Let’s discuss kittens being offered online, either free or for sale.
One of our volunteers noticed kittens being offered for sale online. She contacted the person and asked if they would consider surrendering to a rescue instead, explaining how we will vet the kittens, spay/neuter them and, find them the perfect homes. Luckily for us, this time, they agreed to give us the seven kittens they had. Wanting them gone as soon as possible, they drove from a city outside of the area to bring us the kittens. However, when they arrived, there were only four. What happened to the other three? They were given away/sold.
These four kittens were covered in diarrhea and vomit. They had been sick all week. Something the person neglected to tell us. Not that we would have said no, but it would have been nice to know ahead of time what we were dealing with (although, it’s not that we didn’t suspect something was wrong when they wanted them gone so quickly). These kittens are extremely malnourished. They are skin and bones, each weighing less than 600g. We were told they were nine weeks, but they are more like 6-7 weeks.
They went immediately to a foster home, where they were bathed and given food. Things turned bad during the night. One of the four was not doing well, so he was rushed to an emergency vet. Sadly, he didn’t make it. He passed away on the way. The other three are going to our vet for a thorough examination and treatment.
But now what of the other three that were given away? We asked the person to give them to us, as they will need treatment too. We haven’t heard back from them, so we can only hope that the people they gave or sold them to will watch them closely and take them to their vet, because if one is sick, likely they all are.
Taking kittens that are being given away, or sold, online is a huge risk. Most often, these kittens have not been vetted. Have not received vaccines. Have not been treated for parasites or fleas and most certainly have not been spayed or neutered. The initial veterinary bills for a “free” pet can run hundreds of dollars—much more than the typical adoption fee you’d pay from a rescue, where these things have all been done before the kitten is available for adoption.
We are thankful to the person who brought us these kittens. At this point, we only want what’s best for them and get them the attention they need. We hope we can get the remaining three back in our care and if not, we ask that the new “owners” take them to their vet immediately.
If you would like to donate to their care, visit our Donate page.
For more information regarding the cons of adopting “free” kittens, please see these articles: