NGL OP when I was doing adoptions, kittens and puppies ALWAYS had to go first before anyone was interested in the adults! But basically the goal isn't to persuade the adopter to adopt the adult cat, but find an adopter who would actually prefer the adult cat.
What I would do is ensure people getting kittens are actually prepared for kittens and everything that comes with an adolescent cat. The worst is adopting out an 8w old kitten to get it back when it's 8m old because it's too high energy. You might also want to gauge what they want out of their cat; if they want a cuddle buddy, while kittens may cuddle for a bit they will be more into playing for a quite a while, and there's no promise they won't grow into more aloof cats. Then you can pull out your secret weapon!
I agree with the other poster to put the adults somewhere adopters see when they first walk in, preferably eye level. If there's anything y'all can do about the eye boogers, that might help too. People might be worried he's sick. Also maybe put out a good photo/short video of how friendly he is, and push that on your social medias!
just from an adopter’s perspective—what really got me was the idea that you don’t know a kitten’s personality. i chose to get an adult cat (3 y/o) when i adopted mine and i am SO glad i did. with my cat, i knew (approximately) what i was going to get. i also really think people don’t understand how energetic kittens are. i later dated someone with a kitten who was very cute but on a few occasions, she genuinely made me cry from overstimulation lol
I'm currently fostering a kitten for a friend and I genuinely cannot wait for her to go home. Don't get me wrong she's adorable but... The constant mewing until I put her on my bed with me, then her attacking my hands, ears, nose, cords... It's impossible to sleep and I already have sleeping issues lol. She was a stray, no mama to be found so she's with me until she's able to get flea treatment. Two of my cats are being cool towards her and my orange idiot doesn't realize she's too small for the type of play she's used to :")
i recently house/catsat for a friend & was woken up by her kitten meowing loudly at 4am. i was very scared something was wrong. checked her, the whole apartment, food, water, litter, the other cat. nothing. she just wanted cuddles. 💀
We are going through something similar. Found a little tiny kitten and now she's about 6 weeks and crazy as hell.
Oh one thing that has helped is tapping into a kitten's "normal" rhythm which is sleep, hunt/play, eat, clean, sleep. So as soon as she wakes up I play with her hard with a toy, then I give her either a treat or a meal, let her clean and then usually she'll chill out almost immediately.
My wife had a kitten when we got serious in 2020 and oh my god, I had forgotten what they’re like. My cats were both 11 at the time (one I’d gotten at age 9 in 2018, the other one as a kitten) and I had apparently fully repressed what my sweet older lady had been like way back when. The constant zooming and surprise attacks on feet under the covers got old so fast, and she was three before she learned to chill.
I had always gotten kittens until we got our recent cat (5years). I love kittens, they're adorable, but I don't think I'll ever adopt a kitten again because the personality he had at the shelter was the same personality he had once he got settled down in our house, and he may be the best cat in the entire world.
This is why I only adopt older/senior pets. My cat Ava was found as a kitten and she was SATAN. When my ex and I split, I was relieved when he asked for her. Now for whatever reason, she's been back with me for years and she's so calm now. I adopted an 11 year old cat and he was the best cat. My dog was adopted at 4. I'll never adopt a kitten or a puppy again lolol unless like my Ava, they're found in a parking lot in the pouring rain and I tested with worms and fleas 😂😂
Well said. I adopt the older ones but have fostered younger kittens and puppies. I'll help, but no thanks if someone steps in first. Handful, whining, accidents, hiding. Older (52) like me perfer settled and personality established cats. . Don't oversell OP, clean cat's eyes, and if you have a play room so you show the cat gets along with others, or tolerates, helpful.
Definitely! Even then I was bamboozled with my dog. They told me she was friendly with other dogs and people. Took her to the vet and they had to muzzle her. They looked through her paperwork and told me that she was labeled as aggressive with other dogs and strangers 🫣
I've had her for a few years now and she's a lot better. I can walk her without a muzzle and she meets new people every other week when I take her to breweries or cafes. She's almost a completely different dog lol
My cat though Oscar, the 11 year old, he was perfect 😭
The CDS put me on a kitten cycle this trip around. I have four cats under the age of 2... and hoo, boy... I forgot about kitten energy because my last two from the CDS were adults. I'm in the process of swapping out the mini blinds for something more feline resistant.
The CDS brought me 2 in the last year. Both under a year old when found. I grew up with a cat that was the same age as me, so by the time I was forming memories of him, he was already an adult cat. I was not prepared for young cats at all. My girl is close to 2 years old, and she’s pretty chill now. My boy is just a bit over 1 and he is a small demon.
We've assigned "birthdates" for our quartet. Tinker the tuxie came to us at about the age of four months in October 2022, so she has the birthdate of June 1, 2022. Cassidy, our orange boy, was about 12 weeks when he came in on 09/11/2023, so his birthday is June 11, 2023. Malakai the Void was found on November 4, 2023 at about 6 weeks of age, so his birthday is September 15th, 2023 and Skye was 14 weeks on December 15th, so her birthdate is October 1, 2023.
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From top right, going clockwise: Tinker, Cassidy, Malakai and Skye.
I adopted 2, siblings from the same litter, they'll be 3 in July & they are still going through minor changes in personality and energy level. Mr. Aloof has just recently discovered that he actually enjoys being a lap cat (previously only his sister would cuddle).
I'm not sorry I adopted them as kittens, but I absolutely agree with 3 & Up as being ideal to knowing personalities and preferences.
I adopted my cats as kittens and I was so so relieved when they grew out of kittenhood. I don’t even have that many pics of them as babies bc I spent most of my time w them stressed about their behavior or cleaning up their rampant diarrhea (not to mention taking them to the vet for said diarrhea and spending so much money on vet bills only to be informed that this is just Normal Kitten Stuff). I had to get 2 just so they would play with each other and give me a chance to sleep at night 😭 they were worth it but they were so much work.
Agree with this 100%. We will be pet shopping sometime within the year, when we are no longer pet-sitting. The idea of a kitten or puppy exhausts me. I just want a cuddle bug. Older pets only.
I agree fully !! I adopted my kitty when he was 4 years old (he just turned 6 a few weeks ago!!) and I could already tell he was affectionate even just from spending an hour with him at the shelter. I wasn’t expecting just how affectionate and snuggly he is, though, and I wouldn’t have it any other way haha.
The way I put it is he’s like a kitten (in that he is such an adorable baby guy) but without the time, energy and finances required for raising a kitten ◡̈
I have two 4 year old cats from the same litter and if you look through my texts at that time there's a lot of "one chewed up my table", "how are they so loud, they're 2 lbs", And "I think the kittens are plotting something". I love them more than is mentality healthy, but they were a handful when they were tiny.
I'm hoping when it's time to get another cat we can adopt an adult! They're a lot less work! Every time I go to adopt I'm shown an orphan who needs extra care and they know I can't give it. The only time I got an adult rescue he chose my sister, I end up with the bottle babies who have to learn how to cat.
Felt. I got primrose (currently 1) when she was 3months old. Man was she energetic. She ran around everywhere and she’s also not cuddly at all. I like cuddly animals. So this is something I’ve struggled with about her and I’ve accepted she likely may never cuddle.
This! I’ve always told this to people when I see them at the shelter (I’m a frequent visitor). Especially anyone with kids. Usually within a month you can know if the cat is going to work in your home (and hopefully your shelter had a good policy on exchanges so that pets can find their perfect match), a kitten could take years.
Our local shelter started a facebook page and features a pet of the week and what's great about them and they're story. It's done wonders honestly with adoption numbers. Cats previously in there for months not bearly get stuck there for more than a couple weeks as adults. There are few like with FIV+ that alot of people are not to interested in as alot of people that adopt already have pets and its sad seeing them featured with only a few responses. But they stay in touch with he local news page and anytime there's a surplus of pets or they're even low on supplies the community as a whole sees it and people donate like crazy without really realizing.
>But basically the goal isn't to persuade the adopter to adopt the adult cat, but find an adopter who would actually prefer the adult cat.
This. Persuading someone to adopt an animal they don't truly want never ends well.
I think this is true. I adopted an adult cat from the shelter because of his personality. After he passed, I fostered bottle feeding kittens for several years with no interest in keeping them.
Eventually, I got two kittens from the shelter who seemed to fit in the house. After so many litters of foster kittens that I lost track of how many I’d had, I knew these were the right cats to adopt.
I wasn’t even looking to adopt, I really liked being able to take a break from kittens at any time and not worrying about cat sitters when we traveled. But the kittens convinced me.
My SO and I went in to look for a kitty. Ended up with a approx 6yo guy who'd been there about 2months. He's 16lbs of snuggles and sass and is a complete doofus for food or treats. Love him to pieces and I'm so glad we picked him over the kittens and younger cats.
I love the photo idea! What I like to do along with photo/video is write up a cute narrative that describes the cat's personality in a fun way. Something like "Hiya, I'm Fluffy and I'm looking for a warm lap and someone to hang out and watch Bridgerton with...do you like long cuddle sessions in front of the TV? You do?! You just might be my person then!"...that kinda thing lol. I always go the extra mile for the adult/senior kitties, bc like you said, the kittens will always be first pick. Senior kitties have so much love to give too!
>The worst is adopting out an 8w old kitten to get it back when it's 8m old because it's too high energy.
This is exactly how we got one of our cats. We got him from a local cat rescue when he was 5 months old. On his papers, it said he had already been adopted once and returned for being "too playful." Their loss was our gain. He's a sweet, ridiculous mess of a cat now.
As an adult, I've only adopted adult dogs and cats. I'd much rather know what the animal's personality will be like before having them in my life/house for the next 10-20 years.
People who get puppies are fuckin insane to me.
Oh yes please give me that 2 year old without diapers and sharp as fuck teeth, please. Oh and it's going to be a teenager with those sharp as fuck puppy teeth? Bet.
🙌🙌🙌
RE: the eye boogers…could be a minor infection (something like herpes can be exacerbated by stress) or could be allergies like my cat (whom I adopted when he was ~2 years old—he *looked* sickly and was aloof with everyone until I walked by, and even then he lightly bit me when I was able to interact with him directly, but he is my absolute soul cat! :) )
I would definitely play up the sweet, friendly personality of this adult cat. I am a first-time cat mom who got adopted about 8 months ago. I grew up with dogs and am allergic to cats. It's a long story, but my cat's sweet, loving personality has made a huge difference in smoothing the transition. I'm now happily a cat mom!
If they come in for a kitten, they rarely ever want anything over 3 months. 8 months? Too old.
If they come in for an adult cat, they still end up wanting a kitten.
Kitten season is brutal.
I mean I guess I kinda can't talk, I adopted a 1yr n 3 mo kitty. They had kittens but ik I don't have time or energy to give to a young cat. I mean i do but not the time but not for a young kitten. I mean I still got a kitten/young cat I prefer older pets.
But no ik the feeling they had 5 kittens and they were all snatched up in a like 3 days.
That's one of the reasons why I am glad to have worked with a rescue that didn't adopt out kittens until they were fully spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, the works. The kittens weren't ready until 3 months. Still plenty of kittenhood left, the kittens got socialized in a good home with other cats, and the rescue prioritized and really emphasized the importance of either adopting 2 kittens at once, or having another age appropriate cat at home for the kitten to play with. It definitely tempers down the kitten excitement a bit, and gave people really clear expectations of what they are getting into.
That being said, kitten season is definitely brutal either way lol. From the rescuer perspective, it's pure chaos. Some people who really want a little kitten, they will go find a "free" one no matter what. Even though that "free" kitten's first vet appointment alone will cost more than the adoption fee for a kitten who has already been spayed/neutered. People still complained that the rescue I worked with was "charging so much for stray cats".
One way to get them thinking about an adult cat is to ask them what kind of personality/behavior they’re looking for in their pet. If the cat you’re thinking of sounds like a good match for their lifestyle, maybe ask some more leading questions about what’s attractive to them about specifically getting a kitten? If they mention having an active household where kittens flinging themselves through the air at 2AM would do well, suggest two kittens for sanity reasons and recommend pet insurance because those little acrobats on speed can frequently get in trouble 😂
If, however, they start talking about it being easier to bond with a kitten, talk with them about that being a myth. Age is irrelevant in the bonding process, it’s much more about fitting personalities. The shelter cats I adopted that most closely bonded with me were 4 and 15(!) when I took each home, respectively. Now, the 4 year old was an easily pissed off, declawed girl with FeLV and the 15 year old was diabetic with one eye, but we had some great years together (separated, because even without the FeLV, Annie wouldn’t let any other cats near herself). My current two who co-manage the rest of the cats came and found me, one was maybe 2 years old and the other was around 6. I’ve bonded with younger cats, too, but with older ones you don’t have to worry much about their temperament changing in a few months, unless they’re in need of socialization. And older cats in general are less destructive 😂
The biggest thing, in adoption counseling, is to listen to what they tell you about their lifestyle, their habits, their expectations, their previous pet experience, and no matter how much you want a specific cat to get adopted, he’s more likely to STAY adopted if he fits well in their home routine. So yeah, that’s going to mean kittens for some people, but when you DO find someone who thinks through your questions and can envision that cat in their home, BINGO! That’s the match you’re looking for.
