When I was a teenager, I went to the animal shelter with my dad to adopt a kitten because I always wanted a cat. To the question: "Will you declaw your cat?" my dad answered yes, because he didn't know why declawing was bad, and had always thought it was a normal thing to do. The volunteer at the shelter immediately rejected the application, and wouldn't let him change his answer after he learned why declawing was a terrible procedure. So the next day, I went to the animal shelter again with my grandmother and applied for the same kitten. I told my grandma to say she would never declaw a cat. They let us adopt the kitten no problem. She's currently purring on my lap as I type this, was never declawed, and is turning 13 years-old next week. Always give a chance to your applicants to learn and change their minds, even if they answer something fishy in the application process, or you could be missing out on a great home for a lucky kitten.
Wow amazing story, you shouldn’t be punished, for not having the knowledge about a topic! Also as a minor I adopted my cats, not my parents, because soon (16) I would be an adult and the cat can get 20 years. But I would understand that the shelters says no if you said you gave your older cat to a shelter, because you wanted a cute kitten! That’s not acceptable!
Here in Europe no1 even heard about declawing. I have never heard about it untill like 2 years ago on utube. This is just horrible. Here its normal taht cats have claws lol wtf....
@@memfis3858 Same! I'm from Spain and I first heard about it In American youtube channels (my cat from hell and this channel), I don't think declawing is a thing here, and I'm glad!
I adopted a middle-aged cat. I wish the shelter had told me the truth about this cat. As I found out later, he was a trouble animal. He was scheduled for euthanasia because of his violent behavior. His 1st four guardians were afraid of him. Turns out he was either acting in self-defense or playing too rough for children. 2 years later we still have and love him, learning his moods and dealing with his fears. 1st time for me dealing with a cat that has PTSD.
Thank you for not giving up on your cat. It's interesting that the shelter never let you know about this cats history (or possibly some of the other adopters as well). Seems like a formula for the poor thing being abandoned by someone who may not know enough about dealing with a stressed animal.
God bless you for having love and patience. You cared enough to sincerely give unconditional love to him. He may have been severely abused. Unfortunately people like you are too few abd far between. This world needs more compassion and love. God bless you for adopting you cat and keeping him despite his issues. I wish more people were like you.
A great thing to mention is these are also just general questions you should ask yourself before adopting! I almost got a lil emotional thinking about the long journey my Walter and I have been on. He's my first boy and I rescued him from neglect with my abusive ex's family. I went homeless right after that from financial abuse but I was determined to keep Walter safe. I had many friends have sleepovers with him and a few watched him for a week or two. Even if I had to drive 3 hours I made sure he had a safe and warm place to stay while I slept in my car that winter. People tend to say yes more often when you are just asking them to watch your cat and not mentioning you are also homeless and need a place too 🥲 I have since gotten 2 more cats and of course stable housing, this was many years ago. I just wish everyone had the determination and love I do for my kitties, thinking of all the abandoned ones break my heart. There are no excuses, you either provide for the baby or you find someone that can. It's really not hard.
Thank you for putting this together!!! I live in a small town outside of the "range" to be a volunteer for the rescues in my closest cities, but that doesn't stop orphaned and injured kittens from being dropped on my doorstep or found by a friend many times a year! I always find myself struggling to find a rescue in the city who will then take my rescued kitties to help find them safe and great homes without wanting an abandonment fee from me or straight up refusing for being out-of-area. This will be a great tool so that I can help find homes right in my town, and not burden the rescues in the city who are already underfunded and overwhelmed. Thank you!
I’ve been considering for a while giving a home to a kitten, just waiting for the right moment. I hope the rescuers/fosters I speak to are as good as you are. Thank you for the guide 🙏🏻
Could you please consider adopting an adult kitty? They're the last ones to be picked for a home and the ASPCA will uthenize them . just because they are not chosen with in a certain time frame.
I second that suggestion. Adult cats need homes too and always get overlooked because people just want cute kittens. But....cute kittens grow up into adult cats. Also, if you do want a kitten, you are actually supposed to get 2. If you only want one, you should get an adult.
I love the open ended questions that you ask your adopters. I can see how you can get a picture of potential adopters and their lives. Thank you for your informative video. ❤️
I applyied to foster in my old city and they said my references were "too enthusiastic". That's probably an example of overly restrictive haha these questions are great!
After adopting my Treasure yes that's her name from a adoption organization a few weeks later I tried to adopt a little kitten so she had a play friend and the organization said the kitten is fearful of little kids so I was rejected b/c I have a son mind you he is a 13 yr old teen at high school so I was like wtf he is a teen not exactly a little child anymore, but I did end up getting a different little kitten from a different organization
I cannot thank you enough for this video! I am in the process of vetting potential adopters and I knew all along I was going to be too rigid in who I chose. I just needed some words of guidance and reassurance to open myself up to a wider range of adopters and through this video I have let go of finding perfection, I just need to find them a good, loving home with people who will love and care for them and I have found, as you said, that this most people who have come to see my beautiful litter. Thanks a million for helping me to help my kittens find their forever homes!
I think your best adoption was Pip's. Nobody knew he had a neurological problem, but somehow, you managed to find an AMAZING cat mom, one of the most loving and caring human ever. I follow them on Instagram, and as a sufferer of a neurological illness myself, I quickly decided that Pip was goint to be my spirit animal. Love, LOVE that cat! I soooo want to try to foster one day. I'm just a little bit scared of how my female cat would react. She's a typical Calico, nervous, primal, easily traumatized. Her mental health is very important to me. Still thinking about it. We'll see! But you, Hanna, are a God sent. Bravo for all you do!
Hanna, Thank you so much for not only being a wealth of information for me as a cat rescuer, but also having videos that I can send to people to educate in a very easy and digestible way. I really struggle with finding and using the right words to talk to people about some very important cat/kitten issues. So I send your videos to so many people because you just know how to approach difficult topics and find the right words in a calm and easy way to understand. Thank you so much for being my biggest inspiration and also being a great resource to share with people. 💕
When I contacted my local Cats Protection after having to say goodbye to my beloved Tilly, I was surprised that they didn't do a home check... but this was pre-Covid, and their important thing was seeing me, and how I interacted with the kittens that they thought right for me (they were black, and had been overlooked for adoption!). Three years on, they rule the house :)
I wanted to thank you for all the work that you do. I have always rescued cats one way or another but I was never able to give them up for adoption because I had no way of knowing if they ended up in good hands... that's how I ended up with 8 cats. But, after the first online cat camp I started following you, watched your webinars, bought your book and also took inspiration in the orphan kitten club adoption form to creat my own, thanks to all that in the last year and a half I have fostered 20 cats (12 bottle babies) and found wonderful adopters for 17 of them (I still have 3 that are looking for a home). Again, thank you so much for everything you do!
