Cat rescuers and breeders: Was I wrong to turn a potential adopter down?

I would have turned her down as well! Your instincts were RIGHT. And this is coming from someone who's volunteered with shelters for over two decades. And all the shelters I've volunteered with refuse to adopt out to those that believe in declawing. They'll sign the contract they won't but with a cat already declawed you know they won't stick with what they've signed.

Question, though. Are you neutering them BEFORE you give them away? Please don't trust the person adopting them to do this because they most likely WON'T. And then these kittens will go on to breed and make more and more unwanted kittens.

A far better thing to do would be to place these kittens with a no-kill shelter. Let the shelter neuter them and screen the people adopting them. Then you won't have to worry that you let them go to the wrong person. People that shelters turn down head to craigslist to find kittens - so you're VERY likely to encounter all the people shelters have refused to adopt to.

No, you're not wrong. The purpose of rescue is to find a *good* home, not just *any* home. Our rescue will not adopt small kittens (under 6 months old) to homes where the dogs are questionable - this would include cat-aggressive breeds, and boisterous large dogs. And the fact that the dogs are to be allowed to "play" with the kittens such that they will need to defend themselves tells me the dogs are not obedience trained. Not a good place for 3 pound kittens. The declawed cat is another red flag for me. Will she declaw the kittens even if she promises not to? Likely - one of my current fosters is a returned cat - she was declawed by the adopter (who had two declawed cats and promised faithfully that she'd never declaw another) and is being returned for two of those nasty side effects - hiding all the time and peeing out of the litter box.

While you can't be so selective that you never find a home for your fosters, you need to look for the 'red flags' and just say no when you see them. You're not being overprotective, or at least not in my mind. I wouldn't have adopted to her either.

Hi Bridey

The one thing that leapt at me was the fact that the women's older cat has been declawed.

What a barbaric practice!!

I don't think we ever truly own a cat. They are free spirits who love to explore their environment. So one of her cats was run over. Things happen when a creature has its freedom.

The two dogs wouldn't bother me either. My cats do silent hisses, frowns and evil glares. No dog would face up to that.

So it comes back to declawing the cat. Why have a cat if you can't accept that it will scratch things? That's what cats do.

So it follows that you made the right decision but are now agonising over details.

Find a home for the kittens that will accept the whole cat and scratching is what cats do.

Best wishes.

Absolutely not! I feel like animals should be treated just as fairly as humans, and if she wanted to use the kitten for defense against dogs, that's cruel. Cats should only be kept inside, hence their litter box use. Don't have second thoughts at all, you could be saving those kitties' lives by choosing owners wisely. Especially if she let cats get hit by cars at all. That's awful.You made the right decision! Keep on protected animals & their rights, thank you.<3

I would have done the same thing as you. I would have trusted my instincts too. Don't worry if you have doubts, you did the right thing. Also, if you think someone could be good, but they have other pets, offer for your kittens to meet one of their pets at a time so that they get used to them as they get older. You could also have the owner come over to feed them and pet them.

it wasnt the wrong thing to turn her down.... you want to make sure the cats will live a good life with a good owner that will play with them and take care of them that lady seems really careless and the fact that she has dogs too... you dont know if they are agressive,i would have turned her down too

completely. i could shoot off an e mail to the breeder asserting how "John" has inquired approximately getting a puppy from them. point out which you're pals with "John" and which you have 1st hand information of "John" abusing canines. point out which you're merely looking out for the well-being of her puppies and which you do no longer propose to step on their feet or insinuate that they do no longer recognize the thank you to reveal screen capacity shoppers. Edit: good element approximately no longer putting it in writing. If the flair shopper have been given their palms on the e-mail, they could sue for slander.

Excellent job.I would put them on Petfinder.com. because of the crazy people you deal with on Craigslist.

FYI:Our group will not adopt to people who mutilate (declaw) or let their cats outdoors.That's part of our screening process.

I would've turned her down. If your instinct tells you something, then you should listen. I love animals and would never put them in a situation where they can be hurt.

You are right to trust your instincts.