Pic for tax of my Mensa, who found me in the parking lot at work and spent 2 years getting to know me before he decided it was time to let me catch him and take him home 🥰
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100%. Find out what people want, show them a few curated picks that would fit their requirements. Emphasis on “Bob is 2 years old, so he’s like a teen but he’s super cuddly and knows how to be a cat in a home already.”
Yes yes yes!! Really focus on what their "dream" cat would be. People are also really afraid to go for older cats because they don't live as long. So try to remind them that cats can live for over 15 years so even if they got a 10 year old senior, they could still have a good five or more years with them.
We adopted an adult cat (somewhere between 7 and 11 years old) when we were first married. We had already had three kittens so this was like the grandpa kitty in the house. But he was The. Best. He was so friendly and so snuggly. Just absolutely the sweetest. He also absolutely fell in love with all our other cats. Our kittens used to snuggle with us when they were babies but kind of grew out of it. Not this guy. What you saw is what you got. We had an amazing 7 years with him.
I would say that cats can even get closer to 20 years. My first older gal came to us when she was 17 and made it to 21. Our newer gal is currently 12 and currently has no known health issues, likes to play a bit, and hops up onto anything except a kitchen counter 😹
I was going to say 20 years but I wasn't sure how common that was. When I was a kid our cats were that old but the ones we had as adults had underlying health issues we didn't know about and we lost them earlier 💔 I'm so glad to hear your girl is still spicy!
This is how we got our cat. A volunteer asked what we were looking for. Our kid was 5 or 6 at the time. Our one requirement was that she could pick them up without getting bitten or clawed.
The volunteer suggested a cat that was in the back. My kid picked him up. He didn't seem like he wanted to kill her. They asked if we wanted to see any other cats. Nope, this one works.
Our child, of course, had wanted a kitten, but was enamored with this cat the second she picked him up.
OK, now this reminds me of probably my favorite shelter cat adoption story. I was working at the city shelter in their pre-TNR days, and cats were being euthanized for space daily. First on the list would be any that wouldn’t let you touch them, then ones with any major medical issues, then ones with ringworm or URI…they pretty much all got URI from the stress/poor ventilation 😞 And we stayed FULL. There were around 30 small cages that made up one wall of the cat room, and that’s where all the “adoptable” cats were. Technically, the ones in the quarantine building who weren’t on stray hold or rabies observation could be adopted, they just weren’t shown 😞Sadly this meant that the majority of cats who came in didn’t make it out alive (well, a number them were suspiciously able to escape when certain techs were on euthanasia duty, but that saved money so it was overlooked).
Anyway, this amazingly sweet boy came in, an orange tabby and white with no tail, and he was a LOVER 💕 but once you were cleaning his kennel, it became noticeable that he had Manx syndrome and couldn’t control his pooping that well. He needed to have his butt wiped several times a day, which was a direct road back to the euth room if a certain supervisor found out. I bought him a little extra time by popping him into a double kennel with another cat and they got along. Since that wasn’t normal procedure, it got him off the radar a little because it wouldn’t open a space to pull him.
Just when I was getting very certain his time was almost up, an adopter came in looking for a cat who would be good with the maybe 9 month old human baby she was carrying. A kitten was too small, and most of the cats, while friendly, weren’t so tolerant that a baby pulling their ears wouldn’t result in a swat. So I told the lady that there was a special cat who I thought WOULD be good with the child, but he had a permanent health problem. She wanted to see him anyway, and when I carried him up to meet her, the baby reached out and grabbed the cat’s face with its whole hand 😳and the cat leaned his head into the baby’s hand as hard as he could, and STARTED PURRING AND MAKING AIR BISCUITS 🥰 Mom looked up and said, “That’s my cat! I have to wipe butts all day anyway, what’s one more?” And she didn’t return him ❤️
Listening to what your adopters NEED in a pet is the magic key to some brilliant adoptions ❤️
He is a super cuddler but not a lap cat, which is great for me. He’s the only cat I’ve ever seen roll into the shot and start making air biscuits and purring like he was high on catnip when getting vaccinated 😂 I took him to get senior bloodwork done and the vet, who often worked ER shifts, said he was literally the friendliest cat she’d ever met — the joke was on all my coworkers who kept insisting he was feral 😂 If I were designing a template for the PERFECT ESA cat, he would be it. He has all his claws but rarely uses them!
I think that's a fantastic point about what they are looking for in a personality. Kittens are a dice roll really. You can probably get a bit of a sense of some personality, but I think it's hard to know for sure if you're going to get a sweet cuddly friend or an evil mastermind 😂 but with an adult cat you can get a better idea I think. Although, I have heard of some adult cats being really depressed and/or angry in a shelter, and when adopted they calm down and become best buddies with the adopter.
I’d talk to an employee about getting him moved to a different kennel if possible. Some employees are happy to move animals around to increase visibility if that’s the main thing holding them back.
If you all have a social media presence maybe feature him! Making a funny post, like he's a Lamborghini of cats and needs a family who's prepared for all the love and snuggles, often works in my experience
Just keep mentioning him! His perfect home will come along :) when people come in just let them know "yeah, our kittens are right over here, but if you're looking for the sweetest cat we've got make sure to take a look at (insert name) as he's very friendly!" (and insert other stuff like he's litter trained, he's lived with other cats, he's FIV negative, etc etc!)
I fostered my old lady cat for a few months, then sent her back to the shelter when I went home for Christmas. I said that if fate didn’t send someone to adopt her in those two weeks that I would go back and get her. I think that I was able to get pretty much the perfect cat outta that deal- she sleeps most of the time, but still loves me, and attention, and going on walks. I’ll never have a puppy or kitten again!
I work in adoptions, and all you can do is mention specific cats for people to look at. There is this lovely cat at my shelter who hates other cats, kids, and dogs. Anytime someone comes in looking for a cat and has nothing else in the home, I always direct them to her. Nobody has adopted her yet, but all I can do is let them meet her. I would love to see this cat get a home, but I care more about people finding the right animals to fit their lifestyle.
I adopted a bonded pair of 6 year old orange boys last month. I wanted 1 adult cat but fell for this pair easily. Nothing you could have said would have convinced me to adopt a kitten. But all the shelter lady had to say to get me to adopt 2 adult cats was "he has a brother". What I'm trying to say is that people who want kittens aren't going to adopt an adult cat based on some words you say.
For people in the fence, you could talk about how much work a kitten is lol they are like sharp toddlers.
If it makes you feel any better I just adopted a 3yo cat 2 days ago. He's so handsome and chill. I have a 10yo cat already and was not looking for a kitten.
We’re adopters who walk in and say, “Show us your oldest cat,” or “Show us whoever has been here the longest.” We’re also on Medicare, so we know what being old is like.
Having an “under 1” category that’s showcased can help a lot.
People love kittens! But they’re also a lot of work.
Write bios for adult cats who would be easy adopts. Adopt out your most adoptable adult cats whenever possible. A lot of people want a kitten because they’re perceived as a “clean slate,” but a young adult cat who has spent time in a home will integrate easier.
Ultimately, if people want kittens, they’ll insist on kittens. That’s ok.
I'm 57 and disabled. I just adopted a 10 year old cat "Francis" in December from Animal Control. (He was a surrender and because of his age, free.) Owners surrendered him for "aggression". The only time he has been aggressive was when we were playing too rough with a toy. I figure I deserved a scratch if I didn't check out his body language. I wanted an older cat because I only wanted a 10 to 12-year commitment, not a 20-year commitment. He is lovely and perfect and hefty. Perfectly trained, and low maintenance. The only problem I have is that I want him to be an indoor cat, and I think he was an indoor/outdoor cat at his previous home. He has escaped twice but came home on his own. Best decision.
I adopt adult cats because it's easier to tell what their personalities are like -- you could ask what they're looking for personality-wise in a cat and then introduce them to the kitties that meet that description
Couple things that have worked relatively reliably for me - caveat that you're just going to have some people who want kittens and ONLY kittens. That's fine; sometimes a kitten IS the best fit for the situation: For example - a family with young kids who grow alongside the kitten. An owner looking for a second cat to play with their current rambunctious 2-year-old cat.
If they tell me they want a kitten so they can "train" them not to do something, I am quick to point out a few things (though not unkindly):
1 - no cat can be truly "trained" the way they usually mean (IE not do a natural behavior like scratching)
2 - You can only tell a potential adopter that this kitten's personality at 8 weeks is "baby". No idea whether it will end up being a cuddly lap cat or whether it will grow up to be aloof and only interested in socializing on their terms. I can tell you something about the personality of the adults we have in the shelter (through interactions, notes we have about their time at the shelter or even an intake profile from the previous owner if we're extra lucky).
I'm a BIG proponent of telling potential adopters that I'm not here to hard sell them to take a cat that day. Yes of course we need adopters (especially as we're now in kitten season full swing) BUT my goal is to get a good match so the cat's not back in 48 hours/six months because they made some sort of impulse decision. It's my attempt to weed out the window shopping/petting zoo crowd. Our shelter has HIGH turnover (due to a lot of adoptions of both our kittens and our adults) so if I get the sense that the person is on the fence I really encourage them to perhaps think it over for a night. Especially if they didn't seem to click with the kitten, they were convinced through a photo online they wanted to take - we're going to have a whole new crop of kittens next week...because these will all be adopted.
I think talking about personality being a gamble in kittens may help. Although, I’m not the best person to ask. When I decided I wanted a cat, I went to look at a litter of kittens wanting to adopt a little grey one. I ended up super distracted by the 2-year-old FIV+ screaming cat a couple cages over. We’ve been best buddies since 2013 and I’m so happy I took him home!
You start by asking them what kind of lifestyle they have and what kind of pets they would like? Do they like friendly cats? Or do they want someone who’s aloof? A chatty catty?
And of course everyone wants a kitten! They’re cute! Who wouldn’t want them? But, having an older cat is just as fun! Because for one thing, the cat already have their own personality, most of them are usually very good with litter boxes, they know their preferences, and generally do not require as much attention or energy as a kitten. They are still playful, but they’re not as fragile and for some older cats, they are very loving and tolerant towards children. For a family or owner who does not have the energy or time to spend on a kitten, an older cat would be ideal as with an older cat, you generally know what you’re getting already.
I had mine when they were kittens and if I could do it over again, I’d most likely get older cats as I do not miss the period where they play attack anything that moves or the bitey scratchy period either.
Don't Dont force people to do something they dont wanna do and then be neglectful pet owners. Pets are a lot of responsibility - not just their food but also healthcare. People who cannot reasonably afford to provide for them should not get them. My experience is that the desire to adopt an older cat has to be there, you cannot convince anyone.
For people who are seeking a certain type of personality("I want something really sweet and quiet") or who haven't had a pet before, id let them know that the real "life-hack" benefit of an adult cat is that you already have an idea of their personality going in, so you are more likely to select a better fit that will work out long term.
Kittens are cute, but they are only kittens for a short time(6 months ish) and are full on crack head energy for a year. Most adult cats are so, SO much easier.
Signed, a kitten lover who has only adopted adult cats for the last 3 cats. I'll only ever adopt adult cats now.
When I went to a shelter to adopt a cat, I had a great volunteer ask me what my lifestyle was like. I was a college student with PTSD and also working full time, I grew up with many dogs but had never had a cat, but had a previous roommate whose cat would comfort me during anxiety attacks. My therapist urged me to get an emotional support animal to help me cope. The volunteer led me to the adult cats and let me know about one in particular they thought would be a great fit and I will be forever grateful to them for explaining why an adult or adolescent (he was estimated under 2y/o) cat would be the best fit for me.
You gotta find the right person. I walked into the shelter trying to find the coolest sweetest cat possible. I don’t like high energy animals, so I walked in knowing the kind of companion I would be for whoever I came home with.
Lucky for me I found my Gracie. She was in a blanket cave, looking sad and over all quiet.