I've been fostering kittens since 2008 and I couldn't do this. I just couldn't put one of my kittens into someone else's hands. I'm glad I let someone else do it for me i.e. my local humane society. So glad that my friend is the foster care coordinator.
My former brother in law recently made a day trip to go get a puppy that he didn't tell anyone about! This is not the first time he has impulsively acquired a pet without consulting the other people in the home. The first that I know about was a bearded dragon that he then left with my sister to care for. IMO he is not someone who should be allowed to adopt a pet because he's pretty irresponsible and would be the kind of person to surrender an animal without extenuating circumstances. I don't know if the place he got the dog from didn't ask appropriate questions or if he lied to them. Is there a good way to weed out the people who are charming liars?
Surrendering an animal is better then abandoning it or letting it starve to death. You cant stop people from lying on the application form but by asking questions and doing a few face to face interviews can help weed out the liars and impulsive buyers - adopters but I know a lot of adoption organization will only adopt if everyone who lives in that house comes, visits and agrees to the adoption but that's only if the person who applied was honest to begin with.
If you know this you should reach out to the shelter and let them know. It's always deeply appreciated when people speak out to help shelters know who is a red flag applicant.
@@foxwaffles unfortunately I have no idea where he got the dog from. My guess is a private breeder because he drove from Michigan to Ohio which is at least 3 hours. What I heard from my sister was that he lied to everyone about what he was doing and just showed up with a puppy. Thankfully he no longer lives with my sister, but I feel bad for his dad (who he lives with) who is 75+ and already has a dog
Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to know is experience. After you've dealt with hundreds of individuals, you get a nose for BS. That's why it's important to "interrogate" potential buyers face to face and have a thick enough hide to turn them away if something doesn't feel right.
The indoor/outdoor cat philosophies in different parts of the world are really fascinating to me. From what I've seen online, most experts in the US strictly recommend indoor cats, possibly with supervised outdoor time. Adopting cats to people who'll let them roam outside seems very discouraged. Complete 180 degree difference in Germany: Telling a shelter you want to adopt an indoor cat gets you some reaaaally sceptical looks and vetting process, they're very reluctant to adopt cats into homes where they'll stay inside. Giving a cat the chance to leave the house and roam the neighborhood is the standard and pretty much exptected from adopters like 80% of the time.
Cats live longer if they're indoors and have been decimating wildlife populations if left to roam outside (yes, including wild colonies), so that's odd that some places see outdoor cats as what should be encouraged. Not saying you can't have them outside or that cat colonies need to be done away with, absolutely not, but to discourage keeping them indoors where they're safer is strange.
@@belmum1689 Well it is very much true. Dutch here and pretty much most shelters make it a requirement your cat has access to outdoor space. Does not have to be completely free roaming, but access to a large balcony and preferably a garden. Mine are indoor/outdoor too.
@@anita750 My dad is from Hollard, and most shelters or adoption groups do not require you to have an outdoor enclosure but they do require you to leave your cat indoors and not let them roam the streets. If you want to let your cat outside maybe use a leash or have a cat enclosure but most shelters do not require it.
@@belmum1689 Again, I am Dutch (I am from and live in 'Holland'/ the Netherlands). Shelters have the approach that, as long as they do not know the exact history of the cat, they will not assume the cat will be happy having only an indoor life. Therefore they require outside space. I understand this approach is very different to the one in Australia (and other parts of the world), but that is how it is here.
Thank you for sharing this video. It's been very helpful to me as far as putting an application together and making me feel more secure that I'm finding a good home for my kittens
I foster/socialize kittens from a local colony, so we're not going through an organization. My mom advertises the kittens by posting about them on her Facebook, and it does the job. All you really need is cute pictures haha. Thank you kitten lady!! I've fostered 16 kittens in the past few years, and I hope to do more once I graduate high school.
Sure, you can post a photo and get lots of interested people, but the point here is how to vet those people so you find the best possible home. No reputable rescue would just pick a random person without asking them any questions; it would be irresponsible.
I sincerely commend you and your mom for your rescue efforts!! I would definitely encourage you to make sure you go through a thorough screening process for potential adopters. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people looking for “free kittens“ who would use these kittens for unmentionable purposes, and they can totally act like they just want to adopt a cute kitten. Charging an adoption fee that would cover their basic kitten vet care and thoroughly screening, checking references etc. is very important to making sure the kittens really are going to people who will give them loving fosrever homes. If you work through a rescue group, they can help you with resources for vaccinations, spay and neuter vouchers, and help you with your screening process.
Very helpful, thank you! I am personally fostering a cat abandoned in my neighborhood. We are still working out 💩 issues, but I’ve been worried about finding her a loving forever home once she’s ready. 💕
Thank you for this very valuable resource. I wish we'd had it available years ago when CSUN CatPeople was creating its adoption application for campus kittens (we do TNR on a university campus).
great video! after many, many years of fostering and adopting....this is the hardest part for me....it's the best and the worst of my experiences. Know that you can only do your best and adopters can still be not very stable & unkind people= plus shit happens in lives! big time!!! There are the bring backs.....2yrs old .....shine is off the kitten....yada yada yada! People are people. We spend so much time, love & energy saving these little lives - you just want the best possible situation. I still get contacts from old adopters.....it makes my day. Most importantly, take care of yourself so you have some resiliency to the hard parts cause they always come up. The animals never disappoint but the humans /expectations etc can take its toll. Get a support network before you take on too much in the heat of kitten season so you can step a way even for a few hours. Fostering /adopting is no competition - you can't give what you don't have! Love Hannah....such a bright spirit in the rescue world!
