Don't buy kittens or get them for free
Hidden Costs Associated with Free Kittens or Cats
A free cat or kitten can seem like a bargain compared to getting an adopted cat from Community Cat Companions, Inc. Our adoption fee typically runs anywhere from $70 for an Adult cat to $100 per kitten. This might seem high; but it really isn't considering the time and expenses that went into getting the cat or kitten caught, vetted and socialized to be ready for adoption.
A Quick Story about a "FREE" Kitten
Four years ago, a feral cat showed up on our deck. We really didn't have much of anything to feed it; so we put out some old dehydrated treats. And, she ate them. So, we figured we had better get some real food. Over the span of the next several months we continued to feed "Blackie" until we realized she was pregnant. Community Cat Companions assisted us in trapping her once her kittens were weaned. We then trapped her four kittens. (Blackie Jr, Babar, Mittens and Samoa) Three of the kittens were adopted out through Community Cat Companions and one was given to my wife's friend. The kittens were adopted at $100. Samoa who was given away was taken by my wife's friend to her vet and vetted according to the typical procedures. The cost associated with full vetting ended up being closer to $500.
How do we cover these Costs?
Community Cat Companions is a 'Not for Profit' umbrella organization that is made up of many different local groups. We have volunteers from Lake County to Ashtabula County. Our organization works with other non-profits and different benefactors/partners to obtain grants and other funds. We also hold fund-raising events throughout the year to raise both awareness of our cause and cash to fund it.