Cat Chat (please go to cat chat 2)

[Shaynn]

Lucky you! I wish I could have another kitten around! Although, if I had my way there'd be more cats in my house than people in my family! LOL!

[.Middy.]

Haha, I wont be around her much (I'm moving 6 hours away from my grandma) but I get to hold her on the 2 hour car ride home tomorrow.

[Shaynn]

Lucky you!!!!! Kittens are so cute! I remember when my 6-year-old cat was a kitten!

[.Middy.]

The kitten is 6 weeks old, from what I can tell in the picture she is white with orange on her head and ears. She is beyond adorable! My grandma is going to call her Maggie to fit with her male Siamese Aggie.

[Shaynn]

Sounds like a Turkish Van. She sounds super cute!

[.Middy.]

The person that has her, found her as a 4 week old kitten so we will never know if she's a purebred or a moggie. I'll post some pics of her tomorrow once we pick her up.

[Shaynn]

Can't wait to see!

[Typical Aquarius]

Ya know, no- kill shelters are not as great as everyone thinks.
They are often overcrowded, under-funded, and the "unadoptable" animals are often still put down.

We have 3 no kill shelters here, as well as a "kill shelter". If you walk into the no- kill shelters, you will find that there are too many animals in most of the cages, they don't have enough toys, beds, or space for the animals they do have, and the people who work/ volunteer there are unorganized and untrained. As much as they want to do good and help their community, they are really just hindering those interested in adopting the perfect pet.
Not only that, but the "unadoptable" animals are still put down. Any animal that has medical expenses too great for the shelter, doesn't get along with other animals, or shows that they do not get along with people (such as dogs that bite, or cats that attack others), will often be put down, so that they have room for the animals they can make a profit off of.
Older animals, especially, have it hard in no kill shelters. Whereas they might be seasoned veterans who can handle anything, most families want a playful puppy or fuzzy kitten, not a dog that gets winded after a short walk or a cat that spends all day napping in the sun. The older animals, or animals that aren't necessarily cute, spend their lives in cages, not getting the tender, loving care that they deserve, and the socialization that they need. Animals that spend their lives in shelters, never knowing the love and joy of a family of their own, can quickly go from a "great dog" to an "okay dog", simply because their needs are not being met.
Whereas only 30% of the donations accepted go directly towards the animals (for things such as beds, toys, litter, food, or medical expenses), the rest of it benefits the organization as well. The other 70% goes towards salaries for the employees (how else are the lawyers and law enforcement officers on the "Animal Cop" shows supposed to make a living?), upkeep of various facilities, transportation (taking the animals back and forth to the vet, as well as transporting them to adoption drives), and advertising (in order to have a successful charity, people have to know about it). Some of that money also probably goes towards other organizations (with the hope that those who receive will share in turn) and possibly even scholarships for those who show exceptional efforts in helping the animals of their community.

"Kill shelters" may put down animals that are cute and fuzzy and tug at your heartstrings, but they also end the misery of animals that are bounced from home to home, will never be adopted because of their age or appearance, and animals that would have ended up hurting somebody and being put down anyway. Animals in "kill shelters" are also a little better provided for. Because the shelter is not pouring money into a "lost cause", they are able to provide the animals they have with things such as toys, turn out lots, and quality food and medical care. In short, those animals live a better, albeit possibly shorter life, without the inconsistency of the life that "no-kill" shelter animals live.

I hate to say it, but adopting a cat from your local SPCA is probably investing in an organization that has the potential to last, and provide more animals with their "forever homes."

I still don't think it is right. I mean, my local no-kill shelter usally only has one or two animals in each cage. And, I mean.. Would you like it if you were one of those innocent animals being killed? That's what I thought.

Hon, most of the animals that are being put down don't know that they're never going to wake up. When it comes to situations like kill vs no- kill shelters, it's not a good idea to attribute human emotions to an animal that can't reason things through the same way we do.
I really used to be an advocate of no-kill shelters. But, if you take the time to sit down and reason through everything, you might find that what makes sense logically will tear at your heart, and it'll be gruesome, but ultimately it for the good of the animals.