For the declawing question, I've been burned by people in the past who I thought I was able to educate as to the cruelty of it but they just lied and did it anyway. So now my rescue does a flat denial of anyone where that might be a possibility. How do you keep trusting people, how do you know when to trust someone not to declaw?
idk about what Hannah would say but in her video it sounded to me like if you haven't wholly convinced someone by the end of the conversation to not declaw then there's a pretty solid chance their application is going to be rejected.
Maybe you can approach the question more sneakily, like "What will you do about scratching" and then list off declaw, trim, claw caps and make them check off all that apply. If they check off declaw then you can just decline the application if trying to educate them doesnt work.
This one's always tough... Unfortunately the best thing we can do is have a good "people radar" and be able to really read into whether they are serious or not, and also maintain a do not adopt list for confirmed liars and share with other local rescuers.
@@LilliD3 Perhaps. I wouldn't have any advice to give them if that's the case, though, since the entire premise of adoption itself hinges on the belief that the person will have good intentions in mind.
I'm not sure if I will ever be in a position where I need to vet potential adopters but I still watched all the way through because it's so interesting ☺I love hearing how open you are, and you seem so fair and kind. I've heard unfortunate stories about rescues being too restrictive with their adoption process and I don't think it is very beneficial to either party involved. 😞
It is true that some rescues are more restrictive than others. I think much of the sour grapes is from people who may have been rejected for a good reason. It is the rescues responsibility to find the best home they can. It's not an easy thing and some err more on the side of caution. Keep in mind, the Kitten Lady is doing a very general video. And while she is fair and kind, I bet she is pretty darn careful about who she adopts to as well.
@@sbffsbrarbrr yeah I get what you mean, I also think it's possible some of the upset people were likely turned away for good reason. But I don't think that's always the case and I think being too restrictive could lead people to get animals in a less safe way. Like free kittens on fb because the adoption fee is 250$ or because the shelter won't adopt out to them bc they don't own their house. (Ofc both parties could be at fault, and I'm sure often the shelters make the right decision, I just think we have to be careful with how restrictive we are, because restriction will push people to break out) I 100% agree finding a good home is the most important, but I also think it's important to be open minded ☺
Thank you for your help and care of this cute little angels and all what you are doing for this cute little angels from Switzerland Irene with Mucki Blacky and Cremi 😍💕😻💕😍🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️
You don't think Hanna constantly has the same feelings and wishes she could keep them all but if Hanna did keep all the kitten she fostered she wouldn't be able to foster animals anymore b/c she would be too busy and neonatal kittens need people like Hanna.
Hi kitten lady how coco doing my cat had what coco did to she is happy and healthy just her stomach is a bit sensitive I hope the best to you and coco From fellow kitten lover
I'm pretty sure introducing my Mum to your videos is entirely responsible for her wanting to foster kittens, well, when we live somewhere a little more practical anyway
Thank you so much for this. Sadly I have to rehome my cat. I just made an adoption application for him thanks to you. And Im going to make a bio and assemble all his documents soon. Im dreading making a post for him but I know the day that I would have to let him go is approaching :(
Lmao, I just randomly wanted to say that I had a dream last night where my cats and I found ourselves at Hanna's place and she introduced me to what was supposedly her family. I remember in the dream thinking that I had a great opportunity to ask her things about my cats, but never got the opportunity to for some reason xD
I would guess that this isn't something Hannah has encountered much because she works mostly with neonates. I think this mostly impacts older, obese cats, no?
I want to get another cat....just unsure how my current cat would react to it. She hates cats in the backyard but if introductions are done slow and steady maybe.... she loves the dog
I'm currently fostering a 6 year old cat that they're previous adopters didn't want because he was really aggressive towards humans and their other cats. Long story short, after a few visits to the vet and following Jackson's Galaxy cat introduction videos he now even plays with and grooms a few of my other fosters
no one is forgetting them? 97% of hannah's fosters are kittens, she talks about her own process. and even then, almost all of the points she mentioned work just as well for adult cats
I'm curious on how you end the phone conversation if you know you're going to deny someone. I adopt out cats and kittens and I struggle denying people or ending the conversation after I know I'm going to deny them.
Can you say something like “OK, thank you very much, wr will be reviewing your information and will contact you if your application is approved”? Also, do you ask for any references, veterinary, personal etc.?
I always send a care package with the kitten that includes a few cans of food and some toys. I always give a wand toy to encourage play. The whole thing costs about $10, but it is worth the effort to get them off to a good start.
I have a question, you said on one of your last statements that it is recommended to spay and neuter before adopting out kittens but the vet recommends to do that at 6 months. Do you normally keep your foster kittens for 6 months or do you get them fixed at under 2 months old? How do you go about that?
Although I hope Hanna can give you some guidance, in my experience kittens can be safely spayed or neutered at very young ages. Some vets can skillfully do this when a kitten is 2 pounds. Others have waited until the kitten is between 3 to 4 pounds. It's also been my experience that if a kitten is altered well before they experience hormonal changes (which can happen as young as 4 months!), territorial behavior issues are dramatically decreased, and a cat tends to keep more "kittenish" personalized traits. I hope that helps.
@@robingray5037 exactly. Hannah has all of her fosters fixed at 2lbs unless there is a medical reason not to. (For example, Fergie wasn't healthy enough to have surgery until now and he is 9 months old.) Their risk of cancers and such goes up significantly if they go into heat before being sprayed, which can happen long before 6 months of age. So, from my understanding, it is preferable to have it done sooner.
@@judevicious3333 Every vet clinic is different my local clinic doesn't desex until the animal is close to 6months too but you can phone around lots of clinic do it earlier. I just got a second kitten from a friend who still needs to be spayed so I will probably go to the city and get her spayed I will probably use the same clinic where my first kitten that I adopted from a adoption organisation where she was spayed b/c I have her spayed certificate so I know where the clinic is. Where I live in the rural to spayed a cat cost $250 but in the city at that clinic it's only $130
That's a LOT shorter than the application I filled out for the cat I just adopted. But I also didn't have a follow up conversation but that might be because they met me before I applied (cat cafe).
After seeing your video, I don't want to adopt from a specific place now. their question was invasive and kinda rude. like our income and information about our jobs.... I understand wanting to be sure they go to a good home but this was too much.
