Should I get a kitten from a sanctuary or a pet shop, and WHY?

Question

Getting a cat from a shelter may well be saving its life, but what happens to all the kitties that DON'T get bought at petshops? Surely they end up the same place.

Answer 1

By sanctuary I'm assuming you mean a shelter?  A SHELTER by all means!

For an adoption fee of around $100 you'll get a cat or kitten that's already spayed or neutered, up to date on shots, deflead, dewormed and tested for disease.

If you get a cat or kitten from a pet store you'll have to cover all of those costs on your own which will run around $300 to $400.

If you get a pet from a pet store you'll also supporting "cat mills". Most kittens at pet stores come from facilities that churn out kittens with little regard to their health and the entire focus on making money. So not only will you have to pay for all the above items I mentioned but you may end up with a VERY sick or even dead kitten do to the horrible conditions it came from.

A lot of shelter cats originally were found as strays so I'm not saying anything is wrong with adopting one. My gorgeous Persian in my avatar was once a six pound scraggly stray. Just be sure you can afford all that needs to be done for it if it isn't coming from a shelter.

Please consider adopting an adult cat instead of a kitten. I used to think you had to get a kitten in order to have it bond with you and other pets. Percy the Persian completely changed my mind about that. And in the two years since I've had him I've adopted two more adults. The three of them are the most loving, playful and cuddly cats I've ever known. And they all love my 100lb dog and ferrets as well!

Edit: "Blarg" - shelters ask lots of questions because they CARE about the animals there and want to make sure they're going into a suitable home.  Often the kittens and cats at shelters have come to them on the brink of death and they've bottle fed, force fed or stayed up all night with them just to help them survive.  Shelters also want to make sure that the person adopting the pet isn't going to toss the pet outside, declaw it and that if they rent their landlord allows pets.  The fact you imply this "turns off" some people and that a pet shop is "easier" - well that's just insane.  Perhaps you should volunteer a bit of time at a shelter and then you'd understand and not make such ridiculous comments.  And FYI - most shelter workers are not "employees" - they're volunteers that do this for the love of animals - not for a paycheck.

Answer 2

There is a lot of stigma now when it comes to purchasing an animal at the pet shop due to the fact that many of the animals may have been bred at puppy mills / kitty mills or other inhumane circumstances.

Purchasing an pet at a sanctuary can be a great experience for you and the animal, for you are giving them a second chance in life. Then again, going to a shelter or a sanctuary is difficult because you are constantly scrutinized by the employees with questions and paperwork, just to test if you are even eligible or worthy to adopt. This turns off some people from going to sanctuaries and shelters in the first place. At a pet store, however, you just go in, pick what you want, pay with cash or credit, and you have your best friend.

Answer 3

Sanctuary. Why? As if it's not obvious!!! Get a kitten from a sanctuary and you're saving a life. Do you need further explanation?

Answer 4

A Sanctuary is recommended if you want to ensure that you get a healthy cat, this is better as unlike pet shops they are kept in better living conditions and the sanctuary will be able to give you a more accurate history of their background. They are also more likely to be up to date with their vaccinations etc.

Answer 5

sanctuary or animal shelter for sure.  i would never buy pets from a pet store...always end up sick and plus they are 20 times more expensive!

Answer 6

Pet stores seem to have a history of shady resources

Animal shelters are probably a good bet but the kitten may come from off the street and be sick

Getting a kitten from a newspaper add could work