Shanene, and Mono Mono the Slender. I loved those rats. Good memories.

talltalltrees

OMG SO cute!!!!!

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping kitten?????

 

Which one do you want?

_Fenton

I know for dogs you're not supposed to give them away free because it decreases the chance dog fighting rings will take them to use as bait for training.  Maybe there's a similar concern for cats being more likely to be abused if given free?

bunnybean

I like the grey and white one and the black and white one, but DH likes the all grey.  Hard to say!!!  Really, I'd like any of them, and I'm more interested in their personalities; can't have anyone too rambunctious for Toonces, who is a wuss.

Fenton--that's what I thought.

jessawakawaii

it depends on if the kittens have their shots and have been wormed, but if not i would say a reasonable rehoming fee would be $10, just to ensure that the person wasn't taking a kitty willy-nilly. considering that you can get a cat spayed at the humane society (at least i can and did) for $30, i would say her rehoming fee is HIGH.

mysterons

The kittens are adorable. They say you should let the cat choose you, so you should go meet all of them and see which one claims you.

Brookles

Ack! So cute!

This lady sounds sketchball. Try to find some adorable kittens at a shelter, or at least from someone more reputable on craigslist -- maybe someone who's fostering rather than someone who seems like she might be lettering her cat have accidental litters.