I’ve seen some articles that suggest adopting a kitten out at 12 weeks old may be better for socialization. Is the 8 weeks old more of a resource issue? Just curious.
I think she has mentioned before that she only chooses adopters who either have ot least another cat or that want to adopt two cats. If she (or most rescuers/organizations) keep the kittens until 12 w/o then that would mean less time and resources for taking in other cats
Sometimes you notice the red flags in the application but most of the time they come out during the conversation. For example, one young girl told me they have always had cat in their house but usually just one at a time. When I asked how long they usually lived she said that no more than 5 years, I then asked her if she knew that cats can live at least around 15 years and sometimes even 20 or 30 years she told me that she had no idea 🤦🏻♀️
I know there are monstrous people out there who want to adopt cats for neferious ourposes. I think your extensive interview process will enable you to weed these people out.
I have a question, will a kitten stop drinking milk once they're full? Mine stops and doesn't want to drink again, and I'm always wondering if he's getting enough milk. He's 3-4 weeks old and he's being bottle fed.
Long time kitten foster here: your kitten will definitely stop when they're done, if they're latching properly and you're seeing the bottle empty as they're feeding. You should be weighing the kitten twice a day. As long as it's gaining, I wouldn't worry too much. I've had 3wo kittens who refused to latch, usually because they were orphaned late or had URIs. If you can't get the kitten to nurse you can start introducing age appropriate solids at 3-3 1/2 weeks. If the kitten has an URI, it needs antibiotics immediately. Good luck with your baby! 😻
I heard it can cause many problems in long term &in a lot of amount. But it depends. Rachel jun channel feed their cats dry food only coz all wet food available now in japan make their cats sick (vomit &/ diarrhea cmiiw)
If you’re adopting a kitten out at eight weeks old there’s no way it can be fully vaccinated at that age, so be sure to tell people they have to follow up and complete the series of core kitten vaccinations!
Well there's a question, are you selfish enough to get a solitary cat just because you want one even though having at least a pair is strongly recommended? a lot of rescuers make the choice to only adopt 2 or 1 to a home with a cat and they have all the right to do it
If someone can only have one cat, they can adopt an adult. It is a well-known fact that kittens do better with a friend. It's how they learn how to cat. They also have less behavioural issues because they have a friend to burn off their energy with. The vast majority of kittens aren't happy solo. Any reputable rescue knows that, and ensures that their kittens go to the best possible home. The best possible home is not one where they will be alone. There are countless adult cats waiting in shelters who would be thrilled to be adopted as an only cat.
That is great. Just because “Someone wants a only one cat.” Does not make them obligated to adopt more than one. What if the adopter lives in a rental, not many landlord will have that mentality, “kittens do better with a friend” I understand where you are coming from. But, Kittenlady should not make it a requirement for the adopter to not be allow to have that option to adopt a sole kitten
@@daisydoe7727 you have had 3 people explain this to you, but you are simply not listening. Hannah does what is in the best interest of the kittens she fosters. It is in their best interest to be adopted with a sibling or into a home with another cat. Period. It isn't just Hannah with this requirement. It is every reputable rescue everywhere. Once again, if someone only wants one cat, or can only have one cat, they can adopt a solo adult. If someone can't accept that, they don't actually care about the best interest of the kitten, and therefore wouldn't be an appropriate guardian. You are creating a problem where a problem does not exist.
When I was a teenager, I went to the animal shelter with my dad to adopt a kitten because I always wanted a cat. To the question: "Will you declaw your cat?" my dad answered yes, because he didn't know why declawing was bad, and had always thought it was a normal thing to do. The volunteer at the shelter immediately rejected the application, and wouldn't let him change his answer after he learned why declawing was a terrible procedure.
So the next day, I went to the animal shelter again with my grandmother and applied for the same kitten. I told my grandma to say she would never declaw a cat. They let us adopt the kitten no problem. She's currently purring on my lap as I type this, was never declawed, and is turning 13 years-old next week.
Always give a chance to your applicants to learn and change their minds, even if they answer something fishy in the application process, or you could be missing out on a great home for a lucky kitten.
Wow amazing story, you shouldn’t be punished, for not having the knowledge about a topic! Also as a minor I adopted my cats, not my parents,
because soon (16) I would be an adult and the cat can get 20 years.
But I would understand that the shelters says no if you said you gave your older cat to a shelter, because you wanted a cute kitten!
That’s not acceptable!
Here in Europe no1 even heard about declawing. I have never heard about it untill like 2 years ago on utube. This is just horrible. Here its normal taht cats have claws lol wtf....
@@memfis3858 Same! I'm from Spain and I first heard about it In American youtube channels (my cat from hell and this channel), I don't think declawing is a thing here, and I'm glad!
I adopted a middle-aged cat. I wish the shelter had told me the truth about this cat. As I found out later, he was a trouble animal. He was scheduled for euthanasia because of his violent behavior. His 1st four guardians were afraid of him. Turns out he was either acting in self-defense or playing too rough for children. 2 years later we still have and love him, learning his moods and dealing with his fears. 1st time for me dealing with a cat that has PTSD.
Thank you for not giving up on your cat. It's interesting that the shelter never let you know about this cats history (or possibly some of the other adopters as well). Seems like a formula for the poor thing being abandoned by someone who may not know enough about dealing with a stressed animal.
That's really nice of you for sticking with him. God bless you 🙏
God bless you for having love and patience. You cared enough to sincerely give unconditional love to him. He may have been severely abused. Unfortunately people like you are too few abd far between. This world needs more compassion and love. God bless you for adopting you cat and keeping him despite his issues. I wish more people were like you.
A great thing to mention is these are also just general questions you should ask yourself before adopting! I almost got a lil emotional thinking about the long journey my Walter and I have been on. He's my first boy and I rescued him from neglect with my abusive ex's family. I went homeless right after that from financial abuse but I was determined to keep Walter safe. I had many friends have sleepovers with him and a few watched him for a week or two. Even if I had to drive 3 hours I made sure he had a safe and warm place to stay while I slept in my car that winter. People tend to say yes more often when you are just asking them to watch your cat and not mentioning you are also homeless and need a place too 🥲 I have since gotten 2 more cats and of course stable housing, this was many years ago. I just wish everyone had the determination and love I do for my kitties, thinking of all the abandoned ones break my heart. There are no excuses, you either provide for the baby or you find someone that can. It's really not hard.
