[lelo]

Ok, so I took in this stray with four newborn kittens, but they grew up, and we've grown so fond of them...now they're 12 weeks old and I just cannot afford to keep them.

How do I make sure they go to responsible homes?
Where do I start?
I rang the local vet and the cheapest I could get them neutered and vaccinated and mico-chipped is $213 each...could i offer them for sale at $213? (or even $200) and pay a little myself?
I rang a local shelter, they will take them but there are no guarantees they'll not be 'put to sleep' and the thought of them trapped in little cages waiting for some one to notice them just breaks my heart.

Any advice from someone who has done this before?
What am I supposed to do, physically and mentally?
Kittens

[la di dah]

I did this, but I got in touch with a local cat rescue when I realized I was having kittens (after I got done going AAAAAAAAAH) - they went to their new homes desexed, and the adoption fee covered it and their first vaxes. I did all their care and stuff and they lived with me, but I could tell people honestly it's not MY fee and its certainly not money I got to keep, it was just the standard rescue rate that went to the rescue and they were okay with it because they got desexed and vaccinated kittens.

You might also want to check on local reduced desexing rates, though I think they tend to run them off and on. Sometimes it's only like 100 dollars.

I still cried when they went to their new homes.

Are you in Sydney? I could PM you.

[krich78]

Are you in Sydney? I would love one if I can convince my DH (may be hard we are already a two cat household....)

[lelo]

I'm just west of Melbourne la di dah and krich78 - thanks for your offer

If we didn't already have three cats (and will probably be keeping the kitten's mum as she is too unsociable for adoption) I'd keep them all!

[vitaechel]

Lelo - contact a no kill pet rescue like Pet's Haven and they will be able to help you.

[minimae]

Oh my, the little black and white one melts my heart. Wish I had room for one more pet. Good luck OP

[lelo]

vitaechel I will try Pet's Haven again, I contacted them when I first found the kittens, they were full then though.

I am also hesitant to try shelters as it still involves them being locked up and 'competing' for attention with hundreds of other kittens for an unknown amount of time.

[Regular Show]

Our animal welfare league in SA does those procedures for an extremely low rate. I would look into having it done somewhere similar in Melbourne if there is one

[Femboside]

I would keep hitting the phones. Hopefully you can find a rescue group that can help you - it might work out very well for them and you if you keep the cats at your place, look after them and pay for their upkeep, but they place them with new homes. Rescue groups are also likely to have contacts among vets who will do reduced rate desexing.

If you can't find an organisation (sorry - I only know a bit about the Sydney scene) and you need to do it alone then check out your local council to see if they have any deal with reduced rate microchipping (my old one certainly did) and also ring around with vets. My former vets was a teaching practice for the vet students and offered reduced rate desexing on days the students were being taught.

I'd keep any receipts for the desexing and chipping and make that the cost of adopting them from you. A stranger who wants an animal for free is not a good indication of a person who will be a responsible pet owner.

[lelo]

Thanks for the suggestions

A stranger who wants an animal for free is not a good indication of a person who will be a responsible pet owner.

I agree with this whole heartedly!

I guess I'll just have to arm myself with a list of shelters, pull myself together, and do some calls.

I keep making excuses and putting it off