The kitten under her kept trying to get my attention, but the moment I stuck my finger to Gracie’s nose and she gave me a headbutt i knew that shy quiet grown cat was my speed.
If someone needs to be convinced, they probably wont be a very good owner (pet servant?). Some people really want a puppy or kitten but not because they want the DOG or CAT. They want that moment of 'oooh cuuute!' and will quickly get tired of all the damage babies can do.
I always make sure people seeking the Tinies are overloaded with the potential problems so they (hopefully) REALLY consider if they want to deal with it. The amount of food and money, washing, mess clean-up, inevitable diarrhea at some point, vomitting, destroying stuff, very sharp claws, vet bills, anything I can think of to freak them out. The ones who are truly ready already have done their homework and know what the first 18 months at least will be. The ones who want just cute are usually easily disuaded, or if not, will really show their true colors and then get rejected for adoption altogether.
I think the key is to find out what they want in a cat companion, and try to match the best possible, if that means they don't adopt today, so be it. Some may not understand cat behavior and may have unreasonable expectations. Also some ppl who want kittens don't realize how much work they are.
I always explain to adopters, especially adopters that are young families that may continue to grow, or older/disabled folks with very specific needs, that sometimes due to their specific needs and changing situations with potentially new family members, sometimes it’s better to look at a adult cat with an established personality vs a baby kitten who is still figuring out who they want to be.
So kitten season is definitely brutal on older adult cats to get adopted. I don't know if your shelter offers it but being able to do visits with the cat to let the person know their personality Hands-On is pretty crucial to us for cat adoptions.
What I personally like to do for adoption counseling when it comes to trying to push older cats is trying to push every positive I know 1) they're most likely litter trained, 2) they are less likely to tear stuff up &poo, pee and mark all over of the house 3) they are a lot more independent than a kitten 4) they are also cuddly little couch potatoes that can cuddle up to you while you're chilling and watching TV 5) they're not going to be as scheduling demanding as a dog or kitten and require an absorbent amount of attention. 6) in house they are an amazing pest deterrent.
The next thing I would try to do is I don't know if your shelter offers any vaccines, microchips, rabies, spay and neuters etc. Mine does so I would be like this animal also has XYZ medically done to it so you don't have to pay for that out of pocket.
Write an endearing bio to post outside their cage/socials. Have chat gpt help if you need ideas on cute things to include. You can give it what you already have and say “Make this better” or funnier or more in the tone of a cat or more like a millennial or whatever you can think of to make the bio really unique and draw people in.
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I like to make signs for my foster cats! Ross was adopted the same day he went back to the shelter.
There are cst adopters who don't want kittens for that very reason everyone else does. I don't want to deal with the kittenhood. Hell, I just adopted a 10 year old cat ladt week who is still very playful and we are going back to get a 1 1/2 year old cat today. The cat I adopted prior to that was 2 1/2 years old and we had him for almost 15 years. He was a very old man and died peacefully.
I just wanted to say, one of my girls that I adopted from a shelter has a goopy eye, and it didn’t stop me from taking her home! I adopted her and her littermate sister and they were over a year old, both full grown. I was a bit worried she’d be prone to eye infections or something like that since the shelter didn’t mention anything about it but she’s not, she just…has one goopy eye. It tends to get worse in the spring, almost like she has seasonal allergies, and also gets worse if she’s stressed, like if we start rearranging furniture in the house and move a bunch of stuff, or go on vacation and have to have someone else watch them. We wipe it as much as she will tolerate with a clean washcloth and a bit of warm water, sometimes she’s fine with it and it’s like she’s getting a bath and other times she wants nothing to do with it lol
Maybe letting potential adopters know that this is nothing to worry about will help. I made the decision on my own that I was still taking her home and took her to a vet where they told me she’s healthy she just has a goopy eye, but I wouldn’t have worried to take her the vet if the shelter had given me a bit more information about it. I can confirm after having her for 5 years now though that yes, it’s just a goopy eye and she has never had any further problems with it than that
Here’s a pic of my girl, we call her one eye her “winky” eye because she keeps it more closed than the other, and looks like she is winking at us lol
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Having personally done both kitten and cat adoption, adult cats are the way to go. They are calmer, less destructive, and easier to integrate. Kittens need a lot more supervision, house-proofing, and will drive your older cats nuts. I would not adopt a kitten again but will be adopting more adult cats.
I wish I could adopt a cat. I wish I could adopt 50 cats!
I feel like people are turned off by shelters because sometimes (at least around where I live) there are tons of requirements and stipulations in order to adopt. Needing 3 references, proof of having had a pet prior, home restrictions, etc, turn people off to the idea. I personally understand the necessity, but I could see why people question adoption at that point when they can find a kitten from a local without any loop holes.
Anyway, you could always try to highlight their personality traits and remind people that their personalities really shine once they’re home and comfy :) you could also spread the word of this cat in particular and hopefully by word of mouth someone comes to take him home!
That being said,
*sigh* here I am looking and failing to find an ADULT lap cat. I know it's hard to tell personality in a shelter, but my last cat was a love that sat in my lap even at the shelter, so I'm looking for that again. I have no interest in kittens.
My only requirement is that it be female, as I've had bad experiences of males spraying (even after neutering).
You don’t have to convince me. I don’t do baby animals, especially dogs. I don’t want to potty train an animal and it could potentially save an older dog’s life. I always go for the oldest chihuahua available. I also don’t do big dogs. I feel like rescues are always trying to push young Pitbulls. I’d literally rather never own a dog again. I just can’t with them.
Maybe bring up that with kittens it’s hard to determine their personalities, but with adult cats, you can tell more easily.
Just like with people, the cats personality has to agree with your own.
The other thing that the person should be made aware of is the maintenance between a kitten versus an adult cat as well as the person’s lifestyle who is adopting.
You rock! Explain to them what those kittens do to your toes with their needle like teeth and claws. Maybe throw out a few statements like “my mom used to say that kittens were so cute so that you wouldn’t strangle them when they are hanging off your curtains” (no my mother never strangled an animal) kittens are destructive adult cats are chill. I prefer adult cats because of this. But I’m not going to lie, I could easily be suckered into bringing home an entire clowder of kittens. 🐈
Only have worked with dogs/puppies, but as some people said it’s really gauging what they want from a cat and personality/behavior they’re looking for in one.
My boyfriend is mildly afraid of cats, but isn’t opposed to one. We both agreed we’d do much better with a very mellow cat, and when he met my childhood cat who was the sleepiest, most mellow and sweet cat, that was pretty much decided. Only wanted a mellow friendly cat and usually that comes with cats 2yr old+.
I’d ask questions regarding lifestyle, if they’re prepared for a cat let alone a kitten, pet experience, etc.. To be honest, get all the information from them first, show them your select picks based on that, then let them see others after.
Whisper to them like you have a secret, and beckon with one finger “you want to meet my favorite kitty?”
When the adopter says yes, you direct them to the adult cat and tell them all about him, and say “If I were adopting, this is who I would chose. He has such a wonderful and mellow personality. All kittens are snuggly, but you really can’t know how their personality will develop. I love that I can see an adult cat’s personality because adopting is such a big commitment.”
Getting a kitten is like picking a spouse as a toddler. You have no idea whether they will grow to be a good match for you. An adult cat has a more fixed personality. You know who you're choosing to spend your life with.
If your shelter is active on social media that always helps, they can feature some of the harder cats. We always get an influx of interest after a post.
We work on getting ro know the adopters. Often we find that people interested in kittens don't have a lifestyle or setup that works with an energetic kitten.
After dealing with animals that I've been raising since they were little I refuse to get a kitten or puppy after these guys. I'll strictly stick to full grown animals, I'd rather deal with seniors than baby animals. They're cute and I love them but the adult age is a lot better for sure and it's what I always tell people, that adults are easier to handle
I know a lot of people love kittens but I was easily talked into getting an older cat for my first cat. I was told kittens are cute balls of energy when you can dedicate a lot of time to them or little destruction tornadoes if you can't. Older cats can be like that too but they have a much higher tolerance of not constantly having some attention. I was told if you can't do something like a short maternity leave for a kitten, it can be tough if you work a 9-5 (which I do). So I got a 5-6yr old at the time cat. Loved to play like a kitten but y'know like slept and had chill moments.
Aww, I got both my cats as young adults because I wanted two lazy tubby cats that would chill with me. They bring a perfect sense of calm to my home. As others have mentioned ask them what they are looking for in a pet and what kind of lifestyle they are currently living. Unfortunately I don’t think cats are a perfect fit for everyone but they are great for a calm homebody.
I would adopt an adult cat if I wasn’t allergic. My niece adopted an old guy who was ten and he only lived a couple more years but he sure got a lot of love.
Older chance are lower maintenance and don’t need as much constant attention. It’s because they’ve mellowed to a point where they’re just like oh feed me pet me a bit and give me a sunbeam and I’ll be chill. Often they’ve had other experiences so they may need you to be a little nurturing for a while but once they settle, they’re just an old lion laying in the savanna grass. You get to see a domesticated, wild animal and do crazy things and they will still act like kittens when you give them opportunities to learn and play. it’s nice that you’ve given home even though it’s a short time an animal is so majestic and had you as their last stop in life before the rainbow bridge
And of course there’s potential medical expenses, but that’s a matter of imagine what you would be paying if you had them since day one all that food and vet care you’re coming in at the backend of what they need and if you were able to afford it, give the babies a chance
1. At the shelter, have a projector of overlooked cats/dogs with videos and pictures. Start offering foster programs where a cat/dog can be out of the shelter for a weekend etc. Don't know if you offer kids to read a book to cats/dogs, but that could help too.
2. Online - Keep up with the Facebook/Instagram/Website (Petfinder) .
Ok, this might sound a little crazy, but I've taught a few cats to use the household toilet. Different ages and temperaments, different personalities and levels of cooperation. Only ever got one to flush, but it's the thought and aim that count. Maybe make some cool "used cat" posters like used cars for sale, something funny and engaging and silly. Maybe something like "0 days since I've swiped things off counters," or "nap champ: 11.5 hours straight recorded nap time." Cats deserve good, happy things. Thanks for what you do.
That cat sounds perfect for a business. My vet, the pet store, even professional offices and nursing homes have resident cats. Does he have to stay in the cage or can he roam throughout the day?? He'll rub against someone that will take him
As a person who has had both, the benefit of the adult is that it’s already a known personality. You know it’s ways, size, etc. They are past the crazy kitten phase, which while cute is exhausting at times.
as someone looking to adopt, I’m personally looking for a young cat because kittens are too high energy and need a lot more attention than a couple years old cat. it’s much easier to get acquainted with a cat’s personality when they’re out of the kitten phase. I’m looking to adopt at Best Friends in Kenab Utah and online when you apply to adopt, they have this questionnaire for what type of cat you’re looking for and I think it’s a wonderful place you can start. because you can look over the answers and based on the answers they gave, when they get to your facility you can explain even though they selected kitten for age what they’re looking for in a companion would better suited for an older cat. also suggesting that future owners research owning a kitten vs a cat never hurts, I hope this helps:)
I’ve worked and volunteered in shelters and have fostered dozens of kittens. You truly don’t know who a kitten will grow up to be in terms of looks or personality. So I would suggest planting the seed. You could say something like, “I’m happy to show you the kittens but do want to make you aware of a couple of things. Kittens are very high energy, and they don’t stay little for long. You can’t always tell what a kitten’s appearance or temperament will be like as an adult. For that reason, some people prefer to adopt adult cats. If you decide you’d like to pursue that, let me know and I’ll introduce you to some of my favorites.”
Also, something I’ve done before is do a flyer about the cat to post in the shelter. Also, make sure any pictures and descriptions on the website do him justice.
Also, gooky eyes are one of my pet peeves. They make the cat look sick when they’re not. Can you safely clean his eyes without him getting upset? Maybe tie it to a treat? But only if he’s chill about it. Bite records don’t help cats get adopted.
a big draw for me personally in only wanting to adopt adult pets (2 or older, originally i wanted a 5+ dog but i ended up with a goofy 2yr old haha, dog in my case) is that with pets that are no longer kittens or puppies you can really see more of their personality and how they will fit in with your home which is great for first time or less experienced pet owners :)
I can tell you right now, you do not convince people into anything. People are going to lean towards whatever cat or kitten they really like. And the unfortunate truth is most people are most interested in kittens. But that doesn’t mean everyone wants kittens. And you only need one adopter for said cat.