I'm so glad you never stopped doing this, making me feel motivated every time i see one of your videos :)
Thank you for putting this together!!! I live in a small town outside of the "range" to be a volunteer for the rescues in my closest cities, but that doesn't stop orphaned and injured kittens from being dropped on my doorstep or found by a friend many times a year! I always find myself struggling to find a rescue in the city who will then take my rescued kitties to help find them safe and great homes without wanting an abandonment fee from me or straight up refusing for being out-of-area.
This will be a great tool so that I can help find homes right in my town, and not burden the rescues in the city who are already underfunded and overwhelmed. Thank you!
I’ve been considering for a while giving a home to a kitten, just waiting for the right moment. I hope the rescuers/fosters I speak to are as good as you are. Thank you for the guide 🙏🏻
Could you please consider adopting an adult kitty? They're the last ones to be picked for a home and the ASPCA will uthenize them . just because they are not chosen with in a certain time frame.
I second that suggestion. Adult cats need homes too and always get overlooked because people just want cute kittens. But....cute kittens grow up into adult cats.
Also, if you do want a kitten, you are actually supposed to get 2. If you only want one, you should get an adult.
I love the open ended questions that you ask your adopters. I can see how you can get a picture of potential adopters and their lives. Thank you for your informative video. ❤️
Thank you! Yes, I’m a huge fan of conversations-based adoptions.
You are interested in adopting:
• One kitten
• Two kittens
• All the kittens
😂❤
I applyied to foster in my old city and they said my references were "too enthusiastic". That's probably an example of overly restrictive haha these questions are great!
What's "too enthusiastic"? Lol..
After adopting my Treasure yes that's her name from a adoption organization a few weeks later I tried to adopt a little kitten so she had a play friend and the organization said the kitten is fearful of little kids so I was rejected b/c I have a son mind you he is a 13 yr old teen at high school so I was like wtf he is a teen not exactly a little child anymore, but I did end up getting a different little kitten from a different organization
@@belmum1689 I do understand the shelter. They know the character of the cat and didn't believe that that cat fit in your family situation.
@@LilliD3 So do you know that kitten and they don't know my family, just like you don't.
@@belmum1689 I think they were replying to OP…
Being able to get to know potential adopters on a personal level is yet another reason why being a kitten foster parent is so important.
Hannah and Andrew, the way you educate and support your community is, is, is… beautiful. Northern VA misses you.
I cannot thank you enough for this video! I am in the process of vetting potential adopters and I knew all along I was going to be too rigid in who I chose. I just needed some words of guidance and reassurance to open myself up to a wider range of adopters and through this video I have let go of finding perfection, I just need to find them a good, loving home with people who will love and care for them and I have found, as you said, that this most people who have come to see my beautiful litter. Thanks a million for helping me to help my kittens find their forever homes!
I think your best adoption was Pip's. Nobody knew he had a neurological problem, but somehow, you managed to find an AMAZING cat mom, one of the most loving and caring human ever. I follow them on Instagram, and as a sufferer of a neurological illness myself, I quickly decided that Pip was goint to be my spirit animal. Love, LOVE that cat!
I soooo want to try to foster one day. I'm just a little bit scared of how my female cat would react. She's a typical Calico, nervous, primal, easily traumatized. Her mental health is very important to me. Still thinking about it. We'll see!
But you, Hanna, are a God sent. Bravo for all you do!
Also amazing how Hannah could find the perfect brother for both Murphy and Pip.
@@57yearoldjamesbond OMG yes. Indy is THE perfect match for sure!
Hanna,
Thank you so much for not only being a wealth of information for me as a cat rescuer, but also having videos that I can send to people to educate in a very easy and digestible way.
I really struggle with finding and using the right words to talk to people about some very important cat/kitten issues. So I send your videos to so many people because you just know how to approach difficult topics and find the right words in a calm and easy way to understand.
Thank you so much for being my biggest inspiration and also being a great resource to share with people. 💕
When I contacted my local Cats Protection after having to say goodbye to my beloved Tilly, I was surprised that they didn't do a home check... but this was pre-Covid, and their important thing was seeing me, and how I interacted with the kittens that they thought right for me (they were black, and had been overlooked for adoption!). Three years on, they rule the house :)
I wanted to thank you for all the work that you do. I have always rescued cats one way or another but I was never able to give them up for adoption because I had no way of knowing if they ended up in good hands... that's how I ended up with 8 cats.
But, after the first online cat camp I started following you, watched your webinars, bought your book and also took inspiration in the orphan kitten club adoption form to creat my own, thanks to all that in the last year and a half I have fostered 20 cats (12 bottle babies) and found wonderful adopters for 17 of them (I still have 3 that are looking for a home).
Again, thank you so much for everything you do!
I've been fostering kittens since 2008 and I couldn't do this. I just couldn't put one of my kittens into someone else's hands. I'm glad I let someone else do it for me i.e. my local humane society. So glad that my friend is the foster care coordinator.
Oh perfect! I’ve been wondering how this process goes. Thank you! :D
My former brother in law recently made a day trip to go get a puppy that he didn't tell anyone about! This is not the first time he has impulsively acquired a pet without consulting the other people in the home. The first that I know about was a bearded dragon that he then left with my sister to care for. IMO he is not someone who should be allowed to adopt a pet because he's pretty irresponsible and would be the kind of person to surrender an animal without extenuating circumstances. I don't know if the place he got the dog from didn't ask appropriate questions or if he lied to them. Is there a good way to weed out the people who are charming liars?
Surrendering an animal is better then abandoning it or letting it starve to death. You cant stop people from lying on the application form but by asking questions and doing a few face to face interviews can help weed out the liars and impulsive buyers - adopters but I know a lot of adoption organization will only adopt if everyone who lives in that house comes, visits and agrees to the adoption but that's only if the person who applied was honest to begin with.
If you know this you should reach out to the shelter and let them know. It's always deeply appreciated when people speak out to help shelters know who is a red flag applicant.
