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Free Kittens: The Actual Costs
This is not meant to discourage anyone from getting a free kitten. I want to let peopleknow that kittens will end up costing you whether they are free or with an adoption fee.The kitten with the adoption fee should be a bit less costly since it should come with allthe promised health care of:**a veterinary check up and clean bill of health (usually done by a rescue or low cost vet)**stool check (should be done by a vet and not by noticing whether the cat has diahhreaor visible worms)**de-worming (by vet or if done by group very low cost since Strongid is bought in largesize and each treatment is not much)**de-fleaing (not with a chemical if under 8 weeks) (usually Revolution which takes careof fleas and ear mites)**check up and treatment for ear mites (again Revolution one dose takes care of fleas andear mites)**vaccinations (started at 2 ½ lbs) (bought in quantity and administered by many rescuesvs. going to the vet)**spay/neuter at 4-5 months of age (as age appropriate)Be sure to get Original Vet files and Original Receipts for Services promised to be given -verbal promises are not reliableA free kitten going to the vet for the first time (at 8 weeks of age) will generally cost• whatever the check up fee charged by the vet plus costs for veterinary check up;• stool check; if there are parasites there is an additional charge for • de-worming;• de-fleaing (not with a chemical if under 8 weeks);• treatment for ear mites;• vaccinations (started at 2 ½ lbs) and• spay/neuter at 4-5 months of age.Rescue groups who get meds donated or at cheaper costs will pay much less for doingthis themselves. Look at the catalogs and see what actual costs are and figure they getthem much cheaper in bulk. One large bottle of strongid will treat many cats. Antibioticsare also bought in bulk and at a cheaper rate ($7) than the $15 a bottle charged at the vet.Ideally the free kitten will be healthy and charges may only come to a maximum of $150at the vet. 2 more visits for follow up vaccinations will top you over $200 if you havedeep pockets and don't shop around for a low cost vet.HOW TO REDUCE EVEN THESE COSTS>>> Find a low cost vet, they exist and will charge much less. Go on Yelp.com and seereviews of vets in various areas until I get an up to date list together for you in the NY
 
areas. The Humane Society is often used by rescues, their doctors are good and their  prices are fair. (your costs just came down to about $75 - maybe less)>>> Some petco stores have a low cost vet on weknds for shots and worming. The pricesare rediculously affordable! (your costs just came down to about $65)>>> You can get a $10 spay/neuter if you have proof that you are low income – seeMayor’s Alliance website. (your costs just came down to about $15)>>> The ASPCA van does it free for low income people and kicks in a Rabies shot to boot!>>> You can also get a Muffin’s Certificate if you don't qualify to get the Mayor’sAlliance certificate.>>> Always ask your vet for a discount, either a senior citizen or other discountSpay/Neuter if getting a lot of attention and free resources are being devoted to it. I'll postmore as I come across them.Remember that a female cat can have 3 litters a year – possibly more - and it would be inthe best interests of the poor animal to have her spayed. It would be better to keep your cat indoors, being attacked by a cat carrying FELK, FIV or FIP will mean a long periodof sickness, heavy bet bills for you and a shorter time to enjoy your pet. Males that wantto breed may be carrying Feline Leukemia or Feline Aids or FIP and when they bite the back of the females’ neck in the mating process may infect her. Protect your female cat byspaying her and remember that there are so many kittens that die on the street because noone picked them up.There are so many kittens being offered for free and with adoption fees that grow quicklyand are waiting for homes. What happens to them when they are no longer Kittens? Look at the many, many number of kittens on Craigslist alone! Who adopts the mom cats?These are usually cats that are great companions and will fit easily into a home's routine.Give a mom cat a chance!I'll try to get a list of low cost vets in all boros to post - it will take some research. If anyone has low cost vets to recommend email me! Let's do this together!
 
We’re Doing it For the Cats
Are they really? Groups charging for adoption fees, spay/neuter, testing and a host of other things they claim to have to see a vet for need to be more up front with people whowant to adopt an animal. In my experience, one group in Manhattan and one (or two)operating in Brooklyn's Park Slope pad the bill.Both get the lowest rates possible and the most free resources they can. They use thespay/neuter van which is free for spay/neuter and rabies shots; they test the animalsthemselves or use a moonlighting vet tech; they vaccinate the animals themselves noteven bothering with a vet tech; they get donated certificates from caring people and thenthey say, "we charge an adoption fee because we get all our animals tested, vaccinatedand spay/neutered".Don't enable them: Make sure they show you Original Medical Files from the vet, thisalso lets you know that the animal was seen by a vet and that the visit was not alluded to.Call the vet to be sure you weren't given another cat's med files. These two are capable of anything!When these organizations (one is not even a non profit - just gives the impression and noone knows to question that) do everything themselves the cost to them is less than $20 per cat. I know where both groups that I'm talking about buy their meds - way way belowcost. Yet they charge you as much as the vet would. When they go to the vet they don't pay full price - they go to what they call a rescue vet who charges them much less.When they say they spend money on toys are the toys going home with your adopted pet?Yet, they want to charge you for that too. They want to charge you for transportation andthe button they lost yesterday. Get receipts. Make sure they are what the Charities Bureaucalls "transparent". Also, follow the Charities Bureau Guidelines and don't pay cash, pay by check or with a credit card. When they claim they need cash to pay for medical billsit's really being spent any other way they want. Their vets should be paid via check fromtheir account to hold them honest to the IRS.Also, honest groups don't have a problem giving you a tax letter with the amount youdonated.Do your homework and screen before you adopt or foster. Get the forms and questions toask at:http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfallsIf you want to get a better idea of an organization's fiscal situation, check their 990s onthe Charities Bureau website. When you read them you start to get an idea of who isfudging the numbers. It's almost as interesting as a good mystery paperback. Suddenly a big grant comes in and just as suddenly the vet bills go way up for that year or thenumber listed for adoptions go way down. These are the things to look for when readingthe 990s. Also, you'll get to see how often there's a change in Board Members.
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