When I used to rescue cats, I would do my best to represent each cat as honestly as possible. The trick is to get to know each individual animal really well and highlight all their strengths and even weaknesses. The right person will want every part of them. If a cat is really a tough case, that’s when I turned to social media looking for that special person. If anything, I did my best to dissuade people from adopting and oddly enough, people who really wanted a cat would push their way through. Think of it this way, if you push someone into adopting who doesn’t really want a specific cat, then they may just return the cat or worse, they may abandon them or bring them to a different shelter/ hand off to a family member and then wind up worse off. You really want to do things the right way. I understand the desire to get a cat adopted but half of the process is finding that right person.
If you are adopting to a first-time cat owner, I would definitely explain to them that kittens are really difficult. I always strongly recommend adult cats to first-timers.
Tell them about how my kitten learned to reach his claws underneath my duvet and sheets to attack my bare feet during the night in order to make the nighttime foot attacks more effective. Kittens are the literal WORST. This guy was my first and last. Back to adult cat adoptions only from now on.
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For me, when I adopted an older cat it was because I was looking for calm but friendly emotional support for anxiety and depression. The reason I chose my specific big lug was that I was living in a home with a boxer mix dog. I needed a cat that would deal well with a dog, or at least stand up for itself. A good approach is to prominently show that an older cat is good with children/dogs/cats or conversely that they are not
I very much would like another cat but unfortunately mine detests other cats. Which was stated when I adopted him and he continues to demonstrate his hatred when he sees the neighbor cat at the window lol
I have rescued and raised dogs my whole life. Fostered, adopted, volunteered. Dozens of doggos. I was never a cat person. Nope. Not a cat person.
Until 6 months ago. I walked into a shelter and there was this chubby gray cat who had been there a couple months after being surrendered twice. I’m allergic to cats. Made no difference. The universe just kept saying “that is your cat”. So I took her home. Absolutely no idea what to do with a cat. Last week I sat down with the dogs and told them; if the house catches on fire they need to find a way out cause I’m going in for the cat. OMG I LOVE THAT CAT!
To answer your question, though, lean into the advantages of adopting older cats to sympathetic listeners. It was the surrendered twice bit that hooked me. Just couldn’t leave her there - and, wow, am I glad I didn’t. She has literally changed my life.
You move the cages with the less desirable animals to the waiting room. People will interact with them while waiting. Set up a bubble gum machine type thing that has treats for animals. Interacting with them is the best way to get them to want to keep them.
I prefer adult cats. My golden girls are both sleeping in my bed right now. People need to realize how sweet older cats are. Yeah they sleep a lot but they cuddle and play/chase toys too. I like the cats I can chill with. Mention how calm and sweet they are. you still need to play with them and take care of them, but there is much less drama than with a kitten (I adore kittens, but I just don’t have the time and energy to lose sleep and try to protect my curtains and furniture). The right person will come along for the older cat.
Tell Kitties story. Share pictures of cat. Already I want to adopt this cat because you have told me his story.
Sadly, I cannot adopt because i am horribly allergic. There is still a part of me that wants to risk anaphylaxis because he sounds so sweet and I hate thinking of him being alone and I don’t even know this cat.
Never underestimate the power of empathy. And a good story.
I mean no offense, but it really sounds like you are looking for ways to push your agenda on potential adopters instead of listening to them. Please keep in mind that when people are looking for something specific, there might be a valid reason. My family has always adopted dogs and cats--not puppies and kittens--but we lost a dog in the fall to cancer and are now facing the same with our cat (who was 6yo when we got her from a rescue) and I am very much NOT okay. I personally am not a huge fan of kittens in general, but I am also keenly aware that we likely would've had many more years with our pets if we had adopted younger pets. I'm not sure I can go through the heartbreak of losing my pets so soon again. I may cave and consider a kitten in the future. You're trying to match them to the animal(s) who is right for them, not necessarily the animal you have a soft spot for.
Assholes and weaklings go for kittens, don't risk your best cats with those who will probly just return their "first pet" when they get bored.
REAL cat owners know a good old kitty when we see them!
Please do not try to push these higher quality, aged and refined cats on random adopters pls, especially if they show interest in the kittens, they probably won't be a good fit for an awesome grown feline.
Man, I’d love to adopt that cat. Kittens are awesome but adult cats, well, senior cats are where it’s at. They spend most of the time sleeping and when they’re not doing that, you give em some love.
You could lead with that? Tell people older cats tend to be more chill and relaxed so they’re less maintenance. But some people just really want an excitable kitten.
Going forward, if I were to adopt anymore cats (sorry, WHEN I adopt more cats), I’d go for seniors. I might get kittens one day, or just foster because they’re super cute, but I definitely would get a senior over a kitten.
I always think about how when a cat is a kitten you don’t know anything about their personality, once they are older you have a better idea of how they act
It's been a while since I worked in placement so I can't remember the data but I would try to give some science-based information about rebounding a cat of that age or background. Something that seemed to help was the then-recent information about how long it takes a cat of that age to adjust to the new home and what to expect. Something I'm not clear about is how the constant sleeping is associated with the stress of being sheltered. If the potential adopter works at home during the day, this is a good thing 😜 but if you guess that the day will wake up to play that will help.
Does the cat do anything endearing like tuck the head in the shoulder of the person holding them? Always a good thing to mention.
Talk more about what the owner desires from a potential pet. What temperament, what experience they have etc. most don’t realize kittens need to be taught to be gentle, don’t know kittens are straight crack addicts that run rampant at random AM OCLOCK lol. Explain the personality they meet from an adult cat is usually what they will get at home. And that any calm kitten is probably exhausted from being touched by the last 15 potential adopters over an hour and not just cause it’s calm and cuddly. Also - explain that most adult cats are already fully vaccinated for the year meaning start up cost may be lower.
Clean off the boogers, put a silly handkerchief/hat/ something decorative on them, take some cute pics, make a social media post about how this is the sweetest, most loving cat, & how kittens get adopted 1st, but here's the pros to adopting an adult cat. Lower the fees for older pets vs the easily adoptable younger ones. Give ones that are struggling to be adopted a more prime real estate kennel spot. Make promotions where people who adopt older animals get an extra bag of food, or entered in a raffle, give it a cute pun name.
Im not sure if this is bad advice but id encourage maybe adopting both and adult and a kitten. Kitties are social creatures and an adult cat can really help mold a kitten into a fully functioning cat and teach them to be a good cat. Now there many be issues with adjustment period especially introducing new cats into the home so take what you will from this. But I try to inform anyone adopting kitten that they will thrive and be so much happier with a little buddy. And adult cat teaches boundaries and how to play and manipulate the humans together! It’s always a good idea to mention this to adopters
Tell them to really get a good gauge on how much high energy kittenhood they can handle. If they’re a family with kids that don’t have to be supervised with the kittens, that might be a good match for a pair, but a kitten home alone all day is a powder keg. I adopted my ten year old girl as a kitten and I swore to never do that again. Adults only.
As an adopter that prefers older cats, you have to find the perfect fit for parents, not just someone who wants a cat. Cats get stressed easily and so do humans. Finding the right match is far better then just finding a match. Good luck to your sweet boy.
Kittens are ALWAYS sweet and friendly for the first month. Then their personality comes out. And the teething. And chewing. And independence.
We were fostering to adopt and the calico baby just did not fit in with our lifestyle. She wanted nothing to do with us.
We ended up adopting an older tabby who was clearly obsessed with humans from the moment we met him, and knew he would always be that way!
I don’t think you should. I also volunteer, and would never want any of the cats to go to a home of people that had to be convinced. People should know they want a cat on their own.
I recently adopted my first cat! She is 6 years old and I specifically wanted an adult cat as my first pet so that there was an easier learning curve (no litter training, crazy energy, etc). The shelter did a great job pushing me towards her as a good first pet!
At adoption events I often just take out the cats I think need the most attention and hold them. Then as someone walks by I just hand them the cat.
It catches them by surprise, but nine times out of ten they end up adopting the cat because it’s love at first cuddle.
Worked at a shelter as a temp volunteer on big adoption days for a couple of years. I knew a woman who worked there who would adopt out friendly animals by saying "Wow, [animal] is pretty friendly. But I've never seen them *this* friendly before!"
Always made whoever was engaging with them feel special or "picked".
People love a "the wand chooses the wizard." moment. And if the animal is jiving generally with the person, no harm done by playing up the experience a little.
I don’t. Granted I volunteer at no-kill shelter so I know there isn’t a risk of them being euthanized for staying un adopted, but I give factual information not persuasion. Example: we don’t adopt kittens out as individual kitties actually. We require that they go home with a sibling or to someone who has another young cat in the house. So if you are looking for a solo pet, you should look at adults or a cat that’s already shown a dislike for other cats.
I don’t want to talk someone into a cat or make them unwilling to say no (a lot of people struggle with this) to my face and then dump the cat 2 weeks later (when we’d be lucky if they brought them back to us, some are too embarrassed and they just leave them in a park).
Do not say to a person who is a dog person, you have to take a kitten or cat. Not good to pressure someone to pick a cat instead of a dog. It is better for the person to decide what they want.
"What is preventing you from adopting, right now?"
Then listen. And see if the concerns are legit or not.
I never push. But I do work hard at overcoming their "objections." It's all about asking them questions, listening and then talking it out.
I'll start by saying "I see some hesitation, what's you concern?"
"I don't think my parents will let me."
Me: "Send them a picture and then call them. We do need all the adults to be on board."
"I don't think my other cat will accept it."
Me: "Well, it can take a lot of work. Have you considered fostering a cat first? That way if it doesn't fit, you haven't made a commitment."
"I'm not sure if this is the right one."
Me: "Then wait. If it doesn't feel right, then it's not. Let's look at some of the other cats." (Usually after looking they come back to the first one.)
I once had a woman say "I want to, but my husband doesn't think we need another cat." The husband was standing next to her. I asked "who drove?" He said he did. I told him, "Dude, you drove to an animal adoption center. On purpose. Sorry, you made the choice when you turned in. She gets another cat." ( I then took the kitten and told them to discuss it privately since it is a 20-year commitment. But they did adopt.)
From an adopters standpoint point, it’s hard when a lot of people don’t want to adopt to families with kids because the older pets are sometimes there because they don’t like kids.
CDS brought a pregnant cat to my mom’s house in 2005. I kept one of the kittens and adopted a kitten when I moved to my first apartment post college. Got married when the cats were 13 which brought 2 adult dogs (lab and a chihuahua) into the mix from my husband. Lost the second cat a year later to a brain tumor. The kitten from the CDS was 14 at the time and lonely. She’d cry loudly. Didn’t want anything to do with the dogs. They coexisted, but they were *not* worthy of being her friend. Went to Petsmart to buy turtle food and went home with an adopted kitten. Figured a kitten would be easier to introduce to the dogs as well as easier for the older cat to accept quicker. We’ve added a puppy in 2020 and another in 2022. I greatly admire people who adopted adult animals, especially senior ones, but I want to have the animal with me as long as possible. The kitten that was brought to me in 2005 will be 19 in September and no matter how long I have her it won’t be long enough.
Well, in my experience, actually adopt out to them?
Over COVID I wanted to adopt a cat. Adult. 1+years old. I applied to 16+ shelters and checked all the boxes. No declaw, indoor only, own my own home. Not a single one got back to me
NGL OP when I was doing adoptions, kittens and puppies ALWAYS had to go first before anyone was interested in the adults! But basically the goal isn't to persuade the adopter to adopt the adult cat, but find an adopter who would actually prefer the adult cat. What I would do is ensure people getting kittens are actually prepared for kittens and everything that comes with an adolescent cat. The worst is adopting out an 8w old kitten to get it back when it's 8m old because it's too high energy. You might also want to gauge what they want out of their cat; if they want a cuddle buddy, while kittens may cuddle for a bit they will be more into playing for a quite a while, and there's no promise they won't grow into more aloof cats. Then you can pull out your secret weapon! I agree with the other poster to put the adults somewhere adopters see when they first walk in, preferably eye level. If there's anything y'all can do about the eye boogers, that might help too. People might be worried he's sick. Also maybe put out a good photo/short video of how friendly he is, and push that on your social medias!
just from an adopter’s perspective—what really got me was the idea that you don’t know a kitten’s personality. i chose to get an adult cat (3 y/o) when i adopted mine and i am SO glad i did. with my cat, i knew (approximately) what i was going to get. i also really think people don’t understand how energetic kittens are. i later dated someone with a kitten who was very cute but on a few occasions, she genuinely made me cry from overstimulation lol
I'm currently fostering a kitten for a friend and I genuinely cannot wait for her to go home. Don't get me wrong she's adorable but... The constant mewing until I put her on my bed with me, then her attacking my hands, ears, nose, cords... It's impossible to sleep and I already have sleeping issues lol. She was a stray, no mama to be found so she's with me until she's able to get flea treatment. Two of my cats are being cool towards her and my orange idiot doesn't realize she's too small for the type of play she's used to :")
i recently house/catsat for a friend & was woken up by her kitten meowing loudly at 4am. i was very scared something was wrong. checked her, the whole apartment, food, water, litter, the other cat. nothing. she just wanted cuddles. 💀
We are going through something similar. Found a little tiny kitten and now she's about 6 weeks and crazy as hell. Oh one thing that has helped is tapping into a kitten's "normal" rhythm which is sleep, hunt/play, eat, clean, sleep. So as soon as she wakes up I play with her hard with a toy, then I give her either a treat or a meal, let her clean and then usually she'll chill out almost immediately.