@@foxwaffles unfortunately I have no idea where he got the dog from. My guess is a private breeder because he drove from Michigan to Ohio which is at least 3 hours. What I heard from my sister was that he lied to everyone about what he was doing and just showed up with a puppy. Thankfully he no longer lives with my sister, but I feel bad for his dad (who he lives with) who is 75+ and already has a dog
Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to know is experience. After you've dealt with hundreds of individuals, you get a nose for BS. That's why it's important to "interrogate" potential buyers face to face and have a thick enough hide to turn them away if something doesn't feel right.
This is just the video I was looking for!! I’m so happy you had one on this topic
I love this lady and the work she does is amazing ,
The indoor/outdoor cat philosophies in different parts of the world are really fascinating to me. From what I've seen online, most experts in the US strictly recommend indoor cats, possibly with supervised outdoor time. Adopting cats to people who'll let them roam outside seems very discouraged.
Complete 180 degree difference in Germany: Telling a shelter you want to adopt an indoor cat gets you some reaaaally sceptical looks and vetting process, they're very reluctant to adopt cats into homes where they'll stay inside. Giving a cat the chance to leave the house and roam the neighborhood is the standard and pretty much exptected from adopters like 80% of the time.
I don't believe it, where I live in Australia all adoption groups and shelters will only let you adopt if the cat is kept inside &/or has an enclosure
Cats live longer if they're indoors and have been decimating wildlife populations if left to roam outside (yes, including wild colonies), so that's odd that some places see outdoor cats as what should be encouraged. Not saying you can't have them outside or that cat colonies need to be done away with, absolutely not, but to discourage keeping them indoors where they're safer is strange.
@@belmum1689 Well it is very much true. Dutch here and pretty much most shelters make it a requirement your cat has access to outdoor space. Does not have to be completely free roaming, but access to a large balcony and preferably a garden. Mine are indoor/outdoor too.
@@anita750 My dad is from Hollard, and most shelters or adoption groups do not require you to have an outdoor enclosure but they do require you to leave your cat indoors and not let them roam the streets. If you want to let your cat outside maybe use a leash or have a cat enclosure but most shelters do not require it.
@@belmum1689 Again, I am Dutch (I am from and live in 'Holland'/ the Netherlands). Shelters have the approach that, as long as they do not know the exact history of the cat, they will not assume the cat will be happy having only an indoor life. Therefore they require outside space.
I understand this approach is very different to the one in Australia (and other parts of the world), but that is how it is here.
Thank you for sharing this video. It's been very helpful to me as far as putting an application together and making me feel more secure that I'm finding a good home for my kittens
Love your channel! I’ve always been obsessed with fostering kittens!!! 😊
I foster/socialize kittens from a local colony, so we're not going through an organization. My mom advertises the kittens by posting about them on her Facebook, and it does the job. All you really need is cute pictures haha.
Thank you kitten lady!! I've fostered 16 kittens in the past few years, and I hope to do more once I graduate high school.
Sure, you can post a photo and get lots of interested people, but the point here is how to vet those people so you find the best possible home. No reputable rescue would just pick a random person without asking them any questions; it would be irresponsible.
I sincerely commend you and your mom for your rescue efforts!! I would definitely encourage you to make sure you go through a thorough screening process for potential adopters. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people looking for “free kittens“ who would use these kittens for unmentionable purposes, and they can totally act like they just want to adopt a cute kitten. Charging an adoption fee that would cover their basic kitten vet care and thoroughly screening, checking references etc. is very important to making sure the kittens really are going to people who will give them loving fosrever homes. If you work through a rescue group, they can help you with resources for vaccinations, spay and neuter vouchers, and help you with your screening process.
Very helpful, thank you! I am personally fostering a cat abandoned in my neighborhood. We are still working out 💩 issues, but I’ve been worried about finding her a loving forever home once she’s ready. 💕
Thank you so much for this video. It helped me create a great adoption application. You're the best, Kitten Lady!
Thank you for this very valuable resource. I wish we'd had it available years ago when CSUN CatPeople was creating its adoption application for campus kittens (we do TNR on a university campus).
I like your cat cup. You included so much great information.
great video! after many, many years of fostering and adopting....this is the hardest part for me....it's the best and the worst of my experiences. Know that you can only do your best and adopters can still be not very stable & unkind people= plus shit happens in lives! big time!!! There are the bring backs.....2yrs old .....shine is off the kitten....yada yada yada! People are people. We spend so much time, love & energy saving these little lives - you just want the best possible situation. I still get contacts from old adopters.....it makes my day. Most importantly, take care of yourself so you have some resiliency to the hard parts cause they always come up. The animals never disappoint but the humans /expectations etc can take its toll. Get a support network before you take on too much in the heat of kitten season so you can step a way even for a few hours. Fostering /adopting is no competition - you can't give what you don't have! Love Hannah....such a bright spirit in the rescue world!
For the declawing question, I've been burned by people in the past who I thought I was able to educate as to the cruelty of it but they just lied and did it anyway. So now my rescue does a flat denial of anyone where that might be a possibility. How do you keep trusting people, how do you know when to trust someone not to declaw?
idk about what Hannah would say but in her video it sounded to me like if you haven't wholly convinced someone by the end of the conversation to not declaw then there's a pretty solid chance their application is going to be rejected.
Maybe you can approach the question more sneakily, like "What will you do about scratching" and then list off declaw, trim, claw caps and make them check off all that apply. If they check off declaw then you can just decline the application if trying to educate them doesnt work.
This one's always tough... Unfortunately the best thing we can do is have a good "people radar" and be able to really read into whether they are serious or not, and also maintain a do not adopt list for confirmed liars and share with other local rescuers.
@@pr0v0cative4pple I think OP was talking about people lying that you have convinced them.
@@LilliD3 Perhaps. I wouldn't have any advice to give them if that's the case, though, since the entire premise of adoption itself hinges on the belief that the person will have good intentions in mind.
I learn more about kittens and cats including mine every time I watch your videos!
I'm not sure if I will ever be in a position where I need to vet potential adopters but I still watched all the way through because it's so interesting ☺I love hearing how open you are, and you seem so fair and kind. I've heard unfortunate stories about rescues being too restrictive with their adoption process and I don't think it is very beneficial to either party involved. 😞
It is true that some rescues are more restrictive than others. I think much of the sour grapes is from people who may have been rejected for a good reason. It is the rescues responsibility to find the best home they can. It's not an easy thing and some err more on the side of caution. Keep in mind, the Kitten Lady is doing a very general video. And while she is fair and kind, I bet she is pretty darn careful about who she adopts to as well.
