Cat adoption at a distance, for holidays?
I'm flying out to California on Dec 19 to see my mom. She wants a cat or kitten for Christmas and I am sure she does not want to face the rush at the shelter or pet store. She's sixty-seven and a major homebody. Short of hiring a stranger to run out cat shopping, what do you think is the best way to find her a cat before the holiday? I'm afraid to adopt a cat sight-unseen from a private party and I would rather not support a pet store. Besides I am pretty sure that the market for pets will be pretty tight by the 19th (we are celebrating on the 22nd so I want to get an animal by then) So do you know anyone in the San Jose area who'll have kittens or cats up for adoption around then? Or, what is the best way to get a healthy pet-quality cat from a reputable cat breeder very inexpensively? Any suggestions appreciated!
I want to avoid going through an extended adoption process involving filling out forms, or be challenged about giving an animal as a gift. I know my mom is a responsible owner, she has had cats before. It's my understanding that most large shelters don't even let you adopt a pet as a gift... =(
Public Comments
1. Hi there...consider searching the online local ads such as Petfinder http://www.petfinder.com or Bay area Craigslist http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/ca Pet section (found under the Community Section). Most of the area PetSmarts and Petcos work jointly with animal rescue shelters for animal adoptions as well so you would be supporting the rescues efforts not breeders.[edit] most shelters will avoid adoptions for pets who are gifts. Therefore, consider turning to the online classifieds. Perhaps if you have a friend in California who can meet with prospectives before your arrival? It's a difficult task to manage as you've duly noted, but on such short notice this may be best possibility. People post ads on Craigslist every minute daily so if you check often just before your fly to CA you may be able to exchange photos as well as arrange meetings with people in advance.
2. Make her a gift certificate ensuring that you'll pay the adoption fees and vet fees. A pet is a very personal decision and she should be allowed to pick her own. The personalities should mesh in order to get the right fit.
New pets during the holidays are a bad idea in general. Way too much going on at that time. She'd be much better off finding a new best friend after it's over when they can have some peace and quiet together.
3. I was an adoption counselor at the San Francisco SPCA for a number of years. The Maddie Center has been there for about ten years now and it is one of the greatest shelters in the US. It's a short drive from San Jose. There are about 75 cats available for adoption at any one time. They all live in their little "condos" and it is very comfy to go in and meet them. If you can walk away from that place without a cat you are not really a cat person at all.
Take off in the morning with your mom and have a nice early lunch in SF on a weekday. Park your car for the day and take a taxi over and back to the SPCA (at 16th and Harrison) and spend a few hours picking out a perfect kitty for your mom. Shelters don't let people give companion animals as gifts because picking one of your own choice is very important in the bonding process. The cats and their people miraculously "find" one another. The perfect cat is waiting for you mom to come and get it. Don't deprive her of this important experience as she will be living with this cat day in and day out for many years.
I am in no way saying that the Peninsula Humane Society is not an equally fine place to find a cat though I have never seen it. It's just that Maddie's is considered a "state of the art" shelter and if you are in the area you shouldn't miss seeing it.