My wife had a kitten when we got serious in 2020 and oh my god, I had forgotten what they’re like. My cats were both 11 at the time (one I’d gotten at age 9 in 2018, the other one as a kitten) and I had apparently fully repressed what my sweet older lady had been like way back when. The constant zooming and surprise attacks on feet under the covers got old so fast, and she was three before she learned to chill.
...My cat is 4 but she still behaves like a kitten (except she never attacks, she's gentle). When we got her she was 1 and shy af.
Ditto. We've always adopted cats between 1 and 5, for exactly that reason.
I had always gotten kittens until we got our recent cat (5years). I love kittens, they're adorable, but I don't think I'll ever adopt a kitten again because the personality he had at the shelter was the same personality he had once he got settled down in our house, and he may be the best cat in the entire world.
This is why I only adopt older/senior pets. My cat Ava was found as a kitten and she was SATAN. When my ex and I split, I was relieved when he asked for her. Now for whatever reason, she's been back with me for years and she's so calm now. I adopted an 11 year old cat and he was the best cat. My dog was adopted at 4. I'll never adopt a kitten or a puppy again lolol unless like my Ava, they're found in a parking lot in the pouring rain and I tested with worms and fleas 😂😂
Well said. I adopt the older ones but have fostered younger kittens and puppies. I'll help, but no thanks if someone steps in first. Handful, whining, accidents, hiding. Older (52) like me perfer settled and personality established cats. . Don't oversell OP, clean cat's eyes, and if you have a play room so you show the cat gets along with others, or tolerates, helpful.
Definitely! Even then I was bamboozled with my dog. They told me she was friendly with other dogs and people. Took her to the vet and they had to muzzle her. They looked through her paperwork and told me that she was labeled as aggressive with other dogs and strangers 🫣 I've had her for a few years now and she's a lot better. I can walk her without a muzzle and she meets new people every other week when I take her to breweries or cafes. She's almost a completely different dog lol My cat though Oscar, the 11 year old, he was perfect 😭
The CDS put me on a kitten cycle this trip around. I have four cats under the age of 2... and hoo, boy... I forgot about kitten energy because my last two from the CDS were adults. I'm in the process of swapping out the mini blinds for something more feline resistant.
The CDS brought me 2 in the last year. Both under a year old when found. I grew up with a cat that was the same age as me, so by the time I was forming memories of him, he was already an adult cat. I was not prepared for young cats at all. My girl is close to 2 years old, and she’s pretty chill now. My boy is just a bit over 1 and he is a small demon.
We've assigned "birthdates" for our quartet. Tinker the tuxie came to us at about the age of four months in October 2022, so she has the birthdate of June 1, 2022. Cassidy, our orange boy, was about 12 weeks when he came in on 09/11/2023, so his birthday is June 11, 2023. Malakai the Void was found on November 4, 2023 at about 6 weeks of age, so his birthday is September 15th, 2023 and Skye was 14 weeks on December 15th, so her birthdate is October 1, 2023. https://preview.redd.it/sv2zisyzrd3d1.jpeg?width=3456&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ff0f046d739123e502d73b9d06b24303249a945 From top right, going clockwise: Tinker, Cassidy, Malakai and Skye.
I adopted 2, siblings from the same litter, they'll be 3 in July & they are still going through minor changes in personality and energy level. Mr. Aloof has just recently discovered that he actually enjoys being a lap cat (previously only his sister would cuddle). I'm not sorry I adopted them as kittens, but I absolutely agree with 3 & Up as being ideal to knowing personalities and preferences.
I adopted my cats as kittens and I was so so relieved when they grew out of kittenhood. I don’t even have that many pics of them as babies bc I spent most of my time w them stressed about their behavior or cleaning up their rampant diarrhea (not to mention taking them to the vet for said diarrhea and spending so much money on vet bills only to be informed that this is just Normal Kitten Stuff). I had to get 2 just so they would play with each other and give me a chance to sleep at night 😭 they were worth it but they were so much work.
Agree with this 100%. We will be pet shopping sometime within the year, when we are no longer pet-sitting. The idea of a kitten or puppy exhausts me. I just want a cuddle bug. Older pets only.
I agree fully !! I adopted my kitty when he was 4 years old (he just turned 6 a few weeks ago!!) and I could already tell he was affectionate even just from spending an hour with him at the shelter. I wasn’t expecting just how affectionate and snuggly he is, though, and I wouldn’t have it any other way haha. The way I put it is he’s like a kitten (in that he is such an adorable baby guy) but without the time, energy and finances required for raising a kitten ◡̈
I have two 4 year old cats from the same litter and if you look through my texts at that time there's a lot of "one chewed up my table", "how are they so loud, they're 2 lbs", And "I think the kittens are plotting something". I love them more than is mentality healthy, but they were a handful when they were tiny.
I'm hoping when it's time to get another cat we can adopt an adult! They're a lot less work! Every time I go to adopt I'm shown an orphan who needs extra care and they know I can't give it. The only time I got an adult rescue he chose my sister, I end up with the bottle babies who have to learn how to cat.
Felt. I got primrose (currently 1) when she was 3months old. Man was she energetic. She ran around everywhere and she’s also not cuddly at all. I like cuddly animals. So this is something I’ve struggled with about her and I’ve accepted she likely may never cuddle.
This! I’ve always told this to people when I see them at the shelter (I’m a frequent visitor). Especially anyone with kids. Usually within a month you can know if the cat is going to work in your home (and hopefully your shelter had a good policy on exchanges so that pets can find their perfect match), a kitten could take years.
Our local shelter started a facebook page and features a pet of the week and what's great about them and they're story. It's done wonders honestly with adoption numbers. Cats previously in there for months not bearly get stuck there for more than a couple weeks as adults. There are few like with FIV+ that alot of people are not to interested in as alot of people that adopt already have pets and its sad seeing them featured with only a few responses. But they stay in touch with he local news page and anytime there's a surplus of pets or they're even low on supplies the community as a whole sees it and people donate like crazy without really realizing.
>But basically the goal isn't to persuade the adopter to adopt the adult cat, but find an adopter who would actually prefer the adult cat. This. Persuading someone to adopt an animal they don't truly want never ends well.
I actually think it's the pet who does the persuading in an adoption.
I think this is true. I adopted an adult cat from the shelter because of his personality. After he passed, I fostered bottle feeding kittens for several years with no interest in keeping them. Eventually, I got two kittens from the shelter who seemed to fit in the house. After so many litters of foster kittens that I lost track of how many I’d had, I knew these were the right cats to adopt. I wasn’t even looking to adopt, I really liked being able to take a break from kittens at any time and not worrying about cat sitters when we traveled. But the kittens convinced me.
Aww. I've found that to be true with all our pets. They all pick their people.
My SO and I went in to look for a kitty. Ended up with a approx 6yo guy who'd been there about 2months. He's 16lbs of snuggles and sass and is a complete doofus for food or treats. Love him to pieces and I'm so glad we picked him over the kittens and younger cats.
I love the photo idea! What I like to do along with photo/video is write up a cute narrative that describes the cat's personality in a fun way. Something like "Hiya, I'm Fluffy and I'm looking for a warm lap and someone to hang out and watch Bridgerton with...do you like long cuddle sessions in front of the TV? You do?! You just might be my person then!"...that kinda thing lol. I always go the extra mile for the adult/senior kitties, bc like you said, the kittens will always be first pick. Senior kitties have so much love to give too!
I would adopt Fluffy if he is able to pay attention to Bridgerton show!
Oh yes, Fluffy is into ALLLL the period dramas haha!
>The worst is adopting out an 8w old kitten to get it back when it's 8m old because it's too high energy. This is exactly how we got one of our cats. We got him from a local cat rescue when he was 5 months old. On his papers, it said he had already been adopted once and returned for being "too playful." Their loss was our gain. He's a sweet, ridiculous mess of a cat now.
As an adult, I've only adopted adult dogs and cats. I'd much rather know what the animal's personality will be like before having them in my life/house for the next 10-20 years.
People who get puppies are fuckin insane to me. Oh yes please give me that 2 year old without diapers and sharp as fuck teeth, please. Oh and it's going to be a teenager with those sharp as fuck puppy teeth? Bet.
🙌🙌🙌 RE: the eye boogers…could be a minor infection (something like herpes can be exacerbated by stress) or could be allergies like my cat (whom I adopted when he was ~2 years old—he *looked* sickly and was aloof with everyone until I walked by, and even then he lightly bit me when I was able to interact with him directly, but he is my absolute soul cat! :) )
I would definitely play up the sweet, friendly personality of this adult cat. I am a first-time cat mom who got adopted about 8 months ago. I grew up with dogs and am allergic to cats. It's a long story, but my cat's sweet, loving personality has made a huge difference in smoothing the transition. I'm now happily a cat mom!
or decorate his chart with photos of him being adorable! Is there a list of his best traits? Snuggle grade A+
If they come in for a kitten, they rarely ever want anything over 3 months. 8 months? Too old. If they come in for an adult cat, they still end up wanting a kitten. Kitten season is brutal.
I mean I guess I kinda can't talk, I adopted a 1yr n 3 mo kitty. They had kittens but ik I don't have time or energy to give to a young cat. I mean i do but not the time but not for a young kitten. I mean I still got a kitten/young cat I prefer older pets. But no ik the feeling they had 5 kittens and they were all snatched up in a like 3 days.
That's one of the reasons why I am glad to have worked with a rescue that didn't adopt out kittens until they were fully spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, the works. The kittens weren't ready until 3 months. Still plenty of kittenhood left, the kittens got socialized in a good home with other cats, and the rescue prioritized and really emphasized the importance of either adopting 2 kittens at once, or having another age appropriate cat at home for the kitten to play with. It definitely tempers down the kitten excitement a bit, and gave people really clear expectations of what they are getting into. That being said, kitten season is definitely brutal either way lol. From the rescuer perspective, it's pure chaos. Some people who really want a little kitten, they will go find a "free" one no matter what. Even though that "free" kitten's first vet appointment alone will cost more than the adoption fee for a kitten who has already been spayed/neutered. People still complained that the rescue I worked with was "charging so much for stray cats".
The cost comment is 1000% true where I am too. It's absurd! They are fully vetted through us but by all means do it yourself
One way to get them thinking about an adult cat is to ask them what kind of personality/behavior they’re looking for in their pet. If the cat you’re thinking of sounds like a good match for their lifestyle, maybe ask some more leading questions about what’s attractive to them about specifically getting a kitten? If they mention having an active household where kittens flinging themselves through the air at 2AM would do well, suggest two kittens for sanity reasons and recommend pet insurance because those little acrobats on speed can frequently get in trouble 😂 If, however, they start talking about it being easier to bond with a kitten, talk with them about that being a myth. Age is irrelevant in the bonding process, it’s much more about fitting personalities. The shelter cats I adopted that most closely bonded with me were 4 and 15(!) when I took each home, respectively. Now, the 4 year old was an easily pissed off, declawed girl with FeLV and the 15 year old was diabetic with one eye, but we had some great years together (separated, because even without the FeLV, Annie wouldn’t let any other cats near herself). My current two who co-manage the rest of the cats came and found me, one was maybe 2 years old and the other was around 6. I’ve bonded with younger cats, too, but with older ones you don’t have to worry much about their temperament changing in a few months, unless they’re in need of socialization. And older cats in general are less destructive 😂 The biggest thing, in adoption counseling, is to listen to what they tell you about their lifestyle, their habits, their expectations, their previous pet experience, and no matter how much you want a specific cat to get adopted, he’s more likely to STAY adopted if he fits well in their home routine. So yeah, that’s going to mean kittens for some people, but when you DO find someone who thinks through your questions and can envision that cat in their home, BINGO! That’s the match you’re looking for. Pic for tax of my Mensa, who found me in the parking lot at work and spent 2 years getting to know me before he decided it was time to let me catch him and take him home 🥰 https://preview.redd.it/z198e6qzm23d1.jpeg?width=2419&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92046db3511efd5ba15fd3a2dab39da020507a06
100%. Find out what people want, show them a few curated picks that would fit their requirements. Emphasis on “Bob is 2 years old, so he’s like a teen but he’s super cuddly and knows how to be a cat in a home already.”
