The real cost of a free kitten 

You may have already guessed from the name of this article that the “free” kitten you found online or got from your neighbour, may not be as free as you thought. In fact, a lot of kittens end up in rescues when people who got “free” kittens realize just how much it costs to care for that kitten, including spaying or neutering, routine shots and vet visits. 

Adopting from a reputable rescue 

Kittens need a lot of care, particularly veterinary care, when they are young to ensure that they do not reproduce and that they grow up healthy.  When you adopt from a reputable rescue, all of this is taken care of prior to putting a kitten up for adoption. Simply put, ALL reputable rescues will spay and neuter ALL their cats and kittens. While this is unquestionably the proper and ethical thing to do, it comes with a cost and most often that cost will be shared between the rescue organization and the kitten’s new family in the form of an adoption fee. 

Getting a kitten ready for adoption 

When a kitten is surrendered to a rescue, like Carroll’s Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, there is always a cost involved in getting that kitten ready for adoption. How much that costs will depend on the condition of the animal when it is surrendered. But at the very least, each kitten will require the following vet care: 

• Parasite treatment $25 (more if the kitten has lice or ring worm) 
• Deworming – $25 
• First round of shots with the office visit – $145 

• Second round of shots with the office visit – $145  
• Third round of shots with the office visit – $145 
• FIV/FeLV test – $56 
• Spay or neuter – $250-$550 

Add to these costs, medication if the kitten is sick, which can cost hundreds of dollars more! All of the kitten’s medical issues will be assessed and addressed prior to adoption. Some concerns, like current ear or eye infections can be managed by us, other issues may be chronic and require ongoing care. 

Add to these costs, medication if the kitten is sick, which can cost hundreds of dollars more! All of the kitten’s medical issues will be assessed and addressed prior to adoption. Some concerns, like current ear or eye infections can be managed by us, other issues may be chronic and require ongoing care. 

Adopting from Carroll’s  

We are very proud of our Cat Adoption. Our cat rescue and adoption has been operating for 6 years and just last year along we rescued 352 cats and kittens and adopted them ALL out to their forever homes.  

 Our adoption fee is $220 and includes all the costs mentioned above.  

If are not in a position to adopt a cat yourself, please consider making a donation to our Cat Rescue so we can continue this important work.