@@sbffsbrarbrr yeah I get what you mean, I also think it's possible some of the upset people were likely turned away for good reason. But I don't think that's always the case and I think being too restrictive could lead people to get animals in a less safe way. Like free kittens on fb because the adoption fee is 250$ or because the shelter won't adopt out to them bc they don't own their house. (Ofc both parties could be at fault, and I'm sure often the shelters make the right decision, I just think we have to be careful with how restrictive we are, because restriction will push people to break out)
I 100% agree finding a good home is the most important, but I also think it's important to be open minded ☺
thank yuuu ! I'm currently in the process of giving multiples cats to adoption and this is a great help.
Thank you for your help and care of this cute little angels and all what you are doing for this cute little angels from Switzerland Irene with Mucki Blacky and Cremi 😍💕😻💕😍🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️
Yay thank you!!! I want to have a ferret rescue one day this is so helpful
@Mila 1228 I have heard of them yes. Mixed on them.
❤ This video, next place I'm going to foster.
Beautiful awesome lady . Thank GOD for people like you ❤❤❤❤❤ .
If I was fostering, I'd constantly be all... "Ummm, I'd better hold on to this one, because reasons". Ya... I would be that house with 300 cats... lol
You don't think Hanna constantly has the same feelings and wishes she could keep them all but if Hanna did keep all the kitten she fostered she wouldn't be able to foster animals anymore b/c she would be too busy and neonatal kittens need people like Hanna.
She has addressed this a few times. Basically her philosophy is “goodbye is the goal”. The more kittens she finds homes for, the more she can save.
@@Positivekitten ... Yes, I am aware :) However, would not be a good choice to take over her position, should she retire ... lol
These kittens are SO cute!
Thank you for the useful information…as always 😻
I have been waiting a year to adopt a cat and i finally got one!
Hi kitten lady how coco doing my cat had what coco did to she is happy and healthy just her stomach is a bit sensitive I hope the best to you and coco
From fellow kitten lover
Such a fantastic video! You are so knowledgeable🙌.
I'm pretty sure introducing my Mum to your videos is entirely responsible for her wanting to foster kittens, well, when we live somewhere a little more practical anyway
Thank you so much for this. Sadly I have to rehome my cat. I just made an adoption application for him thanks to you. And Im going to make a bio and assemble all his documents soon. Im dreading making a post for him but I know the day that I would have to let him go is approaching :(
Lmao, I just randomly wanted to say that I had a dream last night where my cats and I found ourselves at Hanna's place and she introduced me to what was supposedly her family. I remember in the dream thinking that I had a great opportunity to ask her things about my cats, but never got the opportunity to for some reason xD
Thanks for this video Hannah... ❤️
I really love kittens 🐱
Very informative.Cute kittens and adorable
Can u plz show us where u got all your cat trees. I love how cute your kitten room is :)
could you do a video about cats' fatty liver disease (Feline hepatic lipidosis ) and cases that came across you with this condition , if any.
I would guess that this isn't something Hannah has encountered much because she works mostly with neonates. I think this mostly impacts older, obese cats, no?
I want to get another cat....just unsure how my current cat would react to it. She hates cats in the backyard but if introductions are done slow and steady maybe.... she loves the dog
Most rescues and shelters will let you bring the pet back in 30 days if it doesn’t work
Jackson galaxy has great info on this
I'm currently fostering a 6 year old cat that they're previous adopters didn't want because he was really aggressive towards humans and their other cats.
Long story short, after a few visits to the vet and following Jackson's Galaxy cat introduction videos he now even plays with and grooms a few of my other fosters
@@sausti3 I was going to say the same thing. He’s got some awesome tutorials about making introductions.
Such an informative video !😊👍👌
Sweet kitties need good homes. Everybody adopt at least 2!
How do you wrap up a conversation where you're not going to place a kitten with that person?
Could you please tell me what you do about your house getting fleas? Love your videos
That mushroom cat scratcher thoooo
I have no need to know how to adopt out foster kittens, I just came to look at the cute kittens.
Don't forget all the adult and senior cats who need to be adopted as well!
no one is forgetting them? 97% of hannah's fosters are kittens, she talks about her own process. and even then, almost all of the points she mentioned work just as well for adult cats
I got two Tabby’s in June.
Really informative!!!!
This is sooo helpful!! We have 2 cats that are pregnant, one a lot further along than the other!
Please neuter them when they're able to be neutered! All the kittens as well.
I'm curious on how you end the phone conversation if you know you're going to deny someone. I adopt out cats and kittens and I struggle denying people or ending the conversation after I know I'm going to deny them.
Can you say something like “OK, thank you very much, wr will be reviewing your information and will contact you if your application is approved”? Also, do you ask for any references, veterinary, personal etc.?
There is a cat with LIPS at 5:39. 😍😍😍😍😍
I always send a care package with the kitten that includes a few cans of food and some toys. I always give a wand toy to encourage play. The whole thing costs about $10, but it is worth the effort to get them off to a good start.
I have a question, you said on one of your last statements that it is recommended to spay and neuter before adopting out kittens but the vet recommends to do that at 6 months. Do you normally keep your foster kittens for 6 months or do you get them fixed at under 2 months old? How do you go about that?
Although I hope Hanna can give you some guidance, in my experience kittens can be safely spayed or neutered at very young ages. Some vets can skillfully do this when a kitten is 2 pounds. Others have waited until the kitten is between 3 to 4 pounds. It's also been my experience that if a kitten is altered well before they experience hormonal changes (which can happen as young as 4 months!), territorial behavior issues are dramatically decreased, and a cat tends to keep more "kittenish" personalized traits.
I hope that helps.
@@robingray5037 that is very helpful! Thank you very much! I hope you have a doog day 😊
@Jude Vicious 333 You're welcome, and good.luck!
@@robingray5037 exactly. Hannah has all of her fosters fixed at 2lbs unless there is a medical reason not to. (For example, Fergie wasn't healthy enough to have surgery until now and he is 9 months old.)