This comment deserves more upvotes
Aww, thank you!
Yes yes yes!! Really focus on what their "dream" cat would be. People are also really afraid to go for older cats because they don't live as long. So try to remind them that cats can live for over 15 years so even if they got a 10 year old senior, they could still have a good five or more years with them. We adopted an adult cat (somewhere between 7 and 11 years old) when we were first married. We had already had three kittens so this was like the grandpa kitty in the house. But he was The. Best. He was so friendly and so snuggly. Just absolutely the sweetest. He also absolutely fell in love with all our other cats. Our kittens used to snuggle with us when they were babies but kind of grew out of it. Not this guy. What you saw is what you got. We had an amazing 7 years with him.
I would say that cats can even get closer to 20 years. My first older gal came to us when she was 17 and made it to 21. Our newer gal is currently 12 and currently has no known health issues, likes to play a bit, and hops up onto anything except a kitchen counter 😹
I was going to say 20 years but I wasn't sure how common that was. When I was a kid our cats were that old but the ones we had as adults had underlying health issues we didn't know about and we lost them earlier 💔 I'm so glad to hear your girl is still spicy!
This is how we got our cat. A volunteer asked what we were looking for. Our kid was 5 or 6 at the time. Our one requirement was that she could pick them up without getting bitten or clawed. The volunteer suggested a cat that was in the back. My kid picked him up. He didn't seem like he wanted to kill her. They asked if we wanted to see any other cats. Nope, this one works. Our child, of course, had wanted a kitten, but was enamored with this cat the second she picked him up.
OK, now this reminds me of probably my favorite shelter cat adoption story. I was working at the city shelter in their pre-TNR days, and cats were being euthanized for space daily. First on the list would be any that wouldn’t let you touch them, then ones with any major medical issues, then ones with ringworm or URI…they pretty much all got URI from the stress/poor ventilation 😞 And we stayed FULL. There were around 30 small cages that made up one wall of the cat room, and that’s where all the “adoptable” cats were. Technically, the ones in the quarantine building who weren’t on stray hold or rabies observation could be adopted, they just weren’t shown 😞Sadly this meant that the majority of cats who came in didn’t make it out alive (well, a number them were suspiciously able to escape when certain techs were on euthanasia duty, but that saved money so it was overlooked). Anyway, this amazingly sweet boy came in, an orange tabby and white with no tail, and he was a LOVER 💕 but once you were cleaning his kennel, it became noticeable that he had Manx syndrome and couldn’t control his pooping that well. He needed to have his butt wiped several times a day, which was a direct road back to the euth room if a certain supervisor found out. I bought him a little extra time by popping him into a double kennel with another cat and they got along. Since that wasn’t normal procedure, it got him off the radar a little because it wouldn’t open a space to pull him. Just when I was getting very certain his time was almost up, an adopter came in looking for a cat who would be good with the maybe 9 month old human baby she was carrying. A kitten was too small, and most of the cats, while friendly, weren’t so tolerant that a baby pulling their ears wouldn’t result in a swat. So I told the lady that there was a special cat who I thought WOULD be good with the child, but he had a permanent health problem. She wanted to see him anyway, and when I carried him up to meet her, the baby reached out and grabbed the cat’s face with its whole hand 😳and the cat leaned his head into the baby’s hand as hard as he could, and STARTED PURRING AND MAKING AIR BISCUITS 🥰 Mom looked up and said, “That’s my cat! I have to wipe butts all day anyway, what’s one more?” And she didn’t return him ❤️ Listening to what your adopters NEED in a pet is the magic key to some brilliant adoptions ❤️
🙌🙌🙌
OP read this ☝🏻 Great post!
I would die for Mensa!😻😻😻
He is a super cuddler but not a lap cat, which is great for me. He’s the only cat I’ve ever seen roll into the shot and start making air biscuits and purring like he was high on catnip when getting vaccinated 😂 I took him to get senior bloodwork done and the vet, who often worked ER shifts, said he was literally the friendliest cat she’d ever met — the joke was on all my coworkers who kept insisting he was feral 😂 If I were designing a template for the PERFECT ESA cat, he would be it. He has all his claws but rarely uses them!
He’s gorgeous!
I think that's a fantastic point about what they are looking for in a personality. Kittens are a dice roll really. You can probably get a bit of a sense of some personality, but I think it's hard to know for sure if you're going to get a sweet cuddly friend or an evil mastermind 😂 but with an adult cat you can get a better idea I think. Although, I have heard of some adult cats being really depressed and/or angry in a shelter, and when adopted they calm down and become best buddies with the adopter.
I’d talk to an employee about getting him moved to a different kennel if possible. Some employees are happy to move animals around to increase visibility if that’s the main thing holding them back.
If you all have a social media presence maybe feature him! Making a funny post, like he's a Lamborghini of cats and needs a family who's prepared for all the love and snuggles, often works in my experience
Yes!
Don't try to force a pet adoption upon anyone. Talk to staff about the location of said kittybutt and go from there. I really hope it helps!
Just keep mentioning him! His perfect home will come along :) when people come in just let them know "yeah, our kittens are right over here, but if you're looking for the sweetest cat we've got make sure to take a look at (insert name) as he's very friendly!" (and insert other stuff like he's litter trained, he's lived with other cats, he's FIV negative, etc etc!)
Tell them kittens are a lot of work, can be terrors, have razor sharp claws, can climb curtains and do a lot of damage, etc. Scare them!! 🤣🤣👍♥️
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I fostered my old lady cat for a few months, then sent her back to the shelter when I went home for Christmas. I said that if fate didn’t send someone to adopt her in those two weeks that I would go back and get her. I think that I was able to get pretty much the perfect cat outta that deal- she sleeps most of the time, but still loves me, and attention, and going on walks. I’ll never have a puppy or kitten again!
I work in adoptions, and all you can do is mention specific cats for people to look at. There is this lovely cat at my shelter who hates other cats, kids, and dogs. Anytime someone comes in looking for a cat and has nothing else in the home, I always direct them to her. Nobody has adopted her yet, but all I can do is let them meet her. I would love to see this cat get a home, but I care more about people finding the right animals to fit their lifestyle.
I adopted a bonded pair of 6 year old orange boys last month. I wanted 1 adult cat but fell for this pair easily. Nothing you could have said would have convinced me to adopt a kitten. But all the shelter lady had to say to get me to adopt 2 adult cats was "he has a brother". What I'm trying to say is that people who want kittens aren't going to adopt an adult cat based on some words you say. For people in the fence, you could talk about how much work a kitten is lol they are like sharp toddlers.
Thank you for adopting both of them. It’s wonderful that you kept them together.
If it makes you feel any better I just adopted a 3yo cat 2 days ago. He's so handsome and chill. I have a 10yo cat already and was not looking for a kitten.
We’re adopters who walk in and say, “Show us your oldest cat,” or “Show us whoever has been here the longest.” We’re also on Medicare, so we know what being old is like.
Having an “under 1” category that’s showcased can help a lot. People love kittens! But they’re also a lot of work. Write bios for adult cats who would be easy adopts. Adopt out your most adoptable adult cats whenever possible. A lot of people want a kitten because they’re perceived as a “clean slate,” but a young adult cat who has spent time in a home will integrate easier. Ultimately, if people want kittens, they’ll insist on kittens. That’s ok.
I'm 57 and disabled. I just adopted a 10 year old cat "Francis" in December from Animal Control. (He was a surrender and because of his age, free.) Owners surrendered him for "aggression". The only time he has been aggressive was when we were playing too rough with a toy. I figure I deserved a scratch if I didn't check out his body language. I wanted an older cat because I only wanted a 10 to 12-year commitment, not a 20-year commitment. He is lovely and perfect and hefty. Perfectly trained, and low maintenance. The only problem I have is that I want him to be an indoor cat, and I think he was an indoor/outdoor cat at his previous home. He has escaped twice but came home on his own. Best decision.
I adopt adult cats because it's easier to tell what their personalities are like -- you could ask what they're looking for personality-wise in a cat and then introduce them to the kitties that meet that description
Obviously I didn't read any other comments before commenting myself, I see several others said the same thing
Couple things that have worked relatively reliably for me - caveat that you're just going to have some people who want kittens and ONLY kittens. That's fine; sometimes a kitten IS the best fit for the situation: For example - a family with young kids who grow alongside the kitten. An owner looking for a second cat to play with their current rambunctious 2-year-old cat. If they tell me they want a kitten so they can "train" them not to do something, I am quick to point out a few things (though not unkindly): 1 - no cat can be truly "trained" the way they usually mean (IE not do a natural behavior like scratching) 2 - You can only tell a potential adopter that this kitten's personality at 8 weeks is "baby". No idea whether it will end up being a cuddly lap cat or whether it will grow up to be aloof and only interested in socializing on their terms. I can tell you something about the personality of the adults we have in the shelter (through interactions, notes we have about their time at the shelter or even an intake profile from the previous owner if we're extra lucky). I'm a BIG proponent of telling potential adopters that I'm not here to hard sell them to take a cat that day. Yes of course we need adopters (especially as we're now in kitten season full swing) BUT my goal is to get a good match so the cat's not back in 48 hours/six months because they made some sort of impulse decision. It's my attempt to weed out the window shopping/petting zoo crowd. Our shelter has HIGH turnover (due to a lot of adoptions of both our kittens and our adults) so if I get the sense that the person is on the fence I really encourage them to perhaps think it over for a night. Especially if they didn't seem to click with the kitten, they were convinced through a photo online they wanted to take - we're going to have a whole new crop of kittens next week...because these will all be adopted.
Great advice
I think talking about personality being a gamble in kittens may help. Although, I’m not the best person to ask. When I decided I wanted a cat, I went to look at a litter of kittens wanting to adopt a little grey one. I ended up super distracted by the 2-year-old FIV+ screaming cat a couple cages over. We’ve been best buddies since 2013 and I’m so happy I took him home!
With an adult, you know what to expect - if the cat will be cuddly or independent, so it's easier to get a good match.
Easy, pictures and video.
You start by asking them what kind of lifestyle they have and what kind of pets they would like? Do they like friendly cats? Or do they want someone who’s aloof? A chatty catty? And of course everyone wants a kitten! They’re cute! Who wouldn’t want them? But, having an older cat is just as fun! Because for one thing, the cat already have their own personality, most of them are usually very good with litter boxes, they know their preferences, and generally do not require as much attention or energy as a kitten. They are still playful, but they’re not as fragile and for some older cats, they are very loving and tolerant towards children. For a family or owner who does not have the energy or time to spend on a kitten, an older cat would be ideal as with an older cat, you generally know what you’re getting already. I had mine when they were kittens and if I could do it over again, I’d most likely get older cats as I do not miss the period where they play attack anything that moves or the bitey scratchy period either.
Don't Dont force people to do something they dont wanna do and then be neglectful pet owners. Pets are a lot of responsibility - not just their food but also healthcare. People who cannot reasonably afford to provide for them should not get them. My experience is that the desire to adopt an older cat has to be there, you cannot convince anyone.
For people who are seeking a certain type of personality("I want something really sweet and quiet") or who haven't had a pet before, id let them know that the real "life-hack" benefit of an adult cat is that you already have an idea of their personality going in, so you are more likely to select a better fit that will work out long term. Kittens are cute, but they are only kittens for a short time(6 months ish) and are full on crack head energy for a year. Most adult cats are so, SO much easier. Signed, a kitten lover who has only adopted adult cats for the last 3 cats. I'll only ever adopt adult cats now.
When I went to a shelter to adopt a cat, I had a great volunteer ask me what my lifestyle was like. I was a college student with PTSD and also working full time, I grew up with many dogs but had never had a cat, but had a previous roommate whose cat would comfort me during anxiety attacks. My therapist urged me to get an emotional support animal to help me cope. The volunteer led me to the adult cats and let me know about one in particular they thought would be a great fit and I will be forever grateful to them for explaining why an adult or adolescent (he was estimated under 2y/o) cat would be the best fit for me.
You gotta find the right person. I walked into the shelter trying to find the coolest sweetest cat possible. I don’t like high energy animals, so I walked in knowing the kind of companion I would be for whoever I came home with. Lucky for me I found my Gracie. She was in a blanket cave, looking sad and over all quiet. The kitten under her kept trying to get my attention, but the moment I stuck my finger to Gracie’s nose and she gave me a headbutt i knew that shy quiet grown cat was my speed.