If you want to give them human emotions, though, look at it this way.
Living in a cage your entire life, with minimal food, no room to run and play, and little to no entertainment vs full bowls all the time, a warm bed, a couple of toys, and more space.
I know if I were locked in a cage for days, months, years, whatever, I would take whatever option I could to end my misery. Being caged makes you crazy.

[Jazi]

Ya know, no- kill shelters are not as great as everyone thinks.
They are often overcrowded, under-funded, and the "unadoptable" animals are often still put down.

We have 3 no kill shelters here, as well as a "kill shelter". If you walk into the no- kill shelters, you will find that there are too many animals in most of the cages, they don't have enough toys, beds, or space for the animals they do have, and the people who work/ volunteer there are unorganized and untrained. As much as they want to do good and help their community, they are really just hindering those interested in adopting the perfect pet.
Not only that, but the "unadoptable" animals are still put down. Any animal that has medical expenses too great for the shelter, doesn't get along with other animals, or shows that they do not get along with people (such as dogs that bite, or cats that attack others), will often be put down, so that they have room for the animals they can make a profit off of.
Older animals, especially, have it hard in no kill shelters. Whereas they might be seasoned veterans who can handle anything, most families want a playful puppy or fuzzy kitten, not a dog that gets winded after a short walk or a cat that spends all day napping in the sun. The older animals, or animals that aren't necessarily cute, spend their lives in cages, not getting the tender, loving care that they deserve, and the socialization that they need. Animals that spend their lives in shelters, never knowing the love and joy of a family of their own, can quickly go from a "great dog" to an "okay dog", simply because their needs are not being met.
Whereas only 30% of the donations accepted go directly towards the animals (for things such as beds, toys, litter, food, or medical expenses), the rest of it benefits the organization as well. The other 70% goes towards salaries for the employees (how else are the lawyers and law enforcement officers on the "Animal Cop" shows supposed to make a living?), upkeep of various facilities, transportation (taking the animals back and forth to the vet, as well as transporting them to adoption drives), and advertising (in order to have a successful charity, people have to know about it). Some of that money also probably goes towards other organizations (with the hope that those who receive will share in turn) and possibly even scholarships for those who show exceptional efforts in helping the animals of their community.

"Kill shelters" may put down animals that are cute and fuzzy and tug at your heartstrings, but they also end the misery of animals that are bounced from home to home, will never be adopted because of their age or appearance, and animals that would have ended up hurting somebody and being put down anyway. Animals in "kill shelters" are also a little better provided for. Because the shelter is not pouring money into a "lost cause", they are able to provide the animals they have with things such as toys, turn out lots, and quality food and medical care. In short, those animals live a better, albeit possibly shorter life, without the inconsistency of the life that "no-kill" shelter animals live.

I hate to say it, but adopting a cat from your local SPCA is probably investing in an organization that has the potential to last, and provide more animals with their "forever homes."

I still don't think it is right. I mean, my local no-kill shelter usally only has one or two animals in each cage. And, I mean.. Would you like it if you were one of those innocent animals being killed? That's what I thought.

Hon, most of the animals that are being put down don't know that they're never going to wake up. When it comes to situations like kill vs no- kill shelters, it's not a good idea to attribute human emotions to an animal that can't reason things through the same way we do.
I really used to be an advocate of no-kill shelters. But, if you take the time to sit down and reason through everything, you might find that what makes sense logically will tear at your heart, and it'll be gruesome, but ultimately it for the good of the animals.

If you want to give them human emotions, though, look at it this way.
Living in a cage your entire life, with minimal food, no room to run and play, and little to no entertainment vs full bowls all the time, a warm bed, a couple of toys, and more space.
I know if I were locked in a cage for days, months, years, whatever, I would take whatever option I could to end my misery. Being caged makes you crazy.

This and, ASPCA and your local SPCA may very well have nothing to do with each other aside from share an acronym. Just like a local humane society has no ties with HSUS. ASPCA and HSUS are terrible organizations with underhanded business practice (ASPCA is rumored to be the people who gave Vick his dog!!), known supporters of BSL even though they claim otherwise, and most of their money does not make it to the animals or anything FOR the animals. Support your local kill shelter, not either big organization.

[Zalia]

I got a really soft blanket as a gift this year and my cat loves it! she won't stop jumping on my lap