Their risk of cancers and such goes up significantly if they go into heat before being sprayed, which can happen long before 6 months of age. So, from my understanding, it is preferable to have it done sooner.
@@judevicious3333 Every vet clinic is different my local clinic doesn't desex until the animal is close to 6months too but you can phone around lots of clinic do it earlier. I just got a second kitten from a friend who still needs to be spayed so I will probably go to the city and get her spayed I will probably use the same clinic where my first kitten that I adopted from a adoption organisation where she was spayed b/c I have her spayed certificate so I know where the clinic is. Where I live in the rural to spayed a cat cost $250 but in the city at that clinic it's only $130
That's a LOT shorter than the application I filled out for the cat I just adopted. But I also didn't have a follow up conversation but that might be because they met me before I applied (cat cafe).
After seeing your video, I don't want to adopt from a specific place now. their question was invasive and kinda rude. like our income and information about our jobs.... I understand wanting to be sure they go to a good home but this was too much.
0:0 Good morning🧧☀️😊🙃🙂😄😁🤗 (even though where I live the night 🌙🌚is going to be closing in soon 😅🙂🙃😊)
Can I do this from a iPhone? I don't game a computer but I have about 40 cats to find homes for.
I’ve seen some articles that suggest adopting a kitten out at 12 weeks old may be better for socialization. Is the 8 weeks old more of a resource issue? Just curious.
I think she has mentioned before that she only chooses adopters who either have ot least another cat or that want to adopt two cats. If she (or most rescuers/organizations) keep the kittens until 12 w/o then that would mean less time and resources for taking in other cats
What are some red flags that you look for? I always worry about people with a nefarious intent.
Sometimes you notice the red flags in the application but most of the time they come out during the conversation.
For example, one young girl told me they have always had cat in their house but usually just one at a time. When I asked how long they usually lived she said that no more than 5 years, I then asked her if she knew that cats can live at least around 15 years and sometimes even 20 or 30 years she told me that she had no idea 🤦🏻♀️
I just adopted a kitten from a shelter
I know there are monstrous people out there who want to adopt cats for neferious ourposes. I think your extensive interview process will enable you to weed these people out.
How to take an adorable photo of a cat:
Step 1: Point camera at cat.
Step 2: Take picture.
Thank you.
Hi I love kittens
I have a question, will a kitten stop drinking milk once they're full? Mine stops and doesn't want to drink again, and I'm always wondering if he's getting enough milk. He's 3-4 weeks old and he's being bottle fed.
Long time kitten foster here: your kitten will definitely stop when they're done, if they're latching properly and you're seeing the bottle empty as they're feeding. You should be weighing the kitten twice a day. As long as it's gaining, I wouldn't worry too much.
I've had 3wo kittens who refused to latch, usually because they were orphaned late or had URIs. If you can't get the kitten to nurse you can start introducing age appropriate solids at 3-3 1/2 weeks. If the kitten has an URI, it needs antibiotics immediately.
Good luck with your baby! 😻
🐈🐈🐈🐈👍
How can you be able to foster kittens?
Go to any local rescue and apply.
Contact your local animal shelter or rescue group. They are always looking for people to foster and they can help you with information and supplies.
Sometimes, it's just serendipity.
But most of the time, you can go to an animal shelter.
Wait, is there something wrong with dry food? 👀
I heard it can cause many problems in long term &in a lot of amount. But it depends. Rachel jun channel feed their cats dry food only coz all wet food available now in japan make their cats sick (vomit &/ diarrhea cmiiw)
💖💖💖
😱😍😍😍🤦♀️😵
Hellocute😻
Who do you foster for?
Herself. She runs her own nonprofit.
I just came here to watch the kittens
😻
If you’re adopting a kitten out at eight weeks old there’s no way it can be fully vaccinated at that age, so be sure to tell people they have to follow up and complete the series of core kitten vaccinations!
Yeah, she mentioned in the video about getting boosters and other vaccinations too ^_^
She definitely does this. It’s her life’s work so she is very thorough.
I would let my my friends or family to take care of my pet untill
Com on every time is the right time to adopt a cat right Cat ladies out there?
Rakice omg rakice 💻
Can we get an update on Elvis he was adorable 😭
All necessary updates are on her social media.
You shouldn’t force people to make only choice to adopt two cats. What if the adopter lives in an apartment and tenants only are allowed one pre pet
She's not forcing people to adopt two cats. It's just a question she asks and totally understands if people only want or are only able to have one.
Well there's a question, are you selfish enough to get a solitary cat just because you want one even though having at least a pair is strongly recommended? a lot of rescuers make the choice to only adopt 2 or 1 to a home with a cat and they have all the right to do it
If someone can only have one cat, they can adopt an adult. It is a well-known fact that kittens do better with a friend. It's how they learn how to cat. They also have less behavioural issues because they have a friend to burn off their energy with.
The vast majority of kittens aren't happy solo. Any reputable rescue knows that, and ensures that their kittens go to the best possible home. The best possible home is not one where they will be alone.
There are countless adult cats waiting in shelters who would be thrilled to be adopted as an only cat.
That is great. Just because “Someone wants a only one cat.” Does not make them obligated to adopt more than one. What if the adopter lives in a rental, not many landlord will have that mentality, “kittens do better with a friend” I understand where you are coming from. But, Kittenlady should not make it a requirement for the adopter to not be allow to have that option to adopt a sole kitten
@@daisydoe7727 you have had 3 people explain this to you, but you are simply not listening.
Hannah does what is in the best interest of the kittens she fosters. It is in their best interest to be adopted with a sibling or into a home with another cat. Period. It isn't just Hannah with this requirement. It is every reputable rescue everywhere.
Once again, if someone only wants one cat, or can only have one cat, they can adopt a solo adult. If someone can't accept that, they don't actually care about the best interest of the kitten, and therefore wouldn't be an appropriate guardian.
You are creating a problem where a problem does not exist.
FIRST
Does it matter? Watch the video and shut up 💀
@@lilysat09 Please, he is probably a child, don't be rude and leave alone people.
@@paolagrando5079 true, I didn't think of that. There are many children on this platform
Such an informative video !😊👍👌