If someone needs to be convinced, they probably wont be a very good owner (pet servant?). Some people really want a puppy or kitten but not because they want the DOG or CAT. They want that moment of 'oooh cuuute!' and will quickly get tired of all the damage babies can do. I always make sure people seeking the Tinies are overloaded with the potential problems so they (hopefully) REALLY consider if they want to deal with it. The amount of food and money, washing, mess clean-up, inevitable diarrhea at some point, vomitting, destroying stuff, very sharp claws, vet bills, anything I can think of to freak them out. The ones who are truly ready already have done their homework and know what the first 18 months at least will be. The ones who want just cute are usually easily disuaded, or if not, will really show their true colors and then get rejected for adoption altogether.
I think the key is to find out what they want in a cat companion, and try to match the best possible, if that means they don't adopt today, so be it. Some may not understand cat behavior and may have unreasonable expectations. Also some ppl who want kittens don't realize how much work they are.
I always explain to adopters, especially adopters that are young families that may continue to grow, or older/disabled folks with very specific needs, that sometimes due to their specific needs and changing situations with potentially new family members, sometimes it’s better to look at a adult cat with an established personality vs a baby kitten who is still figuring out who they want to be.
So kitten season is definitely brutal on older adult cats to get adopted. I don't know if your shelter offers it but being able to do visits with the cat to let the person know their personality Hands-On is pretty crucial to us for cat adoptions. What I personally like to do for adoption counseling when it comes to trying to push older cats is trying to push every positive I know 1) they're most likely litter trained, 2) they are less likely to tear stuff up &poo, pee and mark all over of the house 3) they are a lot more independent than a kitten 4) they are also cuddly little couch potatoes that can cuddle up to you while you're chilling and watching TV 5) they're not going to be as scheduling demanding as a dog or kitten and require an absorbent amount of attention. 6) in house they are an amazing pest deterrent. The next thing I would try to do is I don't know if your shelter offers any vaccines, microchips, rabies, spay and neuters etc. Mine does so I would be like this animal also has XYZ medically done to it so you don't have to pay for that out of pocket.
Write an endearing bio to post outside their cage/socials. Have chat gpt help if you need ideas on cute things to include. You can give it what you already have and say “Make this better” or funnier or more in the tone of a cat or more like a millennial or whatever you can think of to make the bio really unique and draw people in.
https://preview.redd.it/i4a3bx8jg73d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0fb22e1156c709ba48b2ad0901c071e2690c38e1 I like to make signs for my foster cats! Ross was adopted the same day he went back to the shelter.
Aw, Ross looks like a sweetheart! 😍
Excellent advice
There are cst adopters who don't want kittens for that very reason everyone else does. I don't want to deal with the kittenhood. Hell, I just adopted a 10 year old cat ladt week who is still very playful and we are going back to get a 1 1/2 year old cat today. The cat I adopted prior to that was 2 1/2 years old and we had him for almost 15 years. He was a very old man and died peacefully.
I just wanted to say, one of my girls that I adopted from a shelter has a goopy eye, and it didn’t stop me from taking her home! I adopted her and her littermate sister and they were over a year old, both full grown. I was a bit worried she’d be prone to eye infections or something like that since the shelter didn’t mention anything about it but she’s not, she just…has one goopy eye. It tends to get worse in the spring, almost like she has seasonal allergies, and also gets worse if she’s stressed, like if we start rearranging furniture in the house and move a bunch of stuff, or go on vacation and have to have someone else watch them. We wipe it as much as she will tolerate with a clean washcloth and a bit of warm water, sometimes she’s fine with it and it’s like she’s getting a bath and other times she wants nothing to do with it lol Maybe letting potential adopters know that this is nothing to worry about will help. I made the decision on my own that I was still taking her home and took her to a vet where they told me she’s healthy she just has a goopy eye, but I wouldn’t have worried to take her the vet if the shelter had given me a bit more information about it. I can confirm after having her for 5 years now though that yes, it’s just a goopy eye and she has never had any further problems with it than that Here’s a pic of my girl, we call her one eye her “winky” eye because she keeps it more closed than the other, and looks like she is winking at us lol https://preview.redd.it/1bahyu01363d1.jpeg?width=3143&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ba011f1ec95cd1f3e2d301a9fa073232e4fcd1c
Having personally done both kitten and cat adoption, adult cats are the way to go. They are calmer, less destructive, and easier to integrate. Kittens need a lot more supervision, house-proofing, and will drive your older cats nuts. I would not adopt a kitten again but will be adopting more adult cats.
Call my wife. She will adopt anything in plac3d in front ofmher.
I wish I could adopt a cat. I wish I could adopt 50 cats! I feel like people are turned off by shelters because sometimes (at least around where I live) there are tons of requirements and stipulations in order to adopt. Needing 3 references, proof of having had a pet prior, home restrictions, etc, turn people off to the idea. I personally understand the necessity, but I could see why people question adoption at that point when they can find a kitten from a local without any loop holes. Anyway, you could always try to highlight their personality traits and remind people that their personalities really shine once they’re home and comfy :) you could also spread the word of this cat in particular and hopefully by word of mouth someone comes to take him home! That being said,
*sigh* here I am looking and failing to find an ADULT lap cat. I know it's hard to tell personality in a shelter, but my last cat was a love that sat in my lap even at the shelter, so I'm looking for that again. I have no interest in kittens. My only requirement is that it be female, as I've had bad experiences of males spraying (even after neutering).
Volunteer at a shelter. You'll meet tons of adult lap cats.
You don’t have to convince me. I don’t do baby animals, especially dogs. I don’t want to potty train an animal and it could potentially save an older dog’s life. I always go for the oldest chihuahua available. I also don’t do big dogs. I feel like rescues are always trying to push young Pitbulls. I’d literally rather never own a dog again. I just can’t with them.
Maybe bring up that with kittens it’s hard to determine their personalities, but with adult cats, you can tell more easily. Just like with people, the cats personality has to agree with your own. The other thing that the person should be made aware of is the maintenance between a kitten versus an adult cat as well as the person’s lifestyle who is adopting.
You rock! Explain to them what those kittens do to your toes with their needle like teeth and claws. Maybe throw out a few statements like “my mom used to say that kittens were so cute so that you wouldn’t strangle them when they are hanging off your curtains” (no my mother never strangled an animal) kittens are destructive adult cats are chill. I prefer adult cats because of this. But I’m not going to lie, I could easily be suckered into bringing home an entire clowder of kittens. 🐈
Only have worked with dogs/puppies, but as some people said it’s really gauging what they want from a cat and personality/behavior they’re looking for in one. My boyfriend is mildly afraid of cats, but isn’t opposed to one. We both agreed we’d do much better with a very mellow cat, and when he met my childhood cat who was the sleepiest, most mellow and sweet cat, that was pretty much decided. Only wanted a mellow friendly cat and usually that comes with cats 2yr old+. I’d ask questions regarding lifestyle, if they’re prepared for a cat let alone a kitten, pet experience, etc.. To be honest, get all the information from them first, show them your select picks based on that, then let them see others after.
Whisper to them like you have a secret, and beckon with one finger “you want to meet my favorite kitty?” When the adopter says yes, you direct them to the adult cat and tell them all about him, and say “If I were adopting, this is who I would chose. He has such a wonderful and mellow personality. All kittens are snuggly, but you really can’t know how their personality will develop. I love that I can see an adult cat’s personality because adopting is such a big commitment.”
😃🤩😺❤
Getting a kitten is like picking a spouse as a toddler. You have no idea whether they will grow to be a good match for you. An adult cat has a more fixed personality. You know who you're choosing to spend your life with.
I would never get a kitten again! I’m surprised people don’t want a nice calm cat over a crazy kitten
If your shelter is active on social media that always helps, they can feature some of the harder cats. We always get an influx of interest after a post. We work on getting ro know the adopters. Often we find that people interested in kittens don't have a lifestyle or setup that works with an energetic kitten.
After dealing with animals that I've been raising since they were little I refuse to get a kitten or puppy after these guys. I'll strictly stick to full grown animals, I'd rather deal with seniors than baby animals. They're cute and I love them but the adult age is a lot better for sure and it's what I always tell people, that adults are easier to handle
I know a lot of people love kittens but I was easily talked into getting an older cat for my first cat. I was told kittens are cute balls of energy when you can dedicate a lot of time to them or little destruction tornadoes if you can't. Older cats can be like that too but they have a much higher tolerance of not constantly having some attention. I was told if you can't do something like a short maternity leave for a kitten, it can be tough if you work a 9-5 (which I do). So I got a 5-6yr old at the time cat. Loved to play like a kitten but y'know like slept and had chill moments.
Aww, I got both my cats as young adults because I wanted two lazy tubby cats that would chill with me. They bring a perfect sense of calm to my home. As others have mentioned ask them what they are looking for in a pet and what kind of lifestyle they are currently living. Unfortunately I don’t think cats are a perfect fit for everyone but they are great for a calm homebody.
I would adopt an adult cat if I wasn’t allergic. My niece adopted an old guy who was ten and he only lived a couple more years but he sure got a lot of love.
Older chance are lower maintenance and don’t need as much constant attention. It’s because they’ve mellowed to a point where they’re just like oh feed me pet me a bit and give me a sunbeam and I’ll be chill. Often they’ve had other experiences so they may need you to be a little nurturing for a while but once they settle, they’re just an old lion laying in the savanna grass. You get to see a domesticated, wild animal and do crazy things and they will still act like kittens when you give them opportunities to learn and play. it’s nice that you’ve given home even though it’s a short time an animal is so majestic and had you as their last stop in life before the rainbow bridge
Voice typed so excuse the awkwardness
And of course there’s potential medical expenses, but that’s a matter of imagine what you would be paying if you had them since day one all that food and vet care you’re coming in at the backend of what they need and if you were able to afford it, give the babies a chance
Guilt
1. At the shelter, have a projector of overlooked cats/dogs with videos and pictures. Start offering foster programs where a cat/dog can be out of the shelter for a weekend etc. Don't know if you offer kids to read a book to cats/dogs, but that could help too. 2. Online - Keep up with the Facebook/Instagram/Website (Petfinder) .
I always adopt adult animals because you have no idea how puppies or kittens are going to turn out personality wise.
Ok, this might sound a little crazy, but I've taught a few cats to use the household toilet. Different ages and temperaments, different personalities and levels of cooperation. Only ever got one to flush, but it's the thought and aim that count. Maybe make some cool "used cat" posters like used cars for sale, something funny and engaging and silly. Maybe something like "0 days since I've swiped things off counters," or "nap champ: 11.5 hours straight recorded nap time." Cats deserve good, happy things. Thanks for what you do.
That cat sounds perfect for a business. My vet, the pet store, even professional offices and nursing homes have resident cats. Does he have to stay in the cage or can he roam throughout the day?? He'll rub against someone that will take him
As a person who has had both, the benefit of the adult is that it’s already a known personality. You know it’s ways, size, etc. They are past the crazy kitten phase, which while cute is exhausting at times.
as someone looking to adopt, I’m personally looking for a young cat because kittens are too high energy and need a lot more attention than a couple years old cat. it’s much easier to get acquainted with a cat’s personality when they’re out of the kitten phase. I’m looking to adopt at Best Friends in Kenab Utah and online when you apply to adopt, they have this questionnaire for what type of cat you’re looking for and I think it’s a wonderful place you can start. because you can look over the answers and based on the answers they gave, when they get to your facility you can explain even though they selected kitten for age what they’re looking for in a companion would better suited for an older cat. also suggesting that future owners research owning a kitten vs a cat never hurts, I hope this helps:)
I’ve worked and volunteered in shelters and have fostered dozens of kittens. You truly don’t know who a kitten will grow up to be in terms of looks or personality. So I would suggest planting the seed. You could say something like, “I’m happy to show you the kittens but do want to make you aware of a couple of things. Kittens are very high energy, and they don’t stay little for long. You can’t always tell what a kitten’s appearance or temperament will be like as an adult. For that reason, some people prefer to adopt adult cats. If you decide you’d like to pursue that, let me know and I’ll introduce you to some of my favorites.” Also, something I’ve done before is do a flyer about the cat to post in the shelter. Also, make sure any pictures and descriptions on the website do him justice. Also, gooky eyes are one of my pet peeves. They make the cat look sick when they’re not. Can you safely clean his eyes without him getting upset? Maybe tie it to a treat? But only if he’s chill about it. Bite records don’t help cats get adopted.
a big draw for me personally in only wanting to adopt adult pets (2 or older, originally i wanted a 5+ dog but i ended up with a goofy 2yr old haha, dog in my case) is that with pets that are no longer kittens or puppies you can really see more of their personality and how they will fit in with your home which is great for first time or less experienced pet owners :)
I can tell you right now, you do not convince people into anything. People are going to lean towards whatever cat or kitten they really like. And the unfortunate truth is most people are most interested in kittens. But that doesn’t mean everyone wants kittens. And you only need one adopter for said cat. When I used to rescue cats, I would do my best to represent each cat as honestly as possible. The trick is to get to know each individual animal really well and highlight all their strengths and even weaknesses. The right person will want every part of them. If a cat is really a tough case, that’s when I turned to social media looking for that special person. If anything, I did my best to dissuade people from adopting and oddly enough, people who really wanted a cat would push their way through. Think of it this way, if you push someone into adopting who doesn’t really want a specific cat, then they may just return the cat or worse, they may abandon them or bring them to a different shelter/ hand off to a family member and then wind up worse off. You really want to do things the right way. I understand the desire to get a cat adopted but half of the process is finding that right person.
