Thread: people wanting freebies

I completely understand how you feel… I think the big problem is that lots of people just see a cat that costs a large amount of money. They don’t see all the work, money and time that goes into breeding these lovely cats. They think that all the money you pay for such a kitten is used by the breeders to buy a bigger car or something. Of course, this is not true, and usually they change their minds once you start to explain to them how things really work.
If people would look for information before they start to look for a Maine Coon (or any other breed for that matter), I suppose there would be less people placing such ads. On the other hand, however, there will also always be people who will want “the most beautiful” pedigree cat without having to pay for it. For those people, I have only one message: keep on dreaming!

And to people like you, who are prepared to put off their own dream in order to adopt a cat that's looking for a new home, I would like to say: you are all doing a fantastic job!

We have a buy/sell website for animals in Ireland which I keep an eye on from time to time and have seen several such ads. Only saw a request for a free" British Shorthair wanted " a few weeks ago.

I usually report some dodgy ads (mostly for dogs) but I have often felt like e-mailing the advertiser and saying. Do you realize how much a British Shorthair or other pedigree is worth.???

I'll be dammed if I'd give a cat to somebody who wants it for free!!!

I admit I do wonder sometimes if breeders know there are people who, while they can afford to give a cat a great home, might have to wait awhile to save the $$ for the original purchase. I don't believe that purebred animals are only for the wealthy; as in everything, you get what you pay for.
Not only that, most questionnaires are very detailed, so anyone who isn't serious about investing in a purebred would sure be scared off quick!

I think that most shelters in the US charge for animals these days. Our local one charges $80 for cats. I believe it has been found that if you give away animals there is an unacceptably high chance that either the people won't value the animal or they won't really be able to care for it financially. Many of our local shelter's cats are there because their owners dropped them off because they were unable to afford them. While there is the initial cost for a purebred cat/dog, over the long run the expensive part of ownership is vet bills, feeding, etc. This held us back from getting more at some points. Spent about $3,000 on one of our MCs over about a 6mos period taking her to several vet specialists. How many people that want a free cat would do that? Our vet tells us about people that bring in animals that need a few hundred dollars of treatment and the owners want them put down instead. Unfortunately, owning a pet and properly caring for it has gotten to be expensive.

"An over-inflated sense of entitlement".
A disease which seems to be spreading across the UK here. People see something, cant afford it and believe they have a right to get it by any means. Except of course saving up and buying it. Just in the above instance, people wanting to 'own' a pet which normally commands a price of around £400. Yet they want it for free... If you cant afford to save up and purchase a MC, how on earth do you expect to be able to afford the food, litter, misc items, innoculations, vets fees, de-worming etc etc etc...

Credit cards companies are partly to blame. Likewise banks were with their 'borrow now, pay later' schemes. However it ultimately lies as the responsibility of the individual to work out that if their income is £800 a month, then having a credit card repayment of £850 a month really isnt that great of an idea and perhaps it would be better not to purchase that £2000 plasma tv via ocean finance when you have the baliffs knocking on the door.

Oh and I also blame these.. "Are you up to your eyeballs in debt? Dont worry!! We'll wipe all that debt away!" adverts for promoting a misguided belief that you can go out every weekend and max out your 15 credit cards on rubbish you dont actually need, and then get it all wiped off because hey... it wasnt really your fault after all was it...

/gets off soap box.