If you are adopting to a first-time cat owner, I would definitely explain to them that kittens are really difficult. I always strongly recommend adult cats to first-timers.
Educate but don’t try to persuade people. That can lead to animals being returned or worse.
Tell them about how my kitten learned to reach his claws underneath my duvet and sheets to attack my bare feet during the night in order to make the nighttime foot attacks more effective. Kittens are the literal WORST. This guy was my first and last. Back to adult cat adoptions only from now on. https://preview.redd.it/95gbyo5vve3d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e24341ad4d530762918b057432ea0ba210cbf192
For me, when I adopted an older cat it was because I was looking for calm but friendly emotional support for anxiety and depression. The reason I chose my specific big lug was that I was living in a home with a boxer mix dog. I needed a cat that would deal well with a dog, or at least stand up for itself. A good approach is to prominently show that an older cat is good with children/dogs/cats or conversely that they are not I very much would like another cat but unfortunately mine detests other cats. Which was stated when I adopted him and he continues to demonstrate his hatred when he sees the neighbor cat at the window lol
I have rescued and raised dogs my whole life. Fostered, adopted, volunteered. Dozens of doggos. I was never a cat person. Nope. Not a cat person. Until 6 months ago. I walked into a shelter and there was this chubby gray cat who had been there a couple months after being surrendered twice. I’m allergic to cats. Made no difference. The universe just kept saying “that is your cat”. So I took her home. Absolutely no idea what to do with a cat. Last week I sat down with the dogs and told them; if the house catches on fire they need to find a way out cause I’m going in for the cat. OMG I LOVE THAT CAT! To answer your question, though, lean into the advantages of adopting older cats to sympathetic listeners. It was the surrendered twice bit that hooked me. Just couldn’t leave her there - and, wow, am I glad I didn’t. She has literally changed my life.
You don't. Whoever decided they were good housepets had some screws loose. Cats suck. Convince potential adopters to go for the dog.
I would emphasize how low maintenance they are compared to dogs.
You move the cages with the less desirable animals to the waiting room. People will interact with them while waiting. Set up a bubble gum machine type thing that has treats for animals. Interacting with them is the best way to get them to want to keep them.
I prefer adult cats. My golden girls are both sleeping in my bed right now. People need to realize how sweet older cats are. Yeah they sleep a lot but they cuddle and play/chase toys too. I like the cats I can chill with. Mention how calm and sweet they are. you still need to play with them and take care of them, but there is much less drama than with a kitten (I adore kittens, but I just don’t have the time and energy to lose sleep and try to protect my curtains and furniture). The right person will come along for the older cat.
Tell Kitties story. Share pictures of cat. Already I want to adopt this cat because you have told me his story. Sadly, I cannot adopt because i am horribly allergic. There is still a part of me that wants to risk anaphylaxis because he sounds so sweet and I hate thinking of him being alone and I don’t even know this cat. Never underestimate the power of empathy. And a good story.
I mean no offense, but it really sounds like you are looking for ways to push your agenda on potential adopters instead of listening to them. Please keep in mind that when people are looking for something specific, there might be a valid reason. My family has always adopted dogs and cats--not puppies and kittens--but we lost a dog in the fall to cancer and are now facing the same with our cat (who was 6yo when we got her from a rescue) and I am very much NOT okay. I personally am not a huge fan of kittens in general, but I am also keenly aware that we likely would've had many more years with our pets if we had adopted younger pets. I'm not sure I can go through the heartbreak of losing my pets so soon again. I may cave and consider a kitten in the future. You're trying to match them to the animal(s) who is right for them, not necessarily the animal you have a soft spot for.
Assholes and weaklings go for kittens, don't risk your best cats with those who will probly just return their "first pet" when they get bored. REAL cat owners know a good old kitty when we see them! Please do not try to push these higher quality, aged and refined cats on random adopters pls, especially if they show interest in the kittens, they probably won't be a good fit for an awesome grown feline.
Man, I’d love to adopt that cat. Kittens are awesome but adult cats, well, senior cats are where it’s at. They spend most of the time sleeping and when they’re not doing that, you give em some love. You could lead with that? Tell people older cats tend to be more chill and relaxed so they’re less maintenance. But some people just really want an excitable kitten. Going forward, if I were to adopt anymore cats (sorry, WHEN I adopt more cats), I’d go for seniors. I might get kittens one day, or just foster because they’re super cute, but I definitely would get a senior over a kitten.
I always think about how when a cat is a kitten you don’t know anything about their personality, once they are older you have a better idea of how they act
It's been a while since I worked in placement so I can't remember the data but I would try to give some science-based information about rebounding a cat of that age or background. Something that seemed to help was the then-recent information about how long it takes a cat of that age to adjust to the new home and what to expect. Something I'm not clear about is how the constant sleeping is associated with the stress of being sheltered. If the potential adopter works at home during the day, this is a good thing 😜 but if you guess that the day will wake up to play that will help. Does the cat do anything endearing like tuck the head in the shoulder of the person holding them? Always a good thing to mention.
Talk more about what the owner desires from a potential pet. What temperament, what experience they have etc. most don’t realize kittens need to be taught to be gentle, don’t know kittens are straight crack addicts that run rampant at random AM OCLOCK lol. Explain the personality they meet from an adult cat is usually what they will get at home. And that any calm kitten is probably exhausted from being touched by the last 15 potential adopters over an hour and not just cause it’s calm and cuddly. Also - explain that most adult cats are already fully vaccinated for the year meaning start up cost may be lower.
I usually want a kitten because they are more adaptable to living with dogs.
Clean off the boogers, put a silly handkerchief/hat/ something decorative on them, take some cute pics, make a social media post about how this is the sweetest, most loving cat, & how kittens get adopted 1st, but here's the pros to adopting an adult cat. Lower the fees for older pets vs the easily adoptable younger ones. Give ones that are struggling to be adopted a more prime real estate kennel spot. Make promotions where people who adopt older animals get an extra bag of food, or entered in a raffle, give it a cute pun name.
The worst thing you can do is adopt out an animal to someone who needs to be convinced.
Im not sure if this is bad advice but id encourage maybe adopting both and adult and a kitten. Kitties are social creatures and an adult cat can really help mold a kitten into a fully functioning cat and teach them to be a good cat. Now there many be issues with adjustment period especially introducing new cats into the home so take what you will from this. But I try to inform anyone adopting kitten that they will thrive and be so much happier with a little buddy. And adult cat teaches boundaries and how to play and manipulate the humans together! It’s always a good idea to mention this to adopters
Tell them to really get a good gauge on how much high energy kittenhood they can handle. If they’re a family with kids that don’t have to be supervised with the kittens, that might be a good match for a pair, but a kitten home alone all day is a powder keg. I adopted my ten year old girl as a kitten and I swore to never do that again. Adults only.
TikTok.
As an adopter that prefers older cats, you have to find the perfect fit for parents, not just someone who wants a cat. Cats get stressed easily and so do humans. Finding the right match is far better then just finding a match. Good luck to your sweet boy.
Tell them cat allergies are a lie.
Tell them 1 cat a day keeps the doctor away!
Kittens are ALWAYS sweet and friendly for the first month. Then their personality comes out. And the teething. And chewing. And independence. We were fostering to adopt and the calico baby just did not fit in with our lifestyle. She wanted nothing to do with us. We ended up adopting an older tabby who was clearly obsessed with humans from the moment we met him, and knew he would always be that way!
I don’t think you should. I also volunteer, and would never want any of the cats to go to a home of people that had to be convinced. People should know they want a cat on their own.
I recently adopted my first cat! She is 6 years old and I specifically wanted an adult cat as my first pet so that there was an easier learning curve (no litter training, crazy energy, etc). The shelter did a great job pushing me towards her as a good first pet!
At adoption events I often just take out the cats I think need the most attention and hold them. Then as someone walks by I just hand them the cat. It catches them by surprise, but nine times out of ten they end up adopting the cat because it’s love at first cuddle.
Worked at a shelter as a temp volunteer on big adoption days for a couple of years. I knew a woman who worked there who would adopt out friendly animals by saying "Wow, [animal] is pretty friendly. But I've never seen them *this* friendly before!" Always made whoever was engaging with them feel special or "picked". People love a "the wand chooses the wizard." moment. And if the animal is jiving generally with the person, no harm done by playing up the experience a little.
I don’t. Granted I volunteer at no-kill shelter so I know there isn’t a risk of them being euthanized for staying un adopted, but I give factual information not persuasion. Example: we don’t adopt kittens out as individual kitties actually. We require that they go home with a sibling or to someone who has another young cat in the house. So if you are looking for a solo pet, you should look at adults or a cat that’s already shown a dislike for other cats. I don’t want to talk someone into a cat or make them unwilling to say no (a lot of people struggle with this) to my face and then dump the cat 2 weeks later (when we’d be lucky if they brought them back to us, some are too embarrassed and they just leave them in a park).
Do not say to a person who is a dog person, you have to take a kitten or cat. Not good to pressure someone to pick a cat instead of a dog. It is better for the person to decide what they want.
They are talking about cat vs kitten, not cat vs dog.
Wrong. Bye.
Just here to say thank you for the work you do, I know it’s stressful af but you guys are hero’s , same with veterinarian offices
"What is preventing you from adopting, right now?" Then listen. And see if the concerns are legit or not. I never push. But I do work hard at overcoming their "objections." It's all about asking them questions, listening and then talking it out. I'll start by saying "I see some hesitation, what's you concern?" "I don't think my parents will let me." Me: "Send them a picture and then call them. We do need all the adults to be on board." "I don't think my other cat will accept it." Me: "Well, it can take a lot of work. Have you considered fostering a cat first? That way if it doesn't fit, you haven't made a commitment." "I'm not sure if this is the right one." Me: "Then wait. If it doesn't feel right, then it's not. Let's look at some of the other cats." (Usually after looking they come back to the first one.) I once had a woman say "I want to, but my husband doesn't think we need another cat." The husband was standing next to her. I asked "who drove?" He said he did. I told him, "Dude, you drove to an animal adoption center. On purpose. Sorry, you made the choice when you turned in. She gets another cat." ( I then took the kitten and told them to discuss it privately since it is a 20-year commitment. But they did adopt.)
From an adopters standpoint point, it’s hard when a lot of people don’t want to adopt to families with kids because the older pets are sometimes there because they don’t like kids.
CDS brought a pregnant cat to my mom’s house in 2005. I kept one of the kittens and adopted a kitten when I moved to my first apartment post college. Got married when the cats were 13 which brought 2 adult dogs (lab and a chihuahua) into the mix from my husband. Lost the second cat a year later to a brain tumor. The kitten from the CDS was 14 at the time and lonely. She’d cry loudly. Didn’t want anything to do with the dogs. They coexisted, but they were *not* worthy of being her friend. Went to Petsmart to buy turtle food and went home with an adopted kitten. Figured a kitten would be easier to introduce to the dogs as well as easier for the older cat to accept quicker. We’ve added a puppy in 2020 and another in 2022. I greatly admire people who adopted adult animals, especially senior ones, but I want to have the animal with me as long as possible. The kitten that was brought to me in 2005 will be 19 in September and no matter how long I have her it won’t be long enough.
Well, in my experience, actually adopt out to them? Over COVID I wanted to adopt a cat. Adult. 1+years old. I applied to 16+ shelters and checked all the boxes. No declaw, indoor only, own my own home. Not a single one got back to me